Revelation 13:12

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Context of Revelation 13:12

Revelation chapter 13 introduces two significant figures in end-times prophecy: the first beast rising out of the sea, often interpreted as a powerful political and religious entity or the Antichrist, and the second beast rising out of the earth, commonly known as the False Prophet. Verse 12 specifically describes the actions and role of this second beast. While the first beast embodies oppressive power, the second beast acts as its chief enforcer and propagandist, compelling global allegiance to the first beast.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Delegated Authority and Deception: The phrase "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him" highlights that the second beast's authority is not inherent but derived. It wields the power of the first beast, acting as its agent and enforcer. This illustrates a system of counterfeit authority designed to deceive and mislead the world, convincing people to follow the first beast.
  • Compulsory Worship: The primary mission of the second beast is to "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast." This indicates a global, enforced system of worship, not merely persuasion but a strong compulsion. This forced worship is a direct challenge to the worship of God alone and signifies a major spiritual battle for allegiance.
  • The Significance of the Healed Deadly Wound: The verse explicitly mentions the first beast "whose deadly wound was healed." This refers back to Revelation 13:3, where the first beast suffers a fatal injury but miraculously recovers. This "healing" is a powerful sign, exploited by the second beast, to convince the world of the first beast's supernatural power and legitimacy, thereby solidifying its worship.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "exerciseth" and "causeth" is ποιΡῖ (poiei), which means "to do, make, perform," or "to cause to be done." In this context, it implies an active, intentional, and compelling action by the second beast to enforce the worship of the first beast. It's not passive observation but direct intervention to achieve the desired outcome.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a crucial warning for believers across all ages, particularly concerning the nature of spiritual deception in the end times. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Spiritual Discernment: Understanding that powerful forces will emerge, wielding deceptive authority and compelling worship. Believers must be vigilant in discerning truth from falsehood, especially when it comes to claims of divine power or demands for allegiance.
  • Unwavering Faith: The call to worship the first beast stands in stark contrast to the divine command to worship God alone. This verse encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith, resisting any pressure to compromise their allegiance to Christ, even when faced with significant societal or political compulsion. This aligns with the call in Revelation 14:7 to worship Him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
  • Understanding End-Time Dynamics: It provides insight into the roles of key figures in eschatological prophecy, highlighting how political power (first beast) and religious/propaganda influence (second beast) will work together to establish a global system contrary to God's will.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 17:10

    And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

  • Revelation 17:11

    And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

  • Revelation 14:11

    And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Revelation 14:9

    And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:4

    Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

  • Revelation 13:14

    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.
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