And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten 21 horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. Revelation 13:1
crowns diadems gr. diadema Strong s g1238 the kingly ornament for the head, the crown gr. stephanos Strong s g4735 the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games.
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten 21 horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. Revelation 13:1 Remember the beasts from the book of Daniel! In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel 1 saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel 7:1
So, the horns represent kingdoms and the heads represent mountains. We ll read more about the kingdoms in Chapters 13 and 17. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are 9 seven mountains on which the woman is seated; Revelation 17:9 The beast will be united with with the 10 confederate nations which will constitute the final Roman Empire. Remember Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel. A 10- nation European common market will be the last and final form of the Roman Empire.
Gold (Babylon 606 BC -539 BC) Silver (Medo-Persian 539 BC - 332 BC) (Isaiah 44:28-45:1-4) Bronze (Grecian 332BC - 68 BC) Iron (Roman 1 68 BC -?) Iron + Clay ( Rome II ) Ten Toes/Ten Horns
The beast arises out of the sea (of humanity?). This beast is both a political power and a person. Some commentators believe the first beast to be a person, while others believe the beast represents the last form of the Roman Empire. As a person, this beast would rule over the restored Roman Empire. Satan has his kingdom. He will bring it together and be it s coalition leader. He is the ruler over this world.
The wild beast is the final world ruler.
And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet 2 were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 13:2 Remember the beasts from the book of Daniel! In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel 1 saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel 7:1
The beast has features of all three of these kingdoms. Though he is far more awesome than these kingdoms, he combines the splendor, wealth, strength, brutality and swiftness of all these kingdoms into one awesome, evil package! Under Satan, the final configuration of the Roman Empire will rule with unparalleled strength, brutality and swiftness. The beast will be a powerful dude filled with evil and brutality. He is a composite of all early rulers and will come at a time when the earth is in the midst of the worst chaos ever experienced. He will be a brutal political leader. He is empowered and energized by Satan.
This wild beast is similar in description to the fourth terrifying beast in the 7th Chapter of Daniel. In Chapter 7 of Daniel, this fourth beast represented the prophetic history of the Roman Empire down to the little horn and his destruction. The little horn of Daniel and the wild beast are identical.
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but 3 its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. Revelation 13:3 Satan is of a mind to replicate the death and resurrection of the two witnesses. So he arranges for the beast to be mortally wounded in the head, probably fakes the beast s death, and brings him back to life! All the peoples of the world now rush to follow this great leader because, among other things, he has the ability to resurrect himself. But, he is a fake and will ultimately find himself as one of the first inhabitants of hell!
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his 4 authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? Revelation 13:4 Satan wants to be worshipped And he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall 9 down and worship me. Matthew 4:9 and this is obviously Satan s golden hour.
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty 5 and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. Revelation 13:5 The beast will exercise authority for 42 months. He also has a big mouth. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:8 We need to be careful who we listen to.
20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against 6 God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling (could be the tabernacle in the temple or his heavenly dwelling), that is, those who dwell in heaven (that s us, folks). Revelation 13:6 For 42 months this beast will be spouting curses against the God of heaven, His dwelling and the church in heaven. Why do you think the beast is cursing the church in heaven? Do you think anyone has forgotten the rapture?
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to 7 conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, Revelation 13:7 The saints are those living in the great tribulation period. He was able to conquer them, but not turn all of them. Satan is now totally focused on the earth. He has been thrown down from heaven. He is the ruler of the earth and is not constrained by the Holy Spirit who is in heaven with the church. For 42 months, he has unbridled authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.
and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone 8 whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb (the saints who will survive into the millennium) who was slain (Christ). Revelation 13:8
Just as the entire world is under the political and military domination of the beast, so all the world, except believers in Jesus Christ, will worship him. These are described as people among both Jews and Gentiles whose names are not in the book of life, a book frequently mentioned in Revelation (3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3). Most expositors have taken the expression before the foundation of the world to refer to the writing of the names in the book of those who would be saved, done in eternity past. The simple meaning here is that all who are not saved will worship the beast and that those who are saved will not.
I m sure glad my name is in the book!
These are the darkest hours in the history of the world. - J Vernon McGee
Satan will be a vicious and sadistic ruler. Here s what we know from scripture - He kills 2/3rd of all the Jews He conquers the city of Jerusalem He slaughters myriads of gentiles Revelation 13 Zechariah 14 Revelation 13 He wears out the Saints of the Most Daniel 7:25 High
His program is one of market seizure, economic squeeze, mark of the beast, torture and on and on.
If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 9 If anyone is to be taken captive, 10 to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Revelation 13:9-10 Satan has full sway. The saints (Jew and Gentile) will be taken captive and slain with the sword. They are called to endurance and faith. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: Truth will still be available for anyone who will listen.
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth (gē). Revelation 13:11a This beast is the false prophet (Revelation 19:20)and some commentators believe he is called out of the land of Israel (the earth, country). They feel he would have to be because this beast is a religious leader and if the Jews were truly going to listen to him and earth gr. gē Strong s g1093 country, earthly ground, land, world follow him, then he would have to be from Israel. Other commentators feel he is Gentile.
It had two horns like a lamb (a fake christ) and it 11 spoke like a dragon (it was articulate and convincing as it spoke the gospel of Satan). Revelation 13:11b Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or There he is! do not believe it. For false christs 24 and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:23-24 The first beast was a political leader. This second beast is an imitator of Christ. He is a religious leader.
It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its 12 presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. Revelation 13:12 His authority is delegated from the first beast. But, the false christ exercises all the authority of the first beast. He will preach convincingly and lead the first apostate church in the worship of the first beast.
And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt 36 himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. He 39 shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. Daniel 11:36, 39
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will 3 not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of is revealed, the son of destruction, lawlessness[a] and with all wicked deception for those who are 10 perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 10 The second beast will exalt the first beast to a place of worship. They are fake healers and miracle workers.
It performs great signs, even making fire come down 13 from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the 14 signs that it is allowed to work in the presence the of[d] beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. Revelation 13:13-14 Hollywood will love this guy. He is a worker of signs and miracles. He is a master of special effects. He imitates Elijah by bringing fire down to earth. (Laser warfare?)
Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the 11 sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast 12 down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. Exodus 7:11-12 The world will be taken in by the false prophet. The people will forget that Pharaoh had magicians and those that practiced the black arts as well. The beast will have satanic power.
And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the 15 beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Revelation 13:15 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put 9 you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Matthew 24:9 The image of this beast will be a sight to see! Since I don t believe that Satan can give breath, this might be the most advanced robotics the world has known!
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and 16 poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell 17 unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelation 13:16-17 In the economy of the false prophet, religion and business are wedded. Down through history, slaves, soldiers, and even Jews have been branded. This mark, however, is not like getting your hand stamped at the museum. This mark results in an eternity of agony.
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has 18 understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. Revelation 13:18 Wisdom has been accumulating for centuries regarding the calculation of the number of the beast. However, we are no closer to understanding than the first readers of Revelation. 6 is the number for man (man was created on the 6th day). It is a possibility that only the people going through this period of tribulation will have the wisdom to calculated the number of the beast.
Chapter 14 brings to a conclusion the material found in chapters 12 through 14. Chapter 12 deals with the important characters of the period, chapter 13 with the evil rulers of the period, and chapter 14 with the ultimate triumph of Christ. This material is not chronological, but is a panorama. It prepares the way for the climax that begins in chapter 15. Chapter 14 is a series of pronouncements and visions assuring the reader of Christ s ultimate triumph and the judgement of evil. Much of the chapter is prophetic of events that have not yet taken place, but in the context are now impending.
We ve covered some tough territory! Chapter 12 Satan fighting with the woman who is with child War in heaven between Michael and Satan Satan turned loose upon the whole earth Chapter 13 The beast out of the sea - the political leader The beast out of the earth - the false prophet The mark of the beast. Anyone refusing the mark is killed
Now. Some encouragement! Another deep breath (or breathless) pause!
Chapter 13 Chapter 14 The beast out of the sea The beast out of the earth False religion Idolatry everywhere The mark of the beast The Lamb! True religion Worship everywhere God s mark The number is 666 The number is 144,000
There are seven visions in Chapter 14, and we begin with the vision of the Lamb and the 144,000.
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the 1 Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1 Not 139,999 but all 144,000! This incredible force has come through the great tribulation, not by hiding, but prominently displaying the mark of God on their foreheads. They defied Satan and would not take his mark. They were sealed in Chapter 6 and completed their mission. They now stand joyfully with the Lamb upon Mount Zion!
They stood with the Lamb! The Lamb has been central to this book! Chapter 5 The Lamb slain The Lamb worshipped Chapter 6 The Lamb feared The wrath of the Lamb Chapter 7 The Lamb glorified Chapter 14 The Lamb vindicated
The location (Mount Zion) is important. This is a very important place in prophecy. Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm that places the center of control in the Millennium on Mount Zion.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Psalm 2:2-9
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever. Psalm 48:1-3, 8, 11-14
For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. Psalm 132:13-14, 17
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law,[a] and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:1-4
In Chapter 14:1, we see the 144,000 who have completed their work of evangelism on earth and now stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb, about to receive their reward for their faithfulness in walking after God and completing the work of worldwide revival that God had given them to do! They have come through the tribulation period. ALL OF THEM! These are the 144,000 of Chapter 7! 3 saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: Revelation 7:3
And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many 2 waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Revelation 14:2a The voice was non other than that of Jesus! John would have definitely recognized it. his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. Revelation 1:15
The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists 2 playing on their harps, Revelation 14:2b Whenever you see a reference to harps or harpists in the Old Testament, it is usually with joy or praise or worship. There is a notable exception.
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion! How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? Psalm 137:1-4 There is no joy.
But, Revelation 14:2 is full of joy!
and they were singing a new song before the throne 3 and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:3 We know that heaven rejoices when a person gets saved! Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
and they were singing a new song before the throne and 3 before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:3 the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, Revelation 5:8b-9
The elders and four living creatures sang a new song that was unique to their redeemed experience! The 24 elders were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and taken out in the rapture The 144,000 have their own unique redemption experience having been sealed and living through the Great Tribulation, even after having been in the crosshairs of Satan himself.
Chronologically, the song John hears is a hymn of praise in heaven during the time of the great tribulation, but the same song is echoed by the 144,000 who stand triumphantly on Mount Zion after the tribulation. As is true of the rest of the vision in this chapter, the chronological order is not maintained, but rather different subjects are brought into view pertaining to the general theme of God s ultimate triumph.
David Jeremiah suggests that you can organize Chapter 14 around the angels. Verse 6 Verse 8 Verse 9 Verse 15 Verse 17 Verse 18 Then I saw another angel Another angel, a second, followed, And another angel, a third, followed them And another angel Then another angel And another angel Each angel comes to make an announcement of another event in prophecy.
It is these who have not defiled themselves with 4 women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. Revelation 14:4a According to Walvoord, the reference to virginity can refer to abstinence from marriage in the critical days of the tribulation when a normal marital life for a person true to God is impossible, OR to spiritual purity by not being defiled by love of the world or compromise with evil in a morally filthy world!
These have been redeemed from mankind as 4 firstfruits for God and the Lamb, Revelation 14:4b Again, according to Walvoord, the term firstfruits seems to refer to the beginning of a great harvest - here to the beginning of the millennial kingdom. The 144,000 are the godly nucleus of Israel that is the token of the redemption of the nation and the glory of Israel that is to unfold in the kingdom.
and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are 5 blameless. Revelation 14:5 They were pure in their ministry. No spiritual adultery. This large number has been kept utterly clean from the false religion of the great tribulation. They are blameless in contrast to apostates who are described as blots or blemishes in 2 Peter 2:13. suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. 13 They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.