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| .Re 13:13 And he [the beast from the earth, v11] doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, | Great
wonders As this earth's probation draws to an end, God will allow
Satan to produce more darkness – deception and evil. It is also a time
of great light. The miracles (wonders) will be real. See note
a for this verse.
Fire come down Draws our thoughts to Mt. Carmel and the prophets of Baal. See note b. In the sight of men Or so people could see. But there's a deeper meaning. The miracles are also done "in the sight of the beast." v14. |
| .14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. | Deceiveth
them that dwell on the earth Without a commitment to the Lord and
His word, the evidence will be overwhelming. See note
a. They like the deception 2th0210.
For the identity of the earth dwellers see
note
b for this verse. And note
c relates the earth dwellers to other classes.
In the sight of the [sea] beast Or under his indirect supervision. Image to the beast To operate in honor to the beast following the same principles. The beast was in the image of the dragon note b for 13:2. Wound ... did live We identified this event in discussing verse 3. |
| .15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. | Had
power Literally, "was given power." God is in control as He was
for the sea beast v5.
Power to give life The military power of the beast from the earth will enforce the universal worship. See the identity of this second beast in connection with v11. Speak and cause Make laws and enforce them. note d. Worship the image See note a. Killed See note b. |
| .16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: | Causeth
all A global requirement in an effort to stop the calamities even
now beginning.
Mark As evidence of being a beast worshipper. See note a. Also in comparison to the seal of God; note d. The mark may also be related to the heathen "spot" of de3205. Hand ... foreheads Consent by behavior or intellect; note b. |
| .17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. | Buy
or sell This is symbolic in the sense of acquiring or sharing truth.
Its literal significance is serious as is the death threat of v15.
See note and the parallel verse, da1144.
Number An additional requirement for buying and selling. The three are compared to the situation symbolized as lady Babylon in note e for v18. |
| .18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. | Wisdom
See note
a.
Him ... understanding count The clause parallels the closing for the first half of the chapter. See note b. Two times of apostasy are described in note c. Number Counting compared to marks in hand in head. note d. Man A human object of worship da0708. [666] The symbol source is discussed in note f. Comments about sensational interpretations are on a special page. |
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