Revelation 13:4; Who Can Make War Against the Beast?
Finis Jennings Drake has this summary of the beast’s character and characteristics:
He will be a man who will possess the talent and leadership of all previously gifted conquerors and leaders. In addition to these natural gifts, he will possess the miraculous power of attracting people of every class, fascinating them with his marvellous personality, successes, superhuman wisdom, administrative and executive ability, and bringing them under his control through well-directed flattery and masterly diplomacy. He will be endued with the power of Satan in the exercise of these gifts until the world will wonder after him and worship him as God. [Herbert Lockyer, All About the Second Coming – The Drama of the Ages, Hendrickson, 2007, 110]
Robert L. Thomas observed interestingly, “The worshipers of the beast somehow relate his alleged power over the grave to his ability to wage war victoriously. When they ask “Who can make war with him?” the implied answer is no one. His brute force derived from the dragon is more than anyone else can muster. The rhetorical question remains answered, but later answers come in Revelation 14:1-5; 17:14; 19:11-21 (Sweet)”
Revelation 14:1-5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him arecalled, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 19:11-21 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him wascalled Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes wereas a flame of fire, and on his head weremany crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he wasclothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which werein heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on hisvesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.