REVELATION 13
13: 1 There is the origin of the beast or antichrist. He arises up "out of the sea." This is explained in Rev.17: 15 where the waters are said to be "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues." The antichrist arises from among the people. Remember the terrible things that will be taking place upon earth:
· The increase in world violence, conflict, terrorist activities, wars and rumors of wars.
· The increase in natural catastrophes such as famines, earthquakes, and diseases.
The people and nations will be clamoring for a leader who can offer them hope and help.
The antichrist will see their restlessness and political turbulence and give the people the hope they crave.
Isaiah 17: 12-14
Isaiah 57: 20-21
13: 1-2 everything said about the antichrist is symbolic of the enormous political power that he will gain.
1. The antichrist will have seven heads. This means at least two things.
a. The antichrist will have enormous ability, a most unusual genius. The number seven in the Bible means complete and full. The antichrist will be full of ability. He will be a supernatural genius, possessing complete knowledge and wisdom. He will be able to think, plan, act, respond, and react to situations quicker and more efficiently than any man has ever been able to do. Think how far a person could go in political circles and in gaining power if he had what we might term perfect ability-if he was full of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
b. The seven heads and ten horns also refer to the ten nations he will rule over. In the beginning there will be ten nations, but he will take over or be given the power and rule of three, which leaves seven. The heads of these seven will most likely surrender their governments to his rule. Therefore, the beast or antichrist has the power of seven heads, seven heads of state.
2. The antichrist will have ten horns. This is the same number of horns that the dragon (devil) had. This again points to the antichrist being the representative or embodiment of the devil upon earth. The horns mean power, and the fact that there are ten horns means a confederated power of ten nations. He will be the political head over ten nations. Horns, of course, pierce, rip, and tear in the most fierce and vicious way.
3. The antichrist wears ten crowns upon his ten horns. Crowns, of course, mean authority and power: he will be the leader and ruler of these ten nations.
4. The antichrist will have ten blasphemous names on his seven heads. This means that his blasphemy against God and believers and against the people of the world will be complete
ð He will be the one who will stand in the very holy place of the temple in Jerusalem and blaspheme the name of God. He will demand that people give their first loyalty to the state. Matthew 24:15
ð He will be the man of sin who opposes all religions; all that is called God and that is worshipped. 2 Thess 2:4
ð He will speak great and boastful and terrible words against the most high. Daniel 7:25
ð He will demand that all worship him and his state. Revelation 13:4
5. The antichrist will combine and embody three of the world’s most powerful empires, that is, empires that had conquered and controlled most of the known world of their day. This is what is meant by his being like three animals: the leopard, bear, and lion.
Who are the three empires that will be wrapped up in the beast? Note that the antichrist is said...
· To look like a leopard
· To have feet like a bear
· To have a mouth like a lion
What world empires do these animals represent? And what are the traits that will characterize the antichrist?
SEE CHART REVELATION CHAPTER 13 CHART
(if you want this chart please email me brorodneyfry@yahoo.com )
Remember: this was pointed out earlier that Satan is going to do these things for the antichrist.
a. Satan will give the antichrist his power
ð The power of inner strength and energy and spirit
ð The power of personality
ð The power of ability, persuasion, and influence
ð The power of force and might
a. Satan will give the antichrist his seat, that is, his throne, his government. Satan will give the antichrist just what he offered Christ: the governments of the world
b. Satan will give the antichrist his authority; that is, he will give him complete authority, dictatorial rule and command and influence. He will give the antichrist the greatest power and rule ever known in the world.
The antichrist will be healed from a mortal wound. It is important to see what is being said here.
The mortal wound to the antichrist is mentioned three times in this chapter and also elsewhere in Revelation.
Revelation 13:3/12/14/
Revelation 17: 8 – 11
There possible interpretations of this.
a. The death of the beast refers to the political death of the Roman Empire. Remember the Roman Empire was the beast that had feet of iron and clay mixed. But the iron empire could not last because it had clay mixed in with it. Therefore, it was doomed to crumble and be divided. However, the iron continues on; that is, some of the traits and elements continue on in the world. Therefore in the end time, the old Roman Empire will be revived and the spirit of Rome will dominate the world once again.
b. The antichrist will actually be the return of some evil ruler who has lived in past history. The devil will raise him up and send him back to earth Rev 17:11
c. The mortal wound is an assassination attempt or some accident that happens to the antichrist, probably at the beginning of his rule. The false prophet (the second beast) performs a miracle and heals the antichrist. Remember: the false prophet will have the power to perform some outstanding miracles. It will be these miracles that will help him to gain credibility and the support of the masses of the world. This possibility sounds reasonable in light of what is said about the false prophet. Rev 13:14
The antichrist is to rule over the final government of the earth. Man’s dream of a one-world government will become a reality. But the government will have a leader, one man who will be emperor, king, or president; whatever the world will call him. Note that Scripture also points this out.
· The antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire. Nations and empires are not cast into the lake of fire, people are. Rev 19:20
· The antichrist is said to be a man. 2 Thess 2:3
· The antichrist will stand in the temple of God in Jerusalem and proclaim himself as God. A nation cannot do this; only a man can do this. Matthew 24:15 & 2 Thess 2:4
· The antichrist will come as a false leader even as other antichrists have come as false leaders. 1 John 2:18
13:4-8
1. The antichrist will secure power because of the worldly and ungodly living of people (v4).
Revelation 9: 20-21
2 Tim 3: 1-5
2 Tim 3: 13
2. The antichrist will secure power by personal ability and appeal (v. 4b). They worship the beast and say, "who is like unto the beast?" By worship is meant loyalty and allegiance. The antichrist will.
· Be full of knowledge
· Be an unusual genius
· Be intelligent
· Be magnetic
· Have supreme charisma
· Have unbelievable insight
· Be a wonder to behold in ability and appeal
ð The entire world will wonder and be amazed and admire the beast. Rev 13:3
ð He will be full of ability and understanding. Rev 13:1 & Daniel 8:23
"
The antichrist will apparently have under his authority the strongest military machine the world has ever
ð Other nations will fear him. Rev 13:4
ð He will control enormous amounts of money and wealth. Daniel 11:38, 43
ð He can set up rulers and leaders, as he likes. Rev 17: 12-17 / Daniel 11:39
3. The antichrist will secure power through speech, oratory, persuasion, and blasphemy (v.5).
ð He will have a mouth: that can speak great things.
ð He will offer hope to a world that is facing catastrophe after catastrophe and that is crumbling
4. The antichrist will secure power for three and one half years (v.5). He will be able to offer the world peace and prosperity for three and one half years. But note: his power is not his own. It is a given power, a power given to him by Satan. Rev 13:5
5. The antichrist will secure power through atheism and humanism (v.6). He will reject and deny God, and openly blaspheme God. And he will do it in the famous Jewish temple (to be rebuilt) in the most famous religious city of the world, Jerusalem.
6. The antichrist will secure power through religious persecution (v.7) 2 Thess 2:4/Rev 7:9
7. The antichrist will secure power through conquering many nations (v.7). He shall be able to extend his power over every tribe and people and language and nation.
ð Note the word every. How will he gain world authority?
ð Some by war and military might, but most nations will most likely follow willingly and peacefully-offer their allegiance and loyalty-to a government that can definitely protect them and assure peace
America’s ability to do this is one example. Many nations willingly follow and are loyal to this great nation for these very reasons. However, in the end time, the picture is that the antichrist will offer to do even more.
Keep in mind that he will control many of the nations of the Middle East and of Europe-nations that are so rich, both in oil and other products and resources.
Remember also: oil is an absolute essential to all the economies of the world. Nations and people will do anything for oil and its wealth. This is certainly one way the antichrist could demand and gain control over the nations and peoples of the earth.
Daniel 7:8/ Daniel 11:41-42 / Rev13: 7
8. The antichrist will secure power through imperial worship (v.8a).
All the ungodly and evil people upon earth shall worship him. This points toward worship of the state in the end time.
Just think of the vast numbers of people with so many different languages and cultures involved in a world government.
Some unifying principal, some common spirit will be needed to hold the people together. This principle, this spirit, will be wrapped up in the government and leader of the government (the antichrist).
Matthew 24:15
2 Thess 2:4
Rev 13: 4
Rev 13:8, 12, 14
Revelation 13:8-10 there are the adversaries of the antichrist, the true believers. True believers will not worship the antichrist. Every believer can be loyal and can support his government fully, one hundred per cent. But no true believer can give his first loyalty to anyone other than to God. Therefore, true believers will not worship the antichrist or his state. Note four statements made about the believers, the adversaries to the antichrist.
They are secure in the Lamb’s book of life (-Rev.3: 4-6; 5:6-7)
They are the hearers of this message, the people who heed the warning of the judgment to come and who repent- turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
They are the ones who know that God truly judges the evil and ungodly.
The true believer knows that if he leads others into captivity (whether of sin or prison
The true believer is steadfast and loyal to the faith. The true believer will be easily known in the end time.
Antichrist
1. He comes out of the earth. This means that he comes out from among the common people of the earth.
2. He appears to be a lamb, for he only has two horns like a little lamb. No person is ever afraid of a little lamb.
a. This beast will appear innocent, harmless, mild, meek, attractive, and lovable. Most people will be attracted to him
b. This beast will appear to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He will appear to be one of God’s little lambs or sheep. That is, he will be a religious leader. Just like a lamb, he will appear to be religiously clean
c. This beast will speak as a dragon. His voice is going to betray him. What he has to say will reveal that he is not a prophet of God, but a false prophet.
ð He will not be teaching God’s Word, but the word of the antichrist and state.
ð He will not be speaking the truth; he will be speaking a lie.
ð He will not be the spokesman for God, but the spokesman for the government of the antichrist.
ð He will not be speaking for people to support God, but for people to support the civil power.
ð He will not be promoting the Lord Jesus Christ; he will be promoting the policies of the antichrist.
13: 12 there is the objective of the second beast or false prophet. His objective is to secure the devotion, loyalty, and allegiance of the world to the antichrist and his government
13: 18
There is the number of the beast or antichrist. It is the infamous number that is more well known in the literature than any other number: 666.What does it mean? No one Knows. Scripture does not say what it means. All we know is what Scripture says: “it is the number of a man.” In Scripture the perfect number is seven. Therefore, since man’s number is 6, that means that man is incomplete and short of God’s glory, short of God’s perfection.
