Have you ever experienced a case of false advertising?
When Jennifer and I were newlyweds, we got a chance to go to a mountain cabin at quite a discounted price. We looked at the website for this cabin, and it looked wonderful. It was right near a lake as well. We couldn’t wait to experience what we thought would look like this. Instead, it looked like this.
Now, I want to clear: I’m exaggerating a bit. However, what we saw on the website, and certainly what we expected, was not what we received. What we experienced was a case of false advertising.
Well, here in Revelation 13, we’re going to see one of the biggest cases ever of false advertising. This will take place through the work of two figures referred to as beasts.
Today’s sermon is entitled “The Deception of the Beasts.”
Before we learn about these beasts and their deception, join me in prayer.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s remember where we are in Revelation.
The Lord Jesus, also known as the Lamb, has taken a scroll and opened its seven seals.
Within that seventh seal were seven trumpets being blown by seven angels.
We are now learning about the events that are revealed to John after the seventh trumpet is blown.
Last week, we learned about a dragon, who we know to be Satan; we learned about a child, who we know to be Jesus. Finally, we learned about a woman who we believe represents the chosen people of God.
So, that brings us where we are today.
Now, we’re going to start with the last verse of Chapter 12. By the way, it speaks of the dragon. Remember, the dragon is Satan.
So, let’s learn that . . .
I. The first beast is a deceptive leader.
Let’s start at Revelation 12:18 and read through Revelation 13:10. I’ll read, and you can follow along.
12:18 The dragon stood on the sand of the sea.
13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names., 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.
The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority, for forty-two months. 6 It began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven. 7 And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.,
9 If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.
10 If anyone is to be taken captive,
into captivity he goes.
If anyone is to be killed with a sword,
with a sword he will be killed.
This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the saints.
Notice right away that the dragon is standing on the sand of the sea, while this beast comes out of the sea.
John is sort of pointing our attention to the fact that the dragon has authority over this beast.
This beast had ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns on its horns.
Now, this is a bit strange, as with much of Revelation.
These horns may represent ten rulers, ten kingdoms, ten events, or something altogether different.
The seven heads may also represent something similar.
We can dig deeper into what these mean on Wednesday night. For now, know that they likely represent some sort of rule or authority of the beast.
Notice that verse one says, “on its heads were blasphemous names.”
Blasphemous means speaking strongly against God.
So, in case there was any confusion, we see clearly that this beast is not a good beast; it is a demonic beast that is against God.
Verse 2 points out that the beast had features similar to a leopard, a bear, and a lion.
By the way, there’s a strong correlation between the description of this beast here and the description of three beasts in Daniel 7.
We’re not sure exactly what this means, except to say the prophecies of Daniel, which were long before the writing of the Book of Revelation, seem to correlate with the prophecies of John here in Revelation 13.
Notice, also, in verse 2, where the beast gets his power. It says:
The dragon gave the beast his power.
This is a demonic figure who is empowered by Satan.
This is not a good guy; it’s a bad guy.
Verse 3 points out that one of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its wound was healed.
This likely refers to some sort of event or appearance that tries to imitate the work of Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Apparently, the world was impressed with the beast because verses 3-4 say:
The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?”
The beast goes on for a period of 42 months (or three and a half years) to speak against God, wage war against Christians, conquer them, and have authority over all the people of the earth, except God’s chosen people.
By the way, it’s widely accepted by the modern church that this first beast is the one elsewhere referred to as the antichrist. This is the one who will try to be like Jesus and will try to earn the admiration of the world that Jesus deserves.
Indeed, the beast will be loved and followed by many. He will deceive them into following him as a leader.
Notice verse 8 says:
All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Remember, as we learned last week, the dragon may pursue God’s people; he and the beast may even harm God’s people, but they will not have victory over God’s people.
God’s people will ultimately conquer by the blood of the Lamb who was slaughtered. Their names are preserved in the book of life of the Lamb.
We must remember the words of Jesus from earlier in Revelation 3:5:
“ . . . the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.”
Look at verse 9 again. It says:
If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.
We must remember that this is a call for us to pay attention. We need to be careful here to hear what John is saying.
Verse 10 goes on to say that some people are appointed to be taken captive; some people are appointed to be killed. Both these things will happen.
John then says at the end of verse 10:
This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the saints.
Who needs to endure and be faithful? John says very clearly, “the saints,” which refers to followers of Jesus.
Why do they need to be faithful and endure? Because of captivity and death.
The people of God must listen and pay attention. The beast will be widely loved and accepted by the earth, but he will bring death and captivity for many of God’s people.
However, God’s people will not be deceived because their names are in the book of life.
In the end, they will conquer by the blood of the Lamb. Until that time, they must listen and endure.
This is the first beast.
Now, let’s see that . . .
II. The second beast is a deceptive prophet.
Look at verse 11 through the end:
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 It was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom:, Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666.
Ok, now we have a second beast.
The first beast comes out of the sea; this beast comes out of the earth.
This beast had two horns like a lamb, but he didn’t sound like a lamb, did he?
Verse 11 says that this beast “ . . . spoke like a dragon.”
Verse 12 points out that this beast “ . . . exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast.”
This beast is pointing people back to the first beast. He’s proclaiming the greatness of and doing the work of the first beast.
In other words, this second beast is like a prophet for the first beast. However, he is a false and deceptive prophet.
What he has to say to the people is not good, and it is not true. The first beast is not a good leader, and he is certainly not worthy of worship.
Here’s sort of a graphic to help you understand the roles of these beings.
The dragon (who is Satan) gives authority to the first beast (the deceptive leader), while the second beast (the deceptive prophet) supports the work of the first beast.
This false prophet does have genuine demonic power, is able to perform miracles and signs, and leads more people to be deceived.
In verses 14 and 15, we hear about an image of the first beast that is able to gain more worship of the beast and is even able to kill those who don’t worship.
Finally, in verses 16-18, we learn about what has famously been referred to as “The Mark of the Beast.”
We don’t know what this mark is exactly, but here’s what we do know:
1. Everyone will be required to have it.
2. No one can buy or sell without it.
3. The beast’s name is somehow tied to it.
4. Its number is 666.
Outside of these pieces of information, we don’t know much about the mark of the beast.
However, notice again what verse 18 says:
This calls for wisdom . . .
Church, let us be wise. God has told us these things so that we can be ready.
As we think about these things with wisdom, let us consider this bottom line:
Bottom Line: The beasts will try to deceive people away from the Lamb.
Pay attention here, church. The dragon and the beasts are trying to copy the work of the Lord God in order to receive the glory and worship that is only due to God.
The dragon gives authority to the first beast as God the Father gives authority to Jesus the Lamb.
The first beast comes to earth, appears to have recovered from a fatal wound, and seeks worship. Jesus the Lamb came to earth, was fatally wounded and rose again, and He is the one truly worthy of worship.
The second beast served as a prophet, pointing others to the first beast. Throughout all of human history, many prophets have pointed others to the true Lamb, Jesus the Messiah.
What the dragon and the beasts have to offer this world is a cheap substitute for what God the Father and Jesus the Lamb have to offer. It’s false advertising! We ought not settle for it, and we ought not be ok with anyone else settling for it!
The beasts lead to death. Jesus leads to life.
As Jesus said in John 10:10:
“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
Pay attention again to verse 11. It says:
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.
Listen, church: These beasts may try to imitate the Lamb, but they are no lamb. They are not from God; they are from the dragon.
The true Lamb is so much better than the beasts. Christ is so much better than the antichrist.
The number of the beast is six repeated, which by the way is less than the number of the Lamb, which is repeatedly seven. Jesus is better!
The first beast had one false prophet pointing others to him. Jesus the Lamb has had many prophets throughout thousands of years pointing others to Him. Jesus is better!
The beast deceived those in the world to worship him and follow him. However, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is better!
Don’t be deceived, church.
Trouble will come, but Jesus will win!
Suffering is ahead of us, but Jesus is holding us!
Nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Be wise. Listen to what God is telling us in the Book of Revelation, and endure till the end. That’s our weekly challenge.
Weekly Challenge: Listen and endure.
God is telling us what to expect. Let us listen.
God is telling us He will be with us, and He will bless us in the end. Let us endure.
Through your difficulty that you are experiencing now, listen and endure. Through whatever challenges may come our way in the future, let us listen and endure.
Listen, brothers and sisters: God is with you. God has great plans for you. God loves you. God will never leave you.
Listen and endure.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.
