seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 13:1 The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
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Here's a link to the commentary I read. There is more commentary than I posted here. As a matter of fact, I think I only used a third of what Guzik included in his commentary.
Then I stood on the sand of the sea: In Revelation 12, John’s vision mainly had heaven in view. Now the scene of his vision shifted to the earth, and in his vision he stood on the sand of the sea.
Many people today love the sea, but as a whole the Jewish people in Biblical times regarded the sea as a wild, untamed, frightening place. While ancient Israel under Solomon had a navy, Hiram the King of Tyre supplied the sailors (1 Kings 9:26-27).
And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea: From the place identified with evil and chaos and resisting God, a beast comes forth. The ancient Greek word translated beast here has the idea of a wild, dangerous animal. Because John calls him a beast and not a dragon (as in Revelation 12:3), this creature represents someone distinct from Satan who was represented as the dragon (Revelation 12:9).
Having seven heads and ten horns: Though this beast is distinct from the dragon of Revelation 12, he is still closely identified with him. He is not the dragon, but he is like him, because the dragon also had seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 11:3).
Any creature with seven heads would be hard to kill, because if you wounded one head, six still remained. In Biblical imagery horns express strength and power. A bull with two horns is a powerful creature, but a beast with ten horns has that much more power — just like the dragon of Revelation 12:3.
And on his horns ten crowns: This is something different about the beast compared to the dragon of Revelation 12:3, who had seven diadems on his heads. The seven crowns of the dragon expressed his strength and power, because seven is a number associated with strength and completeness. The ten crowns of the beast express his rule over a group of ten nations.
And on his heads a blasphemous name: The seven heads of the beast each advertise blasphemy against God. This speaks of more than the beast’s message; it speaks of his character. He is a blasphemer, who speaks against God (as in Daniel 7:25).
Like a leopard… a bear… a lion: In this vision, God used images from Daniel’s vision of Daniel 7 to communicate the identity and nature of this beast to John. Daniel 7 used four animals (beasts) to describe the course of human government from Daniel’s time until the ultimate reign of Jesus on this earth.
Now the beast which I saw: All the indications in Revelation 13 are that the beast is a man, though he is closely identified with his world-dominating government.
The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority: This world leader is really empowered and supported by Satan. Through this man, Satan will express his own desire and authority. In this, the beast takes the offer that Jesus refused (Matthew 4:8-10).
One of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded: This is a head wound, a mortal wound, not a superficial injury. Perhaps it is the result of God’s judgment against the beast.
And his deadly wound was healed: The recovery of the beast increases his fame and authority (all the world marveled and followed the beast). Twice later (Revelation 13:12 and 13:14) this recovery is mentioned in connection to the world’s worship and devotion to the beast.
Wounded… healed: This is truly an Antichrist, who even imitates Jesus in His death and resurrection. The world will believe this, and it will add tremendously to his fame and power.
So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast: As people worship this beast and bow down before his government, it may be that they do not know they are bowing down to Satan himself; but it is worship of Satan none the less. They clearly worship both the beast and the dragon, but their worship of the dragon may be unknowing.
Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? The world will be amazed at the power of the beast, and will believe he is so mighty that he cannot be conquered. For a time, the beast will look like a tremendous winner. When he blasphemes Jesus and persecutes God’s people, they will appear to be complete losers — for a short time.
Speaking great things and blasphemies: “Blasphemer” may be a more accurate title than “Antichrist” for this end-times dictator. This beast is a man who speaks against God and everything God stands for (His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven).
And he was given authority to continue for forty-two months: The beast continues without restraint by God for a period of forty-two months — the familiar three and one-half years. The duration of the period shows that the beast has full reign for the first half of the final seven years, and that during the whole time he is still under God’s authority.
Why does the beast blaspheme… those who dwell in heaven? This means he speaks against those who were taken in the rapture, and are therefore out of his reach.
It was granted to him to make war with the saints: Revelation 12 described the broad phenomenon of Satanic persecution during the tribulation period. Here, the main instrument of that persecution is revealed: the government of the beast will persecute and kill all those who do not bow in worship to the beast.
To overcome them: Overcome does not mean that the beast can overcome the faith of the saints, but that he can destroy their physical lives, and by all appearances defeat the cause of God’s people on this earth.
All who dwell on the earth will worship him: This final world dictator will demand and receive worship from the whole earth. But those who worship him pay the price: they are whose names have not been written in the Book of Life.
The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world: This deeply meaningful title for Jesus reminds us that God’s plan of redemption was set in place before He even created the beings who would be redeemed. God wasn’t “surprised” by the fall of Adam or any other evidence of the fallen nature of man. God isn’t making it up as He goes along. It is all going according to plan.
He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity: This means that the functionaries of the beast are not without guilt. Though these things are prophesied and part of God’s predetermined plan, it does not lessen in the slightest way man’s personal responsibility. If you work for the beast and lead others into captivity, you certainly shall go into captivity yourself. God will measure unto you what you have measured to others.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints: Though they are viciously attacked by the Antichrist and his followers, the saints of God must keep steadfast faith in the ultimate justice of God. He will reward their persecutors with persecution of His own.
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Heavy topic! This is going to take some time. Please follow the link and read the entire commentary.
These verses describe the "Anti-Christ". This is Satan's answer to Jesus, the Messiah. I just realized, the Anti-Christ must not be too proud of his mom. There is no miraculous conception. Perhaps that's because God is the Creator, and Satan is just a corrupted angel that God created. So, Satan can't do the immaculate conception. I wonder if Satan can clone? Oh my.... I wonder, whose name is on the birth certificate as father. No human on earth could or would put their name as father of Jesus, the Messiah. The Pharisees and the Sadducees called Jesus a Bastard... so, they wouldn't believe He is the Messiah.
We'll know the Anti-Christ by the hole in his head. No, it won't be a stinger that just clips an ear. This will be a mortal wound... a hole in his head. That's what makes people think he's the one they've been waiting for. The hole in his head will show people he's a warrior who can't be killed. When the guy with a hole in his head gets up and says "I'm the chosen one", everyone is going to believe him... OR ELSE.
Verse 10 says, God won't be surprised at the humans who will worship the Anti-Christ. They are making their own bed. They were never going to Believe. They will never see Heaven... Hell has always been their destination. Those that are murdered by the Anti-Christ were destined to be murdered by the Anti-Christ. God knew that when He was sculpting them. every decision the worshipers of the Anti-Christ will make will lead them straight to the point where they bow down to the Anti-Christ. God controls time so God can see our future long before the sculpting of our individual DNA is even completed.
Maybe there are a few Pew Warmers included in Verse 10, but the majority of the humans slaughtered by the Anti-Christ, wouldn't bow a knee to God either. They just think their poop doesn't stink so they won't bow to anyone... God, Messiah, or Beast. They think the Universe revolves around them.
So, if you see a world leader being worshipped by everyone left in the world after all the earth's shapeshifting.... with a major hole in his head.... Well, somehow you missed the boat!
I know there was an earthquake in Virgina a few days ago. That's not the shapeshifting earthquake that will send everyone running into caves. I know there is a volcano right off the coast of Oregon that is building new land, and it's supposed to breach the Pacific in a few days. None of these are the earthquakes that will send people hiding in caves [stupid humans].
The Anti-Christ hasn't emerged yet. None of the world leaders has a humungous visible hole in their head.
You'll know the Anti-Christ if you see him.
He'll have a BIG hole in his head!
