Satan’s Deadly Political Leader: The Antichrist Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 38, Revelation Part 15

Satan’s Deadly Political Leader: The Antichrist

Revelation 13:1-10

Introduction

- Been studying Revelation together, to understand God’s plan for creation

-- REM: Redemption of sin has been provided through Jesus; we have a choice

- Last week, we discussed Satan being cast out of Heaven as a judgment of God

-- His position is now on Earth, and he no longer has access to God’s throne

-- This leads to him being vengeful, and taking his rage out against God

-- This time is referred to as the great tribulation (2nd half of 7-year period)

- Today we will cover 1st of 2 characters: Antichrist, False Prophet next time

-- Might seem like Antichrist gets a lot of press – biblically, he sure does!

-- Why? Part of God’s judgment … remember, these are part of the 7th trumpet!

- Read Revelation 13:1-10 / Pray for understanding

- TR: This is the key chapter of Revelation – God’s plan for creation

-- It covers the depth of Satan’s wickedness, his vengeful plan against humanity

-- What it MUST do for us: Serve as a reminder to testify to God’s salvation

Point 1 – A Dangerous Leader Rises: The Antichrist

- In Rev 12, we were given a glimpse of things in the spiritual world

-- Saw a great battle taking place: Satan, the dragon, was cast out of Heaven

-- His response is what we see unfold before us – reign of evil on mankind

- Why? It is all that he (the devil) has left – all he can do to strike back at God

-- Many ask how this will come about – and the answer is clearly given to us

- He will inhabit (means to possess and control) a charismatic world leader

-- This world leader will have gained control of 10 nations on the Earth

-- He will have taken this control during the first 3.5 years of 7 (post-Rapture)

- RE: Millions have vanished, and he rises as the ultimate solution for humanity

-- Mankind, in its desire to be led and for answers, will follow and submit to him

- The rising from the sea (v1) is not that an indication that he is an “ocean monster”

-- It is a metaphor also shown later in Revelation 17:15, “Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language.”

- John sees him as a leader who rises from the sea of people on Earth

-- Earth will be ravaged over a 3.5 yr. time period, where chaos will ensue

-- REM: The seal and trumpet judgments have devastated Earth’s population

-- Warfare, world-wide catastrophes, and supernatural occurrences

- APP: People will desire a leader who can provide hope and answers

-- The Antichrist will appear to be one who can be trusted – represents safety

-- KNOW THIS: The trust mankind puts in him will be their (our) undoing

- Everything said about this leader is symbolic of his global power

-- We saw this on Wednesday night, this is the same imagery Daniel saw (v2)

-- His focus is to control, to persuade, and to convince the world to follow Him

-- Let’s examine his rise to power so we can understand his effectiveness:

• He will have enormous abilities – he will be an unusual genius

- The assurance in his abilities is found in the way he garners trust so quickly

-- He will be head and shoulders above any leader before him; politically savvy

• He will have ten horns on his heads (v1)

- This is the same number that the dragon (devil) is shown to have in Ch 12:3

-- It is representative of his embodiment of evil – empowered from Satan

- The horns are a representation of power – GR: keras; horn; symbol of power

-- Meaning: When he is revealed fully, he will be a global leader

-- His ability to force nations to comply is signified by trust in him

-- Note: Horns are good for nothing except hurting others – life mission

• He wears 10 crowns on his heads – these being authority and power

- GR: diadema; crown, signifying royalty or authority to rule

-- This is not the victors crown, but rather, crowns of royalty (actual rule)

-- He will be the physical ruler of 10 of the largest nations on the planet

• He will have 10 blasphemous names on each of his heads

-- GR: blasphémia; abusive or scurrilous language

-- This is a representation of his motive, his actions, shows how he acts

-- His blasphemy of God will be full-on, 100% … and it’ll be welcomed by all