In Revelation Chapters 12 and 13, we are in the middle of the 7-year, Great Tribulation. In 12, we have a lot of signs which are symbolic of historical events. In 13, we meet the “unholy trinity” — Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. Satan knows that he has only 3.5 more years of reign on the earth so he wants to make the best of it. Jesus, the Lamb of God opens up the Book of Life. The important question is — Is YOUR name in it? Let’s dig in…
Revelation 12 — The Woman and The Dragon
Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.
Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.
Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
knowing that he has little time.”When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.
Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.
Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.
Revelation 12 NLT
The Woman Represents Israel
Sorry, Catholics, but it’s not Mary. Yes, the woman gives birth to a son who is saved from the dragon — Satan — by being taken up into Heaven, but the 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Mary only represents one tribe — Judah. The woman fled into the wilderness and safety for 1260 days — 3.5 years. That’s the peace treaty that the Antichrist makes with Israel.
7 Heads and 10 Horns Represent Power
The dragon — Satan — has a battle with the angels — the stars — in Heaven with Michael and the angles fighting against the dragon. Satan was angry at Israel and declared war against the rest of her children — us, the church and the Messianic Jewish believers. We, through the blood of Jesus, have authority to win every battle against Satan and his demonic powers by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony.
Satan and the Antichrist are angry because they know they have very little time left — 3.5 years.
Revelation 13 — The Lamb’s Book of Life and the Mark of the Beast
Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.
I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”
Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Revelation 13: 1-10 NLT (bold emphasis mine)
The Beast out of the Earth
Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die. (A robot, maybe?)
He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
Revelation 13:11-18
The First Beast — the Antichrist
Satan gives the Antichrist his power. If your name is NOT written in the Lamb’s Book of Life — if you’re not saved — you will be forced to worship the beast — the Antichrist.
He is killed, but comes back to life and is worshiped with the help of a second beast — the false prophet. But, remember, the Antichrist is just a man — not a god.
The Second Beast — the False Prophet
This guy is a spiritual leader who ushers in a one-world religion. He makes the people worship the “substitute savior” — the Antichrist. The current Pope is leaning towards a one-world religion. Moreover, I think there will be one more pope before the end. Hence, Pope Francis, is not this beast. We’re not there yet. However, here we have the unholy trinity — Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. What a team!
What is the Mark of the Beast?
First, the Mark of the Beast or the Antichrist will not happen until the halfway point of the 7-year, Great Tribulation. So, it’s after the Rapture, after the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, etc. Read my last few blog posts or listen to the last few podcasts.
If you’re alive at that time, you’ll have to take the mark otherwise, you will not be able to buy or sell anything. That could be a barcode tatoo or a chip — both of which can be created with current technology. Again, WE’RE NOT THERE YET!
Who is the Antichrist?
He will not be revealed until after the Rapture of the church. But I do think the man is alive right now. He’ll be a political leader. Very charismatic. He’ll come from Europe. He’ll organize the 7-year peace treaty with Israel then break it after 3.5 years. So, as Pastor Greg Laurie puts it,
“If you know who the Antichrist is, you were left behind!”
Greg Laurie
John tells us about the Antichrist in 1 John…
Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
1 John 2:18-22
Yes, many antichrists have appeared: Nero, Hitler, oh, you can name many bad guys in history. But, there will be only one Antichrist in the end times.
The Book of Life
Having your name written in Jesus’ Book of Life is crucial for survival. You can assure yourself now before the Rapture, that your name is in there by praying this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly….
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Jesus said…
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14 NLT
Are you ready?
Soli Deo Gloria — to God Alone be the Glory!
