Revelation 13:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 13:13-17

Revelation 13:13-17. And he doeth great wonders We have seen the greatness of the power and authority of the beast, and we shall now see what course he pursues to establish it. He pretends, like other false prophets, to show great signs and wonders, and even to call for fire from heaven, as Elias did, 2 Kings 1:11-12. His impostures, too, are so successful, that he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, &c. In this respect he perfectly resembles St. Paul’s man of sin, 2... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:11-18

Beast from the earth (13:11-18)With the appearance of the beast from the earth (who is identified as the false prophet; see 16:13; 19:20), the trinity of evil is complete. As the true Christ received his authority from the Father, so the antichrist receives his authority from Satan (see 13:2b; cf. John 8:28). As the Holy Spirit gives glory to the true Christ, so the false prophet gives glory to the antichrist (see 13:12; cf. John 16:14). The spirit of the false prophet is always in the world,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 13:15

he had power = it was given him. life. Greek. pneuma . App-101 . that = in order that. Greek. hina . speak. App-121 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 13:15

And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.And it was given to him to give breath to it ... Yes indeed! That little thumbnail image of a worldwide empire is very much alive, and it carries an incredible clout with every national government on earth, even our own. This is not a reference to some clown of a pagan priest pulling... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 13:11-18

Revelation 13:11-18. I beheld another beast, &c.— From the description of the ten horned beast, or Roman state in general, the prophet passes to that of the two horned beast, or Roman church in particular. The beast with ten crowned horns, is the Roman empire, as divided into ten kingdoms; the beast with two horns like a lamb, is the Roman hierarchy, or body of the clergy regular and secular. This beast is called the false prophet, Revelation 19:0 than which there cannot be a stronger or... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 13:15

15. he had power—Greek, "it was given to him." to give life—Greek, "breath," or "spirit." image—Nebuchadnezzar set up in Dura a golden image to be worshipped, probably of himself; for his dream had been interpreted, "Thou art this head of gold"; the three Hebrews who refused to worship the image were east into a burning furnace. All this typifies the last apostasy. PLINY, in his letter to Trajan, states that he consigned to punishment those Christians who would not worship the emperor's image... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 13:11-18

The beast out of the earth 13:11-18Most interpreters who see the first beast as an individual also see the second beast as one. Others who see the first beast as a power or movement tend to view the second beast similarly. [Note: E.g., ibid., p. 172.] Many of the Reformers identified the second beast as the papacy or as specific popes. Many modern interpreters view the first beast as the personification of secular power in opposition to the church and the second beast as the personification of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 13:15

This verse may mean that the second beast will give life (Gr. pneuma, breath) to an inanimate object or that he will only appear to do so. In either case he will deceive many people (Revelation 13:14)."Belief in statues which spoke and performed miracles is widely attested in ancient literature." [Note: Mounce, p. 261. Cf. Charles, 1:361, and Beale, p. 711, for additional sources.] The image will speak and will put to death those who do not worship the beast (cf. Daniel 3:11), possibly by... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Revelation 13:15

13:15 homage (c-35) See Note h, ch. 3.9. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 13:1-18

The Two BeastsPersonification of the two powers inspired by the devil to persecute the Church.1-10. The dragon stands by the sea (i.e. the Ægean Sea), from which there rises to meet him a ’beast,’ i.e. something inhuman: signifying the Roman empire, which came to the Province of Asia, in which were the Churches addressed in Rev., from the sea. The beast has ten horns and seven heads: cp. Daniel 7. On the horns are diadems and on the heads ’names of blasphemy,’ i.e. blasphemous titles: cp.... read more

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