June 24: Which Enlightenment?

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Revelation 13:14

The second beast of Revelation 13 is pointing the attention of the world back to the first beast: the one who was wounded by the sword and lived. This first beast wielded its power over the course of twelve hundred and sixty years, at which point the leading secular power of the time (Napoleon’s army), wielded a literal sword, marched into Rome, removed the pope from his papal throne, and unwittingly fulfilled the prophecy of seven mentions (Daniel 7:25 & 12:7, Revelation 11:2, 3 12:6,14, 13:5). Secular history records the dethroning of the pope (and the supposed end of the church) as the Age of Enlightenment. However, this “enlightenment” ran parallel to a genuine enlightenment, as spiritual revival was breaking out in Europe and across the world. In this sense, the papal power was spiritually wounded by the sword, as the word of God, kept hidden from the people by the church of the Middle Ages, became widely available. False doctrines were being exposed, as the Protestant Reformation emerged from backstage. And the first beast is working every angle to force reformation back into the shadows…

This first beast is described as “rising up out of the water” (see Revelation 13:1) which brings to mind the ordinance of baptism. The instruction to be baptized following repentance is a beautiful and profound symbol of death, burial, and resurrection; death to the “old man of sin” and a “new you” beginning afresh on the path of righteousness. But in the case of the first beast:

I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. Revelation 13:3

Just as it is possible for an unrepentant individual to go through the motions of baptism without having truly died to self, we must take note of the words “as if,” for the first beast never really died! Some translations read “seemed to have a mortal wound.” This antichrist power went through a counterfeit death and resurrection, mimicking the death and resurrection of Christ. And the second beast is fulfilling the prophetic role of telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:14b)

Our fast-paced, ultra-modern, too-busy world has largely forgotten the history of mass murders of true Christians by the church of the Dark Ages. And though she recently issued a brief apology, her policies and erroneous doctrines have not changed. She is saying, “Yes, I tortured, drowned, strangled, and burned millions of Christians, but that was the old me. I’m a ‘new me’ now!” She has regained astounding power and all the world marvel[s]. This power continues to grow politically, economically, and religiously. Protestants have lost their protest and are drifting directly back toward the “mother church” (as she calls herself). Our response must be to cultivate a deep love for the Lord, His true love for all people, and love for the truth as presented in His word. We are to trumpet the Lord’s call—out of confusion—to His scattered people all over the world: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen . . . come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:2,4