Revelation 13

Chapter 13 THE LORD OF THE EARTH THE WORSHIP OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY CH.13

1. The beast of the sea, v.1-10

2. The beast of the land. v.11-18

3. The Foul Politician. v.1-10

4. The False Prophet. v.11-18

5. The political man. v.1-10

6. The religious man. v.11-18

I. Daniel Ch.7 compared to Revelation Ch.13

Revelation Daniel A beast 4 beasts

7 heads 7 heads

Mouth of a lion Lion with eagles wings

Feet of a bear A bear

Body of a leopard A leopard

10 horns 10 horns

Persecutes the saints Persecutes the saints

Time, times and ½ time Time, times and ½ time

II. In chapter 12 the emphasis was on Satan’ s activities, chapter 13 follows these activities of Satan.

III. In chapter 11 the focus was on the 2 witnesses of God, in chapter 13 the focus is also on 2 witnesses of Satan - The Antichrist and the false prophet.

IV. Many leaders has tried to join Europe and the world into a world empire since the Roman empire:

People like Charlemagne, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Hitler and Mussolini tried but failed but the Antichrist will succeed and become its world leader.

Revelation 13:1-10

1. The beast of the sea. v.1-10 V.1 a) Arising beast of the sea - Dan. Ch.7; 2:42-43 I. The beast rises out of the multitude of the nations 17:15; Dan.7:2-3, The sea could also be a reference to the bottomless pit, which the beast arises from. 11:7; 17:8

II. The beast has 7 heads, which speaks of 7 empires and kings: 12:3; 17:7-11

1st empire - Egypt. 3000-1100 B.C.

2nd empire - Assyria. 750-612 B.C.

3rd empire - Babylon. 612-539 B.C. Dan.7:4; 8:4 4th empire - Medo-Persia. 539-331 B.C. Dan.7:5; 8:3 5th empire - Greece. 331-146 B.C. Dan.7:6 6th empire - Rome. 146 B.C. - 476 A.D. Dan.7:7 7th empire - Revived Roman Empire. Dan.9:26-27 III. The beast has 10 horns and crowns, it speak of the 10 ruling kings of the Revived Roman Empire that Antichrist rules over. 17:12-17; Dan.7:7-8, 24 IV. The 10 crowns are put on the 10 horns, not on their heads, perhaps because they take their dominion by force.

V. The blasphemous name on his head is probably his own name.

VI. The beast “ The Antichrist” is the little horn of Daniel’ s prophecy. Dan.7:7-8 V.2 b) Authority of the beast -

I. The overall appearance of the beast was like a leopard; a leopard is very fast and shift. It has the speed to conquer of ancient Greece. Dan.7:6 Greece was known for its brilliance, arts, architecture, sciences, philosophy and literature; perhaps these will be a part of the Revived Roman Empire.

II. It had feet like a bear; a bear has strong feet that are well established. It has the strength of control of ancient Medo-Persia. Dan.7:5 III. It had the mouth of a lion; a lion’ s mouth stirs fear. It has the arrogant communicational skill of deception of Babylon. Dan.7:4 IV. Satan gives the antichrist:

A. Power - Power to influence.

B. Throne - Reign over the world.

C. Authority - Ability to exercise.

D. These 3 speak of his Power and Position.

V.3 c) Astonishment of the healed beast -

I. Perhaps the Antichrist is going to be assassinated, but will experience demonic healing. 13:14; Zech.11:16-17 II. The Antichrist will be an imitator of Christ, Christ died and rose from the dead, Antichrist will be deadly wounded but delivered from death.

III. Antichrist will have his followers believe in him because of his deliverance from death.

IV. There will be 2 groups of people on the earth during the great tribulation:

1. Those who believe in Antichrist because of his deliverance from death - Demonically Raised.

2. Those who believe in Christ because of His resurrection from the dead - Divinely Resurrected.

V. Another possible view of the wounded head could be that the 6th head (Roman empire) was wounded in the past, it comes to life as the 7th head (Revived Roman empire).

V.4 d) Adoration of the beast -

I. The earth dwellers become Satan and man worshippers. II. Because of his deliverance from death, man will think that the Antichrist is perhaps immortal and unconquerable. V.5-6 e) Abundant blasphemies of the beast -

I. His Arrogance - He perhaps gives great visions and promises. Dan.7:8 II. His Anger - He speaks blasphemies against God in 3 ways: Dan.7:25 A. Against His name - Speaking against God’ s nature or even denying His existence.

B. Against His tabernacle - Speaking against God’ s dwelling Place and Plan of redemption.

C. Against His people in heaven - Speaking lies about them and questioning their intentions.

III. His Authority - He speaks in such away for 3½ year - The great tribulation period.

V.7 f) Authority of the beast over man -

I. The Antichrist is a world ruler over the entire world.

II. The Antichrist will be given to overcome the saints. 13:15; 17:6; 20:4; Dan.7:21, 25; 8:24

III. The saints that are overcome are not the Church, for the gates of Hades will not overcome the Church. Matt.16:18 (The Church is raptured before the great tribulation)

V.8 g) All the earth dwellers worship the beast -

I. All the earth dwellers will worship the Antichrist except the saints.

II. Those who are written in the Book of Life are written in it before God created the earth.

A. It’ s a Book that contains all who believes in God and His Christ and therefore inherits eternal life.

B. God has written all believers in the Book by His sovereign foreknowledge, He knew who would chose Him and His salvation before He created the earth. C. For reference to the Book of life see the notes in 3:5 V.9-10 h) Acquired patience of the saints - Jer.15:2 I. The Responsibility - An ear to hear was first said to the Church, now it is said to the tribulation saints “ What the Spirit says to the churches” is missing, for the Church is raptured.

II. The Repaying - The tribulation saints are here exhorted not to repay evil with evil but to be longsuffering and remain faithful. Gen.9:6; Matt.26:52; Rom.12:19, 21; Rev.14:12 III. God will judge those that lead in captivity and kill by leading them captive and be killed.

Revelation 13:11-18

The beast of the earth and Daniel’ s little horn compared:

A. Both have a world empire. 13:8 - Dan.7:7, 23 B. Both conquer the saints. 13:7 - Dan.7:21, 25; 8:24 C. Both are destroyed. 19:20 - Dan.7:11, 26

2. The beast of the land. v.11-18 V.11 a) Entrance of the 2nd beast -

I. These beast comes out from the earth not the sea, if the sea means the multitudes of the nations 17:15, then perhaps the earth is a specific country. That he comes out of the earth could also be because of his inferior power.

II. The beast of the earth is not a political man like the Antichrist but a religious man and a false prophet. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10

III. The false prophet tries to imitate Christ, he appears to be like a lamb but do not sound like a lamb but like the dragon (Satan). Matt.7:15-20; 12:34; 2.Cor.11:13-15 IV. He have 2 horns can speak of his less power than the Antichrist (10 horns). 13:1

V. In chapter 13 we see the satanic trinity:

1. The dragon (Satan) v.2 imitates the Father.

2. The beast of the earth (Antichrist) v.1-10 imitates the Son.

3. The beast of the earth (False prophet) v.11-18 imitates the Spirit.

V.12 b) Exercise of the 2nd beast -

I. The false prophet manifests the authority for the Antichrist.

II. The false prophet can only manifest Antichrist’ s authority when he is around him.

III. The false prophet points to the Antichrist, glorifies him and reminds people of the incredible healed wound.

IV. The purpose of all the false prophet’ s sayings is to cause the earth dwellers to worship him.

V. The false prophet will be Antichrist’ s agent, messenger, ambassador, spokesman and worship leader.

VI. The false prophet will be the leader of a worldwide religion.

V.13 c) Evidential power of the 2nd beast -

I. The false prophet imitates God by confirming his words with great signs. Ex.7:8-12; 20-22; 8:5-7; Matt.24:24-25; 2.Thess.2:9-12; Rev.19:20 II. The false prophet causes fire from heaven, he is trying to prove that God or some astronomical powers is with him, he also imitates the 2 witness. 11:5

V.14 d) Entrapment by the 2nd beast -

I. He Deceives - The purpose of the signs is not revelation but deception.

II. The signs can only be performed when he is around the Antichrist.

III. He Demands - He is not satisfied in that people worships in the presence of the Antichrist, they also have to worship his image. 13:15; 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4

IV. In Daniel’ s time they had to worship Nebuchadnezzar’ s image The golden image’ s height was 60 cubits and 6 cubits wide = 66 (double 6) Dan.3:1-7. Antichrist’ s mark will be triple 6.

V.15 e) Execution if not worshipping the 1st beast -

I. He Designs - The image of the beast comes alive by the breath of the false prophet.

II. The Antichrist tries to imitate God’ s all-presence by having an image that speaks to all and perhaps watches if they worship regularly. III. The image could be an electronically device with a microphone, camera and screen, an android, or just an image.

IV. All who will not worship Antichrist even his image will be killed.

V.16 f) Expand of the mark of the 1st beast -

I. All people no matter their status are commanded to receive his mark.

II. The mark is on their right hand or forehead, perhaps an electronically device like a chip that is put under the skin.

III. Slave owners sometimes branded their slaves with their mark.

V.17 g) Economical rule of the 1st beast -

I. The mark of the Antichrist has his number on it not our bank numbers, it’ s probably not a bank card.

II. In every trade place and shopping store the id of the mark is required to buy or sell.

III. If the mark is missing it is perhaps enough to have his number to buy or sell.

IV. The remnant of Israel is excepted for God provides them. 12:6, 14

V.18 h) Encryption of the name of the 1st beast -

I. The number of Antichrist’ s name can be numbered either by the Hebrew or Greek letters, each letter have a number in Hebrew and in Greek.

In the ancient world man lacked the Arabic numerals and used letters instead, which had a number connected to it.

II. Man’ s number Isaiah 6 in Scripture, his is triple 6 - The ultimate sinful man.

III. When the letters of his name is calculated it will give a total of 666.

IV. Only the tribulation saints can calculate his name because they only will know his name. Only after the rapture of the Church the Antichrist will be revealed. 2.Thess.2:6-7