'Rev 13:11-18

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Beast from the earth (Rev 13:11-18)

With the appearance of the beast from the earth (who is identified as the false prophet; see Rev 16:13; 19:20), the trinity of evil is complete. As the true Christ received his authority from the Father, so the antichrist receives his authority from Satan (see Rev 13:2b; cf. John 8:28).

As the Holy Spirit gives glory to the true Christ, so the false prophet gives glory to the antichrist (see Rev 13:12; cf. John 16:14).

The spirit of the false prophet is always in the world, for it represents false religion, or whatever philosophy people use in place of religion (Matt 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1).

It too will have its most intense expression in the days immediately before Christ’s return (2 Thess 2:11-12).

The false prophet tries to make himself look as harmless as a lamb, but his speech shows that he belongs to Satan (Rev 13:11).

He has the same satanic power as the antichrist and cooperates with him. The meaning seems to be that religious power (represented by the false prophet) joins with secular power (represented by the antichrist) to establish anti-God rule throughout the world. The false prophet gains worldwide worship for the antichrist and builds a living image of him. False religion supports the ungodly system that controls human society. Any who refuse to give their support face death (Rev 13:12-15).

Since God marks his people with his seal (see Rev 7:3), the antichrist marks his people. If any refuse to follow the anti-Christian system, they suffer social and economic discrimination. They are not able to buy even the basic necessities for living (Rev 13:16-17).

But whereas the seal placed on God’s people is that of the living God (see Rev 7:2), the seal placed on the ungodly is that of the human rebel who fights against God. Its number, 666, is that of a man, not God. It is a human number, for it falls short of the perfect divine number, 777. The antichrist wants to be God, but he must fail, for he is only a man (Rev 13:18; cf. 2 Thess 2:3-4).