Revelation 13:11-18

Revelation 13:11-18

[11] And  another  beast  coming up  out of  the earth;  and  he had  two  horns  like  a lamb,  and  he spake  as  a dragon.  [12] And  he exerciseth  all  the power  of the first  beast  before  him,  and  causeth  the earth  and  them which dwell  therein  to  worship  the first  beast,  whose  deadly  wound  was healed.  [13] And  he doeth  great  wonders,  so  that  he maketh  fire  come down  from  heaven  on  the earth  in the sight  of men,  [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.  [15] And  he  had power  life  unto the image  of the beast,  that  the image  of the beast  both  speak,  and  cause  that as many as  not  worship  the image  of the beast  should be killed.  [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:  [17] And  man  might  buy  or  sell,  that had  the mark,  or  the name  of the beast,  or  the number  of his  name.  [18] Here  wisdom.  Let him that hath  understanding  count  the number  of the beast:  for  the number  of a man;  and  his  number 

What does Revelation 13:11-18 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Most interpreters who see the first beast as an individual also see the second beast as one. Others who see the first beast as a power or movement tend to view the second beast similarly. [1] Many of the Reformers identified the second beast as the papacy or as specific popes. Many modern interpreters view the first beast as the personification of secular power in opposition to the church and the second beast as the personification of false religion. [2] However it seems best to take these beasts as representing individuals.