“I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.”

Revelation 13:11-13

Another Beast is revealed. He comes up out of the earth and is of the earth, earthy.  He is of the earthly man and exceedingly sinful. He appears like the lamb, emulating the Lamb of God, but speaks with the voice of Satan. He is a false teacher and encourages the people on earth to worship the Beast from the sea. This is the false face of earthly religion the re-emergence of pagan culture and tradition. It appears peaceable like a lamb, but destroys the soul with eternal death. 

This Beast can emulate the very fire from heaven, which is a mark of the work of God. When the Spirit comes it manifests as fire from heaven and the Beast from the earth seems to be able to manufacture this phenomenon. This false sign and delusional wonder seems to vindicate the work of the Beast. It is a strong delusion and dupes the gullibility and superstitious mindset of the people on earth. They are blinded by their own conceit and folly. 

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

The Beast of the earth lifts up the Beast from the sea and causes the people to fall down and worship the image of the Beast. Those who refuse to worship the image of the Beast, the people of God, are killed. Christians experience a time of great unpopularity and what they believe is ridiculed and opposed by the “great and the good” and the world-view of Christians is subjected to contempt as all false religion and science is venerated to oppose the LORD and all that He has said,

This is a time if great persecution against those who will not bow down to the God of this world, or the false religion that supports it. God has given this vision to us to encourage us because He knows what is coming and will always provide for His people. 

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

Luke 12:32

God keeps His people in the centre of His will for them and keeps their treasure in heaven, reserved for the coming kingdom forever. The Beasts are frightening, but the people of God are protected by the mark on their foreheads, and given a holy boldness to stand for the Lord. Their mark is the fruit for the Holy Spirit, and is not regarded by the people of earth any more, since cruelty and cowardice abound.

“The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.”

Psalm 11:5

“But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8