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Revelation: The Beast with Seven Heads and Another Beast
What kinds of names would be considered blasphemous?
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Revelation 13:1 I was standing on the sandy beach when a beast rose from the sea, having seven heads and ten horns with crowns. Blasphemous names were written upon the heads.
King James
Revelation 13:1 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.
What do you think the beast was, which John saw rise from the sea? Why did people worship it?
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Revelation 13:2–4 The beast was like a leopard with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion, whose position, authority, and power came from the dragon. One of the beast’s heads had a deadly wound than had healed. The whole world admired the beast. People worshiped the dragon that had given power to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is as mighty as the beast? No one is powerful enough to make war with it.”
King James
Revelation 13:2–4 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 seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 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?
What made the beast’s voice so eloquent?
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Revelation 13:5–6 The beast had a charismatic voice, able to speak blasphemies with eloquence for forty-two months. The beast ridiculed God, slandering his reputation and character. He spoke against God’s domain and all who live in Heaven.
King James
Revelation 13:5–6 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
How did the beast make war with God’s people?
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Revelation 13:7 With rule over all nations, races, and cultures, the beast made war with God’s people.
King James
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
How can the Lamb be slain “since the founding of the world”?
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Revelation 13:8 The people on Earth who worshiped the beast were those whose names were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain since the founding of the world.
King James
Revelation 13:8 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.
Of all humankind, what percentage do you think will be recorded in the Book of Life? If the judgment were today, how many people would that be?
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Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the small gate. For many take the wide gate and broad road that lead to destruction.”
Revelation 13:8 The people on Earth who worshiped the beast were those whose names were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain since the founding of the world.
King James
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Revelation 13:8 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.
Why will those who imprison others be imprisoned themselves?
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Revelation 13:10 Those who imprison others will be imprisoned themselves. They who live by the sword will eventually die by the sword. In the meantime, God’s people must be patient and faithful.
King James
Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
What happens to people who are impatient? How does patience affect faithfulness?
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Hebrews 10:36 We can be thankful for delays that bring patience, because endurance is essential for receiving God’s promise.
Revelation 13:10 Those who imprison others will be imprisoned themselves. They who live by the sword will eventually die by the sword. In the meantime, God’s people must be patient and faithful.
King James
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
How can a beast come “up from the earth”?
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Revelation 13:11 Another beast came up from the earth, having two horns like a little ram, but its voice was like a dragon.
King James
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
What is the voice of a dragon like?
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Revelation 13:11–12 Another beast came up from the earth, having two horns like a little ram, but its voice was like a dragon. This beast was mighty in speech like its predecessor, which caused the people to worship the beast whose deadly wound had been healed.
King James
Revelation 13:11–12 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
What kind of beast could do miracles and cause people to worship the beast that was fatally wounded but lived?
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Revelation 13:13–14 People watched the beast do amazing miracles, seeing fire brought down from above to scorch the earth. Because of these signs, the people were deceived and were convinced they should make an image for worship of the beast that was fatally wounded but lived.
King James
Revelation 13:13–14 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 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.
How could an image be given power to speak and to kill those who didn’t worship it?
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Revelation 13:15–16 The image had the power, not only to speak but also to kill those who would not worship it, which caused everyone from the least to the greatest, rich or poor, slave or free to receive a mark on the forehead or the right hand.
King James
Revelation 13:15–16 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. 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:
What do you think the “mark of the beast” was?
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Revelation 13:17–18 No one could buy or sell anything unless they had the identifying mark of the beast with its name and number. With wisdom, you can understand the meaning of the beast’s number, which is the number of a man: 666.
King James
Revelation 13:17–18 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.