Beware of the Evil One?

Introduction

Revelation has a powerful message for God’s elect.

Our aim is to please God, and we can do that by being faithful to Him. Maintaining our allegiance to Him.

The devil is opposed to this, and He will seek to derail us/church at any opportune time. More than derail, he seeks to destroy!

Our Text

Revelation 13:7–11 NASB95

It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.

Rev 12-13

These two chapters depict a struggle between Satan and God.

Chap 12 - The chapters tells of the dragon’s attack on the woman and her children and his eventual defeat.

The main characters are:

The Woman - The church/God’s people [Ezk 16:8; Hos 3]

The offspring - The expanse of the church

The man child - Jesus

The Dragon - Satan

This ties into the book c.f.

Rev 2:13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” [Pergamum]

Rev 2:9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” [Smyrna]

Chap 13 - This chapter tells of the continued attempts by the dragon against the people of God, this time through two (2) agents; the two “beasts”

Satan has tried but the people were victorious and remained faithful (this is the picture painted).

Rev 12:10-11 “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

Rev 12:17 “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Now the land beast (Roman Empire) and the sea beast (Roman religion) are employed.

Satan has agents

Matt 25:41 ““Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;”

2 Cor 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

Matt 12:25-26 “And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?”

Character of the Beasts [explain from text] - This shows that Satan is ruthless and His aim is to destroy.

[The mark of the beast is connected to the objective of the beast]

APPLICATION: Satan will try any means necessary to destroy the people of God. For centuries he tried to destroy the seed and he is not about to stop now.

Somethings Satan may take advantage of to destroy a church.

Indifference -

Self-focused Low energy and lacking spiritual passion Intolerant of cultural differences Resistant to creativity, innovation, and change Passive-aggressive toward congregational leadership Focused on the past and resentful of the of alignment—espoused values are not expressed in action

The lack of interest or concern

If we can’t get past this point, then the others will not resonate

Doctrinal Error (This relates to the 2nd Beast)

5 of the churches were either commended or condemned for their teaching - This shows God is concerned about the teachings in the church.

Distractions

The ones that are not sinful are the ones that can catch us unawares Heb 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Discord/Disunity

Eph 4:1-3 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Doubt

When I’m not too sure if I can trust God - If you are wondering what can this do ask Israel

Heb 11:29-30 “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. [what happened here?] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”