Called to Endurance and Faith.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Faith and endurance are practiced by having the right perspective, not just in the big things, but in the mundane. We must see Jesus’ victory in the minutia. It is then that we have the proper perspective on the whole of life’s valleys and mountain tops. The valleys are the hardest to keep proper perspective on, for they are caused by the chaos of the devil, his angels and his children of wrath. Yet God, through Jesus, redeems every valley.
Romans 5:1-5 Reminds us of our proper perspective of this life.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Church, “Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control:
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
Revelation 13 is the consummation of chaos in Scripture. Satan, the Lord of Chaos, will be allowed to fulfill his plan of placing himself as God, through his dominance over the world, causing all to worship him as an unholy trinity.
He is a counterfeiter and in this consummation of his chaos, he counterfeits the Trinity and the mark / seal of Yahweh. God, in his great wisdom, allows this to happen as part of his judgement of the world and the refinement of the saints.
So as we go through this chapter on the consummation of chaos, let us not have a spirit of fear, for we have victory in Jesus, our Saviour forever.
The OT background for Revelation 13 is found in Job 40:15-24; 41; and Daniel 7, especially in the Septuagint translation of the OT, which is the translation John is working from. Behemoth from the earth, and Leviathan from the sea are chaos symbols in the OT and will be destroyed in the Day of the Lord. The beast from the sea is a compilation of all four beasts of Daniel 7.
Good news, Church! These beasts are all destroyed; neither chaos nor the Lord of Chaos reign. And Jesus redeems all things.
Church, “Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control:
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
Revelation 13:1.
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
The Futurist interprets the beasts as the revived Roman empire, lead by the Antichrist. The Preterist interprets the beasts as the Roman empire, with Nero as the Antichrist.
The Idealist interprets the beasts as the consummation of chaos that has been acting in creation since the fall of spiritual beings, of whom Satan takes center stage, in which humanity is participating.
What is the significance of the beast rising out of the sea?
The sea is a symbol of chaos and the place of the dead in the OT. The Lord of Chaos’ servant rises from the sea; in Revelation 11:7 he is said to rise from the abyss. These location are one in the same as illustrated by Exodus 20:4 in the terminology of the water under the earth.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
What is the significance of the ten horns?
Daniel 7:24 says that the ten horns represent ten kings. It does not name them. We just know that there are ten kings. It is not profitable to the church to speculate on the identity of these kings. Only God knows who these ten kings are. Let us not waste time in speculation, and instead focus on knowing that God is faithful and will mold us is this life for the next.
What is the significance of the seven heads?
According to Revelation 17:9-10 they are the seven mountains that the great prostitute is seated upon. They are also seven kings. This, paired with the fourth beast of Daniel 7:15-28 points to the kingdom of Rome. Which Rome depends on the lens you are wearing.
What is the significance of the ten diadems on its horns?
Diadem is a transliteration of the Greek word for a king’s crown - a crown of ruling, a crown of power. It is in contrast to a victor’s crown, known as a stephanos in the Greek.
What is the significance of blasphemous names on its heads?
These kings are totally opposed to God and his plan and will actively work against God.
But there is good news - there is victory in Jesus.
Revelation 17:14.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 13:2.
2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.
John here takes all four beasts of Daniel 7 and makes a chimera of the beast from the sea. The leopard in Scripture speaks of swiftness, stealth, and ambush (Habakkuk 1:8: Hosea 13:7; Jeremiah 5:6). The bear in Scripture speaks of fierce strength (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8). The lion’s mouth in Scripture speaks of devouring its prey (Ezekiel 22:25; Daniel 6:21-24).
The beast’s power comes from Satan, that dragon of old. The beast acts on behalf of him.
Church, who has more power? - Jesus.
So may we say to our souls.
“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
Revelation 13:3-4.
3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
This is Satan counterfeiting Christ’s death and resurrection with his own. The world worships Satan, but we will not fall for the lies of the enemy, for we are aware of his schemes and stand in God’s armor Ephesians 6:11. For God can beat the beast every day. We are more than conquers through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). https://youtu.be/A9gg-ntqRzQ?si=wWx5bFk-AOH346UK
Revelation 13:5-6.
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
The beast wages war with his mouth, like Leviathan in Job 41:19 who breaths fire. These fiery words are against God, against the heavenly hosts, and against his saints.
Revelation (2) The Beast out of the Sea (13:1–10)
The concept of blasphemy is more than failure to believe in God and endorse his programs and ways; it is active repugnance and open opposition to the Creator God.
However, his time to act in direct defiance is limited by God to forty-two months. Satan is on God’s time.
The Futurist interprets these forty-two months taking place at the last half of Daniel’s 70th week.
The Preterits interprets these forty-two months as taking place in the seige of Jerusalem which started in 66 A.D. and finished in 70 A.D.
The Idealist interprets these forty-two months as symbolizing the consummation of chaos and persecution of the church for an undefined amount of time.
Who’s time table is Satan on? He is on God’s.
Revelation 13:7.
7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
The word “allowed” is key to this verse. God allowed him to kill his saints. God allowed him to rule the whole earth as a judgement on it. It was allowed. This seems wrong if we value this life more than the next. However, death is not the end, but the gateway to victory - the victory of eternal life.
Pastor Chris Brooks quoted a dear congregant of his who was fighting cancer. This man’s prayer to God was “Lord, glorify yourself, even at my expense.” God is allowing the death of his saints for his glory.
It is my prayer for us all that we know what we have in Christ and want to live and die for his glory.
Revelation 13:8.
8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
For a study on the book of life listen to 8/16/2023. https://www.youtube.com/live/OuyR0-EAm6Y?si=w6WPKzsCLJbG8ys5
Who worships the beast? Those who are not God’s.
Who’s are you?
Can you declare this with me?
There's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
“A sinner has come home.”
For there's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven,
Never more to roam.
Revelation 13:9-10.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:
10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
John is using verse nine to call his readers to attention, for this phrase closes each of the letters to the churches.
So what are we to hear?
We are to hear that there is persecution and trial for the people of God. I know we cringe, but this has been the reality for Christians across the globe and since the conception of the people of God.
Let us then respond to the call of endurance and faith.
Revelation (2) The Beast out of the Sea (13:1–10)
Faith in the purposes and promises of God makes endurance possible. Endurance, on the other hand, is the sure, visible outworking of the inner faith that provides the impetus for obedience to God even under intractable circumstances.
Church, “Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control:
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
Revelation 13:11-12.
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
If one beast was not bad enough, there is a second beast who is known as the false prophet. This beast, like Behemoth in Job 42, comes from the land.
It is like the Lamb, but is not the Lamb, for he speaks lies like the father of lies.
Matthew 7:15.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Revelation 13:13-14.
13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
The false prophet’s goal is to deceive the world into worshiping the Antichrist, who is the first beast. He does this with signs and wonders.
He tells them to make an image of the first beast, breaking the second commandment (Exodus 20:4).
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Revelation 13:15.
15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
Habakkuk 2:19.
19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.
The OT sees idols as lifeless, with no breath. Here, the false prophet goes a step further and gives the image breath for speech.
He then slays those who will not worship the image of the beast. This, of course, brings us back to Daniel 3, where Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not worship the image and were throne into the fiery furnace. Church, who met them in the furnace? Jesus met them.
Church, he will meet you in the trial.
“Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
‘As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,’
This the pledge to me He made.”
Revelation 13:16-18.
16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
For a study on the mark of the beast, listen to Wednesday Study on 10/11/2023. https://www.youtube.com/live/hBQJeiKP3I8?si=BWEbDssgBBq6Kxqc
The false prophet caused the beast followers to be marked. Here, he is counterfeiting the mark and seal that Yahweh has placed on his own. If you have the mark of Yahweh, the seal of the Holy Spirit, you cannot take on the mark of God’s enemy, for you are God’s, and not the enemy’s.
Christians then, followers of Jesus, will not be able to participate in society, the buying and selling of goods. I spent most of the day Friday buying goods. In the last half of the tribulation that will not be happening, for it will be time of persecution and oppression. Praise God that is not the totality of the Christian life. May we keep perspective and tell our souls:
“Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
May we all declare, “What ever my lot, I live for God’s glory, and it is well with my soul.”