Revelation of John 13:13
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And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
wonders--Greek, "signs." so that--so great that. maketh fire--Greek, "maketh even fire." This is the very miracle which the two witnesses perform, and which Elijah long ago had performed; this the beast from the bottomless pit, or the false prophet, mimics. Not merely tricks, but miracles of a demoniacal kind, and by demon aid, like those of the Egyptian magicians, shall be wrought, most calculated to deceive; wrought "after the working (Greek, 'energy') of Satan."
Open source ↗We have, in this chapter, a further discovery and description of the church's enemies: not other enemies than are mentioned before, but described after another manner, that the methods of their enmity may more fully appear. They are represented as two beasts; the first you have an account of (Rev 13:1-10) the second (Rev 13:11, etc.). By the first some understand Rome pagan, and by the second Rome papal; but others understand Rome papal to be represented by both these beasts, by the first in its secular power, by the second in its ecclesiastical.
Open source ↗13:13-15 In New Testament times, false prophets astounded people with reports of divine visitations and of idols speaking for the gods they represented (see Acts 16:16-18; 1 Cor 12:2-3). Such practices involved worship of demons (see 1 Cor 10:20-21) and were epitomized in the Roman emperor cult. Those who refused to conform were put to death.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed.
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians.
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.