The Three Beasts of Revelation

Tonight, we are going to look at a topic found in the prophetic Scriptures that has cause so much consternation. My goal is just to give you an overview and not for us to have a deep theological discussion, and, if I may, I am giving you my thoughts as led by the Holy Spirit and as determined through my own personal Bible study.

If you go along with me great. If you do not, it is okay for you to be wrong. No, I am just kidding. There are so many different views, but whatever you think of the subject we are discussing tonight, you must base what you think on God’s Word, and if you do not, what you think is no good.

I believe the following statement to be true.

Nothing fascinates people more than talking about the Antichrist, but dear friend, this world is not coming to Antichrist. This world is coming to Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is coming to this world.

A Christian should not look for the Antichrist, and personally, I do not even believe that a Christian should speculate about the Antichrist. A Christian should be focused on Jesus Christ because, if you are saved, you will never know the Antichrist.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

In the 13th Chapter of Revelation, we are told of three beasts that are coming to this earth, and they will come to this earth at some point in time after the Rapture.

Why do I say at some point in time after the Rapture?

Daniel 9:27 “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.””

The Tribulation does not begin with the Rapture. The Tribulation begins when the Antichrist enters into a covenant with Israel. Now, I used to say that the Tribulation begins immediately after the Rapture. I now believe that not to be the case because Daniel clearly tells us when it begins. The key to remember is that the Rapture is the next event on God’s calendar which is why Christians are to be looking for Christ and not Antichrist.

1. The First Beast: The Revived Roman Empire.

Revelation 13:1–3 “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”

You should read, in my opinion, the Book of Revelation as literally as possible, but you have to look for double references in some of the passages. The opening verses of Chap. 13 are examples of a double-reference prophecy.

If you read carefully, you will notice the double references.

The first part of Chapter 13 is talking about a kingdom of 10 nations rising to world power.

How do we know it is a kingdom? Verse 2 tells us that it was like a leopard, which is a reference to Greece, it was like a bear, which is a reference to Mede-Persia, and it was like a lion, which is a reference to Babylon.

It is a reference to the Book of Daniel.

Daniel 7:3–7 “And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird.

The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”

Babylon, Mede-Persia, and Greece were powerful but none matched Rome and Rome’s vastness. In the future, a 10-nation confederacy will arise from the sea as a beast who had received a deadly head wound. John says this kingdom rises from the sea.

The sea represents the nations of the world and the turmoil of humanity.

I believe it is a turmoil that is caused by multiple factors:

The Rapture

The Cessation of the restraining power of the Holy Spirit

The Changing Geopolitical situation

This is what most people who do not study history do not understand.

Rome never completely fell. It split into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. The nations of the west were nations like France, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain. Those nations were the nations of exploration and the home of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Easter Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire. There have been many who tried to put the Roman Empire back together.

Charlemagne (Holy Roman Emperor 12/25/800 AD)

The Popes

Napoleon

Mussolini

Hitler

Churchill

Macron

None, so far, have been successful, but one day, Rome will be reborn, but it will not be as strong as it once was.

Daniel 2:32–33 “This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.”

The Revived Roman Empire will be iron and clay mixed meaning it will be, in some aspects, strong like its ancient counterpart, but the clay represents the weakness of the Revived Roman Empire.

What nations will be in the Revived Roman Empire?

Map of Roman Empire

It will be some combination of these nations. Could it also include the nations explored by the Western Roman Empire? Could NATO be the Revived Roman Empire?

Study for yourself, but know this. The three most mentioned cities in the Bible are Jerusalem, Babylon, and Rome.

2. The Second Beast: The Antichrist.

Actually, the rise of Antichrist coincides with the rise of the Revived Roman Empire.

It is a concept in God’s Word that I wished people would understand. God uses the nations to bring judgment.

God allows Satan a certain amount of leeway in this world, but it is God who is Sovereign, and it is He who is working out His plan through the nations of this world.

Habakkuk 1:5 ““Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

If God told us just exactly what He was doing to carry out His plan in the world through the nations of the world, WE WOULD NOT BELIEVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel 4:25 “They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

The same God who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Judah is going to allow the Revived Roman Empire and the Antichrist to come to power, and He allows it to complete His purpose. Why does God act in that fashion? I do not know. You have to take that up with Him.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the Antichrist.

Revelation 13:4–8 “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

I am going to try to keep this as an overview. Let’s go through these verses.

Remember, it is Jesus Christ from heaven who is orchestrating events during the Tribulation.

The dragon gave authority to the beast

The dragon is the devil. The beast is both Antichrist and Rome, so who gives both the Antichrist and Rome authority? Satan, within the confines of God’s master plan, gives power to the Antichrist and the Revived Roman Empire. Satan has always, as I say this once again, operated through the nations of the world.

Daniel 10:12–13 “Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.”

Daniel 10:20 “Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.”

Satan used what nations to try to stop the birth of Jesus? Egypt and Herod, the puppet King of Palestine. Who did Satan use to crucify Jesus and to guard His tomb? Rome. Who will Satan use to wage war on God’s saints and Israel? Rome who will be led by the Antichrist.

Dear friend, I do not want to sound like a know-it-all, but if you cannot see that truth in Scripture, I do not know what to say.

I had a discussion not long ago with someone who questioned me on this very subject, and my answer will always be this. Satan has limited authority in this world. He uses that authority whenever he can, and he exercises that authority through the nations and government when he can.

Verse 4 is explicitly clear. The Antichrist and Rome receive their authority from Satan, but Satan is not Sovereign, God is.

Do you remember this passage?

Isaiah 55:8–9 ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

We cannot bottle God into our narrow concept of how things operate. God knows what He is doing, and He knows what it is going to take to complete His plan on earth, so who am I to question what He is doing?

When the church is raptured, God turns a blind eye to evil for a period of time.

2 Thessalonians 2:7–9 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,”

It should be obvious that it is Satan who gives authority to the Antichrist, but you should know if Satan gives him his authority, it is God who is allowing it to complete a purpose. I hope you understand that. It is absolutely essential if you are going to understand prophecy.

Once again, I am going to reference Job.

Did Satan have authority to do what he did to Job? ______________________

Was Satan limited in what he could do? ____________________

During the Tribulation, will Satan have the authority to do what he does? __________________

Will Satan be limited in what he will be able to do? _______________________ Rev. 7, 14, 19, 20.

Revelation 13 also says the Antichrist will be given authority for 42 months (3 1/2 years).

The Antichrist will be prominent for 7 years, but he will be the world’s dictator for 3 1/2 years. The first 3 1/2 years, the Antichrist will be consolidating his power by speaking great things. He will be the model politicians, and because he is operating in Satan’s authority, he will be able to do great things.

The Antichrist will make war against the saints and Israel. (Rev. 6, 7, 12, 20)

The church, today, is protected by the Holy Spirit. Those that are saved during the Tribulation will not have the same protection. They will refuse to take the mark of the beast, and they will be martyred, but a remnant of both Jews and Gentiles will survive the Tribulation and go into the Millennium. The persecution of saints will be unimaginable according to Jesus.

Matthew 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

The Antichrist will be worshipped.

He will be like many politicians. He will be adored by millions as he delivers on one of the great problems of mankind, and that is, he will achieve peace, short-lived, in the Middle East.

Daniel 9:27 “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.””

There have been many politicians that people have idolized throughout the years. I could give you a list of many from Nimrod to Hitler, from Nebuchadnezzar to dare I say Obama and Trump, but dear friend, there is only One worthy of being placed on a pedestal, and that One is the Lord Jesus Christ.

I really think we are seeing the groundwork for the worship of Antichrist being laid now. Think of how our elections have changed in the last few years. Our candidates for President have taken on almost mythological qualities with people pledging their entire beings to getting that person elected. Dear friend, if we put that kind of energy into saving souls, how different would this world be?

If we spent our time sharing the gospel instead of engaging in political warfare, how much better off would we be? If we quit waiting for political solutions and start acting in faith like God is still in charge, what might happen?

Do you know what Christians have done today, and I am serious, Bill? Christians have weakened God because in their lives, they do not live in the power of God. Many, even in the church, had much rather have a political solution because a politician, as of yet, does not demand obedience, but God does, and as God told Samuel when Israel wanted a king, “I am going to give them what they want because they rejected me.” In the future, God is going to say, “I am going to allow them to have what they want.” Yet, the one they want, the Antichrist, will demand obedience, and you will either obey him or starve to death.

In the Bible, if my count was right, there are 33 different names given to the Antichrist. Each of those names help to define his beastly nature.

By the way, I have not even mentioned that he might be a homosexual. (Daniel 11:37)

Daniel 11:37 “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.”

Could this be the reason for the explosion of the acceptance of homosexuality? I do not know. Judge for yourself. Now, I know there are some Bible teachers that refer to this as meaning the desire women had in Daniel’s day to be the mother of the Messiah. I do not know about that. It is just interesting to me.

What could be more blasphemous to the Lord that a homosexual world dictator who is being worshipped? I am just saying.

3. The Third Beast: The False Prophet.

Revelation 13:11–15 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

Revelation 13:16–18 “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or 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 it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

The third beast does not come from the sea but from the land, the earth.

Does that tell us anything? I believe it does. The land, the earth, many times, refers to Israel in the Bible, so I believe this is telling us that the false prophet will be a Jew.

To really get the picture, you have to read Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. During those days, even though Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, were saying the opposite, there were many false prophets who were telling the people that Israel would not be going into captivity in Babylon.

During the Tribulation, two mysterious witnesses will be saying one thing, and the false prophet will be saying something else, and the vast majority of the people of the world will believe the False Prophet.

The False Prophet will be the “False Elijah” proclaiming Antichrist as Messiah.

His goal will be to make the world worship the Antichrist, and to convince the world, he will do “signs”, miracles, and wonders, and he will do those things in the authority of Satan. He will be like Heinrich Himler. Himler was the mastermind behind the Final Solution. The False Prophet will be the mastermind behind the effort to identify those who are obedient to the beast and those who are not. He will control the world’s economic system through an identification system.

Now, let me say something briefly about the mark of the beast.

It is not something that you take involuntarily.

Your social security number, your debit card, the Covid vaccine, and whatever else people say, is not the mark of the beast. How do I know that? How many of you have a social security number? Are you saved? How many of you have a debit card? Are you saved? You cannot be saved and have the mark of the beast too.

No one living on planet earth today knows what the mark will be.

666 is not the mark. It is the number of the Antichrist’s name. That is literally what the passage says. Why is there so much speculation?

The Bible clearly says that 666 is the calculated number of his name.

We do not have time, but there is a study of numbers in the Bible called gematria. 666 is referring to the calculated name of the Antichrist whoever it is going to be.

If this helps you, the gematria of Jesus is 888.

In simple Bible numerology, 6 represents man, so the three sixes tell us that the Antichrist is going to be man operating on planet earth in the authority of Satan. The Antichrist will claim to be God, but he will miss the mark.

I do not know why I felt led to preach a sermon on this, but my theory is that God wants the truth about prophecy preached, and he doe not want His deceived by so much wild speculation. I told you this a long time ago. The Book of Revelation contains over 300 direct references to the Old Testament. You do not have to speculate about what it says. You just have to read and study and look at the cross-references.

The most important thing is this.

If you are sitting here lost, your future is not bright at all. If you sit here tonight and continue in your rejection, you could meet the one the Bible calls the evil one, but you do not have to meet him. If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you will meet the King of Kings and not the evil prince.