REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 13.2

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Thirteen

The Great Tribulation

A Parenthesis

The Seven Trumpets

Trumpet Number 7: Woe Number 3

 

Tribulation Characters

 

 

6. The Wild Beast of the Sea

Continuing….

(Verse 2)

 

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

 

The Beast

Antichrist is not the dragon incarnate, but a real person satanically empowered with the spirit of hell. Like Judas, Satan will enter into him (cf. Luke 22:3; Mark 8:33). Satan will also offer Antichrist the same promise to Christ during His temptation:

Matthew 4:8-9 - The devil taketh Him (Jesus) up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.

 

Of course, Jesus declines, however, on the other hand, this was an offer Antichrist could not refuse. Upon acceptance, he will rise to his zenith by pursuing a world conquest during the last half of the Great Tribulation. Not only that, but Antichrist is determined to have complete unrestrained power and authority over the entire world.

 

God’s angels will not interfere because His supernatural restraint (the Holy Spirit) will be eliminated as foretold by Paul:

2 Thessalonians 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity (lawlessness) doth already work: only He (the Holy Spirit) who now letteth (restrains) will let (do so), until He be taken out of the way (removed).

 

Once the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is removed by God, the mystery of lawlessness will no longer labor in secret but be openly manifested in a dictatorial manner.

 

The beast which I (John) saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion

Attributes of the Beast

Considering the words was, like, and as are similes, the wild beast (Antichrist) John describes is a nondescript conglomerate of three wild animals.

1.  The Leopard (or panther)

As a large member of the cat family, the leopard is specifically known for its swiftness, mobility, and viciousness. Jeremiah describes its nature as such:

Jeremiah 5:6b – A leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces.

 

Alexander the Great overran the world with his armies likened to the swiftness and rapidity of a leopard (cf. Daniel 7:6).

 

2.  The Bear

Described as a large heavy mammal with powerful legs, the bear is represented in Daniel 7:5 as the Medo-Persian monarchy because of its cruel bloodthirstiness, and relentless and crushing force.

The wisdom of Proverbs teaches:

Proverbs 17:12 – Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

 

And, like going from the frying pan into the fire, Amos has this to say:

Amos 5:19 - As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him.

 

3.  The Lion

Tearing and devouring all things with his mouth, the lion (commonly known as the King of the Jungle) with its fierceness is infamously known for its dominion and rule. As so, it is representative of the Babylonian Empire (cf. Daniel 7:4).

 

The Book of Job gives this description:

Job 4:10-11 - The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

 

Jesus Christ is popularly and rightly known as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (cf. Revelation 5:5). But in this passage, in effect, John is depicting the revived Roman Empire during the Great Tribulation. He is revealing the non-descript beast of Daniel Chapter 7 embodying all previous world empires. And, simultaneously describing the monstrous appearance of the world’s political power – the Antichrist, as having his seven heads individually mouth uttering blasphemies against Almighty God.

 

And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat [not seat, but a royal throne], and great authority

Under the auspices and domination of Satan, Antichrist will exert and execute satanic global power. Satan will exploit his puppet to the fullest. He will be deemed:

1.  Anti-God

2.  Anti-Christ

3.  Anti to all who turn to God

[READ: Daniel Chapter 7]

 

The fourth beast of Daniel 7 is considered to incorporate all elements of a revived Roman Empire - A ten-nation confederacy that will linger in the world until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

 

A Deadly Wound

In this continuing vision, the Apostle John sees one of the composite beast’s heads. The head is singular and literally, “one from many of his (singular masculine pronoun) heads” of the leopard.

 

Recall, the beast has seven heads with ten horns representing seven kings of seven kingdoms. This correlates with the description of Satan in Chapter 12 and Verse 3.

 

Next, John sees…

One of his heads as it were wounded to death

The simile contributes to a better understanding since the interpretation of this verse has been much debated. The word wounded when translated, thus becomes critical. On the surface, it would appear one of the leopard’s heads had a fatal wound of death.

 

Sphazō is the Greek word used and it specifically means to violently maim. It is the same word that appears in Revelation 5:6, A Lamb as it had been slain. John does not explain. It seems like a parody of the Lamb, but more importantly, sphazō is mentioned three times in Chapter 13:

1.  Verse 3 – Wounded to death

2.  Verse 12 – Deadly wound

3.  Verse 14 – Wound by a sword

 

So, the rendering of the text would suggest to John that one of the leopard’s heads only appeared mortally wounded. Because the next phrase reads…

 

And his deadly wound was healed

Now, the wound is unbelievably healed. Many feel this is a supernatural and phenomenal deliverance by Satan because it appears this is a resurrection from the dead. However, the question remains: Does Satan have the ability to raise someone from the dead?

 

Some may argue the possibility of the dragon obtaining God's permission. Others contend if Satan has the power to bring an idol to life in Revelation 13:15, could he also give life to a dead body?

 

Verse 3 presents a clue to great deception. It clearly states the beast (Antichrist) like a leopard with seven heads only had one head, as though it were inexplicably wounded to death, and came back to life. Many fail to realize six heads remained intact. Therefore, the main focus is on the one head astoundingly brought back to life. Thus, in turn by deception, he will overtake and overpower the other heads claiming him to be a god.

 

Three main theories exist as to its elucidation:

1.  It will be a notorious Western world leader having an attempted or fake assassination

 

2.  It will be someone who once lived and reincarnated during the Tribulation Period

a.  There are innumerable references to his identity. The more popular include:

1.  Nero Claudius Caesar

2.  Judas Iscariot

3.  Adolph Hitler

 

b.  Not only is this silly and absurd, but reincarnation is a fantasy that only exists in the world of the occult

 

3.  It will be the Roman Empire revived

a.  Horns refer to governments and not people

 

Let us reason together:

1.  The verse does not specifically say the beast died, just one of its heads.

 

2.  Satan is not a life-giver, he is a devil and a death dealer. Satan empowers Antichrist with his spirit. The devil has been a sinner and deceiver since the beginning (cf. 1 John 3:8; John 8:44).

 

 

3.  This event will be nothing but a great delusion and imitation resurrection, as Satan never reached into Hell and resurrected anyone.

 

Jesus Christ is the only one who can give life! He disclosed to Martha:

John 11:25-26a - Jesus said unto her, I Am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.

 

Notwithstanding…

And all the world wondered after the beast

Imagine the tremendous amazement of the world. 

 

The Church today hails, “Christ is risen indeed!” But sadly, those deceived in this day will exclaim, “Antichrist has also risen.”  

 

Wondered after portends to follow with wondering gaze, marvel, and admiration, accordingly, leading the entire world into worshiping the beast. This fallacy is dubbed, “a Lying Wonder.” 

 

 

(Verse 4)

 

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 

Worship of the Beast

Satan endows Antichrist with power from Hell. Then at this momentous historical event in history, Satan will be credited with this miraculous phenomenon. Just as we worship God the Father and Jesus His Son, so will the world follow and worship the dragon and his Antichrist. Millions who previously did not believe in Antichrist will now be in awe and give adoration to said charismatic beast.

 

Worship (roskuneō) in its original intent is to crouch down and kiss the master’s hand, like a dog licking his master’s hand. For example, in the movie The Godfather, in the position of authority, one would acknowledge respect by bowing down to kiss his ring.

 

Today we live in an age of personality worship. Similarly, many pay homage to idols, images, saints, and angels. Be mindful.

Paul’s advice to the Corinthians orates:

1 Corinthians 10:20 - But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

 

The great deception will be people who think they are exalting a supernatural powerful leader, but in reality, it is Satan whom they acknowledge and worship.

 

They worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Worship thus becomes open Satanism. Universally the deceived world chants a twofold slogan:

A.  Who is like unto the beast?

As the people venerate the beast, they are parodying a hymn of God.

Contained in many Old Testament passages, here are but a few:

Exodus 15:11 - Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

Psalm 71:19b - O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto Thee!

 

Psalm 89:8 - O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?

 

Another possibility is this chant could be a mockery of Michael who won the war in Heaven with Satan. Recollect, Michael’s name signifies Who is like God.

 

B. Who is able to make war with him?

By this time the beast will become a strong military factor, especially after his revivification from death, and Antichrist will appear undefeatable and invincible.

 

As a question of war, the answer is no one. Antichrist will remain supreme and unchallenged by Earth and Hell in the political, military, and religious realms. The antichrist is Satan’s substitute for Christ. The second beast in this chapter (the false prophet) will organize and promulgate Antichrist’s worship.

 

The subsequent verses, as the study of the Antichrist continues, reveal additional emboldened powers he is bestowed upon by Satan.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   How does Antichrist obtain supreme authority on earth?

2.   The beast is likened to what four creatures?

3.   What is Antichrist’s purpose during the Tribulation?

4.   Why will the world follow after the beast?

5.   Define the word worship.

6.   What makes this entire scenario a deception?

7.   How is the beast worshipped?

 

 

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