The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 300

is assumed which belongs to God alone. "The beast wu like unto a leopard," etc. (ver. 2). All three figures denote the terribly savage and uevuuring e,,ergy put forth by the powera of evil. "The dragon gave him," etc. (ver. 2). The ungodly power of earth ii backed up by the evil one. "One of his beads ••• wounded," etc. (ver. 3). Thi& worldly power was smitten, and yet rose again in all its dominance and pride, ao that "all the world wondered after the beast" (ver. 4). "Authority was given to him to continue forty-two months" (ver. 6).1 This is the fourth time this mysterious period is named. It is the time during which the witnesses are to prophesy, the time during which the woman is to be hidden in the wilderness, the time for the serpent to rage and wound, and the time for the beast to continue. His away is to be so great that all, save the very elect, shall go after him. "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" (ver, 10). The second beast is also from the earth (ver. 11). It is a low, carnal, worldly power. '' It has horns like a lamb," etc. (ver. 11). It puts on a pre- tence of meekness, and seems lamb-like in its gentleness, albeit it speaks like a dragon, and is fiendish in its ferocity. He panders, too, to the first beast (vers. 12-16). He doetb great signs, deceiving men by prodigies of various kinds (ver. 13; of. Matt. x:xiv. 24; 2 Thess. ii. 9). On all he causes a mark to be affixed (ver. 16), and no one who bad not that mark might buy or sell or have any social standing, Evidently, here is described some power or other, meek and sleek in appearance, yet fierce in spirit, prompted by the dragon, and doing his work, yet' pretending to have a commission from Heaven, doing such wonders as to carry multitudes away, and withal so intolerant that none except its followers should be allowed to take their proper place in the social ranks, while it appeals to the love of thaumaturgy, yet cares not about the true or the right so long as men pay homage to the first beast to whom he yields obedience. Can we mutake the meaning of all this 1 It is certainly some mighty antichristian force, putting on the pretence of being in communion with Heaven, while it is a sycophant and ~bject minion of earthly power. Lamb-like in its mien, it is intolerant in its speech. This power is not dead yet, any more than the former. On the perplexing verse which concludes the chapter, we have no opinion to offer. The various attempts at explanations may be seen in the 'Speaker's Commentary,' in loc.2 We only quote from thence the opinion of Bellarmine, "Verissima igitur sententia est eorum qui ignorantiam suam confitentur." 8 If, however, we set in order the points of similarity and of difference between the two beasts, and their relation to one another, the meaning of the description may be more clearly seen. Seven points Qf differenu: The first beast hae his power from the dragon; the second beast has l:;!s power frotn the first. The first daringly blasphemes; the second deceives. 'l.'he first makes war; the second pmctl!es thaumaturgy. The first succeeds by force; the second, by persuasion. The first rules through fear; the second, by craft. The first teaches his followers to worship the dragon; the second persuades his to worship the first. The first openly slays; the second puts men under a social ban. Sia; points of simuarity: They are both opposed, in 1pirit, to God, to his Church, and to heaven. They are both arrogant, haughty, and imperious. They both involve in lllUCh suffering those who will uot yield to them. 'l.'hey both try the patience and faith of the saiatll. They both have a power equally wide. They are both deplol'ahlysuccessful. Sir» points of relation between th- and their workings: The seooud causes all the earth to worship the first; causes an image of the first to be ma<le; commands men to worship the image of the beast; pretends to make the ima~e speak ; causes that as many as would not worship the image should be killed; will allow no one any social stl!,tus, nor even a stand in the market 1 On this chapter, and especially on the period of forty and two months, see P. W.Grant's Exposition, pp. 352, et ,eq. • On the number of the beast the work of Dr. Warren should be oonsulted, as well as on the Ulouaand years' reign. • "We know from Irenene that this number was expressed in Greek letters (xts}. He speaks of a differeni reading (x,r) [616) (which is found in C), and he rests for the true rearllng 666 on the authority of 'eorrect and old copies,' and the illformation of th 1ae who ha.cl known the apostle, •Qui facie ad faciem Joannem viderunt"' (Tregelles). See aliio ArchdB&OOU Farrar, Bishop l:loyd Carpenter, Profoesor Milligan. A thoughtful aud wise article on the "Apocalyptic Beast," by Mr. Proct.or, will be found in the G'wr,n11ian'• Jlaga.titw for October, 1887,  «m. xrn. 1-18.] THE REVELATION OF ST, JOHN THE DIVINE. 3B9