I’ve often thought that if the devil showed himself as a gruesome, vicious, terrifying monster that people would have a much easier time resisting him. We are naturally scared of what looks scary. Most people run away from fire, when they are fully aware it is fire. But how about when evil looks friendly. When a temptation is viewed as a cure. When deception looks gentle.
The dragon, known as the devil, in Revelation 12 certainly has a terrifying appearance: enormous, red, seven heads, ten massive tails and seven crowns – no thank you! Then in Revelation 13 John goes on to describe the first beast, coming out of the sea, with ten heads, seven horns, and ten crowns. John says that this first beast resembled a leopard, a bear, and a lion. I wouldn’t want to encounter any one of these, let alone all three!
But then John goes on to describe the second beast, coming out of the earth. He says that it had the horns of a lamb, but the voice of a dragon. In verse 12 John says that this second beast exercised authority over the first beast, and he required all of the people of the earth to worship the first beast. Verse 13 says that he performed astounding miracles. Yet listen to verses 14 and 15, “And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.”
Deceived… ordered… commanded… that anyone refusing to worship it must die. These words are minced with chaos and confusion. The second beast is known as the False Prophet. He comes to create chaos, confusion, and deception. He comes to enslave, to trap, to control.
Yet we who hope in the Lord know that we do not have a God of confusion. We worship a God of clarity, love, purity, and compassion. Our God has set the captives free. At first glance, the second beast may appear less vicious, maybe even gentle, but don’t be deceived. Understanding the true motives of this beast requires discernment. John says in Revelation 13:18, “This calls for wisdom.”
Having wisdom requires practice and asking for guidance from the true, the only, Holy Spirit. As you step out into another chaotic day on this place called earth, ask for God’s wisdom; pray for discernment. And then step out in confidence knowing that although battles rage around us, the ultimate victory belongs to our God.
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director