Revelation 13:1-7

Revelation 13 continues John's vision of the signs associated with the seventh trumpet. In chapter 12, he introduced us to the dragon, who he identified as Satan himself (Revelation 12:9). In chapter 13, we are introduced to two beasts, one arising from the sea and the other from the earth. They both have heads and horns, which may signify realms and positions of power and authority (cf. Revelation 17:9.12). Their identification with animals may also be a way to characterize them with respect to ferocity of rule, speed of conquest, or regality. 

What is fascinating is the parallels of the dragon, beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth and the holy Trinity of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As God the Father gave His power, throne and great authority to His Son Jesus Christ, the dragon does the same to the first beast. As Jesus died and rose again, so the first beast suffers a fatal wound but comes back to life. As Christians trust in Jesus on the basis of the resurrection, people in the Tribulation worship the beast and the dragon on the basis of this miraculous sign. This has led theologians to identify this first beast as the Antichrist.

The "anti" becomes clear in Revelation 13:5ff because the beast blasphemes God, slanders heaven and the heavenly host and wars against God's holy people. The expresson, "the beast was given a mouth...to exercise it's authority..." and "it was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer thm" and "it was given authority over eveyr tribe..." raises the question, "Who is giving the beast this kind of authority? In the immediate context, we should understand the dragon is the authority-giving agent (Revelation 13:2), not God. Some, however, suggest that God "allowed" the dragon to give such authority, just as He allowed Satan to afflict Job. Perhaps. But we are given no clues that such a thing happened in this Scripture. 

Revelation 13:8ff

In verse 8, we learn that those who worship the beast do not have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The NIV reads, "the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world"; however, this is likely not the best translation. First, it does not make sense. The Lamb was not slain at the creation of the world. He was slain around 33 A.D. Second, the parallel passage (Revelation 17:8) clearly links "from the creation of the world" to the writing of the names in the Book of Life:

The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world... (Revelation17:8)

Also, other modern translations support this translation:

NASB: And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

NET Bible: and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.

NLT: And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made--the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.

What this suggests is that God has predestined from the beginning of the world those who are in the Book of Life, which I understand is the same Book of Life referenced in Revelation 20:11-15, which speaks of those who will not be thrown into the Lake of Fire, the second death. Consequently, this means that God predestined those who would be saved from the time of the creation of the world. For believers, this provides great security and assurance in our salvation. 

In Revelation 13:9 we read, "Whoever has ears, let them hear." This should remind us of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, where every church is given this exhortation. As it is a word to churches, we should understand it as a word for believers, not unbelievers. This is consistent with the next verse (verse 10), which identifies the audience as "God's people." In other words, John is not exhorting those whose names are not written in the Book of Life but those whose names are written therein. Believers should listen, for they have been given "ears to hear"; that is, they have been given understanding. Believers need to exercise "patient endurance and faithfulness" during this time. Why? Captivity and death will come to all without distinction between believers and unbelievers. Unlike the 144,000 Jews, who were protected by God, these predominantly Gentile believers would not be protected from harm during this time. They would be subject to the full brunt of persecution from t he dragon, the beast, and the unbelieving inhabitants of the earth.

Revelation 13:11-18 introduces us to a second beast, one that comes up out of the earth. This beast exercises all the authority of the first beast "on its behalf" (likely better translation than "in its presence"). Thus, this beast also takes its authority from the dragon, Satan. This second beast supports the first one and makes the world worship the first beast. It performs miraculous signs, deceiving the people with these signs into following it. Like the resuscitation to life by the first beast, this beast can even cause fire to come down from heaven in full view of everyone. As the first was like the sign of the Messiah, the second is like the sign of the Holy Spirit (recall Acts 2 tongues of fire). Some theologians have pointed out the counterfeit nature of these signs and how these creatures seem to represent a kind of unholy trinity, mocking the true Trinity of God. 

The second beast commands the people to make an image of the 1st beast. It performs another miracle, causing the image to speak and pronounce death on all who refuse to worship it. Finally, it enforces a mark on all peoples, so that they could not buy or sell anything without it. This mark may counterfeit the "seal of the Holy Spirit" for believers (Ephesians 1:13) or the seal of God on the 144,000 (Revelation 7:2-8). Unlike God's perfect seal, the mark of the beast and its representative number is imperfect, a human number, 666. And it is a calculated number, which may suggest that the letters in the name of the beast add up to 666. The person with wisdom and insight should be able to figure this out. I suspect there may be some kind of key identifying the numerical significance of each letter in the name of the beast, so that when you add them together, they equal 666.

As members of our class have noted, it is not so hard to see how these prophecies can occur in our day. Yet, every generation since the time of Christ have believed that these prophecies could also have been fulfilled in their day. But as the Scriptures teach, no one knows when God will bring these things to pass. We must always be ready for the end. Being ready means being clear in our faith and being actively engaged in faithfully living for Christ and proclaiming Him to the world of our time. 

Let's pray for brother Paul Verheyden, who has volunteered to lead our study of Revelation 14.

p.s. In class, we asked the question about whether Christians can or should defend themselves and their families if threatened by others. While Jesus clearly taught against retribution and promoted sacrificial love, He also commanded swords to be purchased. The Old Testament Law provided justification for self-defense against violations like rape and home break-ins. There were also numerous commands for the righteous to defend the helpless against the violent and greedy. Here is a link to a good, albeit brief article on this topic by a fomer teacher at First Baptist Dallas, Dr. Charles Ryrie: link. 

Revelation 14

We are still in the midst of the Seventh Trumpet, in the interlude between the Trumpet Judgments and the final Bowl Judgments. In chapter 13 we were introduced to the Dragon (Satan), the beast from the sea (Antichrist), and the beast from the earth (false prophet) as well as the evil, idolatry and havoc they would inflict on the world, especially on Christians. Consequently, Christians are repeatedly called to "patient endurance and faithfulness" during this time (cf. Revelation 13:10; 14:12).

In Revelation 14 John sees the Lamb. He last saw the Lamb in Revelation 5 as the only One in the universe who was worthy to initiate the judgments of God. Now, John sees him again on Mount Zion. Also, John sees the 144,000. He last saw this group in Revelation 7 as those representative Jews who received a special seal of God that protected them from the outpouring of God's judgments. Now John sees the Lamb and the 144,000 together on Mount Zion, perhaps the highest point of the holy city of Jerusalem. He hears a sound from heaven, both incredibly loud and truly beautiful, joined by a song only the 144,000 redeemed Jews were allowed to learn. These Jews were not simply redeemed, they were special. They were the "firstfruits," so the best of the lot among those purchased (for salvation) among mankind. They were pure in their body, truthful in their speech, and blameless in their testimony. Their role here is unclear, but some have suggested that they would be the final witnesses of the Gospel during the time of the Great Tribulation before the end would come. 

Afterwards, six angels plus one appears in John's vision. The first proclaims the eternal Gospel, that people should worship the One and Only God. The second declares the guilt of sinful humanity, who have aligned themselves to the adulterous ways of "Babylon the Great," perhaps a mysterious designation of the evil world system in that time. The third pronounces eternal condemnation on the worshippers of the beast. The Christians, who must endure the persecution of unbelievers during this time, are encouraged to be patient and faithful, even in death. This was the same counsel Christians received at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6:11).

The last four are introduced in pairs. Two of them utter a command. The other two follow through. The first  comes on a cloud and is described as being "like a son of man." He is never called an "angel" but simply as one seated on a cloud. He wears a crown of gold. Could this be Jesus? Yet, it's hard to imagine at this point the glorified Jesus could be ordered by another angel. He has a sharp sickle and is told by another angel (the fourth angel, not another like the one on the cloud but another like the first three angels) from the temple to reap the earth's harvest. The one on the cloud does so. 

A fifth angel comes out of the temple and also has a sharp sickle. Then a sixth angel, who has charge of the fire (perhaps the fire of God's judgment), tells the fifth angel to gather the ripe grapes from the earth's vine. He does so and throws them into the winepress of God's wrath, where an immense amount of blood flows, outside the city (Holy City?).

The images of gathering a harvest (of wheat) and gathering a cluster (of grapes) may signify redemption and judgment. Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and Tares comes to mind (Matthew 13:24-30). The wheat represent the righteous while the tares represent the wicked. The righteous are gathered to into heaven while the wicked are thrown into the fire of judgment. Likewise, the ripe harvest described in Revelation 14:15 may refer to the righteous, who have persevered in their faith to the end, and so are gathered by the Lord to join Him in glory. The ripe grapevine described in Revelation 14:18 may refer to the wicked, who have filled up their full measure of evil by their unrepentant rebellion against God, and so are thrown into the winepress of God's wrath.

In this chapter we fiind Gospel hope and terrible condemnation. The message of 2 Peter 3:11-13 comes to mind:

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, brothers, let us pray, encourage and challenge each other to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God!

Revelation 16

Afer five chapters beyond the blowing of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11), nearly a fourth of the entire Book of Revelation, we are ready to discover the contents of the seven bowls of God's wrath. With each series there is increasing agitation and anticipation. When will the end finally come?!

The authoritative voice from the Temple commands the angels to pour out the contents of their bowls upon the earth. As might be expected, these judgments are more severe and comprehensive than the judgments that preceded them. 

1. The first angel brings forth a plague of boils on those who received the mark of the beast and worsipped its image. The judgment is, therefore, targeted. Perhaps the boils will proceed from the very mark of the beast. 
2. The second angel causes the sea to become bloody so that every living thing (not a 1/4, not a 1/3, but all) in the sea dies. 
3. The third angel causes the rivers and springs to become bloody. As there is no other water source, people are forced to drink bloody water. An angel reveals that this is a just judgment because these people shed the blood of God's people and prophets.
4. The fourth angel causes the sun to scorch people with fire. The pain causes people to curse God but not repent. They acknowledge the judgment is from God, but they are not willing to repent of their sins and glorify Him so that He would remove this judgment from them. 
5. The fifth angel causes the kingdom of the beast to be plunged into darkness, which causes people to gnaw their tongues and curse God. Yet, again they refuse to repent. As in passages we looked at before, there is a general sense that the majority of unbelieving people during the Tribulation will be entrenched in their rebellion against God. The judgments have not softened their hearts. Are people still coming to faith? There are hints of it. For example, a voice from heaven declares, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4). Consequently, the overarching witness of believers during this time seems to be as martyrs for their faith (cf. Revelation 17:6; 18:24; 20:4).
6. The sixth angel causes the water of the Great Euphrates to dry up to prepare the way for the battle on the Great Day of the LORD. Kings come from the east, joined by demonic spirits coming out of the unholy trinity of the Dragon, the beast (from the sea) and the false prophet (from the earth). They gather their armies through signs and with great fanfare; however, the Lord prepares His people suddenly and like a thief. 
7. Like the seventh trumpet, the seventh bowl is a pronouncement of completion: "It is done!" As before, there is a display of power with lighting, rumblings, thunder, earthquake and a severe hailstorm. The earthquake has no equal in severity since the beginning of creation. The hailstorm is also tremendously oppressive. The Great City (Jerusalem?) is split in three. The cities of that nations collapse. Babylon the Great (mysterious city representing the evil world system) is judged. 

Someone asked, "Will the Holy Spirit be present during the Tribulation?" I believe He will be, even though He may not exercise the same evil-restraining influence that He did prior to this time (2 Thessaonlians 2:7). The baptismal work of the Spirit in bringing believers together into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) will probably not be in effect during the Tribulation Period; however, individuals will certainly be coming to Christ during this period. My understanding is that salvation always comes by the Holy Spirit, whether in the Old Testament, New Testament, Tribulation or in the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus taught this to Nicodemus in John 3:5-6. Paul reiterated it in 1 Corinthians 2:12-14. Consider these two articles:

https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-tribulation.html

https://bible.org/seriespage/11-eschatology-holy-spirit

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on! (Revelation 14:13).

I have not heard many sermons on this verse, yet throughout history, it reflects the testimony of Christians in every generation. Has there been a generation of Christians that has not suffered persecution?

Even though we enjoy religious freedom in our country, it is a rare phenomenon and one that is not shared in many parts of the world. Someone has observed that more Christians have died in the most recent century than have died in all the centuries since Christ combined.

What we don't directly experience every day should not blind us from the reality of the world around us. Therefore, friends, I encourage you to be aware and to pray for your fellow believers around the world.

I subscribe to a weekly email from http://prayercast.com, which sends me information, a video, and recent prayer needs from a different country, religion, or people group every week. This helps me to stay connected with the world in prayer. I share this email with our Homebuilders Sunday School Class every week.

I also downloaded an app from the Voice of the Martyrs site https://www.persecution.com/ that gives me a daily prayer request from some of the most dangerous, needy and persecuted areas of the world. This app allows me to respond ("I prayed" button) after I pray and shows me how many people that I am joining together with through this app to pray for the need. I can also easily read more information about the area through the app.

Friends, God is showing me that good ideas and intentions accomplish little. We need conscientious, practical actions that become a part of our daily lifestyle to effectively participate in God's work in our lives. These two suggestions can help you to be engaged with the world around you in a faith-expressing and God-exalting way.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed (Revelation 15:8).

This is one of four references in Scripture describing the impact of the glory of God filling the Temple. What is noteworthy is that in every instance, no one could stand in the presence of God's glory. Here are the other three references:

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35).

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of theLord filled it (2 Chronicles 7:1-2).

I mention these because, today, there are some claiming that "God's glory" filled their church, and not even metaphorically filled but actually filled through some kind of manifestation, like a cloud or gold dust or smoke. I find these claims suspect in light of Scripture. If it truly was the glory of God, none of the claimants would have been able to stand it. Apart from the YouTube sensation picturing claims of gold dust miraculously falling on a conference in Redding, CA, another hotbed for the signs and wonders movement, here is a sobering commentary about such claims from a fairly conservative and reputable site: GotQuestions.org.

And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe Revelation 16:21).

The largest hailstone ever recorded was 2.25 pounds, found on April 14, 1986 in Gopalganj District of Bangladesh. This may not seem like much, but consider that this ball of ice could be coming at you approaching 105 miles per hour. If it hit you in the head, it would most likely kill you. 

The Bible says that the hailstones in the seventh bowl judgment by God would weigh a hundred pounds each. That's about 50 times more than the weight of the largest hailstone we've ever known. What is more, the larger weight would suggest a much larger terminal velocity, which means that it would be coming down at a higher speed.

Some have tried to claim that the Tribulation judgments are not that much different from the calamities experienced at different points in human history. I would beg to differ. Even if there are some similarities in kind, there is clearly a difference in magnitude. There is an order of magnitude difference between hail that's 2.25 pounds and one that is 100 pounds. What is more, just consider the language of some of these judgments:

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died (Revelation 16:3).

The sea became blood! Every living thing in the sea died! What in human history can come close to this level of death and destruction, except perhaps the Great Flood of Genesis 6.

Friends, it is truly a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (cf. Hebrews 10:31). Praise God that we are repicients of His grace!

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people (Revelation 13:9-10).

What is meant here? My seminary professor (Dr. Thomas Constable) sees here a word of encouragement for persecuted believers during the Tribulation. He sees the "anyone" as a reference to the enemies of the saints, such that God is assuring the saints that He will bring ultimate retributive judgment against their foes.

I actually see just the opposite. I don't see any language of deliverance here. The context suggests just the opposite. We read that the beast "was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them" (Revelation 13:7a). This beast was also "given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation" (Revelation 13:7b). There is no hypothetical situation here. The beast will conquer God's people and exercise authority over the earth during this period. (Just as an aside, it appears in this context that the dragon, not God, was the empowering agent of the beast - cf. Revelation 13:2,4).

What is more, after the pronouncement "If anyone..." we read, "This calls for patient endurance." The call seems to be for perseverance through suffering for God's people rather than a joyful expectation of divine retribution on their enemies.

Therefore, it seems better to me to take this as God's forewarning that God's people will suffer captivity and death during this period. Since God will not intervene to stop it, these things will be an inevitability. Thus, the language of "if x, then x wll be" suggests that the hypothetical will be a reality. The repetition of this language reinforces the certainty of it. 

Consequently, the people of God are called to persevere in remaining faithful even through this time (cf. Revelation 14:12-13). We should remember this same kind of encouragement from Jesus' message to the churches. For example, recall this word to the church in Smyrna:

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown (Revelation 2:10).

Friends, the call to persevere amidst suffering has been the same for every generation, whether in the past or for the present, and it will be so in the future. It is a call not to compromise our faith. In the Tribulation those who come to faith are warned against taking the "mark of the beast," although this would mean the inability to buy or sell anything. They are called not to compromise their faith (cf. Revelation 14:9-12), enduring even death if necessary with a view to their future blessed hope (Revelation 14:13).

What might be the moral equivalent to this "mark of the beast" today?

What kinds of things do we embrace today as a "necessary evil" by which we compromise our purity, our integrity, and the moral high ground to which we are called as salt and light to the world?

I can list a number of things here, but I'm afraid in doing so I might lead people to justify themselves rather than to humbly and diligently seek greater progress. Instead, I would encourage all of us to independently meditate on these questions and personally discern the necessary applications that we require.

Friends, do you notice something interesting about the description of the beast from the sea? He is given authority by the dragon (Revelation 13:2). He has a fatal wound that is miraculously healed, such that the world marvels and worships the dragon and the beast (Revelation 13:3-5). And what about the beast from the earth? He is a witness to the first beast and directs people to worship the first beast through miraculous signs.  

Does this not seem to you like a parody of the Godhead, that is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? The Father gave authority to the Son, namely, Jesus Christ. The Son was crucified and rose again so that people believe and worship the Son and the Father. The Holy Spirit bore witness to the Son through miraculous signs so that people would trust and worship the Son. 

This is why Satan is considered a great deceiver, who leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12:9; 20:3,8). He designs a kind of counterfeit Trinity to deceive the world into worshipping him. The beast from the sea is traditionally associated with the Antichrist. It is his image that gets set up and that people are made to worship (Revelation 13:14-15). This reminds me of the "abomination that causes desolation" that Jesus predicted (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) and which from Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 11:31; 12:11) represents an idol (or image) set up in the place where the Ark of the Covenant would have been in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. 

The second beast, who is from the earth, seems also to be known as the "false prophet" (Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 16:13), probably because through miraculous signs he deluded the world into believing the first beast.

The mark and name of the beast, represented as a human number, 666 (Revelation 13:17-18), stands in contrast to the divine seal and Name, which set apart God's chosen people and believers (Revelation 3:12; 7:3; 14:1; 22:4). The beast forces people to get a physical mark on threat of destitution, but the divine seal is a spiritual seal that is sovereignly given by God. 

Note that the beasts do not have authority or power in and of themselves. All of their authority and power comes from the dragon, that is, Satan (Revelation 13:2). Notice how often the expression "It was granted him..." is used (Revelation 13:5,7,14,15). This is not authority given by God but Satan. So, when we read, "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 13:7), this too is authority given by Satan. So we are to understand that until Satan is bound (Revelation 20:1-3), he is the dominant power in the world (Ephesians 2:2). And except for those especially sealed by God, it appears saints can also be killed by him (Revelation 13:7; 11:7; 12:17). So also, when Satan was tempting Jesus with "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" (Matthew 4:8-9), it was no charade. He really could offer Jesus all these things.

In view of the reality of Satan's power in the world today, we have this counsel from Scripture:

Be of sober spirit,be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:8-11).

Notice the last part of this passage. While Satan's dominion is limited and will end, God's dominion endures forever and ever. That is why in the Lord's prayer, we also pray, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."

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Another interesting thing to note is that for the most part when God is bringing the Great Tribulation judgments upon the earth, the ones who are suffering these punishments remain stubbornly adamant in their rebellion and refuse to repent (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9, 11, 21). In fact, the last time we get any suggestion that the people of earth honored God was after the great earthquake in Jerusalem following the raising of God's two witnesses:

And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven (Revelation 11:13).

What this suggests is that when God judges the world, it will serve more to vindicate His holiness rather than convert masses of people. People will be hardened and arrogantly entrenched in their rebellion and unbelief. 

This is why I have sometimes commented that perhaps the worst thing for anyone is to be stubbornly closed-minded so as to be unteachable. Truth requires a humble willingness to learn. True faith necessitates repentance, which is a willingness to change one's mind about things. Therefore, dear friends, I pray that God might grant you to always have a humble and teachable spirit.