Revelation 13:15

This verse may mean that the second beast will give life (Gr. pneuma, breath) to an inanimate object or that he will only appear to do so. In either case he will deceive many people (Revelation 13:14).

"Belief in statues which spoke and performed miracles is widely attested in ancient literature." [Note: Mounce, p. 261. Cf. Charles, 1:361, and Beale, p. 711, for additional sources.]

The image will speak and will put to death those who do not worship the beast (cf. Daniel 3:11), possibly by issuing commands for executions. Evidently these events will all take place in Jerusalem and probably in the temple that will stand there at this time (cf. Revelation 11:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). We should not conclude that every last believer will die at this time (i.e., during the Great Tribulation; cf. Revelation 12:13-16; Revelation 13:17-18; Matthew 25:31-46).