The Beast from the Sea
13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Remember in
chapter twelve, the devil, depicted as a dragon, also has seven heads and ten
horns. The resemblance to the devil, is understandable, since the beast receives
his power from the dragon.
However, the
likeness to the devil ends there. Instead of having seven crowns on his seven
heads, like the devil, this beast has a blasphemous name on his heads. And the ten
horns, hold ten crowns.
Now, what
does all that mean?
In John’s
vision, the sea, symbolizes people. The beast rises up from among the
people. An angel in Revelation 17:15
explains to John that the waters are “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and
tongues.”
The beast
which rises up from the sea, symbolizes a man, empowered by satan, rising up
from among the people; he is also known as, the antichrist.
Did you know
that the word beast is mentioned thirty-seven times in Revelation, and seven
times in Daniel. However, the word antichrist is never mentioned in Revelation;
only five times in all of scripture, and only in first and second John.
3 And I saw one of his
heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
Out of 1,189
chapters in the Bible, today, we just happen, to be studying the one, about the
head wound, and the mark of the beast to the forehead; and for the first time
in my sixty-something years of life, I have…a head wound covered with a bandage
on my forehead.
God still speaks.
Sometimes it may be, with a Leroy Jethro Gibbs slap upside the head, wake up!
The time is near!
When God,
who dwells outside time, enters time, we need to pay attention.
When time and
eternity collide, the world calls it coincidence.
We call it
Providence.
Speak LORD, we’re listening
and can’t wait to hear what You have to say.
Oh, and one more thing. You
know I'm thoroughly thrilled that You're speaking with us; but not exactly
excited that You're using my head, as an object lesson, for the beast, and his
mark. I mean, seriously? Don’t you think it'll freak some folks out, all the
way out—the door?
4 So they worshiped the dragon
who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,
saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war
with him?”
Who is
able to make war with him? The beast is a powerful military leader with a global reach. The wound
only makes him appear to be a victim—which makes him even more appealing.
The world loves
a victim. They follow, idolize and worship…the beast.
It may be hard
to imagine one world dictator. But it will happen, and it can happen so
quickly, so easily. Actually, it’s easy to see how it can happen, just by
looking at what is happening, right now, before our very eyes.
When we
discussed this in class, we looked at other examples, but here, we’ll just look
at one.
Now, please
hear only what I’m saying, not what I’m not saying. What
follows is an example. Not a prediction, or prophecy, or anything like that. It’s
just an example of current events that may reflect our text today.
As you look
at this keep in mind, the antichrist will be a military leader with the
charisma, to make the entire world, fall in line, and applaud.
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation from US Congress
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation from Canadian Parliament
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation from European Parliament
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation from United Kingdom
House of Commons
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation from Parliament of
Ireland
5 And he was given a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority
to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His
tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was
granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.
And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and
nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship
him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world.
The antichrist is given a mouth
speaking great things; a microphone to the world, and the world will listen, stand, and applaud.
It will appear that he is in control
of the whole earth, yet, he’s on a very short leash, with an expiration date
quickly approaching. Forty-two months; three and a half years.
Notice his authority reaches every
tribe, tongue, and nation, and all who dwell on the earth will worship him…except
those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
That drives him mad. Power lust never
has enough. Hell is never satisfied. Like
Haman in Esther; even though all the others bow, there’s this one guy, named
Mordecai, who won’t, and it drives Haman insane.
The antichrist calls up a helper; the number
he dials is 666.
The one who answers is…
Lord willing, we’ll find out next
week.
If anyone has an ear, let him
hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into
captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the
sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation
13:9-10.
Harvest time has come. Whatsoever you have sown, that shall
you reap.
This terrible time on
the planet is quickly approaching. It’s a time you do not want to be here.
You don’t have to be here. God doesn’t want you to be here.
There is no time to delay.
Today, if you hear
His voice, harden not your heart. Today is the day, of Salvation.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, search our hearts,
if there be any wicked way in us, show us, help us, forgive us, we pray. If
there be any that You want to reach through us, we say, have Your way, use our
voice, our hands our feet our hearts to share Your Good news, Your love, and
make a difference, for eternity.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, we love
You.
Amen.
1 comment:
Amen
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