What is the meaning of “every tribe and tongue” in Revelation 13:7?

Answer

Revelation 13:7 discloses crucial information about the beast introduced in the chapter’s beginning. The verse declares that the entity will wield significant power and use it for malevolent purposes: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (NKJV). Every tribe and tongue is a way of referring to the entire world. The beast will govern every corner of the globe, irrespective of kindred, race, or language.

Scholars have debated the identity of this beast, which we believe is the Antichrist. Revelation 13 reveals the beast’s connection with the dragon, Satan, and the authority bestowed upon the beast in the latter part of the tribulation. The phrase every tribe and tongue denotes diverse groups, nations, and states. The beast’s impact will be global. As the head of a one-world government, he will demand worship.

Revelation chapter 13 provides insight into this beast that exercises authority over every tribe and tongue. The beast is depicted as having seven heads, ten horns, and ten diadems on the horns «And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. », (Revelation 13:1). This portrays the beastly empire, a union of nations that ascend to power to subjugate the earth under Satan’s dominion. Later references in Revelation to the beast describe an individual—the man who is the political leader and world ruler. The beast commits blasphemy (verses 6–7) and receives worship from those not listed in the Lamb’s book of life (verse 8). The dragon, Satan, empowers the beast and collaborates with a second beast, a false prophet who aids the Antichrist.

Revelation 13:7 emphasizes the reality of spiritual warfare. Despite being a defeated enemy, the dragon persists in opposing God by targeting His children. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”, (Revelation 2:17). In the tribulation period, when the Restrainer has been removed “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”, (2 Thessalonians 2:6), Satan seeks the help of two humans to challenge God’s authority over every tribe and language. The Antichrist “will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”, (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The people on earth during that time will align themselves either with God through Christ or with Satan through the beast. There will be no neutral ground.

Moreover, Revelation 13:7 hints at God’s sovereignty, even over the actions of the dragon and the beast. The authority of these malevolent beings over every tribe and language is subject to God’s permission. As Joni Eareckson Tada once wrote, “God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves” (www.desiringgod.org/articles/ten-words-that-changed-everything-about-my-suffering, 9/7/21, accessed 4/30/24). Even in their rebellion, the dragon and all those who reject God remain under God’s sovereignty. Philippians 2:10…

ndash;11 affirms that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (ESV).

The entire book of Revelation calls for unwavering perseverance from God’s faithful ones. Currently, Christians face varying degrees of persecution, with the world’s rejection of biblical values becoming increasingly evident. The spirit of the antichrist is already at work in the world «and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. », (1 John 4:3). We must be sure to steadfastly adhere to the truth of the gospel and “contend earnestly for the faith” «Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. », (Jude 1:3, NASB).