Oh, don't you love the imagery of the book of Revelation! Years
ago I was watching local Christian television and they were having a fund
raiser. If you ever watch the national Christian television while they are
having their telethons, think about such an event happening on that homemade,
local level and you will get the idea of what I am talking about. Their guest
that night was an artist who had done several paintings of the scenes of
Revelation. Although the artist was good and the renderings were a faithful
attempt at the scenes as described, I could not help but think: You cannot
paint or draw the scenes of Revelation. They are described the way they are
(count the word "like" in Revelation) to try to put the infinite
images of the spiritual world and of heaven into some finite description that
we can somehow grasp. However, human words cannot fully describe such scenes.
Not the half has been told.
Another thing to remember when reading Revelation (as well as miracles, parables, and narratives) is always ask the question: What is this written for? Of all the descriptions of Revelation 13 and the explanations and identities and time frames of these beasts, notice the stated point of this passage: Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:10). We must stand firm. That was the message for the 1st century, 21st century, and every century in between and any future ones. The message is a timeless message. Revelation's message is not just for the last generation unless you include all since the ascension of Christ and until the return of Christ as the last generation. This message was for them and is for us. Endure! Stand Strong! Have faith!
One way to make sure you are standing strong is to check your allegiances. A very familiar passage that is brought up in Rev. 13 is the mark of the beast passage (v.16-17): Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. Have you ever heard anything like that before? Anywhere else in Scripture? I will tell you what it reminds me of. It reminds me of the Shema, one of the most popular passages of Scripture in the Old Testament for the Jews and one of the most popular in the 1st century among Christians. It is found in Deuteronomy 6: 4 and following: 4"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[a] 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart....8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." I will always believe that the concern there is not the hand or the forehead, but the activity (symbolized by the hand) and the thought pattern (symbolized by the forehead- keeping it ever before you) of doing everything that you do, whether in word, deed, or thought to the glory of God. Many Jews made the mistake that this meant tying Scripture on your arm or head, however, if you don't digest and live by it, what difference does it make?
Another thing to remember when reading Revelation (as well as miracles, parables, and narratives) is always ask the question: What is this written for? Of all the descriptions of Revelation 13 and the explanations and identities and time frames of these beasts, notice the stated point of this passage: Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:10). We must stand firm. That was the message for the 1st century, 21st century, and every century in between and any future ones. The message is a timeless message. Revelation's message is not just for the last generation unless you include all since the ascension of Christ and until the return of Christ as the last generation. This message was for them and is for us. Endure! Stand Strong! Have faith!
One way to make sure you are standing strong is to check your allegiances. A very familiar passage that is brought up in Rev. 13 is the mark of the beast passage (v.16-17): Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. Have you ever heard anything like that before? Anywhere else in Scripture? I will tell you what it reminds me of. It reminds me of the Shema, one of the most popular passages of Scripture in the Old Testament for the Jews and one of the most popular in the 1st century among Christians. It is found in Deuteronomy 6: 4 and following: 4"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[a] 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart....8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." I will always believe that the concern there is not the hand or the forehead, but the activity (symbolized by the hand) and the thought pattern (symbolized by the forehead- keeping it ever before you) of doing everything that you do, whether in word, deed, or thought to the glory of God. Many Jews made the mistake that this meant tying Scripture on your arm or head, however, if you don't digest and live by it, what difference does it make?
Now once you realize that the first audience of the Revelation (those seven churches in Asia Minor under the influence, power, and persecution of the Roman Empire) knew this Shema passage "like the back of their hands" (excuse the pun, it was not intended), then you realize how they would interpret such a passage as that in Rev. 13:16-17. I have heard this described as a tattoo, a barcode, a computer chip, and I bet some are saying now, a scan code. Those that do, I believe are missing the point, just like the Jews did when they tied their boxes of Scripture on their hands and heads. The point is: where does your allegiance lie? Are you sold on the concepts, the plans, and the hopes of this wicked world or are you sold out in your thought and action on the things of God? Where does your allegiance lie? By what authority (the right hand is the one of authority) do you do what you do? Oh, let me once again remind you of the point of this passage as it is found in Rev. 13:10- Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Don't side with a lost and dying and manipulative and hellbent world! Align with Jesus! Endure! Stand Strong! Sell Out! Live it today! Be marked by Christ, not by the World!
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