Sermons

Summary: In the last days, the Bible warns about a powerful and deceptive figure known as the Antichrist, who will rise to power and lead many astray. One of the significant signs of his rule is the imposition of the Mark of the Beast, a mark that will be required for buying and selling.

THE ANTICHRIST AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Revelation 13:16-18

Supporting Texts: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 7:25, Matthew 24:24, 1 John 2:18, Revelation 14:9-11

INTRODUCTION:

In the last days, the Bible warns about a powerful and deceptive figure known as the Antichrist, who will rise to power and lead many astray. He will be a tool of Satan, opposing God and enforcing a system of control over the world. One of the significant signs of his rule is the imposition of the Mark of the Beast, a mark that will be required for buying and selling (Revelation 13:16-18).

The concept of the Mark of the Beast has generated much discussion and speculation. While the exact nature of the mark remains a mystery, its significance in biblical prophecy is clear—it represents allegiance to the Antichrist and rebellion against God. Those who receive it will face eternal judgment (Revelation 14:9-11), while those who refuse it will endure persecution but will remain faithful to Christ.

This sermon will explore who the Antichrist is, the meaning of the Mark of the Beast, its implications for believers, and how we must prepare for these perilous times.

1. THE RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST

a) A Man of Deception – The Antichrist will be a master deceiver, using signs, wonders, and false promises to gain global influence (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

b) A Blasphemous Leader – He will oppose everything that is of God and exalt himself above all deities (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

c) A Political and Religious Dictator – He will unite nations under a false peace treaty before turning against them (Daniel 9:27).

d) A Persecutor of the Saints – Those who refuse to worship him will face severe persecution (Revelation 13:7).

e) Biblical Example: King Nebuchadnezzar's demand for worship (Daniel 3:4-6).

2. THE MEANING OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST

a) A Mark of Economic Control – Without it, no one can buy or sell (Revelation 13:17).

b) A Mark of Allegiance – It signifies loyalty to the Antichrist and rejection of Christ (Revelation 14:9-10).

c) A Mark of Condemnation – Those who receive it will face eternal punishment (Revelation 14:11).

d) A Counterfeit to God's Seal – Just as God seals His own (Revelation 7:3), Satan marks his followers.

e) Biblical Example: The sealing of the 144,000 in Revelation 7:4-8.

3. THE IMPLICATIONS OF TAKING THE MARK

a) Loss of Eternal Life – Those who take the mark will be separated from God forever (Revelation 20:15).

b) Deception Through Miraculous Signs – The False Prophet will perform wonders to persuade people (Revelation 13:13-14).

c) Severe Persecution for Believers – Refusing the mark will lead to suffering, imprisonment, and even death (Revelation 13:7).

d) God’s Wrath on Those Who Accept It – The wrath of God will be poured out on them (Revelation 14:10-11).

e) Biblical Example: Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and eternal regret (Matthew 27:3-5).

4. HOW BELIEVERS CAN PREPARE

a) Spiritual Discernment – We must know the Word of God to recognize deception (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

b) Total Dependence on God – Trusting in God for provision and protection (Psalm 91:1-4).

c) Unwavering Faith in Christ – Remaining steadfast even in persecution (Matthew 24:13).

d) Avoiding Compromise – Not allowing fear or pressure to lead us into accepting evil (Daniel 3:16-18).

e) Biblical Example: The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the face of idolatry (Daniel 3:14-18).

5. FINAL VICTORY OVER THE ANTICHRIST

a) Jesus Will Defeat the Antichrist – At His second coming, Christ will destroy him (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

b) The Beast and His Followers Will Be Judged – They will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

c) The Kingdom of Christ Will Reign Forever – Jesus will establish His millennial reign (Revelation 20:4-6).

d) Believers Will Be Rewarded – Those who endure will reign with Christ (Revelation 2:26-27).

e) Biblical Example: The triumph of Christ over death and Satan (Colossians 2:15).

CONCLUSION:

The rise of the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast are significant warnings for all believers. While the world will embrace deception, those who remain faithful to Christ will be preserved. We must be vigilant, rooted in the Word, and prepared for whatever may come.

As we await the return of Christ, let us stand firm in faith, refuse to compromise, and be ready to endure trials for His name’s sake. The final victory belongs to Jesus, and those who trust in Him will reign with Him forever.

PRAYER POINTS:

1.  Lord, give me the wisdom to discern deception in these last days.

2.  Father, strengthen my faith to stand firm against any form of compromise.

3.  Lord, keep me from the influence of the Antichrist and the spirit of this age.

4.  Father, grant me the grace to endure persecution and remain steadfast in You.

5.  Lord, help me to spread the Gospel so that many will be saved before the end comes.

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David Beaty

commented on Jun 20, 2025

Hello Rev. Arimoro. Thank you for your posting of this sermon on Revelation 14:11. I noticed in your sermon that you described the judgment in Revelation 14:11 as "separation from God". How does that harmonize with the statement in the passage which directly says that the judgment is in the presence of the Lamb/God?: "he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" I'm not sure if you intended to describe a concept of hell which is a place of endless torment, locked away from the presence of the Lord. Describing it as a separation from God seems to convey that meaning though. I would say though that we have a very large volume of evidence from within the book of Revelation to demonstrate that hell is not place of endless torment, locked away and separated from the presence of God. Revelation contains a lot of material to show that it's just death, not locked away and separated from God, but no longer existing anywhere. The phrase second death for example demonstrates this. There is a very strong body of evidence supporting the idea that the phrase "second death" was a well known ancient Jewish religious concept which originated from the content of the ancient Aramaic Targums. This content would have very likely been known by John's ancient audience of Revelation. The Revelation and Targum passages below are some of that evidence: [Revelation 2:11 WEB] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death. [Revelation 2:17 WEB] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it. [Isaiah 22:14 Targum Jonathan] The prophet said, With my ears I was hearing when this was decreed before the LORD God of hosts: "Surely this sin will not be forgiven you until you die the second death," says the LORD God of hosts. [Isaiah 65:15 Targum Jonathan] You shall leave your name to my chosen for an oath, and the LORD God will slay you with the second death; but his servants, the righteous, he will call by a different name. [Jeremiah 51:39, 57 Targum Jonathan] 39 Bring distress upon them, and they shall be like drunken men, so that they shall not be strong; and they shall die the second death, and shall not live for the world to come, says the Lord. ... 57 And I will make her princes and her wise men drunk, her governors and her tyrants and her mighty men; and they shall die the second death and not live for the world to come." says the King; the Lord of Hosts is his Name. The meaning of the second death in the passage above can be informed by what the Targum translator above interpretively translated as the second death. Here it is: [Jeremiah 51:39,57 WEB Hebrew] 39 When they are heated, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up," says Yahweh ... 57 I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up," says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies. And here again below we see the interpretive Targum translation and the underlying Hebrew verse being translated and interpreted: [Deuteronomy 33:6 Targum Onkelos] May Reuben live an everlasting life and not die a second death, and may his descendants receive their inherited possession according to their number. [Deuteronomy 33:6 WEB] "Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few." The second death in the Targums is even related to Gehenna just as it is in the New Testament: [Isaiah 65:3-6 Targum Jonathan] 3 a people who incite to anger against my Memra before me continually, sacrificing in your gardens of the idols and offering up spices upon bricks; 4 who sit in the houses they build from the dust of tombs, and reside with the corpses of the sons of men; who eat swine’s flesh, and abominable broth is in their vessels; 5 who say, "Get behind, do not come near me, for I am more clean than you." These, their anger is as smoke before me, their retribution is in Gehenna where the fire burns all the day. 6 Behold, it is written before me: "I will not give them respite while they live, but theirs is the retribution of their sins; I will hand over their bodies to the second death. In chapters 5 and 6 of my online pdf book "Hell is Made Holy" I give a fairly broad treatment of the meaning of the second death as it is found in ancient Judaism and I show a lot more evidence to demonstrate that both Jesus and John used material from the Targums in the New Testament. The pdf book is available at https://go.davidaaronbeaty.com/hellbook for nothing. Feel free to let me know what you think of the book if you do read it.

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