5/22/2024 - The Antichrist

Revelation 13:1-10

We have been walking through the book of The Revelation.

God’s wrath has been opened up on the earth with judgments.

We have looked at the seven seal judgments, we have looked at the seven trumpet judgments, and seven bowls that are poured out.

The 7 Seals and 7 trumpet judgments take place during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.

The 7 bowls are introduced in chapter 15.

So in our study right now we are in between the trumpet and bowl judgments.

In chapter 12 we saw an explanation of God’s redemptive plan through “a woman” and “a child”.

We were also introduced to the opposition to the plan by the “dragon,” “the beast of the sea”, and the “beast out of the earth.”

Here in chapter 13 we see more about the dragon while being introduced to two beasts.

One that rises up out of the sea, and one that rises out of the earth.

The references to the first beast are references to the Antichrist and his kingdom.

There is a great parallel between this beast in Revelation 13 and the one found in Daniel 7.

In Daniel 7, several beasts were utilized to describe coming kingdoms.

This passage then describes the end time king and his kingdom.

We kinda gave an introduction to the Antichrist the last time we studied Revelation, and now we continue on here in Chapter 13.

The second beast, the beast that comes from the earth, we will look at next week…the False Prophet.

Some people may dismiss the book of Revelation as mere “stories”, some believe that it is all symbolism...yet we believe that all scripture is given by “inspiration of God.”

There will be a one-world leader who will be the opposite of Christ.

His policies are gaining momentum, and while we do not know this, he may be alive today.

I. The Description of the Beast

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

This is a man who bears all the characteristics of Satan.

a visible expression of the invisible devil

A. His Origin

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

“Out of the sea” represents a hybrid of characteristics from the Mediterranean region.

Seven heads

Some believe that this is the kings of the revived Roman empire.

Some believe that it just shows his authority over all the kingdoms of the earth.

10 Horns (like Satan of chapter 12) - representing the world kingdoms that will give him power.

(Corresponds with the ten toes of Daniel's vision in Daniel 2)

B. His Place in Prophecy

2a And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion...

This takes us back to Daniel's vision - Daniel 7:6-7

Daniel 7:6–7 KJV

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

The Lion symbolized the empire of Babylon,

the bear the Medo Persian empire,

and the leopard symbolized Greece,

a fourth nondescript beast represented the Roman Empire

The Beast will have an appetite for conquest like the empires of old.

So, the Antichrist may arise, as some believe, out of the revived Roman Empire which could be rapidly being formed today.

But it could also just be the group of world nations and leaders, like the EU

But the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about a revived Roman empire - just that it will be a group of nations and leaders who will give this beast his power.

However there is a non-profit group, formed by world leaders and intellectuals whose desire is to discuss and formulate plans for pressing global issues.

This group has put together a program to divide the whole world in to ten world divisions or empires.

This sounds familiar.

But the Bible does say…VVVVVV

“And through his policy also he shall cause craft (deceipt, fraud) to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace (this is not shalom - prosperity, quietness, it indicates ease, a lack of anxiety.)shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” Jesus doesn’t even need to raise a hand against him.

Daniel 8:25 KJV

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

C. His Power

2b ... and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

His power comes from Satan himself.

Religious power - he feigns an interest in the false church Which God calls the Great Whore in Revelation 17

We see the platform for false religion today in the World Counsel of Churches and even the New Age Movement, including a great interest in the last decade in supernatural beings.

Political and Technological Power - globalism is the key doctrine of the day.

The source of his power is the devil himself.

And he will deceive the world

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

He will be gaining power and influence all during the Tribulation, but his power peaks between the trumpet and bowl judgments.

And the preparations are being done today for the world to accept this power.

D. His Death and Resurrection

The wounding of the beast is mentioned three times in this chapter: verses 3, 12 and 14.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Again, sometime at the middle of the tribulation, the Antichrist will be fatally wounded.

God will allow him to be resurrected and the world will literally worship him.

Many believe that this will be the moment that Satan will indwell the Antichrist.

II. The Defiance of the Beast

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Satan has long been the author of blasphemy against God.

As I said many scholars believe that since Satan is cast out of heaven in chapter 12, he will literally indwell the body of the Antichrist.

Thus, he will be, finally, an object of worship.

The Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God and even sit in the temple in Jerusalem during the Tribulation.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 KJV

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Then the Antichrist will declare that he is God and demand worship from the Jews in their own temple, therefore breaking the pact he had with their nation.

If this is when the Devil enters into the Antichrist to control him, it no wonder that this is the time that his blasphemy increases.

Where before he was influenced by satan, now the Antichrist may be indwelled by him.

We see first he has a...

A. Blasphemous Mouth

We ought to be careful with the use of God's name.

The Antichrist blasphemes God, His name, his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.

If you are not careful you may miss yet another great proof text for a pre tribulational rapture.

We read right over the this last few words.

But those who dwell in heaven (the word dwell is the verb form as the word translated tabernacle in this verse) Those who dwell, pitch a tent.

This is the church who has been raptured to the air - it is a temporary place of dwelling - we are not going to stay there!

We are going to come back to earth for the 1,000 year reign of Christ and then forever dwell with God in the New Earth.

But the Antichrist is blaspheming God, his very name, his tabernacle and the Christians who have disappeared.

B. Blasphemous Religion

Isaiah 14 Satan said, “I will ascend to the most high.”

Satan will literally set up the Antichrist as a god to worship.

He wants to be worshipped as if he were God.

The Antichrist sets himself up as god in the temple and persecutes anyone that doesn't worship him.

2 Thess 2:4 speaks of the Antichrist as one ...

2 Thessalonians 2:4 KJV

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

So, the Antichrist will be the one that all these false religions and cults have been looking for,

the future Buddha (Maitreya) of Buddhism,

they believe he will come and reestablish the religion on the earth.

They believe he will come back to earth to preach the dharma (law)

the Mahdi of Islam

they believe will fill the earth with justice and equity,

restore true religion

and usher in a short golden age of seven years before the end of the world…sound familiar

and even the seeming still coming Messiah of Israel.

Many more false religions have a messiah concept in their religion that will be fulfilled by this one leader - the Antichrist.

For a few years, Satan’s desire for all time will be fulfilled…he will be worshiped.

III. The Dominance of the Beast

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

A. He Wars with the Saints

7a And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them...

This would be the Jews and Gentiles that wouldn't take the mark of the beast.

This will be the greatest anti-Christian, anti-Semitic crusade in world history.

Death chambers and prison camps may abound on earth once again during this time, all in the name of world peace.

But Revelation 20:4 tells us they will be beheaded for not receiving the mark of the beast.

B. He Has Power over the Nations

7b …and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Today, the world is prepared for a one world government.

Many men today believe that the way to solve world wars is by way of a world government, and that is the exact platform the Antichrist will seize upon.

The one world government will finally be established during the tribulation.

The old Roman world will be his base, but he will dominate the globe.

C. He Is Worshiped by the World

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The life and death matter of verses 1-8 is so important that God repeats the warning He so often presented to the seven churches.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Beware! Listen! Take this seriously!

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

This is the principle of God...

Galatians 6:7 KJV

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

We will see that the Antichrist, like Nebuchadnezzar of old, will set up an image of worship.

All whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will worship the false Christ.

The Lamb's Book of Life is a book where a man's name is written when he chooses to accept Christ as Savior.

Revelation 21:27 KJV

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Conclusion

Although the Antichrist will have a blasphemous tongue and great power, we can take comfort in the fact that the saved from this church age will have been raptured from the earth by this time.

Additionally, during the tribulation there will be 144,000 Jewish witnesses for Christ reaching a great multitude.

Revelation 7:4–9 KJV

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Thus, even though nations and peoples will reject Christ, individuals will receive Him.

So....Who is the Antichrist - we don’t know.

But as one pastor said many years ago, “We shouldn’t be looking for the Antichrist, we should be looking for Jesus Christ.”