Rich Realities from Revelation: The Church Will Overcome the Beasts (Revelation 13)
Rich Realities from Revelation: Revelation 13
“The Church will Overcome the Beasts!”
In our study of Revelation, we have seen six “rich realities” so far:
#1 - Jesus is the King and High Priest who holds the churches of Christ in His hand.
#2 - Christians will be victorious if they do not compromise the gospel of Christ.
#3 - God and Christ deserve worship.
#4 - God knows (seals) those who are His.
#5 - God wants all men to repent in order to be saved.
#6 - The Church must continue to evangelize.
We will not take the time to talk further about the four keys to interpreting Revelation; I invite you to listen to the first lesson on Revelation, on our website or YouTube page. Let’s get into the study itself…
Before we get into our chosen text for this morning, let’s briefly review chapter 12…
Remember that the book of Revelation is a series of visions - they are images that John sees - the verb “I saw” is used 39 times in the book! - like a pop-up book for little children.
THE “SYMBOLS” IN CHAPTER 12:
John says that chapter 12 is a “great sign.” He sees a woman who gives birth to a child. There is also a dragon in this vision who has 10 heads and 7 horns. The dragon tried to swallow the child, but God took care of the woman and allowed the child to be born.
In this vision - which suggests we ought to be very hesitant to take all this symbolism literally - John also sees “war” in heaven and the dragon could not beat the angels of God and he was thrown down.
Now, in verse 9, John literally identifies for us one of these symbols - the dragon is the devil (which means “slanderer”) and Satan (which means “adversary”). He is the “serpent of old,” which dates Satan back to the Garden of Eden. Clearly the male child who was born is Jesus Christ.
The dragon (Satan) persecuted the woman (ver. 13). He could not kill the male child, so in verse 17, the dragon decides to make war with the rest of her children - the followers of Jesus Christ (Christians) - who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
How does Satan wage war with the church of Christ? Chapter 13 answers that question. I have mentioned before that Revelation is “Daniel Part 2.” In chapters 7 and 8, Daniel sees a series of animals which symbolize a series of world empires which will come and go, between the Babylonian Empire and the Roman Empire. The fourth beast of Daniel’s visions is the Roman Empire, which is more terrible than the other beasts and embraces the existence of the other beasts.
The first persecution that was state-sponsored against a group of people for its religious beliefs was the persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who ruled during the Greek Empire, and he persecuted Jews in Jerusalem. But the persecution under Antiochus was not nation-wide as the persecution will be under the Roman Empire, during the days of John and the first-century Christians.
So how does Satan persecute?
THE BEAST ARISING OUT OF THE SEA - 13:1-10:
In the first lesson I gave in January on Revelation, I gave a series of questions, a series of “hypotheticals” to help us see how Revelation could be applied in our society…
What if…” The federal government decided under the auspices of “civil rights” to require doctors and nurses to perform gender reassignment surgery (or feminizing hormone therapy or abortion) or assist in them, or at least sign a statement saying they would if the hospital administration required them to. Imagine… That the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department wrote a letter to our local hospitals (Hurley, McLaren, and Genesys) and informed them if that they did not require all their doctors and nurses on staff to sign a statement to that effect, the federal government would cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funds to that hospital? What would our Christian doctors and nurses do? What if…?
What if the American Medical Association decided they would require the same statement - under the auspices of “civil rights” - from any doctor who wished to be recognized by the Medical Association?
What if the state of Michigan decided to require the same statement before they would issue a medical license?
What if the American Dental Association required the same thing? Even though dentistry might not have anything to do with gender reassignment surgery or hormones, logic does not apply to the left’s thinking.
What if the Michigan Education Association required the same thing before they would certify someone to be a school teacher in the state of Michigan?
Twelve days ago, the Michigan House passed a new hate crime law which adds sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity to the list of protections from - what is relevant for us - intimidation. “Intimidation” is defined very broadly to mean “repeated or continuing harassment of another individual” that would cause them to feel “terrorized, frightened or threatened.” If someone wanted to sue you because you told them twice that homosexuality is wrong, based on the Bible, and they claimed they felt “frightened,” would you be put in jail for up to two years and/or a $5,000 fine (detroitnews.com).
Like me, you probably think this is all outlandish - and maybe it is not highly probable. But it is not impossible.
Who is this beast that John sees coming up out of the abyss?
13:1-4 - “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
Notice that this beast looks very similar to the devil himself from 12:3 - seven heads and ten horns. Since these horns have diadems, we except them to refer to some kind of civil authority. In other words, this beast symbolizes the state, the government. But not a government as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 that exists to make sure Christians can live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Rather, this is the type of government, like the one Daniel lived under, which wants to persecute the people of God. In John’s case, we’re talking about Christians.
This beast also speaks blasphemous things. That is, he speaks against God and everything that is holy, and righteous, and good.
The description of him in verse 2 clearly identifies him with the series of animals from Daniel’s visions in Daniel 7 & 8. Notice that the devil is the one who gives him his power, throne, and great authority. He is under the control and influence of Satan.
One fatal wound was healed, which most Bible scholars suggest is a reference to Nero. Emperor Nero is the first Roman Emperor who persecuted Christians, even if it was only in Rome itself. When he died in AD 68, many Romans thought that he had not been killed or they believed that he would return from the dead.
The whole earth, under the influence of the Roman Empire, were amazed at the empire’s strength, military, and stability. So they decide to follow the beast. Too many people have the attitude: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” So that’s what the majority of the world decides to do.
In fact, they worship the dragon - instead of Jehovah God and His Son, Jesus Christ. They worship the dragon, and they worship the state - in John’s case, it was the emperor. The world holds the state in such high regard that they ask, “Who can wage war against the beast?” Of course, Christians then - as now - are a decided minority when it comes to the state and Roman Christians could not imagine how God could bring such a large and powerful nation to its knees. We wonder the same today, don’t we?
13:5-8 - “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 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.”
What else does John see in this beast coming up out of the sea? This beast that represents the Roman Empire?
He speaks arrogant words as well as blasphemies. He is given “authority to act for forty-two months.” I mentioned last month that this “42 months” - 3 1/2 years - is likely a metaphor for the length of time that Christians live on this earth, as a parallel to the 3 1/2 years that Jesus ministered on earth.
This beast blasphemed God, blasphemed His name, blasphemed His tabernacle, which is a metaphor for “those who dwell in heaven.” But, besides blaspheming Christians who had already gone to heaven, the beast also makes war with the saints, the Christians, who are still on earth and he has overcome them - this is the theme of the book of Revelation. Satan will win many battles before it is all said and done, but in the end, he will still lose the war.
Satan’s “kingdom” is also as universal as Christ’s kingdom - he has authority over every tribe, people, and tongue and nation. There is no nation on earth that is more godly than the United States of America - as wicked as we are becoming. There is no nation where Christians will escape persecution by Satan and his beasts. Notice in verse 8: “All who dwell on the earth 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.”
The worship of the beast and the worship of Satan is fairly universal. Never forget that the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that Satan is the god of this world. Who will worship the beast? Everyone whose name is not written in the book of life which belongs to the Lamb - and notice again that John emphasizes that Jesus was, in fact, killed. We should not think that we are above that fate.
The expression “from the foundation of the world” (ver. 8) actually comes after the designation of Christ as the Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world.” It is unfortunate that some modern translations like my NASV and the ESV put the expression after the phrase “written in the book of life” which is probably evidence of predestination according to Calvinism. Jesus was “slain from the foundation of the world” in the sense that His death was a part of God’s plan ever since the very beginning. It is also true that our persecution has been part of God’s plan if that’s what it takes to remain faithful to Christ. Two thousand years ago, Paul wrote “all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
So, those who are faithful to Christ have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb, a metaphor for having our names written in the presence of God. This is a metaphor that used throughout the Bible. But those whose names are not written there - they worship this beast.
John concludes this discussion with verses 9-10: “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.”
John had written in 1:3 the first “beatitude” of Revelation: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
John is saying, “Listen to what I’m saying!” Then he goes on to say if some are “destined to captivity,” they will go to captivity. If some kill with the sword, they will be killed by the sword. The “perseverance and faith of the saints” is this: people get what is coming to them. Now, if Christians are faithful to Christ and our government requires us to violate His moral laws in order to keep our jobs, then we may just have to lose our jobs. We must persevere and we must maintain our faith / confidence / trust in Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important than staying faithful to Christ.
The first beast we have to fight is the civil / secular government. But that’s not all.
THE BEAST COMING OUT OF THE EARTH - 13:11-18:
I remind you that one of the key messages that the letters include that are found in chapters 2-3 is that the Church must not compromise the truth of the gospel. Jesus criticizes several of those congregations because they were compromising the truth of the gospel. But we will overcome if we do not compromise the truth of the gospel!
What is this second beast that comes up out of the earth? Notice how much it parallels the imagery of Christ, as our Redeemer, and God, as our Creator. Who or what is this second beast? It is perverted Christianity as well as any other perversion of true religion…
13:11-14 - “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. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.”
Notice that this beast has some characteristics like the picture of Jesus, the Lamb, in the book of Revelation. This beast has the appearance of a lamb. But he spoke as a dragon - Satan. He has the authority of the first beast. In fact, he makes the earth to worship the first beast. In the first and second centuries, this religious beast would be the Roman pagan religions but also the perversions of Christianity evident among those churches of Christ that had compromised with their culture. There can be no compromise with people who pervert the gospel of Christ. We are not going the same direction. You have to be faithful to all of the teachings of Christ or you are not faithful to Christ (Acts 20:27).
Notice this beast performs “great signs” - but these are false signs, but they deceive people. Christ performed signs and His apostles performed signs and other first-century Christians performed signs - true miracles. Miracles done in the name of the resurrected Christ. But this beast performs signs to deceive. He even makes it appear - as Elijah did, which we saw back in chapter 11 - that fire falls down from heaven to earth. This beast is identified in other places as a “false prophet:” 16:13; 19:20; 20:10.
It is through these false signs that the beast is able to make those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the first beast and to worship him.
Verse 15-18 - “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
In an imitation of God the Creator who breathed the spirit into the nostrils of Adam, here this beast breathes life into the image of the beast. Through his efforts, those who do not worship the image of the first beast are killed. God might not protect us from the physical harm of our faithfulness to Him but He will protect us from the spiritual harm which it could bring.
Now remember the illustration I gave at the beginning of the lesson about certain organizations requiring you to sign an agreement with Politically Correct language and behavior or you not get a job or even lose a job…? In the first and second centuries, it was common practice to require people in trade guilds to offer sacrifices to pagan gods in order to be a part of that guild. They might even give tattoos to identity one as a worshipper of a certain god or emperor. That is the back ground to this mark that is given on the right hand or forehead before one could buy or sell. My illustration is very parallel to what this “mark of the beast” is. It has nothing to do with our Social Security numbers - the suggestion is preposterous. It has nothing to do with UPC codes or putting things under our skin. That is all science fiction.
The number “7” is the number of perfection in the book of Revelation and in the Bible, because God created the world in 7 days. Because “7” is the number of perfection, then “6” is the number of imperfection. “6” combined with itself three days - with “Three” being the divine number for the Godhead - then we have the “Axis of Evil:” Satan, the first beast, and the second beast.
Not long after we moved to Swartz Creek, Jewell commented that Ana had lived in Romania for 6 years, then Kentucky for 6 years, and she would live in Michigan for 6 years before she went to Freed-Hardeman - 666. Ana had the mark of the beast! You can manipulate numbers any way to desire if your imagination has not limitations.
I remember when I was in junior high school and Ronald Reagan was president, that there were jokes that he was the anti-christ because each of his names - Ronald Wilson Reagan - had 6 letters in it. You can manipulate numbers any way you desire if your imagination has no limitations. But I’ve been trying to tell you this whole study that Revelation does limit our imaginations. The symbols in this book have to have made sense to the people who first received the book!
You and I as Christians have the mark of God the Father on our foreheads, as we studied from Revelation 7. Those who do not have the mark of God on them, have the mark of the beast on them. They belong to Satan. They are his workers, his servants, some of which are disguised as angels of light (2 Cor. 11:14).
The Jews had the practice of manipulating numbers and using numbers as symbols for peoples’ names (gematria). To illustrate from English, A=1, B=2, C=3 and so forth. Based on that system, my “number” would be “50” - P=16, A=1, U=21, L=12. Using the Greek alphabet, Jews could identify Emperor Nero with the number… 666. Whether that is what John intended or not, it really is clear that while God has His followers, who have His mark, so Satan has his followers and they have their mark.
Before we extend the invitation, I will point out to you that in Revelation 19:20, John sees yet another vision and this time, the two beasts are thrown into hell - the eternal lake of fire. Yes, if we stay faithful to Christ, we will win!
Take home message: Christians will be victorious over the beast (the secular government) and the false prophet (false religion, including perverted Christianity) if we stay faithful to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.