14 - And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do (first part of the verse 14)
We come across our second grand clue here. The second beast is a deceiver, a primary trait of that great dragon, the devil or satan (Revelation 12:9). A false prophet is false in all that he does. If he says he will be transparent in his dealings with men, you can bet that he will be very secretive and deceptive. This false prophet deceives the whole Earth. They don't perceive what the Word of God tells us later in Revelation 16:
Revelation 16:
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
The first and second beasts are possessed by devils. That is why we see them speak and act contrary to the Word of God. That is why they have a preoccupation with events in the Middle East. They are working, along with the devil, to gather all of mankind into the valley of Megiddo, to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).
14 - in the sight of the beast; (second part verse 14)
The third grand clue, in verse fourteen, is the relationship that the second beast has to the first beast. Even though he has the same power as the first beast had, he is working with the first beast still in the vicinity. He is working with the approval of the first beast, obviously, carrying out the same policies and programs.
14 - saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (third part of verse 14):
This deceiving POTUS works on the programs of the first beast "which had the wound by a sword, and did live". If the second beast, the false prophet, is Barak Obama, who would the first beast be? Who had a wound by a sword and did live?
Let's go to Strong's Concordance:
STRONGS NT 1504: εἰκών
εἰκών, εἰκόνος (accusative ἐικοναν, Revelation 13:14 Lachmann; see ἄρσην, ἡ (ἘΙΚΩ which see); (from Aeschylus and Herodotus down); the Sept. mostly for צֶלֶם; an image, figure, likeness;
Image (1504 /eikṓn) then exactly reflects its source (what it directly corresponds to). For example, Christ is the very image (1504 /eikṓn, supreme expression) of the Godhead (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15). plégé: a blow, wound
Original Word: πληγή, ῆς, ἡ
From plesso; a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity machaira: a short sword or dagger
Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment
So, what POTUS (first beast), before Barak Obama (second beast), had a wound by a sword and did live? Or, keeping with the possibilities in Strong's Concordance, what POTUS, before Barak Obama, received a political wound by judicial punishment and died politically, only to come back alive and have new life breathed in him? There is only one possibility and it has to be William Jefferson Clinton.
15 - And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, (first part of verse 15)
There's no statue or hologram to worship yet, if there is to be one. What do we see now that the false prophet is doing to give life to the "image of the beast"?
Former President Clinton has made several publically heralded visits to the White House to show support to the current President when he was having difficulty with Congress or a Legislative issue. Clinton was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the press reported he dazzled the crowd and made a strong case for a second term for President Obama. The current President has also been the keynote speaker, along with his wife, at the annual Clinton Global Initiative Conference. President Obama, since taking office in 2008, has been instrumental in mending Clinton's tarnished image and by some accounts has given him "rock star" status by his involvement with the former President, personally and politically:
"Bill Clinton's electrifying speech and the public's reaction prove his rock star status"
This article is a real puff piece for Bill Clinton. Suzi Parker, writing in the Washington Post, lavishes heaps of praise on the former President. Here's a few of the words she used in describing his keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention: legendary supernova, electrifying, blazing, on fire, masterpiece, magnificent, beautifully articulated, mesmerized, United States’ greatest orator, (global) public service superhero. Did I mention she lavishes heaps of praise on the former President?
"Vital asset Bill Clinton back in party spotlight"
Michael Kranish, writing in The Boston Globe, tells us that the two more important political figures in the Democratic Party are not Barak Obama but Bill and Hillary Clinton. 66% approval rating. That sounds about right for them - .666.
"Bill Clinton defends Obama’s record like no one can"
Here it is again: Democratic delegates greeted Clinton as a rock star, more than a dozen standing ovations, thunderous ovation, etc. He was basking in the limelight.
President Obama uses many of the same people, the same policies, the same goals as his predecessor; universal healthcare, homosexual marriage, allowing open homosexuals in the military, liberal abortion, paring down the military, one world government; the same enemies; conservatives, Christians, especially conservative Christians.
Since Bill Clinton left office, we have seen and are continuing to see a deterioration of the moral fabric of our country. Less than eight months after Bill Clinton left office our nation experienced the devastating events of 9/11. I believe this was allowed, by God, as a warning to our nation that we were sinning against Him greatly and we needed to repent and turn back to Him.
Not only have we, as a nation, not returned to God and His Holy Word, the Bible, we have increased our wickedness and our rebellion. Starting with the Clinton Administration and continuing into the Obama Administration, our nation has become a godless nation of drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, blasphemers, murderers, liars, drug users, pagans, atheists, narcissists.
The people of this nation, instead of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, are being conformed to the image of Bill Clinton, for it was he that showed America how to sin openly and without shame, until you are caught.
President Obama's entire time in office has been a continuation of the Administration of Bill Clinton. Some of the people and their positions, who have served in both Administrations:
John Podesta, who co-chaired the Obama Presidential Transition team was Bill Clinton's fourth and last White House Chief of Staff.
Rahm Emanuel, Obama's first as chief of staff, a former Senior Advisor to President Clinton.
Leon Panetta, former Director of the CIA and now Secretary of Defense was a former Director of the Office of Management and Budget and White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton.
Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State under Barak Obama is married to Bill Clinton and a former First Lady.
Lawrence Summers, former Director of the National Economic Council for the Obama Administration was Bill Clinton's Secretary of the Treasury.
Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury in the Obama Administration was Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs in the Clinton Administration.
Eric Shinseki, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army in the Clinton Administration.
Eric Holder, Attorney General for the Obama Administration was a Deputy Attorney General for Bill Clinton.
Nouriel Roubini, former Treasury secretary in the Obama administration, was Undersecretary for international affairs at the US Treasury Department in the Clinton Administration
William Daley, former Secretary of Commerce and White House Chief of Staff under Obama was Secretary of Commerce under Bill Clinton.
Gene Sperling as the director of his National Economic Council, a position he held in the Clinton Administration.
Jack Lew was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a position he also held in President Clinton's Cabinet
15 - and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (second part of verse 15)
It doesn't take a wild imagination to see that the enthusiastic embracing of homosexual marriage and the acceptance of open homosexuality in the military has led to the total rejection of the Christian influence in our government and even our society. As Christian practices, symbols and participation in the public domain is being banished by our local, state and federal governments, it won't be long until Bible believing Christians will be branded as "haters" and, during the Tribulation, worthy of death.
Enemies of this Administration are already being targeted and killed overseas (Predator Drone program). Not many years ago this would have been unthinkable. In such as evil time, the unthinkable becomes the possible and the possible becomes the new normal.