Rev 13:1-18
"The Dragon's Allies"
I want to keep you informed of what is happening to our brothers and sisters around the world, especially in the Muslim world. In a letter written November 12, 2001 from the district of Poso in Indonesia, a believer writes, "The district of Poso is under attack as I write this. Over 50,000 Christians are in terrible peril as I write. The jihad are attacking and the situation is critical."
In Central Java a Christian mother and daughter were injured when two men on a motorbike threw a bomb inside their van as they were parked outside a Church. In Nigeria a Christian wife was recently kidnapped from her husband, raped and forced to remarry a Muslim.
I would remind you of the Apostle's words, that when one in the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.
Rev 13 continues the theme of Rev 12. At the end of Rev 12 the dragon, which is Satan, had been defeated. He knows he lost. Jesus delivered the crushing blow through His death and resurrection. Now salvation is secure for God's people. Satan desires to destroy the church, but he is now bound and powerless to do so.
On the contrary, the church would advance in Satan's territory and the Redeemer's kingdom would gather many no matter what Satan does. As a result of this defeat Satan comes after believers anyway, because he hates God so much.
In chapter 13 John sees another vision. This vision explains the end of the last vision where Satan was coming after the church. John sees the dragon standing on the seashore summoning up two allies to do his bidding. He calls up to two beasts, one from the sea and the other from the land.
As you see in your outline, each of the beasts is given a description, then we are given the purpose of each beast, and then John warns the church about each beast.
The description for the first beast is taken right from the Book of Daniel. The first beast has ten horns and seven heads, with a crown on each horn. The 10 horns and seven heads signify full power and authority.
It had the body of a leopard, feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. These descriptions are used in Daniel to describe three kingdoms who would persecute God's people. Here those descriptions are all wrapped up in one kingdom.
In Daniel these beasts represented political kingdoms opposed to the kingdom of God, the covenant community. The beast here has the same meaning as the beasts in Daniel. The beasts in both books represent the kingdoms of this world opposed to the church.
As with Babylon, Persia, and Rome, these kingdoms take onto themselves the authority that is God's. They all demand exclusive allegiance. That is why in v. 1 the beast has blasphemous names on his heads.
So chapter 13 is the explanation of chapter 12. How will Satan go after believers in the church age? Well, he will use the state to do his bidding. Certainly the early Christians saw this with Rome.
John notices that one of the heads of the beast had a mortal wound, but then the wound was healed. Again, Ch. 13 is expanding the picture given to us in ch. 12. Satan did receive a deathblow in Revelation 12. Through the death and resurrection Satan was defeated. Heb 2:14 says that when Jesus came He destroyed the devil.
This victory is seen in the gospels with Jesus' miracles of healing and exorcisms. In Matt 12 Jesus interpreted these miracles to mean that the king had arrived to bind the strong man and plunder his house. As Jesus approached the cross he said in John 12:31, "now the ruler of this world will be cast out, and when I am lifted up I will draw all peoples to myself."
We are reminded of Gen 3, where God promises Satan that the Deliverer would render a fatal blow to the head of Satan. So the beast receives a mortal wound like his master's. All opposition to God's people is ultimately powerless to thwart Christ's work in their lives. All whom Christ died for will be His, and no one can snatch them out of the Father's hand.
But we have seen that the kingdom of God has an already and a not yet aspect to it. In the already sense opposition is rendered powerless. But that does not mean it has disappeared. John sees the wound healed, and the beast is alive again. The beast will persecute the church, even though ultimately it cannot win. So for a time it seems as if the enemies of God are as strong as ever, even after the resurrection of Christ.
The purpose of the first beast is made clear in vs. 4-8. The kingdoms of this world will require allegiance to them instead of Christ. When the world sees the power of the political kingdoms, they will worship the dragon that gave the beast its power.
Now of course you are given spiritual insight here that unbelievers do not realize. When unbelievers trust the sate instead of Christ, they do not see themselves as worshiping Satan. But Scripture says in essence that they are, for the dragon is behind the state.
Notice in v. 5 that the beast was given authority for forty-two months. In chapter 12 the woman was spiritually protected in the wilderness for 1,260 days, which equals forty-two months. This number throughout Rev signifies the entire church age.
In v. 6 the beast blasphemies the name of God and His church, those in heaven and those on earth whom are citizens of heaven. This is true whether it is a Roman emperor who actually demanded worship, or men like Hitler or Mao Tse-tung. These may not literally call themselves God, but in essence they blasphemy God by acting as gods, killing whomever they wish.
These kingdoms (v. 7) are given authority to make war on the saints, and seek to overcome them. They are given authority over men from every tribe and tongue. The only ones who do not worship the beast are those whose names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life; true believers in Christ.
Here is the comfort for our brothers and sisters right now. This beast which is persecuting you has temporary and limited authority. God has not lost control. He lovingly warned you in advance so you would not think that His plans for you have been thwarted. Be comforted; your names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life and your troubles will pass. The Lamb that was slain is more powerful than the beast that was slain. Eternal life awaits those who suffer for Christ in this life.
Now there is a purposeful mockery of Christ in this first beast. Christ was slain, the beast is slain. Christ arose to rule a people from every tribe and tongue; the beast arises to rule a people from every tribe and tongue. And both demand exclusive allegiance. The church is encouraged here not to give into the beast. It is a false savior. Remember at this time the believers were being threatened to worship Caesar or they would soon be killed.
But their citizenship in heaven was to be more precious to them than their citizenship in Rome. All of us are regarded in Scripture as pilgrims. We have our feet in two lands; we are citizens of two kingdoms. The difference is that our hearts and allegiance belong first and foremost to our Redeemer's kingdom, which is beyond any one nation.
In vs. 9-10 believers are given a warning. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. John knew that in the churches were believers and hypocrites. The hypocrites would ignore these warnings, only concerned about the cares of this world. John calls true believers to listen carefully and wake up. Those who do not heed will not persevere when God brings troubles upon them.
John writes in v. 10 that those who are destined by God to be taken captive will be, and those destined to be slain will be. All true saints one way or another will suffer for their faith, and that suffering comes from the hand of God ultimately for our good.
Believers are to heed the warning, and to receive the encouragement.
John writes at the end of v. 10 - Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints. This passage is a call for you to endure faithfully your trials, and endure them in faith in Christ. Though our brothers and sisters are suffering greatly all over the world, they are persevering. We are to do the same.
We also see that the state can never be identified with the church. The kingdoms of this world are all identified with the first beast. There is the beast and the church; that's it.
Because the church in this country has tended to wrap the American flag around her, we have done great harm to our Christian brothers in other countries. You see the enemies of America see our flags displayed in the center of our worship, and they assume that to be American is to be Christian. As a result they persecute Christians because of their hatred of America, even when those Christians are not American.
That is why our brothers in these lands plead with us not to identify the church with the state, as if America is Christ's nation while the other countries are Satan's nation. If some of you still believe this it is time you grew out of that. You must believe what the Bible says about the state. Sooner or later it will show it's true colors, even here.
In v. 11 the dragon summons the second beast. The dragon and the two beasts will form an unholy trinity to mock the true trinity. This second beast will later be identified in Revelation as the false prophet.
You will notice in v. 11 a difference in the description from the first beast. The first beast had 10 powerful horns with crowns on them. The second beast has horns resembling a gentle lamb. This one is more deceptive. The first beast represented the power of earthly kingdoms. The second beast has a lamb's horn, which reminds us of Christ.
This is why the second beast later in the Book is described as a false prophet. Jesus warned His disciples that many false prophets and wolves would arise from the church, attempting to deceive the elect and draw them away from Christ. That is why though he looks like a lamb he speaks deceptively like a dragon.
So the second beast symbolizes false religion, and the deception of those false teachers and compromisers within the visible church. What is the purpose of the second beast? V. 12 - it uses its authority to cause people to worship the first beast. The false religions of the world will work with the political kingdoms to persecute the true church. Many churches in Germany called for Christians to support Hitler.
Many in the early church were persuading believers to offer incense to the Roman emperor and support the state no matter what. Believers are being warned that this is the way the devil uses to bring compromise.
VV. 13&14 speak of the great signs that the second beast will perform, and like we saw with the church, we are not to take these literally. Remember the church was said to speak fire down from heaven like Elijah. Now the false prophet will do religious work.
The second beast will appear very religious and moral - Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light. In v. 14 the second beast will persuade the people of the world to make and worship an image of the first beast. This reminds us of Daniel and his three friends under Nebuchadnezzar. The religious men of Babylon tried to force the believers to worship Nebuchadnezzar's image. They of course refused even though they might be put to death. We are being warned of the same thing.
But as one like a son of man appeared in the fire to protect Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, Christ is with us protecting us from responding in fear or being overwhelmed in discouragement. With believers, no matter how dark the situation, there is always a spark of true faith to keep them from falling away.
Sometimes the price of faithfulness isn't death, but financial persecution, as we see in vv. 16&17. The second beast gives a mark on the forehead to all that worship the first beast, so they can buy or sell. This mark is not a literal mark, but is the equivalent of the seal God gives to all true believers.
As the true God gives a mark, the false gods have their own mark. Those who are faithful to them are marked for protection and advancement. Those who do not give their allegiance to the beast do not receive this protection.
God's people throughout the age have given up financial benefits because they refuse to compromise. Believers are told here to expect this, whether in large or small ways. Believers are encouraged in all this because they do not look to this world for their happiness anyway. Their treasure is Christ, their goal is to please the Lord, their reward beyond this passing world.
That is the difference between true believers and hypocrites. Hypocrites will see the cost of believing and compromise so that they do not have to pay that cost. But those who have been born of God see the cost and persevere in the faith, losing their lives in this world that they many gain everlasting life.
This brings us to that famous number, 666. It is important to remember the outline of the chapter. Each beast is given a description, a purpose, and then there is a warning to the sheep about the beast. This warning after the second beast corresponds to the warning about the first.
The wisdom John is calling out for in v. 18 is not mathematical wisdom, or political wisdom, as if he is saying that those clever enough to figure out this puzzle will understand. The wisdom referred to is spiritual discernment; discernment to understand the nature of these things being spoken of.
The mark the beast places on the forehead of unbelievers is the number of man, described as 666. It is not the number of a particular man, but the number of man, or of humanity. Throughout Revelation the number 7 represents God. But man was created on day 6. The number 6 represent man. But apart from the seventh day man is incomplete. The seventh day God rested on His throne. The seventh day also looked forward to the time of consummation, when God's people would rest in heaven.
So the number 6 represents fallen man; man apart from God's rule, apart from the promise of heaven. It represents unregenerate humanity who have Adam as their covenant head. In Adam they are spiritually dead.
John is reminding the church that though these religious and political powers will make life rough for you, they only have the power of sinful man under judgment. But the mark we receive is the mark of the Holy Spirit, described in chapter I as the seven spirits of God.
So John calls for wisdom to discern the nature of the temptations to compromise. They come from fallen man destined for judgment. Why would you then fear man instead of God?
The question arises as to why there are three sixes and not just one. That is not real clear. It is possible the three is simply adding emphasis, as when the angels say, Holy, Holy, Holy. It is possible that since the dragon and the two beasts form an unholy trinity of three, the three sixes represent the three, mocking the true Trinity.
Let us remember though that God is not going to make something important into a mystery only a few clever ones can solve? That is not the God you have come to know.
Whether at the end of history there will be one figure that embodies the beast we will discuss at another time. But remember that John said there have been many antichrists throughout church history - meaning that the spirit of antichrist is always against the church. But Revelation doesn't expect us to match up each beast with one particular person, as has so often been attempted in the history of the church.
So the one who has wisdom is the one who accepts the warnings and the trials, and responds in faith and perseverance, loving not their own lives, but loving the cross and the crown awaiting them in glory.
How do we respond with the wisdom and discernment the passage is calling for? Well, let me ask you some questions. Do you live your daily lives as one filled with the peace of Christ? Do you make demands on others instead of accept them as Christ accepts you? Do you easily snap in anger against your spouse or your children?
The one with spiritual discernment takes the reality of the gospel and lives in it. It shapes the way he responds to others; it shapes the way he loves and accepts those around him; it shapes the way he responds to difficult circumstances.
But do not look to yourselves for this ability. The resources of heaven are yours, but they are from above. The Holy Spirit supplies them. Come to God daily for His strength, and live in the conscience reality that God has fully accepted you in Christ, and that He is in control of all things.
Our brothers and sisters in other lands are walking in this peace even as they are greatly persecuted. It wouldn't hurt to examine our own perseverance and what brings us great stress.
The dragon has allies to take away your hope and joy. In Christ is all you need. Walk in His grace and peace. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Amen.