Revelation 13-17

Chapter 13:

Verses 1-10: Beast from the sea

What are the basics that we can take from the text?

First, vs 2, this beast takes his authority from the dragon (Satan)

Second, it stands in opposition to the people of God

Third, its power is limited in time to 42 months.

What are some similarities to details we’ve seen before?

2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 LSB

whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

It’s also similar to what can be seen of the opposition in Daniel:

Those texts deal with worldly powers and governments and there doesn’t seem to be any reason to take this in a different light:

So What is the Point?

The previous chapter showed us Satan directly trying to challenge the Lamb and being defeated every time

To try and make up for his defeat, he turns to attacking the people of the Lamb

This chapter goes into further detail in describing the conflict as the worldly powers, under the influence of Satan, attempt to oppose and oppress the saints.

Verses 11-18: The Beast from the Earth

What are the basics that we can take from the text?

This is a second beast, but it is not an independent beast.

First, it exercises the first beast’s authority in its presence (vs 12)

It is only an extension of the first beast, which is in turn a lackey of the dragon, Satan.

Compare vs 14-15 with what we can read in:

2 Thessalonians 2:4 LSB

who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God.

The purpose of this beast is to lead people away from faithfulness to the Lamb and have them to place their trust and devotion in the first beast.

What’s the Point?

On a very basic level this is a reflection of what we see in every era.

The powers of the earth, although placed in their positions by God, often fall under the influence of Satan:

The people of God, although they have ample reasons to remain faithful to Him, often struggle with the temptation of looking to earthly powers for stability and prosperity rather than trusting in the Lord.

Within context, it seems fairly safe to identify the Roman empire as the sea beast, and the pressures to conform and compromise to Roman religion as the earth beast.

What is the Mark of the Beast?

It is simply the reverse of what we see for the people of the Lamb: They are identified and claimed by God.

These have compromised so that they may prosper on the earth and are identified and claimed by Satan.

Chapter 14:

Verses 1-6:

Who are the 144,000?

We already know from chapter 7 that this is merely a symbolic figure of all the people of the Lamb.

In the same way that chapter 6 showed great devastation, but the Saints would be able to persevere, Chapter 13 shows the forces of Satan assaulting the Church, and once again we are shown a picture of the saved.

So we should expect to see a picture of triumph:

Verses 7-13:

Another call to repentance: The beast has fallen, you don’t have to fall with it.

Verses 9-10 look ahead to the next chapter when the 7 bowls of wrath will be handed over to the 7 angels:

But first, there is another picture of judgment:

There are three angels and one Special Being, two who reap and two who call.

This is a different harvest than what the Lord spoke of to His disciples.

The produce brought in here is the wicked (Like the basket of figs)

That it is a judgment scene is clear from vs 20.

Chapter 15

Verses 1-4:

Back to the picture of the Lamb:

First, notice that there is a subtle shift in the image of vs 2:

Earlier the sea of glass served as a means of separation that emphasized God’s holiness:

Here the saints are standing on the sea singing the new song referenced earlier in the book.

What does it mean by “the last” and the “wrath of God is finished…?”

In the immediate context, we’d be speaking of the final acts of judgment on whatever world power is under consideration: Here, seemingly being Rome.

However, we should always point out that any time there is an immediate judgment, there are truths that point to what will happen in a final judgment:

But here, the enemies of the Church are shown to be finished, while the saints, even those who have lost their lives, are shown to be celebrating.

In this sense, the book really is just repeating this one message over and over.

Verses 5-8:

Sinai, Tabernacle, Temple, Ezekiel

These angels have taken council with Yahweh in the inner sanctum;

They no go out to execute His judgment

Barring of entry mirrors OT imagery

Leviticus 16:2 LSB

And Yahweh said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, so that he will not die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:17 LSB

“Now when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.

Chapter 16:

Verses 1-3

The voice of God calls out from the sanctuary: It answers all the blasphemy and great boasts that have been coming from Rome:

The bowls mirror what we saw with the trumpets, only now, they are complete:

Zephaniah 1:2–4 LSB

“I will completely end all things From the face of the ground,” declares Yahweh. “I will end man and beast; I will end the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the ground,” declares Yahweh. “So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,

Verses 4-7

What you see is God punishing Rome from every angle:

Yes, here there is a poetic aspect to the nature of the whole thing, they must drink blood after they poured out the blood of the prophets.

But just like Egypt got pummeled in every way imaginable, so to would God’s judgment come on this nation.

Verse 7 is what should stand out in particular.

Verses 8-11

It matters not what they may experience, they will not repent; they blasphemed

Verses 12-16

The Euphrates is spoken of as we saw in chapter 9 as a place where military might launches out.

But now, as is His habit, God dries up the rivers for the coming of the kings of the east (more on this in chapter 19)

But this is a picture of the forces of Satan clashing with the forces of the Lamb

Verses 17-21

It is done.

Chapter 17: Read 9-15: