Dr Tom Hover
August 4, 2024
Revelation 13:1-10 / Acts 2:41-42
THE ANTI-CHRIST / THE WORD, THE WATER AND THE WAY SEVEN MUSTS IN FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST!
THE ANTI-CHRIST
Revelation 13:1-10
Introduction: We cannot afford to be ignorant in these dynamic times in which we’re living. And I believe with all of my heart that the sands of time are running out for this generation. We are headed for a climax of some kind. And we’re not in the dark because God has given us a wonderful book of prophecy called the book of the Revelation. Anti = Opposite to/ Against in Chapters 12 and 13 we are introduced to Satanic Trinity:
1.) The Anti-God, The dragon. Revelation 12:9
2.) The Anti-Christ, The Anti - Christ. Revelation 13:3-5
3.) The False Prophet, The Anti - Holy Spirit.
Revelation 13:14-15 Only God knows the future. Here’s a great verse, even before we get into Revelation chapter 13: Isaiah 46:9-10 The devil is pulling the veil of darkness over many faces in these dynamic and dangerous times in which we're living. There is a beast of a man lurking in the shadows. The Bible calls this false messiah the "man of sin" (II Thessalonians 2:3), The Bible calls him: the "antichrist"
(I John 2:18), the "prince that shall come" (Daniel 9:26), "the beast" (Revelation 13:4), the "lie" (II Thessalonians 2:11).
Let’s look at several scriptures pointing to the Satan’s Anti-Christ:
I. THE FAMILY OF THE ANTI-CHRIST. Revelation 13:1
Isaiah 57:20, Revelation 17:15, John 14:9, The Antichrist is going to be the visible expression of the invisible devil.
A. Notice Anti-Christ’s Family Likeness. Revelation 13:1-3
In 13:1-2, there is figurative language that must be explained.
The “ten horns” are ten future kings who will rule over ten nations (17:12). The “seven heads” are seven historic Gentile kingdoms, which are represented by seven kings or rulers. The “ten horns” look at the future history of the Beast while the seven heads look at the past history (Dan 7:24). The “ten diadems” are symbols of governmental authority (Rev.12:3). The diadems are placed on the horns rather than on the heads of the Beast to show that his claim to authority rests on brute force. The “blasphemous names” reflect the Beast’s opposition to God (Rev. 13:5-6; 2 Thess 2:4). The Beast is evidently Antichrist, who is the head of a future empire (Rev. 13:8,18; 17:8). In Rev.13:2a, John describes the Beast: In Daniel these three animals represented three kingdoms that previously ruled the world. The fourth kingdom that Daniel described (Dan 7:23) includes Anti-Christ’s kingdom. The Beast is a composite of all the beasts or empires throughout human history that have gone against God and His people. Revelation 19:11-12
B. Notice the Anti-Christ’s Family Lineage. Revelation 13:2
In verse 2, the description of the beast mirrors 3 of 4 beasts in Daniel 7: Leopard = Greek Empire, Bear = Medo-Persian Empire,
Lion = Babylonian Empire This merging into one beast must have some relevance here, although it is not certain what. The “dragon” aka Satan empowers him. Daniel 7:3-6
C. Notice the Anti-Christ’s Family Legacy. Revelation 13:2
II. THE FAME OF THE ANTI-CHRIST. Revelation 13:3-4
A. The Reason for His Popularity. Revelation 13:3-4
This may mean he came back to life. Some have suggested a resurrection of Judas. Acts 1:25, John 17:12, II Thessalonians 2:3, Revelation 17:8
B. The Result of His Popularity. Revelation 13:3-4
III. THE FIXATION OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
A. His Fixation to Deify Himself as God. Revelation 13:5-6
B His Fixation Is to Destroy the Saints. Revelation 13:5-6
Matthew 24:24, Revelation 15:2-3
C. His Fixation Is to Dominate the Nations of the World. Revelation 13:7
D. His Fixation Is to Delude the Masses. Revelation 13:8-10, II Thessalonians 2:4, 2:10-12
Conclusion: I John 2:18
1. A Command to Be Obeyed! Revelation 13:9
2. A Warning to Be Heeded! Revelation 13:10
Those who have genuine saving faith will endure all the persecution of the Beast because they are God's saints. John 14:6
PM Service tonight at 6
THE WORD, THE WATER AND THE WAY SEVEN MUSTS IN FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST! Acts 2:41-42
