Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The Beginning of the Age of the Antichrist
Theme:
Text: Revelation 13:1-18
Note: Sometimes in the book of Revelation the Antichrist could represent a government or a person. This is because Satan is behind both and they are for one person
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns (10 kingdoms) , and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
beast is the final great world government 17:12, Dan 2:40-45; 7:24-25; 11:36-45
sea represents many nations-Revelation 17:15
probably the resurgence of something similar to the great Roman kingdom
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (Revelation 17:8-11 AV)
Dragon-satan Rev 12:9
beast-antichrist, 1 John 2:18
sea-usually multitudes, Is 57:20, Rev 17:15
seven heads-1) seven world governments Dan 7:24,Rev 17:10 2) seven hills of world religions location Rev 17:9-10
ten horns-ten kingdoms, Rev 17:12
Seven Heads/Rulers
1) Assyrian
2) Egyptian
3) Babylonian
4) Medo-Persian
5) Greek
6) Roman
7) Revised Roman Empire (10 rules)
a) Canada and US
b) European Union-Western Europe
c) Japan
d) Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Pacific Islands
e) Latin America-Mexico, and Central and South America
f) North Africa and Middle East (Moslems)
g) Central Africa
h) South and Southeast Asia
i) Central Asia
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
beast will gain the political and religious power of the world 17:13; Dan 7:4-6;8:25; 9:27
names for him: man of sin 2 Thes 2:3-4; anti Christ 1 John 2:18
He will make a covenant with Israel Dan 9:27
Description of these found in Dan 7:3-7
Some say the description is nations:
Leopard-Arab coalition, leopards are native to these areas
Bear-Russia
Mouth of lion-parrot each other, Nations established by England
There are many people who are calling for one world government and economy all I can think about is what happened the last time the whole world got together.
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.
It appears that he will be wounded but brought back to life again, this will probably show his power which is the power of Satan 2:14, 2Thes 2:9; Rev 12:8 obviously it will be under the allowance of God
Revelation 13:12, Rev 13, 14 same, wounded with a sword
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11 AV)
God will allow them to believe a lie.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
The questions are answered in Revelation 19:11-16
Satan wants to be worshiped Is 14:13-14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14 AV)
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
All being allowed by God. God allowed for a stage for the antichrist. this
occurs in four times in this verse and seven
Notice the words in chapter 13 gave and given. Given by whom? By God
Blasphemies Dan 7:8,11,20,25
Calls himself God 2 Thes 2:4
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Blasphemed:
1) God
2) His name
3) His tabernacle
4) Them that dwell in heaven
Anything that is said for God will send the Anti-Christ into a rage. It will overwhelm him. He will persecute them. Similar to what is done in China and Moslem countries. And even in America when we cannot witness.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred’s, and tongues, and nations.
People will have to chose the easy way of the antichrist or the hard way of Christ. If they do chose Chart there will be persecution and possibly death as we see in Rev 6:9-11;
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Here we see the main goal of the antichrist. The main emphasis after a lot of deception will be that he will call himself God. He wants to be worshiped. We see this spoke of also in Rev 14:9 and 16:2, he will also emphasize that we can become Gods as we know from 2 Thes 2:4
This man worship should not be surprising. The what is known as "the times of the gentiles" began with man worship Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 3, and will it with it which is sinful mans natural desire. Remember Nebuchadnezzar required the Hebrew boys to worship or die.
Lamb slain from the foundation Christ death has been decreed from the beginning. Gen. 3:15; 1Pt 1:18-20 God knows all. He enters the names early.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
What is missing in this phrase compare to chapter 2 and 3 where the phrase is used? “let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” why?
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
God's followers mainly the Israelites must lay down their swords and depend upon the Lord.
Seems like the Old law of “eye for an eye, and tooth, for a tooth” will be enacted. Either by man or God. So the saints must leave vengeance up to the Lord.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Here we see another beast that will assist the first beast. He is also called the false prophet in Rev 19:20; 20:10 He is the apostate Jew who will deceive the Jews. Jew because he is out of the land. Usually in the Bible the land is Israel. Whereas the Antichrist came out of the? “sea”
Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thes 2:4 we see that an image of the antichrist will probably be placed in the temple
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. { (Daniel 9:27 AV)
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15 AV)
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4 AV)
It again would not be hard to see this man rise because of the tolerance message that is preached today for: racial equality, homosexuality, social justice, children’s justice, animal rights.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
his job will be to promote the ecumenical church. The church of all religions come to worship together. Similar to today’s Unitarian church
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Satan knows that God never sent a prophet without wonders and power so he falsifies these with this.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24 AV)
Ex 7;11,12 serpents, Job 1:12-16 Satan sends fire
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 AV)
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15-16 AV)
It is amazing what people follow. And it gets worse.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
How this happens we don’t know. We do know that it does happen. Even though one of God’s commandments it not to worship idols this idol will be set up.
This will be perilous times. As spoken of by Jesus Mark 24:9, and Paul 2Tim 3:1
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Here we see is Satan's form of blackmail
But see the counterfeit mark. The idea is from God who marked Cain Gen 4:15. We also read that the Jews wore phylacteries-there were small leather pouches strapped to their left hand or forehead. Inside of it was the scripture. Dt 6:6-8.
Don’t forget that God had an angel seal the 144,000. Plus we are sealed by the Holy Spirit Eph 4:30
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Purpose of the mark:
1) counterfeit God’s mark of 144,000
2) extend favors to those who help the world government
3) identify and eliminate the opposition
4) track and control commerce
5) force people to stop worshiping God
6) force people to worship the antichrist
7) permanently tie people to the kingdom of the antichrist
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Hear we see one of the most feared numbers in the world. At one time when people saw this number they would refuse to use it or participate with anything that was associated with it. At one time the highway department refused to issue a plate with it. Now it is more common.
Here is my idea:
1) It is going to be hard to understand who the antichrist is until after the rapture and the sign come into more focus.
2) He could be alive today but he is hidden.
3) The number is given here is this verse less for us to find out as believers but for those who are caught in the tribulation period.
4) How to calculate his name in this number who knows? Most theories point to an alphanumeric numbering system such as what was used in the Bible times. As we see being done in Hebrew and Greek. Numbers were represented by letters.
5) Our focus should be less on who is the antichrist but more on not meeting him and his kingdom.
