SATAN’S TWO HUMAN OPERATIVES - I

Revelation 13:1-3
Bob Bonner
February 5, 2006

This morning, we have come in our study of the book of Revelation to the thirteenth chapter. For those of you who are newcomers to this study, and for those of you who need a quick review, allow me to remind you where we are in the course of prophetic history as it concerns our study in the book of Revelation.

This is a very basic timeline of the future events as God says they will happen in our world. This timeline begins at the end of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry and His ascension back into heaven, where He presently sits at the right hand of God. From that point to today and for an unknown amount of time in the future, the period in which you live right now, is known as the Church Age. This age will come to an end, with the event known as the Rapture. This event is the sudden resurrection of all dead Christians and then the sudden ascension into heaven of both those Christians who have died along with the Christians who are alive at the time. These Christians will be reunited in heaven with Christ and will watch the unfolding of the rest of the future events that will take place on earth.

Following the Rapture will be the last seven years of human life on this planet. These seven years are called the Tribulation. During these seven years, some people will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and will put their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. However, they will not escape the terrible judgments that will fall upon the earth during this period of time. They will be forced to endure and some will suffer death as a result of these judgments.

These seven years will be divided in half by a major event known as the Abomination of Desolation. This event will be the result of the move of the world ruler, known as the Antichrist, to demand people to worship him, as they did Caesar in the first century. Except in this case, he will demand that they worship him in the Temple in Jerusalem. This Abomination of Desolation will signal the beginning of the second half of this seven-year period that will be filled with major judgments of God against human life on this planet. It will be called the Great Tribulation. It will be the worst years of horrible destruction upon the earth since the Flood.

At the end of this period, Jesus will return to this earth, victoriously defeat Satan and his human allies at the battle of Armageddon. Jesus will then replenish the earth and will reign as King over the earth for a 1,000 year period, known as the Millennial Kingdom. During this time, all the believers will return to earth and serve Jesus Christ here. By the end of this period, we will see the destructions of Satan and all of his demonic forces; we will see the great white throne judgment, when God will permanently separate Himself from all human beings who have rejected Jesus Christ. Those who trusted in Jesus will enter into eternity with God.    

Last week, as we ended our study in chapter 12, we noted that the Great Tribulation period represented Satan’s last stand against God, the nation of Israel and all who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 

In chapter 13, we are given more details as to how Satan, “the dragon” will set the stage for his final conflict on earth between himself and all those who worship Jesus Christ. In this chapter, we are introduced to Satan’s or the dragon’s two key human operatives on earth, in whom the dragon hoped would lead him to victory against the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. These two human operatives are called “the beast of the sea” and “the beast of the earth.” This morning, we are going to focus our attention on simply identifying the dragon’s first human operative, mentioned in verses 1-3, the “beast of the sea.”

These first three verses of Revelation 13, are so filled with complex imagery, that we will spend our entire time looking at these three verses in light of two other passages that help us interpret them. Those two other passages are Daniel 7:4-8 and Revelation 17:8-13. All three passages require that you personally examine them very carefully. We will do our best to make this study as simple as possible. 

Let’s begin our study of chapter 13 by reading the first three verses, with our end goal being uncovering the identity of the “beast from the sea.”

¹And the he stood [from the previous verse, 12:17, we know that the “he” here refers to Satan] on the sand of the seashore. This picture is of Satan standing on the earth, by the edge of the Mediterranean Sea as though he is contemplating his next move. In the following verses, those moves are revealed. Satan’s first move is the revelation of the “beast of the sea.” “Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. ²And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. ³I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.

In the passage we just read, John describes a beast that has seven heads with blasphemous names on those heads. Those blasphemous names, we will see next week represent that this beast stands against God and His purposes on earth, and anything that smacks of Jesus Christ. In addition, to the seven heads, this beast is portrayed as having ten horns with ten crowns on them. Furthermore, this beast had the characteristics of a leopard, bear and lion.

What are we to make of all these symbols? How do we interpret them? Thankfully, elsewhere in the Bible, God interprets these symbols for us. Let’s break them down one at a time, beginning with the identity of “seven heads with their blasphemous names.” 

In Revelation 17, an angel explains to John the interpretation of these “seven heads.”  Read verses 7-13, And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I shall tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads, and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven and he goes to destruction. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast.”

This passage, in itself, is also filled with much symbolism, but it isn’t too hard to figure out. The first symbol we need to understand in this passage, in order to understand the interpretation of the “seven heads” is symbol of the “woman.” The “woman” to which the angel refers is mentioned in 17:5, and refers symbolically to the false religious system of the day called “Babylon the Great the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.”  The reference to Babylon in Revelation, most often refers to a worldwide false religious system. According to 17:18, this religious system is identified with having a home base in “the great city.” But which “great city” is that? 

Verse 9 gives us a clue as to this “great city” in describing it as the “seven mountains on which the woman sits.” Is there an historic city, a great and famous city that is known for having seven mountains? Yes. Several historians over the centuries have pointed to one and the same city as the city that has been built on “seven mountains” or hills. One historian records, “Seven hills formed the nucleus of the ancient city of Rome, on the left bank of the Tiber. These hills received the names of Palatine, Aventine, Cailian, Esquiline, Viminal, Quirinal, and Capitoline.” Throughout history, Rome has been described as the “city of seven hills” and even printed as such on their coins, and other countless allusions in Roman literature. Hence, the “seven heads” of Rev. 13, according to the angel’s interpretation found here in Rev. 17, the city of Rome, will be the religious home base of a false world religion. 

Allow me to make a side comment here, with no real explanation: Because Rome is the home base for Catholicism, many have jumped to the conclusion that the one world false religion will be Catholicism. I do not agree.

Continuing on, in Rev. 17:9, the angel adds to his interpretation and our understanding of the role Rome has already played and will play in the future. We read, “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven and he goes to destruction.”

The angel in Revelation 17, informs us that the city of Rome, symbolically is also “seven kings.” What’s that all about? I believe that the “seven kings” point to seven forms of governments that have and will rule over Rome. Six of those forms of government have already passed and the seventh is yet to be. How did I come to that conclusion? 

We gain some insight to this from the Roman historian Livy who was born around 60 B.C., and died in A.D. 17. He wrote that there had been five forms of governments ruling over Rome up until his time: First, there was the cluster of city-states ruled by a king. Then, each city-state was ruled by its own elected consul. The elected consuls were run out by dictators, who were replaced by a council of ten rulers. When that failed, the fifth form of government became the elected tribunes. 

Those five forms of government all preceded the apostle John’s lifetime. They were gone and replaced by what the angel called the present ruling form of government during John’s lifetime as the “one that is.” That was the imperial form of government beginning with Julius Caesar and continued well into the fifth century. That adds up to six forms of governments so far.

The “seventh king” or form of rule in Rome has yet to be seen. But when the beast, the world ruler comes, he will rule awhile, supposedly die and then come back to life, representing the “eighth king,” which is really the same form of government as the “seventh king” except now, this beast ruler, according to Rev. 13 is empowered supernaturally by “the dragon,” Satan, to run the government.

Allow me to point out two more similarities between the Rev. 13 prophecy concerning the beast and that found in Rev. 17. First, we read Rev. 13:3 “And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.” Rev. 17:8“ And those who dwell on the earth will wonder...when they see the beast.”

Why will the whole world stand amazed and in wonderment about this beast? Both chapters tell us:

Rev. 13:3 “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed...” Rev. 17:8, “The beast...was and is not, and is about to come...” First, note that this beast does not represent a government or a world power so much as it represents a person or individual who will rule over that government. I tell you that because elsewhere, the symbol of a “beast” doesn’t always refer to an individual, as it does here, but to a nation. However, here in Rev. 13 and 17, several times the “beast” is referred to as a person. His government is nothing more than an extension of him and his rule. 

Furthermore, what amazes the people around the world is not the government but something unique that has happened to this world ruler. Apparently, according to both Rev. 13 and 17, this world ruler will suffer what appears to be a mortal wound, die and miraculously come back to life. Whether he actually dies or merely appears to die and come back to life is debated among theologians. Regardless of that debate, his apparent resurrection to life will draw the world’s attention even more to this charismatic person. Who this person might be has led to all sorts of speculation of past historical figures such as Nero, Stalin, Mussolini, the Pope and even JFK, to name just a few. I, for one, don’t see this person as being a past historical figure, but a future figure that everyone will recognize at the time for his future fame and accomplishments.  When he miraculously is healed or comes back to life, everyone will recognize him as one who had died, will consider him to be someone special to follow after.

Whoever he is, we read in Rev. 17:8 that in the end, this future world ruler, will be “destroyed.” That word for destruction is used elsewhere to describe a person, not a government, being eternally damned to hell.

Allow me to summarize how the angel in Rev. 17:7-13 has interpreted parts of Rev. 13:1-3. First, in Rev. 17:7-11 a strange “woman” sitting on seven mountains was introduced; 17:5 alerted us to who this woman is. She is the “great harlot” that represents the false world religion that will be set in place during the Tribulation. Next, in Rev. 17:7-11, we’re told that the seven heads of Rev. 13 represent the 7 mountains upon which the city of Rome is built. Furthermore, because the “woman” is sitting on the beast with seven heads, this leads us to believe that Rome is the ecclesiastical home base of this false religion. Finally, we noted that the seven kings, represent seven different forms of rule in Rome. Furthermore, the last form of rule will be established by the beast, a human being, who will supposedly die, somehow be healed and come back to life, only to be eventually damned to hell after the Tribulation. 

Now, turn to Daniel 7, so that we can compare it with what we have read in Rev. 13-17. Dan. 7 and Rev. 13 almost parallel one another, and aid us interpreting what the “ten horns with ten crowns” is all about. In Dan. 7:4-8, Daniel describes a vision from God that includes four “beasts.” In this context, the four beasts do not represent four individuals but four powerful prominent world forces, three that have already passed, and one to come.

The first three beasts are mentioned in vv. 4-6. In order, they are listed here as the “lion,” “bear,” and “leopard.” Looking at future history from Daniel’s point of view, history reveals that the “lion” represented Babylon, whose world rule was perceived to be like a lion—majestic, powerful and smart. Next came the “bear” historically representing Medo-Persia, which was perceived to be like a bear in that it was fierce and tenacious with those it ruled. The third beast, the “leopard” historically represents Greece, in that it was characterized as a nation that was like a leopard in its swiftness and speed to spread its influence around the world.

In verses 7-8, we read about the fourth and still future beast: “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.”

This fourth beast is different from all three of the previous beasts. It is different in that the three previous beasts were made up of single nations or world powers. This fourth beast, however, is made up of a confederacy of “ten horns.” What’s that all about? When you add to these “ten horns” the clue that they each had “ten crowns” from Revelation 13, a sign of kingship or a ruler’s authority, we recognize that these ten horns represent a union of ten different nations or kingdoms acting as one. This is also verified by Revelation 17:12,13.  ¹²The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. ¹³These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

An additional difference in this fourth beast in comparison to the previous three, is that this fourth beast is mentioned to have a specific leader controlling it. We note that “another horn, a little one” meaning another world leader enters the mix of the previous ten unified leaders, and takes over the leadership of this group. Rev. 17:13, recognizes this leader to whom the ten other kings submit as “the beast” or in the case of Dan. 7:8, “the little horn.” 

A final uniqueness of this fourth beast, is that this confederacy, led by the beast is said to be “dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong.” In comparison to who or what? In context, this fourth beast is more terrifying than the previous three beasts. Why? I believe the answer is found back in Rev. 13, which tells us that, with the individual known as the “beast” who is in charge, is himself, as powerful as all three of the previous beasts, the lion, the bear and the leopard put together. Which makes sense, since we are told that this beast, this human leader, has been endued with the power and authority of the dragon, Satan.

Allow me to summarize how prophecies of Daniel 7 help us to interpret who is the beast of Rev. 13. We have already noted from the angel’s interpretation from Rev. 17 that this beast is a human being, miraculously healed from a fatal wound. There, he is clearly called the beast, whose headquarters initially will be in Rome. From Daniel 7:4-8, we have learned some further details concerning the rule of this individual. We have first learned that the term “beast” used here points to “four powerful world forces, not persons.” The “fourth beast” describes a world force that is made up of ten horns. Because Rev. 13 tells us that these horns had ten crowns, and Rev. 17 tells us that the ten horns represent ten kings, we recognize the ten horns as a confederacy of ten kingdoms.Next, Daniel reveals to us that there will be a “little horn” who will come out of this confederacy to rule as the “leader of the fourth beast.” This human leader, this “little horn” is the human “beast” mentioned in Rev. 13.

Finally, with what Rev. 13 says will be granted to this human beast, that he will be empowered as all three of the nation beasts of Dan. 7, and that, according to Rev. 13, Satan’s power and authority will be granted this world ruler, all the world will follow after him. In short, this world leader, this “beast of the sea” is none other than the antichrist, mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.

Let’s stop at this point to answer the question, “Why does God find it necessary to include this information about the ‘beast of the sea’?” I can assure you that God did not include this information for the benefit of the apostle John’s generation. Nothing written here about this beast would have been shocking news to his generation. It would have been informative, but just another in a series of ominous events that they had already experienced. Those in the first century would not have difficulty understanding or believing that one day, a human being, a very powerful wicked, anti-Christian human being would try to rule the world, and in the process demand that people would worship him. Those living in the first century already lived with that kind of world ruler in Nero.

I’m convinced that Jesus goes into such detail concerning the antichrist for those who will follow along as Christians centuries later. To be more specific, I believe these words are uniquely written for our generation, the generation just preceding the coming of the antichrist. Our generation may wonder how it is that the human race could fall for such nonsense, but the reality is that we have already shown signs of following after the spirit of the coming antichrist. In fact, this very apostasy, we are told, will precede the antichrist’s being revealed and taking over.

In his first two epistles, the apostle John makes very clear how this religious abhorrence to Jesus Christ will happen before this beast will come to power. The very Greek word “antichrist” is not only a name given to the beast, but it describes the attitudes of many people who will be living during our lifetime. In Greek, “antichrist” means “one who is opposite of, or stands opposed to anything to do with Christ,” including his followers. John states that there will be many antichrist’s before the antichrist or beast arrives. John then explains what is characteristic of those whom God considers a antichrists. Antichrists deny that Christ was really a man, sent from God and equal with God the Father. They also deny that Jesus Christ is the only way to know God and have an eternal relationship with God.

But what is really significant in John’s teachings about the antichrists in our generation is that many of them will come from within the church. They won’t really be true Christians, in the sense that they are followers of Jesus Christ, but they will consider themselves to be Christians. They will be fair-weather Christians as long as it suits their needs. There may be several of you here today, who are sympathetic to Christian values, believe in God and have acknowledged Jesus Christ as being a real historic figure, and yet you may be an antichrist. You have not committed to following Jesus Christ no matter what. You have not, as Jesus demands that if you are going to be His follower, you are to pick up your cross daily, deny yourself and follow Him. If that does not describe you right now, you may be an antichrist.

Throughout my past 36 years as a Christian, I have met some very nice and wonderful antichrists in church. They are good citizens. They believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, but they do not believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Furthermore, they do not yield their lives to His full control. For multiple reasons, they become impatient and intolerant with the biblical teachings concerning Christ, eventually leave churches that preach the Bible in search of a church that will allow them to believe and live in whatever way they feel is right. 

There has been an ever growing wave of this antichrist attitude in our nation ever since its birth. You see these church going people, who consider themselves Christians on both sides of the aisle in Congress. As a result, Congress is passing or allowing more legislation that is less tolerant of Christians and their beliefs or traditions every year, and it will continue to do so, according to what the Bible says. We may slow it down a little and rejoice over a few victories here and there, but it will not get better. The Bible teaches that the whole world, without the exception of any nation, will be part of this apostasy.

When you consider the reviling and bickering that goes on politically these days in Congress, as in the Judge Alito confirmation hearings prior to his becoming a supreme court justice, at the root of the battle were his Christian moral beliefs. Today, there are many very bitter, angry, hostile Americans who are frustrated that he has been selected to the Supreme Court.

Make no mistake about it. Intolerance toward Christians in this nation and in the world is growing, not because of terrorism but because of what we believe, and the misrepresentation by our enemies as to what we believe. This is just what was taking place during the first century during John’s lifetime. But the spiritual root of the growing hatred and rejection of those who truly follow Jesus Christ, is the very thing Jesus said we were called to be: we are salt and light in a dark and decaying world that rejects the light revealing our holy God is in contrast to the depraved nature of human beings. 

Blinded and deluded by Satan, the citizens of this country and the world will begin to increase persecution of Christians simply because of their beliefs. It will begin with rejection through minor ostracizing from inner circles, socially and politically. Eventually, it will be the basis for preventing people from getting jobs. In the end, it will lead to such hatred that Christians who take following Jesus seriously will be executed. If you have any question as to the possibility of this being true, just look at China today. Millions of missing Christians in China who have been arrested for simply having Bibles in their homes, are presumed dead at the hands of the government. Mark my words: this will happen here.

Hence, the Spirit of God writes these words in Revelation 13 to two groups of people: first, to warn those who do not abide in Christ, what will happen to them if they don’t. And second, to those of us who do abide in Christ, to recognize that those Christians who believe that they can save this world as we know it, by being good or active politically, can’t. We can delay the inevitable, but never stop it. 

Hence, don’t be surprised or outraged that your world rejects you. Instead, continue to get to know Him, abide in and with Him, and fulfill your calling to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ, communicating that God loves people and wants them to enjoy a relationship with Him today and forever. Jesus will use your life to make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you. 

In the end, that will be the only thing that matters—who lives with God and who does not. It’s not about your passions or protecting your beloved country or manner or style in which you have become accustomed to living. It’s not even about finding a warm, cheap climate to live in that is free of crime and has tremendous government subsidies. It is all about abiding in Christ. LIFE IS NOT A GAME. You must make a serious choice as for whom you will live and how you will live. That choice has serious consequences attached to it.

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