Revelation 13:12-14 KJV,ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:1-18

The domain of antichrist. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy," etc. £ Fanciful interpretations of this chapter, as well as other portions of this book, are abundant. The last seems to us not less unfounded and absurd than those that have gone before. Most of such interpretations assume that the comparatively few people who lived in Rome... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:11-17

Subtle dangers. The Book of Revelation presents us with a view of the conflict between the varied kingdoms of this world and the undivided kingdom of our God and of his Christ, and it uniformly declares to us this one consolatory truth, that these kingdoms shall become submissive to his kingdom. These kingdoms present themselves in the great world drama as various powers standing more or less in active opposition to the dominion of Christ over the life of men—in opposition to truth, to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:12

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him; all the authority.., in his sight (Revised Version). That is, his influence over men, though less directly asserted, is equal to that of the first beast. And he exercises this influence "in his sight," that is, by his permission and contemporaneously with the exercise of power by the first beast. So Christians both of St. John's and of our own time seek to escape direct persecution by justifying to themselves their unworthy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders. Men are apt to deceive themselves by attributing to other agencies the power to work wonders which belongs only to God himself. In St. John's time the arts of magic were used; in modern times the marvels of science often lead men to a disbelief in God. Archdeacon Lee, in his commentary, says, "We cannot doubt that there is also a reference to the wonderful power over nature which the spirit of man has attained to, and which has too often been abused to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:14

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, he deceives by employing false signs, and he deceives by inducing men to believe that the worship of the first beast is allowable. Those "that dwell on the earth" are the worldly minded, as in Revelation 13:12 . "Which he had power to do" should rather be "which it was given him to do," as in the Revised Version. The power possessed by the beast does not originate... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:12

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him - The same amount of power; the same kind of power. This shows a remarkable relationship between these two beasts; and proves that it was intended to refer to the same power substantially, though manifested in a different form. In the fulfillment of this, we should naturally look for some government whose authority extended far, and which was absolute and arrogant in its character, for this is the power attributed to the first beast.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders - “Signs” - σημεῖα sēmeia - the word commonly employed to denote “miracles” (compare the notes on Acts 2:19); and the representation here is, that the power referred to by the second beast would found its claim on pretended miracles, and would accomplish an effect on the world as if it actually did work miracles. The applicability of this to papal Rome no one can doubt. See the notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Compare Revelation 13:14.That he maketh five come down from... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:14

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles - Nothing could possibly be more descriptive of the papacy than this. It has been kept up by deception and delusion, and its pretended miracles have been, and are to this day, the means by which this is done. Anyone in the slightest degree acquainted with the pretended miracles practiced at Rome, will see the propriety of this description as applied to the papacy. The main fact here stated, that the papacy would endeavor... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 13:11-12

Revelation 13:11-12. And I beheld another beast, &c. From the description of the ten-horned beast, or Roman state in general, the prophet passeth to that of the two-horned beast, or Roman Church in particular. The beast with ten crowned horns is the Roman empire, as divided into ten kingdoms; the beast with two horns like a lamb is the Roman hierarchy, or body of the clergy, regular and secular. This beast is otherwise called the false prophet; than which there cannot be a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 13:13-17

Revelation 13:13-17. And he doeth great wonders We have seen the greatness of the power and authority of the beast, and we shall now see what course he pursues to establish it. He pretends, like other false prophets, to show great signs and wonders, and even to call for fire from heaven, as Elias did, 2 Kings 1:11-12. His impostures, too, are so successful, that he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, &c. In this respect he perfectly resembles St. Paul’s man of sin, 2... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:11-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 13:11-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 13:13-17

Group of Brands