I. Video Data.
What does the false prophet do to honor the Antichrist? John Ankerberg Show. “Through the Book of Revelation,” with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung.
II. Introduction. Dr. Orville J. Nave (D.D., LL.D.;1841-1917) Nave’s Study Bible.
In this thirteenth chapter of Revelation, we will consider the following flow of details: (1) A beast arises out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, to whom the dragon gives his power. (11) Another beast comes up out of the earth, and causes men to worship the first beast, (16) and to receive his mark.
III. Outline. Dr. Harold L. Wilmington (D. MIn.;1932-2018) The Outline Bible, 1999.
John sees two beasts, one from the sea and one from the earth, symbolizing the Antichrist and his false prophet.
I. The Beast Out Of The Sea (13:1-10): This is the Antichrist.
A. His appearance (13:1-2).
1. He has ten horns (each with a crown) and seven heads (each with a blasphemous name) (13:1).
2. He looks like a leopard, with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion (13:2a).
B. His authority (13:2b): It comes from Satan himself.
C. His assassination (13:3a): Some believe he will be killed and then rise from the dead.
D. His adulation (13:3b-4, 8): Following this, the entire world is astonished and worships him.
E. His arrogance (13:5-6): For a period of forty-two months, he blasphemes God.
F. His activities (13:7, 9-10).
1. In regard to God’s people (13:7a, 9-10).
a. The cruelty (13:7a, 9-10a): He persecutes and conquers them.
b. The challenge (13:10b): They are exhorted to display endurance and faithfulness.
2. In regard to all people (13:7b): He rules over them.
II. The Beast Out Of The Earth (13:11:-18): This is the false prophet.
A. His mission (13:11-12): With the appearance of a lamb, but the voice of a dragon, he forces the world to worship the Antichrist.
B. His miracles (13:13, 15): He performs great miracles.
1. He calls down fire from heaven (13:13).
2. He gives life to a statue (13:14-15): This statue bears the image of the Antichrist.
C. His mark (13:16-18).
1. What it is (13:18): It is the number 666.
2. Where it is applied (13:16): Either on the right hand or the forehead.
3. Why it is applied (13:17): No one is able to buy, sell, etc., without it.
IV. Scripture Text. Revelation 13. New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995). Pasted from Bible Gateway.
The Beast from the Sea
A1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 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. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
V. Examination. Dr. Charles C. Ryrie (Th. M., Th. D., Ph. D.; 1925-2016) Ryrie Study Bible, 1986.
A. 13:1. “a beast.” The Antichrist. See 11:7. Many emperors of Rome deified themselves, but Antichrist will far outstrip all his predecessors in his blasphemous ways. “ten horns.” The 10 kings that will give their power and authority to the Antichrist (17:12-13).
B. 13:2. “the dragon gives his power.” Satan gives Antichrist his power.
C. 13:3. “had been slain.” The same word is used in 5:6 of Christ’s actual death, though here it may indicate a wound that normally would be fatal. “his fatal wound was healed.” Apparently, Satan will miraculously restore Antichrist to life in imitation of the resurrection of Christ. No wonder the world will acclaim Antichrist.
D. 13:5. “forty-two months.” Apparently, the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period during which Antichrist’s power is practically unrestrained.
E. 13:6. “His tabernacle.” God’s dwelling place in heaven.
F. 13:7-8. Antichrist’s rule will extend to all, except believers whose names have been written in the “book of life.” The phrase “from the foundation of the world” relates to the writing of the names, not to the crucifixion (cf. 17:8).
G.13:10. Assurance that God will punish evildoers sustains the faith of those who are persecuted during these days.
H. 13:11. “another beast.” This man is Antichrist’s lieutenant, who will enforce the worship of Antichrist by performing miracles (v 13), by making and animating an image of Antichrist (vv 14-15), by sentencing to death those who disobey (v 15), and by requiring a mark on the hand or forehead in order that men may buy and sell (vv 16-17). Satan, the Antichrist, and his second beast form an evil trinity.
I. 13:18. “his number is 666.” Somehow unknown to us, this number will play an important part in the identification of the Antichrist in a future day.
VI. Reinforcement.
A. Dr. John F. Walvoord (Th. B., Th. M., Th. D., 1910-2002) Revelation Commentary, 1974
In the first ten verses of chapter 13, a character is introduced of central importance to the events of the great tribulation. This passage is first of all a revelation of the revived Roman Empire in its period of worldwide dominion, but more especially this paragraph directs attention to the evil character who exercises satanic power as the world dictator.
B. Dr. John Phillips (D. Min; 1927-2010) John Phillips Revelation Commentary (p 165, 169, 170).
The Beast of Revelation 13 is both an emperor and an empire. The first part of the chapter deals with the coming of Satan’s false prince; the remainder of the chapter has to do with the second mysterious person conjured up by Satan to act as the propaganda chief for the Beast. This person is called the false prophet. The first beast is possibly a Gentile, or at least partly a Gentile, since he comes up from the sea. The second beast, the lamblike beast, is probably a Jew. He comes up out of the earth (a Bible symbol for the Hebrew nation for God’s earthly people). The great function of the second beast is to glorify the first beast. Thus Satan, the Beas, and the false prophet form a satanic trinity.
C. Scofield Study Bible, 1909 (Editor, C.I. Scofield, D.D., 1843-1921, Editorial Revision 1967 Committee Member, John. F. Walvoord, Th. B., Th, M., Th. D.).
1. Revelation Chapter 13 unveils the conditions on the earth at the end of the age when the following factors will be manifest:
a. the world ruler is satanically energized (vv 2, 4).
b. he and his image are worshipped (vv 4, 8, 12, 15).
c. he is acknowledged as possessing supreme military power (v 4).
d. he exercises a universal authority (v 7).
e. he persecutes believers in Christ (vv 6-7).
2. The second beast of Revelation Chapter 13 :
a. is a deceiver (vv 13-14).
b. exercises economic dictatorship (vv 16-17).
VII. Additional Examination.
Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost (Th. B., Th. D.; 1915-2014) Things To Come, 1958, pp 286, 231.
1. The dragon is seen to have seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns , which are the same as the beast possesses in chapters thirteen and seventeen. It is most plainly stated in 13:2 that this individual derives his authority from Satan. This shows us that Satan is seeking a governmental authority over the woman’s remnant (12:7), which authority rightly belongs to Christ Himself.
2. The events of the Day of the Lord will include the prophesied events of the tribulation period, such as:
a. the rise of the political ruler, of the federation of states of a Roman Empire (Dan 2 and 7), who makes a covenant with Israel (Dan 9:27 ; Rev 13:1-10).
b. the formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet (Rev 13:11-18).
c. the pouring out of the judgments under the seals (Rev 6).
d. the separation of the 144,000 witnesses (Rev 7).
e. the trumpet judgments (Rev 8-11).
f. the rise of God’s witnesses (Rev 11).
g. the persecution of Israel (Rev 12).
h. the pouring out of the bowl judgments (Rev 16).
i. the overthrow of the false professing church (Rev 17-18).
j. the events of the campaign of Armageddon (Ezek 38-39; Rev 16:16; 19:27-21).
k. the proclamation of the gospel “of the kingdom” (Matt 24:14).
3. The events of the Day of the Lord will also include the prophesied events connected with the second advent, such as:
a. the return of Christ (Matt 24:29-30).
b. the resurrection of the Old Testament and tribulation saints (John 6:39-40; Rev 20:4).
c. the destruction of the Beast and all his armies and the False Prophet and his followers in the Beast worship (Rev 19:11-21).
d. the judgment of the nations (Matt 25:31-46).
e. the regathering of Israel (Ezek 37:1-14).
f. the judgment on living Israel (Ezek 20:33-38).
g. the restoration of Israel to the land (Amos 9:15).
h. the binding of Satan (Rev 20:2-3).
4. The events of the Day of the Lord will also include all the events of the millennial age, with:
a. the final revolt of Satan (Rev 20:7-10).
b. the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:11-15).
c. the purging of earth (2 Pet 3:10-13).
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