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Revelation - The Age of the Apocalypse

“The Nature of the Beast” Revelation 13:1-10

Date:October 19, 2022
Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Introduction:

 

Since he was not able to destroy the Promised Seed at Jesus’ birth, Satan set his life purpose to destroy those who believed in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Revelation 13 describes the events Satan will use during the seven years of tribulation to bring the whole world under his control, including severe persecution and martyrdom. 

However, Satan’s rule will not be for long, for when the Lord returns, all of the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdom of our Lord, and Satan, along with the Beast and the False Prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.

While Christians will not see the rise of the Antichrist, the study of this passage should inspire us to share the gospel with those with whom we want to spend eternity.

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The Age of the Apocalypse

“The Nature of the Beast”
Revelation 13:1-10

 

   According to the Bible, the cataclysmic event that will push the whole world into chaos will be the great disappearance of all Christians and small children.

  • The Bible calls this event the “Rapture” of the Church.
  • In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul said, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
  • At some point after the Rapture, the world will enter what the Bible calls the time of Tribulation.
  • It is in the midst of such tribulation that those who are left behind will look for a world leader who can promise peace and bring order out of disorder.
  • Such a man will arise who is called “Antichrist.” He, along with the Beast and the False Prophet, will control the whole earth for the last 3 ½ years of this age.

  1. The Personality of the Beast — Revelation 13:1-2 – “I stood on the sand of the sea, and 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, and 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.”

The Satanic Trinity:

  • Satan – who will pretend to be God the Father.
  • Antichrist – who will pretend to be God the Son.
  • False Prophet – who will pretend to be the Holy Spirit.

John said the beast rose up out of the sea.

  • 17:15 refers to the sea of humanity, but also to the Mediterranean Sea.
  • The future world leader, the Antichrist, will arise from the Revived Roman Empire.

John said the beast had seven heads, referring to:

  • The five kings who had ruled the world up to John’s Day; Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
  • The sixth king, Domitian, who was in control of the Roman Empire at the time John wrote the book of Revelation.
  • The seventh king, the Antichrist, will reign during the seven years of the Tribulation.

John said the beast had ten horns with ten crowns upon the horn.

  • Horns symbolize power, and the fact that there are ten horns indicates a confederated power of ten nations.
  • Crowns symbolize authority, which means the Antichrist will rule over the fourth, and final world empire.
  • The Antichrist will have a mouth like a lion, feet like a bear, a body like a leopard, but with an evil, sneaky, and beastly nature.
  • According to Daniel chapters 2-7, human history can be summed up in five world empires, three which have already passed – Babylonian, Medes and Persians, and Grecian; one that collapsed from within, but not destroyed, the Roman Empire, and the Revived Roman Empire, from which the Antichrist and False Prophet will arise.

The personality of the Antichrist:

  • A worldwide dictator with all the evil of every other demon-possessed dictator combined.
  • He will be so polished and powerful that the whole world will accept him as their king, and worship him.

  1. The Power of the Beast – Revelation 13:2-6 – Vs. 2 – “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”

  • The Antichrist will be mortally wounded, but Satan will inhabit his body to make it appear the Antichrist was raised from the dead.
  • Being empowered by Satan, the Antichrist will have the power of personal persuasion and appeal, and he will use those skills to blaspheme God and attack those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior during the tribulation.

  1. The Purpose of the Beast — Revelation 13:7-10 – Vs. 7 – “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 goal of the Antichrist is to destroy the millions who will confess Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord during the tribulation, but he will not succeed.
  • According to Revelation 20:4, John saw, “The souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
  • Their love for Christ will mean more to them than their own lives.

Soon, there will be a new order: a One-World Government under the authority of the Antichrist.

  • Do you want to be left behind to be under his control?
  • Do you want to be lifted to heaven by allowing Jesus full control of your life today?