DAY THIRTEEN BIBLE TEACHING UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURES - REVELATION CHAPTER BY CHAPTER (John MacArthur’s Commentary Into Rev 13:1-18) THIS IS REVELATION CHAPTER THIRTEEN TO HELP YOU GROW STRONG AND VIBRANT IN FAITH [Rev. 13:1 a beast rising.] Satan takes a position in the midst of the nations of his world, represented by the sand of the sea. [a beast.] Lit., a monster (cf. 11:7), which describes a vicious, killing animal. In this context, the term represents both a person (Antichrist) and his system (the world). The final satanic world empire will be inseparable from the demon-possessed man who leads it. For a discussion of Antichrist, see notes on 2 Thess. 2:3–11. He is also described in Dan. 7:8 21–26 8:23–25 9:24–27 11:36–45. [rising out of the sea.] The sea represents the abyss or pit, the haunt of demons (cf. Rev. 11:7 17:8 20:1; Luke 8:31). The picture is of Satan summoning a powerful demon from the abyss, who then activates and controls the beast (Antichrist) and his empire. [ten horns and seven heads.] This description is like that of Satan in Rev. 12:3. The heads may represent successive world empires - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the final kingdom of Antichrist (see notes on 17:9–10). The final one is made up of all the kingdoms represented by the horns (see notes for 17:12). Ten is a number that symbolizes the totality of human military and political power assisting the beast (Antichrist) as he controls the world. Horns always represent power, as in the animal kingdom - both offensive power (attack) and defensive power (protection). Daniel shows that the human Antichrist will rise up from these 10 kings (Dan. 7:16–24). John picks up the numerical imagery of Dan. 2:41–42, which refers to the 10 toes on the statues clay and iron feet. The apostle sees the beast as the final world government - the anti-Christ, anti-God coalition - headed by a revived Roman Empire, having the strengths of various world powers, yet mixed with weakness and ultimately crushed (cf. Dan. 2:32–45 7:7–8 19–25; see note on Rev. 12:3). The crowns show the regal dominion of this confederate kingdom. [blasphemous names.] Throughout history, every time a monarch has identified himself as a god, he has blasphemed the true God. Each ruler who contributes to the beasts final coalition has an identity, wears a crown, exerts dominion and power, and therefore blasphemes God. [Rev. 13:2 leopard.] A metaphor for ancient Greece, alluding to the Greeks swiftness and agility as their military moved forward in conquest, particularly under Alexander the Great (cf. Dan. 7:6). The leopard and subsequent animal symbols were all native wildlife in Palestine, familiar to Johns readers. [bears.] A metaphor for the ancient Medo-Persian Empire, depicting that kingdoms ferocious strength, combined with its great stability (cf. Dan. 7:5). [lions.] A metaphor for the ancient Babylonian Empire, referring to the Babylonians fierce, all-consuming power as they extended their domain (cf. Dan. 7:4). [the dragon gave his power.] See notes on Rev. 13:1; 12:9. [Rev. 13:3 its mortal wound was healed.] This statement could refer to one of the kingdoms that was destroyed and revived (i. e., the Roman Empire). But more likely it refers to a fake death and resurrection enacted by the Antichrist, as part of his lying deception. Cf. vv. 12 14 17:8 11; 2 Thess. 2:9. [earth marveled.] People in the world will be astounded and fascinated when Antichrist appears to rise from the dead. His charisma, brilliance, and attractive but deluding powers will cause the world to follow him unquestioningly (Rev. 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:8–12). [Rev. 13:5 was given.] The sovereign God will establish the limits within which Antichrist will be allowed to speak and operate. God will allow him to utter his blasphemies, to bring the rage of Satan to its culmination on earth for three and one-half years (v. 5 11:2–3 12:6 13 14). [forty-two months.] The final three and one-half years - 1,260 days of the time of distress for Jacob (Jer. 30:7) and Daniels seventieth week (Dan. 9:24–27), known as the Great Tribulation (see notes on Rev. 11:2; 12:6; cf. Dan. 7:25). This last half is launched by the abomination of desolation (see note on Matt. 24:15). [Rev. 13:6 his name.] This identifies God and summarizes all his attributes (cf. Ex. 3:13–14). [his dwelling.] This is symbolic of heaven (cf. Heb. 9:23–24). [those who dwell in heaven.] The angels and glorified saints who are before the throne of God and serve him day and night. [Rev. 13:7 make war on the saints.] The Antichrist will be allowed to massacre those who are Gods children (cf. 6:9–11 11:7 12:17 17:6; Dan. 7:23–25 8:25 9:27 11:38 12:10; Matt. 24:16–22). See note on Rev. 17:6. [Rev. 13:8 before the foundation of the world.] According to Gods eternal, electing purpose before creation, the death of Christ seals the redemption of the elect forever (cf. Acts 2:23 4:27–28). Antichrist can never take away the salvation of the elect. The eternal registry of the elect will never be altered, nor will the saved in the Antichrists day worship him. [book of life.] See note on Rev. 3:5. [Lamb... slain.] The Lord Jesus who died to purchase the salvation of those whom God had chosen was fulfilling an eternal plan. [Rev. 13:9 Cf. 2:7 11 17 29 3:6 13 22.] This phrase omits what the Spirit says to the churches, as in the seven letters to the churches, perhaps because they have been raptured. [Rev. 13:10] A call for believers to accept persecution from Antichrist with perseverance and endurance. God has chosen some believers to be imprisoned and executed, which they must not resist (cf. Matt. 26:51–54; 2 Cor. 10:4), but accept with patience such suffering as God ordains for them (cf. 1 Pet. 2:19–24). [Rev. 13:11 another beast.] This is the final false prophet (called such in 16:13 19:20 20:10) who promotes Antichrists power and convinces the world to worship him as God. This companion beast will be the chief, most persuasive proponent of satanic religion (cf. 16:13 19:20 20:10). Antichrist will be primarily a political and military leader, but the false prophet will be a religious leader. Politics and religion will unite in a worldwide religion of worshiping the Antichrist (see 17:1–9 15–17). [out of the earth.] Likely another reference to the abyss that lies below the earth. The false prophet will be sent forth and controlled by a powerful demon from below. The earth imagery, in contrast to that of the foreboding, mysterious sea in 13:1, may imply that the false prophet is subtler and more winsome than Antichrist. [two horns like a lamb.] This describes the relative weakness of the false prophet compared to Antichrist, who has 10 horns. A lamb has only two small bumps on its head, very inferior to the 10-horned beast. [like a lamb.] The lamb imagery may also imply that the false prophet will be also a false Christ masquerading as the true Lamb. Unlike Antichrist, the false prophet will come not as a killing, destroying animal, but as one who appears gentle and deceptively attractive. [spoke like a dragon.] The false prophet will be Satans mouthpiece and thus his message will be like the dragon, Satan - the source of all false religion (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14). [Rev. 13:12 exercises all the authority of the first beast.] The false prophet exercises the same kind of satanic power as Antichrist because he is empowered by the same source. He, too, will have worldwide influence and reputation as a miracle worker and speaker. [makes the earth... worship.] The phrase it makes or it causes is used several times of him. He wields influence to establish a false world religion headed by Antichrist and to entice people to accept that system. [whose mortal wound was healed.] See notes on v. 3; 17:8. This likely refers to the carefully crafted deception of a false resurrection, a false murder to inspire allegiance for the world. [Rev. 13:13 great signs.] The same phrase is used of Jesus miracles (John 2:11 23 6:2), which indicates the false prophet performs signs that counterfeit Christs. Satan, who has done supernatural works in the past (e. g., Ex. 7:11; 2 Tim. 3:8), must use his strategy of false miracles to convince the world that Antichrist is more powerful than Gods true witnesses (Rev. 11), including Jesus Christ. [fire come down from heaven.] The context indicates that the false prophet does counterfeit pyrotechnic signs continually to convince men of his power, and also in imitation of the two witnesses (11:5). [Rev. 13:14 make an image.] This refers to replication of Antichrist that is related to the throne he will erect during the abomination of desolation, halfway into the tribulation period. This will happen in the Jerusalem temple when Antichrist abolishes the former false world religion and seeks to have people worship him alone as God (cf. Dan. 9:27 11:31 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). The false prophet and Antichrist again will deceive the world with a clever imitation of Christ, who will later return and reign from the true throne in Jerusalem. [Rev. 13:15 speak.] The false prophet will give the image of Antichrist the appearance of life, and the image will seem to utter words - contrary to what is normally true of idols (cf. Ps. 135:15–16; Hab. 2:19). [cause... to be slain.] His gentleness is a lie, since he is a killer (Rev. 7:9–17). Some Gentiles will be spared to populate the kingdom (Matt. 25:31–40) and Jews will be protected (Rev. 12:17). [Rev. 13:16 marked.] In the Roman Empire, this was a normal identifying symbol, or brand, that slaves and soldiers bore on their bodies. Some of the ancient mystical cults delighted in such tattoos, which identified members with a form of worship. Antichrist will have a similar requirement, one that will need to be visible on the hand or forehead. [Rev. 13:17 buy or sell.] Antichrists mark will allow people to engage in daily commerce, including the purchase of food and other necessities. Without the identifying mark, individuals will be cut off from the necessities of life. [number of its name.] The beast (Antichrist) will have a name inherent in a numbering system. It is not clear from the text exactly what this name and number system will be or what its significance will be. [Rev. 13:18 his number is 666.] This is the essential number of a man. The number six falls one short of Gods perfect number, seven, and thus represents human imperfection. Antichrist, the most powerful human the world will ever know, will still be a man, i. e., a six. The ultimate in human and demonic power is a six, not perfect, as God is. The threefold repetition of the number is intended to reiterate and underscore mans identity. When Antichrist is finally revealed, there will be some way to identify him with this basic number of a man, or his name may have the numerical equivalent of 666. (In many languages, including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, letters have numerical equivalents.) Because this text reveals very little about the meaning of 666, it is unwise to speculate beyond what is said. Wow! This is the End of Day Thirteen Teaching. Look out for Day Fourteen Teaching that will be posted here soon. Pray you have been blessed with GODS WORD - So Very Precious. Pastor encourages you to abide fully in JESUS always. Rejoice, read your Bible daily, pray in the Spirit and give thanks to GOD for all things. Truly GOD IS GOOD. Amen. Add me as friend if you would like to be ministered with GOD’S WORD here on Facebook on a regular basis. GOD bless you. Pastor Ben Soon. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Here is Verse By Verse of the NKJV Text on REVELATION - CHAPTER THIRTEEN to help you read GODS WORD: Revelation 13:1 Chapter 13 The Beast from the Sea 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. Revelation 13:2 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. Revelation 13:3 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. Revelation 13:4 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?” Revelation 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty- two months. Revelation 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. Revelation 13:7 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. Revelation 13:8 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. Revelation 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Revelation 13:10 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 13:11 The Beast from the Earth 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. Revelation 13:12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Revelation 13:13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. Revelation 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Revelation 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, Revelation 13:17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:His number is 666.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:38:07 +0000