TRV
Translation
King James Version
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
KJV (with Strong's)
And G2532 he exerciseth G4160 all G3956 the power G1849 of the first G4413 beast G2342 before G1799 him G846, and G2532 causeth G4160 the earth G1093 and G2532 them which dwell G2730 therein G1722 G846 to G2443 worship G4352 the first G4413 beast G2342, whose G3739 G846 deadly G2288 wound G4127 was healed G2323.
Complete Jewish Bible
It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence; and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed.
Berean Standard Bible
And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
American Standard Version
And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.
World English Bible Messianic
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And he did all that the first beast could doe before him, and he caused the earth, and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Young's Literal Translation
and all the authority of the first beast doth it do before it, and it maketh the land and those dwelling in it that they shall bow before the first beast, whose deadly stroke was healed,
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Commentary on Revelation 13 verses 11–18
11 ¶ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Those who think the first beast signifies Rome pagan by this second beast would understand Rome papal, which promotes idolatry and tyranny, but in a more soft and lamb-like manner: those that understand the first beast of the secular power of the papacy take the second to intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers, which act under the disguise of religion and charity to the souls of men. Here observe,
I. The form and shape of this second beast: He had two horns like a lamb, but a mouth that spoke like the dragon. All agree that this must be some great impostor, who, under a pretence of religion, shall deceive the souls of men. The papists would have it to be Apollonius Tyranaeus; but Dr. More has rejected that opinion, and fixes it upon the ecclesiastical powers of the papacy. The pope shows the horns of a lamb, pretends to be the vicar of Christ upon earth, and so to be vested with his power and authority; but his speech betrays him, for he gives forth those false doctrines and cruel decrees which show him to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb.
II. The power which he exercises: All the power of the former beast (Rev 13:12); he promotes the same interest, pursues the same design in substance, which is, to draw men off from worshipping the true God to worshipping those who by nature are no gods, and subject the souls and consciences of men to the will and authority of men, in opposition to the will of God. This design is promoted by the popery as well as by paganism, and by the crafty arts of popery as well as by the secular arm, both serving the interests of the devil, though in a different manner.
III. The methods by which this second beast carried on his interests and designs; they are of three sorts: - 1. Lying wonders, pretended miracles, by which they should be deceived, and prevailed with to worship the former beast in this new image or shape that was now made for him; they would pretend to bring down fire from heaven, as Elias did, and God sometimes permits his enemies, as he did the magicians of Egypt, to do things that seem very wonderful, and by which unwary persons may be deluded. It is well known that the papal kingdom has been long supported by pretended miracles. 2. Excommunications, anathemas, severe censures, by which they pretend to cut men off from Christ, and cast them into the power of the devil, but do indeed deliver them over to the secular power, that they may be put to death; and thus, notwithstanding their vile hypocrisy, they are justly charged with killing those whom they cannot corrupt. 3. By disfranchisement, allowing none to enjoy natural, civil, or municipal rights, who will not worship that papal beast, that is, the image of the pagan beast. It is made a qualification for buying and selling the rights of nature, as well as for places of profit and trust, that they have the mark of the beast in their forehead and in their right hand, and that they have the name of the beast and the number of his name. It is probable that the mark, the name, and the number of the beast, may all signify the same thing - that they make an open profession of their subjection and obedience to the papacy, which is receiving the mark in their forehead, and that they oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavour, to promote the papal authority, which is receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that pope Martin V. in his bull, added to the council of Constance, prohibits Roman catholics from suffering any heretics to dwell in their countries, or to make any bargains, use any trades, or bear any civil offices, which is a very clear interpretation of this prophecy.
IV. We have here the number of the beast, given in such a manner as shows the infinite wisdom of God, and will sufficiently exercise all the wisdom and accuracy of men: The number is the number of a man, computed after the usual manner among men, and it is 666. Whether this be the number of the errors and heresies that are contained in popery, or rather, as others, the number of the years from its rise to its fall, is not certain, much less what that period is which is described by these prophetic numbers. The most admired dissertation on this intricate subject is that of Dr. Potter, where the curious may find sufficient entertainment. It seems to me to be one of those seasons which God has reserved in his own power; only this we know, God has written Mene Tekel upon all his enemies; he has numbered their days, and they shall be finished, but his own kingdom shall endure for ever.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 11–18. Public domain.
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Hippolytus of RomeAD 235
Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
But as it is incumbent on us to discuss this matter of the beast more exactly, and in particular the question how the Holy Spirit has also mystically indicated his name by means of a number, we shall proceed to state more clearly what bears upon him. John then speaks thus: "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exercised all the power of the first beast before him; and he made the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he did great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for if is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
By the beast, then, coming up out of the earth, he means the kingdom of Antichrist; and by the two horns he means him and the false prophet after him. And in speaking of "the horns being like a lamb," he means that he will make himself like the Son of God, and set himself forward as king. And the terms, "he spake like a dragon," mean that he is a deceiver, and not truthful. And the words, "he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, and caused the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed," signify that, after the manner of the law of Augustus, by whom the empire of Rome was established, he too will rule and govern, sanctioning everything by it, and taking greater glory to himself. For this is the fourth beast, whose head was wounded and healed again, in its being broken up or even dishonoured, and partitioned into four crowns; and he then (Antichrist) shall with knavish skill heal it, as it were, and restore it. For this is what is meant by the prophet when he says, "He will give life unto the image, and the image of the beast will speak." For he will act with vigour again, and prove strong by reason of the laws established by him; and he will cause all those who will not worship the image of the beast to be put to death. Here the faith and the patience of the saints will appear, for he says: "And he will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name." For, being full of guile, and exalting himself against the servants of God, with the wish to afflict them and persecute them out of the world, because they give not glory to him, he will order incense-pans to be set up by all everywhere, that no man among the saints may be able to buy or sell without first sacrificing; for this is what is meant by the mark received upon the right hand. And the word-"in their forehead"-indicates that all are crowned, and put on a crown of fire, and not of life, but of death. For in this wise, too, did Antiochus Epiphanes the king of Syria, the descendant of Alexander of Macedon, devise measures against the Jews. He, too, in the exaltation of his heart, issued a decree in those times, that "all should set up shrines before their doors, and sacrifice, and that they should march in procession to the honour of Dionysus, waving chaplets of ivy; "and that those who refused obedience should be put to death by strangulation and torture. But he also met his due recompense at the hand of the Lord, the righteous Judge and all-searching God; for he died eaten up of worms. And if one desires to inquire into that more accurately, he will find it recorded in the books of the Maccabees.
TiconiusAD 390
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13:12
It exercised all the power of the first beast on the earth. He spoke of that earlier beast that he had seen rising from the sea and to which the dragon had given his own great power. He said that the beast exercised this power before the beast. For all the power of the people is in their leaders, which he described, just as the power of the locusts and the horses is in their tails. In front of the people, the leaders do what is useful to the will of the devil under the cover of an imitation of the church. Clearly, in both beasts there is one body, and they practice the worship of one iniquity, so that the mimicry of the latter beast may be said to work to the advantage of that earlier beast.… “So that those who dwell on the earth worship the first beast.” … Or as another translation renders, “so that the earth and those who inhabit it.” … And he mentioned the earth and those who inhabit the earth with good reason. For it might have sufficed to mention either the earth or those who inhabit the earth. However, he shows the force of [the beast’s] seduction which has given both body and soul to him as property. For whoever falls by force without being enticed away is made captive in the body alone. However, whoever falls to seduction is made captive both in the body and in the mind, and for this reason he said, “He caused the earth and those who inhabit it to worship the beast whose mortal wound was healed.”
Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 13:12-13, HOMILY 11
Since the church is “heaven,” what is this fire that falls from heaven other than heresies that fall from the church? As it is written, “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” For fire falls from the church whenever heretics leave the church as though fire and persecute the church. Therefore, the beast with the two horns causes the people to worship the image of the beast, that is, the devices of the devil.
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13:13
“And he did great signs, even making fire come down from heaven in the sight of people.” Although it says that he would do many signs, he mentions only this remarkable sign. This translation speaks as though of the past, while it announces the future, although indicating that the future will also be different. And so it says, “so that he also makes fire come down from heaven.” That he causes fire to descend from heaven to the earth, that is, from the church to those who are earthly, indicates that whether from a variety of peoples or by the wiles of a falling enemy he causes his servants to speak in new and multiple tongues. In this manner they prattle as though they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit who in the form of fiery tongues had once truly shined upon the individual disciples of Christ. And, indeed, the Lord especially commended this sign of those who believe, saying, “These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues,” and the like. It is not surprising, therefore, if that beast which by imitation usurped the name of the Lamb who had been killed and now is living should also fraudulently lay claim by mimicry to that great gift of the Holy Spirit and feign that gift also for his servants, even as we recall what once Simon boasted but was unable to do. For when the very ministers of Satan listed their expulsions of demons and their various wonders and said, “Did we not cast out demons in your name?” and the like, the Lord did not approve of their boasting but reproved them as arrogant and worthy of damnation. And therefore, perhaps by emphasizing this sign [of fire], which represents the Holy Spirit, he wished to indicate especially that which is superior to all else. For although heresies seem to have some things in common with us, only the church of Christ can boast that she especially is possessed of this gift. Although the magicians of Pharaoh performed wonders similar to those of Moses, we are told that they were frustrated by the Holy Spirit. When they gave up on their own claims and were defeated, they spoke a true confession and said, “This is the finger of God.” The Gospel testifies that the Holy Spirit is called “the finger of God” when one Gospel says, “By the Spirit of God I cast out demons,” while another says, “By the finger of God I cast out demons.” And so the sheer force of the seduction is indicated, that the beast is thought to possess that Spirit that resisted the magicians and brought their deceptions to nothing.
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13:12-13
The forerunner of the apostate false christ will do all things through sorcery for the deception of humankind, so that the antichrist will be regarded as God. And, since [the antichrist] receives the witness of the worker of such marvels, he receives undisputed honor, in imitation of the Baptist, who led those who believed to the Savior. For falsehood is zealous to imitate the truth for the deception of humankind. Therefore, it is not remarkable that to the eyes of those deceived, fire is seen coming down from heaven. For somewhere in the story of Job we are taught that, with the permission of God and by the activity of Satan, fire came down and consumed his flock.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And he caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. He shows the power of seduction, having claimed both the body and the soul which inhabits it.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And he exercised all the authority of the first beast. Miserable disciples follow their master in all things.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
Whose deadly wound was healed. That is, it feigned to have overcome death by rising. For Scripture said he was as if slain, just as it was said of the Jews: They did not enter the praetorium, lest they should be defiled. The evangelist did not assert that the most impure could be defiled if they entered the praetorium; nor did the Jews, conscious of such great crimes, truly fear being defiled, but he reported what they pretended as if affirming it.
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
And it says that he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. That is, he becomes the successor of the power of the Devil, and prepares all to worship him, whose deadly wound was healed. This has been said among the preceding. Now it must only be marked. For since he said that he has all the authority of the first beast before him, and first of all he named the Dragon the fiery one, whom the vision shown in heaven revealed, so that no one might think to say now that he received the authority as that of the first beast, I am not speaking about that first of all of all, but of him who comes after that one, yet before the Antichrist, whom the vision showed rising from the sea like a leopard (Rev. 13:1-2). For the wound of this one's death was healed, as stated above.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Revelation 13:12 vividly portrays the deceptive and coercive power of the second beast, often identified as the False Prophet, as it operates in full submission to the first beast. This entity's primary mission is to enforce the worship of the first beast upon all inhabitants of the earth, leveraging the perceived miraculous recovery of the first beast's "deadly wound" as a compelling sign. The verse underscores the nature of counterfeit authority and the global spiritual deception that will characterize the end times, demanding allegiance away from the one true God.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 13:12 is rich with Symbolism. The "first beast" symbolizes a powerful, oppressive political and religious empire, while the "second beast" symbolizes its deceptive, propagandistic arm, often interpreted as a false religious authority or prophet. The "deadly wound" and its "healing" are symbolic of a catastrophic event or defeat that the empire suffers, followed by a miraculous, seemingly supernatural recovery that garners worldwide awe and allegiance. This recovery is a Counterfeit Miracle, designed to mimic the resurrection of Christ and deceive humanity into false worship. The entire passage employs Irony, as the second beast, appearing lamb-like in Revelation 13:11, speaks like a dragon, revealing its true, malevolent nature despite its outwardly benign appearance. The global scope of its influence ("the earth and them which dwell therein") is a form of Hyperbole to emphasize the widespread nature of this deception.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 13:12 unveils the depth of satanic deception and the spiritual battle for human allegiance. The second beast's role as an enforcer of false worship underscores a recurring biblical theme: the temptation to worship creation rather than the Creator. This passage serves as a stark warning against compromising truth for worldly power or security, highlighting the ultimate spiritual consequence of idolatry. It reveals how political and religious forces can converge to establish a system antithetical to God's kingdom, demanding absolute loyalty that rightly belongs only to God. The "healed deadly wound" is a satanic parody of Christ's resurrection, a deceptive sign designed to mislead those who do not love the truth.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse calls believers to profound spiritual discernment and unwavering faithfulness in a world increasingly susceptible to deception. It reminds us that appearances can be misleading, and even seemingly miraculous events can be orchestrated by forces opposed to God. In an age of pervasive media and influential figures, the ability to critically evaluate messages and allegiances is paramount. We are challenged to examine where our loyalties truly lie—whether in worldly systems, charismatic leaders, or the one true God. The compulsion to worship the beast serves as a powerful reminder that true worship is a conscious, costly choice to honor God alone, even when it means standing against the prevailing tide. This passage fortifies our resolve to remain steadfast in our devotion to Christ, resisting any pressure to compromise our faith, knowing that our ultimate allegiance is to the Lamb who was slain and is worthy of all praise.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the "deadly wound was healed" in Revelation 13:12?
Answer: The "deadly wound was healed" is a critical element of the first beast's deception. As mentioned in Revelation 13:3, the first beast suffers a fatal injury but miraculously recovers. This apparent resurrection is a satanic counterfeit of Christ's resurrection, designed to awe the world and convince humanity of the beast's supernatural power and legitimacy. The second beast leverages this "miracle" as the primary justification for compelling universal worship of the first beast, solidifying its deceptive authority. It highlights that even seemingly miraculous events can be used by evil forces to mislead.
Who is the "second beast" mentioned in Revelation 13:12?
Answer: The "second beast" is introduced in Revelation 13:11 and is commonly identified as the False Prophet. Unlike the first beast, which embodies political and military power, the second beast operates with religious and propagandistic influence. It is described as having "two horns like a lamb" but speaking "as a dragon," indicating a deceptive appearance of innocence or spiritual authority that conceals its true satanic nature. Its primary role, as seen in Revelation 13:12 and subsequent verses, is to enforce the worship of the first beast and implement its oppressive system, including the "mark of the beast" (Revelation 13:16-17).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Revelation 13:12 depicts the terrifying power of deception and forced worship by the beast and its prophet, it ultimately serves to magnify the unique, true authority and worthiness of Jesus Christ. The "deadly wound" of the first beast and its deceptive healing stand in stark contrast to the genuine, victorious resurrection of Jesus, who truly conquered death and the grave (Romans 6:9). The beast's demand for worship is a futile attempt to usurp the rightful adoration due only to the Lamb of God, who alone is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise (Revelation 5:12-13). The second beast's counterfeit miracles and coercive power are ultimately powerless against the sovereignty of Christ, who has "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Believers are called to resist the beast's false worship, knowing that their true allegiance to Christ ensures their eternal victory and participation in the Lamb's ultimate triumph, as depicted in the final chapters of Revelation, when the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).