February 19, 2017
Evening Service

In chapter 12 it was revealed to us the beginning of the conflict between God and Satan along with the origin of sin, evil, persecution, and suffering.  We read in Isaiah his description of the fall of Lucifer and his demons.  We also read in Peter how the “Devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  He also gave us some advice on how to overcome him by being humble, trusting in prayer, vigilant, and resisting in faith.  God then promises to use Satan’s trials for good by using our suffering to “perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”  Satan then becomes God’s tool to mold us into the true, tested followers He desires us to be.

Revelation 13:1-4  And I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. And on its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads was the name of blasphemy.  (2)  And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet like those of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority.  (3)  And I saw one of its heads as having been slain to death, and its deadly wound was healed. And all the earth marveled after the beast.  (4)  And they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with it?”

·         Daniel also prophesies of four beasts that are very similar to these descriptions.

·         In this chapter we are introduced to two great beasts with one rising from the sea and one from the earth (verse 11).  They symbolize men that will play prominent rolls in the Tribulation period serving the dragon (Satan).  It is believed that this beast could be the Antichrist.

·         At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Satan sought to deceive Christ into serving him (Matthew 4).  His hopes were to rule the world through Jesus, but his plan failed with Jesus’ refusal to yield.  He now turns to these beasts to do his bidding.

·         Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44).  He mimics things of God to achieve his own will.  Here we see a resurrection of one of the heads of the beast that brings about great marvel among the people and they begin to worship the beast.  He becomes a false messiah, a counterfeit Christ.  He will deceive the world to unite under his rule that seeks only to manipulate people into promoting evil.  By contrast Jesus’ resurrection and soon to be rule are built on love, peace and joy.

 

 Revelation 13:5-8  And a mouth speaking great things was given to it, and blasphemies. And authority was given to it to continue forty-two months.  (6)  And it opened its mouth in blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those dwelling in Heaven.  (7)  And it was given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation.  (8)  And all dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world.

·         Notice first that these powers and authority were GIVEN to the beast; by whom?  God of course is in total control.  The beast can only do what God allows.

·         He speaks great blasphemies and will conquer God’s people and rule over them (physically).  He has no control over the spiritual world as true believers will resist, but will pay a price of suffering and even death.  Jesus said this:

 

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

·         Satan has been given the power to kill physically, but has no power to wipe their names out of the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Their souls are safely covered with the blood of the Lamb.  Their suffering will be short compared to their eternal home.

 

Revelation 13:9-10  If anyone has an ear, let him hear.  (10)  He who leads into captivity will go into captivity. If anyone will kill with the sword, he must be killed by a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

·         This great time of persecution is a time for the church to be patient and faithful because it will only last a short season and those putting others into captivity and killing will themselves be led captive and killed.

 

Revelation 13:11-15  And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. And it had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.  (12)  And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and those dwelling in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  (13)  And it does great wonders, so that it makes fire come down from the heaven onto the earth in the sight of men.  (14)  And it deceives those dwelling on the earth, because of the miracles which were given to it to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the wound by a sword and lived.  (15)  And there was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might both speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

·         Here we see the second beast that comes up from the earth and will later be identified as the false prophet (16:13).  He is the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit creating an unholy trinity. He also mimics God’s miracles even one of calling for fire to come down from heaven.  The many miracles we see in the Bible were to prove God’s power but these counterfeit ones are performed for deception.  A good example of this is Moses and the staff turning into a snake. 

·         Notice this beast sets up an image to be worshipped.  This is totally contrary to what the 2^nd commandment states.  Any new revelation or teaching that is contrary to God’s Word is false.  This again is another strong reason to read and study your Bible!  Paul told the Galatian church this:

 

Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed.

·         Filter everything through God’s Word.  If it does not line up with what your Bible says, it is false!

 

Now we see something we all have heard of, the mark of the beast.

 

Revelation 13:16-18  And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads,  (17)  even that not any might buy or sell except those having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.  (18)  Here is the wisdom. Let him having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

·         Here again this mark of the beast is designed to mock the seal that God placed upon His people in chapter 7.  Without this mark one cannot buy or sell.  This will be a time of commitment either totally to Christ or to Satan.  In receiving the mark of the beast you place yourself under his authority and are acting in rebellion to God resulting in spiritual death.  Refusing the mark will bring on certain persecution and very likely physical death.

·         The many scenarios this situation brings up will all be extremely difficult.  The Christian will have to choose to allow an ill child to suffer or even die, rather than take the mark and buy medicine.  John writes that it will take wisdom to understand this and also to solve the number of the beast which is 666.

·         The meaning of this number is truly still a mystery to us and has been discussed at great lengths.  The number 6 is the number given to man and the number 7 is considered to be the perfect number.  666 then could be considered the number of the unholy trinity.   We do know to avoid it at all costs for it symbolizes complete evil and total opposition to God and his ways.   It will be a time to commit to what you believe to be true.

 

This certainly is not a popular subject to discuss.  It will be a terrible time for those who are here on the earth during this time of tribulation.  God has given this revelation to John and told him to write it so we can know what is true and not be deceived.  Praise Him for loving us enough to warn us now.

 

Lord, grant us all the desire to study Your Word and the opportunities to share it with others.