The Revelation! Pt. 10 The Blasphemous Beast Chapter Thirteen Pastor Don Lawrence

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1 The Revelation! Pt. 10 The Blasphemous Beast Chapter Thirteen Pastor Don Lawrence William Barclay, in his commentary, said that this chapter is the essence of the whole Book of Revelation. I don t know if I totally agree with that statement, but it is certainly one of the most critical chapters of Revelation. The beast is the dominant character in this chapter. This beast is not mentioned in the first 10 chapters of Revelation. However, it is mentioned more than 30 times in the rest of the book. When we were in chapter 11 we saw the beast mentioned for the first time in Revelation. At that time I said that we d take a closer look at the beast when we got to chapter 13. Well, here we are. So let s talk about the beast. Perhaps the reason so much emphasis is placed upon chapter 13 is because the vast majority of Biblical commentators state that the beast is non-other than the infamous antichrist. I find it very interesting that so many think the beast is the antichrist, in light of the fact that the word antichrist does not appear anywhere in the Book of Revelation. That being so, how can there be such a majority of unanimity concerning the beast s identity? I thought there would be far more controversy on this. Why do so many Bible scholars agree that the beast is the antichrist? We really need to roll up our sleeves and dig dip into the scriptures to figure this one out. Doing so is going to take a little bit longer than I had planned when I set the schedule for this series last summer. Accordingly, I m going to break part 10 into two sections, 10A and 10B. Today we ll focus more on what the rest of the Bible says about the antichrist and compare that to this chapter. Then in 10B we ll dig a little deeper into this chapter. I believe that we need that first part in order to properly understand what this chapter is all about. First, let s talk about the term, antichrist. 1. The name, antichrist. As stated, this term does NOT appear in the Book of the Revelation. Where then does that name come from? It comes from the letters of the Apostle John, the same Apostle John who wrote the Revelation and the Gospel of John. He also wrote three short letters which found their way into the New Testament.

2 It is in those letters, and only in those letters, that the term antichrist is used in the Bible. Let s look at one example from John s writing: 1 John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. Notice, there is a difference between THE antichrist and many antichrists. Generally speaking, anyone who denies the deity of Jesus Christ is anti-christ, opposed to Christ or against Christ. Indeed, there are many who fit that description. There were many at the time of John s writings, there are many today. For example, those who say that Jesus was just a prophet. Jesus was not JUST a prophet. He is the incarnation, the fulness of Deity in human form. Those who believe otherwise are in fact, anti-christ. Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. There are many antichrists, but there is also THE antichrist. John says that THE antichrist is coming. Most Bible scholars believe that the beast in Revelation 13 is in fact, the antichrist because he matches the description of what the antichrist will be and will do. Let s look at a few examples. 2. Old Testament prophecies concerning the antichrist. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel, the prophet Daniel has a series of visions which he is told concerns the end of time. Thus, they are called End Times prophecies which is what the Book of Revelation is all about. Daniel 8:17 & 19 & He said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end. 19 He said: I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. 26 "The vision... concerns the distant future." In the Book of Daniel chapters 7 and 8, the visions he had were about four beasts coming out of the sea and then a ram and a goat. We are specifically interested in the fourth beast in his vision. Daniel 7:7-8 7 "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and

3 devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. What does all of THAT mean?! It just sounds like Daniel was having a nightmare. Like maybe he shouldn t have eaten that pizza right before he went to bed! But it s not a nightmare, it s a vision he has. A vision concerning the end of times. This vision didn t make sense to Daniel, just as it probably doesn t make sense to you. So, look at how Daniel responded to this vision: Daniel 7: "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, Daniel said, I want to know. He asked about the fourth beast and about the horns on the beast. Did he get an answer to his question? Indeed he did! Daniel 7: "He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. The fourth beast of Daniel 7 represents a kingdom which will appear at the end of time. It will be like no other kingdom in history. It will ultimately control the whole earth. It will do so by devouring, trampling, and crushing. It will be led by 10 kings. But then a new king will arise, he will subdue three of the other kings. He will become a king of this worldly kingdom and will speak out against the Most High and will specifically target the saints (or Christians) in the world at that time. His reign will last three and a half years.

4 In chapter 8 Daniel sees a ram and a goat. At the end of the explanation of his vision of a ram and a goat, Daniel records the following: Daniel 8: "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. 26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." Remember, in context, these are all End Times visions or prophecies. Daniel is told that the fourth beast is a worldwide kingdom. Then he is told about the little horn. The little horn in Daniel 8 represents the king of the End of Times kingdom. How is this king, who is to appear in the distant future, described in chapter 8 of Daniel? Wicked, stern-faced king. Master of intrigue Very strong, but not of his own power. Will cause astounding devastation Will succeed in whatever he does. Will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. Will cause deceit to prosper. Will consider himself superior. Will destroy many. Will take his stand against the Prince of princes. Will be destroyed, but not by human power. So, we are starting to build a profile of an time of the end, distant future king and his kingdom. We ll come back to this profile in a minute, but first let s take a look at a passage from the New Testament. 3. New Testament prophecy concerning the antichrist. The Apostle Paul wrote a good part of the New Testament and covered many topics in his writings. Christ s return is one of the topics. One example is in his letter to the church in Thessalonica:

5 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... In chapter 2, Paul begins by talking about the return of Jesus, but then briefly mentions someone whom he refers to as the man of lawlessness. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. The Apostle Paul says that just before Christ s return there will be a Man of lawlessness. He is doomed to destruction. He will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped He will set himself up in God s temple, claiming to be God. What, ultimately, happens to this man of lawlessness? 2 Thessalonians 2: And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. He will be revealed Jesus will overthrow him when He returns. His work is in accordance with the work of satan. He will perform counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. His work of satan is also displayed in every sort of evil. 4. Connecting Daniel s visions and Paul s writings with the beast. There are obviously some similarities between Daniel s vision and Paul s man of lawlessness. But, how do Daniel s vision and Paul s writings connect with the beast of Revelation 13? Daniel 7:7 terrifying and frightening and very powerful. Daniel 7:23...'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It...will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. -Revelation 13:7 says he is given power over every tribe, people, language and nation. Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High...

6 - Revelation 13:5 says that he will speak blasphemies. - Revelation 13:6 says the he blasphemes God, slanders God s name and God s dwelling place. Daniel 7:25 also says, The saints will be handed over to him. -Revelation 13:7 says that he is given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. Daniel 8:24 He will become very strong... -Revelation 13:4 says that people ask, Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him? Daniel 8:24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. -Revelation 13:2 says that the dragon gave the beast his power. -Revelation 13:7 says that the beast was given power to make war against the saints Let s look at the "Ten horns." Daniel 7:20...the little horn had a mouth that spoke boastfully. -Revelation 13:5 the beast utters proud words. Daniel 7:21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them. -Revelation 13:7 he was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. (In Revelation chapter 17 we ll look at the ten horns and their relationship to the beast.) But for now, you are beginning to see that Daniel s vision of the kingdom represented by the fourth beast and the profile of the king represented by the little horn are very similar to the description of the beast of Revelation and the kingdom he controls. Understanding this will give us a better grasp, a fuller understanding of this beast as we dig a little deeper in part 2. But let s quickly compare this with what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the man of lawlessness: 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will... exalt himself... -Revelation 13:5 says that the beast utters proud words. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped. -Revelation 13:4 says that the beast is worshiped. -Revelation 13:3 says that the whole world was astonished and followed the beast

7 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. -Revelation 13:5 says that the beast blasphemes God 2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan -Revelation 13:2 says that the dragon gave the beast his power. Who is the dragon? Chapter 12, verse 9 tells us that the dragon represents satan. So, we have what Daniel calls a future king, what Paul calls the man of lawlessness, matching the description of what John calls the beast in Revelation 13. Most Bible scholars believe this to be the antichrist who John wrote about in 1 John. 1 John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming... In the second part of this message, we ll take a closer look at Revelation 13 including the highly controversial and much debated mark of the beast. 666.