Day 234

¹¹ Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. ¹² He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.” REV 13:11,12 (NASB)

Notice the second beast does all this “in the presence” of the first beast. The dragon is clearly identified in Revelation 12:9 as the devil, so now it’s obvious that there has been a change of character of the second beast. The ‘earth-beast’ becomes the mouthpiece of satan! This is why the rest of the book of Revelation refers to him as the “false prophet.” See e.g. Rev 16:13, 19:20 and 20:10) 

“Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast” (v14). By deception, persuasion, and finally by coercion, he will cause those on the earth to worship the beast. Of course, this is Idolatry, but the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon are united in bringing this about. When the scripture says that a beast will “speak” and “cause”, this means that it will legislate and enforce.

There are several factors in verses 15-17 that help us understand what is happening. An image to the first beast means that it will be similar to it, and the sea beast (the papal power) is a civil and religious power. Thus we find here the union of church and state, just as it was in medieval times.
The earth beast, or false prophet, has enough power to bring this to pass because he gives breath to the image of the beast. Those he cannot persuade, he will force, by not permitting them to buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast, or the number of his name. (Notice that the mark of the beast and the number of his name are not the same thing.)

Symbolism and numerology are used throughout the book of Revelation and this is the last piece of evidence to identify the sea beast. The number 7 is the divine number and stands for completeness. From ancient times, the number 6 has been a human number, or as the text says, “the number of a man,” falling short of the divine 7.

One of the characteristics of the beast is that he blasphemes the name of God. This is necessary in order to receive worship. Therefore, he must put himself in the place of God – “so that he sits as God in the temple, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4.) The name of the Roman pontiff Vicarious Filii Dei (Vicar of the Son of God.) In Roman/latin numerals adds up to 666.
Once we have established who the beast is, we can find out what his mark is, and how one receives it, and how one can keep from receiving it. John goes into more detail concerning the mark in Revelation 14.