Our daily devotional on Revelation 13 introduces us to two beasts empowered by Satan, the dragon, to deceive and dominate the world. It warns of a future where a global system will require allegiance to these beasts, symbolized by the infamous “mark of the beast,” 666. This chapter stirs crucial questions: Will we recognize the mark when it comes? Will our faith endure the pressure to conform? As we read this passage, we see a vivid portrayal of spiritual warfare, the testing of the saints, and a call to steadfast faith. Let us explore this prophecy with an open heart and seek God’s wisdom to discern its significance in our times. To explore the great sign, read the daily devotional on Revelation 12.
Revelation 13 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In Revelation 13, we are going to read about a couple of beasts and the number 666. Will we recognize the mark of the beast? Will you withstand the pressure to take it? Please read or listen to Revelation 13.
What Does Revelation 13 Mean in the Bible?
In 1995, after reading Revelation 13, I wrote, “Satan: Dragon gives beasts power and authority. Beast: One of his heads slain and healed. A mortal wound. Beast blasphemies God, wars against the saints and overcomes them. All will worship him except those whose name is written in the book of life. Second beast: Makes everyone worship first beast. He gives mark of beast to man, 666.”
What Is the Meaning of 666 in Revelation?
Thirteen years later, after reading Revelation 13 in 2008, I wrote, “The dragon (Satan) gives power and authority to a beast and the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast. How easily we are deceived. The beast speaks arrogant words and blasphemies against God. And he makes war with the saints. All will worship him except those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. A second beast offers miracles and the mark. No one will be able to buy or sell without the mark. We can see this coming with scanners and chips. 666.”
Five years later, in 2013, I read Revelation 13 on two days, splitting the chapter. On the first day, I wrote, “The dragon, Satan, gave its power and authority to the beast. The beast was ‘given’; it was ‘allowed’, it has no power or authority not allowed by God Himself. Yet the beast is allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them; every tribe, people, and nation, except ‘everyone whose name is written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb’ (v. 8). Predestination, before the foundation of the world? Yet, Exodus 32:32-33 says, even if your name is in the book, it can be blotted out due to sin. Everyone not in the book of life is slain. Since God is ‘I Am,’ no past, present, or future, I guess this can make sense. With a timeline of past, present, and future to a human mind, it doesn’t make sense. Because why evangelize, then, if everybody’s predestined before the world began?”
Who Is the Beast from the Sea in Revelation 13?
The next day, I finished the chapter and wrote, “A second evil beast comes from the abyss. This beast, the false prophet, deceives those who dwell on the earth. People make an idol of the first beast and the false prophet seems to bring the idol to life. It causes everyone to accept the mark on the right hand or forehead to buy or sell.
“Today, we can see this as an implanted computer chip with all our personal information. It would be scanned to make purchases, like scanners and credit cards today. It will be sold to us as more secure. No more identity theft. John saw all this thousands of years ago.”
Let’s take a look at Revelation 13. The first beast, introduced in the first verse of this chapter, was given its power by the dragon, or Satan. Verse 3 says, “One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.”
We know man has tried to interpret these things over and over throughout history. One I remember was when Mikhail Gorbachev lead the Soviet Union. He had a scar, or a birthmark, on his head, so everybody started wondering if he was the beast.
I doubt if this beast, this creature, has walked the face of the earth yet. But we know the power it is going to have, will be been given to it by Satan himself. That is what ought to get our attention. That is what ought to scare us.
How Do You know Your Faith Is Strong?
Verse 7 ought to also get our attention, “it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them”. If Christians are around at this time, and we do not know whether we will be or not, this is an amazing statement. It is going to make war on us and it is going to conquer us. It is going to be an ugly time on earth. Our faith is going to be tested like never before. How strong is your faith right now?
Whose Names Are Not Written in the Book of Life?
But verse 8 gives us hope, “And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” How is your name written in the book of life? It is written there when you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. If you do that, you will not be conquered by Satan or the beast.
What Does the Bible Say about Testing of Our Faith?
Verse 10 concludes with this phrase, “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” Yes, friends, we will have to endure. Our faith needs to stand these kind of tests.
What Is the Meaning of Revelation 13:12?
Verses 12-14 introduce the second beast, “It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast . .. It performs great signs . . .it deceives those who dwell on earth”. This beast will cause us to get the mark of the beast. The mark we cannot buy or sell without. My English Standard Version Study Bible footnote on this verse says:
marked on the right hand or the forehead. The Israelites bore God’s law on their hands and foreheads to signify his authority over their deeds and thoughts. Neither the beast’s mark nor the seal of God on believer’s foreheads have to be understood as physical features; though they may be that. Both symbolize the spiritual control of heart allegiance and behavior, either by the beast or by the Lamb; but God’s seal secures safety (p. 2482).
What Is the Meaning of 666 in the Bible?
What does the number 666 mean? Nobody knows. What we do know is the number seven is God’s number of perfection or completion. The number 666 may symbolize deficiency in contrast to divine completeness.
What Does the Bible Say about Mark of the Beast?
What is our practical application from all this? First, when the end comes, Satan is going to empower some beasts. They are going to be very difficult to resist, even for us saints. There may come a day when we will all have to make a choice about this mark of the beast. I am not saying it is, but it could be something like a chip implanted in our foreheads or in our right hands that has to be scanned to purchase things.
We can certainly see this coming our way in the future, especially with all the credit card fraud going on. As I mentioned, it could be sold to us as a safety feature. Our identity will not be able to be stolen anymore because the chip will be implanted in us.
In my mind’s eye, I can see the day that could come. I am not sure at that time, whether I will think it is the mark of the beast or not. But, according to what we are reading here, I would have to be cautious. We can all see how that could certainly be a mark you have to have to buy or sell.
Again, our application is to watch. I am not saying these things are occurring today, but they may occur in the future. God is not a God of surprises. He always warns His people what is coming. It is our job to know the time and the seasons, not the day or the hour. So we continue to read God’s Word so we can be aware of the things going on around us.
Prayer
Father, we pray You would give us wisdom, knowledge, discernment, as we see things unfold around us. We also pray You would give us great courage to stand against the devices and the deception of the enemy. Someday, Satan himself will empower his powerful agents to deceive even the saints. So Lord, give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and give us courage to face the temptations that come our way. Holy Spirit, embolden us to stand for You. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen.
