Revelation 12-13 and Divine Passives
I regard as a basic manual for true spiritual warfare. I believe that it is much better to hear the themes of spiritual conflict than it is to try to identify specific referents. Of course, finding referents contemporary to the author can help us understand the themes. So these approaches are not mutually exclusive.
Previously, I’ve written about making an image to the best and the enumeration of “beastly” attributes. Now I want to look for a moment at the power of the beast and how it can oppress God’s people. No matter what else we may do with the interpretation, somewhere behind it lurks the question of why God’s people have to suffer in the ways indicated in this book.
In Revelation, God’s action/permission is often indicated with what is called a “divine passive.” This is far from an original observation by me. Let me quote two sources.
… In addition to a mouth, the beast is given authority. Four times in the Greek text of vv. 5 through 7 we read the passive edothe (“was given”), emphasizing the subordinate role of the beast. Although in vv. 2 and 4 it was the dragon who gave power and authority to the beast, John’s readers would understand in these later verses a reference to God, the ultimate source of all power. The reign of the beast is by divine permission. He operates within the limitations determined by God….
Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1977), on Revelation 13:5-7, emphasis mine. (Logos edition).
The passive “was given” is used repetitively to emphasize that the beast does not assume his power on his own, but rather that his power is given to him by God. The beast acts by God’s permission.
… To stress yet again that the beast’s powerful actions, even those that operate against God’s interests, are under God’s ultimate control, John emphasizes the divine passive in the ensuing section with an almost redundant use of edothe (“it was given,” twice in v. 5 and twice in v. 7; see the commentary on 6:2; 9:1-21 introduction; 11:1)….
Brian K. Blount, Revelation: A Commentary. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009,, 337 (Nook edition). Emphasis mine.
The beast was “given a mouth”–even his ability to proclaim his message is a gift (13:5a). He was given authority for a period of time (13:5b). His ability to make war was given to him (13:7a), and so is the area of his authority (13:7b).
This is both troubling and comforting. If bad things are happening, they are because God has given permission. Thus we have an entry point to theodicy and the problem of evil. At the same time we know that evil does not exist without limits. It’s dominion, authority, and the extent of time over which it operates are limited.
(Featured image generated with Jetpack AI.)
