He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
- BSB And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.
- NKJV He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
- NASB He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people.
- NLT He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The false prophet performs great signs, even calling fire from heaven, to validate the beast. Miraculous-seeming wonders can serve deception.
Overview
By imitating signs like Elijah's fire from heaven (1 Kings 18; cf. 2 Thess 2:9), the second beast lends false legitimacy to beast-worship. Scripture consistently warns that signs alone do not prove truth; they must accord with God's word and lead to the worship of God. The display dazzles the watching crowds and hardens their allegiance to the beast.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Matt 24:24For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- Rev 16:14for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.
- 2 Th 2:9–10even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Rev 19:20The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
- Rev 20:9They went up over the width of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them.
- 1 Kgs 18:38Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
- Deut 13:1–3If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
- Mark 13:22For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- Rev 11:5If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
- 2 Tim 3:8Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith, are rejected.
- Exod 7:22The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
- Acts 8:9–11But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
- Exod 7:11–12Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments.
- Exod 8:7The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
- Exod 8:18–19The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal.
- Luke 9:54–56When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
- Num 16:35Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
- Matt 16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
- Exod 9:11The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.
- 2 Kgs 1:10–14Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!” Then fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 13:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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