Revelation 13 – Show notes – 3.10.25(1) John’s vision of a beast rising from the sea.(Guzik) Because ancientIsrael was wary of the sea, it was afigure of evil and chaos that seemed to resist God, though the resistance was unsuccessful: (Psalm 74:12-13) (Psalm 89:8-9)(Isaiah 57:20) “There are a number of suggestions as to why the diadems are placed on the horns rather than on the heads of the beast. The most plausible is that his claim to authority rests on brute force.” (Mounce) And on his horns ten crowns: (Guzik) This is something different about the beast comparedto 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 tennations.i. Most commentators think that the ten horns aredistributed among the seven heads, but David Hocking sees all ten horns upon one of the heads. The figure of ten horns also associates this beast with thebeast of Daniel 7:7.ii. InDaniel’s vision, the ten horns specifically represented ten kingdoms that this final world dictator hasauthority over (Daniel 7:24). In John’s vision the ten crowns onthe ten horns emphasize this idea.(2) The description of the beast of the sea again connectsit to images from Daniel 7.Like a leopard… a bear… a lion: In this vision, Godused images from Daniel’s vision of Daniel 7 tocommunicate the identity and nature of this beast to John. Daniel 7 usedfour animals (beasts) to describe the course of human government fromDaniel’s time until the ultimate reign of Jesus on this earth.i. The first three animals are a lion (inDaniel, a picture of the Babylonian Empire), a bear (a pictureof Medo-Persian Empire), and a leopard (apicture of the Greek Empire). The fourth animal was a dreadful, indescribable beast which shared the most terrifying characteristics of the previous beasts, yet represents the final world empire under the leadership of a Satanicdictator (Daniel 7:7-8). (Guzik)      Mounce writes: “The beast has always been, and will always be, in a final intensified manifestation, the deification of secular authority”(Mounce).  The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority: (Guzik) This world leaderis really empowered and supported by Satan. Through this man, Satan willexpress his own desire and authority. In this, the beast takes the offerthat Jesus refused (Matthew 4:8-10).i. The beast is not an ordinaryman. He is called thebeast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (Revelation 11:7, 17:8), andordinary men do not come from there. “One who hails from that place must eitherbe a dead man brought up again from the dead, or some evil spirit which takespossession of a living man… In either case, the Beast, as a person, is anextraordinary and supernatural being.” (Joseph Seiss)ii. It may bethat Satan himself takes possession of this man, and this is what makes himexceptional. This was the case with Judas, who was possessed by Satan (John 13:27). (7-10) A Warning to All    (Tim Chester) The threat here is power – the power ofthe state or employer or mob, or the virtual violence of an online mob. Sometimeswe can’t escape this. We don’t try to provoke opposition, but sometimes it’sinevitable. So our response must be patient endurance and faithfulness.(15) The image of the Beastiii. This idolatrous image is what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spokeof as theabomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15,and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).It is an idolatrous image set up in the holy place of a rebuilt temple; it isan abomination in the sense ofbeing supreme idolatry, and it is desolation in the sense thatit will bring the judgment described by the seals, trumpets, and bowls. “The power of the firstbeast called for patient endurance. The propaganda of the second beast callsfor wisdom” (Chester)

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