Revelation 13:1-10
The book we are studying in the Bible is entitled, “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” This is “The Apocalypse” meaning “the unveiling” or “the revealing.”
In each part of this book, we should ask, “How is Christ revealed here?” And if He is not immediately evident in a short text of a few verses, then we should seek Him in the context of surrounding verses. You can see this by looking at the last verse in Revelation 12. In verse 17, you see that the dragon [the Devil, 12:9] makes war against those who “have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (12:17).
The events in Revelation chapter 13 are the direct result of the event described in Revelation 12:9-10. The Devil and his angels will be cast to the earth with this result: he will pour out his wrath on the people of the earth because he will know that he only has a short time left (12:12). That deceiver, in his pompous pride, deceives himself; but he will be awakened to reality; he will then know with certainty that he has but a short time remaining (42 months) to do evil among humanity. He will be angry and pour out his anger on humanity.
This is the backdrop against which “Satan’s superman,” commonly called “The Antichrist” will take the stage in Revelation 13. But remember the last words in Revelation 13:10: “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Though this wicked world will break forth in ultimate fury, believers can face that fury with persevering faith.
The Spirit of Antichrist
1 John 2:18 states, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” This verse alerts us to the fact that there have been many antichrists in history. This refers to false teachers, and it’s important to know that they are active today.
Here is how they are described in 2 John 7: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (See also, 1 John 2:22.) In 1 John 4:3, the apostle described “the spirit of antichrist.”
1 Timothy 3:16 describes Jesus with the words, “God was manifest in the flesh.” John 1:14 tells us that “The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us” describing Jesus as the one unique Son of God the Father.
Those who continue to profess that Jesus is the Christ – the Son of God who became a flesh and blood human being – do so by the Holy Spirit. Those who contest that fact are of the spirit of antichrist. As one author wrote, “In [1 John] 2:18 and 4:3 antichrist is a coming apocalyptic figure, the opponent of Christ whose power increases prior to the end but who is finally judged and destroyed. This figure, however, is already at work in false teachers (antichrists) who come from within the community and whose appearance shows that the last hour is near (1 Jn. 2:18; cf. 4:3; 2 Jn. 7).[i] In several of the messages from the Book of Daniel last year, we studied the coming Antichrist. Also, in a message from 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, we studied the Antichrist at length.[ii]
“Antichrist” refers to a substitute for the true Christ, who, in effect and finally in fact, opposes Christ. The Bible emphasizes the presence of the spirit of antichrist among us today as well as the coming of the ultimate Antichrist. But believers will face his fury by faith.
Who Will the Ultimate Antichrist Will Be Like?
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave his power, and his seat [throne], and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Revelation 13:1-3)
This beast is the same one described in Daniel 7:7 and Revelation 17:7-8. Connecting this passage to the one in Daniel 7 leads us to believe that the Antichrist will spring from the roots of the old Roman Empire. (The list in Daniel describes the empires of Babylon, the Medo-Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. For more explanation, see “Earthly Kingdoms and the Everlasting Kingdom”[iii] on our website.)
The first beast is from the sea; the second beast (in verse 11) is from the land. Across the years, commentators have understood this to mean that the first beast is from the Gentiles nations while the second (the false prophet) will be from Israel. This first beast from the sea is a replica of Satan, the dragon described in Revelation 12:3.
According to Daniel 7:24, the beast’s 10 horns with crowns represent 10 kingdoms. This is only my opinion, but my best guess would be that these will be 10 geographical regions of the world where former distinct nations are combined.
The beastly characteristics described in verse 2 remind us of the powerful kingdoms described in Daniel 7:4-6. But verse 2 makes it clear that the Devil will give this beast his power, throne and authority.
Verse 3 includes another notable feature of this coming Antichrist. He will receive a deadly wound, die and be resurrected! This corresponds to the depiction of the beast in Revelation 17:8 when the people of the earth “… behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
This imitation of the facts of the Gospel should cause you to look deeper. Do you know what the Old Testament and the New Testament really teach about the Promised Messiah? Have you placed faith in the true Christ who died for your sins, rose again bodily from the grave and ascended to His Father in Heaven? If so, you can face Satan’s fury.
How Will the Ultimate Antichrist Be Worshiped?
“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” (Revelation 13:4-5)
When the people of the world see this Antichrist, who apparently conquers death itself, they will worship the Devil. They will glorify him with the questions, “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war with him?”
These verses make it clear that the people of the earth will combine politics and religion (in much the same way that Roman emperors were worshiped). Satan will empower the Antichrist (as also described in 2 Thessalonians 2:9) and these people will worship the dragon; they will glorify the Devil who gives power to the beast. This has been Satan’s goal all along. In “the 5 ‘I will’s’” of Isaiah 14:13-14, Satan said, “I will be like the Most High.”
In Matthew 4, he tested Christ with self-serving lies to try to get Jesus to worship him. These self-serving lies abound today. Politicians assure you that their next election will bring revival and restoration. Advertisers promise you that their products will cause others to praise you. Game makers promise gamers that their new game will grip them with the ultimate thrill. Entertainers preoccupy you with their lies about love and life. But remember, it is one small step from serving yourself to serving Satan. Live by your feelings, and you will fall before that liar, instead of following the Lord.
The Antichrist will demonstrate amazing oratorical and rhetorical skills as he speaks “great things and blasphemies.” Across the ages, some of the most dangerous people have been great orators. One need only think of Hitler or Mussolini to remember the way they could sway the masses with their speaking ability. And the Antichrist’s devious, demonic, demonstrations will go on for 42 months (the latter half of the Tribulation).[iv] But from reading the rest of the Book of the Revelation, we know the answer to the question, “Who can go to war against the beast?” According to Revelation 19:15, Jesus Christ will conquer them and rule with a rod of iron. This is why believers can face Satan’s fury with simple faith in the Savior.
What Will the Ultimate Antichrist Do?
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred, and tongues, and nations.” (Revelation 13:6-7)
At one time, the Devil was the premier angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14, Isaiah 14:12), the anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28:14) in Heaven. He glorified the name of God around the throne of God. But during the Tribulation, this fallen angel will empower the Antichrist to blaspheme God’s name, God’s dwelling place and all those who dwell in Heaven – saints and angels.
And on earth, “Satan’s superman” will make war with the saints to overcome them. And he will be given authority over all the tribes, languages and nations of the earth. The former light-bearer will go to war against all those who are saints of God and the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). But believers will face this giant’s fury by placing faith in Jesus.
Now the question that lingers in the air is this: who will give the Antichrist all this power? Verse 4 says that the dragon will give power to the beast. But the question remains: who allowed the dragon to do so? This is especially important when you remember that the Antichrist will defeat the saints of that age! In Job 1:12 the Lord gave the Devil power over saintly Job. In Job 2:3, the Lord said to the Devil, “you moved me against him to destroy him without cause.” In that verse we can see that, sometimes, the Lord grants authority to the Devil to do evil against the saints. Are you prepared to receive that truth? Ultimately, this life and existence is not about us; it’s about Lord and His glory. If God was greatly glorified by the steadfast patience of Job (James 5:11), then the saints of all generations can glorify Him the same way.
Who Will Worship The Ultimate Antichrist?
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear.” (Revelation 13:8-9)
Are the people of earth ready to yield to such a ruler of the world? Paul Henri-Spaak, one of the founders of the European Union, signed the Treaty of Rome in March of 1957. On one occasion, he wrote, “We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he god or devil, we will receive him.”[v] Remember those words “lift us out of the economic morass” when we study mystery Babylon in a later message.
All the people of the earth will worship the Antichrist with one exception: Christian believers. These are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
God’s plan – before the beginning of the world – was that His Son would pay for the sins of mankind. God’s Son would redeem repentant rebels. The term “Book of Life” referred to the census books of the cities of that time. They would blot out someone’s name when that person died. But passages such as Revelation 3:5, promise believers that their names will never be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life[vi] – because they have eternal life.
So when the disciples gloated that the demons were subject to them (Luke 10:20), Jesus reminded them not to rejoice over that. Instead they should rejoice that their names were written in heaven. Even Judas could cast out demons, Matthew 10 teaches us.
He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10)
- What a believer should remember to persevere
Verse 10 describes what is commonly called, “the principle of sowing and reaping.” Obadiah 15 puts it this way: “For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.” Jesus counseled us this way in Matthew 7:12 “Therefore all things whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Persevere in doing good knowing that God will pour out His revenge on the rebels.
- How a believer should respond: Patience and “F.A.I.T.H.”
In 2017, we devoted a whole series of messages to the phrase in Habakkuk 2:3, “Wait for It.” You can access that series online here.[vii] A number of Christian ministries today talk about discipleship; it’s a Biblical term. But we have to ask if it is used with Biblical meaning. Jesus said, “to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Jesus laid out His pattern for His disciples. He did not say, “satisfy and gratify yourself,” He said, “deny youself.”
Are our churches and Christian institutions producing sacrificial servants? Jesus said, “Take up your cross.” He did not say “take up your comforts,” nor did He say, “Take up some cause,” nor did He say, “Take up your sports.” Jesus said, “Take up your cross.” Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not say “fumble and fool around;” He called us to follow in His footsteps. And here in the Book of the Revelation, we can see why. To endure times of terrible fury and persecution, believers will need patience and faith.
You could remember Christ’s terms of discipleship by remembering the acronym, “F.A.I.T.H.” “Forsaking All, I Trust Him.” This is the mark of a true disciple. Even today, you and I are making choices: will we live for our leisure, or live for the Lord? The spirit of Antichrist will lull you to sleep in leisure until you feebly fall at the feet of Christ’s foe. There are only two choices on the shelf: pleasing God or pleasing self. Though the Antichrist will break forth in ultimate, demonic fury, believers can face his fury with faith in their Savior by forsaking all and trusting Him.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio https://www.cbcfindlay.org/who-can-go-to-war-against-the-beast/
For a Spanish translation of this message, click here.
For a Portuguese translation of this message, click here.
[i] Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985), 1335.
[ii] See “The Antichrist” accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1221882475
[iii] See “Earthly Kingdoms and the Everlasting Kingdom” at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/earthly-kingdoms-and-the-everlasting-kingdom/
[iv] See Christ and Antichrist, parts 1 and 2 accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/christ-and-antichrist/ and https://www.cbcfindlay.org/christ-and-antichrist-part-2/
[v][v] Francis S.E. Codjoe, Jr. “The Great European Union Referendum Debate” AuthorHouse, 2016. The author quotes extensively from Sir Robert Anderson’s work, “The Coming Prince.”
[vi] For more about the Lamb’s Book of Life, see Revelation 17:8; 20:12, 15, 21:27, Philippians 4:3
[vii]Calvary Baptist Church, sermon series: “Wait for It” accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=calvaryfindlay&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=Wait+for+It
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