Unholy Trinity, Rev. 13

In 1912 Charles Dawson, an archeologist found fossilized bones of a species of a human as yet unknown to man in a gravel pit in East Sussex England. It became known as "Piltdown Man". It was named as Eoanthropus dawsoni ("Dawson's dawn-man"). For the next 40 years it was believed that this was an early species of man who had yet to be discovered. However, in 1953, it emerged that Piltdown Man was actually a huge fraud - he was in fact a fully-developed modern human, believed to have died 600 years previously, whose lower jawbone had been replaced with that of an orangutan. Every scientist in the early-20th Century hoped to find the so-called "missing links" in the history of evolution, as first theorised by Charles Darwin in 1859, but it is unclear who actually made the forgery. some suggest it was a young museum volunteer Martin Hinton - whose box contained fossils stained in exactly the same way as the Piltdown Man - may have been the most likely.

But the greatest hoax that will be played on mankind will be what we read about and study today.

Deception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, ruse, or subterfuge is the act of propagating a belief that is not true, or is not the whole truth (as in half-truths or omission). Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, and sleight of hand, as well as distraction, camouflage, or concealment. There is also self-deception, as in bad faith.

In our text John records that he sees two beasts with terrifying images. They as you will see mirror both the resurrected Jesus and the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They will be so impressive that people from every tribe, people, tongue, and nation, whether small, great, rich, poor, free or slave will be convinced that he is the savior of the world. But to believers it will clearly be a hoax.

I think John records this so that believers alive at the time will not be deceived, but will endure and hang on to their faith in Jesus Christ. The thing is these beasts are awesome. The way John describes them could flow out of one of Stephen Kings novels designed to give you nightmares for weeks. They are a terrifying sight to behold to say the least. I don’t think either beast is to be taken as a physical being in that there will actually be a creature that looks like that. We have seen before that horns and heads speak of governmental powers, empires, nations, at times people. I think it is also a bit late to think that these represent past roman empire or emperors. Actually, my thinking on these beasts is that the first one will be a man who is very charismatic that actually is wounded to death and yet lives. And I think that second beast is going to be as evidenced by the true HS, not a person to be seen but a power to indwell and animate the first beast. I also have nothing to base that on but my own notions about the understanding of this text. I am going to move through this as the text is laid out to us.

the first beast -false Christ

the admonition to endure and believe

the second beast -false Holy Spirit

I. The first beast/false Christ

What we see in this first section is that John is standing on the Sea shore and sees this beast arise out of the sea. Now I need to mention that there are some commentators who take 12:18/13:1 to refer to Satan standing on the sea shore summoning his henchman out of the waters. It has to do with how you take

Grk ἐστάθη (estathē, “he stood”). The reading followed by the translation is attested by the better MSS (𝔓47 א A C 1854 2344 2351 pc lat syh) while the majority of MSS (051 𝔐 vgmss syph co) have the reading ἐστάθην (estathēn, “I stood”). Thus, the majority of MSS make the narrator, rather than the dragon of 12:17, the subject of the verb. The first person reading is most likely an assimilation to the following verb in 13:1, “I saw.” The reading “I stood” was introduced either by accident or to produce a smoother flow, giving the narrator a vantage point on the sea’s edge from which to observe the beast rising out of the sea in 13:1. But almost everywhere else in the book, the phrase καὶ εἶδον (kai eidon, “and I saw”) marks a transition to a new vision, without reference to the narrator’s activity. On both external and internal grounds, it is best to adopt the third person reading, “he stood.” (NET)

In either case, the dragon is enraged that he has not defeated the woman or killed the child. So he is going to take it out on the saints. This imagery is very clearly referred to in Daniel 7. The head and horns with diadems on them speak of rule/authority. It has blasphemy on its heads. This means that he will blaspheme God. We will see that later. His appearance also comes from Dan. 7 a leopard, feet like a bear, mouth of a lion. All of which are predators that are very ferocious preying on the weak.

We also notice that the beast doesn’t have his own power, it is given to him from the Dragon who has given to him his power, his throne and great authority. Not total authority, not equal authority with the dragon, but great authority. The beast is merely an agent of the dragon.

Now we also notice that one of the heads of this beast has a deadly wound, that has been healed. No doubt in the minds of the world that he was at once dead, but now lives. They are convinced that he had died and rose from the dead. So much so that the world is totally taken with him, en masse. It says “the whole earth follows the beast and the worship the dragon because he gave authority to the beast and the worship the beast saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with him?’” This is clearly the devils counterpart to the death and life of the Lamb, Jesus,

Revelation 5:6 AV

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Remember when Jesus was alive and teaching, the religious leaders were concerned that the whole world was going after him. And after he was raised from the dead, the news was met with great skepticism. That will not be the case here. There will be grand delusion world wide in which people will be convinced that this beast/this man was raised from the dead and must be the Messiah. The people will be so enthralled they will follow him no questions asked.

Notice also what people will say about this man/beast -’who is like the beast . . . .seems to echo the same question about God in

Exodus 15:11 AV

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Psalm 35:10 AV

All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Psalm 113:5 AV

Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

This is what is said about God. What is the point? They think they are dealing with God here. They have no clue it is merely the devil they are dealing with. This is a great hoax put on by him and only those who know the truth will be able to see it but they will be hunted down for speaking out against him. In fact, the people will be so convinced that they will say of him what they should be saying about God, “who can fight against Him?”

In fact, the beast, man will be speaking blasphemy against God.

in Vs. 5 he is given a mouth speaking great and blasphemies. For 42 months he will speak these false things about the True God and Jesus Christ.

It occured to me to ask, what are the blasphemies? what will they be saying that people will not have a problem with, but go along with?

It is the same that Jesus speaks of eg.

Matthew 15:19 AV

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

It is wounding someone’s reputation by evil reports. Remember what the High priest said of Jesus

Matthew 26:65 AV

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Jesus was being interrogated by the counsel and the High Priest said to him “I adjure you by the living God, that thou tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus answered, “thou hast said: nevertheless, I say unto you hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” So Jesus making a claim to be God.

part of the blasphemy of the beast will be along the same lines, making himself God. They will be rebelling against God and making themselves out to be the true God. Consider Luke 12:1-12 where Jesus is makes it a rejection of God, an open rebellion against God. he will exalt himself over God.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 AV

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

For forty two months he will boast proudly of his own power over all and oppose everything about God. The thing is that his power is derived from the dragon and the dragons is derived from God.

To slander God’s name is to slander/speak evil of all that he stands for. For a name indicates the person. His tent would be his tabernacle, place of worship. Those in heaven either angels or the believers or both. The thought then is that the beast speaks evil of God unabashedly and without immediate repercussion from God. In doing so he will deceive millions of people over the course of 42 months.

In verse 7 John also sees a second aspect of the rule of the beast. He will make war with the saints and overcome them. He fears not God at this point nor His followers. He overcomes them. He apparently defeats the people of God and in doing so shows his power over them and their God. He would be saying his lies like - “see I have more power than God does. This is how God takes care of you. Not very well. Maybe he doesn’t love you or cannot take care of you like you think.”

The result will be that the worlds population will flock to worship him, his world system. He will exercise authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation/ethnos. They will willingly submit to his authority. They will worship him.

John separates out those who will worship him and those who will not, in v.8

“All those dwelling on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world, will worship him.” Notice the purposefulness with which John writes this, Note: first of all, those whose names are in the book of life of the lamb, it is implied that they will not worship the beast.

secondly, he references the lamb who was slain from . . . world.” the connection being made to counter the beast who was killed and come to life. The lamb was slain for a purpose to redeem those whose names are in the book of life. This is also mentioned several times in Revelation,

Revelation 3:5 AV

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 17:8 AV

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:12 AV

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 AV

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:27 AV

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

This last bit, is to let us know that this beast is false. Those who are not true believes will swallow the hoax hook, line and sinker. They will be faked out like nobodies business. The truth is they will not even realize it til it is too late.

Remember when the 70 disciples returned to Jesus after their excursion into the villages preaching the gospel? during their debriefing they were overjoyed that the devils were subject to them. Jesus told admonished them

Luke 10:18-20

I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

This is John’s point in this chapter is to remind believers to endure to the end, have faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t be duped, in that time Satan’s methods will be such that it might be possible to deceive even the elect of God. Make sure you are dug in to Christ. That you have both feet planted in Christ alone.