CHAPTER 13 PART II

Revelation 12 flows into 13. Revelation 12 serves to show … 1.

2.

The eternal battle between Satan and God’s People – especially Israel (national and spiritual and the church) Satan’s attempt to destroy Jesus himself – from birth to His ascension.

3.

Satan’s continued attempt to wipe the people of Israel off the face of the earth as well as to put down and destroy the church of Jesus Christ. 4.

How all of this culminates in Satan working through the “religious” and political powers of the world (Particularly Europe – the Old Roman Empire – and the Middle East) to bring about his own “son” THE ANTICHRIST – who will rule with the spirit and power of Satan with the sole purpose of ruling the earth and subduing and destroying God’s People. – The two Witnesses - Israel and the Church.

READ REVELATION 12:17- 13:18

REVELATION 13:1-18 1.

A widely controversial passage of various interpretations. There are several “mysteries” within it. They are mysteries because they have NOT YET OCCURRED (Remember “wormwood” of the Trumpet Visions – Chapter 8 ?) 2.

So we can only speculate. We therefore must be very careful and deal mainly with what the Bible CLEARLY SAYS.

3. John sees FIRST ….

A BEAST COMING OUT OF THE SEA

It resembled a Leopard, a Bear and a Lion.

But it was different and UNNAMED.

It had 10 horns, 10 crowns, 7 heads.

WHAT DID WE LEARN LAST WEEK ABOUT THESE THINGS?

I. FIRST THE Beast IS –

AN EMPIRE

Daniel 7 A beast coming out of the sea 10 horns It was the fourth, UNNAMED, after a Leopard, Bear and Lion The fourth one in Daniel’s vision became the ROMAN EMPIRE .

Daniel 2:31-45 – Again a future ROMAN EMPIRE is described and then… a DIVIDED ROMAN EMPIRE (modern Europe) is described and then Daniel is told that the return of Jesus would occur in the time of this divided empire (Modern Europe).

Revelation 17:9 – Clearly says that the 7 “heads” of the Beast are SEVEN HILLS upon which the “Woman…The Harlot” (A huge religious system) sits. ROME is known as the “ City Upon 7 Hills ”!

The Vatican is in ROME. It is a HUGE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM that influences all of Europe and much of the rest of the world. (We will explore this in GREAT DETAIL when we come to chapter 17)

I.

SECOND

– the “Beast” is also - a

PERSON

(In our text – Rev. 13:5 ) the beast also takes on a personification (The beast is given a “mouth”) – In other words…there is a

MAN

who immerges from this beast and represents this beast. Both the beast and the man are empowered by Satan himself in the last days. We know him as the ANTICHRIST.

WHAT DO OTHER SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THIS PERSON ?

Daniel 7: 8-27 – “little horn” He is a “King” who comes from the 10. Daniel 8: 9-18 - a small horn who becomes great, claims to be as great as the Prince of Hosts (Jesus!) Daniel 8:19-25 -A stern faced king, a master of intrigue, strong by “supernatural” power, causes astounding devastation. Daniel 9:24-27 – He will come from the people who eventually destroy the temple in Jerusalem - (ROMANS!), He will establish a “covenant” with many for 7 years Daniel 11:31 - He will put an end to the “daily sacrifice”, he will erect the “abomination that causes desolation.” Daniel 11:36 –45 – He will exalt himself, he will blaspheme God II Thessalonians 2:3-10 – exalts himself and erects the abomination…

REVELATION 13 , DANIEL 7-11, COMMON ELEMENTS 1. He comes from a divided Roman Empire (Europe) 2. Starts small (fatal wound?) but becomes BIG!

3. Boastful and arrogant, haughty 4. Will exercise GREAT AUTHORITY for 3 ½ years (42 months) 5. He will blaspheme God 6. Attack God’s people and outlaw the worship of Jesus 7. He will have authority and influence over the nations of the world 8. The world will honor him greatly

He is spoken of in Daniel, Revelation and Thessalonians as a literal man who comes out of a literal world

are intimately government

connected are the “BEAST”.

power –

the two

– together ….they

BUT THEN VERSES 11-18 – (OUR TEXT TODAY)

WE LEARN A SUPRISING THING… This Beast – Empire and Person has a RIGHT HAND MAN!

(**** LOOK AT REVELATION 19:20 ****) Rev 19:20 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

John saw in Chapter 13:11 ff ANOTHER “beast” coming out of the “earth ” - (The first out of the sea) IT TOO IS A CALLED A “beast” yet has a “mouth” ( KINGDOM/MAN - EMPIRE/PERSON)

1.Lamb/Dragon – Looks like Christianity but it is evil in reality 2. Props up the first beast and his authority – Exercises great authority -power, politics, religion.

3. Causes people to worship (pay honor and respect to) the first beast – again…it is Spiritual or Religious in nature.

4. Performed great signs , miracles -fire from heaven (Elijah, Moses) 5. And erects an image - That “speaks” and “lives” for people to worship (Daniel – Neb.) NOTE : the tendency that this religious system has towards images, icons, statues, miracles, signs and wonders.

OTHER ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER 6. The “wound” that is healed – The first Beast – The “right hand man” makes a big deal out of this to draw attention to his power and “blessing from heaven”.

7. It is caused by the “sword” – WAR?

Yet it recovers in a remarkable fashion – the world is astonished and it is more powerful than ever. 8. The DEVILISH DUO – uses massive deceit, idolatry, economic manipulation and tyrannical power to rule the hearts and minds of people.

4 9 10 II THESSALONIANS 2:4,9-10 He will oppose and will 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 .

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST Massive amounts of “speculation” on this topic WHAT DOES THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAY?

*He “forced” – he will have vast worldwide or at least “regional influence” *“everyone” – Rich and poor, free and slave – not simply an “economic” mark *To take “a mark” on right hand or forehead – GK – (a scratch, etching or stamp) *Without the mark – no buying or selling (clothes, food, shelter unattainable) THE MARK IS… *The name of the beast - (The literal name or emblem of the “BEAST”) *OR…the number of his name - (or a numbering system associated with it) *Man’s number - Man created on the 6 th day. God’s number is 7 *His number is 666 Unholy Trinity GEMATRIA?

WHAT ARE “MY SPECULATIONS”?

1. A Government or coalition of Governments – that once were powerful, now are not, yet will be again… will arise in the last days - Perhaps out of Europe? (The old Roman Empire?) 2. A Leader will emerge from this who brings promises of peace and prosperity to the world. He appears able to deliver. He is a welcomed relief to the world alarmed by terrorism, nuclear proliferation and war. 3. This Government he will emerge from the past “wounded by the sword” - will be one who was sometime in – devastated in war – yet revived in economy, military and power. 4. This Government will be heavily backed and supported by the European Roman Catholic Church System – headquartered in Vatican City. Out of this church system will emerge a World Religious Leader who exalts the Government leader and actually counterfeits signs and wonders and eventually erects some kind of image and demands worship.

5. Eventually – The leader , the government, the “right hand man” will all be recognized by the true Christian community. They will be identified by preachers, Christians and those who know the scripture. 6. This will infuriate the two men – He (they) will attempt to outlaw Christianity (the daily sacrifice) – an Image of Honor (the abomination) will be erected and total allegiance will be demanded. (Daniel – Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego – Daniel and the Lion’s Den) 7. A marking system of identification will be put into effect – those refusing to take the mark will lose their lives and-or be forced into poverty. 8. Just when it appears that this “Christianity thing” that has been “plaguing the world” for so long is finally put down – WE WILL BE RAPTURED …to the absolute astonishment of the world! (Jesus, The Cross, the Resurrection/Ascension)

THE OBVIOUS REFERENCE TO THE “MARK” AND “THE IMAGE” POINTED THE EARLY CHRISTIANS TO SOMETHING THEY KNEW… Dan 3:14-18 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?

15 16 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17 18 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."