<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" The Two Beasts (13:1-18) INTRODUCTION 1. In chapter twelve, John described visions that serve as a transition between... a. Earlier visions that depicted judgment upon unfaithful Jerusalem - Re 6-11 b. Later visions that will depict judgment upon pagan Rome - Re 13-19 2. We interpreted the visions of chapter twelve as depicting Satan's failed attempts... a. To prevent Christ from being born on earth and beginning His reign from heaven - Re 12:1-5 b. To win the war in heaven with his angels against Michael and His angels - Re 12:7-12 b. To destroy the church in Palestine during the judgment upon unfaithful Jerusalem - Re 12:6,13-17a 3. Enraged by his defeats in heaven and in Palestine... a. Satan proceeds to make war with the rest of the woman's offspring b. Faithful Christians such as those in Asia Minor, to whom the book was written - Re 12:17b [Chapter thirteen introduces the forces and means by which Satan would use to try to destroy the church throughout the Roman empire, beginning with...] I. THE BEAST FROM THE SEA (1-10) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. The beast described - Re 13:1-3a a. Seen by John as rising up out of the sea b. Having seven heads, ten horns, ten crowns on his horns, and on his heads a blasphemous name c. Like a leopard with feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion d. His power, throne, and great authority given him by the dragon e. One of his heads was mortally wounded, but healed 2. The activity involving the beast - Re 13:3b-8 a. All the world marveled and followed the beast 1) Worshipping the dragon who gave authority to the beast 2) Worshipping the beast because of his apparent invincibility b. What the beast was given 1) A mouth speaking great things and blasphemies 2) Authority to continue (make war) for forty-two months c. With this authority: 1) He blasphemed God, His name, His tabernacle, and those dwelling in heaven 2) He was granted to make war with the saints and overcome them 3) He was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation 4) All who dwell on earth would worship him, unless their names are in the Book of Life of the Lamb 3. A note of caution - Re 13:9-10 a. If anyone has an ear, let him hear b. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword c. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints -- An awesome "beast from the sea"; to whom or what does it refer? B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. The identity of the beast from the sea becomes clearer when we get to chapter seventeen, but also by comparing the visions in the book of Daniel (chapters 2 & 7) 2. I agree with those who say this beast from the sea is the Roman Empire, personified in its persecuting emperors (such as Nero and Domitian) 3. The beast is described as having a head that was mortally wounded, which may allude to the fact Nero was already dead if the book was written in the spring of 70 A.D. - cf. Re 17:11 "the beast that was" 4. This beast would be granted authority to make war with the saints and overcome them - Re 13:7 5. The saints are warned to have patience and faith, and not to respond with warfare - Re 13:9-10 -- The "beast from the sea" is the Roman empire personified in its persecuting emperors [We are next introduced to...] II. THE BEAST FROM THE LAND (11-18) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. This beast described - Re 13:11 a. Seen by John as coming up out of the earth b. With two horns like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon 2. The activity of this beast - Re 13:12-17 a. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence b. He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast 1) Performing great signs, making even fire come down from heaven 2) Deceiving the world by the signs c. He tells the world to make an image to the first beast 1) To which he is granted power to give breath 2) So the image could both speak and cause those who do not worship it to be killed d. He causes all to receive a mark on the right hand or on their foreheads 1) Without which none can buy or sell 2) Which is the name of the beast, or the number of his name 3. A note of wisdom - Re 13:18 a. Let those with understanding calculate the number of the beast b. For it is the number of a man: His number is 666 -- A terrifying "beast from the land"; to whom or what does it refer? B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. The beast from the earth or land may represent the Roman Concilia a. A committee set up in Asia Minor where the seven churches were located to enforce emperor worship at the time the Revelation was given - Summers b. This they did by requiring a certificate that proved the bearer had been seen sacrificing to the idol of the emperor, without which one could not buy or sell in the marketplace - ibid. c. The "mark of the beast" likely refers to the certificate proving they had worshiped the emperor 2. The number 666 may represent Nero or simply the Roman emperor a. The significance of 666 should not be underestimated, as John encourages those with understanding to calculate the number b. Unfortunately, through many ingenuous and fanciful ways people have come up with the number to represent just about anyone (e.g., the Pope, Hitler, Ronald Reagan, etc.) c. Keeping the context of Revelation and its time in view, the number 666 may be a cryptogram referring to "Lateinos" (which in Greek can be calculated to 666); and in turn points to the ruler of the Latin or Roman empire - Schaff, History Of The Christian Church, Vol.1, p.177 d. In Hebrew the number can be calculated to mean "Neron Caesar" - David Clark, Jay E. Adams e. Taken more symbolically, the number may simply signify evil raised to its highest power as was the case in emperors like Nero and Domitian - Homer Hailey, Ray Summers -- The "beast from the land" is the Roman Concilia that promoted emperor worship, without which one could not get the certificate (the mark of the beast) to buy or sell CONCLUSION 1. In this chapter we learn the means by which Satan would try to destroy the church after failing to do so in Palestine... a. He would use the political and religious power of the Roman empire b. To enforce emperor worship and kill those who would not worship the emperor c. But Satan's power to deceive as he did would not last long ("forty- two months") - Re 13:5; 20:1-3 2. Who would not succumb to Satan's deception and worship the beast...? a. Those whose names were written in the Lamb's book of life - Re 13:8 b. I.e., those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb through their obedience to the gospel! c. Even though it may have meant martyrdom for them - cf. Re 13:7 In chapter fourteen, we will notice visions and proclamations that would encourage the saints in Asia Minor to remain faithful even unto death... - cf. Re 2:10 But how about us Christians today? Will we remain faithful to Christ should Satan again deceive the nations? - cf. Re 20:7-10<<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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