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What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies, that the maker of its mold should trust in it, to make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all. (Hab. [[2:18-19|bible.35.2.18-35.2.19]] cf. Ps. [[135:17-18|bible.19.135.17-19.135.18]]; Jer. [[10:14|bible.24.10.14]]; [[51:17-19|bible.24.51.17-24.51.19]])
They worship all the more so now when they see the fantastic miracle of the beast's image having come to life at the hands of the False Prophet. The image itself must be ultimately compelling because the enormity of the miracle performed by the False Prophet does not draw attention to the prophet, but all attention remains focused on the worship of the image itself and the Beast to which it attests.2 Some oppose the notion that the image could truly be given life. They prefer to understand "breath" as denoting animation. Thus, they see the image with breath as a futuristic technological mimic of life. Although this is possible, it doesn't seem to do justice to the text and the way in which pneuma (breath) denotes life-giving power elsewhere in Scripture (Gen. [[2:7|bible.1.2.7]]; Rev. [[11:11|bible.87.11.11]]+). "The pneuma is therefore the equivalent of πνεῦμα ζωη῀ς [pneuma zōēs] ('the breath of life') so recently encountered in connection with the two witnesses."3 Morris suggests another possibility, that the spirit given may be an unclean spirit, or demon:The word in the Greek is pneuma, meaning "spirit" or "wind." The false prophet is enabled (by his own master, Satan) to impart a spirit to the image, but that spirit is one of Satan's unclean spirits, probably a highly placed demon in the satanic hierarchy. This is a striking case of demon possession, with the demon possessing the body of the image rather than that of a man or woman.4
Although it is impossible to know precisely what is inferred from the "breath" being given to the image, the results are nothing short of life--for the image exhibits apparent intelligence and speaking abilities. We must remember that the False Prophet "exercises all the authority of the first beast" (Rev. [[13:12|bible.87.13.12]]+) and that the first beast is given "great authority" by the dragon. If the dragon revives the Beast and brings him back from the abyss, as evidenced by the worship of the masses, then why couldn't the False Prophet with the same measure and source of power give life to the image? Certainly this is not beyond the ability that God could grant if it were within His purpose to do so. Moreover, we have no examples in Scripture of the animation of inanimate objects by demonic possession. Spirits seek embodiment in living hosts (Mark [[5:12|bible.62.5.12]]). Either way, the image appears convincingly lifelike.The image probably plays a role in the sequence of events associated with the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by both Daniel (Dan. [[11:31|bible.27.11.31]]; [[12:11|bible.27.12.11]] cf. Dan. [[9:27|bible.27.9.27]]) and Jesus (Mtt. [[24:15|bible.61.24.15]]):The abomination of desolation, which the reader is to understand, includes the following elements: 1. It occurs in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (Dan. [[11:31|bible.27.11.31]]; 2Th. [[2:4|bible.74.2.4]]). 2. It involves a person setting up a statue in place of the regular sacrifice in the holy of holies (Dan. [[11:31|bible.27.11.31]]; [[12:11|bible.27.12.11]]; Rev. [[13:14-15|bible.87.13.14-87.13.15]]+). 3. This results in the cessation of the regular sacrifice (Dan. [[9:27|bible.27.9.27]]; [[11:31|bible.27.11.31]]; [[12:11|bible.27.12.11]]). 4. There will be a time of about three-and-a-half years between this event . . . and the end of the time period (Dan. [[9:27|bible.27.9.27]]; [[12:11|bible.27.12.11]]). 5. It involves an individual setting up a statue or image of himself so that he may be worshipped in place of God (Dan. [[11:31|bible.27.11.31]]; 2Th. [[2:4|bible.74.2.4]]; Rev. [[13:14-15|bible.87.13.14-87.13.15]]+). 6. The image is made to come to life (Rev. [[13:14|bible.87.13.14]]+). 7. A worship system to this false god is thus inaugurated (2Th. [[2:4|bible.74.2.4]]; Rev. [[13:14-15|bible.87.13.14-87.13.15]]+). 8. At the end of this time period the individual who commits the act will himself be cut off (Dan. [[9:27|bible.27.9.27]]).5
This event concludes at the middle of the final week, after the Beast overcomes the two witnesses (Rev. [[11:7|bible.87.11.7]]+). It is the signal for the flight of the Jewish remnant to the mountains and thereafter to the wilderness. See commentary on Revelation 12:6. See Events of the 70th Week of Daniel. See #19 - Image of Beast.that the image of the beast should . . . speakNotes
1 Concerning God's involvement with the inception and development of life: Ex. [[21:22-23|bible.2.21.22-2.21.23]]; Jdg. [[13:5|bible.7.13.5]]; Job [[10:11|bible.18.10.11]]; [[31:15|bible.18.31.15]]; Ps. [[22:9-10|bible.19.22.9-19.22.10]]; [[119:73|bible.19.119.73]]; [[139:13|bible.19.139.13]]; Ecc. [[11:5|bible.21.11.5]]; Isa. [[44:2|bible.23.44.2]], [[24|bible.23.44.24]]; [[49:5|bible.23.49.5]]; Jer. [[1:5|bible.24.1.5]]. This is one of numerous reasons why abortion is morally equivalent to murder (Ex. [[21:22-23|bible.2.21.22-2.21.23]]). It is the interrupting by sinful man of that which God has established.
2 Here again we see the parallel between the False Prophet and the Holy Spirit: both refusing to draw attention to themselves, but dedicated to pointing to whom they serve.
3 Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1995), Rev. 13:15.
4 Henry Morris, The Revelation Record (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1983), Rev. 13:15.
5 Ice, "An Interpretation of Matthew 24-25 -- Part XIII," in Thomas Ice, ed., Pre-Trib Perspectives, vol. 8 no. 1 (Dallas, TX: Pre-Trib Research Center, May 2003), 6.
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