Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 13:14

"And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him 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 who hath the stroke of the sword and lived." — Revelation 13:14 (ASV)

And deceiveth them . . .—Better, And he leads astray those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which were given him to do in the presence of the wild beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, to make an image to the wild beast that has the stroke of the sword and lived. He leads astray: this is the key to his success; he deifies the spirit of worldliness, but he does it by deception and subtlety. There is an appearance of wonderful power: he can work lying wonders. When men lose the sense of duty—the will to ask, “Is it right?”—they become an easy prey to some specious deception.

This is the reason that, both in the old and new dispensations, a caution against “immoral marvels” is entered (Matthew 24:24; and 2 Thessalonians 2:9); mere greatness, either of achievement or of miracle, is no guarantee of a good cause. The motto “Might is right” is the motto of worldliness; “Right is might” is the motto of faith, and those who hold it cannot worship the beast, even though the stroke of his death-wound is healed. Men have appealed to lying miracles on behalf of a death-wounded creed: the cleverness of self-interested partisanship is seldom barren of imposing expedients.