[2] The title of the sermon today is “REVELATION CHAPTER 13.”
- In Revelation Chapter 12 we saw EVE, the mother of all living, with child.
- We saw the birth of Jesus Christ. We see the great dragon waiting to devour Jesus Christ.
- We all know that’s never going to happen, though, he’s going to try.
- Then we see Satan and his angels kicked out of heaven forever.
- Satan is angry and the tribulation begins.
- We see Satan targeting the entire earth in the tribulation.
- And then we see this at the end of Chapter 12 verse 17.
[3] Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- So we learned that SATAN is now going after SAVED people.
- The saved people have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- With that quick review, let’s go into Revelation Chapter 13 starting in verse 1.
[4] Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
- John stands upon the sand of the sea. He sees a beast rise up OUT OF THE SEA.
- The beast has seven heads and ten horns. Upon the ten horns are ten crowns.
- Upon the seven heads are the name of BLASPHEMY. Blasphemy is lies against God and HIS WAY.
- Blasphemy is a FALSE GOSPEL as an example. Blasphemy is anything that causes harm to God’s WAY.
- So remember, John sees a beast rise up out of the sea.
[5] Revelation 13:2 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.
- Notice what this verse says about the BEAST that is seen coming up out of the sea.
- The beast is like unto a leopard, his feet was as the feet of a bear, his mouth as the mouth of lion.
- So we see a leopard, a bear, and a lion.
- “And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
- We know the dragon is Satan. This beast is the anti-christ. He gets his power from Satan, the dragon.
I want to take a few minutes to look at the animals mentioned here.
- The anti-christ is like unto a leopard. That doesn’t mean he’s a leopard but like unto a leopard.
- In the Bible, a leopard is referred to as swift. And a leopard is fierce.
[6] Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
- This verse from Jeremiah Chapter 5 is speaking about the Babylon captivity.
- King Nebuchadnezzar took over JUDAH if you remember.
- “A LEOPARD SHALL WATCH OVER THEIR CITIES.” The leopard is watching over the people.
- We also see a LION in that verse that SLAYS the people. The lion is king of all animals.
[7] Hosea 13:6-8 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
- Notice the LEOPARD in verse 7. It’s observing the people again. So a leopard is an observer.
- It’s very good at watching things. Have you ever watched a cat?
- They are observant, patient, good at watching.
[8] Habakkuk 1:8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
- There the leopards are called swift. So you have observant and swift from the leopard.
- And the anti-christ is like unto a leopard.
- A bear and a lion are both fierce. And watch what David says before he slews Goliath.
[9] 1 Samuel 17:34-36 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
- When you have God with you like young David there, a lion and a bear are no match.
- The lion and bear come to destroy the sheep. That’s what they symbolize here in Revelation Chapter 13.
[10] Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
- But watch the Scripture from the Bible that tells us more about the anti-christ.
- We go to the book of Daniel Chapter 7, which we haven’t yet studied.
- We’ve studied Daniel 1 through 5 to this point, but we’ll get there.
[11] Daniel 7:1-2 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
- We see Daniel having a dream and visions. He wrote the dream in the book of Daniel.
- He sees four winds of the heaven striving upon the great sea.
[12] Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
- So here we see FOUR BEASTS versus a single BEAST like we see in Revelation Chapter 13.
- It says that these 4 beasts were diverse or different from each other.
- This should ring a bell in your head about the 4 rulers and kingdoms that we’ve already studied in Daniel.
Do you remember Daniel’s dream from Daniel Chapter 2 with the great image?
- He sees a great image in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
[13] Daniel 2:31-34 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
- So we see a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of brass, and legs of iron and feet part iron and part clay.
- Then we also see a STONE, A ROCK cut out without hands that destroys the image.
We find out that King Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom of Babylon is this head of gold.
- Then we find out the Medes and the Persians are the chest and arms of silver.
- The Grecians or Greeks are the third kingdom of brass.
- And we know that the Romans are the fourth kingdom of iron and part clay.
- And we also know that JESUS IS THE ROCK that comes and destroys the great image.
With that said, we see similarities of this great image in Daniel Chapter 7 that we were just reading.
- Let’s go back to Daniel Chapter 7 and continue reading.
- Remember, FOUR GREAT BEASTS come up out of the water.
- Remember, we’re going to tie all of this back in to the BEAST we see in Revelation Chapter 13.
[14] Daniel 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
- So, we see this first beast like a lion with eagle’s wings. Keep in mind this is a LION.
- A man’s HEART was given to it. Remember when King Nebuchadnezzar lived in the wilderness like a beast.
- He ate grass. He lost his mind. He lived like an animal.
- At the end, a man’s heart was returned to him and he started acting human again.
- The first beast here is King Nebuchadnezzar and the BABYLONIAN KINGDOM.
- Babylon was the greatest kingdom and had the greatest king with Nebuchadnezzar.
[15] Daniel 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
- This is the MEDES and PERSIANS kingdom. The beasts represent rulers and kingdoms.
- And notice the Medes and Persians are represented by a BEAR. So we’ve seen a lion and a bear so far.
[16] Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
- This is the Grecian KINGDOM. And notice they are represented by a LEOPARD.
[17] Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
- This is the ROMAN empire, which as in power when Jesus Christ came at HIS FIRST COMING.
- So we see a fourth beast there DIVERSE FROM ALL THE 3 OTHER BEASTS.
- In Daniel Chapter 2, the bottom of the image is the Roman empire. The feet have 10 toes.
- Here we see that the beast has 10 horns. These represent kings and kingdoms in the ROMAN empire.
- So, Daniel Chapter 2 and Daniel Chapter 7 are talking about the same kingdoms.
- Do you remember the patterns we talked about in the Book of Daniel? Chapter 2 and 7 go together.
[18] Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
So, you see this fourth beast 10 horns and this little horn comes up and speaks great things.
- This fourth beast is a picture of the anti-christ and his kingdom upon earth.
- Watch this as we move further down in Daniel Chapter 7.
[19] Daniel 7:20-22 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
- So this same little horn COMES UP INTO POWER. His mouth spoke very great things.
- His look was more stout than his fellows. This same horn MADE WAR WITH THE SAINTS.
- And this same horn PREVAILED AGAINST THE SAINTS. Does that sound familiar?
- Maybe not yet, but look what we’ll see in verse 7 of Revelation 13.
[20] Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
- The horn that comes up upon the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM is the Anti-Christ.
- Do you see how a HORN upon a head would be the leader of a KINGDOM?
- That’s what this means in Daniel.
[21] Daniel 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
- This is the ROMAN EMPIRE, but it’s also a picture of the ANTI-CHRIST’S KINGDOM.
- How do we know this? Well, which kingdom was in power when Jesus came the first time?
- The ROMAN EMPIRE. When Jesus comes back the second time, the anti-christ’s kingdom will be in power.
- Do you see how that goes together perfectly?
[22] Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
- The heads and horns represent kings. One king will subdue three of the other kings.
- I wanted you to see that the beast, the heads, the horns represent KINGDOMS AND KINGS.
- I wanted you to see all of that as so you can understand Revelation Chapter 13.
- Let’s go back to Revelation Chapter 13 and read verse 1 and 2 again and see if this makes more sense.
[23] Revelation 13:1-2 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, 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, 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.
- This beast represents the great KINGDOM of the anti-christ and the anti-christ himself.
- His kingdom is ruling over the entire world similar to the Roman empire.
[24] Revelation 13:3 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.
- One of the HEADS of the beast or the KINGDOM is wounded to death.
- That’s the Anti-Christ himself. The person is wounded, dies, and is healed and comes back to life.
[25] Revelation 13:4 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?
- We know the anti-christ dies and comes back to life because people are worshipping him now.
- They say, “WHO IS LIKE UNTO THE BEAST? WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WITH THIS MAN?”
- If he wouldn’t have died and come back to life, they wouldn’t raise him to that level.
- Why am I saying this? Because some preachers teach that the anti-christ didn’t die and come back to life.
- The Bible is the authority. Let’s see what the Bible says.
[26] Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- So, we studied that already in Revelation Chapter 11.
- But, do you see where it says that THE BEAST ascendeth out of the bottomless pit?
- That’s because he was dead and went to hell. And he came back out of the bottomless pit.
- That’s pretty strong right there. That’s why he will fool most of the people. They worship him.
- “Nobody is like him!!!” they’ll be saying.
[27] Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
- The parts I want you to see is the part that says, “THE BEAST THAT THOU SAWEST WAS, AND IS NOT; AND SHALL DESCEND OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT.”
- And the other part at the very end that says, “They behold the beast THAT WAS, AND IS NOT, AND YET IS.”
- In other words, HE WAS which means he was living. IS NOT means he was dead. AND YET IS means he’s living again.
[28] Genesis 42:13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
[29] Genesis 42:32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
- “IS NOT” right there means that they think Joseph is dead.
- Obviously, the beast is killed and comes back to life. That’s why all the people worship him.
- That’s why they are amazed with him. He comes back to life.
- He is trying to mimic the LORD JESUS CHRIST. He’s trying to deceive the world.
- Back to Revelation Chapter 13 verse 5.
[30] Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
- The anti-christ comes into power. The world wanders after him the Bible says in verse 4.
- In verse 5 they worship the beast. They don’t see anybody like him because he came back from the dead.
- He speaks great BLASPHEMIES against God ALMIGHTY. Power is given unto him to continue 42 months.
- Now we see 42 months again. That’s 3-1/2 years, right?
- We know there are only 2 half’s to the 7 year period of time.
Which half is the ANTI-CHRIST going to reign?
- You can take a look at your timeline because it’s written on there.
- You’ll see Revelation 13:5 as a reference. You’ll also see Daniel 7:25 as a reference.
[31] Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
- You see the anti-christ speaking words against God. He’s going to persecute the saints.
- He’s going to change times and laws and those times and laws are given into his hand for 3-1/2 years.
- Or, a time, times, and the dividing of time.
- So, is he going to be in power the first 3-1/2 years or the second?
Please keep in mind that in Revelation 12 we see the anti-christ persecuting the entire earth.
- People that he’s persecuting aren’t going to want him in power, right?
- Then, he switches to just persecuting the saved people, the saints.
- And that happens at seal 5 during the tribulation. Then, we see the abomination of desolation.
- That’s when he enters into the temple and begins to reign in his kingdom.
Let’s find proof within Revelation Chapter 16 that the anti-christ rules during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week.
- We actually used this same verse to prove in the Revelation Chapter 12 sermon that Jesus Christ isn’t ruling when the vials are being poured out.
- You might remember this verse. Revelation 16:10.
[32] Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
- Does the fifth vial happen in the first or second half of the timeline?
- It’s in the second half and the verse right there says “HIS KINGDOM WAS FULL OF DARKNESS.”
- So, obviously, the anti-christ is ruling in his kingdom during the second 3-1/2 year period.
- He shows up at the beginning of the tribulation, but he isn’t in power yet.
- If you look on your timelines, you’ll see that the anti-christ is in power at the Abomination of Desolation.
- This all starts to make sense and comes together perfectly.
- Then, the anti-christ continues in power 42 months.
So, what other proof is there that the ANTI-CHRIST is in power during the second 3-1/2 year period of time?
- I’m sure you remember the 2 witnesses from Revelation Chapter 11.
[33] Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
- We know that they are in the second half of the 3-1/2 years because they are shown in Chapter 11.
- Remember Chapters 1 through 11 go through the entire 7-year period.
- We’re obviously in the second half if we’re in Chapter 11.
[34] Revelation 11:7-8 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
- The anti-christ who returned from the dead at an earlier time will now KILL the 2 witnesses.
- He is still in power in his kingdom because it’s called SODOM and EGYPT spiritually.
- And the people rejoice over God’s 2 witnesses being killed.
- So we know the anti-christ is in power and he’s a hero for those wicked people who are left on earth.
- Then, we can also see where the ANTI-CHRIST loses all of his power.
- This happens in Revelation Chapter 19, which is towards the very end of Daniel’s 70th week.
- It’s at the Battle of Armageddon. Watch this.
[35] Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
- Now, he’s definitely lost everything. He’s thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE. It’s over for him.
- So, when Revelation 13 says the anti-christ continues in power for 42 months, it’s the second half.
- We left off in verse 5 of Revelation Chapter 13. Let’s move to verse 6.
[36] Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
- The anti-christ is put in power. As soon as he gets the power, he opens his trashy mouth.
- And what’s he do? He blasphemes God, the name of God, his tabernacle, and all them that are in heaven.
- Let’s see how big his kingdom is in the next verse.
[37] Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
- The anti-christ makes WAR with the saints. The great tribulation starts when the anti-christ takes power.
- HE GOES AFTER THE SAINTS and he’s killing them. He’s overcoming them during the great tribulation.
- “AND POWER WAS GIVEN HIM OVER ALL KINDREDS, TONGUES, AND NATIONS.”
- So, he’s ruling over the entire world. Every kind, every language, every nation.
- That’s a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. Do you see that?
When this happens, this MAN who is the ANTI-CHRIST, is doing exactly what SATAN wants.
- Remember, Satan is angry. He’s mad. We learned this in Revelation Chapter 12.
[38] Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- The dragon goes to make war with the saved people on the earth.
- Now, we see that the ANTI-CHRIST is given power, has a great kingdom on earth, and is going to fulfill exactly what Satan wants.
- So, it’s very obvious that SAVED PEOPLE are left on the earth at this time, right?
- The rapture hasn’t yet happened because the people who have the testimony of Jesus Christ are still there.
- You see that, right? Revelation 13:7 says that he’s going to make WAR WITH THE SAINTS.
So, which saints is this talking about? SAINTS are SANCTIFIED by the blood of Jesus Christ.
- What I’m getting at is how can the Pre-Tribulation Rapture be true?
- Remember, the PRE-TRIBULATION false preachers and teachers say that all the saints are TAKEN UP in the Rapture BEFORE the tribulation.
- So, do you see everything on the timeline there? According to them, all the SAINTS will be gone.
- So, who in the world is the DRAGON and the BEAST going to make war with?
- Is it just going to be those few who are getting saved afterwards? No, that’s too easy.
- Obviously, the rapture doesn’t occur before the tribulation begins.
- The Rapture happens AFTER THE TRIBULATION just like Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 24.
Now, look, the Pre-Tribulation false preachers have an answer for this.
- They create these FALSE DISPENSATIONS or DIVISIONS to fit their man-made teaching.
- What they teach is not in the Bible. Let’s read Revelation 13:7 one more time.
- Why? Because I want you to see how the false preachers take this verse and twist it.
[39] Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
- The false preachers say, “WELL, the anti-christ can’t OVERCOME the saints like us.”
- And I say, listen, you’ve PUFFED yourself up too much. Creflo Dollar preaching.
- “You’re all little gods who can overcome SATAN HIMSELF. You can overcome the ANTI-CHRIST.”
- “You are POWERFUL.” Hey, I’ve heard it all in the false churches. That’s why so many people go there.
- They want to feed that pride and arrogance. They want to be puffed up by some false preacher.
So, what they do about this verse on the screen?
- They say, “This verse is talking about the tribulation saints. It’s not talking about us.”
- “We are the church age saints. Nothing can overcome us. But the tribulation saints are weaker.”
- “And that’s why the tribulation saints can be overcome.”
- I laugh at that. They don’t even hear what they’re saying.
- There is no difference in the saints. We’re all SAVED by the blood of Jesus Christ.
I don’t see the Bible saying there’s a CHURCH AGE SAINT and a TRIBULATION SAINT.
- They make all of this stuff up, and it’s pure trash. It’s a fairy tale. I’m sick of it.
- I listened to all that trash from a man named Doug Stauffer who writes books and sells them.
- That’s your first warning of a false preacher. He’s one that writes books about the Bible and sells them.
- They like to profit from God and the Bible. They like to profit off of people who are sincere.
- They like to deceive those people and lead them in the wrong direction.
- THERE IS NO CHURCH AGE WITHIN THE BIB