Revelation 13:14-15 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
The second beast is given power to perform miracles in the name of the first beast. These miracles are like the ones of the magicians of ancient Egypt when Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh. This false profit ordered an image set up like Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon. It is curious how the beast gives the ability of this statue to talk. In modern terms, it might be like enabling a robot to talk. The refuels to worship this image will lead to death.
The crisis of decision to reject total and exclusive worship of the true God reaches a climax in this passage. What will people give up in order to in order to have food to eat, a job, place to stay, and other necessities of life? If it comes time to make a choice between Christ and comfort or safety, what will we choose? If we cannot choose Christ now in the simple things of life, perhaps in our comforts and luxuries, how will we fare when there is a true crisis? We must think deeply and pray fervently that we will have the strength to stand up to persecution when we face it. The best preparation is to learn the voice of our Shepherd and Lamb now and be deeply rooted in Christ in our faith.
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