Always Remember that Christ Reigns – Revelation 13:1-14:5
13 The dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (2) The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. (3) One of the heads of the beast looked as though it had suffered a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was amazed and followed the beast; (4) and worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? And who is able to wage war against him?” (5) The beast was given a mouth that made great boasts and spoke blasphemies, he also was granted permission to rule for forty-two months. (6) He opened his mouth to blaspheme God—to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (7) He was granted permission to wage war against the saints, and to overcome them; furthermore, he was granted authority over every tribe and people and language and nation. (8) All peoples who dwell on the earth will worship him—everyone whose name has not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who has been slain from the creation of the world. (9) If any man has an ear, let him hear. (10) If anyone is destined for captivity, he will go into captivity; if anyone shall kill with the sword, he himself must be killed by the sword. This calls for perseverance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
(11) Then I saw another beast, coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. (12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf; causing the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed. (13) He performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. (14) By means of the signs he was granted to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceives those who dwell on the earth. He instructs those who dwell on the earth to make an image in honor of the beast who had received the fatal wound and survived. (15) He was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that it could speak and cause all those who refused to worship it to be put to death. (16) He compelled everyone, the insignificant and the prominent, the rich and the poor, the free man and the slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. (17) No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number that represents his name. (18) This calls for wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number that represents the beast, for it is the number that represents man. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (2) I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. (3) They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. (4) They are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, they are male virgins. They are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men in order to become the first fruits for God and for the Lamb. (5) No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
