The Revelation

The Second Beast
Revelation 13:11–18
Lesson 23 Bobby Stafford

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The Second Beast
Revelation 13:11–18

Introduction:

Revelation 13 reveals a second beast who appears harmless yet speaks with the voice of a dragon. This vision shows how Satan used deception and false religion in the first century to persecute the church and how those who remain faithful to God will always overcome.

The Two Beasts of Revelation 13

Revelation 12 and 13 portray an ongoing conflict between God and Satan. In chapter 12, Satan is described as a fiery red dragon who sought to prevent the coming of Christ and destroy Him after His birth. In chapter 13, that same conflict continues into the first century through two beasts—two instruments of Satan’s persecution against the church.

The first beast rises from the sea, symbolizing the turmoil of nations. It represents the civil power of Rome under Emperor Domitian, a ruler known for cruelty and oppression. This beast wielded the authority of the Roman Empire, with its armies and political strength, and it brought unimaginable suffering to Christians who refused to worship the emperor.

The second beast arises “out of the earth.” He has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. His appearance is gentle, but his voice reveals his true nature. This beast symbolizes the imperial priests, the Consilia, who enforced emperor worship. They were given authority by the Roman government to promote the divinity of Caesar, punish those who refused, and impose economic and social restrictions upon the faithful.

Deceptive Religion and False Worship

The second beast had a mission—to make the people of the earth worship the first beast, the emperor himself. Verse 13 says he performed “great signs,” deceiving the nations into thinking he possessed divine power. History records that these priests were skilled in deception. They could make statues appear to speak and emit smoke through ventriloquism and simple chemical effects. These “miracles” were lies designed to strengthen false worship and turn the hearts of the people away from God.

From the beginning, false religion has depended on deception. Truth does not require manipulation; lies do. The priests of emperor worship promised favor, prosperity, and safety to those who acknowledged Caesar as “Lord.” Many Christians refused. They would not speak that phrase because doing so would deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Their refusal led to imprisonment, poverty, and death—but their faith remained unshaken.

The Mark of the Beast

Verses 16–17 describe the mark placed on the right hand or forehead. This was not a literal mark, just as the seal of God in earlier chapters was not literal. It symbolized allegiance—either to God or to the empire. Those loyal to Rome received privileges and protection. Those loyal to Christ were excluded, forbidden to buy or sell, and stripped of their livelihoods. The mark represented a person’s choice of master—God or man.

Faithful Christians refused to receive that mark. They would not compromise their allegiance to Christ even when it cost them everything. Their faith was visible not through an outward sign but through obedience, courage, and steadfastness under persecution.

Understanding the Number 666

Verse 18 gives the number of the beast: “Here is wisdom: Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty-six.” It is crucial to note that the text says “a man,” not “the man.” This is not a prediction of one particular ruler or future figure. It represents mankind’s fallen nature—humanity without God.

In Scripture, numbers carry symbolic meaning. The number seven signifies perfection, completion, and divine fullness. The number six falls short of that—imperfection and incompleteness. The repetition “666” emphasizes absolute failure, total imperfection, and opposition to God. It represents man at his worst, trusting in his own power and setting himself against the Creator.

To first-century Christians, this number did not cause fear but brought comfort. It assured them that the empire’s power was incomplete and temporary. Rome’s dominion was imperfect and destined to fail because God was not behind it. The message was simple: the forces opposing God are doomed from the start.

Victory Assured

Revelation 13 concludes a dramatic vision of spiritual war. Satan works through civil power and false religion, but both are limited. Their number is six, not seven. Their dominion is temporary, not eternal. Evil may roar and threaten, but it cannot win. God’s people will triumph because the victory belongs to the Lord.

Even in the darkest hour, Christians could take courage. The persecution of the first century was dreadful, but it was not forever. The empire would fall, the priests would vanish, and Christ’s kingdom would endure. The same truth comforts us today. When human systems and false ideologies rise against God’s Word, we remember that their number is still 666—flawed, incomplete, and doomed. God wins, always.

The Second Beast Sermon Outline:

I. The Conflict Between God and Satan (Revelation 12–13)

• Satan is pictured as the great red dragon who opposed the birth and mission of Christ.

• His defeat in heaven leads to his war against the church on earth.

• He works through human instruments to destroy God’s people.

• Revelation 13 introduces two of those instruments—two beasts representing civil and religious powers.

II. The First Beast: Civil Rome (Revelation 13:1–10)

• Rose from the sea—symbol of nations and unrest.

• Represents the Roman Empire under Emperor Domitian.

• Possesses power, authority, and blasphemy.

• Persecutes believers, demanding loyalty to the emperor.

• Christians suffered imprisonment, execution, and loss of livelihood.

• The message: civil government without God becomes a beastly power.

III. The Second Beast: Religious Deception (Revelation 13:11–12)

• Rose from the earth—symbol of stability and local authority.

• Looked like a lamb—gentle, religious, harmless.

• Spoke like a dragon—deceptive and satanic.

• Represents the Consilia, imperial priests enforcing emperor worship.

• Worked under Rome’s authority to lead people into idolatry.

• Appeared spiritual but served Satan’s purpose.

IV. Deceptive Religion and False Miracles (Revelation 13:13–15)

• The second beast performed “great signs” to deceive the people.

• Priests used ventriloquism and smoke illusions to make idols appear alive.

• Deception was their main weapon.

• False religion thrives on spectacle, emotion, and manipulation.

• God’s people must test all things by the Word (1 John 4:1).

• True faith stands on truth, not theatrics.

V. The Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16–17)

• A symbolic mark showing allegiance to the empire rather than to God.

• The right hand and forehead represent belief and action.

• Those who bore the mark identified with Rome’s false religion.

• Those who refused were denied trade, business, and social standing.

• Faithful Christians lost much but gained eternity (Revelation 2:10).

• The mark today reminds us that compromise with sin still bears a cost.

VI. The Number 666 (Revelation 13:18)

• “The number of a man,” not “the man.”

• Symbolic of imperfection—man without God.

• Seven = divine perfection; six = human imperfection.

• Repeated three times for emphasis—total failure.

• Represents humanity’s rebellion against divine authority.

• To the faithful, 666 was a message of hope: evil is temporary, incomplete, and doomed.

VII. God’s Victory and the Faithful’s Endurance (Revelation 14:12–13)

• Evil’s power is limited by God’s sovereignty.

• The number six guarantees incompleteness—Satan cannot finish what God forbids.

• The faithful overcome through endurance and faith.

• “Here is the patience of the saints… they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

• God always triumphs over deceit and oppression.

VIII. Lessons for the Church Today

• False religion still mimics truth to gain influence.

• Governments and institutions may demand moral compromise.

• The faithful must refuse to bear the world’s mark of conformity.

• Loyalty to Christ may cost comfort, status, or safety—but never the soul (Matthew 10:28).

• God’s people must remember: evil is numbered, limited, and doomed.

Call to Action:

Remain faithful to Christ regardless of worldly opposition. Refuse every form of compromise, deceit, and false worship. Let your loyalty be known by your faith, your obedience, and your endurance. The powers of this world are numbered; their time will end. But those who are sealed with God’s mark will reign with Him forever.

Key Takeaways:

• The two beasts symbolize political and religious powers used by Satan to persecute God’s people.

• False religion deceives through spectacle and fear.

• The “mark” represents allegiance—either to God or to worldly authority.

• 666 signifies man’s imperfection and rebellion.

• God’s people must endure, trusting that victory is already secured in Christ.

Scripture Reference List:

• Revelation 12–13 – The war between God and Satan.

• Revelation 13:1–10 – The first beast: civil Rome.

• Revelation 13:11–18 – The second beast: religious deception.

• 1 John 4:1 – Test the spirits whether they are of God.

• Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than men.”

• Revelation 7:3–4 – God’s seal upon His people.

• Revelation 14:12–13 – The perseverance and victory of the saints.

• Isaiah 6 – “Holy, holy, holy” versus man’s imperfection.

• Philippians 2:9–11 – Every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

• Psalm 2:1–4 – God laughs at the raging of nations.

• Matthew 10:28 – Fear God, not man.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO

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