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THE NATURE OF THE BEAST (REVELATION 13:1-10)
A young devil asked an old devil: "How did you manage to bring so many souls to hell?" The old devil answered: "I instilled fear in them!"
Answered the youngster: "Great job! And what were they afraid of? Wars? Hunger?" Answered the older: "No, they were afraid of the disease!"
The youngster quizzed, "Does this mean they didn't get sick? Are they not dead? There was no rescue for them?" The older answered: "but no . . . they got sick, died, and the rescue was there."
The young devil, surprised, answered: "Then I don't understand???" The old devil answered: "You know they believed the only thing they have to keep at any cost is their lives. They stopped hugging, greeting each other. They've moved away from each other. They gave up all social contacts and everything that was human! Later they ran out of money, lost their jobs, but that was their choice because they were afraid for their lives, that's why they quit their jobs without even having bread. They believed blindly everything they heard and read in the papers. They gave up their freedoms, they didn't leave their own homes literally anywhere. They stopped visiting family and friends. The world turned into such a concentration camp without forcing them into captivity. They accepted everything!!! Just to live at least one more miserable day . . . And so living, they died every day!!! And that's how it was very easy for me to take their miserable souls to hell.” (Anonymous)
Revelation 13, however, is an inspired account of the beast, from the song to the beast (vv 1-4), the sword from the beast (vv 5-10) and the sign of the beast (vv 11-18).
Who is the beast and what is the mark of the beast? Speculation in the past pointed to bar codes to vaccines in the present, blaming Bill Gates for implanting microchip in the vaccine! Some believe the beast is “a revived Roman Empire to be made up of 10 nations who will give their authority to a single individual,” a revived Roman leader who will be given great power. https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/when-men-become-beasts
The beast could be the leader of any of the world’s great power countries, but the important is not his identity but his indoctrination. What kind of circumstances is fertile soil for the beast to operate? How do we resist him? Why is it important to break fellowship with the devil?
Take the High Road
1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
The Greatest Villains of All Time:
11. Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)
10. The Alien
9. Voldemort (Harry Potter movies)
5. Hannibal Lecter (flesh eater)
3. Loki (evil stepbrother of Thor)
2. The Joker (Batman’s nemesis)
1. Darth Vader (Star Wars)
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movie-villains/
The evil beast of Revelation 13 is a commanding, captivating, charismatic, controversial but celebrated religious figure in the last days. The beast of Revelation 11 and the dragon of Revelation 12 in the last two chapters were never religious nor worshipped, but the beast in this chapter was worshipped. The verb “worship” occurs in this chapter (Rev 13:4, 4, 8 , 15), along with chapter 19, more times than any chapter in Revelation. The fans and followers of the beast are interstate, intercontinental and international:
Rev 13:3 The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
Rev 13:8 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast
Rev 13:12 the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast
The word “all” descries the devil’s target and task: -“every/all tribe, people, language and nation” (v 7), all inhabitants of the earth (v 8) and “everyone/all, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave” (v 16).
The dragon was introduced in the last chapter (Rev 12:9) Today we’re introducing the second- the beast. The difference between the three is the beast is the primary object of worship and the dragon as secondary backer, the boss. And the big shot. Verse 1 is controversial because KJV says “I stood,” not “the dragon stood,” but the scene is till the same – the beast rising from the sea, with ten horns, seven heads – seven heads and ten horns in KJV -, ten crowns and blasphemous names on their heads. The beast has a leopard face, bear feet and a lion’s mouth. The beast released in 11:7 was given power (dunamis) and his throne and great authority (exousia) in verse 2.
The miracle of the beast was in it’s healing after his apparent wounding. There is more worship in this chapter than any chapter in Revelation:
Rev 13:4 Men worshiped the dragon
Rev 13:4 they also worshiped the beast
Rev 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast
Rev 13:12 the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,
Rev 13:15 all who refused to worship the image to be killed
The three “great” associated with the beasts are:
Rev 13:2 (given) great authority.
Rev 13:5 (speak) proud words (great things, KJV)
Rev 13:13 (do) great and miraculous signs
The beats and the dragon are the great idolaters, the great impostors and the great instigators.
The two questions (v 4, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?") are a direct challenge to two previous questions:
Rev 5:2 Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?
6:17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
The beast is identified by the three infinitive purpose clause:
TO blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (v 6) and .
TO make war with the saints, and
TO overcome them (v 7)
The noun “blasphemy” (Rev 13:1, 5, 6) makes its most chapter occurrence the Bible, more than any book too, and its only plural in verse 5. It is the perfect contrast to “worship.” Blasphemy is to say vile, vain and vengeful things. One day we will see the impostor, imitator and instigator at work diminishing, despising and even demonizing the Lord.
More power (vv 2, 4, 5, 7, 12) than any chapter in Revelation. The beast is more than a number, nation or a name. His impact will be international, institutional and interpersonal. He is a person (v 18), not a party; an individual and not an ideology, a a creation and not an invention.
Take the Upper Hand
9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
When Michael Hui took the Lifetime Achievement Award last week, he thanked his wife, son, daughter and two grandchildren: "My wife is the inspiration for all my comedies. She has a very optimistic attitude towards life. She thinks that the next day after the sky falls will be better. Sometimes I want to make a tragic movie feel after the mountains and rivers are exhausted, but she would scold me and say, ‘Why do you want to shoot a tragic movie and have us watch it? Isn’t reality sad enough? Just watch the news, it's bad everywhere, we have been wearing a mask for two years. You must continue to make comedy, so that even if Hong Kong people would cry, they would laugh as well as cry! Remind the brothers and sisters in the Hong Kong movie industry, that we will face more difficult times in the future, but we must never be afraid. Tomorrow will be better. We Hong Kong people will always have a spirit, even if we were to cry, we will laugh and cry.”
The imperative “let him hear” is a thunderous, tense and terse challenge to the church way back in chapters 2 (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29) and 3 (Rev 3:3, 6, 13, 20, 22). It means to listen, learn and not to ignore the warning, vigilant, drop your guard, dull your senses,
The greatest temptation, trial and threat faced by a believer in this period is to resist, reject and renounce Christ, to become an agnostic, an atheist or an apostate, in the face of indoctrination, intimidation and imprisonment. The world dictator will perform miracle after miracle, marvel after marvel, magic after magic to the public’s astonishment, adulation and adoration. The beast’s target, unlike that of the dragon and false prophet, is believers, not unbelievers. Those who do not conform, comply and cooperate will be met with murder, massacre and martyrdom.
The patience of the saints (KJV) explained in the next chapter means “to obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Rev 14:12). Patience and faith differ in that patience is towards circumstances and faith is to God. Patience has been defined as “the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like, an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.” https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-quotes-on-patience/
‘Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.” Dictionary.com
“Patience is the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.” Cambridge
Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger. Wikipedia
The Bible says, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim 3:12)
What is faith then?
Forwarding all issues to heaven!
Full assurance in the heart
Forsaking all I trust Him
Trusting in advance what will only make sense in return. Philip Yancey
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark
Faith means that you have peace even when you do not have all the answers
Take the Long View
11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
On Feb 9, 2022, shortly after the Chinese New Year, the government announced the closure of barber shops till April, for at least two months. I got to think harder than most because I cut my hair every 22nd of the month to remember my wife who passed away on 22nd. I asked a coworker to cut my hair bald and I shaved daily to prevent my hair from growing.
One morning in the middle of July, 2022, after seeing a video where customers complain that they were not able to withdraw their savings, I decided to take no chances and keep some cash at home, withdrawing $5,000 the same day to keep at home, as cash is king!
This week (July 24, 2022) I started to my documents together in a drawer – from driver’s license and social security to power of attorney and home documents!
According to industry researcher IHS Markit, at the end of 2019 there were 770 million surveillance cameras in the world. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-billion-surveillance-cameras-forecast-to-be-watching-within-two-years-11575565402
Many are for social-distancing self-tests and self-isolation and survival guides. These are tests The beast, for all his power, never operates in heaven but only on earth (Rev 13:11, 16:2, 17:8, 19:19).
The beast has action and aim, but we have alternatives.
Action: There are eight “do” measures of the second beast in the passage (vv 12-16):
12 He exercised (DO) all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made (DO) the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
13 And he performed (DO) great and miraculous signs, even causing (DO) fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
14 Because of the signs he was given power to do (DO) on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up (DO) an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause (DO) all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
16 He also forced (DO) everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead
This is the first “great signs” (v 12) in the book, of which the most spectacular is to make fire come down from heaven.
Aim: The next seven “hina” purpose clauses in verse 15 is 36:
12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants (TO) worship the first beast
13 (TO) causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could (TO) speak
15 (TO) cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed
16 to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark
To cause to be killed (v 15), to receive a mark and to buy and sell are the beast’s “hina” purpose, not that he had done it! He will cut off your subscription, bank account, credit cards. It is inconceivable but not impossible to survive. What can you do with if you cannot buy or sell? Plant vegetables, rationing, skip eating out, and live a mundane, marginalized and miserly life.
Alternative: The imperative “calculate” (v 18) means “handle, verify or touch,” not necessarily facts, figures, and fractions. It means not to be unprepared, uninformed, unrealistic, unconcerned, unaware, unwise and unnerved. As usual, the culprit is man and not machine, a dictator and not a deliverer, a charmer, a charlatan and a campaigner, and not a clown, a comedian or a chump.
Conclusion: The most important is not fear of the devil and his fury, but fear of God and faith in God. Satan is powerful, but God alone is all-powerful, omnipotent and perfect.
