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Sermon

The Antichrist —The Beast from the Sea

Series
Revelation
Scripture
Revelation 13:1-10

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Note: This transcript and summary was autogenerated. It has not yet been proofread or edited by a human.

Summary

Revelation 13 unveils Satan’s strategy to counterfeit the Holy Trinity through an unholy trio: the dragon (counterfeit Father), the beast/Antichrist (counterfeit Son), and the false prophet (counterfeit Holy Spirit). This passage teaches us that the Antichrist will rise from the nations as a political leader empowered by Satan, deceiving the world through a mock resurrection and miraculous signs. We are reminded that despite Satan’s rage and the beast’s terrifying authority, God remains sovereignly in control—limiting the beast’s reign to 42 months and preserving His saints whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Key Lessons:

  1. Satan’s strategy is imitation—he counterfeits the Trinity, the death and resurrection of Christ, and the second coming in order to deceive the world into worshiping him.
  2. The beast’s power is entirely derivative; he has no authority of his own but receives everything from Satan, reminding us that evil’s power is always borrowed and limited.
  3. God’s sovereign control sets the boundaries of Satan’s activity—42 months, no more—and the saints are eternally secure because their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
  4. True perseverance is not passive endurance but courageously accepting the worst life can bring while continuing to serve God faithfully.

Application: We are called to live with both caution and readiness—cautious about whom we listen to and follow in an age of deception, and ready for Christ’s return by pursuing holy living, regular prayer, and faithful study of Scripture. We must be discerning enough to recognize impostors and devoted enough to worship only the true and living God.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does understanding Satan’s strategy of counterfeiting the Trinity help us recognize deception in our own day?
  2. In what ways are we tempted to follow leaders or movements based on emotional wonder rather than revealed truth, and how can we guard against this?
  3. What practical steps can we take this week to live with greater readiness for Christ’s return and greater caution against spiritual deception?

Scripture Focus: Revelation 13:1-10 provides the primary text, revealing the beast’s identity, power, and limited authority. Daniel 7:24-25 and 11:44 supply Old Testament background on the final world ruler. Revelation 12:12-17 provides the immediate context of Satan’s rage. Ephesians 1:4 and Revelation 13:8 affirm the eternal security of God’s chosen ones. Isaiah 42:8 declares God’s refusal to share His glory.

Outline

Introduction

Okay, this morning, Revelation chapter 13. Thank you, Bruce, for reading.

Revelation Unseals Daniel

Daniel, Daniel, actually, remember, is a book that the the Lord says, “Let’s close that book and seal it.” Revelation is the book that unseals it. And chapter 13 actually is the unsealing of Daniel, the chapter we read in Daniel chapter 7.

“Revelation is the book that unseals Daniel.”

So, that’s what we’re going to see today in the scripture. But let me pray as I go on. Lord, we thank you today for bringing us together. We thank you, Lord, for bringing us through the summer almost coming to a close getting back into the regular routine of school and things like that. Lord, I pray Lord that every single day that we would be in our mind and our souls being transformed by the things that we are reading and studying, hearing from the word of God.

So that you make us into the person that we ought to be that reflects the character of Jesus Christ. And I pray Lord that you would give us a voice to speak to those who don’t know you yet that they may come to know you. And I pray Lord challenged our spirit today and and make us ready for what is going to take place. And we seem so it seems so real more today than ever because of what’s going on in the world.

Lord, everything is so tense and things are moving in the direction that you wanted to. And Lord, all these things that I speak of today will take place someday. And so Lord, encourage us with it. Challenge us with it. Cause us to be ready for your coming and cautious while we live until then. And I pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.

So chapter 13, just a reminder that I am taking a futuristic view of the book of Revelation.

The Dragon’s Rage Against Israel

That that means a normal reading of the book. The book of revelation is not about the present even though practical practical applications and ad and admonitions are for us today. It is not talking about a continuous history even though it does include biblical history.

It is really God’s final unveiling of the escaton or the last days. So that means that the book of revelation is about God’s final unfa unveiling of the last days. The apostle John is given a series of four apocalyptic visions.

Each vision is put together in a catalog and each vision we have a load of symbols but these symbols are communicating a message. So when we look further into the book of revelation and begin to interpret its symbols and visions each will have some connection to the last days. And we have already seen John in his second vision that he was he’s been communicating about Christ and the process of world judgment.

We’ve seen that the throne in heaven and the lamb was the first thing in chapter 4 and then the seven seals were opened and then the seven trumpets sounded and now we have been from chapter 12 all the way to chapter 14 and further the beast and their warfare. That’s what we’re looking at today. So, let me bring you up to speed as to where we were and where we’re going.

The dragon, if you notice in verse number one, it says, “And the dragon.” So, the dragon, remember, is Satan himself. Now, it’s very important to get these personages in the right perspective because you’re going to see in Revelation that something very significant is happening that Satan is stealing something.

He is portraying something and he’s portray he’s going to portray himself as God himself. And so these names are important. And so the dragon Satan has been demoted and degraded at this point which has inflamed his wrath.

“Satan is stealing something—he’s going to portray himself as God himself.”

Five Reasons for Satan’s Anger

So that Satan vents his rage upon the residents of the earth. If you look back to chapter 12 verse 12, it says therefor heaven and you who dwell in in them. Woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you having great wrath knowing that he only has a short period of time.

All right, so that’s what’s going on there. And so he specifically rages against the nation that brought forth the one who bruised the head of the serpent. And we know that nation was Israel, right? He was against Israel.

And from last time there was five reasons why his anger has con continually been inflamed. The first one is he’s angry that he lost the first battle over the manchild because Jesus ascended into heaven and in a sense was rescued from him. And then secondly, Satan is angry be because he has been cast out of heaven and that he loses his second battle because the archangel Michael is stronger than him and overcomes him and his demon angels.

“The devil has come down to you having great wrath, knowing he only has a short period of time.”

Israel Calls Back the Messiah

Thirdly, that Satan is angry and something really ticks him off about the nations of the east and north planning an attack on his interests. And that’s what it says in Daniel 11 where it says, “But rumors from the east and from the north will disturb him and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many.” So, Satan is definitely angry here in at this point in history.

And it’s also he’s angry because he only has three and a half years to pull it off. Yeah, there’s a seven-year period of time, but three and a half years is where he begins to unleash his anger. And now people begin to see who he really is in his character.

There’s there was another reason that I gave why Satan is so angry. It’s because at the end of the tri great tribulation, Israel, the woman as portrayed in Revelation, holds the key to calling back the Messiah back to to earth. And that point is inferred in the passage of scripture where Jesus says, “Behold in Matthew chapter 23, your your house is being left to you desolate.

For I say to you, from now on, you will not see my face until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” That is when Israel actually calls the Messiah back because they begin to repent of their sin in the land and turn start turning to the true Messiah after they after they realize that the false Messiah was false and that Jesus has always been the truth. So, Satan continues to pursue his evil plan because the Messiah will not crush Satan and reestablish God’s rule over the world system until Israel repents.

“Israel holds the key to calling back the Messiah back to earth.”

And as he re repents, Satan of course has attacked that nation ruthlessly since Christ’s first coming, trying to destroy it before it can actually repent and then before it can call back the Messiah. So, he’s still after them. And we have learned so far that Satan’s con confinement to the earth brings about two results. First that Satan’s access to heaven is removed and he will no longer be able to stand before the throne of God and accuse the brethren.

That’s over.

Satan Loses Battle Three

Secondly, that Satan is now full of wrath as it says in chapter 12:12 because the devil has come down to you having great wrath. So now in chapter 13 we come to the third battle, right? The third battle that Satan is fighting against the one who will bring forth the Messiah and who has the capability of calling him back and that is Israel and also he is against the saints.

Remember many people are going to be getting saved in the tribulation from Israel and also from the gentile nations they’re going to be getting saved there. So there are going to be many believers that are going to be in this period of time on this earth.

Now consequently the essential reason for the tribulation, Satan is angry and he breaks his covenant with Israel and goes after the woman Israel. And the essence of the tribulation is against Israel.

And if you look up to chapter 12 verse number 13, it says, “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman.” Now remember the woman’s Israel who gave birth to the male child. And of course the male child is Jesus Christ.

Now in the great tribulation that is the midpoint at the end that’s the last three and a half years the wrath of Satan will be against Israel.

But what is the outcome? Well if you look back to chapter 12 verse 13 and 14 it says when in verse number 13 when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Verse 14.

But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place. So what happens? Satan loses again. So he’s even more angry. So Israel is preserved.

“Satan loses again. Israel is preserved and nourished by God.”

She is nourished. It says in verse number 14, for a time, time and a half of times. Remember that is a Old Testament indication of 3 and 1/2 years 42 months. It’s been saying that over and over again just letting us know that this is a period of time that is the great tribulation. Even though the tribulation period is seven years from the midpoint to the end is this is the time this portion of scripture is talking about. So Satan loses battle number three.

He’s not a good loser.

Israel was nourished and protected by God. Now, right here in Revelation chapter 13, we see his plan going forward.

In other words, how is he going to fight now that he’s lost three times?

The Unholy Trinity

Well, Satan is going to fight the same way God does.

You say, “Well, what do you mean by that?” He’s going to imitate the Godhead.

He’s going to imitate the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I just like to say, if you if you don’t believe the Trinity Trinity, you should believe it now because Satan does.

“If you don’t believe the Trinity, you should believe it now because Satan does.”

And God’s not going to let him mess up that theology.

And he will strongly emphasize and mimic Jesus Christ. So this is a diabolical trio that we’re going to see in scripture which refers to three individual characters who become central figures in the three and a half years of the great tribulation. Two of them rise to world leadership, one political and the other religious.

And because these individuals are energized by Satan himself, they form together an unholy trinity.

So Satan has a particular goal in mind. To reach his goal, he must deceive the whole world and get them to worship him.

His goal is his goal is two twofold. To wear out the saints. We saw that in Daniel. And then also to get people to worship him.

The Three Persons of the Unholy Trinity

So this is what we have in the ho the unholy trinity. At the top we have the dragon. The dragon is Satan himself. He is the counterfeit father.

Also today we’ll see the second person of the unholy trinity is the antichrist.

The man of lawlessness is the political leader.

He is the counterfeit son.

“The dragon is the counterfeit father. The antichrist is the counterfeit son.”

He is going to be as it says in Revelation 13 verse number one the first part of it. And the dragon stood on the sea on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. So this is the beast out of the sea. And this is the one that we’re going to focus on today. The second person of the unholy trinity is going to be the lawless one mentioned in Thessalonians.

Here in scripture, he’s mentioned as the beast.

So the beast, the lawless one, the beast out of the sea is the counterfeit son, the antichrist. And of course, the third person in this unholy trinity is the false prophet. The false prophet is going to be next time. And the false prophet is the religious leader.

The false prophet is the counterfeit Holy Spirit, the beast out of the earth.

Satan Empowers the Beast to Advance His Kingdom

So today we’re going to see the beast out of the sea. The dragon gives to the antichrist power, a throne, and great authority.

And he is given this authority to rule politically because he will be the ruler of the final world empire spoken of in Daniel the prophet. And he has a method on how he’s going to gain a f following.

Satan will not present himself as the monster that he is. No way. He’s not going to do that.

He will present himself as a very attractive, intelligent, and likable leader.

Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, will truly be an amazing figure and will display a subtle magnetic draw upon the people of the whole world. Not just a segment of the world, the whole world.

“Antichrist will display a subtle magnetic draw upon the people of the whole world.”

It will be a global ministry that he has.

And Satan and his two world leaders fight against God and his people.

But remember, they come on the world scene in a time where the whole world is desperate for leadership.

The world’s looking for a man like this who can bring the whole global economy together.

Yes, that’s the antichrist will come promising to solve the pressing problems of the world’s nations.

And the beast will be Satan in a human body.

Of course, just like the incarnation, he’s mimicking Christ.

But notice that God does not describe him as a man made in the divine image.

He’s referred to in verse number one as a beast, as a wild beast under the control of Satan. So there are today four things from our text that will inform you so that you and I can be cautious while we live until Christ comes and then ready for his return. We need to live in that way.

So let’s look at what happens here. The first thing is this that Satan empowers the beast to advance his kingdom. Remember, Satan is the father. He’s empowering the beast, who is the second person of the trinity, which is the antichrist.

So, the antichrist doesn’t have his own power. He’s getting it from Satan. All right? And notice in verse number one or or back up to verse number 17 of chapter 12, it says, “So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

That’s where I kind of left off last time. So what does the beast do? The beast now emerges from humanity. It’s a It’s a man. It’s actually a man.

The Beast’s Identity: Rising from the Sea

And his identity. Look at verse number one. And the dragon stood on the sand of the sea. The dragon being Satan. Then I saw a beast coming out of the sea having 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems and on his head were blasphemous names.

So that means that the first beast rises out of the sea. And the sea is a is a representative of of unregenerate humanity.

It’s associated with evil and and chaos found in the nations of peoples. It includes social, political, ethnic, and national wickedness.

All that is referred to in the one who comes up out of the sea. So most likely symbolizes the gentile nations. And out of one nation, Satan will bring forth his superpolitical leader.

“Out of one nation, Satan will bring forth his superpolitical leader.”

The first beast is part of the seven head and tenhorn confederation controlled by the dragon. So Satan, he is a powerful being with a multitude of strengths.

And like Jesus, the beast is the son of the dragon. We have the imitation motif going through the book of revelation that he is the second person of the satanic trinity and he will be the political leader who deceives the whole world. Now I want you to notice in verse number one it mentions all the seven heads and and horns and diagrams and all those things. What what does he mean by that? Well, historically there has been seven successive world empires which are mentioned here. The first one is Egypt. The second one is Assyria. The third one is Babylon. The fourth one is Medopersia.

The fifth one is Greece.

Seven Successive World Empires

And according to turn over to Revelation 17. According to Revelation 17 verse number 10, five of the heads have already fallen by the time the Apostle John writes Revelation.

And notice what it says. And then one of the heads of these rulers of these kings was in power when he actually wrote the book of Revelation.

Notice what it says in Revelation 17:10.

And they are seven kings. Five have fallen. One is that’s Rome.

The other has not yet come.

That’s the Antichrist. And when he comes, he must remain a little while.

Right in that passage of scripture is giving us an indication of what is going to take place. That while the apostle John is writing revelation, the world empire of Rome is in power and it was a very powerful government, it ruled over every region of the of the known world at that time. And so there was one not yet come. So John is saying, listen, Rome, I’m in it now, but there’s going to be one who’s going to come who’s going to in a sense revive that old Roman Empire.

So the Rome is the sixth empire and the seventh empire is the final world empire led by Antichrist.

“The seventh empire is the final world empire led by Antichrist.”

And the antichrist counterfeits the Messiah and his kingdom. That’s what he does.

In fact, if we just remember what was read this morning where Daniel says, “And as for the 10 horns, out of the king, the king, out of this kingdom, 10 kings will arise and another will arise after him and he will be different from the previous ones and will sue subdue three kings.” So in other words, this person, this last person is going to be different from any other king who ever ruled in the world. And the whole world’s going to know that too.

The Beast’s Blasphemous Character

So notice the purpose and attitude of the of the last world ruler in revelation at the end of revelation chapter 13 verse number one it says and on his heads heads were blasphemous names.

Now blasphemy is not a good word. In fact it points to who re really is.

He will blaspheme God because he is directly opposed to everything that is vital in the revelation of God and all divine and human authority. He will begin be he will be against all authority from God all the way down. He will be the man and he will make sure people know that.

That means he is the anti-God. He is the antichrist. He is the anti-spirit, the trinity, the triune embodiment of the satanic world system.

“He is the anti-God, the antichrist, the triune embodiment of the satanic world system.”

And the prophet Daniel again said the same thing about the final world world ruler in Daniel 7:25 where it says he will speak out against the most high and wear down the saints of the highest one.

The Beast Embodies Past Empires

And then notice in Revelation chapter 13, look at verse number two. It says, “And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.” Now, what what do these refer to?

The leopard refers to Greece, the n the powerful nation of Greece because Greece in history was a nation of of that would had great speed and agility with a cat-like vigilance in its battles. Also his feet were like those like those of a bear. Medoparia that’s talking about and that was a nation that was had power and had ferocious cruelty when in battle and when ruling.

And then the one who had a mouth like a lion that was Babylon. Babylon was the royal power able to crush any nation that came against it. So he refers to those for this reason because all the characteristics of these past world empires will be wrapped up into one great worldwide ruling empire with a future ruler and that ruler is the beast.

During the great tribulation, the world empire will have the majesty of a lion, the power of a bear, and the quickness of a leopard. This empire will be like the Roman Empire revived with greater influence and power than even that world power. Now where where will this person the antichrist actually get his power from?

He’s just a man. So where does he get his power? Notice in verse number two. See the antichrist is the emissary of Satan from whom he receives power. Verse two, the beast is given everything that he needs.

Notice and the dragon at the end of the ver and the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. So he was given this by Satan who is acting like the father and mimicking the godhead.

“All characteristics of past world empires will be wrapped up into one great worldwide ruling empire.”

Satan the dragon will give the beast antichrist his power, his throne and great authority. So he is a monstrous person.

In whom the political power of the world will be will be put in his hands and it will be finally concentrated and represented by this man of sin. It’s going to be a time where no one will be able to come up against him. The great political leader receives his power directly from Satan and he will work his evil through individuals, through governments.

Satan Desires to Be Worshiped

And the beast, the man of sin, the antichrist, like Jesus with the father, does what the dragon the father wants him to. He obeys Satan, the antichrist, the second person of the trinity, obeys the father, who is Satan. So that is the the first thing he does is that he empowers the beast to advance his kingdom. So things are in place. Here’s the second thing I want you to notice is this. In Revelation 13:3 and 4, Satan desires to be worshiped. He desires to be worshiped, but he also desires to be treated like God.

“Satan desires to be worshiped and to be treated like God.”

How is he going to get the whole world to pay attention to him and finally revere him? How is he going to do that?

Well, look what it says in verse number three.

It says, “And I saw one of his heads.” Now remember that’s one of the kings as if he had been slain and his fatal wound was healed and the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast. So what do we have here? We have a counterfeit Christ who gets the world to wonder and be amazed by what? Well, before I say that, I want you to notice what it says there in verse number three. It says, “I saw one of his heads and if it as if it had been slain.” That phrase right there is the same phrase. It it actually means to be fatally wounded, especially when killed as a sacrifice.

That word specifically used in that way.

The Mock Resurrection

And the same term is used of Jesus’ atoning death as the lamb of God in Revelation 5 verse number six and then verse number nine where it says, “And I saw between the throne four living creatures and the elders a lamb standing as if slain.” So again, what is he doing? He’s mimicking the death of Jesus Christ, but he’s also mimicking this word amazed here and used in the way where it causes wonder in people which moves them to follow him.

It was so powerful and the sense is that his signs and wonders moves the world to put the limelight upon the individ this individual and then admire him. And what better way to get the world to be amazed than what I am calling a mock resurrection.

That’s what this is, a mock resurrection.

“What better way to get the world to be amazed than a mock resurrection.”

This is all part of the dragon’s attempt to counterfeit the death and resurrection of Christ as it says there in verse number three. And I saw the one one of his heads as if it had been slain and his fatal wound was healed. So the beast’s wound is healed and he returns to life.

It was Dr. Thomas, a professor at Master Seminary who’s now with the Lord. Very influential man at the seminary started with John MacArthur when they started Master Seminary. He was one of the women they took from Talbot Seminary to start that seminary and he said this.

It is best to identify this restoration to life with an endtime satanically controlled king who will come to the world as a false Christ.

End quote. That’s true. I that’s that’s what he says. But he doesn’t say in his term that it was a resurrection. He says it was a restoration. Right? Because we’re talking about somebody who’s mimicking someone who is is deluding people to make them think it is to the point where they notice the the result of that they follow him.

This we’re talking about the whole world following this leader.

So it looks like the dragon Satan resurrects or resuscitates or however you want to do it. He comes back to life the beast Antichrist from the dead that he died and now he’s alive and everybody knew that. And of course we know with the media today in the world we can know things happening in a second right live right now it’s going on and the world knows that and he’s going to have control of all that system all the media. So he’s going to be manipulating everything that he can and focusing everything upon himself.

So, do you think something like this may turn some heads and get people to pay attention?

Oh, yes. And it will.

If you look at verse number 13 or verse number three of chapter 13, and the whole world, the whole earth was amazed.

Don’t miss that. And followed after the beast.

So it look it does look like this is what’s taking place here. And get this, a counter for death and resurrection leads to a counterfeit second coming to rule the world and possess the nations and the king the kingdoms of the world.

So Satan is playing the part of the counter counterfeit father. For as the true father gave authority to the son, so the counterfeit father will give authority to the counterfeit son, Antichrist.

So this is a marvelous feat, but it’s a feat done through deception and it invol it evolves into accomplishing his intended goal. What is his goal for this?

His goal is found in verse number four.

From Wonder to Worship

The counterfeit Christ gets the world to worship him. So from wonder to worship.

Now that’s very interesting. Verse number four, it says they worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. Let me just stop there. So the antichrist gets the world to worship the dragon who is the counterfeit heavenly father.

I keep saying that so you get those in your mind correct. And the antichrist Christrist receives worship also just like Jesus received worship because he he was God.

But this worship is different.

It’s different than true biblical worship because Antichrist has the people following and worshiping blindly out of wonder.

“This worship is simply an emotional response and nothing based on revealed truth.”

That’s simply an emotional response and nothing based on revealed truth.

Nobody can go back and and say, “Well, wait, wait a minute. I don’t think that if they do, they’re going to be in trouble.” So, look out look out what they cry emotionally. Verse number four, the latter part of the verse, it says, “And they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like the beast and who is able to wage war with him?” Now, so the answer to that question is no one.

It’s like saying the world is saying we found the one and Israel is saying this is the Messiah.

This is the Messiah.

It seems like he fits all the criteria.

Well, he really doesn’t, but they’re deluded to know he does.

But what’s really going on is that Satan desires here in this passage to rob glory from God by getting worshippers to give the beasts acclamation.

Who Is Like the Lord?

An acclamation that only belongs to the true and living God. And in fact, the Bible has a long history of God’s people using this particular question in order to give an answer to the question because there is only one answer to the question.

Let me just mention one from the law, one from the Psalms and one from the prophets without you turning there. In Exodus, it says this, “Who is like you among the gods, oh Lord? Who is like you? Majestic in holiness, awesome in praise, working wonders.

That’s an Exodus. Of course, the answer to that is, Lord God, there’s no one like you.

You’re not like the gods of the other nations. You are different.

You give us a law. You take care of us.

You feed us. You’re present among us.

You’re different than anyone of these false gods. And then from the Psalms, it says this in Psalm 71, for you for your righteousness, oh God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things, oh God, who is like you? Again, the answer, Lord God, there’s no one like you.

Psalm 71:19: “You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?”

And then the prophets, and of course, remember the law of the psalm and the prophets contain the whole of the Old Testament.

That’s often designated like that. And the prophets, it says this in Micah 7:18. Who is a God like you who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of his of his possession? Who does not restrain his anger forever because he delights in unchanging love?

Who is a God like that?

God’s Glory Cannot Be Shared

It’s Yahweh. That’s who the God is. It’s the Lord God. And don’t forget what the Lord God said concerning his own glory.

He said this in Isaiah 42 verse number 8. I am the Lord that is my name. I will not give my glory to anyone nor my praise to graven images. See God’s glory cannot be given away, shared or robbed.

Isaiah 42:8: “I am the Lord, that is my name. I will not give my glory to anyone.”

If someone tries, there will be consequences.

Satan is a thief and a robber. And that’s what he tries to do. He tries to rob the glory that goes to God from the worshippers to give worship to himself. So the dragon receives worship from all those who do not belong to God.

That Satan who has always yearned for worship and the place that belonging only to God alone now seems to be achieved. He achieves that goal through the counterfeit Christ who rules in his name. So Satan will receive worship through the beast and in the end everyone everyone will be forced to worship the beast or die. That’s going to be the bottom line. The beast hides who he really is.

He shows himself to be a man of peace, but he is not. He’s a tyrant and he’s a man of war. Look at verse number four of Revelation 13. It says there and he and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like the beast and who is able to wage war with him? Now, the answer to that would be no one. No one at that time will be able to challenge his vast powerful empire. Mostly no one will want to challenge him because the earth the earth is going to be mesmerized and attracted to him.

They’ll have no problem giving him worship.

The Beast Deceives Through Miracles

So the beast will have a global impact as he seduces the earth dwellers and the whole earth will marvel over the miraculous resurrection of the beast and his his ability to rule with authority and this empire will represent the devil’s last attempt to make the earth his own special the theater theater of uncontested dominion that this the beast will continue to deceive. And how will he do that? By miracles. And through miracles, people will flock to him. Even when Jesus did miracles, they flocked to him pro mostly for the wrong reasons.

Well, look down to verse number 13 and 14 where it says that. It says in Revelation 13 verse13, he performed great signs so that he even makes the fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which he which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

“Through miracles, people will flock to him—even when Jesus did miracles, they flocked for the wrong reasons.”

So the the man called Antichrist will first appear as a friend to Israel as a world savior.

Eventually however he will openly be revealed who he really is it will people will see that he has deep hatred for Christ and those who follow him.

Satan’s Time and Activities Are Short

But the the beast’s claim to fame will will not be found in moral greatness but in his brute force in his deceitful, hateful, cruel, immoral, idolatrous, blasphemous character as the next passage of scripture informs us. And that brings me to the third thing that Satan Satan’s time and activities are short.

They’re short, but they are controlled by God Almighty.

“Satan’s time and activities are short, but they are controlled by God Almighty.”

The Lord’s letting him have his day.

So the activity, his activity will include being allowed to discredit God.

The Beast’s Blasphemous Words

Look at verse number five. It says, “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies and authority to act for 42 months was given to him.” So the as soon as the antichrist dares to show his true colors, he will become an open bold blasphemer. In other words, he will have the skill to use words to dishonor God and dishonor anybody who will come against him. And nobody will be able to challenge him.

He’s going to be a master of the language and of verbal communication.

Even Daniel the prophet says he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods.

In other words, he’s got a big mouth and will speak against God and everyone and everything that will oppose him.

And notice in verse number six of Revelation 13, he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven. Nobody was off the list to his blasphemies and will he’ll go on for three and a half years using words to control people and manipulate the narrative.

“He’s got a big mouth and will speak against God and everyone that will oppose him.”

So everything is bent in favor of him and his rule.

But his words cannot stop the plan of God.

It cannot get true believers to worship him.

This emperor will not figure prominently during the first half of the tribulation. Rather he will exercise his authority for only 42 months in the second half of the tribulation. And that’s what it says in verse five. So his his time is short.

He’s on a a short leash by God and God is under under he is under God’s control and he’s angry about that too.

War Against the Saints

So with his powerful convincing words, he will cut down anyone in opposition to his rule. And what will that mean? Well, look what the next thing we see is that his activity will include being allowed to make war with the saints.

Because this is what’s going to happen.

That on the people who dwell on the earth and the saints, it will be very dangerous to live that it earthly danger for all who dwell on the earth, especially for believers. And this future world ruler will reveal his cruelty in a way that he makes war with believers. Notice verse seven of our text. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

And authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. So he had this authority to take over everything to control people’s lives to get them to do what he wanted done. And anyone who would come against him they were they were wared against.

“This future world ruler will reveal his cruelty by making war with the saints.”

Of course that really means that your life is going to be taken from you. So all his savagery will be rooted in his hatred for Christ. That becomes very clear in this part of the the tribulation. But for the saints who are in danger also are going to have divine safety because God knows who are his during that time who dwell on the earth. And so everyone will worship the beast except the saints except those who now have the truth.

The Lamb’s Book of Life

The saints will have the security of salvation because their names have been written in a registry owned specifically by the savior Jesus Christ. Notice what it says in verse number eight. This is exactly what it says. It says, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him.

Everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who was slain.” Oh, now we’re getting very specific here in Revelation. We’re getting to look at the one who not only came to suffer and die on the cross for his children and secure their salvation. But now we see here that if if this is in line with what is said in Ephesians 1 verse number four that God has chosen us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. The meaning would then be that God has chosen his own from before the beginning of time.

Revelation 13:8: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb.”

Even for this period of time that no one or no thing could change that even even for those saints in the latter part of the tribulation that when they refuse to worship the dragon will feel the crushing blow of the antichrist edicts in which none will be able to buy or sell the necessities of life without the mark of their worship.

So if someone refuses to worship, they will simply be eliminated.

They’ll be eliminated by death and they will ultimately be destroyed by destroyed economically.

Now where is that found in scripture?

Satan’s Deceptions Do Not Work on the Saints

Well, we’re going to look at that next time. But notice quickly verse number 15 through1 17. It tells us that Revelation 13:15, “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

Verse 16, “And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free man and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand and on their forehead. And he will provide and and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell except the one who has the mark. Now, we’ll look at that more in the second part of of the text when I get there, but you see that there there is no wiggle room for anyone, but the saints are protected.

Even though the last part of this and it’s this my fourth thing is that Satan’s deception, his deceptions do not work on the saints even while they’re be being persecuted.

Look at verse number nine of Revelation 13. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Now, that’s exactly how re revelation started.

“Satan’s deceptions do not work on the saints even while they’re being persecuted.”

Who who are the ones who are listening?

It’s the believers, right?

Who are the ones who are taking in? Now what is true is the believers. So what happens here in verse number nine? It says if anyone is destined for cap captivity to captivity he goes. If anyone kills with the sword with the sword he must be killed.

The Perseverance of the Saints

So in other words, they have to the only ammunition that believers have here is to accept and trust God’s sovereignty that they are truly under God’s protection. And King Jesus is sovereignly in control even if it means imprisonment, the loss of property and wealth, and even the death of his saints.

Remember, saints are only aliens on the earth.

We’re just sojourers. We’re just passing through, right?

We may get abused on that trek from here to heaven.

But if you are a documented citizen of the kingdom of God, you have no problem because you’ll end up in the kingdom of God. And then notice in verse number 10, it says this. Here is the perseverance of the saints. Meaning that this does not mean passively enduring but courageously accepting the worst that life can throw at you and still serve God.

“Perseverance means courageously accepting the worst life can throw at you and still serving God.”

And then of course verse number 10, faith in God and faith, the faith of the saints, loyalty and devotion to the master Jesus Christ.

That’s what it’s about. That’s what keeps them just believing even under heavy and knowing they’re going to die for their faith and just stick to it because they know it’s the truth and everything they see around them is delusion, a lie.

So they survive because they know the truth.

They worship the true and living God, the true father, son, and spirit, the one God who’s revealed himself in the Holy Trinity.

Be Cautious and Ready

So, knowing these things this morning should make you cautious and ready. That you’re informed now.

So, what are you going to do?

Jesus said in Luke, “You too be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Jesus is coming. We may be the generation in which he comes. We may be.

It seems that way.

And then the Apostle John says in first John, “Beloved, now we are the children of God.” And it has not appeared as yet what we will be. But we know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will be we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself just as he is pure. So a person who wants to be ready for the Lord’s return will endeavor to live a pure life. They will endeavor to live a holy life both public and in private. You’ll be the same.

You won’t want to do anything he would that you would be ashamed of if the Lord returned on that day that that will cause you to live a completely different life. That believers who are living a pure life and keeping in touch with God in prayer and regular study of the Bible possesses the anointing of the Holy Spirit that will keep that person from being deceived by Antichrist or captured by the spirit of Antichrist.

“Everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself just as he is pure.”

So when we live in continual readiness for our Lord’s return, blessed are those who love the Lord’s return.

We will automatically recognize impostors and enemies of Jesus. We’ll know that right away.

Also, it should cause us to be cautious since Antichrist’s strategy will be deception.

We should be very very cautious about whom we listen to and follow on any media outlet or site.

Not everyone who claims to be a person of faith can be trusted.

Many talk about belief in God, but they promote principles that give liberty to all kinds of sin.

Now, did that AI, artificial intelligence, has captured the voice of John MacArthur and is now bringing all these messages together that he preached from all over the place, can do it in just seconds and put messages out there. Sounds like him.

They even have a picture of him, but when you listen to it that’s not what he preached. You have to be very careful. Some of it’s true, some of it’s not. All right? And so that’s what’s happening now. And what is that?

That’s an element of deception and it’s going on right now. You can go on there and when John MacArthur would say first Thessalonians, it says one Thessalonians. He never said that.

So right away there’s indicators, but you’ve got have to be very careful. Anybody you listen to who preaches who’s out there on the media can capture your voice and use it against you and it sounds like you. Even the inflections and the tone sound like you. We have to be very careful today.

Very careful. We have to be very cautious today.

Signs of the End Times

The world dictator may be living now because so many evidential signs accentuate the fact that we are living in the end time.

There is the departure from truth.

There is a leadyian condition in the organized church. There is the spirit of lawlessness everywhere.

There is a breakdown of the nuclear family and the roles of men and women in the world.

There is a significant move of our nation away from God and truth which manifests more in sexual perversion and deviant behavior and insane views and extreme unrighteousness.

“The world dictator may be living now because so many signs accentuate we are living in the end time.”

There is also a stirring among the Jews as they look forward to rebuilding the temple.

In 1967, you may not know this, they started making the temple’s furniture.

They have already made the manora, the table of showbread, the altar of incense and also the priestly garments. And it has been reported recently that there was an unpublicized meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and some rabbitical leaders, some archae archaeologists, some engineers and others that they have found the foundation of Solomon’s temple underneath the temple mount.

June June 2025. That was only a couple months ago.

The third temple construction underneath the Temple Mount they say has begun.

A confidential summit held in the Davidson Center in a sealed room in Jerusalem used LAR scans and geoysical mapping found they found the foundation of Solomon’s first temple and in other chambers believed chambers that hold the ark of the covenant.

Construction of the temple is connected with the return of Jesus Christ. The temple has to be built to have the tribulation because the people have to worship there, right? The Jews, that’s what the Antichrist does.

He lets them build their temple, right? So, we could be in a day that it’s all taking place right now. So, are we ready? Do we do we live as if Jesus can come at any moment at any second that our life can be taken?

Are we ready? And do we live a life that shows that we want to honor the Lord and give him glory and worship him only? And do we knew the know the truth well enough not to be deceived by all the deception that’s out there?

More than ever, we have to be very cautious as believers.

The Call to Salvation and Readiness

Very cautious. I just pray Lord that today if if you don’t know you’re born again, even if you don’t even know you’re saved, today’s the day to get saved. You may not have any time.

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? Are you on that registry of a citizen that can get into the kingdom of God?

If not, speak to me today or one of our elders or one of one of the people in our church because today is the day of salvation, right? You may not have tomorrow. So, I pray we would take the truths of the word of God that were communicated this morning and really take it to heart and live in light of that truth because we are living in very dangerous days.

“Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Today is the day of salvation.”

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you again for the word of God.

It is truly amazing what we read in scripture.

We are given your plan.

We are given actually the plan book of the enemy. That’s not good for him, but it’s good for us.

So Lord, we we know what’s going to take place.

And we also know, Lord, the only way to be right with you, Father, is through Jesus Christ the son because he’s the only one who died in the place of sinners.

He’s the only one who can grant faith and repentance to those who want to believe in Jesus so they can enter in through the only door, the door of Jesus Christ into the kingdom of God. So I pray Lord, however you want to work today, those who don’t know you may come to know you as Lord and Savior. Those who do know you would become way more cautious and ready for your return.

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