Revelation 13:1-10
The Beast from the Sea
- the Great Counterfeit!
Read our text
Introduction
Ex. Let's do a little review - it's worth some cash to whoever remembers...
...the main participants in the Tribulation period.
The Woman
The Dragon
The Male Child
Michael
The Godly Remnant
The Beast from the Sea
The Beast from the Earth
Okay - so it's fake money!
It's a counterfeit - a bad copy of the real thing.
Our study this morning concerns Satan's counterfeit of Jesus…
The "Antichrist" = "in place of Christ".
Just like this play money - Satan's counterfeit is a bad copy of the Real Thing!
Ex. We've already been introduced to this counterfeit - the rider on the White Horse in Rev. 6- false Messiah of Peace.
John now gives us greater details in Chapter 13 regarding the person, nature, and activities of the Antichrist during the Tribulation.
Ap. We’re not going to give you his name!
Many folks have wrongly identified various evil men throughout history as the Antichrist...
Nero
Pope (s)
Hitler
Kissenger
Saddam Hussein
King Juan Carlos
...the careful student of scripture will find that the Bible is silent as to his exact identity!
No name - no SSI
In fact, the Bible is clear that the Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Rapture of the Church (2 Thess. 2:7)! Therefore, we can’t positively identify him today!
However, the Bible is chock full of clues that will positively identify this final evil world leader when he does come.
Those who are living on the earth at this time will be able to tell the counterfeit from the Real if they look at the Bible.
So let's look at the Beast from the Sea – the Antichrist!
The home of the Beast (vs. 1-2)
Rev 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Rev 13:2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
√ The home of the Beast
We begin our study by noticing that John declares this beast rises out of the sea!?
What's that mean? Is it a literal sea, or is the sea a symbol of something?
1) Symbolic interpretation - look at Rev. 17:15
Rev 17:15 And he said
to me, "The waters which you saw,
where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Sea = the mass of humanity from which Satan brings forth his counterfeit Christ.
That is, the Antichrist is just a man – he does not come from heaven like the real Christ did.
2) Literal interpretation
The sea may also have a literal interpretation.
That is, the Antichrist will rise up from the nations along the
Both interpretations work as we've already identified the
nation from which the Antichrist rises as the revived
…which borders the Sea.
So, the Antichrist will be a man who rises up from the peoples that constitute the New Roman Empire – the European Union.
Just in case we might miss the identification of the home of the Beast, John gives us additional details regarding the nation the Antichrist rules.
√ The Beast’s heads
Note that John tells us in vs. 1 that he has…
7 heads
10 horns
Same as the description of the Dragon in Rev. 12!
That's because the Beast - the Antichrist - will have the same characteristics as Satan (he's possessed by Satan).
And, he rises from the same nation through which Satan works
to destroy
√ The Beast’s body
Vs. 2…
"Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion." And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority."
Strange looking animal!
Body of leopard
Feet of a bear
Mouth of a lion
All these symbols come to us from Daniel 7 in which the world-ruling nations of Man are described by symbols of wild beasts.
What makes this so interesting is that John lists them in reverse order of Daniel!
Daniel was looking forward - John is looking back!
The point we're to get from this section is that the
All the majesty and power of a lion (
The strength & tenacity of a bear (Medo-Persian empire)
The swiftness of a leopard (
These symbols may also give us a picture of the geography of the kingdom that the Antichrist controls…
Further, what makes this last world ruling kingdom even more terrifying than all the previous kingdoms of the world is that this one will be…
…empowered by Satan himself!
That is, this final world leader who we call the Antichrist will rule and lead the most...
Powerful
Influential
...nation that has ever existed!
Ex. Hitler's armies were unstoppable in Europe and Africa during the second world war - think what he would have been like had he been given all of Satan's power and authority!
Ap. The miracle of God's prophetic Word.
Who would have ever imagined that the people of
The people of
What Napoleon and Hitler could not do…
…we now see these former enemies standing arm-in-arm under the banner of the European Union!
So, the home of the beast – this counterfeit Christ, will be the Revived Roman Empire – most likely the European Union!
√ Next we find that those left on the earth during the Tribulation period are captivated by something unique about this man.
The head of the Beast (vs. 3)
Rev 13:3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
Look also at...
Rev 13:12 And he
exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the
earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
...and
Rev 13:14 And he
deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do
in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an
image to the beast who was wounded by
the sword and lived.
√ The head of the Beast
John gives us some additional insight into the identity of this pretend Messiah…
…notably that he recovers from what everyone will believe is a fatal head wound!
Most Bible students believe that whomever this counterfeit Christ will be, he will be killed – perhaps assassinated – sometime during the first half of the Tribulation and then miraculously rise from the dead.
The question comes to mind - can the Devil raise the dead?
Answer…
Yes if God gives him the power to do so.
No, he may not have actually been killed - just looked
like it.
The key words in vs. 3…
"as if"
Which would seem to indicate that the Antichrist isn’t actually killed, rather, the people of the world think that he has been killed!
Whichever is the case those who live on the earth at that time will believe that he was killed and that by some miracle he has been resurrected.
What's the point of that? Satan wants to create as near a perfect counterfeit of Jesus as he can - so he copies the death and resurrection of Christ!
√ Another cool clue...
Zec 11:17 Woe to
the worthless shepherd, who leaves
the flock! A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; his arm shall completely wither, and his
right eye shall be totally blinded.
Whatever wound he receives will leave him blind in one eye and without the use on one arm.
Ex. "Beware of the one-legged man" - "count em Jim - one leg!" J
The desire of the Beast (vs. 4 & 8)
Rev 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
And...
Rev 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
√ The desire of the Beast
In response to the resurrection of the Antichrist, (real or illusionary), the whole world (except those Jews & Gentiles who have been saved) ascribe worship to him and to his father the Devil.
Crying out...
"Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
That is, in the minds of all those who dwell on the earth there is no one who is equal to the Antichrist or Satan.
Who else cannot be conquered even by death!?
With the worship of the Antichrist, Satan gets what he has always wanted - the worship that is due only to God.
His pride - Isa. 14:13-14
His request - Matt. 4:9
He finally gets what he wants through the promotion and organization of a One World religion that worships his man the Antichrist.
It's a counterfeit of the worship of the Church who worships Jesus Christ the Son of God who truly did rise from the dead, and His heavenly Father Who gave him all power and authority.
So, we see that the desire of the Beast will be to receive the worship of the World.
The mouth of the Beast (vs. 5-6)
Rev 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Rev 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
√ The mouth of the Beast
Here is another interesting contrast between the Real and the Counterfeit Messiah.
Jesus – during His earthly ministry He spoke with great humility and honesty about Himself, even when He identified Himself as God.
Antichrist – during his reign he will speak with arrogance and blasphemy.
Ex. Paul’s instructions
2Th 2:3 Let no
one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling
away comes first, and the man of sin is
revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 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.
And...
Dan 11:36 "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37 "He
shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard
any god; for he shall magnify himself
above them all.
The Antichrist mimics Jesus by proclaiming himself to be God!
Jesus spoke the Truth - the Antichrist speaks blasphemy.
In fact John tells us that the Antichrist will spend the last half of the Tribulation (42 months) speaking blasphemy against...
God
God’s Name
God’s Temple
Everyone in heaven
So, the mouth of the Beast is a blasphemous mouth!
The war of the Beast (vs. 7)
Rev 13:7 And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
√ The war of the Beast
John tells us here that the Antichrist will make war against the “saints”.
The “saints” mentioned here are those Jews and Gentiles who have come to faith in Jesus after the Rapture of the Church.
The Antichrist will not be happy with them because they will refuse to worship him or his image.
Much like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who refused to bow before the image made by Nebuchadnezzar.
However, here the saints will find that they are powerless against the fury of Satan and the Beast - many will lose their lives for their refusal to worship any but Jesus.
To chose Jesus in those dark days will be to chose a martyrs death.
Yet - like all the saints throughout the ages who have given their life for God…
…they will do so willingly rather than worship a false god or worse the Devil himself.
Ex. Andronicus - 303 A.D.
"Do your worst. I am a Christian. Christ is my help and supporter and thus armed I will never serve your gods, nor do I fear your authority or that or your master, the Emperor. Commence your torments as soon as you please, and make use of every means that your malignity can invent, and you shall find in the end that I am not to be shaken from my resolution."
So, we see that the future Antichrist will wage war against all those who refuse to worship him.
The servants of the Beast (vs. 8-10)
Rev 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
√ The servants of the Beast
John ends this section regarding the Beast from the sea with a warning to those who chose the Antichrist over Jesus the Christ.
Vs. 10 is better translated...
"If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goes. If any man is to be killed by the sword, he must be killed by the sword."
In a word - it's a warning of divine judgement against those who serve the Antichrist in his destruction of God's saints.
If you take a saint into captivity - into captivity you'll go!
If you kill a saint - you'll be killed also.
In other words, those who serve the Beast won't find safety by hiding behind the him. God will bring His wrath upon those who serve the Beast.
√ An interesting invitation.
Rev 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Sounds familiar doesn't it? An invitation from God to hear and receive His words that a person might turn from destruction to the living God.
Just like in chapters 2 & 3 where Jesus spoke to each of the 7 churches a similar promise...
...with one big difference.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
The invitation of Jesus in chapters 2 & 3 were given to the Church - this invitation is to anyone who has an ear.
The implication is that at this point in the Tribulation the Spirit is no longer speaking to the Church because the Church is no longer on the planet!
So the invitation is extended to anyone who might be having second thoughts about this counterfeit Christ.
A picture of God’s Amazing Grace in that He continues to offer a way out to the people on earth.
Close
√ The Real and the Counterfeit
We've learned that there is both a Real Christ, and a counterfeit Christ.
The Real Christ The
Counterfeit Christ
Would not receive Christ Will receive the
(John 5:43) Antichrist
Would not believe Truth Will believe the lie
(II Thess. 2:8-12)
Jesus speaks Gracious words Will listen to his
of Salvation, men turn a blasphemous words
deaf ear
The warning to the non-Christian this morning - get to know the Real Deal before the counterfeit shows up.
The lesson for Christians is - watch that you don't get sucked into the works of the Antichrist.