Revelation 13:5-6; Blasphemy Against God (1)

Revelation 13:5-6 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 

Verse 6 is an amplification. of v5a, i.e., the blasphemous speech of the beast (Backwith). The aorist tense “he opened” is Constantine, viewing the whole career of the beast. [Robertson, Word Pictures, 6:401)] Obviously, blasphemy is not an accidental feature of the beast’s kingdom, but one of its continuing characteristics. As Satan’s mouthpiece, he utters the ultimate in unbelief and disrespect for God as he magnifies himself above all, claiming to be the sovereign. In this, he resembles the man in Daniel 11:36-45 (Walvoord). Leviticus 24:26 tells the serious consequences of this sin (Lee).

Daniel 11:36-45 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge andincrease with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countriesshall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, evenEdom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall beat his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

Leviticus 24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. 

[Robert. L Thomas, Moody Press, 1995, 161-162]