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CHAPTER
THIRTEEN It
is possible that we have an error in
translation to start this chapter off with. Our translation has John
saying “And I stood upon the sand of the sea.”
But the ASV says “And he stood upon
the sand of the sea.” I believe the best manuscripts bear
out this
translation. In the last verses of chapter 12 the old dragon is
the one
who is under consideration. He is the main character in these verses.
So it
seems that in John’s vision he saw this old dragon, old Satan himself,
standing
on the seashore beckoning this beast to come on the scene. The time has
come
for him to come on the scene and play his part. In his vision John sees
this
beast rise up out of the sea. According to Revelation 17:15 the
sea, or
water is a type of chaotic conditions in the world. And surely the
conditions
that exist in the world today (1969) are ready to bring this beast on
the
scene. No nation on earth today really knows which way to turn. Even in
our own
country we seem to be in a war we cannot afford to win. And on the home
front,
our federal officials seem to think they will receive more votes in an
election
if they favor the beatniks, hoodlums, and law haters. Even our
politicians who
are experts in such matters will have a hard time making conditions any
more
chaotic than they already are. So who can say that the time for this
beast to
put in his appearance is not at our very door?
This
beast has seven heads which according to
Revelation 17:9 ties him in with Rome. Rome, as you know, is built
upon
seven hills, and is called the city of seven hills. Then he had ten
horns, and
according to Revelation 17:12 these ten horns represent ten
kings which
have not begun to reign as yet. But the crowns on their heads show us
they are
rulers. In Daniel 7:7 we see this same beast with his ten
horns. This
beast in Daniel 7:7 most definitely represents the Roman
Empire. In this
chapter the lion represented the Babylonian Empire, the bear the
Medo-Persian
Empire, the leopard the Grecian Empire and this fourth beast in verse 7
represented the Roman Empire. In Daniel 7:24 we are told that
the ten
horns on this beast are ten kings that shall arise. In both Daniel
7:24
and Revelation 17:12 the ten horns represent ten kings who are
to reign
at some future time. Therefore, the two beasts are one and the same.
They are
the old Roman Empire revived and in operation again. These ten horns
are
definitely a part of the beast that represented the original Roman
Empire. But
let us remember that this beast is a man. Just as Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel
2:38
represented the Babylonian Empire this beast represents the revived
Roman
Empire. The fact that this beast is cast into hell alive (Revelation
19:20)
is further proof that he is a man. Lions, bears, and leopards are not
cast into
hell.
In
our Bible we find different kinds of beasts.
In our King James version we find the word ZOON
translated as beasts. As we have already pointed out in our dealing
with
chapters 4 and 5 these are not “beasts”
as we know “beasts”, but rather they
are “living creatures”. This word is
so translated in other translations. In other Scriptures such as Luke
10:34
the word KTENOS is also translated “beast”.
These are tame beasts that are
of value to man, such as the horse, or the cow. And in still other
Scriptures
we find the word THERION translated “beast”.
These are wild, vicious,
untamed beasts such as the lion or the leopard. This is the word used
here in Revelation
13. Both John and Daniel saw this man who is to be the ruler over
the
revived Roman Empire through the eyes of God as a vicious, wild beast.
In Daniel 7:7 Daniel was unable to name the beast that represented the Roman Empire. He just had to say it was dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly with great iron teeth and ten horns. Here in verse 2 of Revelation 13 we see why Daniel could not name this beast. Here we are told that it was part leopard, part bear, and part lion. Who could name such a monster as that? If you were to see a beast that had the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear and a mouth like a lion, you too would just have to say it was dreadful and terrible. We
are told that the old “dragon (Old Satan) gave
him
his power, and his seat, (throne)
and great authority”. Old Satan does not have all power and
authority but
he is permitted to have a lot of power and authority over this old
sinful
world. Now he gives this beast (ruler over the revived Roman Empire)
all the
power and authority he has. It seems that as Jesus was the incarnation
of God,
so will this beast and along with him the second beast found in verses 11-18 be the incarnation of old
Satan. They will be old Satan himself in the flesh.
In
verse 3 we see one of his heads “wounded to
death.” There is so
much about this precious Book that you and I will never know in this
life. And
I refuse to be dogmatic about it, but it would appear that this beast
who has
been elected by the ten kingdoms to reign over them fails to be
reelected. It
would seem that he is finished as ruler over this empire. That is, he
seems to
be dead politically. But we are told that his deadly wound was healed.
So it
would seem that, with the aid of the armed forces, no doubt, he ignores
the
election results and declares himself to be the ruler. To begin with
this
empire will be a sort of democracy, but now it becomes a dictatorship.
The
change from a democracy to a dictatorship may come about gradually as
it has
here in our own country, or it may take place over night. In the case
of this
deadly wound being healed it will probably be an over-night affair. We
are told
that all the world wondered at this. That will, no doubt, be due to the
suddenness of it. Just when the world thinks he is down for the count,
he
suddenly shows up on top.
I
am persuaded that this takes place in the
middle of the seven years tribulation period. We are told that he is to
have
this power (dictatorial power) for forty two months (3 1/2 years). His
power
will come to an end when God rains down hundred pound hailstones (Revelation
16:21) upon the two hundred million men army (Revelation 9:16)
upon
the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:4). Their blood runs to the
horse
bridles for two hundred miles (Revelation 14:20) and it takes
the Jews
seven months to bury them (Ezekiel 39:12). When this time comes
his
power will be completely gone. In Revelation 19:20 we see him
being
flung into the lake of fire alive. But in verse 5 we are told
that he
was given “a mouth speaking great things”.
He will, no doubt, be one who will have great persuasive power. In Daniel
11:21
we see him as he fails to be reelected, but we are told that he obtains
the
kingdom by flatteries. He will, no doubt, flatter the armed forces into
backing
him up, that is, helping him to become dictator.
When
all this takes place we see in verse 4 the
people worshipping, not only the beast, but old Satan as well. A few
years ago
this would have seemed incredible, but it seems that way no more. You
will
recall the service held in California in the first part of 1967 in
which they
openly worshipped the devil. We can expect this kind of worship to
flourish now
that the devil’s crowd has God dead in their teaching. Not only does
this beast
flatter his way into office, but we see him in verse 6
blaspheming
against God, His name, His temple and His saints who are already in
heaven.
In
verse 7 we see that which is puzzling
to us. Here we not only see the beast making war with the saints, but
he is
permitted to overcome them. I believe these saints are some of the
faithful
remnant of the Jews who have been saved during the tribulation period.
It is
given that all of us suffer for Christ, but when this time comes the
saints of
this age will have all been raptured. And while I believe there will be
people
saved in all the nations during that time, still I believe these saints
are
among the elect remnant of the Jews. In Matthew 27:25 the Jews
said to
Pilate “His blood be upon
us, and upon our children.” And His blood has been upon the
Jews
through the centuries, and it will continue to be upon them until our
Lord
comes down to the earth with His saints. At that time He will heal
those whom
He has torn and will bind up those whom He has smitten because the time
will
have come for Him to revive them in order that they may live in His
sight, Hosea
6:1-2.
In
verse 8 we see all the people on the
earth, except those whose names are written in the Book of life,
worshipping
this vile beast. Here we also see that the Lamb was slain from the
foundation
of the world. If a mortal man is sentenced to die, and his execution
date is
set for some time way in the future, it makes him suffer all the more.
But in
the case of our Lord, He suffered the pain of anticipation not only
through the
centuries of time but throughout the celestial ages of eternity as
well. It was
ever before Him that at the appointed hour He was to die for the sins
of His
people.
In verse 9 we are told that “if any man have an ear, let him hear.” Someone may be saying that everybody has an ear, and certainly they do have physical ears. Everyone, except the deaf, can hear the noise of this old world. They can hear, and to a great measure, they can understand the modern day preacher’s social gospel. But in Proverbs 20:12 we are told that “the hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.” And in Matthew 13:16 Jesus said, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” Jesus is not talking about physical seeing and physical hearing, but rather about that which is spiritual. In verse 10 we learn that what is sown will also be reaped. We should ever keep that fact in mind as we are tempted to sow something we would not want to reap. In
verse 11 John sees in his vision a
second beast that comes up out of the earth. The first beast rose up
out of the
sea which speaks of the chaotic conditions in the world. But this one
comes up
out of the earth, or land. And when we see the expression “earth,”
or “land” in our
Bible we may know the land of Canaan is in view unless the land is
designated
as some other land either directly or by the context. I am aware of the
fact
that many great Bible scholars call the first beast in this chapter the
anti-christ, and to be sure he is an anti-christ. The world is swarming
with
anti-christs today, and they become more numerous with every passing
day. “Even now there are many anti-christs;
whereby we know that it is the last time,” I John 2:18.
“He is anti-christ, that denieth the Father
and the Son,” I John 2:22. Yes, this first beast is
one of
many anti-christs, but, as I see it, he is not the anti-christ.
Even
our Lord’s enemies among the Jews knew that
the promised Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, Matthew 2:3-6. In Micah 5:2 it had
been prophesied that He was to be born there. That is where our Lord
was born (Matthew
2:1), and that is where the anti-christ must be born. In fact, I am
persuaded that he has already been born there, and is at this moment
awaiting
the time when he is to be revealed. The old devil is too smart to try
to
present a man who was born somewhere else to the Jews as their promised
Messiah
for whom they are still looking. So John sees this second beast coming
up out
of the land of Canaan, or Israel. In John 1:29 John said “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world.” So here we see this second beast
trying to
look like a lamb. “He had two horns
like a lamb.” We have many people in the world today who
look like
genuine saints, but their speech (what they say) proves they are false.
“By their fruits ye shall know them,” Matthew
7:20. And their fruits are their teaching, Matthew
7:15-16. Though this second beast
tries to look like a lamb, he still speaks like the old dragon (Satan).
In
verse 12 he exercises “all the power of the first
beast”. He
can do this because he is empowered by the same one who has given the
power to
the first beast. And just as Christ held up the Father before the
world, so
this beast causes the people to worship the first beast. And since the
Old
Testament set forth the promised One as a worker of miracles,
therefore, in
order for this second beast to be accepted as that promised one, he
must
perform miracles. This we see him doing, in verses 13-15. To be sure people will say
of him what Nicodemus said to Jesus in John 3:2. Here Nicodemus
said, “No man can do these miracles that thou doest
except God be with him.” So when the people see this second
beast
making fire come down from heaven they will say, “This is the one we
have been
looking for.” You may say, “Why does God permit this beast to do all
this?” It
deceives the people, so why does He permit it? You see, our God is a
very
accommodating God. He gives His people faith with which to believe the
truth,
but to His enemies who care nothing for the truth, He “sends
them a strong delusion that they
should believe a (the) lie: that
they all might be damned,” 2 Thessalonians
2:11-12. Here in
verses 13-15 we
see this being done. He sends them that strong delusion, and they like
it. We
are told in verse 14 that the purpose of his miracles is to
deceive the
people. The people of the world love being deceived. There is no doubt
in my
mind that Satan is dispensing some of this power today in order to
prepare them
for that coming day. I do not doubt that Oral Roberts and others are
performing
some miracles in our day. And if you want to see what a good job Oral
has done
in the matter of deceiving the people go to Tulsa, Oklahoma and see the
elaborate buildings he has erected there. Our dear Lord who performed
miracles
to manifest His glory did not possess a place to lay His precious head,
but
Oral possesses a place that he could lay many heads. If you want money,
and you
do not care how you get it, get in the field of religion. That’s where
the
money is.
The
great power that God will permit old Satan
to have, and to pass on to this beast, the anti-christ in that soon
coming day
is really amazing. Where will you be when all these miracles are being
done?
When fire comes down from the heavens, and when the image, or statue of
the
first beast, comes alive and begins to speak, will you be deceived?
Please
remember, the purpose of all this is to deceive the people. This is the
anti-Christ in operation. How will he operate on you if you are still
on earth
when this time comes?
In
verses 16-17 we see that everyone
must have the mark of the beast
before he can sell what he has to sell, or before he can buy what he
needs. We
got a taste of this in the rationing of food, gas, tires, etc. during
World War
II. And today we have two large G.E.S. stores here in our city, and
before you
can buy a dime bag of candy in this store you must have a G.E.S. card;
now just
think how it would be if you had to have a card before you could buy
even a
loaf of bread in any store, and if you had to become affiliated with
this
beast, and worship him in order to get the card. The Lord’s saints who
are living
on the earth at that time will have reason to pray, “Give
us this day our daily bread,” Matthew 6:11 in
all sincerity. We are just selfish enough to rejoice with exceeding
great joy
at the thought that before this anti-christ begins his nefarious
operation we
will be raptured to ever be with our Lord.
We
are told in verse 18 to “Let him that hath
understanding count the
number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is
Six
hundred three score and six.” Six is the number of
man. He
was created on the sixth day, and therefore he has the number six
stamped upon
him. Seven is the number of completion or perfection. So six being less
than
seven would mean imperfection. Six then is the number of imperfection,
or the
number of man whichever way you wish to say it. This number six is
found in
connection with many evil characters in the Bible. For example,
Goliath’s
height was six cubits and a span, I Samuel 17:4. His spear’s
head
weighed six hundred shekels. Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold was six
cubits
wide. And six different instruments of music were used in the worship
of this
image, Daniel 3:5.
So
then, the number six, the number of man is
the number of imperfection. When you see it used twice as in 66 it is
to
emphasize this imperfection. And when you see it used the third time as
in 666
it is to make all the more emphatic the emphasis. The anti-christ’s
number
being 666 labels him as the most imperfect man who ever lived. The
wickedness
of men like Antiochus Epiphanes, pope Innocent III and Hitler will seem
like
child’s play compared to the wickedness of this one who is labeled 666.
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