Revelation 13:1-8
Satan: The Dragon on the Sand, Revelation 12:17 to 13:1a
A. The Greek text reads: “And he (Satan, the Dragon) stood on the sand.”
B. The sea and sand (Revelation 17:15; 20:8) both symbolize the nations of the world.
C. Satan the Dragon gives power to the Beast, v. 2.
Antichrist: The Beast from the Sea, vv. 1-10
A. For 3.5 yrs, the Beast operates peacefully as a friend of Israel, see Daniel 9:27.
B. Now the Beast reveals his true nature:
- The word “antichrist” appears 4 times in Scripture: 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7, but not in the Revelation.
- This Beast is Satan’s counterfeit of Christ; he is the Antichrist.
- Three animals describe the Beast, see Daniel 7:1-28
- Babylon the lion
- Media-Persia the bear
- Greece the leopard
- the kingdom of Antichrist is the fourth beast.
- Note: John saw the animals in reverse because he was looking back in time. Daniel was looking forward in time.
4. The kingdom of the Beast is a continuation of these world Empires.
C. The Seven-headed, Ten-horned Beast
- Note the similarities and differences between the Dragon/Satan and the Beast/Antichrist:
a. The Dragon/Satan had 7 crowns on 7 heads with 10 horns, Revelation 12:3.
b. The Beast/Antichrist has 7 heads with 10 horns and 10 crowns on the horns.
- 7 historical Empires: Sumerian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greecian, and Roman.
- 10 horns with 10 crowns refer to 10 future kings in a confederacy with the Beast as Emperor.
2. One head of the Beast is fatally wounded and healed, see Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12. This may be where transhumanism comes into play.
3. His fame and authority increases and he makes war with the Tribulation saints for the next 3.5 yrs.
The False Prophet: The Beast from the Land, vv. 11-18
A. The False Prophet has the appearance of a lamb, but his tongue is demonic.
B. The False Prophet’s job description:
- Exercises the authority of the First Beast.
- Leads the world to worship the Beast.
- Performs counterfeit signs similar to the Two Witnesses.
- Give animation to the image of the Beast–>holograms?
- Forces all to receive the mark of the Beast
The mark is placed on the right hand or forehead and restricts commerce to those with the mark. Remember the temperature gauges during COVID and COVID passports?
6. His number reveals his true nature–he’s just a man, like the Wizard of Oz.
Conclusion
The Unholy Trinity
A. Satan–>anti-Father
B. Beast–>anti-Christ
C. False Prophet–>anti-Holy Spirit