Revelation Study Series 18a - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 13a) Series

Revelation Study Series 18a - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 13a)

03.13.22

Message…

Revelation 13:1-9

1 Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.

2 This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

3 I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.

4 They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”

We are going to talk about the antichrist today.

There are many antichrists, we are specifically talking about the antichrist that will rise to power during the Great Tribulation.

Everyone has an opinion as to who the antichrist is.

There have been all kinds of guesses…Hitler, Obama, Gorbachev (former Soviet Union leader) or Putin (the current), the pope, Prince Charles, even Judas that betrayed Jesus…the list goes on and on.

We can’t be dogmatic about his identity. The Bible doesn’t give us his specific identity, however it does describe him, and events surrounding him.

Scripture says this of the term, “antichrist”...

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Matthew 24:5

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

So, anyone who does not believe that Christ has come is an antichrist.

Anyone who claims to be Christ (other than Jesus), is a deceiver and antichrist.

Anyone who leads people away from Christ is an antichrist. ?(They are anti Christ)

There have been and are many antichrists in the world!

But, there will be a specific leader that will hold the title of “the antichrist”.

Revelation 13:1

Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.

In the OT, the book of Daniel is vital to helping us understand what John saw here in Revelation.

For the sake of time we can’t go through all of the supporting verses involved. I encourage you to read Daniel ch. 7-9, which will help your understanding of this.

In Daniel ch. 7, Daniel had a dream and he saw four huge beasts coming up out of a stormy sea.

Daniel 7:4-7; 17

4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.

5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”

6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.

7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.

…

Daniel 7:17

17 “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.

Daniel 8:23-25

23 “At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power.

24 he will become very strong, but not by his own power. he will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. he will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people.

25 he will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. he will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.

(Daniel was seeing four kingdoms, and a “master of deception” ruler/leader who will come to power. This all relates to what John was seeing.)

Revelation 13:2

2 This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.