The dragon in fury seeks to destroy the seed of the woman (Revelation 12:17) and enlists beasts to assist him in that effort. The second beast presents itself as agreeable (in contrast with the first beast) yet is diabolically misleading and deceitful. This God-given information helps the child of God (= offspring of the woman) to understand what we see in history and in the world in which we live. With the perspective God has given us in this chapter, the data we see on the pages of history is very encouraging inasmuch as mankind has never yet attained the level of God no matter how hard or how often he tried. That is consoling for the future.

The child of God does well to be not only biblically literate but also informed of what has happened throughout the years of history and is happening in today’s world. That body of information gives him the data to calculate ever and again that mankind is still only man, and therefore not worthy of worship or trust. That prerogative belongs to the Lord alone (Psalm 146:3–7).

Jesus Christ, Son of God, was true God, yet laid aside his glory to become a man. On the cross even his fellow earthlings robbed him of his humanity, treating him as an outlaw (Isaiah 53:3). Yet on the cross he showed himself to be fully man, having dominion over all creatures (Genesis 1:26), for he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15). He would ultimately do that only because he remained true God. As a result, children of God do not seek to break through our God-ordained ceiling to supplant God but are content to reign with Christ, true man and true God (Ephesians 2:6. This is the glorious and comforting wisdom of Scripture!