Revelation 13

MPS

MPT: Satan is making war on God’s offspring. He is behind the scenes using humans and governments to destroy God’s people either by assimilation or assassination. Faithfully endure, for the lamb has sealed us, shepherds us and is sovereign over all.

Problems then:

The Roman Government under Nero kicked off the heavy persecution of Christians which would go on to last two centuries. Nero used the christians as scapegoats for the great fire, then went on to destroy them. They were an easy target seeing as they were already seen as atheists and cannibals.

Domitian was persecuting Christians and attempting to pressure them into abandoning faith in Jesus and to bend the knee to Cesar and the Roman gods. Domitian insisted he be called “Dominus et Deus” meaning, “Lord and God”

People in the empire were often expected to demonstrate loyalty by offering sacrifices to the emperor or his image. a culture of emperor worship was quickly forming. the results were simple: the Christians who did not comply were made targets for punishments- their property ceased, their business licenses revoked, their liberties removed and sometimes, even their heads.

What was going on in the kingdoms of the world? What was happening in politics and culture that would lead them to suffer so much? They were being attacked, the war is not against flesh and blood, so how do they understand their world and the fight?

Satan, has named himself God, and attempted to usurp God’s place and authority.

His image is incarnate in the world through tyrannical kings and kingdoms who believe themselves gods

he wills all to worship him- either assimilate or be assassinated

-all fall except the elect

“call for endurance”

The whole earth marveled

The whole earth will worship it

Assimilation and assassination

earth dwellers and heaven dwellers

Problems now:

We live in an era of wars over philosophies- communism, capitalism, socialism, fascism, liberalism, conservatism,

There is no home in the world for Christians until christ returns

many christians dwell under intense pressures and persecution

in turkey, Qatar and Iraq- death. Assassination

in the USA, Canada, Mexico we live under the pressure of assimilation

-politics that insist you leave behind your religion when participating

-churches that fall under the pressure of political ideologies and abandon the word of God

-science being at odds with religion (God is dead)

-etc.

Why? Why can’t it be easy?

I’m scared, that under more pressure i would give in

I want to avoid war, conflict and be comfortable

I don’t like conflict, why can’t we just accept the new way of doing things, or be a little less christian?

Christians nowadays are ignorant of what is happening outside their materialist bubble:

-but satan is coming at us full throttle

Good news:

God shepherds his people from Satan in Jesus Christ. he is the good shepherd and he has sealed us by his blood (lamb)

God Seals his people from Satan (by giving us the holy spirit)

no matter what Satan does, God’s people are secured and sealed

Jesus has shown us our home is with him, not on Earth

Jesus has sealed us- we are his forever

intro:

Hello. I’m Pastor Taylor

Guests/members

Between two worlds

[ILL: military story. After Pearl Harbor the US formally declared war on the Axis powers. It was phrased in newspapers that Japan and Germany had just “woken a sleeping giant.” meaning, The US had not been directly involved in the war until that point. But now, that had all changed. the US was going to strike back at full force and put lots of boots on the ground. The generals and politicians on every front got together to discuss the next steps:

What will the Americans do? How will they do it? Who will they send? What’s our plan?]

Essential questions in battle

Last week: Know the plans of Satan.

a look at what is happening behind the scenes of human history and biblical history. we are at war, caught in a cosmic battle between good and evil. God and Satan. God has defeated Satan in heaven by shedding his blood for us

Satan (the Dragon) is thrown down to Earth where he plans to wage war against God’s offspring (those who worship the Lamb who was slain, Jesus Christ the Son of God.)

This week:

How will he attack?

Who will he send?

What will we do?

- Know Satan’s strategies

the beast from the sea

-Know Satan’s servants

-The beast from the land

-Know our hope and defense in the middle of it

“Call to endurance”- v10c very middle of text. main point and bridge

MPS

P1: Know Satan’s Strategies

[READ vv1-8]

out of the sea

after the dragon

water breather, not a fire breather (V12:15)

(v12:17) He stood on the sand of the sea.

(Land and sea) = the whole world.

offspring

crazy looking- who or what is it?

Daniel 7

Kingdoms of the greeks, persians, medes, etc

alliance made between the dragon and human kingdoms

“Power, throne and great authority” by the dragon

Exercises the authority of the dragon Blasphemes God’s name, dwelling, people

“We are gods”

“God is dead”

“Heaven is a lie and a joke”

“People who follow Jesus are gullible old-fashioned fools

counterfits:

Dragon counterfeits God the Father

how like Satan! The one who disguises himself as the Angel of Light, to also disguise himself as the true God, the savior of the world

The Beast of the Sea counterfeits God the Son

The beast of the Land counterfeits God the Spirit

imitation of Christ

resurrection

follow the beast, worship the dragon

Teach and lead the nations

Rule nations, great multitude before his throne

Earth dwellers and heaven dwellers

Follow Jesus, worship the Father

MPS

P2: Know Satan’s Servants

[READ vv11-18]

From the Earth

Looks like a lamb, speaks like a dragon

exercises the authority of the 1st Beast

antichrist

“In the place of or against christ”

4 meanings

Evil Empire or Political Power (Rev 13, 17)

Egypt, Babylon, Nazi Germany, Rome, The Catholic church for much of time not pro-christ, but anti-christ

A Past and present spiritual force and presence. “the spirit of this age” (1 John 4:3)

today. Christians are old fashioned, gullible people who worship a dead guy. (thats not pro-christ, that is antichrist)

literal persons who are forerunners or “types” of the ultimate antichrist (1 John 2:18) men and women who set themselves in the place of Christ and do everything in their power to silence God.

Nebachadnezzar of Babylon

Jezabel- the midianite sorceress

Nero and Domitian- Cesars of Rome around the time Revelation was written and distributed to the churches

Hitler- tried to replace the church with Nazi preachers, hitler youth groups and an Arian bible

Stalin and Mau- communist party leaders who outlawed christianity, making the official religion Communist State Worship. Along the way they killed many millions of Christians

the final and climactic embodiment of Satanic power and opposition to God. (2 Thess 2:3-8, Rev 13, 17)

imitation of Christ and his Church

Satan is trying to tell God’s story himself. Trying to be God

Marks of the beast:

Great signs

deceives

appears to give life to a dead image

seals people

We are all worshippers

“The whole Earth worshipped the image”

Many of us don’t think of ourselves as worshippers.

Some say, I’m not religious

Is a man

copying and perverting the Gospel of Jesus

anti-christ

P3: Know What to do

[READ v8-10]

The lamb shepherds his people

The lamb seals his people

The lamb is sovereign in all

Isaiah 33:1 (ESV)

Ah, you destroyer,

who yourself have not been destroyed,

you traitor,

whom none has betrayed!

When you have ceased to destroy,

you will be destroyed;

and when you have finished betraying,

they will betray you.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints

conclusion: