Who gives power to the beast in Revelation 13:4 and what does that beast include?
Revelation 13:4 identifies the dragon, Satan, as the one who gives power to the beast. In the context, that beast includes both the revived Roman Empire—the ten-nation European community or United States of Europe—and the man antichrist, its ruling leader, with the terms used almost synonymously.
Les teaches that in verse 4 the whole world worships the dragon, or Satan, and Satan gives power to the beast. That beast is not only the man antichrist; it also includes the empire over which he rules. In the surrounding explanation, this empire is the revived Roman Empire, described as the ten nations of the European community or the United States of Europe. The empire is the first part of the beast, and the coming leader—this man, this human—is the other aspect, so the terms are almost used synonymously.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
More Questions
In Revelation 13:4, what does 'the beast' refer to according to Les?
In Revelation 13:4, the dragon is Satan, and the 'beast' to whom the dragon gives power is both the man Antichrist and the empire over which he rules.
Who gives the beast its power in Revelation 13 and through whom does Satan show his authority?
In Revelation 13:4, the dragon is Satan, and the dragon's giving power to the beast means Satan will begin to show his authority through the Antichrist.