AM Bible Study Group; August 19, 2009

Revelation 13:1-10

Theme: This passage reveals to us the character and career of the Antichrist.

This chapter gives us further details of the activities of the great dragon described in chapter 12. It outlines for us the career of his man, the Antichrist (1 John 2:18) who is the personification of “the spirit of Antichrist” (1 John 4:3). He is called ‘the man of sin’ (2 Thessalonians 2:12), and ‘the prince who is to come’ as promised in the book of Daniel (7:7-8, 19-26; 12:36-45).

I. HIS DESCRIPTION (vv. 1-2).

A. As most of the best ancient manuscripts have verse 1, it is the dragon who stood at the sand of the sea. The sea is often a symbolic reference to the Gentile nations. From out of among the nations, one arises who is called “a beast” (symbolic of his vicious nature). His description is like that of the dragon (see 12:3), which communicates an affinity between the dragon and his beast. His seven heads represent that his reign on earth is a product of the combination of all previous world powers; and his ten horns represent the ten-nation confederacy through which he will operate. Note that on his head are “blasphemous names” (or, in some texts, “a blasphemous name”)—calling attention to the blasphemous nature of the beast (see v. 6).

B. Note that the beast is a composite of the “creatures” Daniel saw in his vision (Daniel 7:3-8); the leopard representing Greece, the bear representing Persia and the lion representing Babylon. They are presented in reverse order of history, because John was looking back to them from the standpoint of the future. The beast is the summation of mankind’s rebelliousness against the promise of King Jesus (see Psalm 2:1-3). It is the dragon who gives the beast “his power, his throne, and great authority”. He is the ‘masterpiece’ of the devil.

II. HIS WORSHIP (vv. 3-4).

A. John sees that one of the heads was mortally wounded. This may be seen as a destruction of one of the empires that the beast represents (see 17:10); but it is also clearly speaking in personal terms, and should be seen as the wounding of a person. It may be that this final world empire is figured for us in the person of the Antichrist; and it is the Antichrist who is mortally wounded. This “mortal wound” is later healed—suggesting the restoration to life of the Antichrist. Perhaps the Antichrist himself will appear to be killed and will—through the power of Satan—stage a fake resurrection.

B. As a result of this, the world will marvel at him and follow him. They will declare that no one is like him. Note that, in worshiping him, they actually worship the dragon (see Matthew 4:8-9).

III. HIS SPEECH (vv. 5-6).

A. That he is ‘given a mouth’ suggests that he is given a remarkable power of persuasive speech; and that this speech is satanically inspired. (Note that the origin of his speech is given away by the fact that he speaks “blasphemies”.) He speaks such great things that he actually draws the world to himself.

B. He is given authority (by the permission of God; who alone sets the time-tables of this world) to continue for forty-two months (three-and-a-half years). At a certain point, the beast speaks great blasphemies to a profound degree—blaspheming God, His name, His temple and His saints in heaven (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

IV. HIS WARFARE (v. 7a).

A. Not only is it granted to him to speak these blasphemies; but he is also permitted to act on them. He is given the ability to make war with the saints on earth—giving expression, ultimately, to the intense hatred of the devil (see 12:17). This will be a time of great persecution for the saints (see Matthew 24:15-28).

B. He is given power to overcome the saints for a time. But remember—they eventually overcome the devil (see 12:11).

V. HIS AUTHORITY (v. 7b).

He is given power over the nations of the earth—over every tribe, tongue and nation (see also 7:9). His rule will be as “complete” as it can humanly be. He will truly be the single, human ruler of the world for a time.

VI. HIS FOLLOWERS (v. 8).

Note that not all will worship him; but only those who’s names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 1:4).

VII. HIS IMPACT (vv. 9-10).

A. This will be a time in which the judgment of God will fall on man. Those who lead into captivity will themselves be led into captivity; and those who kill with the sword will themselves be so killed (see Jeremiah 15:2).

B. This will also be a time of testing of the saints. The temptation will be to respond to their oppressors as their oppressors have treated them. But their restraint from following the brutal patterns of this world will be the example given them by their Lord (53:7-8); and will be the proof of their identity as His followers (see 14:12).

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There is an “hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). Praise God that He has mercifully given us a warning, well in advance, of the nature of that time of testing! May we cling tightly to Jesus; and be faithful to proclaim Him in the face of that coming hour!