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The Bible Study New Testament

Revelation 13:13

It made fire come down. Tricks and false-miracles to "sell" people the State Religion. Also, since "fire" can symbolize the Holy Spirit, this can refer to what seem to be "outpourings of the Spirit." The Devil does not mind people being religious, just as long as he can turn them away from God. See Matthew 24:24. To build an image. This is "emperor worship" in all its forms. Compare note on Revelation 2:13. Images [idols, fetishes] were actually made in honor of the Roman Emperor, and worshiped. Whoever refused to bow down to the Emperor's fetish, or refused to say: "The emperor is Lord," was killed. But this is symbolic of the new "corporate image" formed by the alliance of religion and government.

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See also Revelation 13:13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Revelation 13:13. _AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS_] That we may have the greatest assurance possible that the two-horned beast is the spiritual Latin empire, it is called in Revelation 19:20, a pas...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS - “Signs” - σημεῖα sēmeia - the word commonly employed to denote “miracles” (compare the notes on Acts 2:19); and the representation here is, that the power referred to by...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SECOND BEAST. This represents the spirit of paganism, and more particularly the priestly system which was organised to enforce Cæ sar-worship. Revelation 13:11 f. The second beast is regarded as...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which be had power...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE POWER OF THE BEAST (Revelation 13:1-18) I saw a beast coming up from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads; and it had ten royal crowns on its horns; and on its heads I saw blasphemous names....

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WONDERS. App-176. SO THAT. Greek. _hina._ FIRE. Add "also". FROM. Greek. _ek._ App-104. IN THE SIGHT OF. before, as Revelation 13:12....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _he doeth great wonders_ St Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9. _maketh fire to come down_ The similarity to 2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 1, is best

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἽΝΑ ΚΑῚ ΠΥ͂Ρ ΠΟΙΗ͂Ι ΚΑΤΑΒΑΊΝΕΙΝ. B2 has καὶ πῦρ ἵνα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβαίνει. 13. ΚΑῚ ΠΟΙΕΙ͂ ΣΗΜΕΙ͂Α ΜΕΓΆΛΑ. St Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9. ἽΝΑ ΚΑῚ ΠΥ͂Ρ.… The similarity to 1 Kings 18:1;...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE BEAST FROM THE LAND...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH REVELATION 13:11-14:_ The beast out of the earth was Emperor worship or false religion. This earth beast had two horns "like to the Lamb." The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΟΙΕΊ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΠΟΙΈΩ (G4160) делать, творить, ΠΟΙΉ _praes. conj. act. от_ ΠΟΙΈΩ (G4160) делать, причинять. _Conj._ с tva (G253) может быть придаточным цели или результата (RWP). ΚΑΤΑΒΑΊ...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I BEHELD ANOTHER BEAST, &C.— From the description of the _ten horned beast,_ or Roman state in general, the prophet passes to that of the _two horned beast,_ or Roman church in particular. _The beast...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Strauss-' Comments SECTION 39 Text Revelation 13:11-18 11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TOMLINSON'S COMMENTS_ CHAPTER XIII THE VISION OF THE TWO BEASTS _Text (Revelation 13:1-18)_ INTRODUCTION 1 and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, WONDERS - `signs.' SO THAT - so great that. MAKETH FIRE - `maketh even fire.' The very...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ Temple Section-The Wild Beast 1 The _ dragon_, not John, was stationed so as to bring up the wild beast. 1 The beast from the sea (which is the equivalent of the abyss) has hitherto enacted the r...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TWO BEASTS Personification of the two powers inspired by the devil to persecute the Church. 1-10. The dragon stands by the sea (i.e. the Ægean Sea), from which there rises to meet him a 'beast,'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WONDERS] RV 'signs': cp. Revelation 12:1. FIRE] The false prophet is a travesty of Elijah: cp. 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    FROM NOW TO THE END OF TIME REVELATION _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 13 THE *BEAST FROM THE SEA - REVELATION 13:1-10 V1 I saw a *beast. It came up from the sea. It had 10 *horns and 7 heads. There was...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND CAUSETH THE EARTH... — Literally, _and he makes the earth and them that dwell in it that they shall worship the first wild beast, the stroke of whose death was healed; and he does signs great, so...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER X. THE SECOND AND THIRD GREAT ENEMIES Of THE CHURCH. Revelation 13:1 WE have seen that the main purpose of chap. 12 was to introduce to our notice the dragon, or Satan, the first great enemy...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Revelation 13:11-18 : the Imperial _alter ego_ or the second beast, a monster from the land (identified afterwards with the traditional “false prophet,” Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE BEAST AND HIS WORSHIPERS Revelation 13:1 The horns symbolize power; the heads, intelligence; and the beast, an earthly kingdom. The dragon must stand for Satan, who has wrought his greatest achie...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Still reviewing the process, a beast is seen as the agent of Satan. It is the Antichrist, who is counterfeit of Christ. He appears with the signs and symbols of kingship. He is characterized by attrac...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    The two witnesses were given fire to devour those who would oppose them. (Revelation 11:5) The false prophet deceives the world with fire, making men believe he is equal to the witnesses. (Matthew 24:...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (19) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (19) The second point of the things done by the beast, is the credit of great wonders or...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (11) And I beheld 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...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We begin now what may be called the second volume of the Revelation. The prophetic part of the book divides into two portions at this point. This is another land-mark that cannot be despised, if we wo...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    The Beastly Trinity I. INTRODUCTION A.Last week we studied the war that will take place in Heaven as Michael the Archangel heads up an angelic army against "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In Chapter 13 we have the clear and full development of Satan's instruments of evil. They are two the ten-horned and the two-horned beasts. To the first the dragon, who swept with his tail a third par...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS,.... Or miracles; not real, but pretended ones, lying wonders, which the Popish legends are full of the accounts of, as done by the priests, or by this or the other saint:...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Ver. 13. _And he doth great wonders_] By his art of magic; for true miracles he can do none,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And he doeth great wonders_ We have seen the greatness of the power and authority of the beast, and we shall now see what course he pursues to establish it. He pretends, like other false prophets, to...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    DOETH GREAT WONDERS-MAKETH FIRE COME DOWN; the probable meaning of these words is, that having, by his signs and lying wonders, deceived the multitude and gained control over them, he uses the power t...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The second beast:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS, SO THAT HE MAKETH FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF MEN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    A BEAST COMING OUT OF THE SEA In contrast to seeing a great sign in heaven in Revelation 12:1, John now stands on the shore and sees a Beast rise out of the _sea_ (out of the Gentile or Western nation...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    _ 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men._ A. This beast that looks like a lamb, also tries to act like a religious power. He do...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-18 Those who understand the first beast to denote a worldly power, take the second to be also a persecuting and assumed power, which acts under the disguise of religion, and of charity to the soul...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS; _lying wonders,_ 2 THESSALONIANS 2:9, such as, by God's permission, false prophets might do, DEUTERONOMY 13:1,2. Prophets were to be judged true or false, not from any sign...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Revelation 13:13 G2532 performs G4160 (G5719) great G3173 signs G4592 so G2532 that G2443 makes G4160 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And he performs great signs that he should even make fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was give...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Revelation 13:13. AND HE DOETH GREAT SIGNS THAT HE SHOULD EVEN MAKE FIRE TO COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN INTO THE EARTH BEFORE MEN. The ‘great signs' are again a symbol of what is done _by false prophetica...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The passage upon which we now enter describes the third great enemy of God's people, and closes with the mysterious indication of the number of the beast....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THAT HE SHOULD EVEN MAKE FIRE COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN (ινα κα πυρ ποιη εκ του ουρανου καταβαινειν). Purpose clause again with ινα and the present active subjunctive of ποιεω and the object infinitiv...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The beast out of the sea and the beast out of the earth. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, John, false prophet, anti-christ, Satan. CONCLUSION: In the midst of the Tribulation period there shall ris...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The conscious mind, enquiring after the truth and certainty of revelation, is worthy of all the aid that science can afford. In Daniel, as stated above, on chap. Revelation 10:5, we have before us thr...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Deceiveth … by the means of those miracles._ MIRACLES: A COUNTERFEIT SUPERNATURALISM Miracles have ever been the chief evidence of the presence of what is worshipful and Divine. It is by these espec...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _A beast rise up out of the sea._ THE DOMAIN OF ANTICHRIST I. It has a manifold development. In the commerce of the world, in the government of the world, in the campaigns of the world, in the liter...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:11 A second beast rises out of the earth to recruit worshipers for the first beast. He gathers people using lying words and miracles. In John’s day, the imperial cult...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:13 MAKING FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. The false prophet (the second beast) does a miracle similar to Elijah’s to make people believe the first beast is divine (see...

  • The Message from Patmos by David Scott Clark

    John saw another beast coming up out of the earth having two horns like a lamb. He does not look fierce and terrible like the first beast; he is somewhat like a lamb. But he is not as innocent as he l...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE FIRST BEAST _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ IN this and the preceding chapter the three chief adversaries of the real kingdom of God in the world are described. The first is the dragon, or Satan....

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION REVELATION 13:1 AND I STOOD UPON THE SAND OF THE SEA. The Revised Version, agreeing with א, A, C, Vulgate, Syriac, AEthiopic, Armenian, Victorinus, reads ἐστάθη, "he stood." The Authori...

  • The Revelation of Jesus Christ Through the Ages by Donald A. Koenig

    _13  AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS, SO THAT HE MAKETH FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF MEN,_ This False Prophet will do great wonders. Apparently, he will have the power to call do...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    John said, I stood upon the sand of the sea (Revelation 13:1), Probably the Mediterranean Sea. and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE WAR IN HEAVEN Revelation 12:1 _and Revelation 13:1_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS It almost seems folly to try to speak on two Chapter s in Revelation, at one time. We realize we cannot do either one justi...

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Old Testament