What About the Antichrist? Note: in this lesson we are not pursuing when he will or appear or who he is … we are focusing more on what he will be doing.

Think about this … What was a situation when you were deceived or misled by a sales advertisement or other situation? How did that deception make you feel? What qualities of the ad/deal were most appealing and easiest to fall for?

Think about this … Deception exists that will impact us forever … especially the deception of evil  The Antichrist of the end times will be deceptive in far more severe ways than slick advertising today  Today we look at how he will attempt to sway Christians from what they know is true

The Evil Trinity ( Revelation 13:1-10) (13 th Cent; Getty; MS. LUDWIG III 1, FOL. 34V )

Revelation 13 I.The Dragon (13:1a) II.The Beast from the Sea (13:1b-10) III.The Beast from the Earth (13:11-18)

The Evil Trinity  Dragon (13:1) = Satan (12:9)  Beast out of the Sea (13:1-10) = Antichrist  Beast from the Earth (13:11-18) = False Prophet

I.The Dragon (13:1a) The dragon is Satan, “the Serpent of old,” “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:9- 10). He has been defeated by Michael and his companion angels (12:8-9). He is barred from heaven, humiliated, and he has two things: great wrath and little time (3 ½ years). His wrath is pointed at the people of Christ (12:17)

I.The Dragon (13:1a)  “stood on the sand of the seashore” This phrase “sand of the seashore” is associated with the Gentile nations in 20:8. So John is seeing Satan assume a place of dominance over them.

II. The Beast from the Sea (13:1b-10) A.His Description (vv. 1b-2) B.His Miraculous Healing (v. 3a) C.His Universal Worship (vv. 3b-4) D.His Satanic Power 1.Blasphemy (vv. 5a, 6) 2.Authority (vv. 5b, 7) E.His Universal Worship (v. 8)

The Antichrist Antichrist is a name given to one who, in the end times, will present himself to the world in a likeness to Christ. He seeks the authority and worship that is due Christ, and he will eventually persecute the saints.

The Antichrist (1 John 2:18 * )  The one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27)  The willful king (Daniel 11:3)  The little horn (Daniel 7:8; 8:9)  Man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3)  Son of perdition (2 Thess. 2:3)  Beast (Revelation 13) * Anti = against or in the place of

The Antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) A.His Description (vv. 1b-2)  out of the sea

The Sea in the Bible Yahweh’s struggle and victory over evil is often depicted as against the sea and its monsters.  Psalm 18:15  Job 7:12; Jer. 5:22  Hab. 3:15  Is. 27:1

The Antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) A. His Description (vv. 1b-2)  ten horns and seven heads 7 heads = 7 empires (17:9f) fallen = Egypt/Assyria/Babylon/Persia/Greece one is = Rome other has not yet come = revived Rome

The Antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) A. His Description (vv. 1b-2)  ten horns and seven heads 10 horns = 10 kings in that revived empire (17:12f)

The Antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) A.His Description (vv. 1b-2)  out of the sea  ten horns and seven heads  ten diadems on his horns  blasphemous names on his heads  leopard/bear/lion (composite of Dan. 7)  power, throne, authority from the dragon

The Antichrist B.His Miraculous Healing (v. 3a)  one head “as if slain”  his fatal wound was healed

One head slain / resurrected 1.Antichrist is personally slain & resurrected (actual or illusion?) 2.Empire politically revived

One head slain/resurrected (Ez ) 1.White horse rider conquers by political persuasion; 7 year treaty resolves Arab-Israeli conflict (Rev. 6; Dan. 9) 2.3 Kings of 10 nation confederacy rebel; Antichrist defeats them. 3.King of the north, with Arab allies will gather to attack Israel; looks bad for AC 4.God directly destroys this vast army on the mountains of Israel, giving AC world dominion

The Antichrist C.His Universal Worship (vv. 3b-4)  amazed (Lk. 8:25; 11:14; 2 Thess. 1:10)  followed after the beast  worshipped the dragon & the beast  “Who is like the beast…?” (10X of God)

The Antichrist D.His Satanic Power 1.Blasphemy (vv. 5a, 6)  His name, tabernacle, and people 2.Authority (vv. 5b, 7)  persecute the saints  authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation

The Antichrist E.His Universal Worship (v. 8)  All will worship him who have not been written before the foundation of the world in the slain Lamb’s Book of Life

II. The Beast from the Sea (13:1b-10) A.His Description (vv. 1b-2) B.His Miraculous Healing (v. 3a) C.His Universal Worship (vv. 3b-4) D.His Satanic Power 1. Blasphemy (vv. 5a, 6) 2. Authority (vv. 5b, 7) E.His Universal Worship (v. 8)

Listen for the description of the unusual appearance of the beast. Rev. 13:1-6 (NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. [2] The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Listen for the description of the unusual appearance of the beast. [3] One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. [4] Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

Listen for the description of the unusual appearance of the beast. [5] The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. [6] He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

Satan’s Front Man What were the features included in the description of the appearance of the beast? What do we learn about his power? Note the ways in which the beast and the dragon imitate Christ with a twisted, evil intent. BeastChrist appeared fatally wounded but healed 42 month reign mark of the beast died, rose again 3 – 3 ½ year ministry seal of those who are believers (14:1)

Satan’s Front Man What are the reactions of people to the beast? Why do you think people are fooled by the beast and the dragon?

Satan’s Front Man Blasphemy is slander directed against God. – Why does Satan do this himself? – Why does Satan want people to express concept against God? What are some specific examples in our culture of modern day blasphemy or slander directed against God?

Listen for the extent of the authority of the Antichrist. Rev. 13:7b-8 (NIV) And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. [8] All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. … [16] He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor,

Listen for the extent of the authority of the Antichrist. free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, [17] so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. [18] This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

The Controller What words and phrases describe the extent of the authority of the beast? What group was excluded from those who receive his authority? What steps does the Antichrist take to gain economic control? Note: – the seal of the Lamb (14:1) becomes a guarantee of entry into heaven – the mark of the beast gives temporary freedom … but later guarantees entry into hell

The Controller Speculate on what form the mark of the beast might take in our technological age today. What kinds of dangers can result from this kind of activity? Consider that we can be “marked” by our direct or indirect participation in questionable practices in order to – receive some benefit – avoid some discomfort – avoid inconvenience

Listen for how believers are to respond to persecution. Rev. 13:7a (NIV) He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. … 13:[9] He who has an ear, let him hear. [10] If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

The Persecutor What kinds of things can Christians expect to experience if they stay true to Christ? How can the Antichrist make war against the saints (Christians) today in our culture? What about in foreign cultures where Christians are a minority … how does the spirit of Antichrist make war against believers there?

The Persecutor What admonition in this passage is given for believers in these situations? What kinds of actions and attitudes build these virtues in believers?

Who is the Earth-Beast? 1.Jewish religious system of the 1 st century that conspired with the Roman state to suppress and persecute the early church 2.Roman imperial priesthood that sought to enforce caesar worship 3.Pope 4.Symbolic portrayal of the presence and influence of false teachers, particularly false prophets, throughout church history

Who is the Earth-Beast? 1.Jewish religious system of the 1 st century that conspired with the Roman state to suppress and persecute the early church 2.Roman imperial priesthood that sought to enforce caesar worship 3.Pope 4.Symbolic portrayal of the presence and influence of false teachers, particularly false prophets, throughout church history

Nero Redivivus Myth Nero took his own life in 68 A.D. Rumors circulated that he was still alive and would return to seek revenge on his enemies. History records several early Nero imposters. There arose a popular legend that Nero would rise from the dead and return to conquer the Roman world. Many think that John is borrowing this legend of Nero to depict a beast that is Rome.

Who is the Earth-Beast? This beast is the “false prophet” (16:13; 19:20; 20:10) who is the ally of the Antichrist (13:1-10) and the servant of Satan, the dragon. Together these three form the unholy Trinity.

The Evil Trinity  Dragon (13:1) = Satan (12:9)  Beast out of the Sea (13:1-10) = Antichrist  Beast from the Earth (13:11-18) = False Prophet (16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

The False Prophet (13:11-18)  “out of the earth”  “two horns like a lamb”  “spoke as a dragon” – He is Satan’s mouthpiece. 

The False Prophet (13:11-18) His Activity:  exercises all authority of the 1 st beast  makes all to worship the 1 st beast

The False Prophet (13:11-18) His deception  Great signs (fire from heaven)  Directs people to make image of 1 st beast  Brings image of the beast to life, to speak and cause all that do not worship the image to be killed.

The False Prophet (13:11-18) His economic oppression  He causes all to receive a mark (brand, imprint on coin) upon right hand or forehead  No one may buy or sell unless he has the name or number of the beast.

The Number of the Beast: 666 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. Calculate is a verb derived from the noun, pebble (Luke 14:28). The ancients used pebbles for counting.

The Number of the Beast: 666 I.The Chronological View The number refers to the duration of the life of the beast or his kingdom E.G., In 1213, Pope Innocent III called for a new crusade because he insisted that the 666 years of Islamic power would end.

The Number of the Beast: 666 II.The Symbolic View In this view, the number is not identifying the beast, but describing him merely as man. As seven is the divine number, six is the human number. “Six six six” is a parody of the divine trinity. “for it is man’s number.”

The Number of the Beast: 666 III.The Historical View This view sees this number as representing a specific person, whose identity is learned through a Gematria.

The Number of the Beast: 666 My answer: Irenaeus, second century Bishop of Lyons, advised that we not speculate about the identity of this person. God will give a prevailing discernment at the time he appears. All specific identification for 1900 years has been speculative and inaccurate.

Application Know that those who believe and follow Christ are secure in Him – Their names have been recorded in the Book of Life – Loyalty and devotion to Christ are far more important than economic security – Any leader who demands our worship is not from God … your security is in God, not in some human leader

Prayer of Commitment Father, as you make me aware of evil around me, help me to be both bold and loving in how I address evil.