April 8: STRING-OF-CLUES (part 1)

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:16-17

Our gracious God has patiently and consistently laid out His will for people. Rather than forcing allegiance, the decision is left up to each soul. He provides many clues for us to discover. Discovering these clues helps to guide us in our Christian walk. With the divine aid of His word and His Holy Spirit, we are each instructed to “love the LORD your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” to quote Jesus directly (Matthew 22:37). One important aspect we should glean from the words of our Lord is that we are not required to leave our mind “at the door” when we enter God’s kingdom. The most common accusation levied against Christians by the secular world is that they (we) put all mental reason aside. As we endeavor to gain discernment, let us wholeheartedly apply our minds to the love of His word.

Let’s begin by identifying the “he” of our opening verse. This “he” is mentioned in verse 11, and is described as coming up out the earth and having two horns like a lamb. These two clues contrast with the previously introduced character out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns (v.1).

Let us compare these two. The sea beast came into existence first. In the old world, the lives of millions were arrayed around the Mediterranean Sea. This part of the world was densely populated and directly affected God’s people. Character traits of this sea beast can be traced all the way back to Babylon, and from there to Medo-Persia to Greece to Rome, followed by divided Rome: ten separate monarchies (see Daniel 2:36-43; 7:2-7). The philosophy of each successive kingdom was shaped by previous philosophies. Therefore, we find Babylonian, Persian, and Greek thinking in Roman philosophy. The “little horn” (Daniel 7:8) that gained control over these monarchies after Rome divided had enormous power – symbolized by ten horns – due to exerting control over the kings and queens of Europe. Its political and religious power was generated and exerted through the allegiance of these crowned heads, hence the description: on his horns ten crowns. This religio-political system, since its inception, has maintained a policy of continually having a man as its head (Daniel 7:8). This “complete” coverage of leadership is symbolized by the number seven: seven heads. When one pope dies, he is quickly replaced from within.

At the time one of his heads (Revelation 13:3) was seriously wounded, the second beast arose out of the earth from a sparsely populated continent. As the sea signifies a dense population (17:15), earth in this context signifies a sparse population. This second beast started small and had lamblike principles. The two horns like a lamb (and the conspicuous absence of crowns) represented two governing principles: civil and religious liberty; a government without a king and a church without a pope. The words of our Lord are the foundation of these principles.

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25 (see also Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Note that religious and political powers united in order to bring about the execution of Jesus. (see Luke 23:12)