Read Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-5.

Introduction⤒🔗

“To hear about the Lord Jesus from my grandmother was one thing,” testifies a Russian woman named Natalie, “but to be a Christian and go to school was quite another matter.” Natalie is speaking about life as it was like for a Christian living in the former Soviet Union.

She goes on to say, “The Soviet government prohibited youngsters from any religious practice. Tremendous pressure could be put on any student who admitted that he was a Christian. No matter how well a student might do scholastically, he was likely to fail his tests. He was routinely mocked, and in other ways his life was made miserable—he might not be allowed to graduate from high school. Career opportunities were restricted.”¹

That is what life was like for Christians in the former Soviet Union since its formation in 1917. In the words of a Russian historian, “conflict between the church and the Soviet State was inevitable because the Communist Party...undertook not only to transform the country economically, socially and politically, but to create a new kind of human being, the ‘new man’ [i.e. it undertook a God-like endeavor]. It sought spiritual power.”²

That former political entity known as the Soviet Union is a striking 20^th century example of what Scripture is speaking about when it reveals to us the two “beasts” of Revelation thirteen.

In the 21st century, that same awful phenomenon is being reproduced in Communist China; ...and ominously overtaking the American Republic. For all intents and purposes, there is a new national religion in the land: The Christian religion with its Judeo-Christian ethic is under increasingly severe attack and is being replaced with the religion of secular humanism. The transition has been accomplished in much the same way as it was carried out in the former Soviet Union...

In 1918 a decree proclaimed the separation of church and state. In 1923 the director of anti-religious propaganda announced the formation of a militant anti-religion league that would publish a magazine called, Bezbozhnik (The Godless). In 1929 the Soviet constitution was amended to make the propagation of religion a crime against the State.³

In Revelation thirteen we discover how the devil wages war against the church of God by means of these two “beasts.” But, as Revelation fourteen reminds us, even when the devil is exerting his evil power over the world, let us take comfort and encouragement from the fact that Christ the Lord reigns over all. In the words of the hymn writer, Malbie D. Babcock,

This is my Father’s world,
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong
Seems oft’ so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.

Remember that Christ Reigns, Even When the Devil Controls the State←⤒🔗

As Revelation thirteen opens, the dragon is seen standing on “the sand of the seashore.” “The sand of the seashore” represents the “sea of humanity,” as both “sand” (Gen. 22:17a) and “sea” (Isa. 17:12) are Old Testament symbols for the mass of humanity; note, also, Revelation 17:15,

I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of the heavens and as the sand of the seashore. Gen. 22:17a

Oh, the uproar of multitudes of peoples! They roar like the roaring sea! And the raging of nations! They rage like the raging of mighty waters! Isa. 17:12

Then [the angel] said to me, 'The waters you saw...represent peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.' Rev. 17:15

The dragon, (i.e. the devil), as “the prince of this world” (cf. Jn. 12:31), is seen exercising his evil dominion over the world and the human race. The Apostle John writes, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19).

Now there is seen “a beast coming up out of the sea.” (See the Appendix found at the conclusion of this present study for further commentary on, “The Beast.”) The description of the beast parallels the description of the dragon given in Revelation twelve,

I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns. Rev. 13:1

Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. Rev. 12:3

Revelation twelve focuses on the devil himself as the power behind the throne of a mighty world empire; Revelation thirteen focuses on the world empire over which the devil exercises his dominion and by means of which he carries out his demonic desires. This world empire, (represented by the “beast”), is the antithesis to the kingdom of God and stands in opposition to the kingdom of God, as seen by the fact that on the head of the beast were “blasphemous names.” Here is human society as it is organized around man and for man, to the exclusion of God and in opposition to the God of heaven.

We are told, “The dragon gave [the beast] his power and his throne and great authority” (vs. 2b). The devil is permitted by God to do so in his capacity as “the prince of this world;” note Luke 4:5-6, “The devil led [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And he said to him, I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to whomever I wish.”

In verse three, John reports that one of the beast’s heads received a fatal wound, but the beast itself survived. The “seven heads” John sees on the beast represent all the individual world empires throughout history, such as the Egyptian, the Assyrian, the Greek, the Persian, and the Roman empires of the ancient world, as well as such modern empires as those of Nazi Germany, Imperialistic Japan, and the Soviet Union; “seven” being the biblical number of completeness.

The fatal wound incurred by one of the heads appears to be illustrative of what happens to each of the individual heads: even though the beast suffers a fatal blow to one of its heads, the beast itself, nevertheless, survives and is “resurrected.” The imagery is conveying the fact that even though the various empires of history rise and fall, the demonic spirit that inspires such empires continues and produces another such empire, until it shall finally produce the last anti-Christ empire. By way of example: The Greek Empire fell, but the Roman Empire, possessing the same demonic spirit that exalts man in the place of God and lusts for world conquest, establishing a universal domain centered upon man rather than submission to the God of heaven, rose up to take its place, and so it continues until the end of history. The names and locations of these worldwide empires may change, but the spirit and ambition remain the same.

Verses 3b-4 report, “the whole world was amazed and followed the beast.” Mankind, out of fear and expectation, looks upon the beast as their “savior” and gives him their allegiance; they follow the beast as his disciples. Here is the demonically-inspired perversion of our Lord’s call, “Follow me;” i.e. “Become My disciple.” The peoples of the earth deify the beast, speaking of him and viewing him in terms reserved for the LORD. Men are heard to say of the beast, “Who is like the beast? And who is able to wage war against him?” (Rev. 13:4b). Compare these words spoken of the beast as recorded in Revelation 13:4b with the words descriptive of the LORD, recorded in Exodus 15:11 and Isaiah 46:5,

Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Ex. 15:11

The LORD asks, 'To whom can you liken me, and with whom can you equate me, and with whom can you compare me, and whom do I resemble?' Isa. 46:5

Sinful mankind is ever ready to view their political leaders as their “savior” who will bring an earthly “utopia.” The historian Arnold Toynbee wrote: “By forcing on mankind more and more lethal weapons, and at the same time making the world more interdependent economically, technology has brought mankind to such a degree of distress that we are ripe for the deifying of any new Caesar who might succeed in giving the world unity and peace.” A European statesman declared, “If the devil could offer a panacea for the problems of the world, I would gladly follow him.”⁴

Verse five informs us that “[the beast] was given a mouth that made great boasts and spoke blasphemies, he also was granted permission to rule for forty-two months.” The empire of man, in each of its historical manifestations, is always an empire of human pride, an empire that asserts itself against God and seeks to assume the place of God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is a passage that describes the attitude and desire of the anti-Christ: “He opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, presenting himself as God.”

Furthermore, it is an empire that will continue, in one form or another, to assert its presence until the very end of world history: the period of “forty-two months,” designating the length of its reign, is representative of the entire New Testament age until the return of Christ in glory. As discussed in our previous study on Revelation 11, the various time designations that occur in the Revelation, (“forty-two months,” “1260 days,” “a time, times, and half a time,” “three and a half years”) are all equivalent to each other, each amounting to a sum of 3Y2: forty-two months amounts to 3Y2 years, as does 1260 days; likewise, the designation “a time, times, and half a time” amounts to a period of 3¹/2 times. Each of these time designations represent the period of opposition and tribulation that the people of God encounter from the world, a period of opposition that extends from Pentecost until Christ’s return, with ever increasing severity. Just as our Lord carried out His earthly ministry for a period of approximately three and a half years, so His church carries out its life and witness during the New Testament age for a period that is symbolically designated as “three and a half years.”

Whenever, or, wherever, the beast is permitted to assert his demonically-inspired rule, it means hard times for the church of Christ: The beast was granted [permission] to wage war against the saints, [i.e. the redeemed who have been set apart to belong to God their Savior and have been called to be like Him in His holiness]. Not only is the beast permitted to wage war against God’s redeemed, he is even permitted to overcome them (vs. 7a); i.e. he is permitted to persecute them unto death.

Furthermore, the beast was granted authority over every tribe and people and language and nation (vs. 8). Hard times for the church of Christ will especially be true when the beast, (the demonically-inspired anti-Christ kingdom of man), makes its last appearance; in verse eight, John uses the future tense: ”All peoples who dwell on the earth will worship him, [everyone] whose name has not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who has been slain from the creation of the world.” At the time when the beast is permitted to exert its demonic control over the entire world and when he blasphemously demands the worship that belongs to the LORD God alone, there will be no toleration of those who profess faith in Christ the Lord and there will be no place to escape the beast’s universal reign over the earth.

Verse nine exhorts us, “if any man has an ear, let him hear.” We are exhorted to understand what Christ is revealing to us and be prepared. Verse ten asserts that what is required is “perseverance and faith.” What is needed is perseverance based upon the confidence that Christ the Lord reigns over all (cf. Rev. 14:1).

But even when the devil controls the State and governs the world, remember that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion” (Rev. 14:1).

Remember that Christ Reigns, Even When the Devil Controls the Media←⤒🔗

The fact that the second beast comes up “out of the earth” (vs. 11) indicates that its origins are of the earth (of man), and not of God. In confirmation of this, note the testimony of John the Baptist,

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and he speaks of the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ^32aHe testifies of what he has seen and heard... ^34athe one whom God has sent speaks the words of God. Jn. 3:31-32a, 34a

This second beast “had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.” Outwardly, this beast resembles the Lamb of God, note the description of the Lamb given in Revelation 5:6a, “Then I saw a lamb, [looking] as though it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne...He had seven horns and seven eyes.” Outwardly, this second beast, in his appearance and “ministry” bears some resemblance to Christ: in Christ’s identity as the ultimate Prophet, (foretold in Deuteronomy 18:18), and in Christ’s exercise of authority, (“horns” are a biblical symbol of authority). But when this second beast speaks, he reveals himself to be in league with the dragon (i.e. the devil); he is not a true prophet of God, nor does he exercise any legitimate authority.

Our Lord warns of the coming of false Christs and false prophets who shall even display great signs and wonders: “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible” (Matt. 24:24). This second beast is the ultimate false Christ and false prophet. The true prophets of God prepared God’s people for the kingdom of God and pointed them to that kingdom; note, in particular, the ministry of John the Baptist: “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ²and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2). Our Lord’s own ministry is described in similar terms: “From that time, Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). In contrast to the prophets of God, and the Messiah Himself, this false prophet prepares the world for “the beast” and points the world to “the beast,” (i.e. the empire of man); as verse 12b informs us, he causes the earth “to worship the first beast.”

Indeed, this second beast serves as an ungodly “Elijah” on behalf of the first beast: “He performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men” (vs. 13). On Mt. Carmel, the prophet Elijah, at the command of the LORD, caused fire to fall from heaven and thereby convinced the people of Israel that the LORD is God (1 Kgs. 18:20-40). This false prophet shall successfully convince men to give their allegiance to the first beast: “By means of the signs he was granted to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceives those who dwell on the earth” (vs. 14a). He will even inspire men to erect an image for the beast: “He instructs those who dwell on the earth to make an image in honor of the beast who had received the fatal wound and survived” (vs. 14b). Throughout history, there has been the idolatrous concept that the citizens are embodied in their deified leader as “the father of the fatherland” and the leader is personified in his statue. An ancient example is the statue of Nebuchadnezzar:

Nebuchadnezzar the king made a golden statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon... ⁴Then the herald loudly proclaimed, This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and [men of every] language: ⁵As soon as you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you are to bow down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has erected. ⁶Whoever does not bow down and worship, will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Dan. 3:1,4-6

As a 20th century precursor of the final anti-Christ, and a modern-day example of this blasphemous emperor worship, consider how the Communist leader, Joseph Stalin, sought to be the recipient of divine honor and ability:

...it was the fiftieth birthday celebrations at the end of 1929 that marked the real beginning, not only of Stalin’s unfettered personal rule, but of the Stalin cult in all its nightmare maturity. With the first appearance of the Stalinist litanies: Man of Steel, the Granite Bolshevik, the Brass-hard Leninist, the Iron Soldier, the Universal Genius, there appeared a form of ruler-worship that went back to the Egyptian pharaohs. While Soviet government became more liturgical in its externals, and more terroristic in essentials, Soviet science moved into the irrational, with quasi-religious groups of leading thinkers struggling to win Stalin’s approval for their all-embracing theories of physical progress. Some of the experts at Stalin’s court were ready to argue that, with the "Man of Steel" in charge, human will could overcome anything, and what had hitherto been regarded as the laws of nature or of economics could be suspended. As one of his economists put it: 'Our task is not to study economics but to change it. We are bound by no laws.'⁵

An even more contemporary example of this demonically-inspired phenomenon is the statue of former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, before which the school children were required to bow down and pay homage to the “great father of the nation.”

This false prophet coerces the whole world to give their allegiance to the beast and to receive his mark (vs. 16). Failure to receive “the mark” upon one’s right hand or forehead, (i.e. failure to yield public and visible allegiance to the beast), results in a life-threatening economic boycott: “No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number [that represents] his name” (vs. 17). Here is tremendous pressure exerted upon mankind to submit to the beast and accept his rule.

A chilling contemporary example of exerting such coercive pressure upon the population is found in the Chinese Communists practice of assigning to their citizens a “social index score;” a low score can be grounds for denying a citizen a bank account. The May, 2021 issue of The Voice of the Martyrs reports:

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has created a digital monster whose eyes never cease watching Chinese citizens and whose brain tracks and automatically punishes their infractions. In 2018, China had 350 million surveillance cameras, or roughly one camera for every four people. This year [2021], the number is expected to exceed 580 million, an astonishing one camera for every two people in the country.

China’s surveillance cameras are either controlled by or accessible to the CCP, which uses the imagery to punish citizens not only for crimes, but also for what it deems subversive acts that oppose [CCP] power and control. The cameras and related computers and software recognize faces and log unfavorable actions and associations against individuals’ 'social index scores.' A low score can be grounds for denying anything from a bank account or loan to housing and educational opportunities.

In verse eighteen the mark of the beast is identified with the number “six hundred and sixty-six.” “Six hundred and sixty-six” in turn is identified as “the number [that represents] man.” That is to say, “six,” (reproduced three times for emphasis), is the number that represents man, he having been created on the sixth day. “Six hundred and sixty-six” represents man as “the measure of all things;” or, in other words, the doctrine of secular humanism. “Six hundred and sixty-six” is the number of the “beast;” it defines the essence, the spirit, and the objective of his empire. Thus, to receive the mark of the beast means the willingness to accept and support the program of secular humanism.

Who is this false prophet known as the second beast? He is not necessarily one individual person; rather, this second beast appears to represent any philosophy, movement, or person who serves to promote the kingdom of the “beast” and its agenda. The second beast appears to represent anything and anyone who serves the cause of secular humanism in opposition to the kingdom of God. Examples of this second beast may include the contemporary university and educational systems, literature, Hollywood, Broadway and the news media. We might even say this second beast is the media, with “media” being understood in its broadest definition as anything that promotes a particular culture, lifestyle and philosophy.

How does this second beast carry out his mission? He does so by calling upon men to think globally, calling them to come together for the survival and betterment of the human race. He does so by calling upon men to look to government as their great benefactor and “savior.”

But even when the devil controls the “media” and modern culture, remember that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion” (Rev. 14:1); and His truth shall prevail, as the Book of Proverbs testifies: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment” (Prov. 12:19).

Remember that Christ Reigns, and All His Disciples Reign with Him←⤒🔗

As Revelation thirteen comes to a close, we are projected into that future time when the world is under the dominion of one awful empire, motivated by the spirit of humanism, inspired by the devil himself. The situation is one in which

• the Holy Spirit has withdrawn His presence and restraining influence;
   
• man has been released to follow the voice of the devil and the lust of his sinful heart; and consequently,
   
• man seeks to usurp God’s throne and God’s world for himself.

Where is the Lord all this time? What did Jesus say? We find His words of instruction and assurance in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” When you see these things beginning to take place, don’t be shocked, don’t be distraught, don’t panic! On the contrary, “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” So it is that John, projected into that final time of history, lifts up his eyes and testifies, “there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion;” the Lamb is standing in the presence of God. John sees Christ reigning over all, ruling and overruling, and ready to come at the Father’s command to redeem His people and to judge the world.

Standing with the Lamb “were one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (vs. 1b). “One hundred and forty-four thousand” is equivalent to 12 (representing the 12 tribes of the O.T. covenant community) x 12 (representing the apostles as representative of the N.T. church) x 1000. In other words, here is the complete number of the redeemed, not one is missing, all are secure in Christ and sharing in His reign. What is portrayed here is the same assurance of which the Apostle Paul writes:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? ³⁶As it is written: For your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:35-39

The one hundred and forty-four thousand are seen bearing the Lord’s name on their foreheads. The mark of the beast, prominently displayed on the right hand or the forehead, indicates that a man has publicly given his allegiance to the cause and the kingdom of the beast. Likewise, the name of the Lord prominently displayed on the forehead indicates that one has publicly acknowledged his allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ: he is willing to be identified with Christ, regardless of the cost. This is in accord with our Lord’s demand as recorded in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Note, too, Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Revelation 14:3 indicates that no one except the one hundred and forty-four thousand could sing the song of salvation. Only those who receive Christ as their Savior and, by His grace, give their faithful allegiance to Him as their Lord, will share in His salvation and enter into the kingdom of God.

In verses 3b-5, the one hundred and forty-four thousand are further identified as those who have been purchased by God; as the Apostle Paul declares, “You do not belong to yourself; 20^you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). They are also identified as those who are Christ’s virgins: they are set apart to belong to Christ. Again, writing to the Corinthian Christians, the Apostle Paul declares, “I pledged you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Cor. 11:2). Then they are identified as those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes: here is total commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is in accord with our Lord’s call to discipleship:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me; ²⁵for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.' Matt. 16:24-25

Finally, it is said of them, “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless” That is to say, they possess and exhibit a sincere and genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Theirs is not merely a superficial or hypocritical profession of faith that lacks the commitment of the heart and cannot be sustained in the face of opposition and persecution.

Let us always remember that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all, and with Him reign all those who belong to Him: those who have received Him as their Savior and are committed to Him as their Lord.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Although the devil may be permitted to exercise his diabolic rule over all the world, albeit, for a brief time from the perspective of eternity, we must never lose sight of the fact that the ultimate victory belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. He reigns supreme, and sharing in His redemption and reign are all those who put their trust in Him and are faithful to Him.

Appendix: The Beast of Revelation 13←⤒🔗

The symbol of “the beast” (Revelation 13), and later the symbol of “Babylon” (Revelation 17-18), represent both the ungodly spirit that dominates the world and the heart of man, as well as the actual historical manifestations of that spirit throughout history, occurring in the form of tyrannical, militaristic, totalitarian empires (represented by “the beast”) and hedonistic, materialistic societies (represented by “Babylon”). Like a vapor that crystallizes into a solid, only to evaporate back into a vapor, and then once again to crystallize into a solid, so is the ungodly, demonic spirit that permeates this present world and the heart of man: ever-present, and throughout history appearing in the form of the great totalitarian empires and hedonistic societies of the world.

Throughout the course of history, that spirit “crystallizes” into the form of historic totalitarian world empires and hedonistic societies, only to “evaporate” back into a “vapor” with the fall of the specific empire or society. Then, at a later date in history, it “crystallizes” again in the form of yet another totalitarian empire and hedonistic society. This ungodly spirit, together with its historical manifestations in the form of the various totalitarian empires and hedonistic societies of history, is what is being represented by the image of “the beast” and “Babylon” respectively.

With regard to “the beast,” a detailed description is given in Revelation 13:2, which serves to identify it with the vision of Daniel chapter seven. The beast of Revelation thirteen is described as resembling a “leopard.” The third beast of Daniel’s vision is also described as looking “like a leopard” (Dan. 7:6). The beast of Revelation is also said to have “feet like those of a bear.” The second beast of Daniel’s vision is described as looking “like a bear” (Dan. 7:5). The beast’s mouth “was like that of a lion.” The first beast of Daniel’s vision was “like a lion” (Dan. 7:4). The fact that the beast of Revelation thirteen has “ten horns” also identifies it with the fourth beast of Daniel’s vision, which had “ten horns” (Dan. 7:7).

Thus, the four beasts seen in the vision of Daniel seven are here consolidated into the one monstrous beast of Revelation thirteen. In other words, the four individual, historic militaristic empires portrayed in Daniel seven, (namely, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome), are now, in Revelation thirteen, viewed in their unity as having been various historical manifestations of the militaristic empire of man. Thus, “the beast” of Revelation thirteen represents the militaristic empire of man a) as it spans history; b) as it appears in the form of the Roman Empire at the time of the writing of Revelation in the first century; and, c) as it will appear in its final historical form at the close of history.

In Revelation 17:8, “the beast” is especially described in its capacity as the instrument by which the devil expresses his fury against the people of God and by which he seeks to carry out his efforts to destroy the covenant people. In the Book of Revelation, the Roman Empire of the first century is seen to be both an historical manifestation of the militaristic and totalitarian empire of man as well as a preview or model of the final historical manifestation of the empire of man that will appear at the end of history.

Discussion Questions←↰⤒🔗

1. What is the first thing John observes? See Rev. 13:1a. Who is represented by the dragon (cf. Rev. 12:9); what is represented by the sand of the seashore (cf. Gen. 22:17a)? Taken together, what does this imagery indicate? Note Eph. 2:2. As Christians, do we appreciate the fact that the devil works in the lives of sinful mankind in a way that is the evil counterpart of the working of God in the life of the Christian? Note Phil. 2:13,

The [dragon] stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on his heads were blasphemous names.Rev. 13:1

The enormous dragon was flung down, the ancient serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was flung down to the earth, and his angels were flung down with him. Rev. 12:9

The LORD assured Abram:

I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of the heavens and as the sand of the seashore. Gen. 22:17a

In Scripture, the imagery of “the sand of the seashore” is representative of vast numbers of people and nations.

...you once walked in accord with the course of this world, [which is] in accord with the ruling prince of the air, [that is], the spirit who is now working in the sons of disobedience.Eph. 2:2

...continue to work out your salvation...¹³for it is God who is working in you both to create the desire and to produce the work for the sake of his good purpose. Phil. 2:12-13

2. What next does John observe? See Rev. 13:1b-2a. What does this beast with the features of a leopard, a bear, and a lion represent? Cp. Dan. 7:17. What is the character of this beast-like kingdom/empire? See Rev. 13:1b. Who empowers this strong and blasphemous empire? See Rev. 13:2b. At what times in ancient history have precursors of this final Satanically-empowered empire violently asserted themselves against the LORD’s people? What are some instances of this happening in the 20^th century? Do we see evidence that such an empire, perhaps the final one, might be arising to launch a world-wide attack upon the church universal in the near future?

And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on his heads were blasphemous names. ²The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion. The dragon gave [the beast] his power and his throne and great authority. Rev. 13:1-2

In a vision, Daniel sees several individual creatures, similar to the one composite creature witnessed by John; Daniel describes these creatures as follows,

These great beasts, which are four [in number], are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. Dan. 7:17

3. When the final beast-like empire makes its appearance and exercises its demonic rule, how shall the people of the world respond to it? See Rev. 13:3b-4. Does sinful man naturally place his faith in political leaders, and thus be very apt to offer to the State the worship that belongs to the LORD God alone? In distinction to the Roman populace that hailed Caesar as Lord, what was (and must always be) our Christian confession? See Rom. 10:9,

The whole world was amazed and followed the beast; ⁴and worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? And who is able to wage war against him?' Rev. 13:3b-4

...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved... Rom. 10:9

Whereas the Roman authorities required the public confession that “Caesar is Lord,” the Christian was required to publicly confess the truth that “Jesus is Lord.”

4. What else does John observe? See Rev. 13:11a. What role does this second beast play in relation to the first one? See Rev. 13:12a, 16-17. Would not the threat of imposing an economic boycott upon anyone who resisted the command to worship the reigning beast pose a tremendous temptation to acquiesce to that wicked demand? But what must we as Christians remember (cf. Matt. 10:32-33), and on what can we rely? See Psl. 33:18-19?

Then I saw another beast, coming up out of the earth... Rev. 13:11a

He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf... ¹⁶He compelled everyone, the insignificant and the prominent, the rich and the poor, the free man and the slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. ¹⁷No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number [that represents] his name.Rev. 13:12a, 16-17

...whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. ³³But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matt. 10:32-33

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his mercy, ¹⁹to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.Psl. 33:18-19

5. When John lifts up his eyes, what does he see? See Rev. 14:1. What is significant about the name being written on the foreheads of the redeemed? When we witness the rise of the Beast in our day, what does our Lord Jesus call us to do, and why? See Lk. 21:28,

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. Rev. 14:1

The name of God written “on their foreheads” indicates ownership: they belong to God. Furthermore, the name written “on their foreheads” indicates a visible testimony; by their lives and their confession of faith, they give evidence that they belong to God the Father, redeemed by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note 2 Tim. 2:19,
...the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'2 Tim. 2:19

When these things begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Lk. 21:28