"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.