Revelation 13:11-18
Saturday Night Live has endured over 40 years of dramatizing parodies. A parody is an intentional mockery mimicking the style of another. Satan has perfected the parody using Bible words like worship, lamb, prophet, and mark. It’s genius, showing he’s truly an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).
John saw a second beast rising out of the sea who looked like a lamb but spoke like the dragon since it operates in his authority. In Rev. 16:13 he’s named the False Prophet; Biblical prophets were God’s mouthpiece to His people. They warned, comforted, and encouraged but this pseudo-prophet uses ‘forced submission’. It’s actually the meaning of the Arabic word Islam.
Satan-infused power allowed this second beast to perform miracles similar to Elijah: both called fire down from heaven (2 Kings 18:38) and breathed life (2 Kings 17:22). Elijah, on the other hand, dealt a death blow to an image of Ba’al (2 Kings 18:20-40) to show God’s superior power; Satan uses the ridicule of parody effectively. Even though signs are given to produce awe they were used against believers who would not bow in worship.
The first beast’s assignment was political but this second beast is focused on the spiritual realm and they will continue to walk parallel throughout the second half of this book. It’s easy to see in our world today how governments and religion are becoming unified; the best example is Islam throughout the Middle East and Africa. Those who refuse to convert are often slaughtered (vs. 15).
Again, Satan doesn’t have any new ideas so he mimics God. His weapon is now a mark or seal used like a branding that distinguishes his followers from God’s. It will be a tatto-like marking on the right hand or forehead causing undeniable identification of whose side you’ve chosen and connects people with access to buying and selling.
The parody here is the truth that believers have already been sealed or marked by the Holy Spirit (ch. 7) which distinguishes us from the world. The symbolic number, 666, is simply a way of saying all mankind will be named or marked. If you trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation you’re marked for Him which can never be changed similar to a permanent tattoo. You can be reassured that your faith will get you through any of life’s circumstances because you’re marked as His kid. Parents protect and provide for their children and our Lord is the paramount Parent who never forces you to submit to Him using signs, wonders, and healings to show you His goodness, love, and mercy.
But Lord, You laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations. You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me, for You, O God, are my fortress. In His unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.
Psalms 59:8-10 NLT
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