THE BEAST OF REVELATION THIRTEEN

The beast of Revelation Thirteen has commonly been accepted, by most students of Bible Prophecy, as being the Antichrist of 1 John 2:18, 22.  He, like his type before him, will be known as the son of perdition (Jn. 17:12; 2 Thes. 2:3; Rev. 17:8, 11).   He will rule during the Tribulation period described in Matthew 24:1-29 and Revelation 6 - 18, a.k.a. "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:24-27), and "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7)    I believe that during the first 3 1/2 years of the his reign, he is nothing more than a human being.  However, after receiving a mortal head wound, Satan indwells him (is his source of power - Rev. 13:3-4).  It is only after he is "taken over by Satan," that he blasphemes God by committing the abomination of desolation, the event that opens the eyes of Israel, and they flee into the wilderness for the last 3 1/2 years (see the text below).  I have printed God's Word in bold print, and made my comments in italics.

[1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea (out of the nations - Rev. 17:15), having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
[2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard (Greece - Dan. 7:6; 8:5-8), and his feet were as the feet of a bear (Medo-Persia - Dan. 7:5; 8:1-7), and his mouth as the mouth of a lion (Babylon - Dan. 7:1-4) and the dragon (Rome - Dan. 7:7-8; 11:36-45, a.k.a. Satan - Rev. 12:9) gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
[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.
[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?[5] And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies (the abomination of desolation - Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14); and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months (the last half of the seven-year Tribulation - 1260 days of Rev. 12:6 - a time, times and a half time from Rev. 12:14).
[6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
[7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints (Israel, now saved - Ps. 14:7; Isa. 59:19-21; Rom. 11:25-26), and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
[8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Jn. 1:29, 36; Rev. 17:8).
[9] If any man have an ear, let him hear (Note what is missing:  "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.  That is because the Church no longer exists on earth, but has been taken up into heaven in the Rapture (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 4:1; etc.).

 

All that deny the Father and the Son are antichrists (1 Jn. 2:22). 

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