Revelation for Now & Future Part 26
Revelation for Now & Future • Sermon • Submitted
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A note before we begin:
Chapter 13 and the ending of chapter 12 are rotated back and forth in various translations.
In many translations the text of chapter 12 ends with the first 3/4 of vs. 17.
Yet in others vs. 17 is as in the ESV.
In essence, let’s look at the verse and grab the words they carry forward.
17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
The very last sentence in this verse is moved forward in many translations. As it may fit better with chapter 13.
We see this portion of the vision beginning with the dragon in place to call up reinforcements.
Further, if you are reading a KJV, you may find a whole other pronoun in the text instead of he. The problem is that the verb translated stood is written in the third person, not the first person.
Therefore, it is referring not to John, who is seeing the vision, but to the dragon.
So let’s continue with the mindset that the dragon stood on the sand and as we will see in just a moment, something horrid will come forth from the sea.
The Evil Kingdoms Rise
The Evil Kingdoms Rise
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
John sees what can best be described as a monster/monstrosity/beast.
So where is our OT connection found:
Daniel 7:1-7 & 19-24
Ten Diadems
Ten Horns
24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
Notice what is on their heads back in Vs. 1.
“blasphemous names on its heads”
These kingdoms and the names are evil.
Notice also how this Sea Monster looks like the dragon or resembles the dragon in description.
7 horns and ten heads represent the completeness of his oppressive power and its overall effect on the world.
A couple of things to be mindful of:
The dragon is positioned by the sea spewing floods
The beast comes out of the sea
The harlot in 17:1 sits on many waters
Diadems = false claims of sovereign authority
Blasphemous Names = claims to earthly divine kingship
2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.
Notice the description’s connection to Daniel 7, but also the dragon passed his authority to the beast.
3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
Many have historically stated that the one would the mortal wound was Nero.
Nero had committed suicide, but there was a rumor that he would return and other rumors that he had not died.
Also, when Nero died, it was not a blow to Rome, because by his death he was and enemy to Rome and a fugitive.
Vs. 4 state there was universal worship of the beast, but the opposite would be true because Nero was a threat.
In reality there is a parody between the life of the beast and that of Christ.
Notice the beast camouflages his defeat as a win.
The whole earth is amazed in vs. 3
In vs. 4 they say no one is like him.
This is a picture of Rev. 7:1-4 as they give allegiance to the beast if they have not received the seal from God.
But even their description is a mockery as it is a comparison to the Christ.
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
So we continue to see the connection to and allusions of the prophecy of Daniel.
Arrogant words & Blasphemies (Dan. 7:6, 8)
It was given him (Dan. 7:25)
42 months (Dan. 7:25)
Notice also false worship
7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
True worship of the false
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
These vss. connect us to Rev. 7b-8
Believers Must Grasp & Discern True Worship
Believers Must Grasp & Discern True Worship
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:
10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
John says let him hear… “meaning the believer who has been given an ear for such as this”
God protects and gives discernment.
God’s Plan may be:
Captivity
Martyrdom
Perseverance
Greater Persecution Will Come Towards the Church and in Deception
Greater Persecution Will Come Towards the Church and in Deception
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
Items to Observe:
Two Horns like a lamb
Spoke like a dragon
Exercises authority
Forces worship of the first beast
So he seeks to appear like Christ, but his speech is like his true master, Satan.
Notice that the second meets the needs of the first beast.
13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
By the end of the first century, the priests of the emperor’s cult were active in promoting emperor worship.
Thus, John’s reader would have found this to be a degree of furthering what they were seeing.
These guys work like an evil parody of the Holy Spirit.
If you remember about eight months ago we began to talk about this coming about with Christ’s words:
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
So in essence, the beasts seek to imitate the prophets of God and God Himself in order to perpetuate and validate their claim to spiritual authority.
Thus those who have not followed the Lord will acquiesce to the command to make and image to the beast.
Multitudes will follow the beast.
Those who don’t will quite possibly be killed.
16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Notice the “mark of the beast” is also a parody of the seal of God. Rev. 7
Walking Away, but in...
Walking Away, but in...
The Beast as a Parody of Christ should give us cause to think about the relationship of the believer and the government. When is it permissible to not obey those “in charge?”
If the beast receives his authority from God, how should that increase our view God’s ability and control/sovereignty?
Is Perseverance of the Saints a theological truth or can it be a physical reality as well?
What about false teachers?