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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R E V E L A T I O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have, in this chapter, a further discovery and description of the
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church's enemies: not other enemies than are mentioned before, but
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described after another manner, that the methods of their enmity may
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more fully appear. They are represented as two beasts; the first you
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have an account of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:1-10">ver. 1-10</A>)
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the second,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:11-18">ver. 11</A>,
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&c. By the first some understand Rome pagan, and by the second Rome
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papal; but others understand Rome papal to be represented by both these
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beasts, by the first in its secular power, by the second in its
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ecclesiastical.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Re13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The First Beast.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up
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out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his
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horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
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2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his
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feet were as <I>the feet</I> of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of
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a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and
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great authority.
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3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and
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his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the
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beast.
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4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the
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beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who <I>is</I> like unto
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the beast? who is able to make war with him?
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5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things
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and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty
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<I>and</I> two months.
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6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
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blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in
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heaven.
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7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
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overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
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tongues, and nations.
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8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose
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names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from
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the foundation of the world.
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9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he
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that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here
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is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first
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beast; and observe,
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1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to
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himself to stand upon <I>the sea-shore,</I> though it is probable he
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was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in <I>the island
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Patmos,</I> but whether in the body or out of the body he could not
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tell.
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2. Whence this beast came--<I>out of the sea;</I> and yet, by the
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description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but
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the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem
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it would be to set forth the mystery of iniquity and tyranny.
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3. What was the form and shape of this beast. It was for the most part
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<I>like a leopard,</I> but its <I>feet were like the feet of a bear and
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its mouth as the mouth of a lion;</I> it had <I>seven heads, and ten
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horns, and upon its heads the name of blasphemy:</I> the most horrid
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and hideous monster! In some part of this description here seems to be
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an allusion to Daniel's vision of the four beasts, which represented
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the four monarchies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:1-3">Dan. vii. 1-3</A>,
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&c. One of these beasts was like a lion, another like a bear, and
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another like a leopard; this beast was a sort of composition of those
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three, with the fierceness, strength, and swiftness, of them all; the
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seven heads and the ten horns seem to design its several powers; the
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ten crowns, its tributary princes; the word blasphemy on its forehead
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proclaims its direct enmity and opposition to the glory of God, by
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promoting idolatry.
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4. The source and spring of his authority--<I>the dragon; he gave him
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his power, and seat, and great authority.</I> He was set up by the
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devil, and supported by him to do his work and promote his interest;
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and the devil lent him all the assistance he could.
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5. A dangerous wound given him, and yet unexpectedly healed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Some think that by this wounded head we are to understand the
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abolishing of pagan idolatry; and by the healing of the wound the
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introducing of the popish idolatry, the same in substance with the
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former, only in a new dress, and which as effectually answers the
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devil's design as that did.
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6. The honour and worship paid to this infernal monster: <I>All the
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world wondered after the beast;</I> they all admired his power, and
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policy, and success, and <I>they worshipped the dragon</I> that <I>gave
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power to the beast,</I> and <I>they worshipped the beast;</I> they paid
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honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments, and thought
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there was no power able to withstand them: so great were the darkness,
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degeneracy, and madness of the world!
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7. How he exercised his infernal power and policy: He had <I>a mouth,
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speaking great things, and blasphemies; he blasphemed God, the name of
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God, the tabernacle of God, and all those that dwell in heaven; and he
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made war with the saints, and overcame them,</I> and gained a sort of
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universal empire in the world. His malice was principally levelled at
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the God of heaven, and his heavenly attendants--at God, in making
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images of him that is invisible, and in worshipping them;--at the
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tabernacle of God, that is, say some, at the human nature of the Lord
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Jesus Christ, in which God dwells as in a tabernacle; this is
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dishonoured by their doctrine of transubstantiation, which will not
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suffer his body to be a true body, and will put it into the power of
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every priest to prepare a body for Christ;--and <I>against those that
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dwell in heaven,</I> the glorified saints, by putting them into the
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place of the pagan demons, and praying to them, which they are so far
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from being pleased with that they truly judge themselves wronged and
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dishonoured by it. Thus the malice of the devil shows itself against
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heaven and the blessed inhabitants of heaven. These are above the reach
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of his power. All he can do is to blaspheme them; but the saints on
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earth are more exposed to his cruelty, and he sometimes is permitted to
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triumph over them and trample upon them.
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8. The limitation of the devil's power and success, and that both as to
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time and persons. He is limited in point of time; his reign is <I>to
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continue forty-and-two months</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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suitable to the other prophetical characters of the reign of
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antichrist. He is also limited as to the persons and people that he
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shall entirely subject his will and power; it will be only those
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<I>whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life.</I> Christ
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had a chosen remnant, <I>redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book,
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sealed by his Spirit;</I> and though the devil and antichrist might
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overcome their bodily strength, and take away their natural life, they
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could never conquer their souls, nor prevail with them to forsake their
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Saviour and revolt to his enemies.
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9. Here is a demand of attention to what is here discovered of the
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great sufferings and troubles of the church, and an assurance given
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that when God has accomplished his work on mount Zion, his refining
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work, then he will turn his hand against the enemies of his people, and
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those who have killed with the sword shall themselves fall by the sword
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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and those who led the people of God into captivity shall themselves be
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made captives. Here now is that which will be proper exercise for
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<I>the patience and faith of the saints</I>--patience under the prospect
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of such great sufferings, and faith in the prospect of so glorious a
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deliverance.</P>
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<A NAME="Re13_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re13_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Second Beast.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and
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he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
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12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
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him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to
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worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
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13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down
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from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by <I>the means of</I>
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those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the
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beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should
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make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and
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did live.
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15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,
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that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as
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many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
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killed.
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16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor,
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free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their
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foreheads:
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17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the
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mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the
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number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his
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number <I>is</I> Six hundred threescore <I>and</I> six.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Those who think the first beast signifies Rome pagan by this second
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beast would understand Rome papal, which promotes idolatry and tyranny,
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but in a more soft and lamb-like manner: those that understand the
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first beast of the secular power of the papacy take the second to
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intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers, which act under the
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disguise of religion and charity to the souls of men. Here observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The form and shape of this second beast: <I>He had two horns like a
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lamb,</I> but a mouth that <I>spoke like the dragon.</I> All agree that
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this must be some great impostor, who, under a pretence of religion,
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shall deceive the souls of men. The papists would have it to be
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Apollonius Tyranæus; but Dr. More has rejected that opinion, and fixes
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it upon the ecclesiastical powers of the papacy. The pope shows the
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horns of a lamb, pretends to be the vicar of Christ upon earth, and so
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to be vested with his power and authority; but his speech betrays him,
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for he gives forth those false doctrines and cruel decrees which show
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him to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb.</P>
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<P>
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II. The power which he exercises: <I>All the power of the former
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beast</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:12">v. 12</A>);
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he promotes the same interest, pursues the same design in substance,
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which is, to draw men off from worshipping the true God to worshipping
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those who by nature are no gods, and subject the souls and consciences
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of men to the will and authority of men, in opposition to the will of
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God. This design is promoted by the popery as well as by paganism, and
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by the crafty arts of popery as well as by the secular arm, both
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serving the interests of the devil, though in a different manner.</P>
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<P>
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III. The methods by which this second beast carried on his interests
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and designs; they are of three sorts:--
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1. Lying wonders, pretended miracles, by which they should be deceived,
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and prevailed with to worship the former beast in this new image or
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shape that was now made for him; they would pretend to bring down fire
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from heaven, as Elias did, and God sometimes permits his enemies, as he
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did the magicians of Egypt, to do things that seem very wonderful, and
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by which unwary persons may be deluded. It is well known that the papal
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kingdom has been long supported by pretended miracles.
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2. Excommunications, anathemas, severe censures, by which they pretend
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to cut men off from Christ, and cast them into the power of the devil,
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but do indeed deliver them over to the secular power, that they may be
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put to death; and thus, notwithstanding their vile hypocrisy, they are
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justly charged with killing those whom they cannot corrupt.
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3. By disfranchisement, allowing none to enjoy natural, civil, or
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municipal rights, who will not worship that papal beast, that is, the
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image of the pagan beast. It is made a qualification for buying and
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selling the rights of nature, as well as for places of profit and
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trust, that they have <I>the mark of the beast in their forehead</I>
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and <I>in their right hand,</I> and that they have <I>the name of the
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beast</I> and <I>the number of his name.</I> It is probable that <I>the
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mark, the name,</I> and <I>the number of the beast,</I> may all signify
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the same thing--that they make an open profession of their subjection
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and obedience to the papacy, which is receiving the mark in their
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forehead, and that they oblige themselves to use all their interest,
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power, and endeavour, to promote the papal authority, which is
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receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that pope
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Martin V. in his bull, added to the council of Constance, prohibits Roman
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catholics from suffering any heretics to dwell in their countries, or
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to make any bargains, use any trades, or bear any civil offices, which
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is a very clear interpretation of this prophecy.</P>
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<P>
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IV. We have here <I>the number of the beast,</I> given in such a manner
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as shows the infinite wisdom of God, and will sufficiently exercise all
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the wisdom and accuracy of men: <I>The number</I> is <I>the number of a
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man,</I> computed after the usual manner among men, and it is 666.
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Whether this be the number of the errors and heresies that are
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contained in popery, or rather, as others, the number of the years from
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its rise to its fall, is not certain, much less what that period is
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which is described by these prophetic numbers. The most admired
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dissertation on this intricate subject is that of Dr. Potter, where the
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curious may find sufficient entertainment. It seems to me to be one of
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those seasons which God has reserved in his own power; only this we
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know, God has written <I>Mene Tekel</I> upon all his enemies; he has
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numbered their days, and they shall be finished, but his own kingdom
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shall endure for ever.</P>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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