We pick up in verse 11 where another beast appears on the scene. Unlike the first beast, this one came up from the land, having only two horns “like a lamb” yet it “spoke like a dragon”. This is a curious thing to say; what does a dragon speak like? Remembering that the dragon, which is standing right there in the picture, is Satan, we know how a dragon speaks: Lies, lies and more lies! The first beast symbolized the persecuting power of the anti-Christian governments. It was very powerful… but it wasn’t at all subtle. This little monster, on the other hand, is subtlety itself, looking innocent like a lamb and speaking lies like the dragon.
This new beast worked on behalf of the first beast, which had all of the power of Satan at its disposal; they are not only allies, but partners in Satan’s crimes. It is quite fitting that this beast, who speaks for the dragon, came from the land, when you consider the New Testament paradox of earth and earthly things as opposed to heaven and heavenly things. We are told to set our minds on heavenly things, not earthly things; earthly sources are the sources for human wisdom that is in opposition to God (cf. James 3:15; Phil. 3:19). Reading through our text, we quickly see that this beast has the power to perform signs and wonders to deceive the people of the earth, but then why would that be a shock to anyone? He speaks like the dragon, which is one big deception!
We then discover that this beast has the power to cause not only economic discrimination against God’s people, but can also have them put to death for not “worshipping” the first beast. At this point, you might recall that we have seen in earlier visions the combination of persecuting governments and economic persecution being used against the church, both in John’s time and throughout this age. In this vision, we are seeing the same pattern, only from a different point of view, for here we are looking at the spiritual forces behind these earthly manifestations.
Finally, we come to the most controversial part of the vision, the sealing of people with the mark of the beast; 666. Before we go crazy, don’t forget that this is not a literal passage. If we forget this, we can end up with the most outrageous speculations and loose track completely of the message of the text. We might come up with a great horror movie, or a thrilling novel, but we’ll miss what God is trying to communicate through John.
There is nothing new in Scripture about the imagery of the forehead and the right hand. In the Old Testament Law, where were the commandments placed to remind the people of them?
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 6:8
These locations symbolize all of your thoughts and all of your deeds. The seal being placed on all of a person’s thoughts and all of their deeds is the number of Man. Think about it: Human governments waging war against God. Human false religion, false philosophy and wisdom waging war against God and His people… in all of a person’s thoughts and deeds. This is no literal mark… it is so much more than that; it is Satan’s game plan to destroy God and His Church! If your life isn’t about opposing God, then they will kill you. This is the most dangerous and terrible thing in all of Scripture; it is the Devil’s fondest dream, not just some stupid tattoo.
With this in mind, think about the world around us; what do non-beliers say about why they have made their choice not to believe? They might say that the Bible doesn’t answer their deep questions, or they might say that science proves there is no God. Maybe they say they follow another way of life, or a different faith. Perhaps they are very wise in the ways of this world and have no room for God. Do you see the pattern? “Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” (James 3:15) They have been fooled by the second beast.
In the next chapter, we meet another of the dragon’s partners in crime… I can’t wait!
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