Lambo - Rumor notes 111

 Revelation 13

11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.

(See chart covering the rest of this chapter.)

Verses 1-10 in the Greek are written in past tense while from here to the end of the chapter is written in present and future tense.

I saw another beast coming up out of the earth

Another indicates reference to the beast from the sea we have been examining for some time now.

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. (Revelation 13:1)

The following verse parallels the three main beast entities covered in this chapter, giving us another symbol or title to this beast coming out of the earth.

I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; (Revelation 16:13)

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

One of the functions of a prophet is sometimes to provide signs. We will take a closer look at this in a later verse. But this moves us toward the next descriptor relating to this beast, as mimicking the Lamb.

The earth is a key symbol in this book symbolizing the mindset and beliefs of those who live according to the counterfeit principles of the Tree of Good and Evil. Like the mist that rose from the ground in Genesis 2:6, this beast may represent the distillation of a new kind of creature more reflective of Satan's likeness, and who in turn forms and breathes life into an image made in its likeness. Thus the creation of humans by God is counterfeited by this unholy trinity setting up a new kind of intelligence to help facilitate their push to take control of the entire planet without exceptions.

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul. The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. (1 Samuel 28:11-14)

two horns like a lamb

Horns represent authority, power, force, intimidation and are often found as defensive and offensive weapons on many literal beasts. Yet no literal lamb has horns, nor does any other baby animal in general. The true Lamb of God is innocent and harmless, and even the symbolic Lamb found in chapter 5 is seen with 7 horns. These two horns represent some two-pronged approach to effectively deceive and seize control of the whole world through means that seek to appear benign and beneficial. This beast seeks to mimic the gentleness and appeal of a lamb while balancing that with intimidation and violence like a dragon. This spirit is reflective of the Tree of Good and Evil.

This connects to one of the core symbols of Satan's design which is the balance scales of good and evil, reward and punishment, insistence that both must coexist in order to maintain order and prevent chaos. Two sources or kinds of power could be reflected by the metaphor of the carrot and stick approach presumed to be effective in controlling society. This is purported to be the way God operates and thus lamb-like, yet it is really a counterfeit of the true Lamb who has 7 horns, not just 2, and those are very different in nature. This is another example of the great counterfeiter imitating the hero Lamb of Revelation. This could also be a refinement of the previous version of the antichrist.

There are many opinions about the possible meaning of these two horns. Some insist it represents the separation of powers in the unique political experiment of the United States, and this has credibility. It may also refer to the polarization of political views between the right and the left who appear to be at intense odds with each other but behind the scenes are actually pushing for a similar agenda. It may even have something to do with the fact there are two genders in humanity who are meant to work together toward common goals but with different perspectives. Whatever the horns mean, the important part of this verse in the masquerading as a lamb while having the spirit of the dragon.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

spoke like a dragon

What does it mean to speak like a dragon? The original dragon was not just powerful but even more importantly it was extremely cunning, seductive and subversive.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Has God really said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'" The woman said to the serpent, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" The serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5)

This is dragon-speak at a highly refined level. It is the ancient serpent identified in chapter 12 as Satan, the dragon and the devil. Be aware that he has the most brilliant created mind in the universe who spent much time close to the throne of power at the center of the universe. After his fall he became fiercely intimidating, relying on fear and deception to get his way.

Most important in this context is that this beast rising like an apparition out of the ground shares common goals and sentiments with both the previous beast and the dragon. It is like the dragon keeps coming up with yet another mask to use in pursuing his agenda for total world domination and extorting all the worship and allegiance he can get by hook or by crook.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

This beast may appear to be like a lamb, yet it does not have the character of humility and gentleness like the authentic Lamb. It opposes the methods of heaven's Lamb by reliance on its system of balancing good and evil invented by the dragon. This alerts us to the core issue of the war between this slaughtering lamb in contrast to the slaughtered Lamb introduced in 5:6.

You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence

Keep in mind the type of authority this is, and that it parallels that of the first beast.

They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:4-5)

This means this second beast is involved in every aspect of what the first beast was involved in doing such as blasphemy and making war against the saints of God. Clearly both of these beasts are synchronizing to further the agenda of the dragon who manipulates them both.

Notice too the reference to presence here. In Revelation presence has significance.

He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. (Revelation 13:14)

Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10)

He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast

Most all of these phrases have been reviewed, some several times, so we won't spend a lot of time covering them again. This makes it clear that dwelling on earthly things preconditions one to worshiping the first beast and the dragon, because worship involves getting one's identity and reason for living from a chosen source. That is why this pitched battle taking place all around us is seeking to rivet our attention on things to keep our imagination constantly occupied with anything other than a true knowledge of God's heart. Fear and intimidation are efficient means of getting worship, and the dragon and beasts are experts in using fear to capture the attention of most everyone. That is why we were given this prophetic book, to alert us to the underlying issues involved so we can know how to relate to the realities described here as they unfold all around us.

For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

What should be noted carefully here however, is the word makes at the beginning of this prediction. It is the very same word used at the beginning of this verse where it says he exercises all the authority of the first beast. What is important are the methods being used and how authority is perceived that stands out in sharp contrast to the true meaning of authority as designed by God and exercised by the Lamb. This beast is a law-enforcer and follows fully the example of the previous beast in how it enforces its will. It is all about use of coercion, compulsion, threats and whatever other violent means it deems necessary to force everyone to comply to its demands in the name of unity. It represents the spectrum of how the counterfeit system invented by Satan maintains control over as many as possible.

The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.

It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:2, 4-5, 7)

This transpires more readily because of the notion that law-keeping is equivalent to righteousness.

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You? (Psalms 94:20 NKJV)

This summarizes how the surrogates of the dragon carry out the dragon's agenda to control the entire world by any means possible. Our greatest danger is being infected with this spirit and disposition of the dragon, by allowing desires for revenge, payback, punishment and reliance on forceful means for achieving order and compliance to remain embedded in our own heart. All such desire poisons and abuses our spirit that was designed to reflect only the Lamb. Contrast this with how the Lamb exercises authority.

Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father. (John 8:38)

In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!"

Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" (Luke 4:33-36)

There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. (Luke 22:24-26)

The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? says Yahweh. Isn't my word like fire? says Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says Yahweh, who steal my words everyone from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says Yahweh, who use their tongues, and say, He says. Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says Yahweh, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I didn't send them, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 23:28-32)

Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

whose fatal wound was healed

This too was reviewed more thoroughly when we studied verse 3 not long ago. As we mentioned then, there is potentially more than one instance of a fatal wound experiencing recovery, but the primary application for us I believe, is what we see happening today on a global scale as the governments and rulers of the whole earth are being brought into synchronization with the agenda and disposition of most powerful religious entity that has been around and is most experienced in wielding this kind of power for over 1600 years.