Revelation 13:7-8
What is written? (ESV)
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
What does it say?
The beast was allowed to make war on the saints and conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who dwell on earth will worship it except those whose names have been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
What is its immediate context?
The book of Revelation is what John saw and was told to write down (1:1-2). Using “in the Spirit” as a structural marker, the book can be sectioned into four visions in particular:
- Vision One (1:9-3:22) – Jesus speaking to the seven churches
- Vision Two (4:1-16:21) – Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls of wrath; “one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls” introduces the last two (and therefore possibly connected):
- Vision Three (17:1-21:8) – Babylon the Harlot
- Vision Four (21:9-22:5) – Jerusalem the Bride
In the midst of this second vision, we are introduced to a dragon (or serpent) that is “furious with the woman” and makes war on her offspring, aka “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (12:17) The dragon is worshipped and gives power and authority to a beast that is also worshipped. (13:4)
How Revelation 13:7-8 is applied across Bible answers
Who do we worship when gathered together?
It's a negative application, but this shows that there is a contrast of just two types of worship: those who worship God vs those who worship Satan ("dragon").
