Devotion 2: Beauty and the Beast
John Rigg
Revelation chapter 13 describes the arrival of the apocalyptic Beast. In verse one, we see the Beast coming out of the sea and this more than likely is referencing the “sea of humanity.” This helps us understand that the Beast represents a man that rises out of the brokenness and depravity of mankind. He rules over a worldwide government that is represented by the ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, which was also represented by the fourth beast of Daniel, which also had ten horns (Daniel 7:7-8). He will use his worldwide influence to defame the name of God and God’s people. This kingdom will be greater than all the kingdoms of Daniel’s day, reflected in the description of the leopard, the bear, and the lion. The primary goal of the Beast during this time is to use all this influence and power to redirect the worship owed to God onto the dragon, Satan, who has given him the power to do so.
Revelation 13:3-4 says, “And the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’”
So, why is the world so easily deceived into worshiping Satan at this time in history? In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, we read, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
During this time, Satan has a relatively easy job in convincing everyone to worship him. Although there is no truth in him, people will follow him as they “pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Revelation 13:8 (NKJV) adds, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
However, there is a “beauty” in this time of the Beast. It is found in those who desire righteousness and truth over unrighteousness and lies. Their names will be found written in the Book of Life of the Lamb.
Although the revealing of the Beast will bring much trouble and tribulation as never before seen on the Earth, God will use this time to separate those who love and worship Him from those who would rather pleasure in unrighteousness and follow Satan into eternal condemnation.
Speaking of Heaven and eternal life, John says, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
It is good to remember that the book of Revelation is a revealing of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1). It is easy for us to get distracted by all the signs of the Beast and lose sight of the beauty of Jesus Christ. As terrible as the Beast is, he is just a pawn in the hand of God to finally rid His creation of sin and unrighteousness.
Our primary concern then should not be the Beast, but the beauty of Jesus Christ and that He has made a way for our name to be written in the Book of Life.