Revelation 13:10

RV 'If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth' (i.e. his captivity is by God's will): 'if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed,' i.e. Christians are not to fight against the persecutors, but are to submit to God's will: cp. Matthew 26:52.

A second beast is seen. It comes out of the earth (contrast Revelation 13:1), because it belongs to the Province of Asia, the land of the writer and first readers of this book. This beast represented 'the Province of Asia, in its double aspect of civil and religious administration, the Proconsul and the Commune. It had two horns, corresponding to this double aspect, and was like a lamb, for Asia was a peaceful country where no army was needed' (Ramsay). Yet it spake as a dragon, i.e. it made the same blasphemous assertions and demands as those which the first beast had learnt from the dragon: cp. Revelation 13:5. (Revelation 13:11). The authority of the Imperial Government had been delegated to the Provincial Government, which used its authority in enforcing the worship of the emperor. As the persecuting spirit of the empire was incarnate in Nero, the Imperial Government is identified with Nero himself, restored to life; i.e. the succeeding emperors will act in the spirit of Nero (Revelation 13:12). The worship of the emperor's image is recommended to the credulous populace by the aid of trickery and conjuring (Revelation 13:13.), and by ventriloquism, (Hence the beast is also called the 'false prophet,' cp. Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10.) The punishment for refusing to worship the image is death (Revelation 13:15). No one in the Province is allowed to buy or sell, who cannot produce a certificate, under Imperial seal ('the mark, even the name of the beast,' RV), showing that he has joined in the worship of the emperor. Or the meaning may be that all must offer incense with the hand, or bow the head, to the image, before they are allowed to trade (Revelation 13:16.). The name of the beast, i.e, of the smitten head, is given as 666 (Revelation 13:18), The reference is to the numerical value of letters. In both Greek and Hebrew, letters of the alphabet were used as numbers. It has been found that if 'Neron Cæsar' be written in Hebrew letters, the sum of the letters is 666. This is generally accepted at present, although, to get 666, 'Cæsar' has to be written defectively. If spelt 'Nero Cæsar,' the sum of the letters is 616, which is the reading of some MSS. Some hold that 616 is the original reading, and that it represents 'Gaios Cæsar,' i.e. Caligula. Irenæus took the number as standing for 'Lateinos,' i.e. 'the Latin.' Another interpretation sees in the number simply a continuation of the contrast with Christ of Revelation 13:11. The number of the name 'Jesus' in Gk. is 888 and, according to this interpretation, the meaning is that the beast falls as far short of 'seven' (i.e. perfection and holiness) as Jesus goes beyond it.