“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.”
It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed - the false prophet serves as the propaganda arm of political power, promoting worship of the beast-state. Religious deception becomes the handmaid of political tyranny.
Church Fathers on Revelation 13:12
“And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.” He is speaking of the great and false prophet who is to do signs, and portents, and falsehoods before him in the presence of men. “And he had two horns like a lamb — that is, the appearance within of a man — and he spoke like a dragon.” But the devil speaks full of malice; for he shall do these things in the presence of men, so that even the dead appear to rise again.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!