The Beast

Read This Week: Revelation 13

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. 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?” It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, to receive a mark on their right hands or foreheads so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. – Revelation 13:1-4, 16-17 NIV

Chapter 13 continues to unfold the narrative of the evil trio of Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. It isn’t easy to read this portion of Scripture and not be unnerved at the depths of depravity and the notion that God will allow the enemy to unleash his fury and wreak havoc on the earth and all the people who dwell on it. We saw last week that the devil is ultimately not strong enough to overcome the mighty power of God and that he will meet his eternal demise, but the words of verses 7-8 should humble and touch us when it says this about the beast which the dragon empowers:

It was given the 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. 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.

That passage reads like something from a Tolkien novel or a Marvel movie. But no science fiction or fantasy writer could truly capture the horror of this part of the tribulation. The idea of the Antichrist possessing the power to wage war against God’s people, conquer them, and have authority over every nation is beyond the finite imagination. He will begin his reign in unifying peace and end it in unimaginable evil and plundering.

Furthermore, another beast (false prophet) will rise, and as verses 12-13 tell us, he will exercise all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and make the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast. The third beast will perform great signs, even causing a fire from heaven to come to the earth in full view of the people, similar to what the two witnesses of God had done before him. This false prophet will also be the one to force all people to receive the infamous mark of the beast, also known as the number 666. It will be a harrowing time for the world, yet they will inconceivably worship the evil trinity.

The beast will be formidable in his time, but he nor the third beast will be able to overcome The Lamb. In this sense, and for all time, the Lamb of God will win over the beast that resembles a leopard but has feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. These foreshadowed events that John captures for us are similar to current times. The spirit of AntiChrist is alive and pervasive in the world, and Christ-followers must not be a part of it, be deceived by it, or succumb to its allure. We must be faithful to Jesus while avoiding false worship and staying on God’s mission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person. They need it now and will need it then.

7 Comments

  1. Javaid Ahmed on May 10, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    God really honed me in on Revelation 13, Verses 15,16,17.

    15 And he is permitted [also] to impart the breath of life into the beast’s image, so that the statue of the beast could actually talk and cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast.
    16 Also he compels all [alike], both small and great, both the rich and the poor, both free and slave, to be marked with an inscription [[c]stamped] on their right hands or on their foreheads,
    17 So that no one will have power to buy or sell unless he bears the stamp (mark, inscription), [that is] the name of the beast or the number of his name.

    He said to me on this:
    “When you operate on fear alone, you will yield less than genuine results. Being forced into a situation makes people uneasy, whereas choosing to be in the same situation presents an entirely new reality for people. I want you to come to Me, but never will force you to. The opposite of Love is Hate which coincides with fear. When you lift the heavy lift together with Me, then everything becomes lighter.”

    Satan and evil are the exact opposite of God and Love. Imagine being forced to worship someone that you hate for fear of being killed or worse. God gives us the free will to not only come to Him, but helps us along the way and shelters us from evil. He will bend over backwards to get us to Him! Thank you Lord, we love you.

  2. Trina on May 12, 2023 at 9:50 am

    Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 9
    If anyone is able to hear, let him listen:

    Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 18
    Here is [room for] discernment [a call for the wisdom of interpretation], Let anyone who has intelligence (penetration and insight enough) calculate the number of the beast, for it is a human number [the number of a certain man]; his number is 666.

    ~The Mark~

    God Is Saying To Me:
    My child, you know you are chosen. I chose you and numbered the hairs on your head. I made you in my likeness and gave you the breath of life. You entered into this world by me and you will exit the world with me. You are marked by faith and belief in me and with the breath of life through me. I know you are listening and I have given you gifts to discern my voice. Use the Holy Spirit to hear me and do not be fooled by the mark of the world because you do not belong to the world. You belong to me and are marked by the blood of my son, jesus Christ!

    What This Means To Me:
    There is no deception in being a child of God! You are clothed in righteousness, by the blood of Jesus. No matter what obstacles or deception comes against us, we are covered by the blood of Jesus and commune with God. No power or force of evil will ever be able to triumph the power of God and His omnipotent love for us. He has given us a pure heart and spirit, by the Holy spirit, with which to wash away all of the impurities of the world. We are able to hear his voice and know that we are made whole in Him. I love you Father God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit! ❤️❤️❤️

  3. Alma on May 13, 2023 at 2:34 pm

    This week I got a song in revelation 13
    Spirit of the Lord
    We are Praising you praising you. We are praising you our Lord from the beginning to the end you are our strength we know the truth because of you we have your faith your love and hope your spirit lives inside our heart. Sometimes we can be distracted or told fause things just remember our God is good and the truth, so let’s come together to worship our Lord, singing, glory, glory, glory we believe in you we have your spirit Spirit of the Lord. Amen.

    The ones who know the truth knows his ways are blessed. His way is the only way for freedom and peace .Always know he wants all of us to succeed. We all have victories with him.

  4. reachchurch on May 14, 2023 at 12:39 pm

    This Week in the Life: Revelation 13

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-0514-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-0514-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-0514-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  5. Heidi on May 15, 2023 at 9:20 am

    This is a beautiful song about worship God was saying to me
    Worship belongs to Me because I love you❤️
    I am for you, I will never lead you in the wrong way, My ways are good for you!
    I do allow testing in your life so you can pass them, then you have a testimony to share with others. The more you spend time with Me you will see the truth and the truth will set you free. When you hear My voice I give you the strength to go through what is to come.I will always teach you My ways when your listening, so listen up because I have good plans for you, but it’s up to you to seek Me for those plans, you are living in those plans today, in those plans you will succeed spiritually by listening to My voice and doing what you hear and it will be good because I love you!
    What this means to me is Father God has good plans for my life and there will be people that will try to lead me in the wrong direction, they will try to come against God, even people in high positions but if I stay in worship to my Lord, listening for His voice, learning everyday to be lead by the Holy Spirt He will help me to say yes when I need to and no when I need too!

    Thank you Father God for Your Holy Spirit that helps me to listen and to stay on track with You!
    Thank you For Jesus
    I love you so much ❤️

    Spirit Lead Me
    Michael Ketterer

    This is my worship, this is my offering
    In every moment, I withhold nothing
    I’m learning to trust You, even when I can’t see it
    And even in suffering, I have to believe it
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    I don’t wanna follow my own ways
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me
    O Spirit lead me
    It felt like a burden, but once I could grasp it
    You took me further, further than I was asking
    And simply to see You
    It’s worth it all
    My life is an altar
    Let Your fire fall
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say, “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    Teach me how to follow in Your way
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me
    Holy (Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    (Yeah, just sing it out, yeah)
    O Spirit lead me (Holy Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    When all hope is gone and Your Word is all I’ve got
    I have to believe, You still bring water from the rock
    To satisfy my thirst, to love me at my worst
    And even when I don’t remember, You remind me of my worth
    I don’t trust my ways, I’m trading in my faults
    I lay down everything ’cause You’re all that I want
    I’ve landed on my knees
    This is the cup You have for me
    And even when it don’t make sense
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I wanna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit lead me, yeah, O
    Spirit lead me
    Spirit lead me (Holy Spirit)
    Spirit lead me
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say, “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    You’re the only Truth, the Life, the Way
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me, yeah
    Yeah, yeah
    O (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit, O Spirit lead me (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit lead me (Spirit lead me)
    Even when it don’t make sense
    Ohh (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna trust in You, I’m gonna trust in You (Spirit lead me)
    Oh, yeah (Holy Spirit)
    Spirit lead me

    • Heidi on May 15, 2023 at 9:22 am

      I mainly got what I got from Revelation 13:9
      If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

  6. Kathy on June 6, 2023 at 6:30 pm

    This is what God was saying to me in Revelation 13. In this chapter the dragon is still representing Satan. The beast is more the Antichrist. This beast comes from the sea. He will lead humanity in an end time rebellion against God. His appearance will be charming and successful The seven crowns of the dragon express strength and power, while the 10 crowns of the beast express his rule over a group of 10 nations. The Messiah will ultimately conquer over these groups. The next beast in this chapter comes from the earth and he is the False Prophet. The Messiah will destroy all earthly rule and reign over the earth. The Antichrist will be a world leader that Satan empowers. People will worship the beast and the dragon. Those who worship them are the one’s whose names are not written in the Book of Life. There is no hope of you alone, fighting against the Antichrist. The only way of victory is steadfast faith and endurance in My Son Jesus. You must keep your faith in My ultimate justice. My Son Jesus said that in the end times false prophets will emerge and show great signs and wonders to deceive. The real marks of My signs and wonders are love and truth.

    What this said to me is The Lamb of God will always overcome Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. I am to be steadfast in my faith and endurance. I am to keep sharing Jesus with others, so that they may come to have a relationship with him.

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