The first 5 personalities in our Drama were:

         

                                                                                                                       Woman   --  Israel                                                   l

                                                                                                                          Dragon – Satan

                                                                                                                   Male child – Jesus Christ

                                                                                                                   Michael – The Archangel

                                                                                                       Remnant – 144,000 Jewish evangelists

​

​

        Actually, the correct translation is “wild beast”.  Did you know that there will be two antichrists – one is a political leader and one a religious leader.  The religious leader will be called the false prophet. 

 

        Look at  the Sea Beast first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         13:1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.  And I saw a beast coming up  out of the sea.  He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

 

         You’ve got Satan standing on the shore, and a beast coming up out of the sea.  The first wild beast is out of the sea.  The symbolism here is important.  The sea represents people or nations (see Rev. 17:15).  This wild beast is both a powerful political figure and a charismatic personality.  It is impossible to separate a king from his kingdom.  A dictator must have a people to rule over or he is no dictator. 

 

          WHO IS HE?  Look at the clues

       

          (7 heads, 10 horns and the horns have crowns) Think back to Daniel’s prophecy of the 4th beast in Daniel 7.  This Daniel beast represented the Roman Empire, right down to the “little horn”.  This beast that John is seeing is very much like Daniel’s beast, for good reason.  Daniel’s 4th beast represented the Roman Empire, and here, John’s beast represents a revival of the Roman Empire and its leader.

   

          We are dealing here with the final world empire and the final dictator of the world.  This is Satan’s masterpiece. 

     

           Right now, the world is moving towards a one world government.  Many are calling for it.  Borders are being opened.  The European borders have been open for years now.  Bill and I took at trip several years ago with friends.  Once we arrived in England, we never had to use our passport again, going from England to France, there was no border stations, and no emigration checkpoints to cross.  The same thing is beginning to be forced upon the US by our government at our southern border.  A one world government is at the center of this chaos in America. 

  

          10 crowned horns indicate the 10 divisions of the Roman Empire in the last days.  The horns are the kings who rule over this division.  Look over at Revelation 17:12 and you will see it explained.

 

        Rev. 17:12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 

       

        Now the heads.  Again, in Revelation 17:9,10 we find this explanation.

 

        17:9-10 This calls for a mind with wisdom.  The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits, they are also seven kings.  Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.

 

         First, we are told that they are 7 mountains. Did you ever hear of the 7 hills of Rome?  Also 7 kingdoms, 6 have already fallen, those are in Daniel.  One is, that is the one in John’s day.  One is to come – future Roman empire revived.  You see, the Roman Empire never was conquered, and never truly died.  It lives today in the nations of Europe, which are fast coming together again.  They have already declared open borders, as I just mentioned, and a common currency, the Euro.  

 

         Let’s move on to verse 2. 

 

         13:2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.  The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

 

          Notice “was Like” - it doesn’t say he “looked like” only that he had the characteristics of.  This is describing the characteristics of antichrist.  Let’s look, for a moment, at just what some of these characteristics are:  What type of person will the antichrist be?  In the beginning, just a man.  He has charisma, he’s handsome, appealing to the masses.  He is also like the leopard.  Now the leopard was the symbol of ancient Greece.  Antichrist’s nation will have all the splendor of Greece. The empire of the beast will have all the outward culture and glory of Greece.  He appeals to the eye, and a thirst for riches.   He has feet like a bear, the symbol of Media-Persia, with its pagan splendor and wealth.  This beast will have a mouth like a lion.  This is Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar was a dictator and, with a word, could order the death of many, the fiery furnace, the death of even his wise men.

 

          Who gives him his authority?  His power source is found in Satan who raises him up, empowers him, energizes him.  Notice his power was GIVEN to him. He did not earn it, nor take it by force.

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

       

 

       Now, after You have re-read the first part and have digested it a bit, let’s go on to verse 3.

 

        13:3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.  The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

 

        “as it were” in the KJV means that it seemed to be.   He will exhibit a counterfeit resurrection, imitating Christ Jesus.  People will not accept the resurrection of Christ, but they sure are going to accept a fake resurrection of Antichrist. 

​

         The challenge in that day will be: “What has Christ done that Antichrist has not done?”  Believers will say, “Christ is risen”.  The unbelievers will say “So is Antichrist”.  It is the big lie.

   

         13:4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast?  Who can make war against him?”

 

          Remember the dragon is Satan.  The beast is antichrist.  This is the supreme moment for Satan.  He is finally being worshipped worldwide.  They are saying “Look, he is more wonderful than that God of the Bible.  More wonderful than Jesus. 

 

         Rev 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forth-two months.’

 

         Notice that word again, “given”.  He’s a big talker, promise you anything.  Sound familiar??  Today’s politicians seem that way, until they get elected.  A word of caution here, test everything that you hear.  Antichrist is going to have charisma and be able to talk himself into the good graces of a Christ-rejecting world. (Test the spirits to see if they be of God).  The good news here is that his power is limited to 3 ½ years. (that’s 42 months.)  By this we know that this event occurs during the first half of the tribulation.

 

        Rev.13:6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

 

        What is he saying?  Blasphemy.   What is blasphemy?  It manifests itself in two ways.  1.  Making oneself equal with God, taking His place.  The emperors of Rome were guilty of this type of blasphemy.  And #2, slandering and taking God’s name in vain.  The Pharisees were guilty of this type.  The beast here is guilty of both.

 

         Rev. 13:7-8 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.  And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.  All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 

 

        There will be saints during the tribulation period, although they are not part of the church.  They will be overcome by Antichrist and many, both Jews and Gentiles will be martyred because they refuse to bow down to the beast.  All will worship him, except those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

 

        V 9-10 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.

​

       These two verses are a marvelous prophecy and a calming effect to those believers who are being persecuted.  It says to them “listen to me, and hear me well, your persecutors will meet the same fate that they are placing upon you.  Be patient and keep the faith because it will all be over soon.”

 

         One last comment and we will stop for today.  The Book of Life is mentioned here.  We are “given life” from birth.  But when we sin and reject Jesus, our name is blotted out.  Everyone has a choice to make.  If they choose not to accept Jesus then their name is blotted out of the Book of Life. This accounts for the children who die before they are accountable.  Their name is in the Book of Life because they have never rejected Jesus.

 

          Isn’t it marvelous, God calls us by name, Satan gives us a number?

 

          Study hard on this one and be sure you understand.   More is coming,

 

          Any questions can be directed to me through otwhministries@gmail.com or thru the comment box below.

​

           Next week.  Stay faithful, dear ones, 

                                                               Maggie

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​