North Anderson Baptist Church
When last we met together we looked at Revelation 12. In that chapter we were introduced to the woman - Israel; the red dragon - satan; the child - Christ; Michael the archangel and the offspring of the woman - remnant of Israel, the 144,000 witnesses.
Now we come to the 13th chapter and we are introduced to two beasts. Today we will discuss the “Sea Beast.”
Revelation 13:1-10 NIV
Satan has been given control of this time in the Tribulation which is referred to as the “Great Tribulation” of which the length will be 42 months or 3 ½ years. The red dragon stands at the shore of the sea and brings forth the beast of the sea. Formidable looking, the sea beast has 10 horns and 7 heads with 10 crowns on his horns and each have a blasphemous name on them. (Some might not know what “blasphemous” means. The dictionary says blaspheme is, “to speak irreverently of God; to desecrate by impious talk; to take God’s name in vain; to curse and swear.” We see that whatever name or names are on the heads of the beast they are irreverent to God or mock Him in such a way that He has described them as “blasphemous.”
I have not read a Bible scholar yet that has said that this beast is anything else but the “antichrist himself.” Remember the red dragon watched this beast, some say caused this beast, to rise from the sea and therefore the antichrist is under the full control of satan himself, since satan is the red dragon.
This sea beast is not just a beast but translated by some to be a “wild” beast. Being a wild beast, he is not a creature of God, with God’s image but an animal as a beast would be considered, which tells that his character and purpose is that of satan’s. Make sure though that you understand that this beast comes in the form of a man. One writer put it this way, “He is a man but he is energized from hell, for he comes from the pit.”
Revelation 11:7 NIV
Revelation 17:8 NIV
The sea beast is the antichrist, the political power of satan. He is of the darkness that comes from the pit of hell and we see this in Scripture in Rev. 16:10,
Revelation 16:10 NIV
We also see the beast has a throne and therefore will reign over all the earth from that throne. He will set up his empire and all will worship Him and satan. This is the representation of the horns, heads and the crowns. Some to say the sea is the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15, “Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.”) and since the beast comes from it, he will rise as a human out of those nations and dominate all others politically as the antichrist.
In Daniel 9:27, we see Daniel speaking of this very idea.
Daniel 9:27 NIV
Paul also speaks of it as well in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. According to these scriptures there will be a time of peace and agreement with the Jews but then the antichrist will break the peace and agreement and stop all ceremonies and worship in the Temple to set up for himself his image that he might be worshiped, which is called the “abomination of desolation.” The antichrist proclaims himself to be god and he will have a following and people will worship him. The physical antichrist is flesh and blood that has been invaded and controlled by satan. One writer has said, “Just as Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, so the “beast” will be satan in a human body.” This is not the first time satan uses human body, we see another experience in John 13:2 and 27 in the person of Judas Iscariot.
John 13:2 NIV
John 13:27 NIV
Many people believe the antichrist will come from among ten European countries that are in alliance with each other and he will rise to the top to save the world when all “hell” breaks loose starting with the disappearance of the Christians throughout the world because of the rapture. The horns, heads and crowns all talk about power and authority which he uses to rule over the world and bring in peace in the beginning because of his “wisdom.” Other leaders and countries follow him because of his charisma. He will draw the world to himself. But the antichrist is the false Messiah. His authority and power will be directly against God and God’s Christ.
I thought it might help to read you a piece from one commentary to one version of this story from Revelation. It comes from the Life Application New Testament Commentary. They are speaking about 13:2.
This Antichrist seems like a combination of the four beasts that Daniel had seen centuries earlier in a vision (Daniel 7:4-8), combining the characteristics of a leopard, a bear, and a lion. In Daniel’s vision, the lion with eagle’s wings represented Babylon with her swift conquests (statues of winged lions have been recovered from Babylon’s ruins). The bear that ravaged the lion was Medo-Persia. The three ribs in its mouth represented the conquests of three major enemies. The leopard was Greece, its wings picturing the swiftness of Alexander the Great’s campaign as he conquered much of the civilized world in four years (334-330 b.c.). The leopard’s four heads were the four divisions of the Greek Empire after Alexander’s death. The fourth beast pointed to both Rome and the end times. Many Bible scholars believe that the ten horns on the fourth beast correspond to the ten kings who will reign shortly before God sets up his everlasting Kingdom (see also Revelation 13:1). These ten kings had still not come to power at the time of John’s vision recorded in the book of Revelation (17:12). The little horn is a future human ruler or the antichrist (see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). God was illustrating the final end of all worldly kingdoms in contrast to his eternal Kingdom.
In combining these four beasts, John’s vision reveals the epitome of evil power. The dragon (Satan) gave the beast (the Antichrist) his own power and throne and great authority. Those same words are used in the hymns in Revelation sung to God. So Satan attempted to again make a false copy, by giving his beast his power, throne, and authority. As the dragon (12:17) was in opposition to God, so the beast from the sea was against Christ and may be seen as Satan’s false messiah. The Antichrist will appropriate the powers of government and religion in himself. As a political figure, the Antichrist will become so powerful that opposing him will be futile. All nations on earth will serve him. Opposition against the Antichrist’s rule will be brutally suppressed. Only those who are branded with the beast’s mark, showing their loyalty to him, will be able to participate in the world’s economy.
Life Application New Testament Commentary.
In the book of Daniel we see that he prophesies about four beasts and in the Revelation that John’s description of the beast looks like a combination of all four of which Daniel speaks. This beast of the Revelation will be more powerful that any of them and if they represent a combining of them all, the power level of the antichrist then is beyond belief. The nations of the world will serve him and any opposition to him will be brutally suppressed. The “mark of the beast” shows loyalty and cooperation with the antichrist and therefore gains favor with him. But those who do not have it will be his enemies.
In verse 3 you see that one of the heads of the beast seemed to have been mortally wounded and yet had been healed. The world seeing it will be astonished and because of this great miracle they followed him. Does anything there sound familiar? We know that Jesus died and was buried and then on the third day arose from the dead and was ascended back into heaven to live there for evermore. Remember this man is “the antichrist.” He will do whatever it takes to imitate Christ and the miracles Jesus did while on this earth. So when the people see this miracle they are impressed and are hooked like a fish on a line. Not only do they follow him but they believe in his teachings and all that he says.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 NIV
Worship is one of the most important things God has asked of us as believers. In this part of the Revelation we see that satan through the antichrist will do all he can to have people worship him. Verse 4 tells us that the people worshiped the dragon “People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
Look at that boasting! They are daring God to stand against the antichrist! Almost sounds familiar in today’s society.
In verses 5-8, This sea beast or antichrist will be in complete control during this 42 month time period. He will be blasphemous against God and Christ through what he says and does. Not only to God but to the dwelling place of God, heaven. But his time is limited! Notice his power was even extended to making war against the saints and to conquer them. Also he was given another power much like the power we see given to Jesus “who purchased people for God with His shed blood.” (Rev. 5:9)
Here we see the antichrist have power over “over every tongue, nation and language.” And all people will worship the beast! But there are exceptions to those who worship the beast; they are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! They belong to the Lamb from the creation of the world. You need to shout out an Amen!
Verses 9-11 are refreshing to the ears of the Christian. Verse 9 says, “He who has an ear. Let him hear.” Remember those words? They were found often when reading the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3. Why now do we read this again? I make a bold assumption that John is telling us we need to hear and heed what he will say next!
What will happen will come to those who long for the Lord to return? Jeremiah 15:2 is where verse 10 comes from. Basically John is saying that God’s plan is secure and so is your soul. Some saints will suffer greatly, they will be imprisoned and others will die by the sword but none of their spirits will be destroyed by the enemy of God. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 10:28,
Matthew 10:28 NIV
This is the greatest unleashing of persecution against God’s chosen since the beginning of time. God will allow the persecution as a part of His plan. Even though the “saints” were being defeated it was just physically not spiritually. God says that those who die in the faith, are “truly the ultimate overcomers” because they participated in Christ’s death.
Revelation 12:11 NIV
Are you a believer? You must exercise patient endurance and faithfulness in your walk with the Lord. Listen! If you have to have patient endurance and faithfulness now, how much more will those saints in the Great Tribulation have to exercise those two great characteristics of Christ Himself? You will be an overcomer now as well and they will be in their day if we both display patient endurance in our lives daily and show our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus regularly. You can’t do that alone; you must trust in and rely upon Christ who lives in you by the Holy Spirit.
Dear friends there is a “Book of Life” kept in heaven and there are names in it. Is Your Name Written Down In That Book? If we live long enough and the Tribulation comes and your name is not written in that book, you will be the ones who have the “mark of the beast” written on your forehead or on your right hand! You will worship the Sea Beast, the antichrist!
Do you have your registration completed? Lynda and I will be going to Alaska this next Thursday. We had to register to get on that ship. If I went up to the ship on Sunday and said I am ready to go aboard and my name was not found on the list, they would not let me on board the ship! Are you registered for heaven? No one who has their name in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be asked to leave the gates of heaven, we will be invited in and rejoice with all the others whose names are written there.
There are two kinds of people in this world...those who have their names in the Book of Life and those who do not. You are registered or you are not! Your name is written down or it isn’t!
If your name is in the Book of Life you belong to the Lamb of God! He was killed on the cross of Calvary for everyone’s sins and He was buried but He was resurrected from the dead and gives to all who believe in Him, eternal life with God forever and ever! Won’t you accept this One who died for you and let His death cover your sin? He paid the price and you get the reward when you accept Him personally into your life.
I know that there are those here today that need to say publically that, “I have trusted Jesus Christ to save me from my sin and believe that He is Lord and Master of my life.” some are young and are starting out on a long journey to walk with Jesus by faith, the best they can understand. But some of us here today are adults and we too need Jesus as Savior and Lord. Friend, it is time you got rid of your pride and give your life to Jesus hook, line and sinker. Leave nothing behind give Him your all, you won’t regret it.
Believer your challenge is to live with patient endurance and faithfulness on a daily basis. Maybe you need to get rid of some sin to do that, now is the time.
Come to Jesus!