The Beast Out of the Abyss: Chapter 11

John was told to measure the city and temple. We are introduced to two witnesses whom we have identified as the two high priests in Jerusalem during the siege — Ananus and Jesus.

After finishing their testimony, the beast that comes out of the Abyss, which is the same as the one coming out of the sea (13:1), will overcome them and kill them.  He is Paul’s “man of sin” or “son of perdition.”  Josephus describes the leader of the seditious Jews, “…and was the occasion of all these (i.e., Annanus and the leaders of the people) being destroyed. He was a man of great craft and bore about him in his soul a great passion for tyranny, and at a distance was the adviser in these actions; and indeed at this time he pretended to be of the people’s opinion, and went all about with Annanus when he consulted the great every day, and in the night-time also when he went round the watch; but he divulged their secrets to the Zealots; and everything that the people deliberated about was by his means known to their enemies, even before it had been well agreed upon by themselves; and by way of contrivance how he might not be brought into suspicion, he cultivated the greatest friendship possible with Annanus, and with the chief of the people; yet did this overdoing of his turn against him, for he flatterd them so extravagantly, that he was but the more suspected; and his constant attendance everywhere, even when he was not invited to be present, made him strongly suspected of betraying their secrets  to the enemy; for they plainly perceived that they understood all the resolutions taken against them at their consultation. Nor was there anyone whom they had so much reason to suspect of that discovery as this John; yet it was not easy to get quit of him;  he was grown so potent by his wicked practices. He was also supported by many of those eminent men, who were to be consulted upon all considerable affairs; it was therefore thought reaonsable to oblige him to give the assurance of his good-will upon oath; accordingly John took such an oath readily, that he would be on the people’s side, and would not betray any of their counsels or practices to their enemies, and would assist them in overthrowing those that attacked them, and that both by his hand and his advice. So Annanus and his party believed his oath, and did now receive him  to their consultations without further suspicion; nay, so far did they believe him, that they sent him as their ambassador into the temple to the zealots with proposals of accommodation; for they were very desirous to avoid the pollution of the temple as much as they possibly could, and that no one of their nation should be slain therein” (Wars, IV, iii, 13).  

This John went into the temple and convinced the Zealots that Ananus and his party had invited the Romans so they could secure their own dominion in the city.  Josephus adds, “…that was also part of John’s lie” (Wars, IV, iii, 14; cf. iv,1).  John encouraged the Zealots to get outside help for themselves.  He didn’t mention the name of the people that he would advise inviting, but, “in a covert way only intimated at the Idumeans” (Wars, IV, iv, 1).  The Zealots called for the Idumeans, but when they arrived, the High Priests would not let them it.  The Zealots let them in to gain access to the city (Wars, IV, iv, 1-7).  The Idumeans were so enraged that they, along with the zealots, began a great slaughter, plundered every house and killed the two priests when they caught them.  

Once the priests were dead, John was under no restraint to keep up pretenses and lies. He reveals his true character. He and the Jewish sedition celebrated their death. They no longer heard their speeches and counsel. Anyone who could call him into account was gone and their dead unburied bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem as a demonstration of their rebellion and disrespect. Verse seven says that the beast comes out of the Abyss to make war with them, to overcome them, and to kill them. Comparing the description of the “man of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2 adds that he opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. This is the very thing John does after He who restrains, (the High Priest) and that which restrains (the Law) is removed. When the High Priest is taken out of the way, that lawless one will be revealed.