When John saw this vision, the emperor, Domitian, was not satisfied with the custom of emperor deification after death. He wanted to be worshipped while he was still alive and ruling Rome. He had statues set up all over the empire to make it easier for his subjects to pay him divine homage. For John’s readers, Domitian was the beast.
Like almost all tyrants, Domitian’s governors and officials throughout the empire enforced his will on the people. And so, these powerful government entities were charged with erecting images of Domitian and demanding that all citizens worship the emperor at these shrines. This cabal of kingdom power was the second beast for John’s readers.
Every beast that has ever reared its head throughout history has aways had a second beast to do its bidding. Think “brown shirts” for Adolf Hitler; the Red Guard for Chairman Mao; the Secret Police for Stalin. Wherever you find the beast of tyranny you will see the second beast enforcing adulation for the first beast. The same will be true at the end of it all.
Like almost all tyrants, Domitian’s governors and officials throughout the empire enforced his will on the people. And so, these powerful government entities were charged with erecting images of Domitian and demanding that all citizens worship the emperor at these shrines. This cabal of kingdom power was the second beast for John’s readers.
Every beast that has ever reared its head throughout history has aways had a second beast to do its bidding. Think “brown shirts” for Adolf Hitler; the Red Guard for Chairman Mao; the Secret Police for Stalin. Wherever you find the beast of tyranny you will see the second beast enforcing adulation for the first beast. The same will be true at the end of it all.
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