"And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and revilings; and power was given to him to make war forty-two months. And he opened his mouth in reviling against God, to revile his name, and his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. And all, who dwell on the earth, will worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the slain Lamb, from the foundation of the world. If any one hath an ear, let him hear. If any one leadeth into captivity, he will go into captivity: if any one killeth by the sword, he must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." -- Rev.13:5-10.

The mouth of the beast, must symbolize the agency by which utterance is given to the great things and blasphemies which are spoken by it. Its likeness to the mouth of the lion, shows its resemblance to the Babylonian worship of the dead. Moses was "not eloquent," -- he was "slow of speech and of a slow tongue," and the Lord said to him, Aaron "shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth," Ex.4:10, 16. As Aaron was a mouth to Moses, so did the Papacy become a mouth-piece for the Roman kingdoms. It was the agency by which the people were taught; and through which utterance was given to the blasphemies of the beast. It fills a place analogous to that of the image afterwards symbolized, which also had like power to speak blasphemies. See p.188.

The beast had power to continue to utter blasphemies by the mouth given to it, forty-two months. This identifies the mouth with that of the "little horn" (Dan.7:25), of which it was said, "He shall speak great words against the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time" -- i.e. 1260 prophetic days.

1. This mouth uttered blasphemy against God by claiming to be Christ's vicegerent -- usurping the prerogatives of the Almighty. The Pope claimed that he was "Judge, as God's Vicar, and could himself be judged by none." In A. D.799, a Roman council declined to hear accusations against the Pope, declaring that "he who was Judge of all men, was above being judged by any other than himself." Febroni wrote of the Pope: "He is the Prince of princes and Lord of lords. He is, as it were, a God on earth. He is above right, superior to law, superior to the canons. He can do all things against right, and without right. He is able to free from obligation in matters of positive right, without any cause, and they who are so released are safe in respect to God." Assuming such prerogatives, and the power to forgive sins, the Holy name of God was blasphemed.

2. He blasphemed the tabernacle of God by "exalting himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God," 2 Thess.2:2. The Pope claimed to be the head of the church and that from himself was derived the authority of all bishops and other clergy. He usurped the powers in the church, which only Christ, its Supreme Head and Lawgiver can exercise.

3. Those in heaven were blasphemed, by the ascription to them of the attributes and prerogatives of God; and by representing them as being well pleased with the bestowal on them of divine honors. Saint-worship by the Papists and demon-worship by the Pagans are alike. They both ascribe the same attributes to the spirits of the departed, -- all the gods of the heathen being the ghosts of their departed heroes. A revival of this blasphemy, is subsequently symbolized by the frog-like spirits which emerge from the mouths of the beast, the dragon, and false prophet, 16:13, -- see p.255.

In connection with and in obedience to this mouth, the beast warred with the saints, and overcame them. Dissenters from the Papacy were subjected to unheard of cruelties and persecutions. And they whose names were not written in the book of life, sustained their rulers in these oppressive acts. In paying more deference to the edicts of government than to the requirements of Jehovah, they blasphemously bestowed on the beast an homage which was due only to God.

The revelator being shown what was to be endured by the saints during a long period of oppression, now receives an annunciation to which all were to listen, -- all who had ears to hear. It was the announcement, that "if any one leadeth into captivity, he will go into captivity: if any one killeth with the sword, he must be killed with the sword." Most commentators have considered this as applicable to the fate of the wild beast, -- that its end was to be effected by the sword and captivity, as it had in the same way tyrannized over the saints. Mr. Lord offers some reasons for supposing that it was a caution to the saints not to resist with the sword the attacks of enemies, nor to retaliate by making captives of the subjects of the beast who should fall into their power. He says:

"The prediction that he who led into captivity should himself become a captive, and he that slew with the sword be himself slain, had a signal fulfilment in the slaughter and vassalage of all those who attempted to deliver themselves by force from the religious tyranny of the European monarchs.

"The Albigenses were nearly exterminated by the cruel armies against which they attempted to defend themselves, and the small number that remained after the devastation of their fields, the conflagration of their cities, and the promiscuous slaughters to which they were subjected, were either forced to conform to the Catholic church, or driven into other lands. The Waldenses perished in far greater numbers by the sword, in their struggles for preservation and freedom, than by the fires of martyrdom; and sunk, after their contests, to a still more hopeless vassalage to their persecutors. The resort to the sword by the Bohemians and the Huguenots of France, to defend their religious freedom, resulted, after vast slaughters, in their defeat and helpless subjection to the tyranny from which they endeavored to extricate themselves. And the Protestants of Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain, who succeeded in delivering themselves from the dominion of their ancient tyrants, instead of securing thereby their religious liberty, only placed themselves, by the nationalization of their churches, under the tyranny of Protestant rulers in place of Catholics." -- Exp. of Apoc. p.384.

In this was to be exhibited the patience and faith of the saints, who, amid all their persecutions, made a wonderful manifestation of these. Of the many thousands put to death, or subjected to satanic cruelties for their faith, only a very few apostatized. Says Mr. Lord:

"Of those who, under the insupportable agonies and distraction of the scourge and the rack, recanted, or promised a recantation, a large proportion immediately on being released from the sufferings which had overcome them, abjured their retractions, re-professed with redoubled energy the faith of Christ, and met without faltering the hideous death to which they were immediately hurried. Such is their uniform history in whatever age they fell, or to whatever nation or rank they belonged." -- Exp. of Apoc., p.385.

If there was no other evidence of their constancy, faith, and patience, the horrid instruments of torture which were resorted to to terrify them, testify to their adherence to their principles, which required such engines for their subversion.

The end of this beast, will be effected by his being cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone, when the Lord shall make war with him, 19:20. This is also the end of Daniel's fourth beast, whose body is to be given to the burning flame (Dan.7:11), and of the scarlet-colored beast on which the woman was seated, which is to go into perdition, 17:8.