How does this verse connect with the commandment against taking God's name in vain? The Beast’s Blasphemy Unpacked “And the beast opened its mouth to blaspheme against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.” (Revelation 13:6) The Third Commandment Revisited “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) How the Two Passages Interlock • Same offense, different stage: – Exodus 20 warns every person not to cheapen God’s name. – Revelation 13 shows the beast doing that very thing on a global scale. • “Take in vain” (empty, worthless) parallels “blaspheme” (speak evil, slander). • The command carries a promise of judgment; Revelation pictures that judgment unfolding later in the chapter (vv. 10, 18) and in the bowls (Revelation 16). • By literally slandering “His name and His tabernacle,” the beast illustrates the ultimate violation of the third commandment—an open, public, systematic attack rather than a careless slip of the tongue. Old Testament Echoes of Holy Reputation • Leviticus 24:16 — “Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death.” • Psalm 74:10 — “How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and will the enemy despise Your name forever?” • Isaiah 52:5 — “My name is continually blasphemed all day long.” These texts show that God has always tied His honor to His name, and He responds decisively when that name is mocked. New Testament Reinforcement • Matthew 6:9 — “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Jesus teaches the opposite spirit of Revelation 13:6; believers are to keep the name holy. • 1 Timothy 1:20 — Hymenaeus and Alexander “blasphemed,” and Paul delivered them to Satan for discipline. Even in the church age, misuse of God’s name brings real consequences. • Revelation 16:9 — Those under the bowl judgments “blasphemed the name of God” instead of repenting, showing the hardened heart that accompanies habitual violation of the third commandment. Why This Matters Today • Reverence starts in speech: casual “Oh my God” habits desensitize the heart and prepare society for larger, more blatant blasphemies. • Cultural drift: media and entertainment increasingly normalize language the beast will one day amplify; guarding our tongues sets believers apart (James 3:8-10). • Witness to the world: honoring God’s name publicly—songs, prayers, conversations—pushes back against the spirit of Revelation 13:6. • Hope in judgment: Revelation assures us that every misuse of God’s name, from flippant to defiant, will be answered by the righteous Judge. Summing Up the Link The third commandment establishes a perpetual boundary: God’s name is sacred. Revelation 13:6 pictures that boundary deliberately shattered by the beast, proving the relevance and permanence of the command. What God forbade at Sinai He still forbids at history’s climax, and He will vindicate His name forever. |
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