Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Illustration - Looking through John’s eyes -

a

In chapter 12 John’s eyes were focused on the sky.

Things were happening in the atmosphere just above the earth.

There was war (a literal battle) between Michael with his angels, and the dragon with his angels.

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a Beast rise up out of the sea.”

John’s gaze moves from the heavenlies to the earth, and he stands upon the sands of the sea to behold the next great event in the program of God as God brings all wickedness to an end and prepares earth for the kingdom of Heaven.

In chapter 1:9 we see John on the Isle of Patmos.

In chapter 4:1 he is caught up into Heaven.

In chapter 13 we see him standing on the sands of the sea.

In chapter 17 we will see him standing in the wilderness.

In chapter 21:10 he takes his place on a high mountain.

John has a grandstand view of all God’s doings in the Revelation God gave to him to give to you and me.

[Oliver B. Greene, Revelation, A Verse by Verse Study, Commentaries and Writings of Oliver B. Greene (The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963), 259.]

Main Thought: Being warned in advance of the devil's diabolical devices, believers of all ages are encouraged to wait on God and keep the faith!

Sub-intro: Consider this contextual summary of the previous five chapters-

a

The Beast that was abruptly introduced in now received a full complement of description, including his nature, person and work.

John’s series of interludes from Chapters Nine through Thirteen revealed the fall of Satan at the midpoint of the Tribulation (cf.

), the confirmation of no more delay (cf.

), the presentation of the two witnesses (cf.

), the fulfillment of the Seed promise conflict (cf.

), and now the archenemy’s heyday on earth (cf.

).

Chapter Thirteen begins with the beast as the Apostate system and ends with the beast as the Antichrist, the Beast-Man.

The beast will imitate Christ in several ways, such as dying and coming back from death (cf.

with 13:8), being Lamb-like (cf. with 13:8), utilizing swords (cf.

, with 19:16), having horns (cf.

with 5:6), and placing name on foreheads (cf.

with 14:1 and 22:4).

...Chapter Thirteen begins with the beast as the Apostate system and ends with the beast as the Antichrist, the Beast-Man.

The beast will imitate Christ in several ways, such as dying and coming back from death (cf.

with 13:8), being Lamb-like (cf. with 13:8), utilizing swords (cf.

, with 19:16), having horns (cf.

with 5:6), and placing name on foreheads (cf.

with 14:1 and 22:4).

Thomas M. Strouse, To the Seven Churches: A Commentary on the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, Selected Works of Dr. Thomas M. Strouse (Bible Baptist Theological Press, 40 Country Squire Rd., Cromwell, CT 06461, 2013), 509-510.]

[Thomas M. Strouse, To the Seven Churches: A Commentary on the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, Selected Works of Dr. Thomas M. Strouse (Bible Baptist Theological Press, 40 Country Squire Rd., Cromwell, CT 06461, 2013), 509.]

[Thomas M. Strouse, To the Seven Churches: A Commentary on the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, Selected Works of Dr. Thomas M. Strouse (Bible Baptist Theological Press, 40 Country Squire Rd., Cromwell, CT 06461, 2013), 509-510.]

I.

The Sea-Beast Encountered ().

A. His Ascension ().

Note - Does your translation say “I stood...”, “he stood...”, “the dragon stood...”, “the serpent stood...”, or “it stood...”?

The TR renders “I stood...” referring to John.

Note - his ascension is out of the “sea”

Note - Compare with:

B. His Authority ().

1.

Seven Heads - Complete Blasphemy

Lev.

24:16

Note - Cursing God is a shortcut to death:

Note - Jesus was falsely accused of this heinous crime:

Matt.

12:31-32

Mt. 26:65

Mk. 2:7

Jn. 10:33-36

2. Ten Crowned Horns - Corrupted Tyrant

Note - Ten in Scripture -

a

ten is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers.

...

Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten.

It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.

Noah - completed the antediluvian age in the tenth generation from God.

completed the antediluvian age in the tenth generation from God.

The Ten Commandments - contain all that is necessary, and no more than is necessary, both as to their number and their order, ....

contain all that is necessary, and no more than is necessary, both as to their number and their order, ....

The Lord’s Prayer{Lord’s Prayer}

is completed in ten clauses.199

The Tithes - represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognizing God’s claim on the whole....

represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognizing God’s claim on the whole....

The Redemption Money

was ten gerahs, and thus was acknowledged both what God claimed, and what man was responsible to give.

Now ten gerahs was half a shekel (; ).

Every male that was numbered, over 20 years of age, must pay this sum and meet God’s claim.200

But the first-born were to pay ten times as much; for when God took the Levites instead of the first-born of Israel, there were found

22,273 first-born males, but only

22,000 Levites.

So that

273 had to pay the ransom money.

which amounted to ten times ten gerahs.

Thus, though the five shekels looked like a variation, the significance of ten is sustained, for the five shekels were ten times the “half shekel.”

(See , ).

The Ten Plagues - were representative of the complete circle of God’s judgments on Egypt.

, “I will…send all my plagues.”

were representative of the complete circle of God’s judgments on Egypt.

, “I will…send all my plagues.”

Antichrist’s World-Power - is comprised in the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten toes on the feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel’s vision (, , , etc.; ; ; , , ).

is comprised in the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten toes on the feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel’s vision (, , , etc.; ; ; , , ).

199 199.

These clauses have the significance of their respective numbers:—

The first, God’s sovereignty.

The second, Jehovah’s manifested Name.

The third, the realization of God’s kingdom.

The fourth first mentions the earth.

The fifth, the gift of grace supplying our need.

The sixth treats of man’s sin.

The seventh pleads for spiritual guidance.

The eighth pleads for final deliverance from all evil.

The ninth sums up the divine glory (32), while

The tenth completes the eternal cycles.

200 200.

When David numbered the people ( and ), this payment was not made and God’s claim was not met.

Hence the judgment which followed.