Revelation 13

Background

Last time we talked about the Woman, the Beast, The Child, and so on...

We also saw 3 ways that the saint’s overcame the devil..

Blood of Jesus

Word of their testimony

They didn’t love their lives

V. 1-4

The beast with 10 horns and 7 heads..

This depicts a reborn Roman Empire..

Now, this is talking about how the roman empire was back in the day...

They ruled the world.

This is supposed to take place at the end of the 3.5 years of the tribulation.

We see 3 empires that are part of the beast,

Greece (a leopard- Dan 7:6)

Medo-Persia (a bear - DAn 7:5)

Babylon (a lion - dan 7:4)

The beast got his power from Satan

The seven heads...

These probably represent important rulers..

One of these rulers will suffer a fatal wound, which will be healed and the world will be amazed..

People argue that it is a resurrection or a fatal wound… Either way, people will be astonished.

People followed this beast, and then they began to worship the dragon, because he gave power to the beast.

V.5-8

Here is how powerful God is...

He allowed the beast to boast and blaspheme God..

He gave authority to let the beast do as he pleases against the Saints (gentile Believers)

All people will worship the beast, except for those who are in the book of life.

It seems like the beast will get rid of all religions, since he demands everyone worship him in

2 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Book of Life:

Some take it to be a book that has everyones names written in it, but it gets blotted out when people reject Jesus.

Others believe that it only has those who are saved written in it..

V.9-10

God is speaking to those who will hear…

All Christians will go through persecution..

Those who are living in the end times… You will be having a hard time.

This calls for perseverance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Christians need to be faithful… They need to persevere…

V.11-12

The first beast came out of the sea..

This one comes out from the earth

This beast is the False Prophet, we find this out in chapter 19.

He had 2 horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon, so he was like satan..

Scholars believe that this means he was a religious character who supported the political ruler, the first beast.

He had great authority, which was probably given to him by Satan and the 1st beast.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 13:11–12

The false religious system, which was supported in this way imitated the divine Trinity. Satan seeks to take the place of God the Father; the first beast assumes the place of Jesus Christ, the Son, the King of kings; and the second beast, the false prophet, has a role similar to the Holy Spirit who causes Christians to worship God. This is Satan’s final attempt to substitute a false religion for true faith in Christ.

V.13-15

This beast does signs and wonders to impress the people, so the people will worship.

People don’t think Satan has the ability to do supernatural things, but he does… He has limitations, but he’s still able to use his power.

The beast deceives all the people on the earth, and then they build an image of the beast.

This image will be alive, basically..

It’ll speak and it will cause people to die if they don’t worship the image.

V.16-18

The mark of the beast, apparently a sort of tattoo or brand of the beast’s name or its numerical equivalent..

You have to have this mark in order to conduct business every day.

Believer’s get a seal in chapter 7.. So Satan is trying to mimic God by making everyone get a mark.

666 reflects the fact that the number 6 is just short of the number of perfection 7.

Mark of the Beast

-Why 3 6’s?

Maybe because there are 3 deities - Satan and his 2 beasts.

The Beasts

The beasts are most likely Gentiles.

We know that the Gentiles will ruin the city of Jerusalem, so this may point to the beast.

Both rulers will persecute Jews as well as believing Gentiles.

This chapter gives us much insight into the main characteristics of the Great Tribulation

1 world government

1 world religion

1 world economic system

Resistance = death

Satan’s final and ultimate attempt to cause the world to worship him instead of God.