“The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them.” (Revelation 13:5–7)
Blasphemy – to insult or show contempt God.
The beast in Revelation has great influence and power, using that power to blaspheme the LORD. The beast slanders the LORD telling us that God does not exist, that God does not love us, and that God does not forgive us. The beast also utters all kinds of blasphemes which are lies that this life is the only one that matter, that we are only material beings, and that we are to live for our selves. The proud and arrogant beast opens its mouth to deceive and hurt and cripple and destroy God’s holy people.
What are the blasphemous words we speak in our lives? I recognize that I have often followed the beast in my life. That I have doubted God and his good will for my life.
But even worse, out of my pride and arrogance I have utter blasphemes which have injured and wounded other people. What words have I given voice that robbed one of God’s holy people of their beauty, dignity, sacredness or forgiveness? Out of my pride and arrogance I speak words which defy God and which attack people, even the very people I love.
For that I am repentant. But how does that bring healing? My repentance may not bring healing.
Whose word undoes the blasphemous words?
Jesus was found guilty and executed for blasphemy (Matthew 26:65). Yet in his cross and resurrection Christ Jesus demonstrates that his word alone is powerful and true. Eventually that beast is thrown down into the fiery abyss (Rev 19:20). Christ will judge the arrogance and pride of this world, of my own life, and cast it into the abyss.
Then comes the promise of being healed and restored and made new. Amen.
Out of the Kiddie Pool 
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