Rev 13:1-4
He’s Here
We continue to read what happens when the seventh trumpet sounds and
it is a LOT, going from \\#Rev 11:15\\ to the end of the book. In the
last chapter, we were introduced to the dragon. He is the devil. In
this chapter, we are introduced to the beast. He is the anti-Christ.
The anti-Christ is probably the second most well known human in the
Bible.
Let’s notice some things about him.
I. \\#1-2\\ The Beast Is A Man.
A. \\#1\\ He has a man’s humanity.
1. I mentioned this truth a few weeks ago \\#2Thess 2:3-4\\.
He is called "the man of sin." This chapter continues to
describe the anti-Christ as a man.
2. \\#1\\ A Beast rose up out of the sea.
a. He is called a beast because that is his nature. He
is a devourer of souls and a destroyer of lives.
b. However, he comes up from the sea.
(1) The sea is a picture of humanity.
(2) From the surface, there is nothing distinct
about the sea. One wave looks like another. One
spot on the ocean looks like another.
(3) So the anti-Christ will look like every other
child that is born. (No horns, no glowing
eyes.)
(4) If anything marks this child it will likely be
that he has an evil heart and the older he
gets, the more that will manifest itself.
B. \\#1\\ He has the devil’s connection.
1. \\#1\\ He is identified as having seven heads and ten
horns.
2. That is the same identification as given of the dragon
\\#Rev 12:3\\. So he is being identified with the
dragon.
3. \\#2\\ God makes the identification more specific.
"the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority"
4. His seat means his position.
5. The dragon gives him his abilities, his position, and his
authority.
6. The dragon, the devil, makes this man, owns this man, and
controls this man.
C. \\#2\\ He has a ruler’s future.
1. He is identified with some animals.
a. If you will look at \\#Daniel 7:4-6\\ you will see
that these animals represented kingdoms of the past.
(1) Lion was Babylon.
(2) Bear was Medes-Persians.
(3) Leopard was Greek.
b. This beast is said to have 10 hours \\#1\\ which
identifies him with the Roman Empire.
2. This associates the anti-Christ with a REVIVED
Roman Empire
(1) The anti-Christ will be a political ruler.
(a) Indeed, \\#Rev 13:7\\ says that "all power was
given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and
nations."
(b) He will be a world ruler.
(2) The anti-Christ will be it’s head.
3. Some question whether there will be a one-world
government, a one-world ruler, and a one-world economical
system.
(1) There will be.
(2) It will be short lived and somewhat fragile but it
will exists and during its existence, it will be
powerful and cruel.
II. \\#3-5\\ The Beast Is Thought to Be A God.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were
wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the
beast.
A. The verse is not clear but indicates the beast either dies and
comes back to live or else he is wounded so that he should
die and is healed.
1. Which is it?
2. We don’t know.
3. I think the world believers he dies and comes back to
life.
4. The Bible will refer to him as being healed of his deadly
wound \\#Rev 13:12\\.
B. We do not have to understand exactly what happens as much as
understand the effect it has on the world.
1. \\#3-4\\ The world "wonders" and "worships."
2. The man is now worshipped like a god.
3. Why? Because in their eyes, he fought death and won!
C. I continue to point out that this man was born a man but now,
around the half-way point of the tribulation, the world
thinks he is a god.
1. He has been around for awhile.
2. He was already a politician.
a. \\#Dan 11:21, 32, 34\\ uses flattery.
b. I think he has something to do with the treaty signed
with Israel \\#Dan 9:27\\ at the beginning of the
tribulation.
3. Now he leads the entire world.
4. What will make the world now think he is a god? This
"false" resurrection! The resurrection of Jesus has
always been a thorn is Satan’s side!
D. And why would this man allow the world to think that?
1. Ask our president!
a. I continue to say that while President Obama may not
be the anti-Christ there is no reason why he can’t
be the anti-Christ.
b. Born a man, evil in his heart, flattery, politician,
world ruler, attempting to force Israel into a
treaty, will try to change the very laws of nature.
c. If he is not the anti-Christ, you have a visual lesson
of how the anti-Christ will work to get his power.
2. But to answer the question from the Bible…
a. \\#Rev 12:12\\ Satan was cast out of heaven.
b. He now takes full possession and control of this man.
c. Satan wants to rule the world and to be a god.
E. \\#5\\ How long will this man continue to rule the world?
1. 42 months, 3 1/2 years.
2. This is the last reference to the 3 1/2 years.
a. \\#Rev 11:2\\ Gentiles over the temple.
b. \\#Rev 11:3\\ The two witnesses ministry.
c. \\#Rev 12:6, 14\\ Israel fleeing and being protected.
3. This man will rule until the tribulation is over. (By the
way, we have not seen the full extent of this man’s rule
yet.)
4. \\#Rev 19:20\\ This man, the anti-Christ, will be the
first to be cast into the Lake of Fire.
III. \\#6-8\\ The Beast Is A Beast. What will he do?
A. \\#6\\ He will blaspheme God, the temple, and those in heaven.
1. He will hate and curse everything holy.
2. There are a LOT of people doing that already.
B. \\#7\\ He will persecute the saints and kill them.
The reason is power is described here as being over all
kindreds and tongues is because this will be a world-wide
persecution.
C. \\#8\\ He will be worshipped by the entire world as god.
1. The only ones who will not believe this lie are the ones
who accept Jesus Christ.
2. This is the strong delusion sent out by God Himself.
2Thess 2:11 And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
3. This delusion is already at work and will intensify.
D. \\#9-10\\ There is a hidden message of encouragement in these
verses.
1. It is to the Christians of that day.
2. Basically God is telling them, "What goes around comes
around."
3. These that are taking them prisoners will be prisoners.
4. Those that are killing will be killed.
IV. \\#11-15\\ The Beast Will Have Help
A. So far it is the dragon and the beast, but there is another.
1. \\#11\\ A Second Beast comes on the earth and he speaks
like the dragon, the devil!
2. \\#12\\ He has the same power as the first beast.
3. \\#12, 14\\ He caused people to worship the first beast.
4. \\#13\\ He does miracles.
B. Now we have a trio.
1. Remember the saying, "What God creates, Satan
counterfeits."
2. We have a dragon that wants to be a god and gives power to
others.
3. We have one who appears to die and to rise again.
4. We have another who does miracles and points people to the
second.
5. This is Satan’s unholy trinity.
C. \\#15\\ But there is even more than that.
1. The devil, the anti-Christ, and the false prophet can
PRETEND to be god but they do not have the power of God.
2. They will need some additional help.
3. An image is created and give "life."
a. That has always baffled me.
b. I think we are dealing with what our world today calls
"artificial intelligence."
c. I think the unholy trinity create a world-wide
computer and it will help them to control the world.
V. \\#16-18\\ Together These Beasts will…
A. \\#18\\ Create a world-wide, chip-implanted numbering system.
1. The number 666 is given.
2. That may or may not be a literal number.
3. The Scripture tells us that it is the number of man.
4. 6 is the day man was created and it is our number.
5. Remember, when God says it once, it’s important and true.
When God says it twice, it’s very important.
When God says it three times, tattoo it to your brain.
6. God is likely warning against man’s numbering, whatever
number they will assign.
B. \\#16-17\\ Create a control system.
1. You cannot buy or sell without being a part of their
system.
2. Either submit or die.
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