Revelation 13:14

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

A. These miracles are a fake. They are deceptions, a fraud. The beast does not have any supernatural power to perform miracles. His only power is the ability to deceive.

B. This beast “appears” to be in submission to the first beast. The reality is that this beast is the one that put the first beast back in power. It resurrected the civil government, giving it power and life and it could take away that power and life.

C. I have seen a parallel in my work in Russia. I have seen the Russian Orthodox Church claim to support the government, but in fact, it is more powerful than the government and could take it down if the civil leaders fail to follow the desires of the Patriarch.