The Activity of This Earth Beast (verses 12-15)

And he [the earth beast] causes the earth dwellers, those who dwell upon the earth, to “worship the first beast [the sea beast],” [verse 12: “And he [the earth beast] exercises all the authority of the first beast [the sea beast] in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”]. This earth beast has all the power, all the authority of that beast from the sea. And notice what his purpose, what his intent, what his desire is. It is to “cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast [the sea beast].”

While the first beast [the sea beast], I think, can be generally described, generally understood, as something that has to do with a secular kingdom, has to do with a political power, so to speak, THIS earth beast has to do with a religious power. But more, it is a deceptive religious power.

Look there at verses 13 and 14.He does great miracles in order to get men to be deceived, or to deceive men, and get them to worship the sea beast [verse 13: “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”]. He calls upon men to make an image to the sea beast and to worship the image [verse 14: “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the [sea] beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the [sea] beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”].

Once again, we shouldn’t be surprised that religious “power,” so to speak, can perform such things. No, not by performing true miracles. But by exercising “power” through trickery, through deceit, through treachery, these things can be done, these things can be made to appear to be the works God, the works of Christ. Paul warns the church in Thessalonica, 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 9, of one coming “according to the working of Satan with all power, signs and lying wonders” [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the Truth, that they might be saved.”].

Well, according to the text here in Revelation, chapter 13, the workings of this earth beast are “after, or according to, the working of Satan,” [because this earth beast (representing deceptive religious power) “exercises all the authority of the first beast (the sea beast, who represents political and governmental power, secular power) in his presence,” Revelation 13:12, and the dragon, who is Satan, “gave him (the sea beast, who represents political and governmental power, secular power) his power, his throne, and great authority,” Revelation 13:2b. One can see how devastating these combined powers were to 1^st Century Christians, and are to children of God in our day. Is it any wonder that the Lord wanted to write letters of comfort and encouragement to them, and to us, in His Revelation?]

The purpose of this earth beast [representing deceptive religious power] in “performing great signs,” in displaying this power, is to get people, to get individuals, “to worship the first beast,” [the sea beast, representing secular power, political power] verse 12b].

Look over at a text in Matthew 24 and verse 24 and consider this warning from Jesus Himself. He says, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” This earth beast, representing religious authority, religious power, in the world of John’s day, and down through the ages, has a purpose, has an intent, which is to deceive, to trick. And he has been, and he continues to be, very successful, even…even the elect are not always able to escape the deceit of this one.

Well, is there an identity, some specific entity, which can be pointed to here? Some scholars believe that what is in view here is Papal Rome, which would be built upon the ashes of pagan Rome. Of course, as we have said several times, the Roman Empire, pagan Rome, if you will, was in its glory, its heyday, at this time, and it would eventually meet its demise. But then out of the “ashes,” so to speak of pagan Rome would come Papal Rome, the Roman Catholic church. That’s a very popular view and understood by many.

There’ also another view that I think is worthy of consideration and that is, that, perhaps, what the Holy Spirit has in view with this religious “power” is that of Emperor worship. There were various temples and worship facilities that were built in the period of the 1^st Century and shortly after in many places—for example, in the city of Pergamum, [also “Pergamos,” Revelation 2. Pergamos was the first city in Asia to establish emperor worship. They even built a temple that was dedicated to the divine Augustus, and the goddess Roma. Once again, this city became a center of emperor worship. It was during the reign of Domician, who reigned over the Roman Empire from AD 81 to AD 96, when emperor worship became a test of loyalty to those who lived in the empire. You were given a choice: you either worshipped and proclaimed Caesar as your lord and god, or, if you did not do that, then, you faced death. This is what was going on here in this ancient city.].