Rev 13:7 | KingComments | STEP | . Just as satan has given to the beast ‘his power and his throne and great power’ ( ), he also gives the beast “a mouth”. He, so to speak, makes the beast his mouthpiece. Therefore, what the beast says is only bragging and blasphemous language. His bragging language has no limit. He boasts about himself to the people and prides himself that all improvement is because of him. To God he balls his fists and taunts and curses Him. But a limit is places on the performance of the beast. He is given “forty-two months”. That is the period that you have already come across earlier ( ) and that you have learnt to know as the period of the great tribulation of three and a half years. During that time he will rage uninhibitedly (cf. ) both against God and those who dwell in heaven and to the saints on earth. . It is not only that the beast lacks the appropriate reverence to God. Whenever the beast opens his mouth against God, it is to rage against Him and to express his contempt for Him. He can only insult and sneer about the Name of God. He despises God to the depth of his being. The words he uses are not mentioned. I think that the words you sometimes hear around you and which fill you with disgust are dwarfed by what the beast will spew out. And not only God and the Name of God are the target of his blasphemous language. He also directs his evil mudslinging against “His tabernacle”. By this the church is meant, in which God as in a tabernacle will dwell among people on earth forever and ever ( ). Finally, he directs his slander against the rest of the citizens of heaven. You can think of all believers who do not belong to the church. And don’t think that the beast speaks out this slanderous talk in a back room. His blasphemous expressions which he slings at God and the citizens of heaven will happen publicly and serve as an entertainment. With intense pleasure, people will observe his performance and his audacious language through television and the Internet. Everything he says and does is to propagandize his program. The intention of this program is nothing more than to turn people against God, to throw God off His throne. Time will tell that his propaganda will succeed, and that his program will have a dramatic ending. . The beast, inspired by satan, can do nothing against all who dwell in heaven but open his mouth to spew out his hatred against them. But there are also some “saints” on earth. On them he can vent his diabolical killing intent, having given air to all pent-up feelings of hatred by hurling them to heaven. He is given the opportunity to make war with those who out of faithfulness toward God did not hoot along with the apostate mass as in a carnival procession. The saints are not only saints by name, but also in practice. A saint or holy one is one set apart for God. That there is mention of ‘making war’, means that he takes this fight very seriously, as if the faithful saints are the most dangerous enemies of the nation that have great power. He uses everything at his disposal, because he wants to eliminate them root and branch, to the last man. And he seems to be successful. He overcomes them. This victory grants him international authority. Countries outside the restored Roman empire, i.e. the united Europe, will open themselves for his ideas and advices. In his blind insanity, he does not know that this victory involves only the body. The saints were strengthened by the words of the Lord Jesus concerning that. He told them that they did not need to fear (for the beast), for only the body can be killed ( ). In Revelation 20 you see them again. They sit on thrones and reign with Christ for a thousand years ( ). In that way you will certainly be encouraged by the words of the Lord Jesus and by what you will share in the future, to endure the suffering that you experience sometimes. . Because of all the accomplishments of the beast, all who dwell on the earth will worship him. The admiration for the beast will have no limits. The expression “who dwell on the earth”, indicates that it refers to people who have deliberately settled with heaven. Their lives have, like the lives of animals and the beast, no broader horizon than the earth and is totally and exclusively connected to the earth. Of these people, another particular qualification is given. Their names are not written “in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain”. The absence of their name in that book has dramatic consequences. The short time of their praise of the beast will be followed by an everlasting weeping and gnashing of the teeth because of the pains caused by the flames of eternal fire. Noteworthy still is the expression “from the foundation of the world”. You may remember the expression “before the foundation of the world” ( ). That expression is used for those who belong to the church. They were chosen even before the creation of the world. That is because the church is of heavenly and eternal origin. But there are also believers who do not belong to the church. They are believers from Israel and the nations in the periods before and after the stay of the church on earth. They connected with the earth and in that way with God’s plans from creation ( ). There is a great contrast between those who dwell on the earth and the book of life. Those who live on earth are attached to the earth with heart and soul. The earth is their life. With them there isn’t any thought of God and heaven. That makes them living dead ( ). If they do not repent they will be in the second death forever and ever ( ). The opposite is the book of life. That book is connected to the Lamb That was slain, which indicates that the Lamb was in death. The Lamb had entered death to give life to all who believe in Him. The name of everyone who believes in Him is in the book of life. The book is His, He keeps it. The names of all worshipers of the Lamb are in it, not one is missing. The names of all worshipers of the beast are removed from it, not one appears in the it. . I hope you have an ear to hear and let yourself be warned. You have just watched together with John the beast coming up. You have heard his blasphemous language and seen his murderous occupations. The mass hysteria that will be caused by his appearance and performance among all people that dwell on earth has been clearly presented to you. You have been a witness of the rise of the world government and the world religion. It is not about something that might happen at a time in the distant future, but about events that increasingly recognizable today. You wouldn’t want to say that this is a ‘far from my bed show’, would you? It is extremely topical for you as well. Don't be fooled. . The description of this beast concludes with pointing at the principle of repayment (cf. ). This should serve as a consolation for the saints and stimulate them to persevere. They may know that the one who throws them in prison will end up in the prison himself; and he who kills them with the sword will also be killed with the sword ( ). God will make sure that every crime that has been done to His saints will be repaid righteously. Until that moment comes, the saints must persevere in their faith. They can trust that God, Who then has not visibly intervened, will soon do so. The saints see in faith the good outcome for themselves and the repayment for the oppressors. They cannot answer the brute violence of the beast with violence. By themselves they are defenseless and helpless. But they have a source of power that works totally differently. The source of their power is the faith in God that He will make an end to the authority and power of the beast. In that awareness they persevere in their faithfulness to God, even if it may cost them their freedom or even their life. Their life is not in the hand of the beast, but in the hand of the almighty and faithful God. That goes also for you when you face resistance in your bearing witness for the Lord. If you have that trust you will not give up your testimony, but persevere in it. Now read Revelation 13:5-10 again. Reflection: What aspects of the beast’s exercise of power do you already recognize in society?

‏ Revelation of John 13:7

Mouth and Deeds of the Beast Out of the Sea

Rev 13:5. Just as satan has given to the beast ‘his power and his throne and great power’ (Rev 13:2b), he also gives the beast “a mouth”. He, so to speak, makes the beast his mouthpiece. Therefore, what the beast says is only bragging and blasphemous language. His bragging language has no limit. He boasts about himself to the people and prides himself that all improvement is because of him. To God he balls his fists and taunts and curses Him.

But a limit is places on the performance of the beast. He is given “forty-two months”. That is the period that you have already come across earlier (Rev 11:2) and that you have learnt to know as the period of the great tribulation of three and a half years. During that time he will rage uninhibitedly (cf. Dan 8:24) both against God and those who dwell in heaven and to the saints on earth.

Rev 13:6. It is not only that the beast lacks the appropriate reverence to God. Whenever the beast opens his mouth against God, it is to rage against Him and to express his contempt for Him. He can only insult and sneer about the Name of God. He despises God to the depth of his being. The words he uses are not mentioned. I think that the words you sometimes hear around you and which fill you with disgust are dwarfed by what the beast will spew out.

And not only God and the Name of God are the target of his blasphemous language. He also directs his evil mudslinging against “His tabernacle”. By this the church is meant, in which God as in a tabernacle will dwell among people on earth forever and ever (Rev 21:2-3).

Finally, he directs his slander against the rest of the citizens of heaven. You can think of all believers who do not belong to the church.

And don’t think that the beast speaks out this slanderous talk in a back room. His blasphemous expressions which he slings at God and the citizens of heaven will happen publicly and serve as an entertainment. With intense pleasure, people will observe his performance and his audacious language through television and the Internet. Everything he says and does is to propagandize his program. The intention of this program is nothing more than to turn people against God, to throw God off His throne. Time will tell that his propaganda will succeed, and that his program will have a dramatic ending.

Rev 13:7. The beast, inspired by satan, can do nothing against all who dwell in heaven but open his mouth to spew out his hatred against them. But there are also some “saints” on earth. On them he can vent his diabolical killing intent, having given air to all pent-up feelings of hatred by hurling them to heaven. He is given the opportunity to make war with those who out of faithfulness toward God did not hoot along with the apostate mass as in a carnival procession.

The saints are not only saints by name, but also in practice. A saint or holy one is one set apart for God. That there is mention of ‘making war’, means that he takes this fight very seriously, as if the faithful saints are the most dangerous enemies of the nation that have great power. He uses everything at his disposal, because he wants to eliminate them root and branch, to the last man. And he seems to be successful. He overcomes them. This victory grants him international authority. Countries outside the restored Roman empire, i.e. the united Europe, will open themselves for his ideas and advices.

In his blind insanity, he does not know that this victory involves only the body. The saints were strengthened by the words of the Lord Jesus concerning that. He told them that they did not need to fear (for the beast), for only the body can be killed (Mt 10:28). In Revelation 20 you see them again. They sit on thrones and reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev 20:4). In that way you will certainly be encouraged by the words of the Lord Jesus and by what you will share in the future, to endure the suffering that you experience sometimes.

Rev 13:8. Because of all the accomplishments of the beast, all who dwell on the earth will worship him. The admiration for the beast will have no limits. The expression “who dwell on the earth”, indicates that it refers to people who have deliberately settled with heaven. Their lives have, like the lives of animals and the beast, no broader horizon than the earth and is totally and exclusively connected to the earth.

Of these people, another particular qualification is given. Their names are not written “in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain”. The absence of their name in that book has dramatic consequences. The short time of their praise of the beast will be followed by an everlasting weeping and gnashing of the teeth because of the pains caused by the flames of eternal fire.

Noteworthy still is the expression “from the foundation of the world”. You may remember the expression “before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4). That expression is used for those who belong to the church. They were chosen even before the creation of the world. That is because the church is of heavenly and eternal origin. But there are also believers who do not belong to the church. They are believers from Israel and the nations in the periods before and after the stay of the church on earth. They connected with the earth and in that way with God’s plans from creation (Mt 13:35 ; Mt 25:34).

There is a great contrast between those who dwell on the earth and the book of life. Those who live on earth are attached to the earth with heart and soul. The earth is their life. With them there isn’t any thought of God and heaven. That makes them living dead (Eph 2:1-2). If they do not repent they will be in the second death forever and ever (Rev 21:8).

The opposite is the book of life. That book is connected to the Lamb That was slain, which indicates that the Lamb was in death. The Lamb had entered death to give life to all who believe in Him. The name of everyone who believes in Him is in the book of life. The book is His, He keeps it. The names of all worshipers of the Lamb are in it, not one is missing. The names of all worshipers of the beast are removed from it, not one appears in the it.

Rev 13:9. I hope you have an ear to hear and let yourself be warned. You have just watched together with John the beast coming up. You have heard his blasphemous language and seen his murderous occupations. The mass hysteria that will be caused by his appearance and performance among all people that dwell on earth has been clearly presented to you. You have been a witness of the rise of the world government and the world religion. It is not about something that might happen at a time in the distant future, but about events that increasingly recognizable today. You wouldn’t want to say that this is a ‘far from my bed show’, would you? It is extremely topical for you as well. Don't be fooled.

Rev 13:10. The description of this beast concludes with pointing at the principle of repayment (cf. 2Thes 1:6-7). This should serve as a consolation for the saints and stimulate them to persevere. They may know that the one who throws them in prison will end up in the prison himself; and he who kills them with the sword will also be killed with the sword (Jer 15:2 ; Jer 43:11). God will make sure that every crime that has been done to His saints will be repaid righteously. Until that moment comes, the saints must persevere in their faith. They can trust that God, Who then has not visibly intervened, will soon do so.

The saints see in faith the good outcome for themselves and the repayment for the oppressors. They cannot answer the brute violence of the beast with violence. By themselves they are defenseless and helpless. But they have a source of power that works totally differently. The source of their power is the faith in God that He will make an end to the authority and power of the beast.

In that awareness they persevere in their faithfulness to God, even if it may cost them their freedom or even their life. Their life is not in the hand of the beast, but in the hand of the almighty and faithful God. That goes also for you when you face resistance in your bearing witness for the Lord. If you have that trust you will not give up your testimony, but persevere in it.

Now read Revelation 13:5-10 again.

Reflection: What aspects of the beast’s exercise of power do you already recognize in society?