1undG2532 sahG1492 ein TierG2342 ausG1537 dem MeerG2281 steigenG305, das hatteG2192 siebenG2033 HäupterG2776 undG2532 zehnG1176 HörnerG2768 undG2532 aufG1909 seinenG846 HörnernG2768 zehnG1176 KronenG1238 undG2532 aufG1909 seinenG846 HäupternG2776 NamenG3686 der LästerungG988. 2UndG2532 das TierG2342, daßG3739 ich sahG1492, warG2258 gleichG3664 einem ParderG3917 undG2532 seineG846 FüßeG4228 wieG5613 BärenfüßeG715 undG2532 seinG846 MundG4750 wieG5613 eines LöwenG3023 MundG4750. UndG2532 der DracheG1404 gabG1325 ihmG846 seineG846 KraftG1411 undG2532 seinenG846 StuhlG2362 undG2532 großeG3173 MachtG1849. 3UndG2532 ich sahG1492 seinerG846 HäupterG2776 einesG3391, als wäreG5613 es tödlich G2288 G1519 wundG4969; undG2532 seineG846 tödlicheG2288 WundeG4127 ward heilG2323. UndG2532 der ganzeG3650 ErdbodenG1093 verwunderte G2296 G2296 sich G3694 G1722 des TieresG2342, 4undG2532 sie betetenG4352 den DrachenG1404 anG4352, derG3739 dem TierG2342 die MachtG1849 gabG1325, undG2532 betetenG4352 das TierG2342 anG4352 und sprachenG3004: WerG5101 ist dem TierG2342 gleichG3664, und werG5101 kannG1410 mitG3326 ihmG846 kriegenG4170? 5UndG2532 esG1325 ward ihmG846 gegebenG1325 ein MundG4750, zu redenG2980 große DingeG3173 undG2532 LästerungenG988, und G2532 G1849 wardG1325 ihmG846 gegebenG1325, daßG4160 es mit ihm währteG4160 42 G5062 G1417 MonateG3376 lang. 6UndG2532 es tatG455 seinenG846 MundG4750 aufG455 zurG1519 LästerungG988 gegenG4314 GottG2316, zu lästernG987 seinenG846 NamenG3686 undG2532 seineG846 HütteG4633 undG2532 die imG1722 HimmelG3772 wohnenG4637. 7UndG2532 wardG1325 ihmG846 gegebenG1325, zuG4160 streitenG4171 mitG3326 den HeiligenG40 undG2532 sieG846 zu überwindenG3528; undG2532 wardG1325 ihmG846 gegebenG1325 MachtG1849 überG1909 alleG3956 GeschlechterG5443 undG2532 SprachenG1100 undG2532 HeidenG1484. 8UndG2532 alleG3956, die aufG1909 ErdenG1093 wohnenG2730, betenG4352 esG846 anG4352, derenG3739 NamenG3686 nichtG3756 geschriebenG1125 sind inG1722 dem Lebensbuch G2222 G976 des LammesG721, das erwürgtG4969 ist, vonG575 AnfangG2602 der WeltG2889. 9HatG2192 jemandG1536 OhrenG3775, der höreG191! 10SoG1536 jemand in das GefängnisG161 führtG4863, derG5217 wird inG1519 das GefängnisG161 gehen; so jemandG1536 mitG1722 dem SchwertG3162 tötetG615, der mußG1163 mitG1722 dem SchwertG3162 getötetG615 werden. HierG5602 istG2076 GeduldG5281 undG2532 GlaubeG4102 der HeiligenG40. 11UndG2532 ich sahG1492 ein anderesG243 TierG2342 aufsteigenG305 ausG1537 der ErdeG1093; das hatteG2192 zweiG1417 HörnerG2768 gleichwieG3664 ein LammG721 undG2532 redeteG2980 wieG5613 ein DracheG1404. 12UndG2532 es übtG4160 alleG3956 MachtG1849 des erstenG4413 TiersG2342 vorG1799 ihmG846; undG2532 es machtG4160, daß die ErdeG1093 undG2532 die darauf G1722 G846 wohnenG2730, anbeten G2443 G4352 das ersteG4413 TierG2342, dessen G3739 G846 tödlicheG2288 WundeG4127 heilG2323 geworden war; 13undG2532 tutG4160 großeG3173 ZeichenG4592, daßG2443 es auchG2532 machtG4160 FeuerG4442 vomG1537 HimmelG3772 fallenG2597 vorG1799 den MenschenG444; 14undG2532 verführtG4105, dieG2730 aufG1909 ErdenG1093 wohnenG2730, umG1223 der ZeichenG4592 willenG1223, dieG3739 ihmG846 gegebenG1325 sind zu tunG4160 vorG1799 dem TierG2342; und sagtG3004 denen, dieG2730 aufG1909 ErdenG1093 wohnenG2730, daßG4160 sie ein BildG1504 machenG4160 sollen dem TierG2342, dasG3739 die WundeG4127 vom SchwertG3162 hatteG2192 undG2532 lebendigG2198 geworden war. 15UndG2532 es ward ihmG846 gegebenG1325, daß es dem BildeG1504 des TiersG2342 den GeistG4151 gabG1325, daßG2443 des TiersG2342 BildG1504 redeteG2980 undG2532 machteG4160, daß alleG3745, welche nichtG3361 des TiersG2342 BildG1504 anbetetenG4352, getötet G2443 G615 würden. 16UndG2532 es machtG4160, daß die KleinenG3398 undG2532 die GroßenG3173, die ReichenG4145 undG2532 die ArmenG4434, die FreienG1658 undG2532 die KnechteG1401, allesamtG3956 sich G2443 G846 ein MalzeichenG5480 gebenG1325 anG1909 ihreG846 rechte Hand G1188 G5495 oderG2228 anG1909 ihreG846 StirnG3359, 17daßG3363 niemandG5100 kaufenG59 oderG2228 verkaufenG4453 kannG1410, erG1508 habeG2192 dennG1508 das MalzeichenG5480, nämlich den NamenG3686 des TiersG2342 oderG2228 die ZahlG706 seinesG846 NamensG3686. 18HierG5602 istG2076 WeisheitG4678! WerG2192 VerstandG3563 hat, der überlegeG5585 die ZahlG706 des TiersG2342; dennG1063 es istG2076 eines MenschenG444 ZahlG706, undG2532 seineG846 ZahlG706 ist 666G5516.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon
the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in
the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. 2. Whence this beast came -
out of the sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem it would be to set forth the mystery of iniquity and tyranny. 3. What was the form and shape of this beast. It was for the most part
like a leopard, but its
feet were like the feet of a bear and its mouth as the mouth of a lion; it had
seven heads, and ten horns, and upon its heads the name of blasphemy: the most horrid and hideous monster! In some part of this description here seems to be an allusion to Daniel's vision of the four beasts, which represented the four monarchies,
Dan 7:1-
Dan 7:3, etc. One of these beasts was like a lion, another like a bear, and another like a leopard; this beast was a sort of composition of those three, with the fierceness, strength, and swiftness, of them all; the seven heads and the ten horns seem to design its several powers; the ten crowns, its tributary princes; the word blasphemy on its forehead proclaims its direct enmity and opposition to the glory of God, by promoting idolatry. 4. The source and spring of his authority -
the dragon; he gave him his power, and seat, and great authority. He was set up by the devil, and supported by him to do his work and promote his interest; and the devil lent him all the assistance he could. 5. A dangerous wound given him, and yet unexpectedly healed,
Revel 13:3. Some think that by this wounded head we are to understand the abolishing of pagan idolatry; and by the healing of the wound the introducing of the popish idolatry, the same in substance with the former, only in a new dress, and which as effectually answers the devil's design as that did. 6. The honour and worship paid to this infernal monster:
All the world wondered after the beast; they all admired his power, and policy, and success, and
they worshipped the dragon that
gave power to the beast, and
they worshipped the beast; they paid honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments, and thought there was no power able to withstand them: so great were the darkness, degeneracy, and madness of the world! 7. How he exercised his infernal power and policy: He had
a mouth, speaking great things, and blasphemies; he blasphemed God, the name of God, the tabernacle of God, and all those that dwell in heaven; and he made war with the saints, and overcame them, and gained a sort of universal empire in the world. His malice was principally levelled at the God of heaven, and his heavenly attendants - at God, in making images of him that is invisible, and in worshipping them; - at the tabernacle of God, that is, say some, at the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which God dwells as in a tabernacle; this is dishonoured by their doctrine of transubstantiation, which will not suffer his body to be a true body, and will put it into the power of every priest to prepare a body for Christ; - and
against those that dwell in heaven, the glorified saints, by putting them into the place of the pagan demons, and praying to them, which they are so far from being pleased with that they truly judge themselves wronged and dishonoured by it. Thus the malice of the devil shows itself against heaven and the blessed inhabitants of heaven. These are above the reach of his power. All he can do is to blaspheme them; but the saints on earth are more exposed to his cruelty, and he sometimes is permitted to triumph over them and trample upon them. 8. The limitation of the devil's power and success, and that both as to time and persons. He is limited in point of time; his reign is
to continue forty-and-two months (
Revel 13:5), suitable to the other prophetical characters of the reign of antichrist. He is also limited as to the persons and people that he shall entirely subject his will and power; it will be only those
whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. Christ had a chosen remnant,
redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist might overcome their bodily strength, and take away their natural life, they could never conquer their souls, nor prevail with them to forsake their Saviour and revolt to his enemies. 9. Here is a demand of attention to what is here discovered of the great sufferings and troubles of the church, and an assurance given that when God has accomplished his work on mount Zion, his refining work, then he will turn his hand against the enemies of his people, and those who have killed with the sword shall themselves fall by the sword (
Revel 13:10), and those who led the people of God into captivity shall themselves be made captives. Here now is that which will be proper exercise for
the patience and faith of the saints - patience under the prospect of such great sufferings, and faith in the prospect of so glorious a deliverance.
11 Those who think the first beast signifies Rome pagan by this second beast would understand Rome papal, which promotes idolatry and tyranny, but in a more soft and lamb-like manner: those that understand the first beast of the secular power of the papacy take the second to intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers, which act under the disguise of religion and charity to the souls of men. Here observe,
I. The form and shape of this second beast:
He had two horns like a lamb, but a mouth that
spoke like the dragon. All agree that this must be some great impostor, who, under a pretence of religion, shall deceive the souls of men. The papists would have it to be Apollonius Tyranaeus; but Dr. More has rejected that opinion, and fixes it upon the ecclesiastical powers of the papacy. The pope shows the horns of a lamb, pretends to be the vicar of Christ upon earth, and so to be vested with his power and authority; but his speech betrays him, for he gives forth those false doctrines and cruel decrees which show him to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb.
II. The power which he exercises:
All the power of the former beast (
Revel 13:12); he promotes the same interest, pursues the same design in substance, which is, to draw men off from worshipping the true God to worshipping those who by nature are no gods, and subject the souls and consciences of men to the will and authority of men, in opposition to the will of God. This design is promoted by the popery as well as by paganism, and by the crafty arts of popery as well as by the secular arm, both serving the interests of the devil, though in a different manner.
III. The methods by which this second beast carried on his interests and designs; they are of three sorts: - 1. Lying wonders, pretended miracles, by which they should be deceived, and prevailed with to worship the former beast in this new image or shape that was now made for him; they would pretend to bring down fire from heaven, as Elias did, and God sometimes permits his enemies, as he did the magicians of Egypt, to do things that seem very wonderful, and by which unwary persons may be deluded. It is well known that the papal kingdom has been long supported by pretended miracles. 2. Excommunications, anathemas, severe censures, by which they pretend to cut men off from Christ, and cast them into the power of the devil, but do indeed deliver them over to the secular power, that they may be put to death; and thus, notwithstanding their vile hypocrisy, they are justly charged with killing those whom they cannot corrupt. 3. By disfranchisement, allowing none to enjoy natural, civil, or municipal rights, who will not worship that papal beast, that is, the image of the pagan beast. It is made a qualification for buying and selling the rights of nature, as well as for places of profit and trust, that they have
the mark of the beast in their forehead and
in their right hand, and that they have
the name of the beast and
the number of his name. It is probable that
the mark, the name, and
the number of the beast, may all signify the same thing - that they make an open profession of their subjection and obedience to the papacy, which is receiving the mark in their forehead, and that they oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavour, to promote the papal authority, which is receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that pope Martin V. in his bull, added to the council of Constance, prohibits Roman catholics from suffering any heretics to dwell in their countries, or to make any bargains, use any trades, or bear any civil offices, which is a very clear interpretation of this prophecy.
IV. We have here
the number of the beast, given in such a manner as shows the infinite wisdom of God, and will sufficiently exercise all the wisdom and accuracy of men:
The number is
the number of a man, computed after the usual manner among men, and it is 666. Whether this be the number of the errors and heresies that are contained in popery, or rather, as others, the number of the years from its rise to its fall, is not certain, much less what that period is which is described by these prophetic numbers. The most admired dissertation on this intricate subject is that of Dr. Potter, where the curious may find sufficient entertainment. It seems to me to be one of those seasons which God has reserved in his own power; only this we know, God has written
Mene Tekel upon all his enemies; he has numbered their days, and they shall be finished, but his own kingdom shall endure for ever.