Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 12:13 - 13:10
There are many people who believe humans are inherently good, and the reason we have bad people is because people get corrupted. However, today’s passage from Revelation reveals humans have a bias against good and in favor of evil.
The opening verses of Revelation 12 record a sign in heaven. There is a woman who gave birth to a child, and a dragon who attempted to devour the child. Then the dragon was expelled from heaven.
Rev. 12:13 ¶ And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
The dragon represents Satan. The woman represents Israel. The male child represents Christ. Satan is going to persecute Israel.
Rev. 12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
The expression “a time and times and half a time” represents 3.5 years. This fits with Daniel 9:27 which tells us about Israel having a 7 year covenant of peace, a covenant which will be broken halfway through the 7 years.
Rev. 12:15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
Rev. 12:16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
Israel will be protected.
Rev. 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.
The seventh chapter of Revelation mentions 144,000 who were sealed. The eleventh chapter tells us about two witnesses who will prophecy for almost 3.5 years. The phrase “the rest of her seed” may refer to those who start obeying God and believing in Jesus as a result of the testimony of the 144,000 and the two witnesses.
Rev. 13:1 ¶ And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. ¶ Then 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.
Notice the reference to ten horns. The fourth beast in Daniel 7 also had ten horns.
Rev. 13:2 And 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. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
Rev. 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain fatally, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast.
The first thing to observe is the words “as if”. The beast will appear to have recovered from a fatal injury, but the words “as if” indicate the injury may be a hoax.
Look at the words “marveled” and “followed”. The beast will appear to have recovered from a fatal injury, so the masses will follow after him.
This is in contrast to Rev 9:20 where men saw plagues kill a third of the earth, but they did not repent.
There are many people who believe humans are inherently good, and the reason we have bad people is because people get corrupted. However, Revelation reveals humans have a bias against good and in favor of evil. God will bring plagues that will kill 1/3 of the earth, but humans will not repent and acknowledge the power of God. Then the beast will fake a recovery from a fatal injury, and the masses will follow him.
Rev. 13:4 And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
People will be quick to worship the dragon and the beast, but they are not quick to worship the true God.
Rev. 13:5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
Forty-two months is 3.5 years, which fits with Daniel 9:27 telling us the final seven years will be split into two parts.
Rev. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev. 13:7 ¶ And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev. 13:8 And 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 slain.
Pay attention to the phrase “written from the foundation of the world”. The names of some men have been written in the book of life since the beginning of time.
There is debate in Christianity as to whether man has free-will or if God determines who is saved. The term “election” is used as part of this debate. This verse in Revelation tells us the names of the saved have been written in the book of life since the beginning of time. At the very least, election means all believers have been elected because God has known since the beginning who would believe in Him and who would not.
Rev. 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Rev. 13:10 If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
There are many people who believe humans are inherently good, and the reason we have bad people is because people get corrupted. However, Revelation reveals humans have a bias against good and in favor of evil. According to Revelation 9:20, God will bring plagues that will kill 1/3 of the earth, but humans will not repent and acknowledge the power of God. Then, according to Revelation 13:3, the beast will fake a recovery from a fatal injury, and the masses will follow him.
To what extent does your pastor and church tend to be swayed by appearances rather than substance?
Do you tend to accept things as they appear, or do you have a healthy dose of skepticism, willing to question whether reality is as it is presented?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”