A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 13.
As we enter chapter thirteen, we transition to descriptions of the evil nature of the spirit realm. We have seen the overall picture of the spirit realm ordained by God and we have been given some of the description of His wrath upon unrighteous mankind. We turn our attention to the beast of Satan, his false prophet and the final wrath of God upon unrighteous mankind following the resurrection of the saints to meet Christ in the clouds.
Rev. 13:1. 13 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, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. We can determine quickly this beast is not of a righteous manner, but a beast for Satan, the unrighteous spirit beast. This is recognized by the description, ‘upon his heads the name of blasphemy.’
This beast has seven–complete, whole–heads. Seven means complete amount or whole, all encompassing. The idea is this beast has power over all the earth to inflict evil. We will see this identified again later, but let us look at it now.
In Rev. 17:3 we see a woman sitting upon a beast with seven heads. Vs. 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. In vss. 7-9. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 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. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
The beast with seven heads is Satan’s beast representing seven mountains–all the land of earth. (there are seven continents on earth) The horns represent powers or kings/kingdoms which rule with evil intentions. On the heads of these kings are blasphemies against God. They will rule over their lands or kingdoms denying the people the chance to hear or know about God. These crowns depict royalty or rulerships. (those with authority)
Rev. 13:2. 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.
The beast is like a leopard, swift, fast. His feet are like a bear, big, strong, powerful to tear and destroy. His mouth like a lion, loud and commanding, Satan gave him his power and authority.
Do you recognize what Satan is doing? He is setting his kingdom like God has done his. God gave all power and authority in heaven and on earth to His son, Jesus. Satan is setting a ruling class similar; the beast is his second in command. He has given him his power and his seat. Remember, the dragon is Satan.
Let us compare the beast of Satan to the beast of God we identified in chapter 4:6-9. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
God’s beast has eyes 'Before and behind’ to see all around. There are four different beasts, each with differing tasks to perform. One like a lion, one like a calf, one like an eagle and one with the face of a man. They all had six wings. They did not rest day nor night. They did the work of worshiping God.
Satan’s beast was more ferocious in appearance, worshiping Satan always and doing evil before mankind.
Rev. 13:3-5. 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. 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? 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.
One head was wounded as if it was dead, but it was not; it healed. One of the kings will appear without his power to rule but will heal or come into power again and the world will be amazed and wonder. In history since the time of the ascension of Christ back to heaven, a powerful position (nation) will be in power, lose its position on the world stage, but return to prominence. This will cause many people to worship this beast. In their minds it will be a spiritual thing and they will think it to be righteous, Godly. Others, entirely evil, shall flaunt the occasion to continue to blaspheme God and righteous saints.
We see the duration of this beast’s power, forty-two months. Once again we see a duration of time to determine a comparison with another duration of similar events. Remember Rev. 11:2. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. This is the same duration for the events spoken about the time the Gentiles, unbelievers, shall trample the court of the temple. The power given unto this beast will blaspheme God and the saints trying to conquer for evil. (Satan)
Let us return to Rev. 6. There we were introduced to the spirit realm and the powers to influence the people of the earth. One spirit power was given power to take peace from the earth among other evils. Vss. 3-4. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Satan was allowed to try to conquer souls for his army of unbelieving people. This was the description of the evil side of the spirit world influencing mankind. So now we see more of the story of how the evil spirit nature operates.
Rev. 13:6-8. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 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.
The beast of Satan blasphemed God and His children, Christians. This beast was allowed to make war against the saints of all nations. In our world, we see persecutions against Christians in the news regularly in all parts of the earth. The evil followers of the beast worship him and his power over righteousness because their hearts are nothing but evil. They have the mark of the beast on their forehead or hand.
Leaders of many nations, including some who lead our country, blaspheme God and do nothing when Christians are harmed and persecuted. Turning a blind eye is as much as condoning evil behavior. Starting and causing unlawful behaviors, not prosecuting and hindering evil behavior is common in our country because of evil leaderships and government leaders. Speaking evil and giving false witness to one’s opponent or fellow citizen is accepted behavior. Isaiah 5:20. 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
2 Tim. 3:1-5. 3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
This beast of Satan is allowed in the evil spirit realm to perform these things. He is creating followers and militant persons for Satan’s army to fight against God and His righteous army again trying to overthrow God from His throne and remove Jesus as the next ruler over heaven.
Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are evil followers and worshipers of this Beast.
Jesus now says, “If any man have an ear, let him hear.” Rev. 13:9. Jesus said this similar phrase in chapters 2 & 3 speaking unto the church. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; Jesus does not want these members to be like those he mentioned in Mt. 13:13-15. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Jesus wants us to hear–truly hear and comprehend this Spiritual teaching. When we discuss spiritual things, we are taught in “parables” (symbolic literature of things in the physical realm) to comprehend the spiritual nature. Jesus does not wish us to be immature, ignorant. Jesus wants to heal us from our iniquities–dullness of hearing thus fully understanding. We should remember, God is a spirit. To worship a spirit, we must understand the spirit. It is by the evidence of the spirit realm upon the physical realm that we can know by faith how to conduct ourselves to be pleasing unto God.
Here we are introduced to the evil spirit nature and the authorization or allowance by God for it to perform its evils. To fully appreciate the righteous spirit nature, we, also, must be aware of the evil nature. Now we can understand the evils and the perpetrators who cause and do the evils in our world. In doing this, we should choose the righteous behavior so as not to be partakers in the evils of this world and their foretold punishments.
Rev. 13:10. 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.
Whatever must befall us, it will be done. If we are to go into captivity by an evil government or evil ruler, it must be done. Evil such as murder is to be repaid with the same, murder of the evil perpetrator. Whether it is carried out properly by a governing body immediately or later, God will see to the just payment of the evil people. This requires faith and patience on the part of the saints. Romans 12:19. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. The payment for murder will be carried out by God whether man does or not. All payments for evil shall be carried out by God at His appointed time; whether in the physical life of mankind or in the judgment. This requires patience and faith.
The events of the evil nature will be against the righteous as this is Satan’s whole desire to try to punish God. We are the pawns in the match. However, we know and believe God will provide and protect in whatever situation we are found in the physical life.
A Second Beast of Satan–the Dragon
Rev. 13:11-18. 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. 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. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 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. 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. 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: 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. 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.
This second beast of Satan brings back to life the first beast which was wounded and believed to become incapacitated; or, the image of the first beast. In his deception of mankind, this second beast fools many into believing he is all powerful and of some deity as Almighty God. Foolish, unlearned mankind is deceived because of their lack of knowledge of God and His spirit nature. They will believe anything that seems to be of righteousness.
Example: How many believe this phrase is in the Bible word-for-word? ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ It sounds correct. It seems to be a Godly saying, so, therefore, it must be in there somewhere. Right?
Satan can use something so simple and mostly ignorant and people will fall for it. How many are believing something is in the Bible and it is what they always have been told by sincere teachers and preachers, yet, it is nowhere to be found, and, is absolutely not correct? Religious people everywhere are believing false teachings in every assembly. God, through the Apostle Paul telling Timothy–and us–15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15.
In this study of the book of Revelations, I implore you, “Do not take my word for the proper interpretation of the book. Study it yourself and come to your own conclusion. I am only a servant of Jesus Christ as you and trying to offer suggestions to the understanding of this writing of spiritual literature. Fellow Christians are to provoke unto love and good works exhorting one another to learn and be one of the ’chosen’, not just one ‘called’.”
This second beast continues the work of Satan upon mankind. He has a quiver filled with deceptions to deceive man. And, he is in full use of them until God stops Satan and his minions.
Notice this beast has the image of a lamb. What does the lamb represent? First, Jesus. Second, a subject meek and lowly; needs to be guided. Third, a gentle soul, righteous in every way. This second beast may be Satan’s False Prophet who came to deceive the righteous. He can perform miraculous signs deceiving many who believe it is only God who does these things.
Study to understand the spirit realm so you will know if it is from God or from Satan.
