Evil Incarnated

P. T. Barnum called himself the “Prince of Humbugs.” As an entertainer, he would do anything for a crowd. Most people remember him for his circus, and for the cynical remark often credited to him: “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Barnum’s genius was that he understood people as willing—even eager—to be mislead, if they could be entertained in the process. He believed that perpetrating hoaxes (“humbugs”) was justifiable if people valued them in return. “People like to be humbugged.”

Revelation 13 presents a political showman who is evil incarnated. Dissimilar to Barnum, the hoaxes are not innocent fun. Promises of peace and prosperity will be enticing yet without substance. Another beast (from the earth) (vv. 11-18) arises to join with the beast from the sea (vv. 1-10), to convince many that their religious and political system is “everything you ever want; it’s everything you ever need; and it’s here right in front of you; this is where you wanna be” (“The Greatest Show,” track 1 on The Greatest Showman, Atlantic Records, 2017, mp3). The price for admission is to receive a mark (v. 16). Uniting with the two beasts, the dragon creates an unholy trinity.

Scripture commands prayer for those in positions of “authority,” because God desires their salvation and for them “to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:1-4). Having influence is not bad. Those with authority can and should use their power to accomplish good, not merely for self but for everyone within their sphere of influence. Leaders have authority, which is best used to serve others.

Everything in life has potential for corruption and misuse. Sadly, many of those who have power use it abusively by serving themselves, thereby harming others. History bears the distressing record of leaders who even used their power to oppose God. Power can absolutely corrupt, so all leaders need to guard themselves against such abuse. The greatest usurper of God is the devil himself. Revelation 13 indicates how in his quest for power, he uses two vile individuals to serve him and accomplish his wicked desires.

The Beast from the Sea
(Rev 13:1-10) The Jewish people are a land-loving people; thus, the sea was regarded as chaotic, dangerous, unknown, and unpredictable. The vastness of the sea symbolizes the greatness of God’s power (cf. Ps 74:12-13; 89:8-9). And in the beginning, God demonstrated His sovereignty over creation by bringing forth dry land from the waters (Gen 1:1-10). Nevertheless, the sea became an appropriate simile for the restlessness of the wicked (Isa 57:20) and for the Gentile nations (Dan 7:2-3; Isa 60:5; Matt 13:47; Rev 13:1). With profound significance, John noted, “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore” (Rev 13:1a).

A beast emerged from the place identified with chaos, danger, and opposition to God (v. 1). The beast arose from “the sea, having ten horns and seven heads [one had a “fatal wound (that) was healed”], and on his horns were ten diadems” (vv. 1, 3). The ten horns represent kings (or kingdoms, 17:12) and parallel Daniel’s fourth beast (Dan 7:7). The seven heads are similar to the seven heads of the dragon (Rev 12:3), who gives authority and power to the beast (13:4-5). The description of the beast (v. 2) parallels images from Daniel 7.

The most common biblical name for the ruler of the final Gentile world power is “beast” (Rev 11:7; 13:1-4, 11-12, 14-15, 17-18; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2, 10, 13; 17:3, 7-8, 11-13, 16-17; 19:19-20; 20:4, 10). The only verse which references that dictator as “Antichrist” is 1 John 2:22. Throughout church history, the term Antichrist is used most frequently to designate the beast from the sea in Revelation 13. The name beast was first used of the Antichrist in Daniel 7, where a description was given of four successive Gentile world powers. Each of those empires is depicted as a beast: Babylon “was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle” (Dan 7:4); Medo-Persia resembled “a bear” (v. 5); Greece was “like a leopard” (v. 6); and, Rome was a beast with “ten horns” (v. 7).

Daniel 7 describes the same Gentile powers as the colossal image in chapter 2, yet does so in their individual and sequential appearance. The subsequent empire replaces the earlier power. Each kingdom succeeds the next; however, the power of that empire does not disappear entirely: “‘As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time” (v. 12). The fourth beast, the Roman Empire, will be expansive and proliferate, thus extending the life of the previous beasts. Scripture indicates there will be a revived form of the fourth Gentile world power (chs. 2, 7). The kingdoms will “combine with one another” (2:43) to form a ten-nation confederacy (cf. Dan 7:7, 24; Rev 13:1). The fate of each beast will be determined when the existing nations are judged in the final conflict of world history.

Revelation 13:1-7 prophesies the final form of Gentile power to exercise dominion over Israel. And one individual, who is depicted as a beast from the sea, will control it. The beast’s rise to power will be in succession of the ten-nation confederation, which is indicated by the ten crowned horns. The beast’s power is unmistakably satanic, for “the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority” (v. 2).

The authority and popularity of the beast results in his worship (Rev 13:4, 8), despite the beast’s blasphemies (vv. 5-6) and the fact that he makes “war with the saints,” even overcoming many of them (v. 7; 7:9-17). The alliance of Satan with the two beasts forms a malicious and unholy trinity. Satan acts as though he is deity, and does his best to convince the world that he is God (Rev 13:1-4). He wars against those who are not so persuaded (vv. 5-8). God promises vindication for those who receive the devil’s hatred (vv. 9-10). In the midst of such intense persecution, the sovereignty of God is emphasized.

The admonition for anyone with ears to hear (v. 9) is followed by the promise of divine retribution (v. 10). Scripture’s encouraging word is that ultimately, the captor will be taken captive. With the knowledge of that coming reckoning is the faith and patience of God’s people, who endure the persecution. The same thought regarding faithful and patient endurance is found in Hebrews 12:1-3, where the Bible exhorts believers to be persevering, with eyes fixed on Jesus even in the midst of various difficulties: “Therefore, since we have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Knowing that suffering for the sake of Christ is to be expected—combined with the hope that inspires endurance—is essential for growth and maturity in the Christian life. The challenges arising from such experiences result in building one’s character, and are ultimately glorifying to God. “Ye saints, who toil below, adore your heavenly King, and onward as ye go some joyful anthem sing; take what He gives and praise Him still, through good and ill, who ever lives” (Richard Baxter, “Ye Holy Angels Bright,” 1681).

The Beast from the Earth
(Rev 13:11-18) The second beast John described emerged “out of the earth”; it is not as pretentious as the first, for it is said to have “two horns like a lamb.” The authority of the second beast will be mild in comparison to the first. The fact that the beast speaks “as a dragon” indicates demonic enablement of all his actions and words (v. 11).

The exercise of the beast’s authority results in worship of the first beast (v. 12), just as predicated (v. 8). The second beast will have the ability to make “fire come down out of heaven to the earth” (v. 13), in addition to performing deceitful “signs” (v. 14). The deception would be a counterfeit for the true miracles of God, as evident in the ministry of the two witnesses (cf. 11:3-6).

Imitation of the true has always been characteristic of false prophets (cf. Exod 7:11; 2 Cor 12:12), which is why Jesus warned to beware of “false Christs and false prophets [who] will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24). What is prophesied is the deliberate effort of a false prophet to convince some to worship in a manner fundamentally in contradiction to the biblical faith.

The greatest accomplishment of the second beast will be to produce an “image of the beast” (v. 15a), which may be “the abomination of desolation” that Daniel prophesied (Dan 9:27) and that Jesus referenced in Matthew 24:15-25. All people will be required to worship the image (Rev 13:15b). “A mark” bearing “either the name of the beast or the number of his name”—which is 666 (v. 18)—will be required for all people in relation to this worship (vv. 16-17), which is a parody of eternal truth.

Deception works best when it mimics the true divine work, making vital both understanding and wisdom (v. 18a); namely, to know God and His ways. Imitations have produced the greatest perils in history. To be spiritually alert and familiar with the genuine are crucial qualities. Wisdom knows the reality of a life in fellowship with God, and the best manner to live in agreement with His demands. Faithfulness, perseverance, and wisdom are indispensable to live godly in the midst of trouble (vv. 10, 18a).

Midnight Call - 04/2025