27 December | Teens
«So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” » Revelation 13: 4
In the world of comic books, heroes face villains with terrible plans to try and conquer the world. In the Bible, in the book of Revelation, we also find symbolic characters with plans that defy good. Revelation 13 introduces us to two beasts who will be the great “villains” and will play a crucial role in the history of the end times.
The first beast rises from the sea, full of mysteries and symbols. It represents papal religious power, which throughout history has influenced kings and nations, but which has unfortunately led them away from the teachings of the Bible, valuing human traditions above the Word of God. This bad influence resulted in a mixture of beliefs that altered the true worship of God and the keeping of His commandments.
The second beast, emerging from the earth, represents the United States of America. This country, initially seen as the land of freedom and refuge for the persecuted, appears in the prophecy as the one that will make an alliance with the first beast, uniting religious and political powers in such a way as to influence the whole world, leading to a compromise of freedom of conscience and truth. Together, they will work to establish a system that, although it looks like a “good guy,” will impose a form of worship contrary to the Bible (such as keeping Sunday as a holy day), persecuting those who resist this imposition. That's why it's so important to study the Bible, so that we don't get taken in by these villains, especially now, at the end of time!
Take Action
Study with the help of an adult the characteristics of the two beasts of Revelation 13 and see how they apply to what we have learned in today's devotional.