Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

And {G2532} he doeth {G4160} great {G3173} wonders {G4592}, so {G2532} that {G2443} he maketh {G4160} fire {G4442} come down {G2597} from {G1537} heaven {G3772} on {G1519} the earth {G1093} in the sight {G1799} of men {G444},

It performs great miracles, even causing fire to come down from heaven onto the earth as people watch.

And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.

And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.

Commentary

Revelation 13:13 describes the deceptive power of the second beast, often identified as the False Prophet. This verse highlights his ability to perform extraordinary signs that mimic divine acts, designed to mislead humanity and secure allegiance to the first beast, the Antichrist figure. It serves as a stark warning about the nature of end-time deception.

Context

Chapter 13 of Revelation introduces two powerful figures who will play pivotal roles in the end times. The first beast emerges from the sea, representing a political and economic power with global authority. The second beast, from the earth, acts as the first beast's propagandist and enforcer. His primary role is to deceive the world into worshipping the first beast, and Revelation 13:13 details one of his key methods: performing great wonders. This act of calling fire down from heaven is particularly significant as it directly parallels the miraculous deeds of true prophets, most notably Elijah on Mount Carmel.

Key Themes

  • Deception Through Miracles: The verse powerfully illustrates that not all supernatural signs are from God. The False Prophet's "great wonders" are designed to authenticate a false message and a false authority, leading people astray.
  • Imitation of Divine Power: By making "fire come down from heaven," the False Prophet attempts to emulate the dramatic displays of divine power seen in the Old Testament, creating a counterfeit spirituality that appears legitimate to the unsuspecting.
  • Public Display and Credibility: The phrase "in the sight of men" emphasizes that these deceptive acts are public and spectacular, intended to impress, intimidate, and convince a wide audience of the False Prophet's (and thus the first beast's) legitimacy and power.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "wonders" is sēmeia (σημεῖα), which means "signs." While signs often point to divine truth, here they are specifically used for nefarious purposes. This highlights a crucial biblical principle: the source and message behind a miracle are more important than the miracle itself. The specific act of bringing "fire from heaven" is a powerful echo of the prophet Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:38), and also the judgment brought by God in 2 Kings 1:10-12. The False Prophet's ability to imitate this particular sign aims to establish a false prophetic authority, leading many to believe he is a true messenger of God.

Practical Application

Revelation 13:13 serves as a critical warning for believers in all ages, particularly concerning the end-time deceptions. It teaches us several vital lessons:

  • Discernment is Essential: We must not be swayed by powerful or seemingly miraculous displays alone. The Bible warns that the enemy can also perform signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
  • Test the Spirits: As commanded in 1 John 4:1, we must test every spirit and every teaching against the unchanging truth of God's Word. The message, not just the messenger's power, must align with Scripture.
  • Beware of False Authority: This verse reminds us that charismatic leaders who perform impressive feats are not automatically aligned with God. Their ultimate allegiance and the nature of their message reveal their true source.

In a world increasingly susceptible to sensationalism, this verse calls us to anchor our faith in Christ and His revealed truth, rather than being led astray by deceptive signs and wonders.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 24:24 (7 votes)

    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

  • Revelation 16:14 (6 votes)

    For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (6 votes)

    [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (6 votes)

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  • Revelation 19:20 (6 votes)

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 13:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

  • Deuteronomy 13:3 (5 votes)

    Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.