Glimpse Of Glory

A Weaker Trinity Rises To Power

Text: Revelation 13

Introduction

We have looking into the last half of the 3.5 years of the tribulation period.

Our last message was giving us a panoramic view of the mega story of God’s redemption, Satan’s efforts to destroy Jesus, etc.

Remember, there is a story behind the story that is being revealed to us when we step outside our home and turn on the news. There is this continual battle over this one mountain in this one city. Isn’t that amazing! Why??? Satan truly is against everything God is and desires.

This is where we currently are in our series:

We are in the seventh trumpet.

We got a panoramic view of God’s mega story and learned that the dragon (Satan) is furious with the woman (Israel). Now we will witness a trinitarian attack on unbeliever and believer.

Chapter 13 engages the discussion of two means by which the dragon attempts to disrupt the work and worship of God and to inflict on his followers such hardship and sorrows as to cause them, if possible, to abandon allegiance to Christ or, at least in the case of unbelievers, to prevent their acquiescence to the gospel message. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 272.

Remember this as we unpack Satan’s false trinity: The true, holy, righteous, and living Trinity in Heaven will decimate Satan’s imitating trinity!!!

1) Satan Will Empower His False Messiah

Satan always counterfeits every true thing God has created.

From creation, humanity, etc,

The first half of this chapter that tells us of someone who will be giving power to create a global kingdom of false peace and order.

From Daniel, to Jesus, and through the Apostle Paul, there has been a declaration of a coming one world order which is created by the guy we understand to be the “Antichrist.”

Q — Maybe 100 years ago this was just far out there, but now? Is it really

John is going to give us a description of this individual.

A. The Antichrist will debut as a person and a national coalition (v1-2)

“Sea” = Gentile nations (chapter 17)

Out of the gentile nation rises this beast; this key figure.

Seven heads, ten horns, ten crown, and the name of blasphemy.

Remember, you have to ask yourself this question: If we were in first century Ephesus, how would we approach this description? You would go directly to the book of Daniel. (Daniel 6-7)

(Daniel) the seven heads are seven kings. Six have already come and gone, one is yet to come.

(Daniel)Ten horns are 10 nations who are yet to come.

Modern translators say this is a recovered Roman Empire (not the point)

Come to a world peace agreement like the UN.

(Daniel) Prophesied there would be four kingdoms

Babylon (lion), Persia (bear), Greece (Alexander the Great), Rome

Daniel gives us precise details about this imagery.

Daniel 7:3–7 “3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 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.”

Four beasts — (in order) lion, bear, leopard, a far more dreadful beast than all the previous ones.

The same beasts in Daniel 7 are mentioned in Daniel 2. It is in Daniel 2, Daniel explains to king Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom is represented by the image of gold. With that in mind, we can easily look at Gentile world history and see that Daniel and John are referring to the following powers: Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, future collation of ten kingdoms.

Daniel 7:8 “8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

We not only see the Antichrist as a wicked human, but also the leader of a coalition of 10 nations who rise up against all things a people of God.

Don’t miss what Satan once again is trying to do:

He is mimicking God’s future kingdom by building his own kingdom; the 10 nations both Daniel and John has spoke about.

Not trying to get ahead, but NEVER FORGET Who’s kingdom defeats the other…GOD’S KINGDOM!

B. The antichrist will issue global worship and amazement. (v3-

“one of his heads”

The Antichrist will show the world a fake resurrection.

The world at this time rejects the real resurrection, but accepts the fake one.

Notice verse 4:

“the world wondered after the beast” = a global impact of amazement (where we get our word enthusiasm).

“worshipped the dragon” = bowing down to signify deity.

This is exactly what the Devil has been after from the beginning of time.

We see his lust for power, wonder, and worship when he tempted Jesus Christ.

“Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” — He will have the entire world fooled

Illustration — (show pic of 2024 eclipse) It is amazing how so many will scoff at you and me when we say we are worshiping our great creator and risen savior but at the same time where the ones dancing outside having a mystical experience as they watch last years eclipse.

KEEP IN MIND…these are the same people who have witnessed God’s miraculous works, the two witnesses, etc, and yet they will stand in wonder and worship the beast; Antichrist.

C. The Antichrist will raise up a coalition of nations who will use words and persuasion to blaspheme God and make war with the saints (v5-10)

Example: Have you ever read about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power? He used the power of speech to sway thousands of Germany which then led to a world war and a massacre of innocent Jews.

Daniel 7:8 “8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

blasphemes his tabernacle — Remember the Antichrist makes a peace treaty with Israel and allows and assists them to rebuilt their temple. Following the first 3.5 years, he will elevate himself up as God and many will buy in.

Look back at verse Revelation 13:4 “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?”

Verse 7 is a persuasive indicator to me to continue to believe in a literal rapture of the church.

He will war and overcome the tribulation saints.

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

He was given power to rule over the world.

“whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb”

This Lamb is Jesus Christ — Revelation 5:6 “6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”

He experienced the REAL RESURRECTION!

His resurrection was on behalf of sinners before the beginning of the cosmos!

(v9-10)

John reminds us what will inevitably happen to the Antichrist and all those who carry out his bidding (v9-10)

God is telling the tribulation saints to prepare for one of two fates: Taken captive or killed.

“Patience” = derived from two words; “remain” & “under” (Picture a man carry an extremely heavy load yet makes no move to relieve himself of the burden.

“Faith” = God makes it possible for them to endure. It is resting inwardly on the promises of God and therefore brings about outward strength.

2) Satan Will Empower A False Prophet

A. Beast comes up from the land:

two horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon.

Almost like the alter ego of the antichrist.

Same authority as the first beast.

Will demand the world worship the false beast.

Performs signs and miracles for the world to see.

Demands a false image to be built of which he would give it life.

B. What purpose was there for the False Prophet’s miracles?

Three major words used in the New Testament: sēmeia (often used by John) (often with an emphasis on communicating a message)

First coming down from Heaven was commonly used throughout the Biblical narrative to communicate judgement.

1 Corinthians 1:22 “22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”

Matthew 12:39 “39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:”

Matthew 24:24 “24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Those without the discernment of God’s Spirit will conclude without reservation that the miracles are an act of God.

An image is constructed (full-fledged idolatry)

The false prophet has power to give the image some kind of “false life.” The appearance of real life.

C. The mark of the beast

The origin of the word gives the idea of some kind of branding or etching.

This mark is not explained in the text so all kinds of explanations have been given.

MAIN POINT — all economic exchange will be revoked to anyone across the globe who does not receive this mark.

Illustration — It reminds me of the hunger games but with a more positive spin on it. It can be experienced to anyone who will receive his mark.

Illustration — The got a close look at what this kind of system feels like with Covid…

Another attempt of the Devil to mimic God’s seal that He places on all of His children.

God’s seal is a result of faith while the mark of the beast is a result of fear.

God’s seal is a mark that cannot be removed. Neither can the beast’s.

God’s seal is real salvation and the mark of the Beast is a fake salvation.

The number of the beast makes clear the beast is a man.

Man’s number is six.

A trinity of man’s number as if perfection can evolve from man’s state.

LISTEN…how don’t care how many sixes you stack up, it will never add up to the number seven!

When you take man (6) and Christ is added (6+1) what number do you get???

The number of the beast is simply underscoring the intrinsic evil that is bound up in this individual.

Biblically, the number 7 carries with it the understanding of perfection.

At this point some of the saints are killed, others taken into captivity, and all the earth is forced into an economic circumstance allowing only those faithfully serving the purposes of the beast to enact trade. Thus, the pressure and tribulation descending on the saints afflicts them in every conceivable way. The unholy trinity of the dragon, the political beast, and the false prophet are now fully revealed to John and through him to his readers.Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 282.

LISTEN…the spirit of antichrist is already among us! Everyone today truly has the same choice today. Give your soul to man and his humanism or to Jesus and his gospel that gives you and keeps you in spiritual freedom.

Conclusion

Daniel 7:13–14 “13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”