The Beast Out Of The Sea - Revelation 13:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
We have spent two weeks in Daniel 7 where Daniel records for us a dream and the interpretation of that dream. This morning we return to Revelation 13 and for us as we begin to look at this chapter, Daniel’s fourth beast in his dream and the little horn that grew up and uprooted three of the ten horns that were already there is the most important part of the dream in our understanding of the first ten verses in Revelation 13. In this chapter we receive an astounding description of the Antichrist, it is the most gripping, thorough, and dramatic in all of Scripture.
This teaching on the Antichrist was not new for John’s readers, we have already seen him once in Revelation 11 where he is described as rising from the abyss and killing the two witnesses. John had also written in his first epistle that his readers had “heard that the antichrist is coming.” (1 John 2:18b, NASB95)[1] Here in chapter 13 his wicked career is fully developed.
In chapter 12 we read of Satan’s war with God and His people. Having been cast permanently out of heaven, knowing that his time is short, Satan will try to prevent Jesus Christ from setting up His earthly kingdom by setting up his own under the Antichrist. Satan will empower his final Antichrist to lead his last, desperate attack against God.
Let’s pray and get into our Scripture this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Revelation 13, we will be looking at the first 10 verses this morning which will reveal to us seven features of this final world dictator before the return of the true King. Please stand in honor of the reading of the Word of God and follow along as I read.
Revelation 13:1-10,
“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:1–10, NASB95)[2]
HIS PERSON (Revelation 13:1)
The first sentence of this chapter belongs at the end of chapter 12 since it concludes the account of the dragon, but it is the connector between these two chapters. The imagery used in this sentence of the dragon standing on the sand of the seashore, the sand is a picture of the nations of the world, and Satan is standing dominantly in the midst of the nations as if they are his rightful possession. But in reality, he is a usurper who seeks the world’s worship and adoration, this has been his goal since the day that he set himself against God, that day in his pride he said, “I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14b, NASB95)[3]
John goes on to describe that next in his vision he sees a beast coming up out of the sea. This word translated “beast” is the same word used to describe the Antichrist in chapter 11 and is a word in Greek that refers to a wild beast, a ferocious, vicious, wild monster. This beast like the beasts in Daniel’s dream must be understood to represent both a kingdom and a person. This beast represents a kingdom because of the complex description of him in the second half of verse one, the kingdom the beast represents is the revived Roman empire. But this beast also represents a person because he is always described with personal pronouns. As we saw last week Daniel and Paul also describe the Antichrist as a person.
What the sea symbolizes has been debated for years. But twice in Revelation in 11:7 and 17:8 we are told the beast comes up out of the abyss. I believe it is best to equate the sea with the abyss. We have already seen demons come out of this abyss, Satan will be bound and imprisoned in the abyss during the millennial kingdom.
The Antichrist will be a man, but at some point he will be indwelt by Satan, being possessed by Satan he will be a gifted speaker, an intellectual genius, people will flock to him because of his great charm and charisma, this will give him great leadership power. People will see him as a savior.
There will never be another person in human history who will be completely the devil’s own. Satan becomes the imitator of God the Father, and the Antichrist the imitator of God the Son, and next week we will see the imitator of God the Holy Spirit. These three will form the unholy trinity. The Antichrist’s description here by John shows how much he is like Satan. John describes him as having ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems, royal crowns on the ten horns. Almost the same hideous description was given of Satan in chapter 12. In the description of the Antichrist the importance of the ten horns is emphasized by mentioning them first and associating the royal crowns with the horns instead of the heads.
Horns in the Bible represent strength and power, both in defense and when attacking. These ten horns represent the ten kings who will rule under the Antichrist’s authority. The beast that Daniel saw also had ten horns representing these ten kings. We learned in Daniel last week that the Antichrist will arise among these 10 kings and three of the ten will be overthrown. The Antichrist will not rule merely ten nations, but the entire world. These ten kings will rule over a ten-nation confederacy until the rise of the Antichrist when he rules the world.
John also tells us that this beast had seven heads. These seven heads like the seven heads of the dragon symbolize the seven successive world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the Antichrist’s revived Roman empire, the final world kingdom of the times of the Gentiles. The royal crowns (diadems) that John sees on the horns represents the regal authority and the victorious power of the ten kings. John also notes for us that on the seven heads of the beast were blasphemous names. Like the Roman emperors and so many of the monarchs before them, these rulers choose divine names and titles that dishonor the living God.
HIS AUTHORITY (Revelation 13:2)
John goes on describing this beast that has come up out of the sea, his description reminds us of the first three beasts that Daniel saw in his dream, this beast has incorporated the characteristics of the animals from Daniel’s dream. The lion was a fitting symbol for the fierce, consuming power of the Babylonians, the bear symbolized the ferociousness, strength, and stability of the Medo-Persians, and the leopard was a fitting symbol of the swift conquests of the Greeks, done with speed and viciousness.
John list the three animals in the reverse order from Daniel, since he was looking backward through time. Daniel looking forward listed the animals and the kingdoms they represented in chronological order.
Like Daniel’s fourth beast that could not be compared to any animal which represents the Roman empire, the Antichrist’s final empire, the revived Roman empire will be a composite of the empires that preceded it. It will be a mix of the ferocity, viciousness, swiftness, and strength of the other world empires. This powerful empire will not compare to any empire in human history, it will be Satan’s last and greatest attempt to stop the reign of Christ, the rightful and true King.
Satan will give his power, his throne, and his authority to the beast. He will indwell the Antichrist and make him the most powerful man on earth politically, militarily, and religiously and his empire shall encompass the whole earth.
HIS ESTEEM (Revelation 13:3)
John tells us of an astonishing event that will help the Antichrist to make sure his hold on the world. John writes, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;” (Revelation 13:3, NASB95)[4] The Antichrist receives a fatal wound, whether his death is real or fake it is not clear. It may be that the Antichrist is really killed and God allows him to be resurrected. More likely, the Antichrist’s alleged death and resurrection will be a counterfeit of Christ’s death and resurrection, staged as one of the “lying wonders” done by the false prophet, whom we will meet next week. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2 speaks of all the signs and false wonders that will be done by the Antichrist and his prophet.
Whatever truly happens the people who dwell on the earth will believe that the Antichrist has conquered death. Understand that the tribulation period will be a time when the world will experience death at an unparalleled level. The Antichrist’s apparent victory over death will win for him widespread approval by the masses, the whole earth will be amazed and follow after the beast.
HIS WORSHIP (Revelation 13:4)
This world-wide approval of the Antichrist will quickly turn from approval and amazement into worship. The Antichrist will encourage and demand this worship. Paul speaking of the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 writes, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, NASB95)[5] John goes on to say that not only will the deceived unbelievers worship the beast, the Antichrist, but they will worship the dragon, Satan because he gave his authority to the beast. By worshiping the Antichrist, those who dwell on the earth will actually be worshiping Satan, the real power behind the Antichrist.
As they worship the Antichrist, they will cry out in awe, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” (Revelation 13:4b, NASB95)[6] The implied answer to these two questions is “No one!” But this is language that is reserved for the worship of God alone, by using this language the worshipers of the beast make him a god. The Antichrist will then reign supreme and unchallenged by earth, he will be the ultimate authority in the political, military, and religious realms.
HIS VANITY (Revelation 13:5-6)
The Antichrist, like Satan will be a great blasphemer. A blasphemer is one who curses God, and makes little of God, who denies the true God and sets up himself or others as gods. The phrase: “There was given to him…” refers to God’s sovereign control of the events. God will allow the Antichrist to blaspheme and give full vent to the wickedness that will cover the earth at that time. Daniel spoke of the arrogant words spoken by the little horn; this arrogance and blasphemy will surpass that of anyone else in human history. The Antichrist will be the mouthpiece of Satan, he will speak Satan’s frustrated rage against God.
Yet neither the Antichrist’s blasphemies, nor his reign of terror will go unchecked, God will grant him 42 months (the last 3½ years of the tribulation) then he will be cut off, he will be stopped, he will be destroyed. Satan and the Antichrist will only be allowed to act in the time limit set for them by the true Sovereign of the universe.
During those 42 months the Antichrist will speak with such contempt and hatred against God, even denying His existence and the existence of Jesus Christ. Such blasphemy as has never been heard on the earth. The Antichrist will blaspheme the very name of God by taking it for himself and speak blasphemy against His tabernacle, which John explains is those who dwell in heaven, denying the church which had been caught up to God before any of this began, he will deny it very existence and give some lame excuse for the disappearance of so many people. But this will only go on for 1260 days and then the end will come.
HIS ACTIONS (Revelation 13:7)
Verse 7 again reminds us that God is sovereignly in control of the events on earth and the Antichrist can do only what God permits him to do. Because the saints refuse to worship the beast, he will unleash his fury on them. God will allow him to make war with the saints and overcome them. Believers during the tribulation time, especially during the last 3½ years will bear the brunt of the Antichrist murderous wrath. The result will be a worldwide slaughter of God’s people.
Daniel had predicted this widespread martyrdom of God people long ago when he wrote that the Antichrist would wear down the saints of the Highest One. This terrible persecution will begin at the midpoint of the tribulation, when the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and sets himself up as god in the temple in Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
This persecution will solidify his hold on the world and God will give into his hand the authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation. They will submit to his rule and worship him as god, or die.
HIS FOLLOWERS (Revelation 13:8-10)
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him…” (Revelation 13:8a, NASB95)[7] We have seen this phrase, “All who dwell on the earth…” before in Revelation and it is always a phrases that refers to the unbelievers, those who have rejected Christ and His offer of salvation, and here we see that they have chosen the Antichrist as their savior, and thy worship him. John makes clear for us here that all who dwell on the earth are unbelievers, because he qualifies it for us by stating that this is “everyone whose name has not been written from the foundations of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”(Revelation 13:8b, NASB95)[8] Unbelievers, those whose names have not been recorded in the book of life, will in the end perish. Paul writes in the second half of 2 Thessalonians 2:10 why they will perish, he writes they will, “…perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10b, NASB95)[9]
Seven times in the New Testament believers are identified as those whose names are written in the Book of Life. The Book of Life is a registry in which God has written the names of those chosen for salvation before the foundation of the world. The Antichrist can take the physical life of a believer, but he cannot destroy a believer’s saving faith and eternal life. Jesus promised in the beginning of this book, “‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5, NASB95)[10] Since before the foundations of the earth were laid, believers have been in the keeping power of God, they will continue to be in His keeping power after the destruction of the Antichrist’s kingdom and the establishment of the new heaven and the new earth.
Did you know as a believer in Jesus Christ you are doubly secure? John tells us that the Book of Life belongs to the Lamb that was slain. Not only are we chosen and written in this book before the foundations of the earth were laid, but the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross seals the redemption of God’s chosen forever. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:18-19, “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18–19, NASB95)[11] Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ during the tribulation, agreeing with God that they are sinners, helpless to do anything to change their condition, but believing that Jesus Christ died for their sins, paying the penalty required for sin, that He was buried, and three days later rose form the dead, these the Antichrist may kill, but he cannot destroy their faith or their eternal life in Christ.
This amazing vision of the beast from the sea ends with a call for spiritual understanding. The warning call we have heard before in this book, “He who has an ear, let him hear…” John is about to impart to us, but more importantly to the believers during the tribulation an important truth. The fact that the phrase “what the Spirit says to the churches” is omitted suggests that the church is not in view in this passage, having been raptured before the start of the tribulation.
John imparts this important truth with a proverb: “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed.” (Revelation 13:10a, NASB95)[12] This proverb contains important practical truth for those believers living during the time of the persecution by the Antichrist. They are not to try and take things into their own hands, for God has permitted Satan and the Antichrist this time, if anyone tries to take captive and oppose the Antichrist and his followers, the opposer will go into captivity, if anyone seeks to oppose him with deadly force, he will be killed. In other words, the believers at that time are to depend on God’s sovereignty and not take matters into their own hands.
John says that this dependence on God’s sovereignty is the perseverance and the faith of the tribulation saints. Stand strong, keep the faith, God is keeping you even if that keeping is through martyrdom.
CONCLUSION:
So, what do we take away from this message? First, that God never releases His control on the earth, He remains sovereign always. It may seem that Satan and the Antichrist are ruling unchecked in the world, but they can only go as far as God will permit them and only as long as God will permit them. He is and always will be the Supreme Ruler of the universe. It is His creation, it all belongs to Him and He will control all the events to being about His ultimate glory.
Second, have you received the salvation that God is offering? Is your name written in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain? Is it doubly secure? Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose from the dead. Do you believe this and that it is this and only this that will make you right before God, and ensure that you will be in heaven someday? If you are trusting in anything else, in anything that you are doing, it can never make you right before God, only Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection can remove the stain of sin and make you able to enter into the presence of God.
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[8]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[9]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[10]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[11]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[12]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995