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LESSON 18 - CHAPTER 13:1-18
R E V E L A T I O N
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p. 113-119
A Reminder
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996]
Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody
Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your
own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is
not included in these lessons)
THE BEAST
AND
THE FALSE PROPHET
CHAPTER 13
8. The (First) Beast from the Sea
(The AntiChrist), and His Prophet 13:1—18
a.
The First Beast 13:1—10
The Text:
1 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.
His Appearance, 13: 1—2
OUR COMMENT
This last paragraph is
probably the most important. This man of great power and influence totally
belongs to Satan. His power and position will be used by Satan to establish a
one world government and a one world economy, and a one world religion – All
will worship “The Beast” as he develops his 10 Kingdom federation.
(2.) His Acclaim 13:3-4
The Cause of it vv. 3-4a
The Text:
3 I saw one of his heads
as if
it had been slaughtered to death, and
his fatal wound was healed. And
the
whole earth was
amazed and
followed after the beast;
OUR COMMENT
Please always
pay attention to the “like,” and “as if” moments in the text. They describe a
man.
The Character
of it v. 4b
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?”
OUR COMMENT
This first beast brings us to that place where we really need to see what the imagery given to John means. If you just take the words as blank statements, then you come away with just a very strange image of some beast of imagination. However, if you relate the imagery to real life situations – perhaps government and those involved in government – then the imagery begins to take shape. For instance, in a real-life war situation, each side sees the top leadership as some kind of a beast who brings chaos and death to the side you’re not on – and the other side sees the same thing in your side’s leadership. In our situation here in the book, one side is all believers and the other side is all unbelievers. The revelation to John points out the ungodliness and unrighteousness of the other side – who sets forth a plan to end both the Christian faith, the Jewish faith, and all Christians and Jews alive at the time, attempting to establish a Christ-like religion with a new “Christ” to accomplish his goals – so that the Real Christ (the Lamb of God, covered with His own blood) will be replaced and destroyed, thus the beast becoming the Kingdom Conqueror and gaining himself as the world’s god and king.
(3.)
His Activities 13:5—7a
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,
OUR COMMENT
In our age we can
see many things as possibly leading to the events of this book. As I think about
myself possibly answering my front door some day and facing one of the Beast’s
ambassadors with a gun in his hand, saying – “Denounce your faith in Jesus, or
die.” I say, “No.” The gun goes off, and I die. As I sit here now, and consider
“What’s the point?”
What I have come to
see is that the forces coming against me because of what and who Jesus is… Those
against Him are truly evil, ungodly, and wicked. Now my life can show that
witness of how evil, ungodly and wicked they are, then I have played a great
part in the plan of God to destroy all wickedness and the wicked one, so that I,
and all other believers, can live an eternal life without evil and wickedness,
under the Lordship of Jesus the Christ, God the Father, and fellowship of The
Holy Spirit forever. Thus, my sacrifice at that moment in time is such a small
worthy thing.
(4.) His Authority 13:7b-10
The Extent of it vv. 7b-8
and authority over
every tribe and
[every] people and
[every] tongue and
[every] 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.
Ryrie, Pg. 115 Bottom
OUR COMMENT
Once again, I point you in the direction of Eternity. As believers, chosen
before creation, having our individual names written down in “The Book of Life,”
chosen to be the adopted family members of Almighty God in order to become His
mediators in the lives of the future before our Heavenly Father, people whom
even the angels serve… then all who lose their lives fighting evil, those chosen
to suffer at evil’s hands because of faith in Jesus, should give every one of us
an understanding of our importance to the end result. The Father has given the
life of His Son, for us, that we would be His forever. Thus, read His words and
promises, His prophecies, and look forward to the promised end result.
His Authority 13:7b-10
The End of it, vv. 9-10
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.
OUR COMMENT
Amen, Amen!
b. The False Prophet 13:11-18
[The Beast from the Earth]
(1.)
His
Appearance 13:11
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.
Ryrie, Pg. 116 Middle
OUR COMMENT
Immediately I think of the “Lord of the Rings” and the great dragon “Smaug.”
“Build me a great army worthy of Thorn doré.”
(2.) His Aim 13:12
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.
OUR COMMENT
We will find it even more interesting if we focus on the death and recovery –
Like our Savior’s.
(3.) His Activity 13:13—17
Fire on earth v. 13
Other Miracles vv. 13-14
Image of the First Beast v. 14
The Text:
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 have 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.
Additional Note on the Title "Antichrist"
OUR COMMENT
The First Beast demands to be “worshipped as God!”
Here Is Wisdom Chapter 13:18
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.
OUR COMMENT
Perhaps the Greek
numbers, or letters, will be revealed at some future moment. Many have tried,
but always failed in the past – perhaps soon.
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