“The Beast” Revelations 13

A loathsome person… Related Names & Key Passages Related Names & Key Passages –“The little horn” (Dan. 7:8,24,25) –“The prince/ruler who is to come” (Dan. 9:26) –“The king” (Dan. 11:36-45) –“The man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3) –“Antichrist” (1 John 2:18) –“The Beast” (Rev. 13)

Introducing “The Beast” “And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.” From 12:1 – “the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” –Satan: the frustrated ruler of a broken kosmos. “Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe.” 2 Cor. 4:4 –The Great Tribulation: Satan finally establishes the Ultimate Kingdom “For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.” 2 Thes. 2:7

Introducing “The Beast” “And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.” The Sea: “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues” (cf. 17:15) His time of worldwide dominion arrives. His time of worldwide dominion arrives. Thru an agent… Thru an agent…

Introducing “The Beast” “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. 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. 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…” - Rev. 13:1-4

“The Beast” “The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion…” –Daniel 7:2 “Daniel said, ‘I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea…’” –Then a succession of three great kingdoms: Neo- Babylonians, Persians and Greeks. –Then, “a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” (Dan. 7:7)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) –Phase 1: Rome Conquers Greece (Dan.2,7)  Destroys Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 ad (Dan. 9:26) –Phase 2: “Rome” arises again, but as a coalition of 10 “Kings”, or nations (Dan.2,7).  A type of Rome (in Dan. 2: “10 kings” and “mixed”).  “Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.” Dan. 7:24  A great ruler arises: the “little horn” of Daniel 7.  Occurs at the end of human history on earth (Dan. 2,7)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) –A “Revived Roman Empire” with significant ethnic differences. –Essentially a European coalition of nations. –Consists of 10 nations.

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler –“the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast…” (Rev. 13:3) –“authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Rev.13:7)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “dragon” Empowered by the “dragon” –“The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” (Rev.13:2) –“They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast” (Rev. 13:4) “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…” (Rev.13:5-10)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “dragon” Empowered by the “dragon” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” 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. (Rev.13:11-13) 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. 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. (Rev.13:13-15)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “dragon” Empowered by the “dragon” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Establishes a Counterfeit Religion –Persecutes Believers (“He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them” 13:7) –The “Abomination of Desolation” (Dan.9:26) “... and on each head a blasphemous name... The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies... He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place...” Revelation 13:1,5,6 Revelation 13:1,5,6 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thes.2:4)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “dragon” Empowered by the “dragon” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Controls the economies of the world. Controls the economies of the world. “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.” (Rev.13:16-18)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “dragon” Empowered by the “dragon” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Controls the economies of the world. Controls the economies of the world. Exercises unparalleled military strength. Exercises unparalleled military strength. –“Men worshiped the beast and asked, ‘Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?’” (Rev. 13:3) “... he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones, and treasures. And he will take action against the strongest of fortresses...” - Daniel 11:38,39

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “serpent of old” Empowered by the “serpent of old” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Controls the economies of the world. Controls the economies of the world. Exercises unparalleled military strength. Exercises unparalleled military strength. Short duration Short duration –“There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty- two months was given to him.” (Rev.13:5) “If anyone drags others into captivity, into captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed.” (Rev.13:10)

“The Beast” Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Arises out of the old Roman Empire (Daniel) Becomes a powerful global ruler Becomes a powerful global ruler Empowered by the “serpent of old” Empowered by the “serpent of old” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Comes with “Signs and Wonders” Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Establishes a Counterfeit Religion Controls the economies of the world. Controls the economies of the world. Exercises unparalleled military strength. Exercises unparalleled military strength. Short duration Short duration Triggers Armageddon Triggers Armageddon “And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.” (16:16) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty… Rev.13:17-18

“about 100 pounds…” And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. (Rev.16:21) Armageddon… Isaiah 13:12 I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will… "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:1-22)

The Point of Revelation Unity is impossible outside the authority of God’s Kingdom. Unity is impossible outside the authority of God’s Kingdom. –All the authority and power in the world can never control autonomous free will. The “greatness of man” is an illusion authored by the “serpent of old”: the god of this world. The “greatness of man” is an illusion authored by the “serpent of old”: the god of this world. –“he deceived all the people who belong to this world…” (Rev.13:14) –The Lie: “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:5) Outside of God’s authority, Free Will always leads to chaos, destruction and death. Outside of God’s authority, Free Will always leads to chaos, destruction and death. –Which Kingdom deserves your trust and allegiance?

Wrong Reactions 1. “This could never happen.” –History is dominated by power-hungry tyrants who aspired to this goal. –Globalization is now in place for the first time:  Weapons of mass destruction are proliferating.  Global commerce technology  At the center of world attention: Israel, Jerusalem & the Temple Movement.

Wrong Reactions 1. “This could never happen.” –History is dominated by power-hungry tyrants who aspired to this goal. –Globalization is now in place for the first time. –Biblical prophecy has an outstanding track- record.  Over 150 prophesies describe in detail the First Coming of the Messiah.  Dozens of prophesies describing the modern era fulfilled within the last generation.

Wrong Reactions 1. “This could never happen.” 2. Useless Speculation. –National Enquirer Theology. “... Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed (by)... setting himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 “... when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then (the end has come).” Matthew 24:15,16

Wrong Reactions 1. “This could never happen.” 2. Useless Speculation. 3. Fear: “The world is out of control!” –God is in control. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Which Kingdom deserves your trust and allegiance?

“Biblical Prophecy has an Outstanding Track Record”