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Revelation 13:13-17

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14. 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. 15. 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. 16. 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: 17. 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.

Revelation 13:13-17 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 13:13

Theological / Devotional

Wonders. Gr. sēmeia (see on ch. 12:1). This reveals the agency by which the prince of evil will secure the allegiance of earth’s inhabitants. These miracles will deceive men into believing that the new organization, the image (see on ch. 13:14), has the blessing of God resting upon it.

So that. The last clause in v. 13 is explanatory of the first. Among the signs he works are conspicuous ones that attract the attention of men. The bringing down of fire from heaven may be an attempt to counterfeit the miracle on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:17–39). As the ancient sign gave evidence of the power of the true God, so the beast will make it appear that God is supporting his program. Seventh-day Adventists expect these miracles to come through the agency of spiritism. Satan, claiming to be God, will seek to support his claim by means of undeniable miracles (see 2 Thess. 2:9, 10).

By SdaBc