“A Monstrous Deception”

Please turn in your Bibles to Revelation 13… 

One day there will come into this world somebody whom the world will be longing for. 

People who are living during these times of tribulation…people will be…desperately searching for hope…

This leader will bring hope…be charismatic…dynamic…charming…full of himself…and unify the world

At first, he will appear to be everything the world needs…but in the end he’ll turn out to be a dictator more cruel & powerful than any other leader the world has ever known. 

Most refer to him as…the Antichrist…but there are other names in Scripture.

BTW…If you think the idea of a coming world leader called “the Antichrist” is far fetched…

You’re up against the Bible…

The OT prophets, the NT apostles, and Jesus Himself…all predicted his arrival.

When most people hear the word Anti-Christ…tune out…or laugh at it…doesn't really exist. 

Or if people do believe in the coming of the Antichrist…they think he is dark & sinister (Hollywood)…but that's far from how he's going to come on the scene.

So today…I want us to see WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS about this coming world ruler.

“Anti-christ” doesn’t appear till

1 John 2:18 "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know it is the last hour" 

2 Thessalonians 2:3…“the man of lawlessness”  “son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

Revelation 13:1 “…the beast…”

Daniel 7:8 “…the little horn…”

Daniel 9:25 “…a prince…” 

Zechariah 11:16 he is called, “the willful king” and “the idol shepherd”.

Down through history…man has tried to speculate/guess who he would be…all were wrong.

[PIC] 37 AD…Emperor Caligula, erected a statue of himself in the Jerusalem temple… 

57AD…Nero persecuted the early church…early Christians called him…"the beast.” 

But it doesn't stop: Mussolini, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Mikhail Gorbachev…

Even some US Presidents: Thomas Jefferson, Roosevelt, JFK & Reagan…all called…the Antichrist. Even the popes.

So let’s put all speculation aside…

It is imperative to ONLY LOOK… at how God describes him. 

He is a man of WICKEDNESS…Revelation 13:1

v.1 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.”

Note: he is called “a beast”…that’s how God sees him…

He's not a good/wonderful man…he's an extremely wicked man…most deceitful man in the world.

God sees him as “a beast”…“beast” Gr “therion”…which means a wild, venomous monster.

This is not some household pet. (ten horns=brute strength…seven heads=horrifically ugly)

[Pic] Last VBS I showed this…to the kids…considered the ugliest creature in the world.

“Eww, that's not real.” Turns out, it is real…”the blob fish” a gelatinous-shaped bottom dweller…living in the lowest depths of the South Pacific.

I wanted you to get a little visual in your head..how ugly a beast can really be.(frightening features)

John has a vision….of “a beast rising up out of the sea”…the symbols point to future realities. 

This beast out of the sea is actually a…PERSON…but also refers to the evil end times EMPIRE.

Pictured as a beast…because he's vicious & savage. 

Paul calls him a “the man of sin”… “the son of perdition (destruction)” and also “the lawless one”…all speak of his wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

He is a wicked, wicked person. 

But he does not begin that way…In fact, he will come on the scene and begin so suave.

In fact he will be like the most fascinating man in the world. 

Believed to be the first horseman conquering and to conquer…the “peacemaker”… Revelation 6.

He has a 7-year plan…he begins wonderfully…but he ends very wickedly.

2. He will DOMINATE the world…Revelation 13:2

v.2 “And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.”

Maybe lights are going off in your head: “This sounds familiar. I’ve read this somewhere else.” 

What John sees here…is very much like what Daniel the prophet saw 600 years before.

Daniel 7:1-7 Daniel has a vision of a succession of kingdoms…world-governing empires that would come to the earth from Daniel’s time forward. 

And the first beast he sees is a LION…with wings of an eagle. 

The second beast is a BEAR…lumbering off to one side with 3 ribs in its mouth.

The third creature is a LEOPARD…with four wings that moves swiftly across the earth.

This is all in Daniel's vision. And then the FOURTH BEAST he sees…has 10 horns, much like this.

So when we read that chapter…we discover this vision has meaning. 

We are told that the LION…was the kingdom of Babylon…fierce & ferocious like a lion. 

The second, the BEAR…was a picture of the Medo-Persian Empire. It's like a bear. It lumbers along…it’s slower, but it's sure…it’s strong. And it took over the world after the Babylonian Empire.

And then the LEOPARD…representing, according to the text, the Grecian Empire. Alexander the Great moved swiftly like a leopard and took over the world at a very, very young age.

But the fourth empire that Daniel sees is a beast like nothing he's ever seen before with 10 horns…a vicious and ferocious beast. 

So John sees sort of the same thing (in reverse)…BUT all wrapped up in one kingdom…one person. 

It has all the elements/characteristics of the others…but it is unified & more dreadful in power. 

Revelation 13:7 “…And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.”

Now we're dealing with a…final world-governing empire…dominating, strong, rapid, ferocious. 

What John notices is a beast rising up out of the sea…

Why the sea?

The sea is a picture of humanity/nations See: Isaiah 17:12-13,  57, and Revelation 17 

So John sees a beast rising up out of the sea of humanity,

Maybe John sees the Mediterranean Sea…

This has lead some to bellieve that he'll come from the Mediterranean world, with 7 heads and 10 horns. 

Daniel 7:23 "This beast (this final beast) shall be a kingdom and shall devour the whole Earth, trample it, and break it in pieces.”

Now, in that vision of 10 horns, he also sees a notable horn…a little horn…an individual who will rule over a 10 nation confederacy.

FYI…be aware that over the past 30+ years globalism has become popular.

Global leaders, global coalitions, global economy, we live in a global village. 

Several groups have even come together to form confederacies…United Nations…European Union…NATO…all failed to keep the major wars out of the world. Causes many to believe that the next step is for…a global government…a one-world parliament, one world law…and today we have the World Economic Forum…World Health Organization…but ultimately the goal will be to unify the world under one government.

So he is known for…wickedness, world dominance…notice a third characteristic:

3. He will be a man of WONDER…Revelation 13:3

v.3 “One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marvelled as they followed the beast.”

This beastly ruler is going to be Satan's masterpiece.

Remember The Six Million Dollar Man? Steve Austin…the bionic astronaut…a man with bionic parts…the Six Million Dollar Man. With all sorts of super human capabilities.

The Antichrist will be the 666 billion dollar man…he will be Satan's perfect man, ideal specimen, the ultimate satanic masterpiece. 

Remember v.2 we are told: “…the dragon (Satan) gave him his power…throne and authority”

The dragon gave him his power…he’s been engineered by…possessed by…and controlled by Satan.

What does it mean when it says

“…one of his head's was mortally wounded and then healed?

Some believe this refers…to a revived, final empire…a revived Roman Empire. 

Historically, 6 empires…we would call world-governing empires.

Egyptian…Assyrian…Babylonian…Medo-Persian…Greek….and Roman. 

So some see this seventh head as being a seventh empire…resurrection…of what was once dead…so possibly…a revived Roman Empire.

Others see this mortal wound…as this wicked ruler staging his death and “resurrection”.

Probably not a literal resurrection.

Satan can’t do that…God is only one that has power over life and death.

But at least, he could make it appear to be very much like a resurrection.

You can imagine what it would be like if this famous world leader somehow died…

Then he is lying in state…news coverage are on him…all the international networks…

Covering this funeral…thousands line up to pay respect to this world leader…and suddenly there's a wiggling in the casket. 

And the one everyone thought was dead rises back to life.

Do you think that would cause WONDER?

Do you think it would cause people the world over to marvel? Sure it would!

The word marvel is thaumazo…means to be mesmerized by…shocked by…

The world will wonder…at his rise to power…at his mental agility…his ability to solve complex issues & problems…and they will certainly wonder at what they would perceive to be a resurrection.  

And wonder is always the first step toward worship, and that's the next characteristic: 

4. He will be WORSHIPPED…Revelation 13:4,8

v.4 “And they worshipped the dragon (Satan), for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

v.8 “…and all who dwell on earth will worship it…

So now their wonder turns to worship…which is what Satan has wanted all along.

From the very beginning, when Satan was created by God, we understand from Scripture that Satan was an angelic being. He was the anointed cherub that wanted to be #1…he wanted it all. 

Isaiah 14:12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!…you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high…sit on the mount of assembly… I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High…el elyon…Almighty God. I will be like almighty God."

That's how it happened…

2 Thessalonians 2:4ff, Paul said the Antichrist will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or that is worshipped as God so that he sets himself up in God's temple and demands worship.” We call him the Anti-Christ. 

Most people think "anti" is a little prefix that means "against."

So he's the guy who's against Jesus Christ.

That's what anti-Christ literally means.

But the word "anti" also means "instead of.”

I think that's a better way to look at who this guy will be.

He will be the guy who wants to be the Christ instead of Christ.

“Jesus had a Resurrection, so I'll have a Resurrection. Jesus only had 12 followers of the time, I'll have the whole world watching this.”

You may think…the world will never fall for this.

Do not be deceived…our lulled…just look what happened in Germany…

What happened in Europe with Adolf Hitler…and how the world was swayed by him. 

Even our own PM at the time Mackenzie King, initially expressed positive views of Adolf Hitler, saw him as a man of peace and a strong leader. That would change of course.

John Phillips: “The Antichrist will be an attractive and charismatic figure. A genius. A demon-controlled, devil-taught charmer of men. He will have the answers to the horrendous problems of mankind. He will be all things to all men…a political statesman, a social lion, a financial wizard, an intellectual giant, a religious deceiver, a masterful orator, a gifted organizer. He will be Satan's masterpiece of deception, the world's false messiah. With boundless enthusiasm, the masses will follow him and readily throw him their hearts as the world's saviour and god.” 

4. He will be PERSUASIVE with WORDS…Revelation 13:5-6

v.5 “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months (3.5 years). v.6 “It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming His name and His dwelling, that is those who dwell in heaven.”

This wicked leader will have the ability to sway people…he will be a master manipulator…a master politician. 

Read Daniel 7 4x, this final leader is described “…he has a mouth speaking pompous words."

Same idea here.

Now, almost all dictators who have ever risen and had any kind of influence at all have done so at least in part by their ability to use persuasive speech to sway the crowds.

This world ruler will be known by …his pompous words…a mouth speaking great things. 

He will communicate effectively…able to bring peace to the impossible problem of the Mid-East…

Something no one has solved.

And I can just imagine what he says after the church has been raptured…convincing the world that missing Christians is a good thing.  

Low self esteem will not be his problem. He will love selfies. He will love adulation, attention about him.

He will exude self-confidence. He will say: I can fix this. And he will try & people will give him a try.

It seems like it succeeds…but it goes downhill, which leads to the next characteristic…war.

6. He will make WAR…Revelation 13:7-10

v.7 “Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation…”

v.8 “…and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.

v.9 “If anyone has an ear, let him hear:”

v.10 “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints”

He will succeed in his influence and his domination…then the worst holocaust will break out. 

This will be, in the middle of a 7 year period.

The middle marks the beginning of “the great tribulation” period…the abomination of desolation.

That's what Jesus called it. That's what Daniel called it. 

Again, this is not new. Daniel 7:25 "He shall speak pompous words against the most high, and he shall persecute the saints of the most high."

The word persecute in Hebrew means to wear something down or wear it out, like a garment. 

If you wear it out so much, you can't wear it anymore because you've just worn it down. 

That's the idea of persecution…he will continually harass the saints,

We can only imagine things like…physical harassment, legal injustice, seizure of property, blatant punishment, failure to comply laws. 

If you keep reading in Revelation 13…everyone on earth will be required to take a mark for commercial purposes.

If you refuse…you will be branded a revolutionary. You could lose your life. He'll bring war. He'll fight against them. 

Let me give you a quick timeline.

The first 3.5 years, during the first part fo the truibulation… this guy is on the scene it will be calm, even peaceful…like everything's working. 

There will be an international coalition…appear to be working. Peace, stability come to the earth. 

Then, right in the middle of that seven-year period comes the abomination of desolation…a peace treaty he had signed…Daniel 9:27 with the Jews and with the Jews enemies, is broken by the Antichrist. 

That's called the abomination of desolation, at which point all hell breaks loose. 

Immediately, this man will kill two-thirds of all Jews…according to Zechariah 13. 

He then conquers the city of Jerusalem…Zechariah 14.

He then deceives the world and goes on a rampage killing believers around the world. Revelation 13.

I know I'm just pushing through these. These are serious issues. But Jesus predicted all of it.

In case, again, you think, this can never happen, Jesus said it will happen.

His own words: "then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake." 

Now, I hope by now some of you have questions in your mind.

Now you may be thing…Wait why is he so successful? I thought Jesus promised "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

Why is this guy allowed to make war on all the saints and overcome them?

Exactly. Precisely. What we're reading about is not the church. The church has been raptured. 

These are tribulation saints…i.e. people who come to faith during the tribulation period.

How will they come to faith? 

A few weeks ago we looked at the witness of the two witnesses in Jerusalem…and the witness of 144,000 Jewish evangelists…and the angelic of the everlasting gospel.

Some will believe, and those who believe will be specially targeted by this man of sin-- the beast.

WRAP UP…So how do we wrap up this sermon…on an encouraging note?

Simple…by comparing the Anti-Christ to Jesus Christ.  There really is no comparison, is there? 

BTW…we are not called to look for the Anti-Christ…we are to keep our eyes on Jesus…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Let me give you a comparison:

The anti-Christ is called the man of sin…Jesus Christ is the sinless man.

That anti-Christ is called in Zechariah the idol shepherd…Jesus is known as the good shepherd.

The anti-Christ here is pictured as a beast. Jesus is pictured as a lamb.

Who do you want to follow, a beast or a lamb? 

Antichrist's death will be to deceive the world…Jesus Christ's death is meant to save the world. 

The anti-Christ is the most deceptive man in the world…Jesus Christ is the truth.

Let me tell you…this world is already being deceived. Right is considered wrong and wrong is right

When everything we thought traditionally was right is now called “wrong” and everything we traditionally called “wrong" is now called “right”, when black is white and white is black and up is down and down is up.

I close with this little story:

Once upon a time, in a faraway country, lived a little girl her name…Little Red Riding Hood.

One day, her mother asked her to take a basket of fruit to her grandmother who had been ill and lived alone in a cottage in the forest. It happened that a wolf was lurking in the bushes and overheard the conversation. He decided to take a shortcut to grandmother's house and get the goodies for himself. The wolf killed the grandmother, then dressed in her nightgown and jumped into bed to await the little girl. When she arrived, he made several nasty attempts to get the basket. But by this time, the child was very frightened and ran screaming from the cottage.

A wood cutter working nearby heard her cries and rushed to the rescue. He killed the wolf with his axe…saving Little Red Riding Hood's life. All the townspeople hurried to the scene and proclaimed the woodcutter a hero. But then…came the inquest, several facts emerged. 

The wolf had never been advised of his rights. 

The woodcutter had made no warning swings before striking the fatal blow.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Union stressed the point that although the act of eating grandma may have been in bad taste, the wolf was only doing his thing and acting according to his nature. Thus, he didn't deserve the death penalty. 

Then some stood up and contended that the killing of grandmother should be considered self-defence since she was over 30 and therefore couldn't be taken seriously because the wolf was trying to make a living. 

It was decided that there was no valid basis for charges against the wolf. Moreover, the woodcutter was indicted for un-aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Several nights later, the woodcutter's cottage was burned to the ground. One year from the date of the incident at grandma’s, her cottage was made a shrine for the wolf, who had bled and died for others. All the village officials spoke at the dedication, but it was Little Red Riding Hood who gave the most touching tribute. She said that while she had been selfishly grateful for the woodcutter's intervention, she now realized in retrospect that he had…overreacted. She knelt and she placed a wreath in honour of the brave wolf. And there wasn't a dry eye in the whole forest. The end.

Sadly, that little story seems to be being played out today not only in our country, but around the world. 

What was once wrong…is now right. What once was right…is now wrong. 

Deception is on the move…it has a foothold, and will only increase in epic proportions. 

We have the hope of looking…not for Antichrist…but as the church we are looking for Jesus to come.

The message of this passage is clear…let this monstrous beast from the abyss do his worst. 

Let Satan and his demons have their hour.

God controls the the future and…we as believers…belong to Him.

In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us…” Romans 8:37 and we will triumph on that glorious day when “The kingdom of the world [becomes] the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Thank you, Father. We thank You for Your grace and mercy toward us. Thank You that we follow…the authentic, the real, the legit Jesus Christ. But we have been warned that one is coming who will dupe the world before You come again to intervene and intercept his grand scheme. Thank You for the hope. Thank You for the truth. Lord, I pray that if there are some here who have not turned to Jesus Christ, rather than allowing deception in their own lives to continue would turn to the One who came for them and gave Himself for them.  It's in His name we pray. Amen.