IT will be seen that the first beast rises up out of the sea, the symbolic meaning of which has already been explained; but if waters means peoples and nations, and if sea means the same in a state of commotion, then earth would mean the peoples and nations under settled and ordered government. The resurrection of the Roman Empire out of the tumult soon produces stability, and then out of the peoples and nations in this organized form arises the second beast—he comes up out of the earth (ver. 11). The first beast is a political power; the second is more religious— “he had two horns like a lamb.” But for all his lamb-like semblance, his voice betrays him. It is not the voice of “the good shepherd” — “he spake as a dragon” (ver. 11). Yet, though the dominant feature of the first beast is imperial power, and of the second religious, nevertheless they both have, in some measure, the same attributes. Thus the first has, in addition to political eminence, a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and the second, though characteristically religious, is nevertheless represented as a “beast,” which in prophetic symbolism, denotes an imperial power, and later on we shall see that he is indeed a king.
Here then is exhibited the awful display of Satanic action and influence at the close of the age. An empire is erected by Satan, coming up out of the abyss (17:8). It is to have universal dominion— “authority was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations” (13:7). “And the whole earth wondered after the beast” (ver. 3). It is formally and openly blasphemous— “upon his heads are names of blasphemy” (ver. 7). “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies... and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (vers. 5, 6).
But there is the second beast (ver. 11). This really is the antichrist, the man of sin of 2 Thessalonians. There is perfect concurrence between the dragon and the first beast and the second beast—they mutually co-operate and support each other. The dragon confers power an authority upon the first beast, obtaining through this the homage of men— “they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast” (ver. 4). Then the second beast exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast (ver. 12). “And he docth 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 he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (vers. 13-15).
Here there is Satan's imitation of Christ. As Christ testified of the Father, so this beast bears testimony to the first beast, while Satan himself is the moving spirit behind all. It is of importance to apprehend the distinctness which Scripture thus exhibits not only between the three members of this Satanic trinity, but more particularly between the beast that is the head of the Roman Empire and the second beast that comes up out of the earth, since it has been a frequent error of prophetic writers to confuse these two. What is affirmed of the antichrist has been erroneously applied to the eighth head of the Roman Empire. Indeed, all the predictions as to the willful king of Daniel, the Roman prince, the second beast of Revelation 13, the little horn of Daniel, the antichrist and the man of sin, as well as expired prophecies relating to Antiochus Epiphanes, have been indiscriminately applied to one person.
The time will be one of abounding delusion. A judicial principle traceable in God's dispensational dealings with men is, that when light from God has been despised and resisted, blindness is sent. So was the heart of Pharaoh hardened. The Jews are another instance. Jesus admonished 'them: “Walk while we have the light, lest darkness come upon you... While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may become sons of light” (John 12:35, 3635Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12:35‑36)). Now, as the consequence of their rejection, not only of the Savior, but of the testimony of the Holy Spirit from Pentecost and onwards, Paul tells us, “Their minds were blinded, for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart” (2 Corinthians 3:14, 1514But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (2 Corinthians 3:14‑15)). Then he tells us, in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, that “wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (chap. 2:15, 16). So also in Romans 11, “For I would not brethren, that ye should he ignorant of this mystery... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (ver. 25). And Scripture announces the solemn doom as the end of the unbelief of Christendom— “Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved,” God will “send them a working of error that they should believe what is false, that all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10, 1110And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:10‑11)).
Anyone who reads attentively the 11th chapter of Romans will perceive that Paul there treats of God's dispensational dealings with Israel and the Gentiles. Israel is cut off because of unbelief (ver. 20), and light and blessing have flowed to the Gentile. But this is accompanied by ominous warning, “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell severity, but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALL BE CUT OFF (vers. 20-22).
The present attitude of men towards Christianity has already been referred to under sect. v. But if Christendom's status with God depends on the word, “Thou standest by faith,” what is that status to-day? The emptiness of pews and desertion of ecclesiastical edifices is the wail of every denomination. Not only, however, are the mass of people outside the buildings, but, their being so is, sad to say, expressive of their sentiments towards revealed truth. At the same time the leaders of the Christian religion are modifying their tenets and debasing their standards to suit the unregenerate mind of man—a leveling down instead of leveling up and pro tanto giving up “the faith.” A leading European journal has teemed with letters under the heading, “Do we believe?” collected now into a ponderous book. Is the Gentile then really standing by faith? The Jew has been cut off and is judicially blinded, and to the Gentile the Spirit of God says, “Take heed lest he also spare not thee.” The preceding quotation from Romans 11 shows that if the Gentile does not continue in God's goodness in the gospel, the sentence upon him is, “Thou also shalt he cut off.” This synchronizes with what has before been shown—that Christendom, when become void of faith, will be spued out of Christ's mouth. Following that, however, will be the blinding power of Satan, to which men will be judicially subjected in righteous retribution for not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved. The apostasy comes first, and the flood of delusion follows, culminating at the revelation of the man of sin (see Revelation 13 already quoted).
Who that has had much discourse with men respecting Christianity is not cognizant of a desire on their part, deep and strong though perhaps denied, to find out at last that Christianity is not true, not obligatory as a message from God? Immense labor and perverse ingenuity are expended in the effort to prove it false. With crass illwill men set themselves to the task of picking holes in the gracious revelation which God has given, to find flaws in the beauteous message of His grace. The desire is plain, though so far, it is desire only—perhaps will; but with the advent of the antichrist there will be sent a working of error (ἐνέργεια πλάνης) that they should believe what is false. Now they wish to believe it; then they will have no doubt. The mental atmosphere of the time will be different, and, what is Satanic falsehood will appear as marvelous light. This is one fundamental change which will occur at the end of the age. In Christendom at present, most people believe, in a general way, in the trueness of Christianity (however rapidly it is being given up); and those who do not, feel that they are in opposition to what is generally accepted as truth; a militant minority bravely battling as they suppose against an effete superstition. But this position will be reversed. With the apostasy Christianity will be relinquished; with the coming of antichrist delusion will prevail and Satanic falsehood be accepted as truth. Reader, such is the prospect of modern civilization! However bright it may appear, this dark cloud lowers on its horizon. With all its promise, and with all its intellectualism, this will be the outcome: Christianity abolished, the worship of Satan supervening, and then, very soon will follow, the coming of the Son of man in power and great glory, to judge living men upon the earth.
The coming of the antichrist is stated to be “according to the working of Satan in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and in all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish; because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God sends to them a working of error, that they should believe what is false, that all might be judged who have not believed the truth, but have found pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-129Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9‑12), New Translation). By this, as well as by the previous quotation from Revelation 13, it will be apparent that the man of sin works miracles. Here, in Thessalonians, his coming is said to be “in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood"; and in Revelation 13 “he does great wonders so that he makes fire to come down from heaven on the earth before men,” and deceives, by his miracles, those who dwell on the earth; also he has power to give breath unto the image of the beast, etc. Thus the second beast is the great delusory agent, and uses his powers to attest and to aggrandize the first beast.
The first beast does not work miracles or signs; he impresses by his political and military greatness— “they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” The resuscitation of the great Roman empire, not only with undiminished but with augmented glory, is such a marvel, that the minds of men are carried away by it— “the whole earth wondered after the beast.” Three times in this chapter (Revelation 13) is the surprising fact referred to, and from the way in which it is spoken of, the event will probably be of a magnitude, compared with which the rapid rise and ascendancy of Bonaparte will have been but feeble. The first mention is in ver. 3, where the wondering of the whole earth after him is in connection with the healing of his deadly wound; then in ver. 12 where the second beast causes the earth to worship the first beast, he is described as “the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.” And this is not for the purpose of designation, because for that the term “first beast” would have sufficed, but obviously it is for emphasis. Again, in ver. 14, the miraculous powers of the second beast are exerted that the dwellers on the earth should make an image—to what? To “the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live.”
The “first beast” having its seat in Rome will be the western power; and we have seen from 2 Thessalonians that the man of sin (the second beast) is present in the temple, that is, in Jerusalem; so that there will be two great imperial powers, one in the west and one in the east, at Rome and Jerusalem respectively.
There can be no doubt from Scripture that the eastern potentate is identical with a character who is abruptly brought in in Daniel 11:36 as “the king.” Indeed the second beast of Revelation 13, the man of sin of 2 Thessalonians 2, the king of Daniel 11:36-39, and the antichrist of 1 John 2:18, 2218Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1 John 2:18)
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22), are clearly identical. Some in reading Daniel 11 have thought that the expression “the king” in a chapter dealing with the king of the north and the king of the south, must refer to one of these two. But for an Israelite to mention his own king in this indefinite way is perfectly natural both here and in Isaiah 30:3131For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. (Isaiah 30:31). When an English newspaper announces that “the King” is going to Scotland, it would be quite superfluous to say “the King of England"; while, if speaking of another king it would be necessary to specify—the King of Spain, or whatever other king might be meant. So Daniel and Isaiah, when referring to kings, specify king of the north or king of the south, etc., but “the king” without further definition, means of course king of Israel. The chronological place of this king is determined by the 40th verse (Daniel 11), which says that “at the time of the end” the king of the south shall push at him. This occurrence we do not now discuss, merely adducing the proof which it affords that “the king” previously referred to is found “at the time of the end.” Two interesting features may be remarked in Daniel's sketch of the antichrist. One, that he will not regard the desire of women. This, in a Jewish prophecy, refers to the proper aspiration of Jewish women to be the mother of the promised Messiah. That this is its significance is confirmed by the collocation in which the expression occurs, both that which precedes and that which follows it, viz., “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all” (ver. 37). Secondly, the God of his fathers is twice referred to, which is a probable indication that this person will be of the Jewish race—a high qualification in one presenting himself to Israel as Messiah and Messianic king.
Now notice the concurrent testimony of prophecy as to this personage.
2—Self-exaltation and antagonism to God— “He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and speak monstrous things against the God of gods” ''And he will not regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he will magnify himself above all” (Daniel 11:36, 3736And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Daniel 11:36‑37)). “The man of sin,... the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth down in the temple of God showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 13Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1)). “Ye have heard that antichrist shall come....He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:18, 2218Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1 John 2:18)
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)).
3—Gives his support and influence to the first beast— “And in his place (or office) will he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not will he honor with gold and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things” (Daniel 11:3838But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:38)). “And he causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.... And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:12, 14, 1512And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12)
14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:14‑15)).
On the page of Scripture and of eternal history, two men stand out as exact opposites. One is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Man of righteousness; and the other the man of sin, in whom culminates the wickedness of the race. Jesus being God, emptied Himself to become a servant; the other, only a man, shows himself in the temple that he is God. Jesus, having already condescended to become man, humbled Himself to death, even the death of the cross; the man of sin exalts himself. Jesus, when they would have made Him a king, declined, for He had come to suffer not to reign; the other takes the place of king and will exalt and magnify himself. Jesus came down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of Him who sent Him; as to the other, “The king will do according to his will.” Jesus was the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep; the idol shepherd slays all who will not worship him. Jesus was rejected and crucified; the man of sin will be accepted and worshipped.
And what will be the end of all the opposition to God which has been slightly placed before the reader? At the coming of the Lord Jesus, the man of sin, and the beast before whom he wrought miracles, being found in open and audacious rebellion, will be taken and cast alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:1919And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)). There have been two who have been translated to heaven without seeing death—Enoch and Elijah. As these two were eminent in faithfulness and devotion to God, and were eminently rewarded, so the two who will have been pre-eminent among mankind in evil and sin will pass alive to their horrible and summary doom.
[E. J. T.]
(Continued from page 263)
(To be continued)