The Beast

Antichrist. The Antichrist! When you hear the word “antichrist,” what immediately comes to your mind? Does it conjure up images of supreme evil and insidious deception? Does it unsettle you and make you a bit fearful of what’s to come? Does it make you wonder if the antichrist is alive right now? And if he is, does it make you wonder if the world is ending soon? Obviously, we all have thoughts about the antichrist, and what his rising might mean to us. But did you know that the word antichrist does not appear a single time in the book of Revelation? In fact, in this book, he’s actually given a name. In the passage we are going to look at this morning, he is simply called “The Beast.”

However, throughout the Bible he is referred to by other names: In Daniel he is called, The little horn (Daniel 7:8) and the prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26). In 2 Thessalonians he is called the lawless one or man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). In John’s letter, he is simply called the antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22 4:3; 2 John 7)

And when it comes right down to it, antichrist simply means “one who is against Christ” or “one who is in the place of Christ.” Both are true. The point is that he’s at war against Christ even as he attempts to replace the true Christ.

The Bible has a lot to say about this concept of antichrist. In fact, in God’s Word
1) Antichrist is seen as an evil empire or political power (Revelation 13:17)
2) In 1 John, antichrist is seen as a past and present impersonal force, presence, or spirit, the evil spirit of this age (1 John 4:3)
3) John tells us that there will be people who will be forerunners of the final antichrist (1 John 2:18)
4) And in the passage, we’re going to look at today, he is seen as the climatic embodiment of satanic power and opposition to God in a person.

On November 1, 1999, Newsweek magazine’s cover story “Prophecy” reported that 40 percent of US adults believe the world will end with the battle of Armageddon between Jesus Christ and the antichrist. It also reported that 19 percent of Americans believed the antichrist was alive on earth right then. One thing is certain: everyone in the past who has made a specific prophecy of the antichrist has been wrong.

So, the point of God’s Word revealing the antichrist to us, is not so much as to have us focus on who he is, but to understand how the spirit of antichrist is at work in every generation. So, this morning, if you brought your Bible, let me encourage you to find Revelation 13:1-10, where God’s Word gives us the most comprehensive picture of the antichrist and his strategies. And as it does, it will also reveal what we can do to stay faithful in the face of his deceptions and attacks.

So, if you’ve found Revelation 13, let’s begin by looking at The Biography of the Beast in verses 1 and 2.The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 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. Revelation 13:1-2. If you were with us during our unpacking of Revelation 12, we know that the dragon on the shore is none other than Satan himself. With this introduction, John now sees a beast coming out of the sea. The sea itself was often associated with evil in the ancient world. You could say that it is symbolic of the Abyss, the source of demonic powers that are opposed to God. So, with the beast’s rising from the sea, we are immediately alerted to his demonic nature.

But next we see it had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns. The ten horns speak of great power. The seven heads reveal his great intelligence. And the 10 crowns speak of his great authority and political power. However, “on each head a blasphemous name” John MacArthur gives us insight into this description saying: those seven heads represent seven successive world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Antichrist’s final world kingdom. The ten crowns indicate the horn’s regal authority and victorious power. On the beast’s heads were blasphemous names. Like many of the Roman emperors and other monarchs before them, these rulers will take divine names and titles to themselves that dishonor the true and living God. They will follow the pattern of their master, Antichrist, “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

Finally, John tells us The beast I saw resembled a leopard but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. This final image combines the different beasts of Daniel’s vision, where each beast emphasized separate kingdoms. This beast is a composite of all the beasts Daniel saw. This suggests that this beast is greater than any of the previous individual empires. For it represents all the empires throughout human history that have stood against God and his people.

This is the beast who rises from the sea. He is demonic, powerful, intelligent, political, arrogant and blasphemous of God. This is who he is. But what does he rise up to do? That’s what we see next. He rises up to do two things. The first has to do with his acquiring worshiping followers. We see that here in verses 3 and 4, with…

The Deception of the Beast: 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 filled with wonder and followed the beast. People 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 wage war against it?” Revelation 13:3-4 The beast comes on the scene to reveal himself as a counterfeit Christ. We see here that he has been given a fatal wound. This wound actually comes from God, because the Greek word for “wound” is the word translated “plague” seen eleven times elsewhere in Revelation, always signifying its divine origin.

So, we can clearly say that the wound on the beast’s head is none other than that which was inflicted on him by Christ at His resurrection and is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, that says, “He will crush your head.” However, we also see that this fatal wound was healed, filling the whole world with wonder so that now they follow the beast. Why?

Well, later in chapter 13 we will read that the work of the false prophet is to bring about the worship of the beast as “it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” Revelation 13:14 The key to understanding the world’s amazement is found in this term “lived.” This is the same term used in speaking of Jesus’ resurrection in Revelation 2:8. In other words, what we have here is Satan’s grand deception. He’s a copycat. The Beast’s Fatal wound and subsequent resurrection mimics the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Beast is Satan’s attempt to put forward a counterfeit Christ so as to draw worshipers away from God so they will worship the Beast. And his deception works!

For we are told, The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People 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 wage war against it?” Revelation 13:3b-4 In fact, when they ask, Who is like the beast? their question is a parody of words that had only ever been spoken of God alone. God alone is incomparable. But Satan wants the world to worship Him. That’s his endgame. Satan wants to usurp the worship that is reserved for God alone. He hates God so much, that he wants the whole world to worship him. So, he deceives the nations by mimicking the death and resurrection of Jesus. That’s just the first part of his agenda against God’s people. Now, the second part is revealed by…

The Authority of the Beast: The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven. Revelation 13:5-6

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it 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 Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:7-8 Now, I want you to notice all that is given to the Beast. First, he is given a mouth to speak on behalf of the dragon; he is given permission to exercise its authority for 42 months; he is given power to wage war against God’s people; and he is given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All the beast’s voice and authority has been given to him. At first glance, we might conclude that the beast’s voice and authority was given to him by Satan. That seems obvious, but at closer look we see that the beast’s authority doesn’t actually come from Satan but from God.

How do we know this? We know that his authority actually comes from God because of the limit’s placed on the beast’s reign of terror. The beast’s authority is limited to 42 months. God, not the devil, sets the times and seasons. And if you understand Satan’s hatred of God, he will never want to limit his work to three-and-half years. One of Satan’s names is the destroyer. And his goal is not just to get the world to worship him, but to completely destroy anyone who would worship God. So, it’s not Satan who gives the Beasts his power. His reign of terror is actually limited by God’s Sovereign authority. He is only allowed to hold power because God allows it.

So next we see how the beast’s reign of terror is characterized: First, by his words. His words will be boastful and blasphemous. The object of the Beast’s slander is God Himself, God’s name, God’s dwelling and God’s people. This activity of the Beast is clearly portrayed in 2 Thessalonians where we are told that, 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. 2 Thessalonians 2:4

In his arrogance, he will exalt himself over God. In his slander, he will seek to make God out as evil and himself as good. In his blasphemous words, he will do everything in his power to defame God and God’s people. Think about how the spirit of antichrist works in this way today: This slanderous spirit was manifested against God and his people during Covid. At that time, many Christians were accused of being unloving because they were “putting innocent lives at risk” for refusing to take the vaccine or not wearing masks. Churches were specifically targeted as places to be shut down. Pastors were arrested for holding services.

Another form of slander has been aimed at Christian colleges and Universities accusing them of being discriminatory by simply adhering to the Bible as their code of ethics regarding moral behavior. Even today, churches and Christians are accused of being hateful because of our refusal to compromise with the LGBTQ movement. In fact, as long as the spirit of antichrist is allowed to speak, Christians will always be the object of slander.

Now, a second way the spirit of antichrist works today is by engaging in outright war on God’s people. Our text says he is given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. So, the Beast will openly persecute God’s people. God’s holy people will be arrested for owning Bibles, for gathering to worship Jesus. They will be attacked and beaten for sharing the gospel. This is happening at increasing rates around the world today. Nearly half a billion people are facing some form of persecution even as I speak. Here’s is an excerpt from an email I received this week from the American Center for Law & Justice:

Recently, over 300 Christians filed into church, preparing for Sunday worship, oblivious to the Islamic terror about to strike. Moments later 25 Syrian Christians were slaughtered and dozens more we traumatically injured by a suicide bomber. In Nigeria 40 gunmen recently killed 200 Christians in an early morning raid.

During his recent trip to the U.N. in Geneva, one of our leaders highlighted the dire plight of Christians in the Congo like Deborah, who sang praises to God as ISIS murdered her, and then her children were bludgeoned and beheaded simply because they had Christian names.

When I read reports like this, it is easy to see that we live in a world that is growing in its hatred of God and hostility towards God’s people. Satan’s slander and his war against Christ followers isn’t going away. So, the question that arises from this passage really comes down to one thing. How would God have us respond to the slander and attacks of this antichrist spirit today? His answer comes at the end of this passage. And I would say it like this:

Don’t Compromise your faith to the Beast: Don’t make a deal with the devil. Don’t fall for his lies. Don’t cower when you are attacked, no matter how bad things get. John says, 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

This first phrase, “Whoever has ears, let them hear” is meant to awaken us to the reality of the compromising complacency taking place among God’s people today. Let me give you some examples: The idea is that the deceptions and attacks of the antichrist spirit can cause God’s people to compromise in their faith. In fact, there are a number of subtle ways Satan’s deceptions and attacks are at work creating compromise today. One way compromise can erode our faith is when we begin to prioritize relevance over the truth. Today, many Christ followers find themselves wanting to hear messages that make our lives easier or more comfortable. As a result, many Pastors avoid teaching the harder truths of Scripture. This creates a weak church that will become susceptible to the lies of Satan. Another way we allow compromise to weaken the church is when we begin to tolerate sin and minimize its destructive effects. We tell ourselves, ”This is just a little sin, it won’t really hurt me.” And at first is doesn’t. But eventually it will. A third way we allow the spirit of the antichrist to create compromises is when we begin to adjust our teachings on controversial subjects like abortion, sexuality, or gender roles to become more acceptable to society. The result of these concessions is that the more the church compromises, the more we erode our witness in the world. So, John says wake up to what is facing us, “whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Don’t get taken in by this antichrist spirit so that you stay faithful to God. So, then, how do we do that? This passage reveals three ways for us to keep the faith in the face of Satan’s attacks:

First, Trust that God is Sovereign over the beast As we learned earlier, one of the beast’s strategies is to defame God, making Him to appear evil rather than good. One way he does this is by getting us to believe God is no longer in charge or in control in our world. But that’s just not true. For we’ve seen from this passage today, that even though it may seem like the beast has authority even over the whole world. We need to remember, that he was only “given authority” over the nations for a brief period of time. His authority is limited. This is never said of a true Sovereign. Only God is the true Sovereign. So then, even when it seems like evil reigns, we need to remember that our God reigns supreme. Keep trusting in our Sovereign God. Evil’s day will soon end.
The second truth has to do with God’s will for your life. When God’s Word says that everyone will worship the beast, that is “everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” John is reminding believers that we are immune from such worship. Why? Because if you believe in Jesus, your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. And you don’t need to worship Him, because you know the Lamb and your salvation is secure. For the Lamb defeated the beast when He died and rose again. So, trust in God’s revealed will. He is sovereign and He wins.

Secondly: Understand that your calling to follow Jesus is a calling to suffer John doesn’t soften the reality of what it means to follow Jesus during the reign of the beast. He says, “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 is not a popular truth today. No one likes to be told that they are going to suffer. However, this is the calling of anyone who has trusted in Jesus. Paul states this clearly in the book of Philippians: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29 If you believe Jesus, that makes you the focus of Satan’s attack. He doesn’t want anyone to trust in Jesus. Therefore, if he can’t destroy your faith by deception, then he will try to destroy your faith by destroying you. That’s why Christians in every generation are mocked, slandered and persecuted for their faith. And that’s why Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18. So understand that our calling to follow Jesus is a calling to suffer. For if Satan hates Jesus, he will hate you.

And finally, Let your faith help you endure whatever suffering that comes your way This is the key to no compromise. John says it very straight forward: “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people” In other words, it is your faith in Christ that will help you endure the attacks of the evil one. For it is when you are holding on to your faith in Jesus, you will know that Jesus will hold onto you. That’s the good news of our faith. For this is his promise to us: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

So yes, we live in an age where the antichrist is against you. But the good news is this: God is always for you, and God will always be with you.