8-25-2019 The Anti-God Revelation 13:11-18
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction:
Transition:
As we continue our journey through Revelation this morning, we’ll be introduced to a character that reminds me a lot of the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. Before we read our passage for this morning, let’s take a moment to review where we are.
Chapters 12-15 of Revelation comprise one long scene that reveals the underlying reasons for all of the events that we have seen portrayed by the seals and the trumpets. That scene revolves around seven major characters – the five we saw in chapter 12, the beast from the sea that we saw a couple weeks ago in the first part of and the beast from the earth we’ll look at this morning.
Chapters 12 & 13 reveal another trinity of sorts. This triune attempt has a motive to stand against the true God.
In Chapters 6 & 12 we are introduced to the dragon. At the beginning of this chapter, we’ve learned of the antichrist, but now we see another beast.
Transition:
introduces the second beast, the final member of the unholy trinity. This beast appears as the “false prophet” in later chapters, pointing to its religious role.
Scripture Reading:
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
As Christ received authority from the Father (), so Antichrist receives authority from the dragon (); and as the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ (), so the false prophet glorifies the Antichrist (). The beast from the earth uses religious deception to coerce people into false worship.
Transition:
There are three things I would like to express here about this beast:
I. His Person (vv.11-12)
I. His Person (vv.11-12)
While the true Trinity has God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, only the Son was fully man and fully God. The unholy trinity has two demonic humans involved.
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
Rev
“like a lamb...like a dragon”
John describes a beast that looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving ( ).
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
In truth, this beast is allied with Satan and promotes the worship of the first beast.
In truth, this beast is allied with Satan and promotes the worship of the first beast.
It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
Rev
Because of its religious role, he is truly the “false prophet” as he’ll be called in chapters 16; 19; & 20. the second beast likely represents pagan religious power in service of wicked political/military/economic structures and their leaders. In the first century, this beast would likely remind the readers of the priesthood of the imperial cult, a religious system promoting the worship of the emperor and other pagan deities. By the end of the first century, there were temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor as a god in all seven cities mentioned in . Such pagan religious power appears throughout church history and could certainly be embodied in a single religious leader at the end of this age promoting the worship of the antichrist.
Illustration:
▪ When political, military, economic, and religious powers unite in opposition to God, believers should prepare to suffer.
▪ Not all religious movements or leaders are sent from God; some originate with Satan.
▪ Religious leaders inspired by Satan will sometimes perform miraculous signs in order to deceive people.
▪ Believers need discernment and courage when facing programs of deceitful religious propaganda.
Illustration:
False worship and religious propaganda are dire threats to our faith
Quote: The Knowledge of the Holy, by A. W. Tozer.
Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, and the history of the Church confirms it. So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God.
Transition:
II. His Power (vv.13-15)
II. His Power (vv.13-15)
New Age Spiritism is the newest threatening flavor giving credence to unseen, supernatural things while rejecting the Creator.
Transition:
This is the second beast/person who has satanic power
II. His Power (vv.13-15)
II. His Power (vv.13-15)
First he calls fire from heaven on the earth
It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
“great signs”
The second beast performs “great signs” probably similar to the true prophet Elijah, who called down fire from heaven on at least two occasions: with the wet offering display ; and again in where fire destroyed Ahaziah’s troops after Elijah’s pronouncement.
Jesus and his apostles predicted that false prophets will come on the scene attempting to deceive many through signs and wonders
Jesus and his apostles predict that false prophets will come on the scene attempting to deceive many through signs and wonders
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
The second beast performs “great signs” probably similar to the true prophet Elijah, who called down fire from heaven on at least two occasions: with the wet offering display ; and again in where fire destroyed Ahaziah’s troops after Elijah’s pronouncement.
The second beast performs “great signs” in the tradition of the true prophet Elijah, who called down fire from heaven (; ). These public demonstrations of power are part of a massive propaganda campaign to deceive people into worshiping the first beast. Believers are repeatedly warned in the Scriptures about the combination of miracles and deceit, about mighty works that direct people’s allegiance away from the true God (e.g., ; ).
These public demonstrations of power are part of a massive propaganda campaign to deceive people into worshiping the first beast. Believers are repeatedly warned in the Scriptures about the combination of miracles and deceit, about mighty works that direct people’s allegiance away from the true God.
Illustration:
Sometimes true evil is difficult to discern
Human Experience: Once a pastor’s family was invited by a congregant to come and see their chicken farm. These long, tin-roofed structures were everywhere in southern Delaware. Anyone with a nose knew that you could always smell a farm before you saw it. As the family pulled up into the congregant’s driveway and climbed out of the car, they were nearly knocked down by the odor. But in short order, they were actually standing outside the door of a building. When they walked into the habitat, the smell was outrageous. Their eyes watered from ammonia. After just a few minutes, they all nodded that they had seen enough. It was fascinating: stepping from the building, the air just outside actually smelled fresh, like the wind of heaven! It is amazing how we can unconsciously adjust to our environment.
and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
Statues and images of Roman emperors were common throughout Asia, including a statue of Domitian (or perhaps Titus) standing almost twenty-five feet tall in a temple in Ephesus.
Illustration:
13:17b–18 the mark … is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. The mark is defined as the name of the (first) beast or the number of its name (i.e., 666). There may be more proposals for the meaning of 666 than there are verses in Revelation. Most commentators appeal to the Jewish practice of gematria, which calculates the numerical value of words by assigning numbers to certain letters. Using this method, the leading possibility is “Nero Caesar,” whose name equals 666 when the final “n” is added (Neron) and the name is translated into Hebrew: N R O N Q S R (N = 50, R = 200, O = 6, N = 50, Q = 100, S = 60, R = 200). To identify the beast with Nero is not to exclude the possibility of future beasts and a final eschatological beast or antichrist. The use of gematria, however, is not without its problems (e.g., the need to translate into Hebrew), and speculation seems counterproductive. Since numbers are consistently used to symbolize spiritual realities in Revelation, the primary importance of 666 may be that it falls short of the trinity of perfection (777) or that it pales in comparison to the number of “Jesus”—888 (I = 10, H = 8, S = 200, O = 70, U = 400, S = 200). In other words, the beast is a complete failure.
Theological Insights
Sometimes true evil is difficult to discern
Human Experience: Once a pastor’s family was invited by a congregant to come and see their chicken farm. These long, tin-roofed structures were everywhere in southern Delaware. Anyone with a nose knew that you could always smell a farm before you saw it. As the family pulled up into the congregant’s driveway and climbed out of the car, they were nearly knocked down by the odor. But in short order, they were actually standing outside the door of a building. When they walked into the habitat, the smell was outrageous. Their eyes watered from ammonia. After just a few minutes, they all nodded that they had seen enough. It was fascinating: stepping from the building, the air just outside actually smelled fresh, like the wind of heaven! It is amazing how we can unconsciously adjust to our environment.
And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
Rev
Illustration:
“it was allowed to give breath to the image”
The prime example of such deceit consists of setting up an image in honor of the first beast, an act similar to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image and his ultimatum that people worship it or die in Daniel chapter 3.
The second beast (as the unholy counterpart to the Holy Spirit) is allowed to breathe life into the image, causing it to speak. The use of magic and sorcery to animate idols was used in the ancient world, and the result here is that the demonic idol demands worship. Christians may either give allegiance to false gods and “live” (but only a moment) or stay faithful to Christ with the real possibility of physical death.
The second beast (as the unholy counterpart to the Holy Spirit) is allowed to breathe life into the image, causing it to speak. The use of magic and sorcery to animate idols was common in the ancient world, and the result here is that the demonic idol demands worship on penalty of death (cf. 16:14; 19:20). Christians may either give allegiance to false gods and “live” or stay faithful to Christ with the real possibility of physical death.
“cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain”
The prime example of such deceit consists of setting up an image in honor of the first beast, an act similar to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image and his ultimatum that people worship it or die.
Transition:
So, here is this demonic false prophet with all this deceptive power—what is its plan?
III. His Program (vv.16-18)
III. His Program (vv.16-18)
The second beast forces everyone to receive the “mark” of the first beast on their right hand or forehead if they want to buy and sell
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Most significantly, the beast’s mark serves as a parody of God’s sealing of his saints in Chapter 7. Both the mark of the beast and the seal of the living God represent ownership and loyalty.
. Most significantly, the beast’s mark serves as a parody of God’s sealing of his saints (; ). Both the mark of the beast and the seal of the living God represent ownership and loyalty. The penalty of economic persecution points to the power and influence of trade guilds in the first century, organizations that, among other things, promoted worship of patron deities and the Roman emperor.
so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Illustration:
In the face of persecution, we are called to courage
History:
In a famous episode from World War II, the citizens of the village of Le Chambon—sober, conservative members of the Reformed Church of France—found themselves sheltering Jews threatened with deportation, thereby saving thousands of lives. When Pastor André Trocmé and his congregation were asked where they found the courage to take such risks, they replied, with remarkable consistency, that as disciples of Jesus Christ they could do no other.
Acting out of the convictions of their Christian faith, the people of the village of Le Chambon, France, are credited with saving the lives of over three thousand Jews during World War II.
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
There are probably more proposed “understandings” to the meaning of 666 today than there are words in Revelation. The three sixes have been said to represent many things including the unholy trinity of Satan, the first beast, and the false prophet.
More frequently, though, commentators appeal to the Jewish practice of gematria, which calculates the numerical value of words by assigning numbers to certain letters. Using this method, the leading possibility is “Nero Caesar,” whose name equals 666 only when a final “n” is added (Neron) and the name is translated into Hebrew.
There may be more proposals for the meaning of 666 than there are verses in Revelation. Most commentators appeal to the Jewish practice of gematria, which calculates the numerical value of words by assigning numbers to certain letters. Using this method, the leading possibility is “Nero Caesar,” whose name equals 666 when the final “n” is added (Neron) and the name is translated into Hebrew: N R O N Q S R (N = 50, R = 200, O = 6, N = 50, Q = 100, S = 60, R = 200).
Since states that “many antichrists have come”
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
(i.e., as foreshadowing the ultimate Antichrist figure), there may be usefulness in noting that names like Nero and Hitler can be shown to have a numerological value of 666 by assigning a numerical value to each letter of the alphabet. However, it is wise to realize that such a numerological calculation will be clear only as the actual events unfold.
To identify the beast with Nero is not to exclude the possibility of future beasts and a final eschatological beast or antichrist. The use of gematria, however, is not without its problems, and speculation usually is counterproductive.
We need to exercise extreme interpretive caution when it comes to apocalyptic riddles.
It’s easy to lose our interpretive minds when it comes to the “mark of the beast” or “666.” Speculation abounds. We do well to remember a few basic principles of interpretation.
First, a text will mean what it meant to the original audience. John tells his audience to “calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man” (13:18). In other words, John expected his readers to know who he was talking about, which points in the direction of Nero as the beast.
Second, we must read this passage in the context of the whole book. For instance, the problem is not signs and wonders (11:5–6) but the ungodly character and false message of the miracle workers.
2.
Third, we must resist the temptation to read contemporary events back into the text and label this the meaning of the text (e.g., the mark being a literal stamp using advanced technology). Revelation suggests that the seal of the saints and the mark of the beast are figurative but real indicators of ownership and loyalty.
Revelation suggests that the seal of the saints and the mark of the beast are figurative but real indicators of ownership and loyalty.
Illustration:
Because this particular section of the book of Revelation is filled with symbolism, this number probably is also symbolic. The number seven is used in the book as a symbol of God’s perfection. Conversely, the number six symbolizes human imperfection. So 666, then, symbolizes the number of a man—all human beings and their continued imperfection. Three sixes together—666—implies a trinity of imperfection—a parody of the number seven. The number symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity designed to undo Christ’s work and overthrow him.
Since numbers are consistently used to symbolize spiritual realities in Revelation, the primary importance of 666 may be that it falls short of the trinity of perfection (777) or that it pales in comparison to the number of “Jesus” calculates to 888. In other words, the beast is a complete failure.
Transition:
So What?
So What?
This passage warns of the power of false religion. The Scriptures prohibit the worship of anything that is not YHWH (e.g., human-made images, creation, secular authorities, human philosophies, pagan deities). It’s important to remember that not all religious movements or religious leaders are sent from God; some originate with Satan. What’s more, we are consistently warned that miraculous signs and wonders do not guarantee the truth of the message or the character of the messenger (e.g., ; ; ; ). False religion degrades and devalues people by cheapening their worth. It also fails to provide salvation or sustain people during difficult times. In the end, false religion always fails its worshipers because it encourages rebellion against God, which leads to spiritual slavery and eternal death.
We need to walk wisely and exercise discernment. Perhaps most importantly, this text calls Christians to a life of discernment about what is good and what is evil. Some believers are incredibly naive about spiritual powers and their influence on cultures (e.g., the power of social media to corrupt as well as facilitate communication).
A couple weeks ago, we saw that the coming of the Antichrist was a call to endurance and faith. This week, we see in verse 18 that the coming of the false prophet is a call to wisdom. So let’s take the last few minutes to see how we can develop the kind of wisdom that counters the deception of the evil one.
DEVELOPING WISDOM THAT COUNTERS DECEPTION
DEVELOPING WISDOM THAT COUNTERS DECEPTION
1. Absorb the authentic rather than focus on the fake
1. Absorb the authentic rather than focus on the fake
In the United States, one of the functions of the Secret Service is to detect counterfeit currency. Their agents are trained to spot counterfeits not by studying the counterfeits themselves, but by being so familiar with the real currency, that they will immediately spot anything that doesn’t match up with the real thing.
That is the perfect picture of how we are to develop the kind of wisdom that will counter the deception of Satan. We learn to discern that which is not genuine by getting so familiar with the real thing that spotting the counterfeits becomes quite easy.
That principle is confirmed by the Proverbs: (ESV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
(ESV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
We need to get to know God so intimately that when some kind of deception comes into our lives, we immediately recognize that it doesn’t conform to that which we know about God.
It is true that we need at least some degree of understanding about Satan and his ways. So passages like ours this morning are helpful in revealing the methods and weapons that he utilizes. But ultimately, we will be much more likely to avoid being deceived if we spend our time and effort in the presence of Jesus, getting to know Him through His Word and through prayer.
In a sense, we would do well to heed the words from the Wizard of Oz that we saw earlier - “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”
2. Treasure the truth rather than pursue the pleasant
2. Treasure the truth rather than pursue the pleasant
Nobody likes pain and most of us do whatever we can to avoid it. Unfortunately Satan takes full advantage of our aversion to pain. We certainly have seen that with both the Antichrist and the false prophet.
They are able to come to power because they offer people an alternative to pain – be it physical, economic or emotional.
Certainly Christians are not immune to this tendency to avoid pain. That’s why we see the development of large churches that promise people relief from pain in some manner. Some promise freedom from financial pain through the prosperity gospel. Some promise freedom from physical pain through miracle healings. Some promise freedom from emotional pain by offering messages that are intended to help people feel good about themselves. Now certainly not every large church is guilty of false teaching, but at the same time it is certainly obvious that holding to the truth is not a popular thing. This is exactly the thing Paul wrote about in his second letter to Timothy:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
. This is exactly the situation that Paul wrote about in his second letter to Timothy:
, (ESV)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
The truth is not always pleasant or painless. In fact, the truth of God’s Word often reveals some very ugly things about our lives that we must deal with through confession and repentance. Truth is not easy-- It certainly won’t prevent pain, or even death. But Jesus made it very clear that holding to the truth is evidence that we are genuine disciples:
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
, (ESV)
So if we want to develop wisdom that will counter the deception of Satan, we must come to treasure truth rather than pursue that which is pleasant and will spare us from pain.
3. Understand the unseen rather than surrender to the seen
3. Understand the unseen rather than surrender to the seen
We are a very visually oriented society and we are influenced by the things we see. For instance, that is one of the reasons that we use Proclaim/PowerPoint-like-slides in our worship service because for most of us our learning is improved when we can both hear and see.
So it’s not surprising that the world is going to be so easily deceived by that which they can see when the false prophet is able to perform all kinds of signs. Because we are so visually oriented, problems arise when there is a conflict between what we can see and what we know to be true.
So we have a choice to make. Will we live our lives based on what we think to be true based on what we saw or will we live them based on what we know to be true, even though we can’t see it?
[Show “Fighting Gravity” clip]
If we went strictly on what we could see here, we would have to conclude that it is somehow possible to overcome gravity or that gravity isn’t always operational. But what we saw certainly conflicts with what we know to be true about gravity. So we have a choice to make. Will we live our lives based on what we think to be true based on what we saw or will we live them based on what we know to be true, even though we can’t see it? I don’t know about you, but even after watching that video, I’m not going to roll out of bed tomorrow morning and just assume that I won’t hit the floor.
Satan is capable of manipulating our circumstances and the things that we can see for the purpose of drawing us away from the truth and deceiving us. So we have a choice to make. Will we live our lives based on what we see and end up being deceived? Or will we develop the wisdom that will allow us to hold to the truth even though we can’t always see it with our physical eyes?
Paul described that choice with these familiar words:
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
, (ESV)
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
We are in a spiritual battle right now, one in which the man behind the curtain is trying to deceive us. But we would do well to heed his own words - “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” - and instead make sure that we keep our eyes on the founder and perfecter of our faith – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Without retreating in fear or hiding in a Christian subculture, we need to engage the world with both shrewdness and innocence (). The churches of Revelation considered the teachings of Jezebel, the Nicolaitans, and the Balaamites persuasive and apparently benign, but Jesus characterizes them as deadly. Are we educating people in the church to be truly discerning about what is good and what is evil?
In Conclusion:
Key Themes of
When political, military, economic, and religious powers unite in opposition to God, believers should prepare to suffer.
Not all religious movements or leaders are sent from God; some originate with Satan.
Religious leaders inspired by Satan will sometimes perform miraculous signs in order to deceive people.
Believers need discernment and courage when facing deceitful religious propaganda.
Conclusion: