Revelation 13:11-18 is a very intense passage. In reading, we are reminded of Elijah on Mt. Carmel where he called fire down from heaven to show Israel who was God.
But the fire in Revelation 13 is used for deception, a deception that leads to idolatry.
and he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men (vs 13)
This deception is broad and when it is not working on those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes, it is met with deadly force.
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. (vs 15)
The key issue in the above is not the signs and wonders. It’s not the fire from heaven. The most critical piece of information to grasp is in vs 14, between the above passages
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. (vs 14)
The miracles are used as a qualifier of truth. They are meant to be the proof that God is in the deception. This is not the first time satan has done this. In Egypt, he utilized the magicians of Egypt to imitate the miracles God had done.
But the question is, do miracles qualify truth? The simple answer is no. Miracles may be used to support the truth, however where no truth exists, a miracle only supports a lie.
There is a very important chapter that every Christian should know and study along with Revelation 13. It’s Deuteronomy 13.
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
(Deuteronomy 13:1–5 KJV)
This importance of this passage cannot be stressed enough in the context of end time bible prophecy. It doesn’t get any clearer.
Miracles do not make an event, proposed doctrine, theological stance or belief true.
The truth is true, because God has made it so.
If you’re not a student of the bible, I’d like to point out a couple of things just to help wrap all of this together in a prophetic context.
In Revelation 13, we just read about a power that was willing to kill if it’s deceptions did not work. But before the killings begin, economic pressure is put on first and those who do go along with the status quo receive a mark in their foreheads or right hand.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (vs 16-17)
Why are these marks placed so specifically?
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses recounts the 10 commandments to God’s people. After telling them what God had said upon the mount and wrote on two tablets, he tells them something very interesting in Chapter 6.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (vs 8)
The reason for keeping them on the hand was the remind them that the hand represents what they do, faith in action.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Why the frontlets of the eyes? Your eyes are right in front of your frontal lobe. It’s the part of the brain that deals with all moral reason and judgement. The eyes are represent your mind.
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:5
So the mark represents what you do, and what you think.
Let’s bring this back to Deuteronomy 13. The issue was really one of whether or not we really love God. How was this to be proved to the Savior?
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. (vs 4)
Loving God is trusting His Word, (believing it -mind) and carrying out what He asks (doing it -hand).
Ecclesiastes says it like this
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
This same language is found in Revelation 14, though it might not just jump out, it’s talking about the same thing.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14:6
Here we see the phrase begin repeated “fear God” and then we are warned about judgement. But instead of being told the keep the commandments this time we are told to “worship Him”. While at first glance it may not appear to be so, God is really telling us the same thing in Deuteronomy 13 and Ecclesiastes 12 as He is here.
While the word “commandments” may be missing the concept is very present.
Let’s hone in on this phrase
And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
We find this very similar language in another place in the bible. In fact, this is one of, if not the largest quotation in the new testament of the old.
It comes from Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
This is one of the ten commandments. And this helps reinforce which commandments are being spoken of in each of the passages.
Worship is a prevalent theme in Revelation 13. It’s evident that the same power that wants to impose a mark, also wants worship.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (vs 4)
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (vs 8)
So if worship of God is written in the context of believing His word and doing it (keeping His commandments). Then the worship of the beast power is the opposite, but in a very subtle way. After all, if it was a bad deception, the whole world would not fall for it. But we must be cautious because false worship will put us at odds with our Redeemer. Notice the connection between the mark and worship in the passage below.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: Revelation 14:9-10
What we believe and what we do matters to God. Keeping God’s commandments are important and so is not being deceived. This is why Jesus talked about these two things
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:4
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (a quote from the 10 commandments)
And one particular commandment was referenced to show that there is a time coming where worship will be forced.
The call for unity among Christians is getting louder.
But unity, without truth, is like signs & wonders without God’s word.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isaiah 40:8
Check out these two resources that show how God has protected His Word through history so that we might follow the words written in it and not be deceived.
