The Unholy Trinity of the Apocalypse

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 5 views
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Please turn to Revelation 13:11-18 as we consider The Unholy Trinity of the Apocalypse.
Over the last few weeks we have seen the dragon who was cast down to the earth, and the Beast from the Sea. Today we will look at the Beast from the Earth which completes what is often referred to as the unholy trinity.
The Holy Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three distinct persons who make up the One and Only Triune God. While each person in the Godhead is equal in essence, there is a divine hierarchy that is in place. God the Father is the head. The Son is in submission to the Father. And the Holy Spirit is in submission to the Son.
The unholy trinity is not anything like the Holy Trinity. In the first place, the second and third members of this evil trinity are human beings empowered by demons. The first person in the trinity is the fallen angel, Satan. Secondly, this unholy trinity does not have a righteous purpose or plan. Their purposes and plans are completely evil. Their intention is to take as many human beings to hell with them as they can manage. The only resemblance to the Holy Trinity is that the Antichrist, who is the second person of this unholy trinity, is in submission to Satan, while the False Prophet, the third person, is in submission to the Antichrist.
As we go through our text this morning we will look at the coming, appearance, role, image, and mark of the beast of the earth.
Let’s read our passage together.
Revelation 13:11–18 NASB 95
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Let’s look at

The Coming of the Beast

Look at verse 11.
Revelation 13:11 (NASB 95)
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth;
Notice first that this is a new vision, as indicated by the phrase then I saw which is the common marker in Revelation for a new vision.
Notice next that this second beast has something in common with the first beast. The term translated another means another of the same kind. They are of the same kind in that they are both human beings who are empowered by demons. And they have been prepared for this specific time and purpose.
Note that,
In Ancient Times Beasts from the Sea were Considered the Most Monstrous, so the Beast from the Earth was Considered to be Inferior to the Beast from the Sea
Remember that these two beasts are human — they are not angelic or divine beings of any kind. They are humans who are empowered by demons. Some believe that the Antichrist will be indwelt by Satan, the chief of demons. While that may be true, it doesn’t work with the moniker — the unholy trinity. But perhaps it is the moniker that is wrong.
While Jesus was on earth the miraculous works He performed were in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why He mentioned that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not find forgiveness. Our text seems to indicate that it is the False Prophet, rather than the Antichrist who will do miraculous things with the intention of deceiving the inhabitants of the earth.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection He instructed His disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. And after the supposed death and resurrection of the Antichrist we find the coming of the False Prophet who poses as a substitute for the Holy Spirit.
We’ve been looking at the coming of the Beast from the Earth. Let’s turn now to

The Appearance of the Beast

Note that,
The Beast Does Not Come as a Conquering Dictator, But on the Surface Appears as a Subtle Deceiver, with Meekness and Gentleness, Though not Without Great Authority
Look at verse 11 again.
Revelation 13:11 NASB 95
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.
While the first beast appears to be ferocious and scary, the second beast appears as harmless as a lamb. When my son, Tim, and I were driving around Ireland we saw sheep everywhere we went — including in the middle of busy roads! These creatures certainly appear harmless (unless you have the misfortune to hit one with your car — I’m certain that would cause a great deal of harm to the car!). But sheep present a peaceful and pleasant scene — what artist call a pastoral scene.
Of course, this is part of the deception of this Beast. He seems peaceful and even righteous, but in truth he is wicked to the core.
So far we’ve looked at the coming and appearance of the Beast from the Earth. Let’s turn our attention to

The Role of the Beast

Note that,
This Beast of the Earth’s Primary Role is to Glorify the Beast of the Sea — the Antichrist
Just as the role of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, so the roles of the Beast of the Earth is to glorify the Antichrist. He does so through counterfeit signs and wonders.
This Beast from the Earth is referred to elsewhere as the false prophet. Like the Holy Spirit, whom this beast, seeks to emulate, the false prophet will not seek his own glory, but the glory of the first Beast — the Antichrist.
Jesus spoke of the way in which the Holy Spirit glorifies Him in
John 16:13–14 NASB 95
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Just as Christ spoke only those things which the Father gave Him to speak, so the Holy Spirit speaks at Christ’s initiative.
And a similar thing will be happening with the False Prophet. He will speak and perform things at the initiative of the Antichrist.
Look at verses 12.
Revelation 13:12 NASB 95
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
There is a reason why this first Beast is referred to as the Antichrist. That is because he seeks to imitate our Lord in various ways, even to the point of dying and being resurrected. Last week we saw that at the resurrection of the Antichrist most of the unbelieving world will be moved to worship him. And the False Prophet continues to promote the worship of this Beast from the Sea.
The False Prophet makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. It would appear that the False Prophet will force the inhabitants on the earth to worship the Antichrist. You have heard me state previously that the statement those who dwell on the earth, as it is found again in verse 14, refers to the wicked inhabitants of the earth, and not to the Tribulation Saints. Here, however, the expression is a little different. Thomas wrote that this expression found in verse 12 is broader in scope; it refers to all the inhabitants of the earth, both wicked and righteous. The Jews who have been hidden, and protected by God in the wilderness may be excluded from this broad group. That is because Satan and his hoard will not be able to touch them since they are under the refuge of God. But the rest of the Tribulation Saints will face the judgment of the False Prophet for failing to worship the beast. Many will be imprisoned, and many will be martyred (see Rev 13:10).
How will the False Prophet force people to worship? First, many, if not most, of the wicked inhabitants of the earth will worship the Antichrist willingly; they will not need to be forced to do so. Second, the False Prophet will scare others into obedience through the exhibition of various signs and wonders. Look at verse 13.
Revelation 13:13 NASB 95
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
I’m going to run a bit of a rabbit trail here. Last week’s sermon on the Beast from the Sea was watched by over a hundred and fifty people on YouTube. And there was a comment by an individual that the Beast from the Sea is Donald Trump, and the Beast from the Earth is Elon Musk. I would not normally talk about the future president in a sermon, but since this person posted that comment on our YouTube page, I felt that it was important to mention. As many of you probably know, while I am happy that he was elected to be our next president, I have little tolerance for those who make Trump out to be some sort of Messiah. I pray that God will use him to lead our nation in a way that pleases God. But I do not ascribe the adoration to him that many of his followers do.
Now, there are various reasons why I don’t believe that this person is correct regarding Trump and Musk. First of all, the Antichrist will not be revealed until the church has been taken out of the world during the rapture. Second, most biblical scholars, who hold to a similar view of end-times as we do, believe that the Antichrist will either be European or Middle Eastern. (I will admit that I don’t see how they come up with this belief). Third, this person has an obvious bias against Donald Trump.
Let’s get back to our text. Look at Revelation 13:13 again. “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.”
This reminds me of Elijah on Mount Carmel calling fire down from heaven to consume his sacrifice. That must have been awe inspiring to those who saw it! Walvoord wrote, “People sometimes overlook the fact that, while God can do supernatural things, Satan within certain limitations can also perform miracles, and he used this power to the full in this situation to induce people to worship Satan’s substitute for Christ.” (John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 962.)
Let’s move on to look at

The Image of the Beast

Note that,
Antichrist, Aided by the False Prophet, will set up a Statue of Himself as a Symbol of his Deity and Worldwide Worship
Look at verse 14.
Revelation 13:14 NASB 95
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
The False Prophet will deceive the wicked inhabitants of the earth. But he will not deceive the elect.
You know how I have often referred to how God always preserves for Himself a remnant. It hit me this past week that in order for there to be a remnant during the Tribulation God will cause people, who have been in churches all their lives, who are familiar with the Bible and its teachings, to not come unto repentance until after the rapture of the church. They will then quickly realize what has occurred, and truly repent and believe the gospel, becoming what I refer to as Tribulation Saints. God will allow some of His future elect to live to see the horrors of the Tribulation in order to preserve for Himself a remnant, even during the darkest days of mankind.
Just as the Antichrist was given authority from Satan, so it is with the false Prophet. While God can always overrule the authority of Satan, often He chooses to allow the devil to do things which we consider to be unthinkable. But God always has a plan and a purpose. While God often thwarts Satan’s plans, Satan can never thwart God’s plans.
How will the False Prophet deceive people? With signs and wonders. Paige Patterson, in his commentary on Revelation, went on a side trial about signs and wonders. He wrote,
The susceptibility of “signs and wonders” to satanic appropriation and deceit, together with ample scriptural warnings, should render churches and Christians cautious of the motives and intentions of men but never skeptical of the power and purposes of God. What happens in Revelation 13 is powerful and persuasive deceit. Jesus says that even the elect are in danger of being deceived. To avoid such deceit, the following are essential:
1. Focus on Christ and his incarnation, atonement, and teaching.
2. Always determine the doctrinal positions of “miracle workers.” If they are in violation of Scripture at any point, reject them.
3. Be especially alert to “signs and wonders” that hinge on or involve the exchange of money or goods (2 Kgs 5:1–27; Acts 3:6).
4. Remember that regeneration, conversion to Christ, or the new birth is always the greatest miracle and the sure manifestation of the power of God.
5. When uncertain, always seek discernment from the biblical text and from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
6. Remember that the Scriptures teach that deceit and false miracles will increase as the world moves toward the eschaton.
Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 283.
Back to our text. The False Prophet will order the people to make an image of the Antichrist.
Amir Tsarfati noted, "Once the false prophet has them where he wants them, he’ll give them two tasks. First, make an image of the Antichrist. Second, worship it. It is here that the rule of the Antichrist moves from autocracy to theocracy. No longer will he be content to be followed as a great man; he will now demand to be worshipped as the all-powerful god." (Tsarfati, pg. 163)
Regarding this image, some have thought it could be similar to the images of various Emperors being engraved on coins. Others think the image is more like the monstrosity that Nebuchadnezzar had built in Babylon. MacArthur thinks that “This blasphemous image will probably be set up on the temple grounds in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Thess. 2:4) and will be connected with the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15). It will be a tribute to the awesome power of Antichrist, who had the wound of the sword and has come to life (cf. vv. 3, 12), to seemingly conquer death.” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 61.)
Look at verse 15.
Revelation 13:15 NASB 95
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
This sounds like something out of a Steven Spielberg movie with all of the pyrotechnics. But it will not be fantasy or fiction. It will be really happening. Whether it is manmade as in pyrotechnics, or actually given life is not clear.
Let’s move on to consider

The Mark of the Beast

Look at verse 16.
Revelation 13:16 NASB 95
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
Note that,
The Mark will Signify that the Person Bearing it is a Worshiper and Loyal Follower of the Antichrist
People have been intrigued by the mark of the beast for centuries. What will this mark look like? The Bible doesn’t tell us. The only things we know for certain about this mark is that it will be mandatory for every person who lives on the earth. Failure to receive the mark will bring great peril to a person and their family. We also know from our text that the mark will be either on the right hand or on the forehead.
I can’t help but to remember back during the days in which most things were shut down due to COVID-19. When you walked into a doctor’s office or hospital they would scan your forehead to see if you had a fever. If you had a fever … well, I never did, so I don’t know what happened if you did.
Then there were those who thought that the COVID vaccine was the mark of the beast. My dear aunt called me and asked about that. I assured her that the mark of the beast takes place after the rapture of the church. And since we are still here, it can’t be the mark of the beast.
Look at verse 17.
Revelation 13:17 NASB 95
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
The penalty for not receiving the mark of the beast is that you will face starvation. Government sanctioned starvation. Perhaps it will be explained to the public as a manner of population control since there will be such little food to go around due to the effects of the seal and trumpet judgments. More than likely, it will be explained to the general public that it is an act of judgment on those who committed civil disobedience for refusing to comply with the demands of the government. Of course we know that this government will be the most horrendous totalitarian government one can ever imagine.
I read a fictional book a few weeks ago about life during the Tribulation. This author talked a lot about what she referred to as the CBDC — Central Bank Digital Currency. This is something which is happening in the world as we speak. CBDC is a digital currency issued by a central bank, rather than by a commercial bank.
Some of the benefits of such a banking system are that it improves cross-border payment, increases financial inclusion, promotes diversity in payment options, makes economies more resilient to digitization, and supports the international role of the dollar.
Some of the challenges are that it offers less privacy protection than cash, and allows a party in power to weaponize the financial system. Let me repeat that last phrase: it allows a party in power to weaponize the financial system. I don’t know about you, but I find that very alarming. Several countries are already using such a system. The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria have fully launched this system. Thirteen other countries are in the pilot stage, and sixty-six countries are in the advanced exploration stage. Our Federal Reserve has launched a pilot program that tests how banks can use digital dollar tokens to speed up payments.
On October 19, 2020, the General Manager of the Bank of International Settlements wrote this: “We don’t know who’s using a $100 bill today and we don’t know who’s using a 1,000 peso bill today. The key difference with the CBDC is the central bank will have absolute control on the rules and regulations that will determine the use of the expression of central bank liability, and also we will have the technology to enforce that.”
Our present world is ready for the implementation of the mark of the beast. I sure hope that means that the Lord is returning soon to call His people out of this world to meet Him in the air!
Look at verses 16-17 one more time.
Revelation 13:16–17 NASB 95
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Remember back in chapter 7 when the 144,000 were sealed with the mark of God to protect them from the wrath of God which is going to be poured out on mankind? Well, here, the great imitator will have his people sealed with the mark of the Antichrist to protect them from the wrath of Satan!
Let’s look at verse 18.
Revelation 13:18 NASB 95
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
When we bought our last house in Fort Kent, Maine, the mortgage company notified me that our payment would be $666 a month. I kindly asked them to increase it by a dollar a month to $667. Not that I am superstitious, but I just do not like that number — 666.
For the last 1,930 years people have been trying to figure out who is represented by the number 666. But in truth we will not figure out the meaning of the number until that time gets here. So, if we are correct in our understanding that the church will be raptured before the Tribulation, we will not be on the scene when this comes into play. But Tribulation Saints will be. And those who are wise will be able to understand who this number refers to.
MacArthur wrote, “The precise significance of the number 666 awaits the future time of the Antichrist, but it is noteworthy that the number is that of a man. Seven, the number of perfection, is God’s number. Since man falls short of perfection, his number is six. Man was created on the sixth day (Gen. 1:26–31); slaves were freed after six years of service (Ex. 21:2); fields were to be sown for only six consecutive years (Lev. 25:3). Repeating the number three times emphasizes that this is man’s number, just as the thrice-repeated statement “holy, holy, holy” stresses God’s absolute holiness (4:8; Isa. 6:3).” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 64.)
This morning we have been looking at the unholy trinity of the Apocalypse. Believers can take comfort in knowing that we will not be living on planet earth at that time, so we will not have to endures the horrors which will be the effect to this final totalitarian regime.
But unbelievers who are still living on earth will have to either survive or die during these coming horrors. Some unbelievers will finally come to faith as a result of the rapture, and the preaching of the 144,000, as well as the ministry of the two witnesses. But these will find themselves seeking to hide from the wrath of the Antichrist. That, or they will die as martyrs.
Since we do not know when all this will take place, the best prevention plan for unbelievers is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, right here, right now. Won’t you humble yourself and acknowledge that there is a God to whom you are accountable — He is the God of the Bible? Won’t you humble yourself and confess and repent of your sins against this God? Won’t you embrace Jesus Christ, and His redemptive work for your salvation?
Writing to the Corinthians Paul stated:
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NASB 95
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
He wrote to the Romans:
Romans 10:8–10 NASB 95
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Let’s pray.
Oh Great Thrice Holy God,
We bow before You, the Holy Three in One, thanking You for Your awesomeness, and authenticity. We have looked today at the unholy trinity which will come in the end-times seeking to mimic You, and deceive the world. This vision of how horrendous they will be, makes us appreciate You even more.
Lord, we seek to always and forever worship You, and only You. Lord, keep us from being deceived by the many false prophets who are already seeking to deceive us. Give us discernment and wisdom so as not to be deceived and led astray.
Lord, I pray for any hearing this message who have never repented of their sins and offenses against You, and have never embraced Jesus as their Savior, that this would be the day in which they do. May they be made alive in Christ this very day.
In His name I pray. Amen.

Closing Song: #780

Until Then
My hear can sing when I pause to remember — a heart-ache here is but a stepping stone — along a trail that’s winding always upward — this troubled world is not my final home.
But until then my heart will go on singing — until then with joy I’ll carry on — until the day my eyes behold the city — until the day God calls me home.
The things of earth will dim and lose their value — if we recall, they’re borrowed for a while — and things of earth that cause the heart to tremble — remembered there, will only bring a smile.
But until then my heart will go on singing — until then with joy I’ll carry on — until the day my eyes behold the city — until the day God calls me home.
This weary world with all its toil and struggle — may take its toll of misery and strife — the soul of man is like a waiting falcon — when its released, it’s destined for the skies.
But until then my heart will go on singing — until then with joy I’ll carry on — until the day my eyes behold the city — until the day God calls me home.
Ephesians 3:20–21 CSB
Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.