The First Beast In Greek Mythology
11-12: The second beast comes out of the earth and has two horns, where the first beast had ten, indicating that he is less fearsome that the first. These two horns are taken from Daniel 8:3, which depicts a ram with two horns that speaks as a dragon, “suggesting that its role is primarily religious” in nature. This second “knockoff of Christ” speaks with the voice of God (John 5:25-30), and uses the same words as the ancient serpent that lead the world astray. This second beast has “all the power of his predecessor” and helps the first beast, coercing the inhabitants of the earth worship the first beast. While the first beast spoke defiantly against God and his people, the second beast “makes the first beast’s claims sound plausible and
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This may reference the emperor cult that was erected at Ephesus to the Emperor Domitian, as many Christian in the time of John were pressured into sacrificing and giving to these idols. This also references the giant idol erected of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the beast and were sentenced to death, just like those who do not worship the beast. The breathe of life coming into this idol is the false prophet’s “most impious usurpation of God’s power,” a powerful act that has dire implications for those who refuse to bow down. The mark on the right hand or forehead of men may be referencing the practice of “branding or tattooing disobedient slaves, soldiers, and loyal devotees to gods” to the beast. Anyone who did not accept this mark would not be allowed to buy or sell anything, referring to Revelation 2:9 and 6:5-6, where economic measures are directed against Christians. This mark may refer to “the state’s political and economic “stamp of approval,”” which is only given to those who go along with the religious demands of the day, such as the imperial worship of the emperor. Those who do not accept the mark are not even able to get “necessities like food,” which in turn causes those opposed to die of starvation. Those who accepted the mark of the beast are allowed to live under his reign, but it is Christ who will win the final victory, as those who are martyred will be avenged in God’s perfect justice and live forever. There is no middle ground in this war; “not to belong to Christ is to belong to the Beast,” and this is an allegiance where one must pick
This may reference the emperor cult that was erected at Ephesus to the Emperor Domitian, as many Christian in the time of John were pressured into sacrificing and giving to these idols. This also references the giant idol erected of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the beast and were sentenced to death, just like those who do not worship the beast. The breathe of life coming into this idol is the false prophet’s “most impious usurpation of God’s power,” a powerful act that has dire implications for those who refuse to bow down. The mark on the right hand or forehead of men may be referencing the practice of “branding or tattooing disobedient slaves, soldiers, and loyal devotees to gods” to the beast. Anyone who did not accept this mark would not be allowed to buy or sell anything, referring to Revelation 2:9 and 6:5-6, where economic measures are directed against Christians. This mark may refer to “the state’s political and economic “stamp of approval,”” which is only given to those who go along with the religious demands of the day, such as the imperial worship of the emperor. Those who do not accept the mark are not even able to get “necessities like food,” which in turn causes those opposed to die of starvation. Those who accepted the mark of the beast are allowed to live under his reign, but it is Christ who will win the final victory, as those who are martyred will be avenged in God’s perfect justice and live forever. There is no middle ground in this war; “not to belong to Christ is to belong to the Beast,” and this is an allegiance where one must pick