While the dragon – Satan – is formidable, he needs someone to lead mankind when he takes over. This devotional reading looks at the sea beast – the Antichrist.
Nuggets
- A beast rose out of the sea.
- If the first three beasts are talking about earthly kingdoms, their reach is going to be more limited than that of the fourth beast.
- After the ten kingdoms rise, another one will arise — the Antichrist.
- The world order that will be established by the Antichrist to overrun God’s temple.
- Mankind will be expected to worship the Antichrist.
- Satan says we can rewrite God’s laws and commandments.
- The reign of the Antichrist will be limited.
- When the reign of the Antichrist will be taken away, it will be given to the saints.
- Jesus’ kingdom will be an eternal kingdom.
- This description of the beast is very similar to that of the dragon.
- As Jesus will have His name tattooed on Him, so will Satan.
- Daniel’s beasts have long been believed to identify four kingdoms.
- The Antichrist will be given power and authority by Satan.
Revelation 12 is about the dragon – Satan. Revelation 13 is about his protege– the sea beast – the Antichrist.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in The Beasts series
Let’s Put It into Context #2
When we read the English Standard Version that I use, we can lose one little nugget in Revelation 12: 17. The Complete Jewish Bible makes it its own verse.
“Then the dragon stood on the seashore;” (Rev. 12: 18 CJB).
Ooo, baby! How did translators break a sentence with a semicolon into two separate chapters??????
In other words, we should read Revelation 13 with the understanding that the dragon – Satan – is standing there watching.
If truth be known, Satan is more than watching. He is calling the shots.
The First Beast
“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority” (Rev. 13: 1-2 ESV)
Beast Rising Out of the Sea
A beast rose out of the sea.
We have talked about a beast previously. “And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them [the two witnesses]” (Rev. 11: 7 ESV).
The beast that John saw is similar to the beasts that Daniel saw. Yes, Daniel saw beasts — plural — where John only saw beast — singular.
“Daniel declared, “‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, “Arise, devour much flesh.” After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Dan. 7: 2-7 ESV emphasis added).
Do I see a contradiction between the two passages? Personally, I don’t. If anything, I see evolution.
Satan hasn’t been dormant for all the years between Daniel and John – or between John and us. He has grown and solidified his power. He’s been marshaling his resources.
Couldn’t that cause a merging of beasts? Satan is going to need to have his forces united to take on God.
I may be wrong, but that is just my thought.
Both Daniel’s beasts and John’s beast come out of the sea. If we look at the rising out of the sea with the dragon looking on, we could say that the beast received its power from the dragon.
I read somewhere that the rising out of the sea is equated with rising out of humanity. That is logical to me.
Some have long tied the rise of the Roman Catholic Church with the fall of the Roman Empire, interpreting it as the rise of the beast. Is it an extension in order to keep the empire alive?
That is above my pay grade.
I do know Catholics who have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and Redeemer. There are some Roman Catholic practices that I scratch my head over. (I’m sure they do the same about Southern Baptist.)
It makes me sad to think the Antichrist would rise out of an entity assumed to be God’s Church. But wouldn’t that be exactly what Satan is trying to do?
Satan is trying to split the Church and destroy it from the inside.
Personally, I don’t think Satan is going to settle just for corrupting the Catholic Church. He is going to try for all denominations. Why settle for one branch?
True, I think Satan is going to have more success with some rather than others. But none are going to be exempt from his attempts.
Daniel’s Beast Will Devour the Whole Earth
If the first three beasts are talking about earthly kingdoms, their reach is going to be more limited than that of the fourth beast.
For me, if we go further in Daniel 7, we see that – if Daniel was talking about earthly kingdoms – the fourth beast is more than just an earthly kingdom.
“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Dan. 7: 23-27 ESV).
The fourth beast/kingdom is different than the other kingdoms — so much so that it can’t be compared to an animal.
Yes, the fourth beast is going to have global impact. In other words, it is going to establish a world order.
This global kingdom will be divided into ten separate kingdoms. That is logical. Someone sitting on one continent will have difficulty performing the day-to-day governance on people on the other six continents.
But this is going to be more than just an earthly government. This is going to be a religious tyranny.
Clarke described what it would be like. He wrote,
“Other tyrannies have used religion; but this is a tyranny founded originally upon mere matters of religion; and carried on through its whole progress, to the utmost length of an universal arbitrary dominion, under the name and title still of a merely spiritual authority.”
Resource
There won’t be a separation between church and state. State will take over.
Daniel’s Beast Another Horn Shall Arise
After the ten kingdoms rise, another one will arise — the Antichrist.
Okay. I almost missed this.
“As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings” (Dan.7: 24 ESV emphasis added).
This is sometimes referred to as the little horn. To me, that is a head scratcher because this is identified as the Antichrist.
No, John did not specifically call this horn/ruler the Antichrist. He did use that term in the Epistles he wrote (which we will look at later).
For now, let’s just look at what Daniel described the Antichrist is going to do.
Daniel’s Antichrist Will Speak against the Most High
The world order that will be established by the Antichrist to overrun God’s temple.
Satan wants us to disregard God and His Word. In other words, he thinks we are above God’s laws. His Antichrist will spread this message.
Isn’t that what Satan keeps trying to tell us? He says we don’t have to listen to God’s laws because they don’t mean anything. He says they don’t apply to us. He says we can rewrite them.
Satan is wrong.
Daniel’s Antichrist Will Wear Out the Saints
Mankind will be expected to worship the Antichrist.
Satan will do everything in his power to get us to not follow God. No, he won’t just concentrate on those who do not believe in God.
Why would Satan do that? He isn’t sticking it to God that way.
Satan will attempt to destroy our faith in God.
Unfortunately, Satan will succeed in some cases. “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt. 24: 10-12 ESV).
Disciples know that we have to endure to the end (Mt. 24: 13). That is the only way in which we will be saved.
We have to have been brought into a covenant relationship with God — and stayed there.
Daniel’s Antichrist Will Change the Times and the Law
Satan says we can rewrite God’s laws and commandments.
That is exactly what the Antichrist is going to try to accomplish when the one world order is established. He will get some of God’s laws and commandments rewritten.
The Antichrist will try to eliminate the Festivals and Shabbat (worship services).
A Time, Times, and Time and a Half
The reign of the Antichrist will be limited.
We just talked about this terminology in Revelation 12: 13-14.
I like how the King James Version has translated it. “… and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Dan. 7: 25 KJV).
The Day of the Lord will be a dividing of time. It will divide the cursed time with the purity of eternity.
Dominion Taken Away
When the reign of the Antichrist will be taken away, it will be given to the saints.
Clark cautioned us not to interpret this as Jesus would be setting up an earthly kingdom. His kingdom will be — and has always been intended to be — a spiritual kingdom.
How did Clark interpret this? He wrote, “The saints as persons, and their great Christian maxims as principles, shall ultimately win such an ascendency over all nations, interests, institutions, and affairs, that this whole world shall become an orderly and well-governed Christian empire.”
Resource
God’s laws and commandments will eventually prevail and be used to govern all nations.
No, this won’t be some spectacular military conquest — just as Jesus wasn’t a military Messiah.
Clark was correct in thinking that those types of conquests do not change the mindset of anyone.
His Kingdom Everlasting
Jesus’ kingdom will be an eternal kingdom.
Let’s take another look at the wording. “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Dan. 7: 23-27 ESV).
How does that mesh with Daniel 7: 14? “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7: 14 ESV).
Well, it doesn’t say that the saints are going to be given the kingdom. It says it will be given to the people of the saints.
Bradford reminded us to put it into Daniel’s context. He would only be thinking Hebrew — Jewish Hebrew at that. Gentiles wouldn’t be part of the congregation.
Resource
Back to John’s vision.
Ten Horns, Seven Heads, and Ten Diadems
This description of the beast is very similar to that of the dragon.
We have to go back and look at the dragon. “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems” (Rev. 12: 3 ESV).
Does that make the beast different than the dragon? Maybe. Maybe not.
My name is Elaine. Just because I can be described as a woman doesn’t make me someone else. Just because I am described as Elaine doesn’t make me something other than a woman.
However, I think it is more along the line of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are One nature. They are individuals within that nature, but they are One.
The difference between the dragon and the sea beast is the crowns. The dragon has seven crowns while the sea beast has ten. The crowns are worn on the sea beast’s horns.
Blasphemous Names on Its Heads
As Jesus will have His name tattooed on Him, so will Satan.
I didn’t find a lot of interpretation of this part of the passage. Clarke did help us out.
First, Clarke reminded us of what blasphemy is. He wrote, “Blasphemy, in Scripture, signifies impious speaking when applied to God, and injurious speaking when directed against our neighbor. A name of blasphemy is the prostitution of a sacred name to an unholy purpose.”
Resource
Go back to one of the letters to the seven Messianic congregations – the congregation at Philadelphia to be exact. “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you” (Rev. 3: 9 ESV).
Synagogue of Satan would be a blasphemous name.
To me, any church that is compromising with the worldview in order to rewrite God’s laws and commandments to be more accepted is a synagogue of Satan.
This is another way Satan is going to try to mimic Jesus. “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19: 16 ESV).
Like a Leopard, a Bear’s Feet, Lion’s Mouth
Daniel’s beasts have long been believed to identify four kingdoms.
The lion, the first beast, represents the Babylonian empire, and the bear, the second beast, represents the Persian empire. The third beast, the leopard, represents Greece while the fourth beast represents Rome.
Maybe it is the first-century Rome. Maybe it is some future Rome.
I don’t think so. I know some equated the horns and heads with important Roman Empire marks.
Why would God be describing physical kingdoms? Wouldn’t He be describing spiritual kingdoms?
Dragon Gave It Power, His Throne, and Authority
The Antichrist will be given power and authority by Satan.
We can’t underestimate the beast’s authority. With this tremendous power, he is pursuing moral injury. Thomas said to do this, he encourages blasphemy, deception, and destruction.
Resource
We talked about Satan’s throne. To the Messianic congregation at Pergamum, John was directed to write, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is …” (Rev. 2: 13 ESV).
Think about this. Satan offered this power and authority to Jesus.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours’” (Lk. 4: 5-7 ESV).
Jesus refused. That doesn’t mean Satan stopped looking for someone to accept. He found that someone in the Antichrist.
Satan doesn’t get it that this view is going to cause his defeat. Anything not following God’s Will on the Day of the Lord will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15).
Making the Connections
Okay, so there is a dragon, a sea beast, and a land beast. That seems logical.
Satan wants so badly to be exactly what God is. He tries to mimic Him any chance he gets.
Satan the dragon is mimicking God. Satan the sea beast is mimicking Jesus. Satan the land beast is mimicking the Holy Spirit.
I just had something pop into my mind. Are we going to be able to recognize it as ten governments under one rule? Is Satan going to be cannier than that?
Will the beast/Antichrist be running things from the shadows as Satan is now?
If the beast is to mimic Jesus, I would say no. He will have to be more visible if he wants to be perceived as our “savior.”
How Do We Apply This?
- Remember our complete mission here on earth, not just a single achievement.
- Strive to shore up areas in which we are lacking.
- Don’t succumb to Satan’s deceptions.
Resource
Father God. We want to focus on You, not some mimic of You and Your Son. Help us to not be deceived. Amen.
What do you think?
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