Apocalipse 13

Oecumenius

Apocalipse 13:1

In the vision before this, the prophetic evangelist saw a sign in heaven, and behold he says a red Dragon (Rev. 12:3). Now he tells us he saw coming up out of the sea a beast like a leopard. Then in the vision that follows he again sees another beast rising out of the earth (Rev. 13:11), having two horns like a lamb. So, therefore, he saw three beasts in all: the first in heaven, the second out of the sea, and the third out of the earth. But the first and the third are apparent to all; for the first is the ancient evil Dragon, the apostate and adversary of God the Almighty, Satan, and the third is the Antichrist. This middle beast, which now lies before us for observation, what is it? I think it comes after the apostate Dragon, Satan, and it holds the leading position among the rest of the demons; for many fell together. And it is clear from that passage that the divine Scripture declares the ruler of all the demons has been bound to the sea and to Tartarus, as was shown above (Rev. 9:14); perhaps metaphorically thus naming the commotion and disturbance that accompany them, indicating from what things and to where they have fallen, and that they are reserved for the judgment of the great day according to what is written (Jude 6). For if this were not so, but it was perceptible in the sea and in Tartarus, how is it that before this it is recorded in the account that, having devised many schemes, he acted against the Lord and against his mother? Except that according to the literal historical sense, which must not be disregarded even itself, he has been assigned to Tartarus and the abyss. This beast, then, is the second one. The one now before us has been introduced in the book of Job, engaging in dialogue with God, accusing Job, subjecting him to countless trials, yet saying that he has "walked before the face of heaven." (Job 1:7) And not only does the book of Job record him, but the Lord has made mention of him to John when addressing the Jews: "You are of your father the Devil, and you desire to do the desires of your father." (Jn. 8:44) That one was a murderer from the beginning, and in the truth he did not stand, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, for he is a liar and the father of it, the one who is now presented to us for viewing, the apostate Dragon, become their leader and ringleader of the revolt; just as the holy Abraham is proclaimed father of nations, having been made beforehand the source of their faith according to what was said to him, "I have made you the father of many nations." (Gen. 17:5) With these matters therefore clarified according to my view, let us return to the passage in question. He says, I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten crowns. He sees him coming up from the sea; for his rise and, as it were, his elevation are from the disturbed and unstable life of men, who have chosen him as their tyrant; and the ten horns plainly indicate to him a great dominion, just as the seven heads signify certain ploys and principles of deceit and constructions; for the numbers ten and seven are perfect numbers. And there were crowns about his horns, showing him as ruler risen up against mankind, because we through deceit had voluntarily delivered ourselves to him. And upon his head he says names of blasphemy. Properly said, upon his head; for he raves to himself and, as his own head, mocking God, stealing reverence from God and assigning it to himself. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:2

And the beast, he says, which I saw was like a leopard, and because of its swift-moving feet, I think, and quick for deceits. And his feet, he says, are like those of a bear, somewhat weak and patient so as even to walk under heaven to plot against men. And his mouth, he says, is like the mouth of a lion; "Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour," according to what is written. (1 Peter 5:8) And the Dragon is said to have given him his power. Now the power of that apostate Dragon lies in these deceits and guiles, and he himself became their author and teacher. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:3

And I see, he says, one of his heads as if it were wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed. This meaning might have been known to the Spirit-bearing evangelist himself; but as it appears to me, he indicates something of this sort: for the deadly blow which was inflicted upon the Devil that was struck against one of the heads through the devotion of Israel, was healed through their subsequent idolatry. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:4

And the whole earth, he says, was astonished at the beast. For how could not even the God-fearing nation of Israel have bowed down to it? And this is what was spoken by Isaiah before God concerning Israel: "for your sake my name is continually blasphemed among the nations," (Isa. 52:5) yet they also worshipped together with the prime evil one the Dragon, the cause of so great deceit and treacherous devices, in homage to the beast. From whom Israel's fame was routed; those who were seized by him weave praises to him, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can make war against him?" He says that all have been defeated and fallen under his feet. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:5

He says that all have been defeated and fallen under his feet, and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy. Was it given by someone? It was given by those deceived and having worshiped him; for to boast arrogantly is pride. For what is greater than this? To say, "I will ascend into heaven; I will set my throne above the stars of heaven." (Isa. 14:13) And just a little after that, he says, "I will be like the Most High," (Isa. 14:14) as Isaiah mocks him, for these are indeed blasphemies against God. And it is said that power was given unto him to continue for forty-two months. In previous comments, the forty-two months we understood it as a brief time. For all time is brief, even if it seems to be very long, when compared to the unending ages. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:6

He says, and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. It is said that the blasphemies against God are of the apostate. By the tabernacle of God he means the holy angels because God dwells in them. For if it has been said concerning men, "I will dwell in them and walk among them," (2 Cor 6:16; see Lev. 26:11) what would one say about the heavenly powers, that God has them as a dwelling? — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:7

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. As I said earlier that he has taken the authority from the men who willingly bend themselves to his destructive power. Rightly did he say that all those that dwell upon the earth shall worship him; for apart from the God-fearing Israel, which did not bear this, every remaining race of men and tribe has been found worshipping the destroyer. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:8

Of whom it says whose names are not written in the book of life of heaven of the sealed from the foundation of the world; the vision very securely predetermined this; for since it has been said that all the inhabitants of the inhabited world have worshiped the apostate Devil, there were nevertheless a few who were pure from this worship, both from the Gentiles and from Israel, such as Job, his four friends, Melchizedek, and the holy prophets of Israel, and those who are testified to in the Old Testament for godliness. He says all have worshipped him, except these who, because of their godliness, and the precision and purity of their citizenship, are written in heaven, and are guarded by God; for this is signified by the sealing of the book. Concerning this book the Lord says to his holy disciples according to the divinely inspired Luke: "nevertheless in this do not rejoice, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names were written in heaven." (Luke 10:20) — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:9

If anyone, he says, has a mind able to comprehend the things said, let him hear the things said and know that the one ready to take others captive will be taken captive by the beast and will voluntarily defect to it; for receiving no assistance from God, he will be carried off to utter evil. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:10

If anyone prepared for murders, he will die the spiritual death in the worship of the Devil. Therefore, he says, is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Therefore one becomes innocent of the slavery to the evil one, from which slavery may we all be shown to be free by the grace of the God who called us to the knowledge of Him. To Him be glory to the ages, amen. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:11

Having made many digressions and having returned from the later principles to the earlier principles, he arrived at the matter under discussion. And that was to narrate to us the things concerning the wicked and God-hated Antichrist. This one therefore is now set forth in the midst, and see what he says about him. And I saw, he says, another beast coming up out of the earth, from where also is the beginning of origin for all men. For the Antichrist is a man, "whose presence is according to the working of the Devil," (2 Thess. 2:9) as it seems to the most wise Paul. And it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a Dragon. He said reasonably that he does not have the horns of a lamb, but that he is like a lamb, and that he is not a Dragon, but speaks like a Dragon. For since the true one is thought to be Christ, it is not that he was given horns like a lamb. And since through every sort of wickedness he contends equally with the Devil, yet he is not the Devil, he did not say that he is a Dragon, but that he speaks as a dragon. Since therefore these things are so, the Word preserved for him the image also in the vision, and gives him a form not of a lamb, but like a lamb, neither of a dragon, but like a dragon. For Christ has been called a lamb, the Devil a Dragon, but it was neither this nor that. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:12

And it says that he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. That is, he becomes the successor of the power of the Devil, and prepares all to worship him, whose deadly wound was healed. This has been said among the preceding. Now it must only be marked. For since he said that he has all the authority of the first beast before him, and first of all he named the Dragon the fiery one, whom the vision shown in heaven revealed, so that no one might think to say now that he received the authority as that of the first beast, I am not speaking about that first of all of all, but of him who comes after that one, yet before the Antichrist, whom the vision showed rising from the sea like a leopard (Rev. 13:1-2). For the wound of this one's death was healed, as stated above. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:13

And it performed great signs, so that it even made fire come down from heaven to the earth in the sight of men. And the doing of signs and wonders by the power of the Devil is attested by the apostle; for after saying where "the presence is by the operation of Satan, he brings upon all power and signs and lying wonders." (2 Thess. 2:9) — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:14

And deceives, it says, those who dwell upon the earth by the signs. For he makes signs indeed, but by charming the eyes of those who see, just as the magicians also did before Pharaoh; for they were directed by one and the same deceiving demon, both those and this one. And it says well that he makes the signs in the presence of the beast. For since he will erect an image for it, which he will also force all to worship, he will perform the signs supposedly by it, as deifying the image, because indeed from it he has the power to do these things. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:15

And it says it was given to him to give breath to the image. For they say that many of the idols both sweat and seem to speak by diabolical power. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:16-17

And it says that the Antichrist also gives a mark and seal of his own name, without which no one will either buy or indeed sell. — Commentary on Revelation

Apocalipse 13:18

Here it says is wisdom: let him calculate the number of the beast and through the calculation let him find it. For I will not say, it says, a foreign and unusual calculation, nor one named with concealment and doubling, but a calculation well-worn and known to men, which sums to the number six hundred sixty-six. This number also signifies many other proper and common names, and it also signifies these: as principal names Lampetis [Λαμπέτις], Benedictus [Βενέδικτος], Titan [Τιτάν]. For Titan is written with the letter iota, and in some cases it is written as a diphthong. For if Teitan [Τειτάν] is from teísis [τείσεως - tension], and the verb is teinō [τείνω], and the future tense will be tenô [τενῶ], it is reasonable to write it with a diphthong, as phteírō [φθείρω] from phthérō [φθερῶ], and speírō [σπείρω] from sperō [σπερῶ]. By form of address, however, the Victor [ὁ νικητής], for perhaps he so named himself, from whom the three horns, that is, having waged war against the kings, he will uproot. See what Daniel says about these things in his eighth vision: "He says that attention was paid to its horns, that is, of the fourth beast; and behold, another little horn came up among them, and three of the horns that were before it were uprooted from its presence; and behold, eyes like the eyes of a man were in that horn, and a mouth speaking great things." (Dan. 7:8) Then the unstable one [ὁ ἐπίσαλος], a wicked guide [κακὸς ὁδηγός], truly harmful [ἀληθὴς βλαβερός], ancient slanderer [πάλαι βάσκανος], an unjust lamb [ἀμνὸς ἄδικος]; for perhaps by these names he would be called by those opposing him. But he will not only not be ashamed to be called these things, he will also take pleasure in such labels, so as not to be embarrassed to call himself accordingly. Stitching such wicked and God-hating choices together, the wise apostle says: "whose glory is in their shame." (Philip. 3:19) Therefore, with many names having been found, the authority to attach the more fitting one rests with the one who wills it to the accursed one. — Commentary on Revelation