Revelation 13:12-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:11-18

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... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 13:1-18

13:1-18 I saw a beast coming up from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads; and it had ten royal crowns on its horns; and on its heads I saw blasphemous names. The beast which I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's feet; its mouth was like a lion's mouth; and to it the dragon delegated its power and its throne and its great authority. I saw that one of its heads looked as if it had been wounded to death; and its deadly wound had been healed. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:12

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him ,.... Sitting in the same seat, having the same power and authority from the dragon, making war with the saints by preaching and writing against them, by anathemas, excommunications, and bulls, and so overcame and silenced them, or delivered them over to the secular arm to be put to death, ruling over the consciences of men in a tyrannical way, in all nations, kindreds, and tongues, in the empire; and all this before, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders ,.... Or miracles; not real, but pretended ones, lying wonders, which the Popish legends are full of the accounts of, as done by the priests, or by this or the other saint: so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men ; in imitation of Elijah, 2 Kings 1:9 ; and this single instance is put instead of all others, it being usual with the Jews to express all wonderful and miraculous operations by this miracle of Elijah's: and this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:14

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth ,.... The Complutensian edition, and two of Stephens's copies, read "mine", instead of "them"; creatures of God, and professors of Christ, carnal and unregenerate men; not the elect of God, and true believers in Christ, these cannot be deceived by the signs and wonders of false Christs and false prophets; antichrist's deceivableness of unrighteousness only operates in them that perish: by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:15

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast ,.... Or "breath"; he breathed into it, and animated it; he gave this new religion a sanction, he confirmed and established it, and obliged all in his dominions to embrace and acknowledge it; and this he did by his decrees and canons, and those that refused were delivered over to the secular power, which he also exercised under another consideration: that the image of the beast should both speak : so that it was not like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:16

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor , free and bond ,.... Men of all ranks and degrees, states and conditions, within his jurisdiction; this refers to the beast, and not to the image: to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads ; or "that they might give themselves marks", as the Complutensian edition reads; which is an allusion either to the custom among the Romans of imprinting marks upon their servants and soldiers, by which they might be known... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:17

And that no man might buy or sell ,.... Either in an ecclesiastical sense, as to, be in any church office, or perform any such service, to say Mass, hear confession, give absolution, sell pardons and indulgences, &c.; or in a civil sense, as to trade, and exercise merchandise, and this was forbidden by several Popish councils and synods; the Lateran council, under Pope Alexander, decreed against the Waldenses and Albigenses, that no one should presume to retain or encourage them in their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 13:12

And he exercised all the power of the first beast before him - In the preceding verse the two-horned beast was represented as rising out of the earth, that is, obtaining gradually more and more influence in the civil affairs of the Latin world. Here he it represented as having obtained the direction and management of all the power of the first beast or secular Latin empire before him, ενωπιον αυτου , in his presence. That the Romish hierarchy has had the extensive power here spoken of, is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders - That we may have the greatest assurance possible that the two-horned beast is the spiritual Latin empire, it is called in Revelation 19:20 , a passage illustrative of the one now under consideration, the false prophet, "than which," as Bishop Newton observes, "there cannot be a stronger or plainer argument to prove that false doctors or teachers were particularly designed;" for prophet, in the Scripture style, is not unfrequently used for a preacher or... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:11-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 13:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 13:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 13:13

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