IV.       Analysis of Revelation 13:11-18

E.         Performs Signs

            καὶ τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πρώτου θηρίου πᾶσαν ποιεῖ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ποιεῖ τὴν γῆν καὶ τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ κατοικοῦντας ἵνα προσκυνήσουσιν τὸ θηρίον τὸ πρῶτον…. καὶ ποιεῖ σημεῖα μεγάλα, ἵνα καὶ πῦρ ποιῇ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβαίνειν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ πλανᾷ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς διὰ τὰ σημεῖα ἃ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ποιῆσαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θηρίου (13:12-14a)

1.         Textual and Exegetical Issues

a.         The second beast is given the authority of the first beast.

1)         ἐξουσία used 21 times in Revelation (Rev 2:26; 6:8; 9:3, 10, 19; 11:6; 12:10; 13:2, 4–5, 7, 12; 14:18; 16:9; 17:12–13; 18:1; 20:6; 22:14); Used 23 times in LXX of Daniel to translate שָׁלְטָן (Dan 3:2, 97; 4:17, 27, 31, 37; 5:4, 7, 16, 29; 6:4; 7:12, 14, 26–27; 14:25).  “The right to control or govern over — authority to rule, right to control.” (L&N 37.35)

2)         δίδωμι used 58 times in Revelaton; the passive (ἐδόθη/ἐδόθησαν) is used 23 times (6:2, 4, 8, 11; 7:2; 8:2–3; 9:1, 3, 5; 11:1–2; 12:14; 13:5, 7, 14–15; 16:8; 19:8; 20:4), often in the sense of being granted permission or authority to do something (6:4, 8; 7:2; 9:5; 13:5, 7, 14, 15; 16:8; 19:8; 20:4). The land beast can perform his deceptions only by the permission of God. “Everything Satan and his minions do in the book occurs only by divine permission.” (Osborne, 277)

3)         On behalf of the first beast: ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.

•           Used 35 times in Revelation, almost always in the sense of being in someone’s or something’s presence.

•           BDAG suggests this is a special use: by the authority of, on behalf of Rev 13:12, 14; 19:20.

•           The two olive trees and the two lampstands, signifying the two witnesses, stand in God’s presence (11:4) as do the seven spirits of God (1:4), making this a parody of the Spirit.

•           “As Christ received authority from the father (Matt 11:27), so Antichrist receives authority from the dragon (Rev. 13:4), and as the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ (John 16:14), so the false prophet glorifies the Antichrist (Rev. 13:12).” (Mounce, 255)

b.         The second beast does great works (ποιέω used 30 times in Rev; it is used 8 times in Rev 13:11-18).

1)         It exercises all the authority of the first beast. (13:12)

2)         It makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the beast. (13:12)

3)         It performs great signs. (13:13)

4)         It makes fire come from heaven down to earth. (13:13)

5)         It does signs to deceive those dwelling on the earth. (13:14)

6)         It tells the inhabitants of the earth to make an image of the beast. (13:14)

7)         It gives [δοῦναι] life to the image who makes those who don’t worship the beast to be killed. (13:15)

8)         It makes everyone receive the mark of the beast. (13:16)

c.         The second beast performs great signs (σημεῖα μεγάλα).

1)         σημεῖον used 7 times in Revelation, 4 times in connection with ποιέω

2)         In the Gospel of John, σημεῖον used 17 times, 15 times with ποιέω, mainly of Jesus’ miracles (John 2:11, 18, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2, 14, 30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37; 20:30).

3)         σημεῖον used with μέγα 5 times in Revelation (Rev 12:1, 3; 13:13; 15:1; 16:14). Nebuchadnezzar praises God for doing great signs and wonders (ὅτι αὐτὸς ποιεῖ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα καὶ ἀλλοιοῖ καιροὺς καὶ χρόνους ἀφαιρῶν βασιλείαν βασιλέων καὶ καθιστῶν ἑτέρους ἀντ᾿ αὐτῶν. Dan 4:37 LXX). Here it is a parody of Christ.

4)         πῦρ is used 26 times in Revelation (1:14; 2:18; 3:18; 4:5; 8:5, 7–8; 9:17–18; 10:1; 11:5; 13:13; 14:10, 18; 15:2; 16:8; 17:16; 18:8; 19:12, 20; 20:9–10, 14–15; 21:8). Its use may be ironic since πῦρ is frequently used in reference to God’s judgment.

5)         οὐρανος is used 52 times in Revelation (3:12; 4:1–2; 5:3, 13; 6:13, 14; 8:1, 10; 9:1; 10:1, 4, 5, 6, 8; 11:6, 12, 13, 15, 19; 12:1; 12:3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12; 13:6, 13; 14:2, 7, 13, 17; 15:1, 5; 16:11, 21; 18:1, 4–5, 20; 19:1, 11, 14; 20:1, 9, 11; 21:1, 2, 10); it is used 17 times in the Gospel of John in reference to the Spirit, Son of Man, bread (John 1:32, 51; 3:13, 27, 31; 6:31–33, 38, 41–42, 50–51, 58; 12:28; 17:1).

d.         The second beast leads astray those dwelling on the earth.

1)         πλανάω used 8 times in Rev (2:20; 12:9; 13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3, 8, 10); (2x in John, 3x in Epistles). Satan is called ὁ πλανῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅλην (12:9) and the devil is called ὁ πλανῶν αὐτοὺς (20:10). πλανάω is used 119 times in the LXX and about 53 times in PSEUD.

•           ἀθῷός εἰμι ἀπὸ πάσης ἀσεβείας ὑμῶν καὶ παραβάσεως, ἣν ποιήσετε ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς τὸν σωτῆρα τοῦ κόσμου, ἀσεβοῦντες, πλανῶντες τὸν Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἐπεγείροντες αὐτῷ κακὰ μεγάλα παρὰ κυρίου. (T.Levi 10:2)

•           Καὶ νῦν ἔγνων ἐν βιβλίῳ Ἑνὼχ ὅτι ἑβδομήκοντα ἑβδομάδας πλανηθήσεσθε, καὶ τὴν ἱερωσύνην βεβηλώσετε καὶ τὰς θυσίας μιανεῖτε. (T.Levi 16:1)

2)         Allowed by God (ἐδόθη) for the sole purpose of deceiving (πλανᾷ) those who dwell on the earth since they refused to repent (Rev 9:20-21; cf. 2 Thess 2:10-12 where God sends the delusion so those who refuse to believe the truth will believe a lie).

3)         The signs deceive people into worshipping the beast and the dragon (13:3-4; cf. 19:20).

4)         The signs are miracles (either real or fake) designed to mislead mankind. “It is not a religious act but a public-relations performance intended to enhance the worship of the false trinity.” Cf. also Jer 23:9-14; Ezek 13:1-23. (Osborne, 514)

5)         There is no explicit connection with the false teachers (Nicolaitans, Balaam, Jezebel) mentioned earlier in seven letters, though the readers would probably make the connection.

6)         In the rest of the book of Revelation he is identified as ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης (16:13; 19:20; 20:10).

2.         Literary Background

a.         This is a parody

1)         Moses (Exod 4:17, 30; 10:2; 11:10; cf. 7:11 where Pharaoh’s magicians copied Moses’ miracles).

2)         Elijah (1 Kings 18:38-39; 2 Kings 1:10-14).

3)         The two witnesses (Rev 11:6).

4)         Jesus (John 2:11, 18, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2, 14, 30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37; 20:30).

b.         Fire from heaven in the Bible:

•           Fire (lightning) came down with hail as one of the plagues on Egypt (Ex 9:23).

•           Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).

•           Elijah on the mountain and the captains of 50 (2 Kings 1).

•           Chariots of fire took Elijah to heaven (2 Kings 2).

•           Fire came down at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chron 7).

•           Job’s sheep were burned by fire from heaven (Job 1:16).

•           God sent down burning coals from heaven to save David (Psa 18:14).

•           James and John ask if they should have fire come down from heaven (Luke 9:54).

•           The two witnesses kill their enemies with fire from their mouths (Rev 11:5).

•           God’s enemies will be destroyed by fire from heaven (Rev 20:9) [Irony].

•           God came down on the mountain ablaze with fire (Deut 4:11).

•           God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from heaven (Gen 19:24).

c.         False teachers and false prophets were expected to lead people astray with signs and wonders (Mark 13:21–23; Matt 24:23–25; 2 Thess 2:9-10; Did2 16:4; AscIsa 4.10; SibOr 2.167; 3.63–67; ApocEl 3:5–13; Apoc. Dan. 13:1–13; GkApEzra 4:26–27; Apoc. Pet. 2; Tertullian, De anima, 50.7; Hippolytus, Haer., 528.2; Origen, Contra Celsum, 2.50; 6.45).

•           This angel, Beliar, will come in the form of decking, and with him will come all the powers of this world, and they will obey him in every wish. By his word he will cause the sun to rise by night, and the moon also he will make to appear at the sixth hour. And he will do everything he wishes in the world; he will act and speak like the Beloved, and will say, “I am the Lord, and before me there was no one.” And all man in the world will believe in him. They will sacrifice to him and will serve him, saying, “This is the Lord, and besides him there is no other.” In the majority of those who have associated together to receive the Beloved he will turn aside after him. And the power of his miracles will be in every city industry, and he will set up his image before him in every city. And he will rule for three years and seven months and twenty-seven days. (AscIsa 4:4-13)

•           And Beliar will come and perform many signs. (SibOr 2:167)

•           From the stock of Sebaste Beliar shall come in later time and shall [raise] the mountain heights and raise the sea, the great fiery sun and the bright moon, and he shall raise up the dead and shall perform many signs for men: but they shall not be effective in him. (SibOr 3:63–67)

•           And then the Antichrist will lift up a stone in his hands and say, “Belive in me and I will make these stones (into) bread.” And then (the) Jews will worship (him), who are saying, “You are Christ for whom we pray and on account of you the Christian race has grieved us greatly.” And then the Antichrist will boast, saying to the Jews, “Do not be grieved thus. A little (while and) the Christian race will see and will realize who I am.” And the Antichrist lifts up (his) voice toward the flinty rock, saying, “Become bread before the Jews.” And disobeying him, the rock becomes a dragon. And the dragon says to the Antichrist, “O you who are full of every iniquity and injustice, why do you do things which you are not able?” And the dragon shames him before the Jews.” (ApocDan 13:1-13)

•           And I asked, “Who is this?” And he said to me, “This is the one who says, ‘I am
the son of God and he who made stones bread and water wine.’” (GrApEzr 4:26-27)

d.         Predicted in Deuteronomy 13 and 18.

1)         Deuteronomy 13:1-7 speaks of

•           a prophet (ayIbÎn / profh/thß)

•           who performs signs and wonders (tEpwøm wøa twøa / to\ shmei√on h· to\ te÷raß)

•           in order to lead Israel to walk after other gods (MédVbDoDn◊w MyîrEjSa MyIhølTa yérSjAa hDkVl´n / poreuqw◊men kai« latreu/swmen qeoi√ß e˚te÷roiß).

            The Lord gives six commands to prevent such defection:

•           “walk after the LORD your God” (…wkElE;t MRkyEhølTa hDwh◊y yérSjAa / ojpi÷sw kuri÷ou touv qeouv uJmw◊n poreu/esqe),

•           “fear him” (…wa∂ryIt wøtOa◊w / aujto\n fobhqh/sesqe),

•           “keep his commandments” (…wrOmVvI;t wyDtOwVxIm_tRa◊w / ta»ß e˙ntola»ß aujtouv fula¿xesqe),

•           “obey his voice” (…woDmVvIt wølOqVb…w / thvß fwnhvß aujtouv aÓkou/sesqe),

•           “serve him” (…wdObSoAt wøtOa◊w / omitted by LXX), and

•           “hold fast to him” (N…wqD;b√dIt wøb…w / aujtw◊ˆ prosteqh/sesqe).

            In order to purge the evil (o∂rDh / to\n ponhro\n) from Israel, such a prophet needs to be put to death because he has taught rebellion (h∂rDs / planhvsai÷) against the Lord.

2)         Deuteronomy 18:9-22 begins with a warning to not follow the practices of the Canaanites and then gives a more complete list of legitimate and illegitimate prophetic activities. God will put his words into the mouth of the true prophet, the one like Moses, whom he will raise up from among their brothers, so they must listen to him (woDmVvI;t wyDlEa / aujtouv aÓkou/sesqe).

e.         The danger of False Prophets is a common theme in the OT (Jer 6:13-15; 8:8-12; Ezek 13; 22:27; 34; Mic 3; Zech 11:16).

f.          Balaam may be a type of the false prophet (Num 22-24; 31:8; Deut 23:4–5; Josh 13:22; 24:9–10; Neh 13:2; Mic 6:5; 2 Pet 2:15; Rev 2:14). There is a clear link between God’s statement (Deut 18:18), “I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak all that I command him” (…w…nR…wAxSa rRvSa_lD;k tEa MRhyElSa rR;bîd◊w wyIpV;b yårDb√d) and Balaam’s statement (Num 22:38), “The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak” (rE;bådSa wøtOa yIpV;b MyIhølTa MyIcÎy rRvSa rDb∂;dAh).

g.         The fierce looking king will make deceit prosper in his hands
(Dan 8:2 בְּיָדוֹ מִרְמָה וְהִצְלִיחַ / εὐοδωθήσεται τὸ ψεῦδος ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ).

h.         The land beast’s alternate title ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης clearly link him to the false prophet tradition.

3.         Historical and Cultural Background

a.         The people of Asia Minor eagerly welcomed Rome because many of them personally benefited from Roman rule. (Bauckham, Theology, 36)

b.         The worship of Roman emperors was the spontaneous response of the people to Rome’s power. (Bauckham, Theology, 37-38)

4.         Interpretive Options (see Appendix IV)

a.         Preterit

1)         Trickery and magic.

2)         A. Y. Collins thinks John believes they are real miracles.

b.         Idealist

1)         Miracles worked by false prophets throughout history to lead people astray.

2)         Tricks, pseudo-miracles used for political purposes.

c.         Futurist

1)         Literal signs, literal fire from heaven.

2)         Genuine miracles, supernatural accomplishments, not mere trickery or skill in pyrotechnics.