Fatal Wound Enigma - Rumor notes 104

 Revelation 13

3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. 4 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?"

One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally

ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. (v. 1)

There is only one of the seven heads that is wounded with an apparently fatal blow. Yet all of the heads have blasphemous names. We need to keep this in mind, for as we have noted above, the entire system of governance and this kind of authority is foreign to God's system because it was conceived in iniquity . What this passage highlights here is that one head in particular receives the great blow, meaning that likely this one entity likely was the most assertive, outspoken and aggressive in its rebellion against God's principles of love.

This head that is wounded is described more fully in the following verses.

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. 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. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. (Revelation 13:5-8)

This apparently fatal wound resonates with the very first prophecy given designed to bring hope after the initial entrance of sin into our world, indicating there would be a compelling pushback by the kingdom of light to resist the dominion of Satan.

I [Yahweh] will put enmity between you [serpent/dragon] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

I want to point out an important correlation between two events that may be alluded to here. First, Satan seized control of the dominion of this planet as soon as Adam acquiesced to eat from the Tree, relinquishing his dominion by presenting himself to serve the dragon through eating the fruit from the tree representing the serpent's form of governance.

Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

Humanity's head chose deliberately to obey the author of the counterfeit system of governance, so all of Adam's descendants were brought under the tyranny of slavery and lost their freedom collectively. That is the law of inheritance operating. Children born to slaves are also slaves and owned by the slave-master who owned their parents. This is what we are up against living in these last days longing for full deliverance from the power of our fallen flesh nature.

The first major blow to the dragon's authority happened when Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, given Him the right to take away Satan's authority as representative of humanity in the courts of heaven to assume that position Himself. Additionally, the stunning revelation of the truth about God's character of pure love, light, truth and humility was exposed through the perfect reflection of God's heart in the human demonstration by the Son of Man. This caused the dragon to be exposed as the great fraud that he is and sent him scrambling to invent new deceptions to recover his credibility and to cover up and suppress the truth that had been released by Christ that was like a fatal blow to the entire system based on inventions originating in the head of the dragon.

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

The arrest of the Pope in Rome in 1798 by a french general to put an end to the reign of terror propagated by the Holy Roman Empire was an apparently fatal wound not unlike the one the dragon had experienced around 1800 years previous. For a time it appeared that this wound would be irreversible, yet given enough time we see that this same power that received that mortal wound is coming back with even greater force, though presently still seeking to camouflage its true agenda until the time is ripe to reassert its power and make war on the saints of God to overcome them.

This reference to Rome must be kept in the forefront, for in the vision of Daniel it was represented by the fourth beast coming after the other three beasts already mentioned here in Revelation 13.

After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:7-8)

As political Rome weakened in power, its tactics and character were absorbed into a new amalgamation power that mingled both politics and religion, gaining ascendancy over other weaker powers until becoming the prominent force that dominated the Western hemisphere, ruling the world through relentless tyranny and relying on the principles and methods of the dragon in order to increase and assert its authority mercilessly until it confronted by the French revolution.

After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. (Daniel 7:7-8 NAS95)

I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them (Daniel 7:21 NAS95)

As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:24-25 NAS95)

This entity figures prominently in both the prophecies of Daniel as well as in Revelation, meaning that it must be a major player in the war between the dragon with the forces of darkness, against the Lamb leading all who choose to embrace the true light about God. This is given to alert us to watch and be ready in our minds and hearts in order that we not be caught unawares when these events explode in the last assaults initiated by the dragon in his fierce attempts to exterminate all who dare retain their loyalty to the Lamb and all that He stands for.

His fatal wound was healed

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. (Revelation 13:12)

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)

One way of 'healing' the apparent fatal wound that was initially delivered by the true Lamb who exposed the charges of Satan against God as invalid, has been through the development of a matrix of new compelling lies about the meaning of the cross of Christ. All the world generally embraces the lies of appeasement atonement that eclipses the radical revelation of the true atonement.

The second and primary application of this healing refers specifically to the recovery of papal power resurfacing presently and soon to be fully recovered in an astonishing display of religious and political clout. This will be achieved partly by gaining the admiration, cooperation and renewed authority from the world who gives it power to finally accomplish its original sinister goal of crushing out all resistance to its teachings and world domination.

This amalgamated beast worked ardently to reestablish old lies along with myriads of new ones until its power was curtailed by its overthrow in 1798. But again it strangely survived, primarily because the underlying misrepresentations of God developed by Satan have remained in tact, so despite the political blow dealt to this surrogate power by an earthly political power, the root belief system has been able to regain status in the world and strengthen its base until today it is once again poised to assert its power with the same motives and methods as that used by the dragon.

the whole earth marveled at the beast

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:6-8)

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 1:16 NIV)

But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God." They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. (Acts 8:9-11)

Practice sorcery – magic, a magician, one who practices sorcery.

The word sorcery itself has very compelling inferences especially in what we are seeing happen around the world right now. Consider the chilling prediction of heaven in reference to how deception will be accomplished in the last days.

The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. (Revelation 18:23)

Here the word sorcery comes from the Greek word pharmakeia: medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):--sorcery, witchcraft.

In turn this word is based on another Greek word pharmakeus: from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:--sorcerer.

In the Hebrew this word is `anan and means to cover; to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practice magic, enchanter, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer. It also means a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud: cloudy.

With these clear definitions relating to deception by obscuring the light of truth, I can't help but see strong links to another prophecy we studied sometime ago in chapter 9.

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don't have God's seal on their foreheads. They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people's faces. They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (Revelation 9:1-11)

What else can we do but to connect the dots that God has laid out long ago. Those who have ears, let them hear as Jesus said a number of times.

They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast

Worship involves who we rely on to show to us what God is like, which in turn is how we determine what it is like us to act like ourselves in whatever situation we come into. The god we worship is whomever is given our authority to guide our decisions and reactions and define how like to act like ourselves in our group identity as defined by that god. The reason they worship both the dragon and the beast is because they share common attributes, common goals, common craving for power, worship and control to dominate the world. As the dragon brings to the forefront his surrogate agents to carry our his agenda on earth, the attention and compliance given to them is by extension worship directly given to him, for it is through embracing the spirit and coming to share desires and beliefs about what methods God should use to win the war that constitutes the worship given to them.

When we appreciate the actual way authority is given to another, this phrase takes on new perspective. True transfer of authority means consent for someone else to access the soul, to get involved in their life. It involves the exercise of the will, so in order to give God authority in our lives we must make choices to give Him access to our will and consent to let Him have His way rather than insisting on our desires. We defer everything to God, trusting in His goodness and superior perspective in every situation. This was exampled by Jesus when He prayed in the garden for God's will to be done rather than His own. This is how God was given full authority in the life of Christ, not just in that instance but all throughout His life where here on earth.

What would it look like for the dragon to give his authority to the beast given this perspective of how authority is released? I don't think the dragon consents to defer to the beast as the final word, that is unless the beast is already so tuned to the spirit of the dragon that it would make no difference. What this could refer to is the investment of power, for when we give God full authority through submission of our will to always defer to His will, God's power is then authorized to carry out God's work in and through us which is part of the good news of the gospel.

What we are witnessing here is the operation of the counterfeit imitating the true power of the gospel from God in our lives. It is the power of Satan that is released through manipulation and cooperation of these entities making their appearance in this chapter who all synchronize with the agenda and spirit of the dragon and who are so bent on taking control that the dragon trusts them with his power to do his will in them. And we know what the desire and will of the dragon is, for it has not changed since the outset of this war. The dragon wants to overcome and destroy all who are in alignment with the light of truth and love, for that is a mortal threat to the very existence of the dragon and his agenda to exalt himself and gain power, not just over this world but to extend it to the whole universe if possible. He wants to consolidate his power first here on earth, and if that is achieved he might be in a position to export his rebellion further once God's authority is eliminated from this planet. Introducing a false trinity and creating an image to the beast and bringing it to life like God did with Adam at the beginning could then replace God's likeness in humanity with the likeness of Satan's version of God. That is what this whole war is all about, who humanity will reflect in regards to how we perceive God as His created reflectors.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. (Revelation 9:20)

They served their idols, which became a snare to them. Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. (Psalms 106:36-38)

Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" (Matthew 4:8-10)

But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have communion with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:20-22)

Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake; (2 Corinthians 4:3-5)

they worshiped the beast

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:9-11 NIV)

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

The head mentioned as receiving an apparently fatal wound, was the singular power that engaged most aggressively after the ascent of the Son in misrepresenting God, distorting His image by portraying Him as harsh, severe, condemning, demanding and needing to be bribed before relenting to grant forgiveness. These beliefs had been developed in pagan religions long before, but now they become amalgamated into an entity resembling the dragon, meaning that this power reflects the attributes and disposition of the dragon rather than the Lamb. In doing so the dragon is worshiped, for whenever we view God according to the spin placed on Him by this massive religious-political entity or anything similar, our perception of reality and how to act like ourselves is shaped by this power that claims to be God's representative vicar on earth, and in effect the dragon is worshiped.

Given the definition of worship explained above, what does it mean to worship the beast? This whole passage actually explains how worship happens, and it begins with marveling or wonder, amazement over something or someone, even if we do not like what we are witnessing. Wonder and amazement is how our imagination is captured, and since our imagination is synonymous with faith, you can see the implications of allowing our imagination to be riveted by a sinister, evil power that so preoccupies our thinking that it blinds us to the light of truth, love and wonder for God that we must have in order to remain close to the Lamb. This is why the angel guide for John in this vision reacted so strongly when he was caught up in this kind of wonder when he caught sight of the woman in the wilderness that had transformed herself into a superstar prostitute wielding magical spells over all the kings of the earth and in tight collusion with the dragon beast.

Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Who is like... This directly alerts us that this really has to do with character shaped by what we have chosen to believe about what God is like. To be human means to reflect whatever image we imagine God's heart is towards us, and the process over time of beholding or imagining our character is transformed into the same image, either forming a character in harmony with the character of God as reflected by His Son as a human being on earth, or into the image of the beast's version of God that reflects the disposition and character of the dragon, the opposite of God.

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion...." (Genesis 1:26 WEB)

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

These people are wondering after the beast, living in amazement over its power, intimidated by its threats of overwhelming force designed to compel any and all opposition to conform to its agenda. By convincing people there is no possible way this compelling force can be defeated, whether or not they agree with its agenda, they end up complying to its demands just to preserve their own lives.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. (Mark 8:35)

This is not just a promise but a statement of a foundational principle of reality. We must remain constantly aware that what we allow to occupy our imagination most of the time will define the nature of the character we end up with, for it is impossible not to take on the spirit and nature of whatever it is that occupies our imagination. Our imagination is our faith, and whoever receives our faith has the deciding influence over our destiny. This is where the real war is being fought, and today we see it intensifying as never before as these surrogates of the dragon unleash their strategy and articulate deceptions to capture the imagination of every person on the planet through use of intimidation, threats, enticements and compulsion.

Who is able to make war with him?

They told the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:16-17)

Hear, Israel: you are to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to the sky, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak? Know therefore this day, that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before you: so shall you drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you. (Deuteronomy 9:1-3)

He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter. The men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us? They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come you down, and bring it up to you. (1 Samuel 6:19-21)

As he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them. All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. (1 Samuel 17:23-24)

Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down its tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook? Will it make many supplications to you? Will it speak soft words to you? Will it make a covenant with you to be taken as your servant forever? Will you play with it as with a bird, or will you put it on leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over it? Will they divide it up among the merchants? Can you fill its skin with harpoons, or its head with fishing spears? Lay hands on it; think of the battle; you will not do it again! Any hope of capturing it will be disappointed; were not even the gods overwhelmed at the sight of it? No one is so fierce as to dare to stir it up. Who can stand before it? (Job 41:1-10 NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? (Daniel 3:14-15)

Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another? (James 4:12)

Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)

There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. They didn't prevail, neither was a place found for him any more in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:7-9)

These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11)

A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength; for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors. (Proverbs 24:5-6)

The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, will be like a dream, a vision of the night. It will be like when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his hunger isn't satisfied; or like when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and he is still thirsty. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like that. (Isaiah 29:7-8)

For thus says Yahweh to me, "As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights. (Isaiah 31:4)

He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land. His sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress. The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. The multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance. In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction. (Daniel 11:9-16)

Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members? (James 4:1)

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)

In all these passages we see violence and war throughout all the history of this world. Yet what we must come to discern is what this book exposes to those open to the discernment from the Spirit of God – that the big war is not about who has greater power to crush the opposition to subjugate or destroy them by force, but rather it is a war over what kind of power will succeed in overcoming the opposition in the end.

This book highlights the reality that this war is between the Lamb and the great dragon and involves what these two opposite symbols represent, what disposition they have and which one will elicit our allegiance and will capture our imagination. Which kind of power will we choose to believe will come out on top in the end, for what we believe has the best chance of winning will be the side we will reflect in our own relationships and disposition to others.

This war is all about worship, about what source we will choose to receive our identity from, who we will admire as most worthy of our obedience, meaning who will we act like especially when under pressure. This whole chapter is describing in vivid detail the spirit and nature of the dragon's version of this war and how he intends to defeat the Lamb and all who choose to remain loyal to Him. The unavoidable challenge for each one of us is who we will choose as most trustworthy to save us in the end. Will we choose a version of God who uses force and compulsion to get His way when necessary, or will we surrender our lives entirely to the weakest of the weak, trusting that what appears impossible is in fact the path to full restoration to abundant eternal life free of all fear, pain and sorrow? The final choice is ours, not God's. And this choice is made by our choosing what version of power we will believe has the greatest chance of success in defeating the power on the other side.

When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. (Numbers 10:9)

Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple. (Luke 14:31-33)

Amalgamated Deceivers - Rumor notes 103

 Revelation 13

2 The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.

The beast which I saw was like a leopard

This refers back to the leopard symbol in the vision of Daniel representing the empire of Greece.

After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. (Daniel 7:6)

The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. (Daniel 7:17 NIV)

A more thorough study of several of the prophecies found in the book of Daniel compared with historical narrative indicate that this symbol represents the empire of Greece thrust into power by the actions of Alexander the Great. No sooner had he finished establishing his empire by overthrowing the previous empire of the Medes and the Persians, he died at a young age and his empire was divided between his four generals. Thus the symbol of four wings and four heads.

Therefore a lion out of the forest shall kill them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; everyone who goes out there shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backsliding is increased. (Jeremiah 5:6)

Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour. (Habakkuk 1:8)

Since this beast coming up out of the sea is an amalgamation of the beasts in Daniel we can note that the attribute derived from this empire might indicate swiftness along with fierce strength as alluded to in the last two passages noted above.

his feet were like those of a bear

This refers to the bear symbol in the vision of Daniel representing the empire of Medeo-Persia. Daniel himself lived through the transition between the empire of Babylon into the administration of the empire of the Medes and Persians, so some of his later prophecies began with them.

Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh. (Daniel 7:5)

Now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. (Daniel 11:2)

He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. (2 Kings 2:24)

As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people. (Proverbs 28:15)

I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. (Hosea 13:8)

The attributes contributed here by the bear into this amalgamated beast based on these passages focus on fury and power used to tear apart victims with great strength. Keep in mind that all the attributes of each of these beasts that are condensed into one beast all have to do with ferocity, intimidation and raw strength used primarily to rip apart and decimate relatively helpless victims.

his mouth like the mouth of a lion

This comes from the lion symbol in the vision of Daniel representing the empire of Babylon.

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I saw until the wings of it were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man's heart was given to it. (Daniel 7:4)

As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people. (Proverbs 28:15)

Their roaring will be like a lioness. They will roar like young lions. Yes, they shall roar, and seize their prey and carry it off, and there will be no one to deliver. They will roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea. If one looks to the land behold, darkness and distress. The light is darkened in its clouds. (Isaiah 5:29-30)

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

The lion's contribution to this beast highlights the intimidating power of its roar, emotionally paralyzing its prey to immobilize it so it is easier to capture. This is all about the power of fear.

These collectively symbolize a composite political power resembling what were previously succeeding separate empires predicted in a vision given to Daniel. They are now amalgamated into one composite collective power combining strategic advantages of previous empires to be even more effective to exert tyrannical control over the whole world.

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

Note how often authority and power is given or received in these passages.

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:5)

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 13:7)

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. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:14-15)

The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. (Revelation 17:12)

His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. (Daniel 8:24)

The nature of the kind of authority relied on by the dragon is hierarchy, a top-down type of authority that relies on intimidation, manipulation, deception, fear and the principles of commerce. This is all reinforced through systems of artificial law that must be supported by violence to induce fear and strengthens selfishness as well as resentment and desires for revenge. This is the model developed by Lucifer turned accuser in heaven that originally was offered as an improvement of God's governing design that is based on the principles of love alone. Here is a text that provides a key insight to the basis of the design for Satan's counterfeit system that is now modeled by all the world's governments in how they exercise authority.

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

Our passage says that the dragon gave this beast his own throne, power and authority. A throne represents the type of laws upon which a kingdom depends for its very existence. Satan invented the system of artificial law requiring attached imposed rewards and punishments that are enforced through fear and violence as the primary way to maintain control and authority over people. This is in sharp contrast with God's throne that is based on natural principles that govern the operation of the circulation of life (Ezekiel 1:1-28). Satan's system misrepresents God's laws by iniquity that works mischief through both manipulation of man-made laws as well as its forced imposition. This is the system of law these amalgamated powers rely on to impose their dogmas and edicts. It was this system that was offered to Jesus to administer when He was tempted in the wilderness to endorse it rather than face the horrors that would come if He remained true to the principle of selfless love.

Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. (Luke 4:4-6)

One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally

ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. (v. 1)

There is only one of the seven heads that is wounded with an apparently fatal blow. Yet all of the heads have blasphemous names. We need to keep this in mind, for as we have noted above, the entire system of governance and this kind of authority is foreign to God's system because it was conceived in iniquity . What this passage highlights here is that one head in particular receives the great blow, meaning that likely this one entity likely was the most assertive, outspoken and aggressive in its rebellion against God's principles of love.

This head that is wounded is described more fully in the following verses.

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. 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. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. (Revelation 13:5-8)

This apparently fatal wound resonates with the very first prophecy given designed to bring hope after the initial entrance of sin into our world, indicating there would be a compelling pushback by the kingdom of light to resist the dominion of Satan.

I [Yahweh] will put enmity between you [serpent/dragon] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

I want to point out an important correlation between two events that may be alluded to here. First, Satan seized control of the dominion of this planet as soon as Adam acquiesced to eat from the Tree, relinquishing his dominion by presenting himself to serve the dragon through eating the fruit from the tree representing the serpent's form of governance.

Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

Humanity's head chose deliberately to obey the author of the counterfeit system of governance, so all of Adam's descendants were brought under the tyranny of slavery and lost their freedom collectively. That is the law of inheritance operating. Children born to slaves are also slaves and owned by the slave-master who owned their parents. This is what we are up against living in these last days longing for full deliverance from the power of our fallen flesh nature.

The first major blow to the dragon's authority happened when Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, given Him the right to take away Satan's authority as representative of humanity in the courts of heaven to assume that position Himself. Additionally, the stunning revelation of the truth about God's character of pure love, light, truth and humility was exposed through the perfect reflection of God's heart in the human demonstration by the Son of Man. This caused the dragon to be exposed as the great fraud that he is and sent him scrambling to invent new deceptions to recover his credibility and to cover up and suppress the truth that had been released by Christ that was like a fatal blow to the entire system based on inventions originating in the head of the dragon.

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

This reminds us of the pattern we have been observing from the previous chapter, how the dragon being exposed by the ascension of the Man Child into heaven caused his expulsion from his usurped role of representative for humanity. Immediately he realized he had to contrive new tactics to obscure his exposure in order to continue his agenda here on earth. Here we see this agenda emerging as one after the other, by land and by sea, surrogate beasts emerge along with an image, mimicing the roles of the three members of the Godhead and their creation of humankind. The dragon replicates in them his own character, agenda, motives and methods so they will continue what he was doing on earth previous to having his cover seriously compromised. Now by relying on surrogate powers to again distort the newly released truth about God through Christ's true followers (the remnant of her seed), the enemy of souls again obscures the liberating, glorious light unleashed by the Son of God, in order to shroud the world again in darkness, fear and misapprehension about God to keep them firmly under his control.

The head here referred to as receiving an apparently fatal wound, was the power that engaged most vociferously in misrepresenting what God is like, distorting His image by portraying Him as harsh, severe, condemning, demanding and needed to be bribed in order to find forgiveness. These beliefs had already developed in paganism long before, but now they became amalgamated into an entity resembling the dragon, meaning this power reflected the attributes and disposition of the dragon rather than the Creator God. In turn this amalgamated beast works ardently to reestablish old lies along with myriads of new ones until its power was curtailed by its overthrow in 1798.

The arrest of the Pope of Rome by a french general to put an end to the reign of terror propagated by the Holy Roman Empire was an apparently fatal wound not unlike the one the dragon had experienced around 1900 years previous. For a time it appeared that this wound would be irreversible, yet given enough time we see that this same power that received that mortal wound is coming back with even greater force, though presently still seeking to camouflage its true agenda until the time is ripe to reassert its power and make war on the saints of God to overcome them.

This reference to Rome must be kept in the forefront, for in the vision of Daniel it was represented by the fourth beast coming after the other three beasts already mentioned here in Revelation 13.

After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:7-8)

It is helpful to view these prophecies from multiple perspectives simultaneously so as to see how they integrate and help to explain each other, not merely between the books of Daniel and Revelation but also between verses and chapters. This is what we will notice more as we continue to study the following verses in even greater detail. But for now, just be aware of what is referenced here as receiving the deadly wound and how it correlates to the flow of history. Daniel's vision laid out sequentially the beast symbols representing succeeding empires, while this composite beast simply retains key elements of each of those empires which most closely resemble the dragon himself. This beast rising from the sea is both similar to the dragon and is also intimately linked with the fourth beast in Daniel representing the most powerful, forceful, violent empire of Rome.

As political Rome weakened in power, its tactics and character were absorbed into a new amalgamation power that mingled both politics and religion, gaining ascendancy over other weaker powers until becoming the prominent force that dominated the Western hemisphere, ruling the world through relentless tyranny and relying on the principles and methods of the dragon in order to increase and assert its authority mercilessly until it confronted by the French revolution.

After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. (Daniel 7:7-8 NAS95)

I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them (Daniel 7:21 NAS95)

As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:24-25 NAS95)

This entity figures prominently in both the prophecies of Daniel as well as in Revelation, meaning that it must be a major player in the war between the dragon with the forces of darkness, against the Lamb leading all who choose to embrace the true light about God. This is given to alert us to watch and be ready in our minds and hearts in order that we not be caught unawares when these events explode in the last assaults initiated by the dragon in his fierce attempts to exterminate all who dare retain their loyalty to the Lamb and all that He stands for.

Sea Monster - Rumor notes 102

 Revelation 13

1 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. 2 The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.

This chapter describes surrogate powers that operate as agents on behalf of the dragon who remains largely invisible/behind the scenes as we saw foretold in 12:17. These operate according to Satan's version of God and rely on emotional and physical coercion to maintain power over others.

Verses 1-4 parallel verses 5-10.

Verses 1-10 are written in past tense and parallel verses 11-18 which are written in present or future tense.

I/he stood on the sand of the sea

In the Greek there is no entity named here as standing on the sand of the sea. However, since there is no chapter break or punctuation in the original, this could be a strategic transitioning of the dragon's activity from the previous verse. Positioned between the land and sea means viewing events in the middle between the origins of the following two beasts. The first from from the sea closely resembles the dragon's description in 12:3, and the second comes from the land. They are surrogates of the dragon as they reflect and carry out his objectives, methods, disposition and kind of power. They conspire with the dragon to compel worship that ultimately is to the dragon. Yet people think they are worshiping God because they imagine God to be like the dragon portrays Him to be.

Other translations make this idea more clear, keeping the dragon as the focal point.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (Revelation 12:17 - 13:1 NASB)

Additionally, the seashore of sand indicates the boundary between the two kinds of surface seen on this planet. This strategically positions the dragon to access and seek to control everyone on earth regardless of their location or occupation. In Job, God's metaphorical depictions of Satan are found located on both land (Behemoth) and as a sea beast (Leviathan). Here the dragon/Satan maintains a strategic position so as to manipulate his surrogate agents to carry out his own agenda.

The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, and said, "I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:15-18)

He [Jacob] dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed. Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you." (Genesis 28:12-15)

Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,' I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children. You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many.'" (Genesis 32:9-12)

We tend to think of this metaphor as God's promises to Abraham and his descendants. Yet there is more than one version of these promises, and the sands of humanity all have free choice as to how they relate to the One who gave the promises.

The angel of Yahweh said to her [Hagar], "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude." The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers." (Genesis 16:10-12)

It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. They went out, they and all their armies with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel. (Joshua 11:1-5)

The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude. (Judges 7:12)

The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven. (1 Samuel 13:5)

Then Job answered, "Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. (Job 6:1-4)

You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; and tell Tyre, you who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: You, Tyre, have said, I am perfect in beauty. Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty. (Ezekiel 27:2-4)

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go. Oh that you had listened to my commandments! then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea: your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your body like the grains of it: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me. (Isaiah 48:17-19)

Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. (Matthew 7:26)

Hear now this, foolish people, and without understanding; who have eyes, and don't see; who have ears, and don't hear: Don't you fear me? says Yahweh: won't you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can't pass it? and though the waves of it toss themselves, yet they can't prevail; though they roar, yet they can't pass over it.

But this people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Yahweh our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; who preserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and grew rich. They are grew fat, they shine: yes, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they don't plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy they don't judge. Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is happen in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end of it? (Jeremiah 5:21-31)

Notice what seems to be strongly implied here between the first part of this passage and what comes after the word but a few sentences down. God points out how the natural seas, no matter how wild they may become or hard hard the waves pound the shoreline, cannot pass over and ignore the perpetual bounds put in place to distinguish between the land and the sea.

What God describes in the rest of this passage is His description of how the people called by His name do what even the great oceans cannot do. They have revolted with a rebellious heart and are gone. They no longer fear Yahweh in their heart. In other words, they ignore completely the natural boundaries put in place by God that defines the borders outlining what it looks like to reflect God's image as faithful human beings.

For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22)

"It will be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There they will be called 'children of the living God.'" Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved; for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth." (Romans 9:26-28)

a beast coming up out of the sea

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)

The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:7-8)

I used to assume that the sea and the abyss were unrelated. But these passages clearly link these closely, meaning that they in fact may be one and the same thing. In researching the root words behind these, it starts to emerge what the connection is between the two words. The word translated here as sea comes from the meaning of salt water, while the word translated abyss refers to something perceived as bottomless. But that word also has compelling roots meaning both sea as well as mystery. Thus this beast is not merely coming up out of metaphorical salt water (think James 3:8-12) but is shrouded in mystery – exactly what the dragon relies on to achieve power over the minds of billions of people, all who dwell on the earth.

But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? (James 3:8-11)

The analogy James uses here links salt water with cursing. That is how this whole war came about and continues. This is the continual accusing of the reflectors of God on earth being done by the dragon we just studied recently. Cursing means to bad-mouth, discredit, gossip, slander, defame. By accusing the reflectors of God (our brethren) Satan casts shadows over God's reputation as the origin of those reflections. This is how he maintains such effective control over nearly all of the world, by keeping everyone in the dark about God's true goodness and reinforcing the doubts that keep us unable to trust God fully.

The ocean could certainly be perceived as a bottomless abyss by many. The mysterious nature of it affects anyone who tries to understand it, even those expert in this study. Mystery is one of the main methods Satan uses to entice as well as deceive, and it involved great numbers of people, and even more so as the world becomes chaotic in approach to the final showdown. Thus all of these elements can be found as the origins out of which the beasts arise who rely on these attributes to gain increased power over all who dwell on the earth.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:18-21)

After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!" (Revelation 7:1-3)

The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:8-11)

The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (Revelation 10:5-6)

Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)

I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. (Revelation 16:3)

He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. (Revelation 17:15)

They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate. "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her." A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:19-21)

Chapter 18 is the counterpart of a passage in Ezekiel that symbolically outlines the rise of the reign of Satan, labeled there as the king of Tyre. Chapter 37 extensively describes his activity of widespread trading on the seas, the very first invention of Lucifer's brilliant mind as he sought to make improvements on God's design of government. The dragon is very familiar with the sea, so it is no surprise that the first surrogate to show up on the scene here emerges out of that sea.

Here is a sampling of this amazing prophecy that is little known or appreciated about the operations invented and carried out by Lucifer turned Satan.

You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; and tell Tyre, you who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: You, Tyre, have said, I am perfect in beauty. Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty. (Ezekiel 27:2-4)

Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traffickers; they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass for your merchandise. (Ezekiel 27:12-13)

The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas. Your rowers have brought you into great waters: the east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, and your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, and your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, and the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is in the midst of you, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin. (Ezekiel 27:25-27)

When your wares went forth out of the seas, you filled many peoples; you did enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise. In the time that you were broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company did fall in the midst of you. (Ezekiel 27:33-34)

Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God-- behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches... (Ezekiel 28:2-5)

Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another. (Daniel 7:3)

The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. (Revelation 20:13)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. (Revelation 21:1)

Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! (Isaiah 17:12)

In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)

ten horns and seven heads

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:3)

On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names

We discussed this some time ago when we studied verse 3. Again we note the distinction between the location of the crowns. Previously they were on the heads while here they are on the horns. This is likely very significant. Instead of crowns on his heads as previously, now there are blasphemous names on them. This reveals progression and change for the worse.

Additionally the previous reference only had seven crowns while here there are ten crowns.

Ten is generally associated in prophecy with secular power different than the number seven.

Seven generally is associated in prophecy with spiritual power.

Some suggest this may be referring to individual countries vs. empires as the seats of power, while the smaller entities lend their power collectively to provide strength to larger entities. What does seem clear is that there are three distinct symbols here: heads, horns and crowns. Much has been taught about the meaning of these symbols, and I am open to more evidence clarifying what they might mean.

Blasphemy generally means to intentionally misrepresent or slander the reputation of God. Thus slandering His reputation while claiming to exalt it would be very much like how the dragon got his reputation.

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)

Is it the woman or the 7-headed beast that has the blasphemous names?

Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God-- behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches-- (Ezekiel 28:2-5)

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)

He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)

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)

From a different perspective on this chapter, the dragon might be seen as a counterfeit of the Father God in a substitute trinity; the beast from the sea could be a counterfeit Son and the next beast found in verse 11 could counterfeit the Holy Spirit. Whatever is going on here, it appears to be a regrouping with new strategies as the dragon relies on surrogates to counteract the new reality brought about by the appearance of the Male Child.

This could well be because of what happened at the ascension of Christ. It was at this point in the narrative that Satan was displaced by the Son as representative of this world, leaving the dragon exposed as a fraud and without official permission to enter the courts of heaven. Yet he never gives up his claim as representative over humanity, especially since the vast majority of those who dwell on the earth still continue to get their identity and directions from him and follow his ways of governing. Yet because he lost his official credentials to govern, he shifts tactics and assembles a consortium of allies who are all too eager to further his agenda on earth, which in effect still allows him to receive worship of the masses.

Many have correctly noted that this war is primarily over worship, and this seems clear throughout this book. When we come to appreciate the true nature of worship, that is involves where we get our sense of worth and who we allow to define our identity and how to act like ourselves, it is far easier to see how this is true. This chapter highlights how the majority of the world wonder after the beast who reflects the attributes of the dragon and receives its power from the dragon. People are addicted to power, meaning they worship the kind of power that Satan promotes over the power of love that the Lamb represents. This is the perspective we need to maintain in order to make sense out of the intensifying strength of the opposition as the dragon pulls out all the stops to legitimize his claim of sovereignty over this world. Indeed, he opposes all that is like the true God and exalts himself in place of the original God as he takes his seat in the temple of God – the hearts, minds and allegiance of people who dwell on the earth – and sets himself up on earth in place of God. He does this not just as a individual entity but now through a surrogate triune god designed to gain full control of every aspect of thought and activity on planet earth.