THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Part 29
The Beast Out of the Sea
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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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
His Name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven.
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.
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.
Revelation 13:1-8 KJV
In this revelation, John (not the dragon) stood upon
the sand of the sea—he saw “the beast out of the sea.”
“The beast out of the sea” speaks of the Antichrist.
Though the Bible uses the word “the beast” for “the
Antichrist” it doesn’t mean that “the Antichrist” will actually look just like
a beast—as in an ‘animal form.’
GOD’s Word clearly expresses to us that “the
Antichrist” has to come into the world in ‘the form of a man’ and deceive many
by intrigues and flatteries.
Whatever is deception is usually contrary to
appearance; in order for one to deceive they will have to look and talk like
the people or the thing they are trying to take over.
Number 13 implies "rebellion"—it
represents "sin." This number often occurs where there is depravity, corruption,
wickedness and decadence.
This is why only Revelation chapter 13 and no other
chapter in the book of Revelation divulges the ‘mystery-political unification’
of the Antichrist and his false prophet.
Revelation 17 describes the ‘mystery-economic
unification’ of Babylon the Great (the great city) and this political union of
‘the beast.’
Revelation 13 reveals the emergence of the New World
Order.
A beast like a leopard with seven heads and ten
horns, feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion’s mouth.
What does this mean?
“Wisdom” uncovers it as we read in chapter 17:9-12.
The
red dragon has seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads (12:3).
The dragon gave its power, seat, and authority
to "the beast out of the sea" (13:2).
“The beast
out of the sea” ‘was, and is not, and shall ascend’ out of the bottomless pit
and go into perdition (17:8). Those whose names were not written
in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be amazed when they see this beast.
The earth marvels after “the beast” (13:3) —they’re
enthralled by it. They love it. “The Antichrist” will wield power because the
earth is in love with him—he is the embodiment of everything wicked man has
always sought to worship from the beginning of life after “the Fall of Man:”
man has desired to worship himself and govern himself instead of relying upon
God.
When the deadly wound of the beast is healed, it
will be his diabolical deception on the ungodly of the Earth.
The king that “must continue a short time” is the
Antichrist (17:10).
Verse 11 says:
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and
is of the seven, and goeth into perdition (KJV).
Verse 12 says:
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have
received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast
(KJV).
This ‘beast’ is given authority to act for 42
months, which is 3 ½ years—it blasphemes God, it blasphemes God’s Throne, and
it blasphemes “those tabernacling in Heaven” (13:5-6). This means, the beast
will speak evil of the saints—of “the Bride” that was ‘raptured’ in chapter 4,
and of the hosts of Heaven.
The beast will be given power to make war against
the saints [tribulation saints] and to conquer them. And he will be given
authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (13:7). He is the “horn”
seen in Daniel 7, which was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until
the Ancient of Days came and pronounced Judgment in favor of the saints of the
Most High (verses 21-22).
“The Antichrist” will be seen as a man of peace, a
man who loves the world. And all those whose names are not written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life will find themselves worshipping “the beast.”