11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Re 13:11–18.
One can stand on the beach as a storm rolls in and will find that the water and waves become increasingly turbulent and chaotic. At the same time you also realize that the sand upon which you are standing is loose and unstable, and that the power of the tides combined with the power of the storm have the ability to consume the sand and the beach driving it out to sea. The introduction of the beasts in Revelation 13 mirrors the precarious state of the soul under the shadow of empire. However, we shouldn’t treat this vision as a political roadmap or a puzzle misses the point. The introduction of the beasts is an urgent call to the Church. The imagery of the beast is not meant to paralyze us with fear; it is a wake up call by stripping away worldly stability that reveals the mechanics of power. At the core of this vision lies a tension between two opposing forces. Imperial Power that drives governments and corporations with a hunger for domination that consume everything in their path because they thrive on a system built on death and coercion. Conversely, Lamb Power represents Christ, with a renewed vision that finds strength in sacrifice and authority in service. As we look upon the Beast, we have no need to focus upon the darkness, rather we need to shift our focus from the temporary reign of the Beast to the eternal identity with Christ. While the Beasts of the earth and sea seek to devour and exhaust, the Lamb offers renewal and restoration that begins here and now.
Beyond the shifting sands of the sea, we must deconstruct the devouring spirit of the Beast because Imperial Power is fundamentally false power. The Beast is not something that will happen in the future but rather it represents the spirit of empire that demands devotion and resources. Ultimately, taking away from that which belongs to God. This is catamount to theft which was found in Rome as the state adopted rules of worship to be directed toward the state leader. Even the imagery of the wounded head connects directly to a resurrection myth about Nero who died years before this text was written, and serves as a reminder even though evil seemingly never rests, in reality it is never eternal. We see this through four distinct traits of the Beast: its blasphemous use of the name of God for gain, its claim to absolute authority over every nation, its systemic war on the Saints through pressuring them into assimilation, and a forced measure on the time everything must take place. This final measure reminds us that the Beast is bound and not limitless. The specific mention of forty two months reflects the historical reality of the persecution under Nero which lasted from sixty four to sixty eight AD. This duration proves that no matter how overwhelming Imperial Power feels, it has an expiration date in history. Thus, even the all consuming nature of the empire is no more than a temporary state of rebellion because God never loses control of the timeline or the ultimate outcome of restoration.
Running contrary to restoration is the problem of assimilation. This arises when the Church loses its distinctiveness and begins to strive to be an extension of Imperial Power. To break the encryption of the mark of the Beast requires one to flee from sensationalism as depicted in horror movies and focus instead on the dangers of complicity. In the ancient world, there was a practice to assign numerical values to names, which allowed the calculation of Nero Caesar to equal six hundred sixty six. This specific number reminds the Church that there is a consistent and recurring threat of state worship. We find a contrast between six hundred sixty six and eight hundred eighty eight; six hundred sixty six represents a triple shortfall and the number of almost, and is stuck in a cycle of failure that never reaches the peace of the seventh day completion or the glory of the eighth day Resurrection. Contrasting with the calculation for Nero, the Greek name for Jesus yields the number eight hundred eighty eight, representing abundance and a new creation. However, the mark aligning oneself with the Empire has a heavy economic reality, as the marketplace often required using coins depicting the face of the Emperor, which could be construed as complicity in Imperial claimed divinity. This presents a modern challenge regarding to whom you pledge your allegiance and whether you will calculate the value of your life based on the ledger of the Beast or the provision of the Lamb. Moreso, are you truly willing to forsake all to pledge allegiance to the Lamb.
The response to the domination of Imperial Power is not found in the adoption of the tactics and methods of the Beast but through embracing the Lamb’s strategy. To fight the machinery of empire, we must rely on the components of Lamb Power, which prioritize a willingness to embrace vulnerability over the desire to inflict suffering. This path of active resistance requires a bold witness, as the Church must persevere in proclaiming that Jesus is Lord even when the surrounding culture demands an embrace of their methods and falling in line with their goals. The refusal of the sword is central to this endurance, as the violence of the sword begets more violence. The biblical warnings are bolstered by history because Nero, who wielded the state sword against the followers of Christ with such cruelty, ultimately fell on his own sword. This illustrates that our ultimate security does not rest in military strategy or political maneuvering but in the foundational truth that our salvation comes from Jesus’ humble submission, not through a military coup. By choosing patient endurance, we refuse to become imitators of the empire and instead become imitators of the Lamb, whose power through humility upends the devouring nature of the world.
Remaining steadfast serves as a strategic imperative because we currently live in a world mesmerized by death and the allure of Imperial Power. Our objective is not to discover a more effective political strategy but to embody a better life that reflects the values of God’s kingdom. We must recognize the Resurrection as a hostile takeover of a graveyard, a definitive act where life reclaims the territory. This realization leads to a final call to reject the domination inherent in Imperial Power and instead calculate the cost of discipleship in light of the abundance represented by Jesus. By embracing the Lamb that leads to new creation, we participate in a narrative of restoration rather than consumption. Though the powers of this world roar with the ferocity of a beast, we belong to the One who has already conquered by being slain. Therefore, we must stand in the patience and faith of the saints, knowing that the endurance of the cross is the only path toward the renewal of all things.
Horizon Community Church 