Text: Revelation 13:1-8.

Sermon text: revelation 13:9-18.

St. John’s vision continued with more wondrous beings and momentous events affecting the planet. In chapter 13, St. John witnessed the appearance of 2 “beasts” who will dominate humanity, even overpowering those remaining on the earth who believed in Jesus as Lord.

As we read chapters 13 through 18, we must remember an important fact of history. Humans have always sought to run their lives according to their own wishes. This includes creating institutions that preclude any accountability to Almighty God, the Creator of the universe. These chapters will display the culmination of humanity’s rebellion against God. How well will people run the earth without recognizing the authority of God?

Following the dragon’s fury at the woman’s escape in chapter 12, St. John saw a “beast rising out of the sea.” This vision points to 2 clues to the identity of Satan’s ultimate servant.

First, references to the sea abound in the Old Testament, and many of them carried the same message for the Hebrews: Avoid the sea. The world was destroyed by the rising seas in Genesis 6; the Red Sea destroyed the Egyptians in Exodus; and who can forget Jonah’s encounter with a sea storm? In the time of the Prophets, the sea came to represent chaos and disorder, primarily as it referred to the Gentiles. The reference to the sea told St. John’s readers that their greatest enemy would arise among the Gentiles.

Secondly, St. John told his readers (including us) that the beast had 10 crowns, 7 heads, and “blasphemous names” on its heads. These references clearly described the Roman Empire. The crowns probably referred to the emperors beginning with Augustus. (It should be noted that, including the 3 short-lived emperors in the Year of the 4 Emperors, Domitian was the 11th true emperor of Rome). The 7 heads reminded everyone of the 7 hills on which the city of Rome rested. The blasphemous names reminded St. John’s readers of the emperors’ claims to divinity. Most Christian persecution in St. John’s time resulted from Christians’ refusal to confess Caesar as Lord.

The beast resembled the worst of the predators of the animal world: the speed of the leopard, the crushing power of the bear, and the haughtiness and ruthlessness of the lion. This ruler would contrast directly with the promise of Jesus’ rule of perfect justice and peace.

Some may read of this beast and wonder, “who in the world would consent to its rule? Why would anyone worship such a creature?” You’ll find the answers in the preceding chapters. Think of what has happened to this point:

At the breaking of the seals, the 4 Horsemen have ridden out to wreak havoc on humanity. By this point, humanity has endured the results of their work for millennia.

Cosmic events rend the universe, bringing fear to the hearts of every observer.

Planetary catastrophes destroy huge swaths of the planet, rendering the water undrinkable and the plants wiped out.

Countless creatures resembling locusts have tormented unbelievers, driving them to wish for death.

Two prophets have prophesied for three and a half years, driving unbelievers into a murderous rage. Only the appearance of this beast will end their ministry.

Lastly, we’ve seen the blowing of the last trumpet in the book. According to St. Paul, the blowing of the last trumpet and appearance of the “son of perdition” will fulfill the requirements for the great gathering he predicted in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15.

Time and again,history proves that societies look for strong leaders in times of distress. Lest we believe that people always seek the best leader, we should remember that the Germans actually voted for Adolph Hitler to rule their nation in 1934. Germany found itself in ruins during the aftermath of World War I and the Great Depression. The German people desperately wanted strong, clear leadership and thought they had found it in Hitler. Given the catastrophes of this book, those remaining after the gathering of believers will look anywhere for someone to rule them and lead them out of the disaster that has fallen.

Furthermore, something will happen to cause people to believe in the beast’s invulnerability. Somehow, this person — I believe we can agree this term describes a political leader — will survive a lethal wound. Yes, I know the term “lethal” implies deadly; however, this person will suffer a wound that would kill anyone else. Yet, he will survive. People will begin to believe this person cannot die.

Of course, we understand that people seek more than political leadership. Everyone seeks deeper answers in times of tribulation, and this time will definitely qualify to be called “tribulation.” The dragon will call another “beast” come to join the political leader. This person will seem very religious; perhaps he will be religious. People like to follow those who seem religious, but we should always remember the difference between religion and righteousness. This second person will duplicate all the miracles of Christ and the Church throughout history, including the 2 prophets of chapter 11: calling down fire, raising people from the dead, and so forth.

You may have heard someone say that the Beast refers to the Roman Catholic Church. History helps us lay this myth to rest. While the Roman Catholic Church may have problems in their theology, the Catholic Church has never, in nearly 2 millennia, taught that a living person is God. I don't foresee any change in this policy. Actually, I'll toss something else at you: What if, during the Rapture the gathering of all believers, God takes so many of the Roman Catholic hierarchy that Satan has free reign of the city? I can see Satan gleefully using a city once considered the capital of the “Church” as his own capital; I think he'd be rather pleased with himself over the irony and think himself quite clever. It's a possibility.

Anyway, between these two leaders, practically everything everyone would want is fulfilled. Strong political leadership; strong religiosity. No one will stand against them and succeed, not even the “saints.”

St. John’s references to the “saints” causes problems. Weren’t believers taken into heaven prior to this? I believe that St. Paul and St. John describe the taking up of all believers before the events of chapter 13. However, we should consider that, if the beast of chapter 11 is the same as the first beast of this chapter, then the first beast may accumulate enough power prior to the gathering to cause active persecution of believers. St. John clearly expected the Church to experience fierce persecution because he told his readers, “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” Why would he call for the saints to endure for no reason?

Furthermore, St. Paul mentioned a time of persecution in his writings. (You’ve probably noticed that God used St. Paul and St. John to tell us what we need to know about the end times.) In 2 Thessalonians 2, St. Paul said the day of the gathering would come after a “falling away” and the revealing of the “son of perdition.” At this point, we’ve seen no mass exodus from the Church. Few things will purge the Church of the “summer soldiers” like intense, fierce, life-threatening persecution. Those who consider church attendance as a social event will quickly disappear when attending brings active opposition.

We should also remember a troubling line from Jesus Himself. In Luke 18:8, Jesus referred to the time of justice. The verse ends, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Jesus Himself expected few to remain faithful when faced with the ferocity of Satan as he takes over the earth.

By the end of chapter 13 of the Revelation, Satan will exercise complete control over humanity. His political control through the first beast will even extend to total financial domination of the world’s economy. His religious control will come through the beast who will lead the world to worship the first beast.

Perhaps some will ask, “Why will God allow this? Why will God allow the adversary to conquer the earth and destroy the Church?” This shouldn’t surprise us. God believes in free will. I know the Scriptures teach much of God’s eternal plan, but for some reason God continues to allow people to make history-changing choices in their lives. Unfortunately, as Albus Dumbledore reminds us in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, “the trouble is, humans do have a knack for choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.” As a race, we have always wanted to do things our way; we have always wanted the power to control our own destiny with no influence from God. And, as C.S. Lewis says in The Great Divorce, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’” I believe Scripture here proves that, at long last, humanity will get its wish; humanity will have its chance to prove it can exist without God.

And given the chance, humanity will, again, choose what is worst for it. Humanity will learn the hard way that the great temptation “to be as God” without the wisdom of God will result in ruin and destruction.

Some believe this chapter refers only to the future. Nothing here applies to our lives; we, of course, rest secure in the fact our faith is firm and persecution happens only overseas.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember that God speaks to His people through every passage of Scripture, including this one.

First, this chapter should remind us that even though our society continues to descend into depravity, God expects His people to resist and remain steadfast. Yes, the world will one day choose to bow to the worst. No, we have no right to sit back and wait for it to happen.

God expects us to resist evil. He expects us to carry the gospel to the world, including to our community, our families, and our friends. Time and again, evil has threatened to overwhelm the earth. Time and again, believers have prayed for deliverance and rejoiced when God answered their prayers. Although the events of this chapter will happen one day, we must continue to work to demonstrate God’s love to the world.

Secondly, in the face of evil, God remains in control of history. When humanity chooses the worst, God will not be surprised. Nor will God allow evil to run amuck over His people. Fierce persecution may purify the Church, but God will step in and intervene by gathering His people before the worst of Satan’s rule afflicts the earth.

This really brings us back to the first point. Do you know someone you want to take with you when we leave? If so, how are you bringing them to salvation, to the point where they are open to the Holy Spirit’s drawing in their lives?

I also see a warning here in this chapter. It’s easy to say, “only unbelievers would behave in such a way.” I’m not so certain about this. Far too many believers seek to live their lives with little or no guidance from God. This tendency to live without God’s leadership will one day bring the world to ruin. When we confess Jesus as Lord of our lives, we declare our allegiance to Him. This declaration of allegiance means He has every right to expect our obedience in life. If you know of some point in your life where God is calling you, obey the call. If you know of something in your life you must surrender to God, surrender.

The world will one day learn the consequences of rebellion and disobedience. Don’t let these consequences happen to you. Confess Jesus as Lord and live your allegiance before others so they, too, will experience the joyful gathering before the ultimate rebellion against God.