“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. And he 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” (Revelation 13:14b-15).

“saying to them that dwell on the earth,” (vs 14)

This is a repeated phrase and rivets the horrendous issue that everyone is commanded to follow – no exceptions.

“that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” (vs 14)

Ferreted out of the false trinity coalition, this is the beast that survived military action – “by a sword.” We were reminded of that in verse 12c (cf. 17:8, 11). God is championing precision in understanding. That beast kingdom is identified through its progressive history!

The spotlight is on the papacy in its 1798/1870 frays. The earth beast now compels the world to make an “image” to that sea beast – the Holy See. What now follows is so oppressive that this earth beast, the United States, mutates to be coercive and tyrannical.

An “image to the beast” echoes Daniel 3:1-6 and the ninety foot high golden image Nebuchadnezzar had made, likely of himself. He was king and kingdom (Daniel 7:38-40). The image was representative of both. His subjects were commanded to worship it on pain of death.

This is the first of several references to this “image” (13:15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). The image-worship command in Daniel’s day was idolatrous and rejected by his three companions. This end-time global worship requirement is enforced by the false prophet and follows a similar storyline pattern. It relates to religious homage towards something in the Roman Catholic Church. The world’s worship and allegiance will be demanded. It exalts or glorifies some “creation” of the Vatican – the papacy. Unquestionably, it will be clear what it is and means. It is a facsimile of something they want honored. Is it some asset in the Holy See that is copied? Or could it be replicating something the Roman Church established?

Let’s look deeper. The sea beast:

1.    Blasphemies God, His church and His people (vs 6). That is done by giving the world abominations from her cup (17:4) – something spiritually illicit.

2.    Accepts the worship of man and “sets up” an abomination. Jesus said that there would be such an end-time abomination described in Daniel related to a false Sabbath (Matthew 24:15; cf. Daniel 8:12-13, 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).

3.    Accepts the creation of an image that represents all that power and blasphemy. It is to be worshiped – even by the wicked world (vss 14-15).

Resistance to that worship (just like Daniel’s friends) develops a spirit of hatred against God’s people who are identified by their faith and obedience (vs 7, 12:17) in:

1.     Keeping God’s commandments and

2.     Having the testimony of Jesus

The remnant defy that image and its worship. They only identify with God’s original. What is that “idol” or image which is to be honored?

There are two Biblical Greek words for an image or statue:

1.     agalua – most often refers to a cult statue, an idol. The image of Mary is one example.

2.     eikon – a symbol of a god or deified emperor. It is not used directly in cult worship but refers to a representation of something living or original.[1]

Eikon is used here in Revelation and suggests that a symbol has been fashioned that can be worshiped after the dictates of the papacy. It is in the “moral” likeness of the original, a visible conformity to a special religious dogma.[2]

What one belief could embrace the power and glory of the sea beast? Revolting against the Decalogue Sabbath by erecting a false Sabbath! The true Sabbath honors the Creator God; the false Sabbath the papacy. That is actually what the papacy has done for centuries. But now it will be a required liturgical act for everyone – a new law will coerce its worshipers. The words “saying,” “speak” and “cause” all reveal this!

Rebellion against the fourth commandment curses who God is – it’s blasphemy. A false sabbath is already worshiped by half of the world, and it defies God’s saints who keep that Decalogue which originally had the Sabbath in stone. Again, that supports what we already observed in Daniel. The great abomination or sin against God which leads to desolation pointedly relates to defiance of His sanctifying day (Daniel 8:12-13; cf. Exodus 31:13). He firmly revisited that in Ezekiel’s vision when He noted the men worshiping the sun, facing the east (the rising sun) as the greatest abomination or sin (Ezekiel 8:15-16).

The image to/of the beast is transcendent. It is theologically descriptive. It defies what God established and honors a false day of worship. The nation of the United States forces the world to set up a false day of worship to honor Rome which made the first civil and religious laws, exacting the same allegiance in 321 A.D. and 314 A.D., respectively. The false prophet copies the papacy by forcing
others to follow that Catholic dogma!

“But the stern tracings of the prophetic pencil reveal a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamb-like horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’ The spirit of persecution manifested by paganism and the papacy is again to be revealed. Prophecy declares that this power will say ‘to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.’ [Rev. 13:14.] The image is made to the first or leopard-like beast, which is the one brought to view in the third angel's message. By this first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the papacy. When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, then will Protestant America have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy. Then the true church will be assailed by persecution, as were God's ancient people. Almost every century furnishes examples of what bigotry and malice can do under a plea of serving God by protecting the rights of Church and State. Protestant churches that have followed in the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience. In the seventeenth century thousands of non-conformist ministers suffered under the rule of the Church of England. Persecution always follows religious favoritism on the part of secular governments.”[3] That’s what this prophecy is all about.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,” (vs 15)

Since laws which suppress God’s people are about to be enacted, most conclude that “he” is the false prophet, earth beast or the United States.

The conveyance of life is dounai pneuma, which simply means “gives it breath.” It symbolically makes this image have the ability to function, as though it were alive, the true, the original. The image “makes a statement.” Since it replicates the sea beast’s claim to have authority to change God’s law, whatever it says will be like its lion mouth – roaring (everyone hears), ferocious (will threaten) and destructive (its teeth will harm).

How has the papacy dealt with the Sabbath/Sunday issue?

Pope Sylvester I wrote the first ecclesiastical Sunday law: “If every Sunday is to be observed joyfully by the Christians on account of the resurrection, then every Sabbath on account of the burial is to be execration [loathing or cursed] of the Jews.”[4] Constantine’s civil Sunday law followed seven years later.

Is there anything contemporary that might be “copied” relative to this? Pope John Paul II wrote a major encyclical called Dies Domini advocating the observance of sacredness of Sunday:

“Point 66. “In this matter, my predecessor Pope Leo XIII in his Enclyclical Rerum Novarum spoke of Sunday rest as a worker’s right which the State must guarantee.”

“Point 67. Therefore, also in the particular circumstances of our own time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy. Dies Domini 5/31/1998.

It may seem that this pope was peaceful and would not be involved in coercive measures to enforce religious duty. But, in 1983 he changed several areas of the Canon Law of the Church, which governs the religious and civil life of Rome.

“The figure of John Paul II is almost apocalyptic in grandeur. Underneath the facade, however, is an iron fisted hold on people in terms of law. Like Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085), who resolved never to rest until he had subjected all authority and power, both spiritual and temporal, to the ‘chair of Peter,’ so also the present Pope is determined to build such an empire, by both Church and civil law. John Paul II has been adamant in his efforts to update the laws of the Roman Catholic Church. Since the days of Gregory VII, Popes have seen the necessity of making iron and inflexible church laws before attempting to control their subjects and others by compulsion, if necessary. In 1983, John Paul II's revision of the 1917 Code of Canon Law added to the Roman Catholic laws, for example, "The Church has an innate and proper right to coerce offending members of the Christian faithful by means of penal sanctions.

“Examination of these added laws shows them to be even more absolute and totalitarian than those of the past. In his law the Pope, in clearer terms than any cult, enunciates the necessity of suppressing one's God given faculties, especially the mind and will. ‘A religious respect of intellect and will, even if not the assent of faith, is to be paid to the teaching which the Supreme Pontiff ...’ The consequences of not submitting are also spelled out in his law, ‘The following are to be punished with a just penalty: 1. a person who teaches a doctrine condemned by the Roman Pontiff ...’ Specific penalties are also decreed, ‘The law can establish other expiatory penalties which deprive a believer of some spiritual or temporal good and are consistent with the supernatural end of the Church.”[5]

“John Paul II knows right well how to enforce his will in law. In few things is his genius more conspicuous than in this.” There are no checks and balances in Catholic Canon Law. Note the following:

“‘The Church’s governmental system is vastly different from the notion of a balance of powers. In fact, the three functions are situated in the same office.... Unlike the American system, ecclesiastical law does not arise from the will of the governed, nor does the Church’s juridical structure rely on a system of checks and balances to maintain its effectiveness … The Code promotes this system through a hierarchical structure that is more vertical than horizontal. Ultimately, the highest judge, the pope, is also the highest legislator and administrator.” [6]

That spirit, dogma and judicial rancor are what the “image” is all about.

What does it speak? In prophecy “speaking” usually means a law or decree is brought into effect. If this image of the papacy relates to the Sabbath – and evidence is strong that it does – this law relates to that same issue. A false sabbath law – based upon its history – is anticipated. But this law is more than a religious Catholic membership requirement. It is for all inhabitants of earth. Horrifying and terrifying – it will eventually have a death penalty!

God gives life – this image leads to removal of life. God only can remove life eternally – this image is given life to act and “function.” Interesting!

“and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (vs 15)

The golden idol worship of Nebuchadnezzar is seen once again. Obeisance or death confronted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Worshiping this “image” or false sabbath will soon lead to loss of life.

This prophecy surrounds a key issue – who/what is worshipped? The United States forces the world to worship a false sabbath. God says “worship only me, the Creator God of the seventh-day Sabbath.”

This is not an annihilation of the righteous. The woman’s escape into the wilderness (12:14) conveys spiritual protection to God’s people. The dragon still spews a flood at her, suggesting persecution will reach her precincts. The great multitude which no man could number (7:9) reveals that there is a large group of tribulation survivers (7:13-15). That also means that those who have no ability to buy or sell will successfully pass through this time (13:17-18).[7]

This imagery fulfills the devilish threat of making war on the saints spoken of in verse 7.