Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 13
"and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. And [I saw] one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him? and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, [even] them that dwell in the heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, [every one] whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain. If any man hath an ear, let him hear. If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." — Revelation 13:1-10 (ASV)
The apostle, standing on the shore, saw a savage beast rise out of the sea—a tyrannical, idolatrous, persecuting power, springing up out of the troubles that occurred. It was a frightful monster! It appears to mean that worldly, oppressing dominion which, for many ages, even from the times of the Babylonian captivity, had been hostile to the church. The first beast then began to oppress and persecute the righteous for righteousness' sake, but they suffered most under the fourth beast of Daniel (the Roman empire), which has afflicted the saints with many cruel persecutions.
The source of its power was the dragon. It was set up by the devil and supported by him. The wounding of the head may be the abolishing of pagan idolatry, and the healing of the wound, introducing popish idolatry—the same in substance, only in a new form, but which just as effectively serves the devil's design. The world admired its power, policy and success. They paid honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments.
It exercised infernal power and policy, requiring people to render to creatures the honour that belongs to God alone.
Yet the devil's power and success are limited. Christ has a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist may overcome the body and take away the natural life, they cannot conquer the soul nor persuade true believers to forsake their Saviour and join his enemies.
Perseverance in the faith of the gospel and true worship of God—in this great hour of trial and temptation, which would deceive all but the elect—is the characteristic of those registered in the book of life.
This powerful motive and encouragement to constancy is the great design of the whole Book of Revelation.
"And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed. And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. 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. And it was given [unto him] to give breath to it, [even] to the image to the breast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, [even] the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six." — Revelation 13:11-18 (ASV)
Those who understand the first beast to denote a worldly power also consider the second to be a persecuting and assumed power, which acts under the disguise of religion and of charity to the souls of men. It is a spiritual dominion, professing to be derived from Christ, and exercised at first in a gentle manner, but soon spoke like the dragon. Its speech betrayed it, for it issues those false doctrines and cruel decrees which show it to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb.
It exercised all the power of the former beast. It pursues the same design: to draw men from worshipping the true God and to subject the souls of men to the will and control of men. The second beast has carried on its designs by various methods intended to deceive men into worshipping the former beast in its new shape or likeness. These methods include lying wonders, pretended miracles, and severe censures. Furthermore, it involves allowing no one to enjoy natural or civil rights who will not worship that beast which is the image of the pagan beast.
It is made a qualification for buying and selling, as well as for places of profit and trust, that people oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavour to advance the dominion of the beast; this is what is meant by receiving his mark. To make an image for the beast whose deadly wound was healed would be to give form and power to his worship, or to require obedience to his commands.
To worship the image of the beast implies being subject to those things that define its character and make it the image of the beast. The number of the beast is given to show the infinite wisdom of God and to exercise the wisdom of men. The number is the number of a man, computed in the usual manner among men, and it is 666. What or who is intended by this remains a mystery. This number has been applied to almost every religious dispute, and it may reasonably be doubted whether its meaning has yet been discovered.
But the one who has wisdom and understanding will see that all the enemies of God are numbered and marked out for destruction, that the term of their power will soon expire, and that all nations shall submit to our King of righteousness and peace.
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