The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 13
I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1
II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3
III. Things Which Are To Come – Rev 4-22
A. The Throne Of God – Rev 4
B. The Seven Seals Book – Rev 5
C. The First Six Seals Are Opened – Rev 6
D. The Sealing Of The Saved – Rev 7
E. The Lamb Opens The Seventh Seal – Rev 8
The First Four Trumpets Sound
F. Sounding of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets – Rev 9
G. The Little Book – Rev 10
H. The Measuring Rod – The Two Witnesses – The Seventh Trumpet Sounds – Rev 11
I. The Woman and the Dragon – Rev 12
J. The Beasts – Rev 13
Rev 13:1 (NASB) “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.”
In the King James the second word of this verse is the word “I.” Actually this word here is best tied to the last verse of Chapter 12. The “I” here is not JOHN but rather the Devil or the dragon. The chapter and verse divisions came about later and sometimes the divisions occur in less than perfect places. Here is just such a place.
(a) The dragon stood on the sand of the seashore – v.1
(1) a beast comes out of the sea
If you will recall last week the dragon (Satan) is cast out of heaven. He is cast down under the earth – later he will be cast down into hell. His kingdom and power becomes less and less as God’s power and kingdom become more and more.
Rev 13:1-2 (NASB) “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”
(b) The beast is described –v. 1-2
(1) He has10 horns
*with crowns on them
(2) He has7 heads
*with blasphemous names
(3) He was like a leopard – v. 2
*feet like a bear
*mouth like a lion
This beast is one ugly beast. He has the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. A leopard is a fast sleek animal, a bear is a powerful vicious animal and lion has mouth that devours.
(4) He receives from the dragon – 2 Thess 2:8-10
*power
*his throne
*great authority
Many view this beast as the Anti-Christ. He is also called the “lawless one”. He is identified with the dragon.
2 Th 2:8-9 (NASB) “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,”
One commentary titles Chapter 13 as “The Unholy Trinity”. The reason he titles this chapter “The Unholy Trinity” is because you find the dragon and two beasts.
The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Some folks deny what we call the Holy Trinity but the Scriptures clearly teach the three persons of the God head.
The Unholy Trinity is the Dragon, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet who will be mentioned later in the chapter.
God the father gave his Son Jesus – all power – his throne – his authority.
The Devil now gives his son the beast – his limited power – his worldly throne – and his limited authority.
Rev 13:3-4 (NASB) “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
(c) The wound of the beast – v. 3
(1) on his head
(2) as if he was killed
(3) the fatal wound was healed
Satan’s strategy is to deceive the world. At this point in time the 2 witnesses of God had laid dead in the streets of Jerusalem for some 3 ½ days. At the end of the 3 ½ days they stood on their feet and ascended into heaven. Here the beast receives a deadly wound but is healed. This is the imitation of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as well.
(d) The world’s response to the wound
(1) was amazed
(2) followed the beast
(3) worshiped the dragon – v. 4
*because he gave the beast authority
(4) worshiped the beast saying
*who is like the beast
*who is able to wage war with the beast
Some have said that this wonder leads to worship. The problem is that this worship is not focused on God but upon the dragon.
Rev 13:5-6 (NASB) “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”
(e) The words of the beast – v. 5-6
(1) arrogant words
(2) blasphemies
*against God
*against God’s name
*against God’s tabernacle
*against those who dwell in heaven
*Authority to act for 42 months
42 months is 3 ½ years. Remember he is given authority – but it is a limited authority.
Rev 13:7 (NASB) “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.”
(f) The war of the beast – v. 7
(1) Authority was given to make war with the saints
*Authority was given to overcome them
(2) Authority was given over every tribe
(3) Authority was given over every people
(4) Authority was given over every tongue
(5) Authority was given over every nation
The saints mentioned here are the believers in Christ who are alive at that time. He is to make war with them and overcome them. He is also given authority over all the people of the earth.
Rev 13:8 (NASB) “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”
(g) The worship of the beast – v. 8
(1) All the unsaved people of the earth shall worship him
(2) Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s of life
-from the foundation of the world
*Verses 9 and 10 are a warning
Rev 13:9-10 (NASB) “If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”
(h) The destiny of the fallen – v. 10a
(1) if one is destined for captivity – that is where they will go
(2) if one kills with the sword – by the sword they will be killed
(h+) The perseverance of the saints – v. 10b
(1) patience
(2) faith
In this time of persecution, being faithful to Christ could bring imprisonment and even execution. Some believers will be hurt or killed. But all that the beast and his followers will be able to do to believers is harm them physically; no spiritual harm will come to those whose faith in God is sincere. All believers will enter God's presence perfected and purified by the blood of the Lamb.
The times of great persecution that John saw will provide an opportunity for believers to exercise patient endurance and faithfulness. The tough times we face right now are also opportunities for spiritual growth. Don't fall into Satan's trap and turn away from God when hard times come. Instead, use those tough times as opportunities for testifying for God.
Rev 13:11 (NASB) “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.”
(i) A second beast appears – The False Prophet – v. 11
(1) The first beast rises out of the sea – Rev 13:1
(2) The second beast rises out of the earth – Rev. 13:11; Matt. 24:24
This second beast is the false prophet. He is called the false prophet in a three places in the Revelation. We saw the first beast rise up out of the sea. This second beast rises up out of the earth.
Mat 24:24 (NASB) "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
Rev 13:11-17 (NASB) “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
(j) The second beast is described – v. 11
(1) He has two horns like a lamb – v. 11
(2) He spoke like a dragon
(3) He exercises authority of the first beast – v. 12
(4) He makes all those on earth worship the first beast
(5) He performs great signs – v. 13
-fire from heaven
(6) He deceives those who dwell on the earth – v. 14
(7) He tells those on earth to make an image of the first beast
(8) He gives breath to the image of the beast – v. 15
-the image will speak
-the image will cause many to be killed if they do not worship it
(9) He causes all to be given a mark on their right hand and forehead – v. 16
-the small and the great
-the rich and the poor
-the free and the slave
(10) He makes it that no one can buy or sell without the mark – v. 17
He looks like a lamb but he speaks like a dragon.
The Holy Spirit leads men to truth – however the False Prophet seduces men to error.
The first beast got all his power from the Devil and this second beast has all the same power.
He uses his power to get folks to worship the Anti-Christ.
This False Prophet has the power to do miracles and with these miracles he deceives men into making a image of the Anti-Christ.
Rev 13:18 (NASB) “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
(k) A statement of wisdom – v. 18
(1) The number of the beast is 666
Gallons of ink have been spilled trying to figure out this one – 666! I remember reading at one time that some equated the numbers to credit cards. That if you accepted a credit card you then had the mark of the beast. I don’t think so. I have heard others say the 666 is equal to www. In other words – the internet. I don’t think that is correct either.
Identifying this particular mark is not as important as identifying the purpose of the mark. Those who accept it show their allegiance to Satan – their willingness to operate within his system. It is a system that promotes rebellion against God.
Whatever specific application the number is given – the number symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity designed to undo Christ's work and overthrow him.
