Identity of the 2nd Beast of Revelation 13

Identity of the Second Beast of Revelation 13,

the "false prophet", and the "image" of the 1st "beast"

For the context of the 2nd beast, which shows up in Rev13:11, see http://sidnash.org/docs/1stBeastRev13.html , which identifies the first "beast" as papal Rome. In that study, we find the timeline to be mostly between 538 AD and 1798 and somewhat beyond... It is at this time in history when John was given the vision of the second beast, which seems to be coming to power at about that time in history.

The Two-horned Beast & the False Prophet

Revelation 13:11-12 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast{papal Rome} before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed{beginning in 1800 AD}.

"another beast"=> This "beast" is different from the first "beast" of Rev 13. But it is still a "beast" and so it is still a Bible symbol of an unrighteous nation. And because it forces worship, as saw in verse two, it is also a religious system, as the two beasts before it =>

1. Pagan Rome as the "great red dragon" who worshiped the sun god, and other false gods - introduced in Rev12.
2. Papal Rome as the "leopard beast" who pretends to worship the God of the Bible, but actually worships the god of their own making - the trinity - a fake Christianity.

So, what other major religion could this second beast have? Some think it could it be the Muslim religion of Islam. However, that nation/religion seems to be in prophecy elsewhere, in Daniel11 and Revelation9. Also, it doesn't seem likely that Islam would force the worship of the first beast{papal Rome} on "the earth". What about Protestantism? This major form of religion got its name from protesting some of the beliefs of papal Rome, but now, the Protestants have made peace with papal Rome and no-longer protest the papacy's teaching - especially the trinity and the Sunday sabbath, which Protestants fully embrace.

So, what would be the most likely world power that was founded on Protestant values that also may have the power to cause "the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast{papal Rome}"? I can think of only one such country - the United States of America(USA). However, there is other qualifications that must be met for this to be true. So, let's continue...

"out of the earth" => The first beast came out of the sea( Rev13:1 ), which meant that it started in a heavily populated area( Rev17:15 ). This one came out of the earth, so it must start in a region of the earth that is lightly populated. The USA came to power in a lightly-populated area. It declared its independence in 1776 and was becoming powerful by the early 1800's. So, the USA meets these conditions.

Let us also consider that it was God's people who were persecuted by papal Rome for 1260 years, who decided to leave persecuted Europe to find a better land. It was those same people, who discovered the lightly-populated land that later became the USA. So, this a rational understanding of the continuation of the prophesies of Dan7, Rev12, and Rev13:1-10 .

"two horns" => The first beast had 10 horns because it had 10 parts to its kingdom. So, this beast must have 2 parts to its kingdom. We must now ask the question: If this is a representation of the USA, then what are the "2 parts to its kingdom"? We've already determined that the USA is founded on Protestant values - the major religion - the "church". It might be well now to consider what else the USA is founded upon:

- Article IV, sec. 4 of the Constitution of the United States, reads: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government.” Article VI: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” The first amendment of the Constitution (Art. I) begins as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This provides a guarantee of civil and religious liberty, the entire and perpetual separation of church and state; and what better symbols of them could be given than “two horns like a lamb”?

And so, the USA is built on the "two horns" of 1)a Protestant religion and 2)"a republican form of government". And these two are wrapped with liberty to choose whatever religion you wish or even no religion at all. This is how the USA came up like a lamb.

It's two horns cause it to look like a "lamb". Lambs tend to be gentle so this beast appears to be gentle. But, looks can be deceiving. We also know that, at this point in prophecy, the USA was a young nation, like a lamb is a young sheep.

So far, we have established the following five points about the government symbolized by the two-horned beast of Rev13 =>

1. it must be seen assuming a position of prominence and influence near the year 1798.
2. it must rise in a peaceful and quiet manner, not augmenting its power, as other nations have done, by aggressive wars and successful conquests.
3. it must be republican in its form of government. This is because there were no crowns on the horns of this beast. Meaning it has no king/dictator.
4. it must be Protestant in its religion.
5. it must exhibit before the world, as an index of its character and the elements of its government, two great principles which are in themselves perfectly just, innocent, and lamblike.

We have seen that of these five specifications, it can be said: first, that they are all perfectly met in the history of the United States thus far; and secondly, that they are not met in the history of any other government on the face of the earth. It is therefore impossible to apply the symbol of Revelation 13:11 to any other government but that of the United States.

When Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the USA, was asked what type of government the USA has, he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” This quote reflects the Founders’ understanding that maintaining a republican form of government requires the ongoing commitment and virtue of the American people. That's been a problem for many Americans for years now. As a country, we continue to lose more and more respect for God and His precepts. Likely caused by that, we are also losing our republic form of government, while leaning more and more toward authoritarian government. We are also narrowing the separation of church(Protestantism) and state(US government). As a result, the USA is speaking more-and-more like a "dragon".

Far from gentle, the 2nd beast of Rev13:11 speaks like a "dragon". Remember how the "dragon" of Rev12 persecuted the people of God, killing millions? So, this 2nd beast of Rev13, the USA, must also persecute the people of God. Much scripture speaks to the low moral condition of humans in the last days =>

Matthew 24:12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

2 Peter 3:3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

Luke 17:26-30 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Revelation 13:13-14 And he{the USA} doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he{the USA} had power to do in the sight of the beast{the papacy};...

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet{the USA} that wrought miracles before him{the beast}, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Be careful to not miss this point =>

In Rev13:14, it was the United States that used miracles in the sight of the papacy to deceive the people.

In Rev19:20, it was the "false prophet" that used miracles in the sight of the papacy to deceive the people.

Therefore, the two-horned beast is not only the USA, but is also the false prophet, in Revelation prophesy, mentioned only in these three texts => Revelation16:13;19:20;20:10.

We can now ascertain by what means the miracles in question are accomplished, because Revelation16:13,14 speaks of spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty; and these miracle-working spirits go forth out of the mouths of certain powers, one of which is this very false prophet - the two-horned beast - the USA!

Look what Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Revelation 12:11-12 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The Image of the Beast

As we established already, the papacy is the "Beast" referred to here - first beast of Rev13. For more information about why that is, see => http://sidnash.org/docs/1stBeastRev13.html.

The Greek word translated "image " is "eikṓn " and, according to Strong's Concordance, means " a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance". "eikṓn " is used 20 times in the new testament and can be seen here => http://sidnash.org/b/B3h

The papacy was a church clothed with civil power, — an ecclesiastical body having authority to punish all dissenters with confiscation of goods, imprisonment, torture, and death. So then, what would be an image of the papacy? Here is a quote with what I consider to be a good answer =>

"Another ecclesiastical establishment clothed with similar power. How could such an image be formed in the United States? Let the Protestant churches be clothed with power to define and punish heresy, to enforce their dogmas under the pains and penalties of the civil law, and should we not have an exact representation of the papacy during the days of its supremacy? - DaR Rev 13:11-17 .76. So, is Protestantism the "image of the beast"? Yes. I think it is.

Revelation 13:14-15 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he{the USA} had power to do in the sight of the beast{the papacy}; saying{the USA saying} to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he{the USA} had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

How does a nation speak? Through its legislation.

How does a nation cause? Through its enforcement of legislation.

Why does the USA say that the people "should make an image to the beast"? Why is that word "should" used? Wouldn't the USA just force "the image of the beast" onto the people? No. But why not? It is because the USA is republic, rather than a dictatorship. In fact this verse is an additional evidence to the USA being a republic. So, what does this mean? Well, it seems to mean that the citizens of the USA, by their votes, to choose to put themselves under the authority of Protestantism. But, why would they do that?! Well, I am not a prophet, but it appears that this is what is happening right now. But why, you may ask, and that would be a good question. Here is what I think I see =>

For several decades, the government of the USA has been more-and-more rejecting the Biblical principles this country was founded upon. The more we reject God and His agents, the less God can do to bless and protect us, as a country. As the result, this country has become more-and-more under the control of satan and his agents. Thus the USA has become more like a dictatorship than a republic.

However, there are a lot of US citizens that still hold to Biblical principles - mostly Protestants. So, now there is a majority push-back against the satanic attitudes of satan's agents in this country, especially as it applies to corruption in the US government.

Now, according to the prophesy of Rev13:14-15, it seems that the USA will empower the Protestant church to enact legislation and then enforce the worship of the papacy. And given the current changes now happening in the USA. It seems possible that this may now be starting to happen.

A significant group of Protestants have written a large document named, "Project 2025". Some of those involved in writing this document have been chosen to work closely with the new President, who is slated to be sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025.

It is important to realize that Project 2025 includes proposals that aim to mandate observance of Sunday as a communal day of rest. One of the key proposals is to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to require that workers be paid time and a half for hours worked on the Sabbath, which by default is Sunday. This is intended to encourage businesses to close on Sundays, ensuring that people have a day off to rest and, presumably, attend church. This would undermine religious freedom by favoring a the religious perspective of Protestants, while violating the separation of church and state, which is a violation of the Constitution of the USA. (SOURCES: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 )

In a previous study, "Sabbath Confusion" ( http://sidnash.org/docs/SabbathConfusion.html ), we uncovered the mark of Jehovah vs. the mark of satan, which will be helpful in better understanding the last three verses of Revelation 13(below)

Revelation 13:16-18 And he{the USA} causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast{the papacy}, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast{the papacy}: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

A deeper study of the mark of the beast => http://sidnash.org/docs/BeastMark.html

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )

-Sid Nash: 01/18/2025. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/2ndBeastRev13.html