The Revealed Beast
The great enemy of Revelation is the dragon, “who is called the devil and Satan.” The dragon “gave his power and his throne and his great authority” to beasts, one from the sea and one from the land. This vision reveals that the Empire is not as beautiful and glorious as it seems, it is a monster who is empowered by Satan. Those who worship the beast and give it their loyalty, in order to “buy or sell,” will suffer the wrath of God and the Lamb. Though the Roman Empire is now gone, are we still able to pull back the curtain and recognize beastly imperial power today? “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (13:10).
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