Revelation 13:3; All the World Wondered After the Beast

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Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 

Not just single individuals—believers are excluded—but the whole world of unbelievers marveled and worshiped the beast. This interpretation is supported in 17:8b, where John comments: “and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” Each passage must be seen in its own context, however, for the two do not relate the same event.

The world worships the dragon. This is evident in that people believe the lie instead of the truth; they uphold the death of innocents instead of the sanctity of life; and they practice immorality instead of striving to live a moral and upright life.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 380). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Whatever actually happens, the people of the world will believe that Antichrist, already popular because of his great powers, has also transcended death. Since the Tribulation will be a time where the world will experience death on a scale unprecedented in human history, Antichrist’s seeming invulnerability to death will win him greater, more widespread acclaim. As a result, the whole earth will be amazed and follow after the beast (cf. v. 14; 2 Thess. 2:8–12).

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2000). Revelation 12–22 (p. 46). Chicago: Moody Press.