Revelation 13 – The Rise of the Beast a.k.a the AntiChrist

Revelation 13:1-10

1) What comes to mind when you hear the word “beast?”

2) How did John describe the beast? Description John uses were familiar to his readers living in the first century A.D. and not necessarily to us living in the 21st century A.D.

He has ten horns and seven heads – multiple horns on an animal commonly refers to successive nations (See Daniel 7). Seven heads possibly refers to rulers. All, nations and rulers, under the authority of the beast.

The beast wore ten diadems on its horns – Diadem is an ornamental headband. The Greeks differentiated between crown (stephanos) and diadem (diadema). The diadem was superior to a crown. The diadem represented absolute power. The diadems over the horns perhaps symbolize the beast’s authority over nations and rulers.

Blasphemous names written on its heads – Blasphemy – insulting, sacrilegious, irreverent, offensive words directed against God. example – Roman emperors often assumed titles of deity because they claimed to be gods. Roman emperor Domitian is said to have given himself the title “Our lord and god.” That was how people were to refer to him. In the same way, the beast will adopt titles/names that Christians will regard to be blasphemous.
The beast looked like a leopard with feet a bear, and mouth like a lion. Leopard – speed; Feet of bear – strength, power, ferocity; Mouth of a lion – a resounding roar that is intimidating. The beast rise to power is as swift as a leopard through ferocious tactics and intimidation.3) What did the dragon give the beast? Power, throne, and authority over this world system. The beast accepted from Satan what Jesus refused. Read Matthew 4:8-10.

4) What happened to one of the beast’s heads? Mortally wounded but was healed. The beast will nearly die from an attack but will miraculously recover. Sound familiar? A facsimile of Jesus’ death and resurrection experience.

5) How will people react to what happened the beast? People will be astounded by the beast’s “resurrection” from death. The event will lead people to worship the dragon (Satan) and the beast (AntiChrist).

6) vs. 4. What question did people ask and in what mind-set do you think they asked it? Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? Mind-set – Confidence; arrogance. Unlike the mind-set people had in Revelation 6:16 … one of fear and uncertainty. In Revelation 13, the people have found a savior who is powerful and fearsome … who will stand up to God.

7) What was given/allowed to the beast? A) A mouth that uttered blasphemous and arrogant words. Directed against who? God and His followers. The beast will trash talk against God. Tear God down. For what purpose? To build himself up (example of arrogance). The beast will play on people’s fears/uncertainties/anger that stem from the chaotic events going on in the world (Revelation 6-9). In a very insulting/sacrilegious manner, the beast will make God and his followers the bad guys. God is to blame for all the bad things going on in the world which is true because God is pouring out His wrath upon the world. Rather than lead the people in repentance, the beast is taking advantage of events for his own ungodly goals. B) Allowed to rule for three and a half years over every nation on the planet. How will people respond to the beast? They will worship him. Give him ultimate reverence. C) Allowed to make war against the saints (followers of God) and conquer them. This act will gain the beast greater love from people in the world. The saints and their God are to blame for all the bad things happening in the world. Beast makes the saints scapegoats similar to what Hitler did to the Jews. Description of what the beast will do sounds very similar to the rider of the white horse found in Revelation 6.

8) What do verses 9-10 mean to you? These verses give credence to commentators who teach that the Church will go through at least half of the 7 year Great Tribulation.

Revelation 13:9-18

9) How did John describe the second beast? Two horns like a lamb – horns referred to nations. Second beast is powerful but not as powerful as the first beast. Lamb – non-threatening animal unlike a leopard, bear, or lion. However, it has the voice of a dragon – extremely intimidating.10) What role does the second beast play in end times events? Make people worship the first beast. He is the anti-Holy Spirit. The role of the Holy Spirit is to lead people to become followers of God. The role of the second beast, or false prophet as he is also referred to, is to lead people to become followers of the AntiChrist.

11) How will he be able to carry out that role? Through great signs such as causing fire to rain down from the sky. Similar miracle performed by Elijah in I Kings 18 in the contest to determine who in Israel is the one true God – Yahweh or Baal? Another sign – Second beast convinced people to create an image of the first beast. He enabled the image to speak. Convinced many to worship the first beast. Those who didn’t were put to death.12) What did the second beast require of every person on earth? To be marked on right hand or forehead with the name of the beast or his number. For what purpose? To acknowledge their loyalty to the first beast/AntiChrist. Just as God marked the 144,000 which identified them as His servants, the second beast has people marked to identify them as followers of the Antichrist.

13) How does he convince people to receive this mark? A person will not be able to buy or sell without the mark. A person will not be able to buy food, clothing, and shelter without the mark. A person will not be able make a wage without the mark. A person will not be able to do business without the mark. The AntiChrist will have absolute control over the world economy.

14) Verse 18 - John writes, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast ….” How does knowing the number of the beast (666) give wisdom concerning WHO/WHAT the beast is? There has been much speculation and commentary concerning the meaning the mark of the beast and 666. John perhaps using a secret code that only his readers would know to identify the AntiChrist. Other commentators assigned the numbers to letters, a practice called numerology, which was not uncommon in John’s day. Using numerology, commentators believe 666 spells “Neron” or “Nero.” John was warning his readers that the coming AntiChrist would be like Nero.

Greg’s commentary on the mark of the beast/666 -

Verse 18 is huge/significant in understanding who the beast is or I should say who he is NOT!!!!!!!! The beast is not a god, not an archangel, not an angel, not a demon, not an animal (referred to as a beast to describe not outer appearance but inner appearance), not a superior being. He is a MAN AND ONLY A MAN!!!!

How does such understanding give us today and people living at this time understanding/wisdom? Yes, the AntiChrist will have tremendous authority and power - political, economic, military, and spiritual. But those qualities do not make him a god to be worshipped or an angel or demon to be feared. Stripped of all these “superior” qualities he is only a man. Should a man be feared? Even one as evil as he? Who bears the sword and foments persecution, famine, nakedness, and peril?

Should a man be worshipped as a god? Even one who performs signs and wonders, comes back from death or the brink of death? Does all this make him a god?

Pharoah of Egypt (his priests could perform miracles), Nebuchadnezzer, Alexander the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes (forced Greek culture upon Jews - abomination of desolation - died of appendicitis), Domitian, Diocletian – all claimed to be gods.

Question - Did true followers of God fear the power and might of these? Did they worship them as god? NO!!! Why? True followers of God saw them for who they really were - MEN. Man is not to be feared only God. Men are not to be worshipped only God.

Coming back from dead? Is coming back from the dead a prerequisite for making one a god. Been done before (a widow’s son, a Shunammite boy, Moabite man thrown onto Elisha’s bones, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, Tabitha) What’s the big deal? Should returning from death astonish and amaze the true followers of God? It’s the foundation of our faith!!! It should only astonish and amaze those who do not know the WORD.

So again here in verse 18 what is John telling us and those who will be living at this time about the beast? The AntiChrist will be a man not a god. Read Romans 8:35-39. The words in these verses are a promise true followers of God in the past (three Hebrew children, Moses, Daniel, the Maccabbees, the early church) and those during this time can stand on. Why they can refuse the mark. Why they can endure tribulation and death. They know there enemy is a man and only a man.