"They Worship" Sermon: Revelation 7:9-17 (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cs-g_K982w

"They Worship" Sermon: Revelation 7:9-17 (manuscript)

 

“They Worship”

[Revelation 7:9-17]

November 1, 2024 Second Reformed Church/YouTube

            Today we remember All Saint’s Day.  In the Western Church, the season begins with All Hallows Eve (October 31st), and then All Saints Day (November 1st) – a day to give thanks to God for the witness of the saints. 

            On All Saints Day, we remember all those who have died in Christ – known and unknown.  This day symbolizes part of what we mean when we say in the Creed, “I believe in the communion of saints.”  There is a unity among believers who are still alive and those who have died in the faith.

            And so, we turn to one of the visions of John as we consider those who have died in the faith.

            And we see, first, Salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb.

Our text begins with a vision of all those people who have died in the faith – both those who have died believing in the Savior Who was to come and those who died in the faith having known Who the Savior is.  And we are told that salvation has been given to people from every type of person and every type of people.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,”

This is the promise that was made to Abraham:

“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1-3, ESV).

In Paradise, now, there are every type of people and every type of person who has ever lived:  male and female, Democrat and Republican, American, and African, and even Scottish.  God promises that every family of the earth will be blessed with salvation.  Nothing about how, who, when, or where you were born excludes you from the Kingdom.

This is how the saints are described:

“standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,”

The saints are standing before God and the Lamb and they are worshipping – they are clothed in white robes – pure and holy – and they are waving palm branches – symbols of the victory of the King – triumph and eternal life.

“and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

As they worship, they cry out that salvation belongs to God and the Lamb.

And we might wonder about that – shouldn’t they be saying that salvation belongs to us?  After all, we are the ones who are saved, right?

What we are being told is that salvation is God’s to give.  It is not something that we deserve or can earn – it is something that is given to us purely of grace.

As Paul tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV).

Salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb, and from before the foundation of the world, God and the Lamb chose to give salvation to the people that God chose to give to the Lamb to be His eternally – people of every type from every people group.

And now, all who have died in the faith are worshipping before God and the Lamb.  And with them, the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures fall on their faces in the worship of God and the Lamb:

“And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,”

They are all worshipping God and the Lamb now in humble and ecstatic joy.

Can we imagine the scene – now and on the last day – when myriad upon myriad people and myriad upon myriad angels, and all the creatures of Creation fall before our God and Savior?

When we are all joined together on the last day, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11, ESV).

What a day that will be!  What joy will be ours!

And now – and on that final day when the communion of saints is fulfilled in the Kingdom – we will worship God by acknowledging the attributes of God – everything that makes God Who He is in Trinity – some of which are mentioned here.

“saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’”

They – and we – cry out that God will be blessed for ever and ever – for Who He is and what He has done.

They – and we – cry out that God will be glorified for ever and ever – that we will continually be in awe and reflect Who God is and what He has done.

They – and we – cry out that God will be seen and known as Wisdom and the repository of all wisdom.

Paul writes, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33, ESV).

            And Job says, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13, ESV).

            God is not just smart.  He is not just knowledgeable.  He is wise.  He has all knowledge and knows how to apply it to His Glory and for the good of His people.

They – and we – cry out that God will be thanked for ever and ever – that we will recognize every reason we have to be thankful and give God thanks for it – for every good gift comes from God Alone.

That can be a tough one for us sometimes, can’t it?  We don’t tend to be thankful – certainly not for every good gift God gives us, much less for those things we don’t see as good but are things we need to be the people God has called us to be.

Yet, we ought to be raising our voices in praise to God, because we slept last night, because we got an extra hours sleep, because we had a place to sleep, because we woke up, because we are breathing, because we have something to eat and drink, because we had clothes to put on, because we were able to get to worship this morning – on and on, right?

Even the so-called “bad” things.  When I was first diagnosed with sarcoidosis, I didn’t think, “O thank You, God!” I would prefer not to have sarcoidosis, but I have come to be thankful for it for many reasons – including that it has helped to be better at ministering to others with health issues and to comfort people going for tests and procedures.

They – and we – cry out that God will be glorified for ever and ever and be given the honor He deserves – that He would be respected for the Being He is and what He has done.

They – and we – cry out that God will be glorified for ever and ever – that He would be know as the Omnipotent God – that He would be known for being the All-powerful God.

What that means is that God has the ability to do anything that does not contradict His Character and Attributes.  God is able to accomplish His Will.

And they – and we – cry out that God will be glorified for ever and ever for being All-mighty.

We may draw a distinction between power and might by saying that God’s power is His ability to carry out His Will and His Might is His ability to overcome all of His and our enemies.

This it the God and the Lamb to Whom salvation belongs.  This is the God Who loves His people so much that He offered up the Lamb as the Sacrifice to save us and make us the people of the Lamb.

Second, before the throne of God, the Lamb is the saints’ Shepherd.

“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’”

A group of the saints in Paradise are highlighted for John, and one of the elders asks John who they are.  It is a rhetorical question.  The elder tells John that these are the saints who died during the great tribulation, who have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and their robes have been made white.  That is, Christ’s work in living, dying, and rising has cleansed and perfected them and made them holy.

We shall all be made holy when we are received into the Kingdom.  It will be impossible for us to sin, and we will do everything perfectly and with joy.  It is our great hope that we will be raised perfected and holy on the last day to be with our God and Savior forever.

            “Therefore”

            Since they have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and their robes have been cleansed white –

            “they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple;”

            What are our beloved friends and family doing who have died believing in the Lord?  Are they sitting on clouds playing harps?  Are they haunting the place where they died?

            All those who die believing in the Savior are received into Paradise where they are before the throne of God – they are in the immediate Presence of God – and they are worshipping Him – they are doing everything that God would have them do – perfectly, sinlessly, and filled with all joy.

            How do we know they are filled with joy?

            “and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;            the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.”

            Because God shelters them with His Presence – and in doing that, all those who die believing in the Savior no longer hunger, they no longer thirst, they no longer experience any type of suffering.

            David writes, “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1-3, ESV).

            David knew this on earth – how much more will every believer know it in Paradise and the Kingdom.  God is our shelter.  God is our refuge.  We are safe and protected for all of eternity.

            “For” – God is our shelter and will keep us from all suffering because:

“the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Jesus is both the Lamb and our Shepherd.

We will remember, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV).

And the author of Hebrews writes, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12, ESV).

            Since Jesus is both God and perfect human, He is the Lamb able to be the sacrifice for our salvation.

            The Lamb, Jesus, is also our Shepherd – the One Who guides us to springs of living water.

            David writes, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3, ESV).

            And Jesus says to the woman at the well, “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water’” (John 4:10, ESV).

            “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (John 4:13-14, ESV).

            Our Great Shepherd gives all who believe eternal life.

            And in eternity, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

            There is no sorrow in Paradise because there is no sin and we are focused on worshipping the Lamb, our Shepherd.

            So, let us be assured that all those who have died in Christ – all those who have believed in the Savior – are in Paradise, eternally saved by God and the Lamb Who graciously bestow salvation on all those They have chosen.  They are with the Lamb, Who is the Shepherd, eternally alive in joy worshipping our God.

            And let us be assured that we – and all those who have yet to die believing savingly in Jesus – will be received into that same Paradise, with our God and Savior, the Lamb and Shepherd.  We will be at peace, in joy, where there is no more sorrow.  We will be eternally alive, worshipping God and the Lamb with myriad after myriad of others and all the creatures of Creation.

            Let us pray:

            Almighty God, we thank You for this vision that assures us that those who have died believing in the Savior are eternally in joy worshipping You, and we, also, will be received, most assuredly, into Paradise one day.  Keep us in this assurance and help us by the Power of God the Holy Spirit to do all those good things You created us to do.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

"Faith Alone" Sermon: Romans 1:16-17 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/live/DTPrY0ftuOk

"Faith Alone" Sermon: Romans 1:16-17 (manuscript)

 

“Faith Alone”

[Romans 1:16-17]

October 27, 2027 YouTube

 

            Today, we celebrate Reformation Sunday.  Reformation day is actually Thursday – October 31st.  October 31st was chosen to be Reformation day because historians mark that day – not as the first act of reformation – but as the turning point, after which there was no going back.

            The basic idea of reformation – our church is a reformed church – is the idea that we are constantly “reforming” what we believe and what we do based on the Bible.  If anything we teach or do contradicts the Bible, we go back to the Bible and do what God has said.

            A number of historic figures stood up in the late Medieval period to argue that the Roman Catholic Church had gone away from the teaching of the Bible and must “re-form” according to what the Bible actually teaches.

            Martin Luther is usually chosen as the person who brought the issues to the turning point.  Luther was born in 1483.  In 1505, Luther began law school, but left due to a scare and became an Augustinian monk.  As he studied and taught, he found that the Bible disagreed with some of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

            In 1515, as the Pope sought money to build St. Peter’s Cathedral, an inventive monk named Tetzel took the idea of selling indulgences and added a jingle to boost his sales, “when the coin in the coffer rings, another soul from Purgatory springs.”

            The Roman Catholic Church taught that if you weren’t bad enough for Hell or good enough for Heaven, you went to a place called Purgatory (which is not in the Bible) to earn enough merit to get to Heaven.  The Roman Catholic Church taught that Jesus earned enough to merit a person part-way to Heaven, but you have to merit the rest of the way yourself; the Roman Catholic Church taught that Jesus’ works plus our works earns us Heaven, and, if you don’t earn enough merit in this life, you can earn it in Purgatory – in fact you could earn it for yourself, or the dead, or you could buy an indulgence – a document which lessened your time or your loved one’s time in Purgatory.

            Luther compared this with what the Bible teaches, and he found the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church to be lacking.  So, on October 31, 1517, he posted what has become known as his “95 Thesis” on the church door at Wittenberg.

            We need to understand that this was not a radical act, and he was not trying to split the Roman Catholic Church.  It was common for scholars to post items for debate on the church door.  Luther had posted 95 items he wanted to debate with other scholars – and it was written in Latin – so must people would not have understood what it said.  However, someone read the post and translated it into German, and using the new invention – the printing press – spread the thesis throughout the country – and they ignited a fire amongst the people.

            Is salvation earned by receiving Jesus’ good works and adding them to our good works, as the Roman Catholic Church taught, or, as Luther would argue, is salvation received as a gift based on the good works of Jesus Alone?

            And so, let us turn to our text:

            And we see, Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel.

            “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,”

            This comes out of nowhere as we pull it out of context:  Paul opens his letter with greeting to the Roman Christians – Gentiles – non-Jews – who had come to believe savingly in Jesus.

            Word had apparently gotten back to the Romans that they were not as important to Paul, since they were Gentiles and not Jews, but Paul argues that he loves them and prays for them and desired to be mutually encouraged by them, and – especially – he wants to opportunity to preach the Gospel to them.

            It is then that he writes the text we have this morning, beginning with his not being ashamed of the Gospel.  That is, the reason he so desperately wants to get to Rome to preach to the Romans is the fact that he is not ashamed of the Gospel – that is, he is of the opposite view regarding the Gospel – dismiss these ideas that he prefers to preach to Jews – no, Paul wants to preach the Gospel to all people at all times on all occasions.

            So what is this Gospel?

            We need to remember because so many people have wrong ideas about what the Gospel is.  Paul tells us rather concisely that the Gospel is the historical facts about Jesus, the Incarnate Son.  Hear Paul’s words:

            “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, ESV).

            That is the Gospel.  This is the message Paul was not ashamed of.  This is the messages we are called to believe and bring to all of Creation.

            Second, we see that this Gospel is the Power of God for salvation.

            “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

            “For it” – the reason Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel and wants to preach it to the Romans and all people is that it is the power of God – not of humans.  The Gospel is God’s power – God’s way – it is nothing that a human can do or add to or make better.  It is the power of God in this Gospel – what God did and does – that is the anyone is ever saved who believes.  There is no salvation – there is no belief – unless God – by his Own Power – through the preaching of the Gospel – grants salvation to those humans He gives it to.

            And it is worth noting that God did give the Gospel to the Jews first.  God did choose the Jews to be a special people – to give them the Word of God and to Incarnate as the Word of God to accomplish the Gospel.  God is the Gospel – Who God is – what God did – who God empowers to belief and salvation.  And since the Resurrection – the Gospel is sent to all peoples – including the non-Jews.

            It is not in any way or part the power of humans, because we cannot, as Paul explains: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot” (Romans 8:7, ESV).

            The non-Christian – the non-believer – cannot submit – he cannot turn to God.

            Well, then, how do we believe?  How does God use His Power in the Gospel to change us and cause us to become empowered to belief?

            Again, Paul explains:

            “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9, ESV).

            Because God freely chose to have mercy and love a people – all those who will ever believe – the Church – even when we were spiritually dead in sin and could not and would not ever choose to believe in Jesus savingly, God chose to save us – by grace alone He saved us.

            And, as we saw Jesus explain in the Gospel of John recently, Jesus has gone to prepare a place in the Father’s house for all those who will ever believe in Him – so we are secure – our place with Jesus in the Kingdom is assured, if we have been saved by God and God alone.  So, in the ages to come, we will be absolutely blown away with the riches that God showers upon us as His adopted sons and daughters.  God is showing Himself to be outrageously generous!

            God has saved us by grace alone through faith alone, and the grace and the faith are not our doing – they are not our works – we cannot boast about them – because they are gifts of God to us.

            And what is faith?  Faith is the means by which we receive the gracious gifts of God – such as salvation.  Faith is like the gutters and leaders on your house that catch the rain and move it somewhere.  God gives us the gift of faith to be able to receive His Grace.  The faith is not something we come up with – it is not a good work – it is a tool that God gives us to receive what God’s Hand gives to us.

            Third, we see that the Gospel reveals the Righteousness of God.

            “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,”

            What is righteousness?

            Righteousness is the perfection that God requires for a person to be made right with Him.

            So, the Gospel reveals the perfection that God requires to for a person to be made right with Him “from faith for faith.”

            How does the Gospel reveal this perfection?  From faith for faith.

            What in the world does that mean?

            The Gospel reveals this perfection from faith – as we receive salvation and confess it – for faith – as we receive all that God has called us to do, and we obey.

            In other words, God’s free gift of salvation to us through the work of Jesus is revealed as we confess what we have received and believe and proven as we do those things God has called us to do as people who have received His salvation.

            Paul writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

            Do we hear the “from faith for faith” here?

            God created us to be His, made us right with Him through Jesus Christ, and we now respond by doing the good works He calls us to – those works that God planned for us to do from before the Creation.

            Finally, Paul writes, “as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”

            Here we have a summary of what he says:

            The righteous – those who receive the perfection necessary to be made right with God through the Gospel – Jesus’ works – are resurrected from spiritual death – are enlivened – are born anew – are born again – by faith – by receiving the gift from God.

            The gift of salvation is received by us by the gift of faith by which we receive it, confess our belief, and do the good works God predestined us to do.

            The Gospel is God’s work.  Our receiving faith is God’s work.  Our becoming righteous is God’s work.  We respond, but we add nothing – we add nothing to our salvation – we do not pay any part of the debt.  Salvation is by Christ Alone – by grace Alone – by faith Alone – and to the Glory of God Alone.

            And so, we believe that Martin Luther got it right; the Roman Catholic Church erred in saying that Jesus did part of the work of salvation and we do part of the work of salvation.

            But that was 507 years ago.  What’s the big deal now?

            This is what the current Roman Catholic position is:

"If anyone says, that by faith alone the ungodly are justified in such a way as to mean that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to receive the grace of Justification and that it is not necessary for a man to be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema." (The Council of Trent, Canon IX).

            Nothing has changed in 507 years.

            The Roman Catholic view is, if anyone says they are saved by Christ Alone, by grace alone, by faith alone, to the Glory of God Alone – if any denies that Jesus does part of the work of salvation and we do part of the work of salvation – “let him be damned.”

            The Reformation is not over.

            Martin Luther wrote:

“The first and chief article is this: Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 3:24–25). He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works and merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23–25). This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us ... Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls (Mark 13:31). (The Smalcald Articles, part 2, article 1).

Being part of a reformed church means that we turn back to the Bible – and the Bible has the final word – and whenever someone or something disagrees with the Bible, the Bible is right.

Salvation is God’s work; it is God’s gift.  You and I don’t earn salvation – not even a little bit.  We respond to our receiving the Gospel.

Either you have been saved by Christ Alone, through grace alone, through faith alone – or you are your savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Authority forever and ever.  You chose to love us and save us and do this all through Your Son.  Open our eyes and minds that we would understand and not be confused.  Help us to be ever thankful for Your Word that has saved us.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

"The Second Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:11-18 (video)

 "The Second Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:11-18 (video) (youtube.com)

"The Second Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:11-18 (manuscript)

 

“The Second Beast”

Revelation 13:11-18

August 18, 2024 YouTube

          We’ve seen that the dragon is Satan, and the first beast is the governments and leaders who have the power to persecute the Church – believers. He is the Anti-Christ.  The second beast – the beast of the land – is the “minister of propaganda.”  He is a false prophet that supports the first beast by lying to the world to get people to worship the first beast. He is the religious institutions fostering the worship of the first beast – religion in the broadest possible sense. The land beast is a religious figure who gives a blessing to those who worship the sea beast. The false preachers and teachers we see in churches today have followed the second beast and followed him in worshipping the first beast and working to draw others into the worship of the first beast.

          The first beast is deified human political power.  The second beast is false worship.

          “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.”

          As we have seen before, Satan creates a blasphemous parallel of the True God and His salvation. The dragon, the first beast, and the second beast are a foul parallel to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The dragon, the first beast, and the second beast are a foul parallel of the Trinity.

          And the second beast has two horns like a lamb.  He is the wicked parallel of the Lamb of God.  And he speaks with the voice of the dragon.  Whereas the Lamb of God speaks with the Triune Voice of God.

          Daniel has a vision of the second beast, “I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great” (Daniel 8:3-4, ESV).

          The second beast gives a false message of a false salvation.  “All you need to do is be good and, God is satisfied.” “If you give beyond your means, God will let you into His heaven.” “If you just believe, God will give you anything you want.”

          We must be solidly grounded in the Gospel to stand against the second beast. We must know the Gospel.  The Gospel is Who Jesus is and what He did.  There is no other Gospel.  Anything else is a lie of the second beast.

          Jesus said, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:23-26, ESV).

          John writes. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (I John 4:1-6, ESV).

          “It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.”

          The second beast – the lying prophet – the heretical churches and their ministers who seek to lead their people into sin – is given the authority of the first beast.  He has the power to persecute the true believers – to have the false churches and religions bear down on the believers and seek to have them punished – or even killed.

          As the author of Hebrews writes, “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:36-38, ESV).

This is the work of the second beast even as he seeks to have the world worship the first beast – or else. The work of the second beast is to unite the world through religion – false religion, so the people who believe his lies will be turned to the worship of the first beast.

This is what the Caesars did.  They sought to unite the empire through religion.  It didn’t matter what religion or religions, so long as the empire was at peace and worshipped the Caesars.

In the context of religion, we read of the second beast:              

“It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast 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.”

The second beast – the false religions and their promoters – did satanic versions of the works and miracles of the prophets and the apostles.  They brought fire down before the people and did other signs, and the second beast told the people who followed him to build an idol of the first beast “who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”

Blasphemous copies!

The prophet Elijah challenged the 450 priests of Baal to see whether their god or the Living God would accept their sacrifice.  And we read: “And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.’ Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (I Kings 18:36-38, ESV).

And we read of a miracle God performed through Paul: “And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’ And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:9-12, ESV).

The second beast – with the authority of the first beast – imitates the miracles of the prophets and the apostles.  We have seen some of these religious leaders and their churches on the T.V.

 “And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.”

We have seen Isaiah and other prophets condemning the people for worshipping idols that cannot speak or hear or do anything.  Here, the idol that was made of the first beast – the wicked leaders of government – like the Caesars – is given the ability to speak and to command his worshippers to slaughter all those who do not worship the first beast.

We will remember: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne” (Revelation 6:9, ESV). Those who bear witness to the Word of God and Salvation in Jesus Alone may be slain for it.  You and I might be slain for it.  The false religious teachers may be given the authority to put us to death as they have in the past and as they are in other parts of the world now.

Now, we come to what is likely the most well-known section of Revelation – the mark and the number of the second beast:

“Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.”

First, the mark.

The second beast – the false religions and their leaders will require everyone who follows them – believes in the second beast who worship the first beast – to have a mark on their forehead or their right hand.

What is the mark?

The people in the day that John is writing would know that the word “mark” used here refers to the emperor’s seal on an official document. 

It is a seal of ownership – of allegiance to the first beast – to the power of the government.  Slaves and soldiers were required to get the mark of the one they served placed on them to show who they belonged to – who their allegiance was to.

As John writes, it is a seal of those who are totally committed to allegiance to the government and its rulers – the first beast – the Anti-Christ.

The believing Jews who read Revelation would understand that this is another parallel perversion of what God said. You may have seen Jews who wear a small box tied around their forehead or around their arm called, “Phylacteries.”  The box contains a scroll with the Law of God written on it.  This is done based on an interpretation of Exodus 13:9-10 (ESV), “And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.”

So, we see the perversion of this understanding by the second beast’s requiring of a mark on the forehead or arm.

We remember that Christians have a mark that identifies Who our Owner is and Who we give all of our allegiance to:

Jesus tells the angel “saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’” (Revelation 7:3, ESV).

And we saw that the seal of our ownership and allegiance is the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit.

So, the mark is a choice between the world befouled by Satan and his beasts or Christ.

And we are told that those who do not have the mark of the beast – those who do not prove their ownership and allegiance to the first beast will not be allowed to buy or sell.

We have already seen this when we looked at the church in Pergamum.  The Christians in Pergamum were not able to buy or sell because they did not belong to a guild – and to belong to a guild, required that they worship idols and have sexual relations with prostitutes.

Second, the number.

“This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

The name for the code that uses numbers to represent letters is called “gematria.”

Using this code, the number 666 has been “translated” to be Nero, Napolean, Hitler, Henry Kissinger, and others.  However, the only name on the list that we have that would have meant something to the first century Christians – and all of this had to mean something to them because the book of Revelation is first a book of comfort and hope for the Christians of the first century suffering persecution.  The only name would be Nero.  However, you can only come up with the name Nero if you spell it incorrectly.  So, Nero is not the one being signified by 666.

Let’s consider for a moment what we are told: “let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

First, this does not say it is anyone’s name. John says it is the number of the beast – the second beast – the false religions and their leaders.

Second, we don’t have to read this as being the number of a single man.  It can be ready as being a man’s number – a number belonging to a man – or a number belonging to man – or a number of men – humans.

So, let’s turn from gematria and look at biblical symbolism.

The number six is the symbol of fallen, sinful man.  Six symbolizes the character of being imperfect, incomplete, and defective.

We will remember that the Jews symbolized emphasis by repetition – from first to third degree.  So, we can read 666 as six hundred sixty-six, or, probably more accurately, six, six, six – or the greatest of what six symbolizes.  (I hope that makes sense.  If not, you might want to look at the manuscript after you finish watching the video, and maybe that will help.)

When we put these things together, what John is telling the first century Christians, is that the false religions and their teachers, the governments and politicians, and Satan who inspires them all, are the ultimate, sinful completeness.  There is nothing more sinful and damnable that Satan and the first and second beasts. And that is good news.

What?

The good news about the false, Satanic trinity is – no matter what God allows them to do for a time – they are doomed to the lake of fire – to Hell.  There will come a day when these evil people and beings are put away to suffer eternally, and the Creation will be restored and all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation will be forever welcomed into His kingdom.

Satan and the first and second beasts are powerful and will cause much suffering and death, but their power and the time they have before they are thrown into the lake of fire is limited by God, so we do not have to live in fear of them.  No matter what they may do, we are received into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and they are damned to Hell.

The commentator, Joel Beeke, says that this text should make us respond in three ways:

First, we out to pray for the grace to be able to recognize the first and second beasts.

Second, we ought to repent of all of our sins.

And third, we ought to trust in Jesus, the Lamb of God. (Joel Beeke, Revelation, 371).

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for showing us that there are governments and leaders and religions and religious leaders who serve Satan and not You.  Help us to see them and proclaim the Gospel, nonetheless.  Keep us hoping and filled with comfort knowing that we will be received into the fulness of Your Son’s kingdom to live forever with great joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"The First Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:1-10 (video)

 "The First Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:1-10 (video) (youtube.com)

"The First Beast" Sermon: Revelation 13:1-10 (manuscript)

 

“The First Beast”

Revelation 13:1-10

July 28, 2024 YouTube

          We continue to see behind the scenes, and we have come to a section in Revelation which may be familiar to us:  the two beasts. This morning, we will consider the first beast.

          “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea,”

          The first beast – this being, rises out of the sea.  The sea is symbolic of chaos and rebellion.  We will remember the fear of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during a great storm – and the storm that came upon Jonah and, also, Paul, on the Mediterranean Sea.  This is a beast of chaos and rebellion, fear, and destruction.

“with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.”

The horns and heads symbolize governments.  And the diadems symbolize power and royalty – strength over other nations and governments.  But it also shows that the power of the beast and these governments he has are influential through are limited.  There are ten horns – not an infinite number.  There are seven heads – not an infinite number.  As we have seen before, Satan and his satanic host are limited by God.  They are allowed – as God wills – this far and no further. There are wicked and satanic governments now and until the until of time that are limited by God yet are strong and will persecute believers – all Christians.  At this time, the government in mind was – at least – Rome.

And the beast has blasphemous names on its heads.  The governments and powers that the beast influences and rules take the Lord’s Name in vain.  For example, the Ceasars – the emperors – demanded that the people call them, “Lord,” the title reserved for God Alone.  They said that all people must worship them as God and call them, “Adonai.”  The holy title of God Alone.

We are given a description of the beast and where his power comes from:

“And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.”

The beast is not Satan, but he is satanic, and his power and throne and authority are given to him by the dragon – who we have seen is Satan. The description of the beast shows us that the beast is dangerous and powerful – and we do well to be aware of him and to run to our God and Savior for protection against him.  All governments and political figures that insist we do things against what God has clearly commended must be refused.  No matter what happens to believers – the Christians of the first century we fed to animals, made up as human torches, had their head and other body parts removed, and they were mocked as they died for the sake of Christ.  Be ready if it happens to you.

          We have noticed that Daniel and Ezekiel have visions that parallel what is revealed in the book of Revelation.  The readers and hearers of Revelation would remember them. Daniel writes about four beasts.  In Revelation, they are condensed into two.  Of the fourth beast, Daniel writes:

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:7-8, ESV).

We will remember the vision Daniel had of a great statue made of different metals, Rome is symbolized by iron. The fourth beast – which parallels John’s first beast – had great iron teeth.  Minimally, the believers of the first century are being told that Rome is the first beast – or one of the first beast’s horns. Rome is a satanic government with satanic leaders that work against Jesus Christ and His people.

“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’”

One of the satanic governments will seem to be on the verge of death but will have a comeback and continue with their wicked actions.  And the world – all those who follow the beast and worship the dragon, worship the beast and praise him and say that he has all power – he is unstoppable.

The Roman Empire – and perhaps an empire or empires in the future – will seem to be on the verge of destruction, but it will recover and continue in its wickedness.  The Christians of the first century are being warned not to be too confident in the seeming destruction of Rome, because it will revive and continue.  The wicked empire is not done sinning against God and His people.

John may be referring to “the Third Century Crisis [that] almost destroyed the Empire and paved the way for its eventual downfall. From 235-284 AD, there were at least 26 emperors and all, but a handful was murdered. Rome’s traditional trade network collapsed during this period so by the time Diocletian brought an end to the Crisis; the Empire was on its last legs” (https://www.bing.com/search?q=was+the+roman+empire+almost+destoryed+and+then+made+a+comback&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=&ghc=1&lq=1&pq=was+the+roman+empire+almost+destoryed+and+then+made+a+comback&sc=21&sk=&cvid=F31ABBCC93B441E0A594DDD3FCD16F28&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=).

It is not wrong for us to look forward from the experience focused on the first century Christians to believe that in all ages, wicked nations rise and almost fall and recover and fall, in the Providence of God. We ought to pray for all believers throughout the world and for God to retrain the satanic governments and leaders of the world.

To state it starkly, the beast from the sea is the Anti-Christ.

The Anti-Christ mocks Christ to fool – if he can – even the elect of God.

Remember what Jesus says:

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 25:4-14, ESV).

Jesus wears many diadems.

John writes, “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself” (Revelation 19:11-12, ESV).

Jesus’ Name is worthy.

All the peoples of the world will worship Jesus.

Jesus was put to death and rose from the dead.

Paul writes of these things to the Philippians:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11, ESV).

The Anti-Christ mocks the things of Christ – he enacts false copies of all the things that prove Jesus is the true God and Savior.  Even the followers of the dragon – Satan – have done this from the beginning.  We remember Moses faced Pharoah:

“Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘When Pharaoh says to you, “‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’” then you shall say to Aaron, “‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’”” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said” (Exodus 7:8-13, ESV).

Then Moses called on God, and the Nile was turned to blood, but the magicians of Pharoah did the same.  Then Moses called on God, and the land was filled with frogs, but the magicians of Pharoah did the same.  But then Moses called on God, and the land was filled with gnats, and the magicians of Pharoah could not do that – and they could not do anything more that God dis through Moses, because God said, “This far, and no further.”

The Anti-Christ tries to fool people into believing he is the long-awaited Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, and we are warned – the Christians of the first century were warned – anti-Christs will come and then there will be a final Anti-Christ.

Again, Jesus says:

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Matthew 24:23-28, ESV).

“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

The beast will try to look like the Christ so all the people of the earth will follow him and believe in him and worship him as the Christ, though he is bringing them into the fate of the dragon and his demons. People who are expecting the Christ to be someone other than Jesus – even people who know the Bible and believe they are interpreting it correctly – they will follow the Anti-Christ into the fate of the dragon and his demons.

As we have seen before – the only ones who will escape the trap of the dragon – Satan and his demons – are those whose names have been written in the book of the Lamb who was slain from before the foundation of the world.  The only ones who will not be cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternally are those who have been elected – predestined – by God from before He created anything – to be believers – to be the ones who receive the Christ as their God and Savior.

Between the time of the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, and the return of Jesus – Satan are his demons are given permission to attack the Church for 42 months – three and a half years – approximately 1,260 days – symbolism we have seen before for the Church age.

The beast was given 42 months to blaspheme the Holy Spirit and to attack and conquer parts of the Church.  Remember, our deliverance from hell and the second death does not mean we will not suffer and, even die, for our faith. After the 42 months, God says, “enough.”

Before that, the first century Christians are told the song that the beast and his followers will sing.  “If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.” The beast and his followers rejoice and sing at the destruction and death of Christians – who are the Church.

It was a great joy to see Jesus slump dead on the cross, and it is great fun and hilarity to see His people hunted down by the beast and the followers of Satan.  Satan thought he had won that day.  But when Jesus rose, he knew he had lost eternally.  Still, God gave him time to rampage the earth in terror and pain – until God says, “enough.”

Through these tribulations – from the first century until the end of the Church age when Jesus returns, all believers throughout time and space are told: “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

The first beast is the Anti-Christ – one of many until the final Anti-Christ comes.  He is given power and authority by the dragon – Satan – to lead the governments and the rulers of the world in satanic action – especially against the Church – all believers throughout time and space.

The first beast tries to copy Christ and make people believe he is the Christ and get them to worship him.  But we who are chosen and believe have been warned by the True Christ that the Anti-Christ is coming and to beware of him – to be faithful to the end – and to the return of Jesus.

          The Christians of the first century – and all Christians throughout time and space – ought to pray for the governments of the world and for their leaders – that they would not be taken in by the first beast and used to go against Jesus and His Church.

          We also ought to be praying for every believer – for the Church – that we would stand strong and witness against the first beast and witness to the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the salvation that Jesus Alone gives – let us witness to this – the Gospel.

          Let us pray:

          Almighty God, we thank You for revealing the coming of the Anti-Christ – to the first century Christians as they faced Rome – and to all those who claim the title of Anti-Christ until the final Anti-Christ comes.  Help us by the Power of the Holy Spirit to stand against the governments and their leaders and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ loudly and clearly until the day Jesus returns.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.