This Sunday’s sermon on Revelation 13:11–18 introduces the land beast—the third figure in this unholy trio. He appears like a lamb but speaks like a dragon, mimicking the sea beast and promoting false worship through deception. A false prophet performing signs, setting up an image, and marking people in imitation of God’s own commands, he echoes Elijah’s showdown and Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. The number 666 hints at counterfeit power and fallen humanity. In every age, the call remains: discernment, wisdom, and faithful resistance. Join us as we consider how to recognise and stand against subtle spiritual deception.
The land beast
Revelation 13:11–18
The Second Beast
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.

