The Antichrist is explained to a greater degree. This devotional reading further looks at how the beast – and the dragon – distance themselves from God.
Nuggets
- The Antichrist is going to mimic Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The purpose of the beast is to make war with the saints.
- The Antichrist thinks he is better than God.
- We cannot be irreverent to God.
- It might be easy to think that, in the end times, disciples are going to lose battles – even the war.
- The beast/Antichrist is wielding a lot of power.
- John used terminology that he had previously used in the letters to the Messianic congregations – let him hear.
The beast will be raised by the dragon. What is the purpose of the beast?
The next verses in Revelation 13 tell us just that.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in The Beasts series
The Antichrist Wounded
“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’” (Rev. 13: 3-4 ESV)
The Antichrist is going to mimic Jesus’ death and resurrection.
One worldview proof that Jesus cannot be the Messiah is that people stay dead once they are dead. He didn’t get “magically” resurrected.
They would be wrong. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15: 3-4 ESV).
Satan tries really hard to be exactly the same as God — except in the purity of his morality. He doesn’t want God’s character because he does want to follow God’s laws and commandments.
What is going to happen is that Satan is going to stage a resurrection of the Antichrist. Is Satan powerful enough to raise someone from the dead?
Look at the wording.
- “… seemed to have a mortal wound …” (Rev. 13: 3 ESV).
- “… appeared to have received a fatal wound …” (Rev. 13: 3 CJB).
Seemed and appeared are not definitive answers. They allow for smoke and lights to come into play.
Remember, Satan is a deceiver. Things are usually not as they appear with him.
Also, Satan is not all-powerful. God is.
Satan isn’t in control of life and death. “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life’” (Job 2: 6 ESV).
Fuller told on himself — but it is something we all do. Have we ever thought we had defeated the grip of a certain sin in our lives — only to have it come back and trip us up again?
Resource
Oh, yeah. Do you want a list?
The whole world is going to follow the Antichrist. That’s scary.
But it doesn’t matter how popular the movement is going to be. It matters not how much authority it will appear that the dragon and beast have.
God will still crush Satan and the Antichrist in the end.
The Purpose of the Beast
“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 13: 5-8 ESV)
The purpose of the beast is to make war with the saints.
Given a Mouth Uttering haughty
The Antichrist thinks he is better than God.
Well, I guess the Antichrist will be haughty. I mean, there is nothing on earth to rival it.
Benson put it this way. He wrote,
“No kingdom or empire was like that of the beast; it had no parallel upon earth; and it was in vain for any to resist or oppose it; it prevailed and triumphed over all; and all the world, in submitting thus to the religion of the beast, did in effect submit again to the religion of the dragon, it being the old idolatry with new names. For the worshipping of demons and idols is in effect the worshipping of devils.”
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But being mighty on earth does not mean we rival God. God has no rival. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I Jn. 4: 4 ESV).
I know it will be difficult – if not near to impossible – at the time to withstand the Antichrist. We have to remember nothing is impossible for God. “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42: 2 ESV).
How do we withstand?
- “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Pet. 5: 8 ESV).
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4: 7 ESV).
Forty-two Months
Three and a half years, 1,260 day, 42 months – all the same thing. Back to that number.
This is the third time this designation of time has come up. The two witnesses did their thing for this time period. The woman also hid from the dragon in the desert.
Blasphemies against God
We cannot be irreverent to God.
We looked at blasphemy in the last devotion by looking at what Clarke said about it. Let’s look at that again for a second.
Clarke wrote, “Blasphemy, in Scripture, signifies impious speaking when applied to God, and injurious speaking when directed against our neighbor.”
Resource
We are blasphemous to God when we talk irreverently and immorally to Him. In other words, blasphemy speaks the opposite of what God speaks.
Oh, yes. That perfectly describes the dragon and the beast.
War on the Saints and to Conquer Them
It might be easy to think that, in the end times, disciples are going to lose battles – even the war.
The dragon and the beast are allowed to make war against disciples.
“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them” (Rev. 13: 7 ESV).
Yep. Make War. Conquer.
Why is war so attractive to so many people? Is it because we think we will only get what we want through force?
Or is it more of a test of ourselves to show what we are made of and how strong we really area?
Or are we just mesmerized by the power? We want it, so we will follow anyone who has it and we think will give it to us.
Conway cautioned us that we have to acknowledge that some will fail this test. He wrote, “Churches, congregations, tell how this war has been waged in their midst, and how some, often many, of their most hopeful members have fallen.”
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Disciples are called to endure during the war as well as in peace.
We want to choose to endure. If we don’t, we are a goat masquerading as a sheep.
Authority Given It
The beast/Antichrist is wielding a lot of power.
That is logical.
No, this insane amount of power is not because Satan is that much stronger than God. It is because Satan has more followers than God does.
Don’t be surprised at that statement. Jesus told us that it would be that way.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt. 7: 13-14 ESV).
The Antichrist’s power will have a global impact. “… And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 13: 7-8 ESV emphasis added).
God allows us to decide for ourselves whether we are going to be for or against Him. But He already knows the outcome of that decision. To Him, what is going to happen in the future is already a done deal.
How do we know this? Look at just some of God’s attributes.
- God’s omnipotence means God’s power is never ending and goes beyond what we can imagine, making nothing easy or hard for God.
- God’s omniscience means wisdom is part of God’s essence, making Him alone wise as He does not have to acquire wisdom.
- Because God is eternal, He inhabits eternity and will continue to rule His creation throughout eternity.
- God is self-existent because He was not created by another and is accountable to no other entity.
- God’s unchangeability means He hasn’t changed His mind since before the foundation of the world and won’t for the rest of eternity.
- God’s perfection refers to His unspotted performance of all the other attributes, making Him spiritually whole and complete.
- God’s holiness is the transcendent excellence of His nature that includes elements of purity, dedication, and commitment that lead to being set apart.
The Lamb Slain
We haven’t talked about the title the Lamb slain recently. I think this is a good reminder here.
Revelation 13: 3 indicates that the Antichrist is wounded. To me, that could mean the wound may be anything from he tripped and hit his head on a rock to he was murdered.
Jesus laid down His life so that government officials of the day could physically put Him to death. This occurred in the framework of the religious sacrifice. Jesus became the Pascal Lamb to secure our freedom from sin.
When do these verses say the Lamb was slain? “… before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 13: 8 ESV emphasis added).
That is how long the plan has been in place. It was in the plan of creation.
Don’t Miss This
“If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Rev. 13: 9-10 ESV)
John used terminology that he had previously used in the letters to the Messianic congregations – let him hear.
We talked that Paul said we not only have to see with the eyes of our hearts (Eph. 1: 18), but we also have to hear with the ears of our hearts. We are to listen and implement God’s message into our lives. Our response should be to hear, listen, and obey.
What are we supposed to hear here?
Look at all the examples of power attributed to Satan in these verses. It seems a lot of power that God has allowed him to have.
- “… And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority” (Rev. 13: 2 ESV).
- “… but its mortal wound was healed …” (Rev. 13: 3 ESV).
- “And the beast … was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months” (Rev. 13: 5 ESV).
- “Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation” (Rev. 13: 7 ESV).
But the power really isn’t taken away from God. Whatever happens does happen because God allows it to happen.
And there is a really good reason for God to allow this to happen. “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Rev. 13: 10 ESV).
Yes, this is happening for judgment purposes. It is also happening for sanctification purposes.
God’s Word does not promise a prosperity gospel. This is talking captivity and death for disciples.
What should we do? “… Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Rev. 13: 10 ESV).
Our enduring whatever is thrown at us is important. “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24: 13 ESV).
Enduring does require some strength, but it isn’t our strength. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12: 9 ESV).
We must rely on God to provide the strength for us to endure.
Making the Connections
“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 13: 7-8 ESV)
Burkett told us to slow down and really think through whether disciples were going to win or lose the war with the Antichrist.
Now, wait a seconded. Don’t these verses tell us the Antichrist will win. He will be allowed to conquer the saints.
The Antichrist only wins if we don’t endure.
Burkett put it this way. He wrote, “A war proclaimed; the beast makes war upon the saints, by bloodshed and persecution, and by the force of those weapons overcomes them; that is to outward appearance and in the opinion of the world. But really do the saints overcome him by their patience under sufferings, and by adhering to the truth.”
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The Antichrist – and Satan – only win if we choose not to be obedient to God. That is the only way.
How Do We Apply This?
Remember that God did not design the Plan of Salvation and the redemption it offers as an afterthought.
Rely on God to provide the strength for us to endure.
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Father God. We do not want to follow the beast, the Antichrist. Why would we follow a mimic when we can follow the One true God? Give us strength and discernment to always see You. Amen.
What do you think?
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