“BEAST NUMBER TWO” (REV. 13:11-18)

INTRODUCTION:

1. There is an easy way to remember the contents of Rev. 13.

2. Many think the number 13 is unlucky … a bad number.

3. In Rev. 13 there are some bad creatures.

4. John describes three bad creatures.

A. One is the devil.

B. Another is a beast that comes out of the sea (Rome).

C. The third is a beast that comes from the earth.

I. IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT THESE THREE CREATURES MAY BE VIEWED AS AN UNHOLY TRINITY.

A. These forces were opposing the people in John’s day.

B. We have studied about the devil and the first beast.

C. Tonight our time will be spent on beast #2.

D. Let’s start by reading the text. READ Rev. 13:11-18.

E. If we compare the earth beast to the sea beast, we learn several things.

F. The sea beast (V. 1) appeared as a vicious creature:

(1) It had horns with the names of blasphemy.

(2) It was like a leopard, had feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion.

(3) The danger of this beast was clear to all.

G. This second beast does not look nearly as mean.

(1) Beast #2 was certainly evil (11B – spoke as a dragon).

(2) However, this evil was disguised – “as a lamb.” (11B)

(3) John provides us with a key to understand what he wrote.

H. The word “lamb” is a figure; a symbol … it is a code.

(1) This symbol should be clear to students of the NT.

(2) A “lamb” is a symbol of religion.

(3) Lambs were used for sacrifices during the OT times.

(4) Jesus was described as a lamb.

I. The second beast is religious but its nature is satanic.

J. Some may have the idea that the devil has no interest in religion.

K. Rev. 13 affirms this idea is false.

L. The devil will use religion if it furthers his purposes.

M. In John’s day religion was being used by the devil.

N. This conclusion is reinforced in the remaining verses of Rev. 13.

O. Look at verse 12 one more time with me. READ.

(1) Beast #2 motivated people to worship the sea beast.

(2) The sea beast has been identified as Rome and her emperors.

(3) How did the earth beast cause people to worship emperors?

(4) John’s readers would have immediately known what was meant.

(5) The Roman Empire had a body of priests.

(6) These priests prompted and enforced emperor worship.

P. These priests (earth beast) not only had help from the empire, Satan offered power.

Q. Remember that in John’s day miracles were being performed.

R. Some Christians had the ability to cast out demons. It also seems that Satan had some power.

S. Satan’s power is referred to in verses 13-14. READ.

(1) Some believe these signs were false. They believe Satan’s helpers used ventriloquism … trickery.

(2) This is a possibility. It is also possible that Satan gave power to these 2 beasts.

(3) A ventriloquist does not need demonic power.

T. No matter what is believed about these signs, one of Satan’s goals was for the people to “make an

image”.

(1) This is an interesting piece of information.

(2) Satan saw value in idolatry … in a false religion.

(3) Satan was willing to let people be religious.

(4) He didn’t mind that people had a spiritual life.

(5) In fact, Rev. 13 shows that Satan was promoting religion.

(6) He wanted people to have a faith. He wanted men and women to have a spiritual life.

(7) Someone may be thinking, “This is odd. Why would the devil do this?”

(8) Why would the devil promote worship? Consider this for an answer.

(9) The devil is very aware of how human beings operate.

(10) He surely knows within man there is a need for religion.

(11) Instead of trying to destroy this inborn need for faith, the devil takes this need and offers a

false system to meet man’s need.

(12) This is one more example of how shrewd Satan is.

U. Satan may use this same trick in our day and time.

V. He may help people find a religious system that is different from God’s way.

W. Satan encouraged the people in John’s day to worship.

II. IT MIGHT SOUND STRANGE TO SAY THAT THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO WORSHIP (CHURCH). THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT JOHN SAYS IN THIS CHAPTER.

A. Let’s go back to the start of this chapter one more time.

B. John mentions the beast from the sea. (1B)

C. In 2B John said … READ.

D. The devil empowered the first beast; the devil helped Rome.

E. What did this help lead to? What was the result?

F. Look at verses 3B-4 – READ.

G. The devil gave Rome the tools so it (emperors) could be worshipped.

H. With the first beast is the idea of force.

I. Look at how the first beast is described – the words leopard, bear and lion indicate power.

J. Rome tried to compel (force) people to worship the emperors.

K. Not everyone submits to others because of force.

L. Some are better convinced by persuasion … a softer touch.

M. The devil is wise. He also used a second beast.

N. A group of priests (religious men) promoted erroneous worship.

O. If people would not worship as the devil wanted through force, false signs (miracles –

verses 13-14) would be used to deceive people.

P. What if deception and force would not convince people?

(1) There were Christians who would withstand the threats.

(2) Christians could have seen through the demonic deception.

(3) What happened to those who refused to worship as the devil wanted?

(4) Look at verse 15. READ.

(5) If the devil could not get his way, his helpers then took the third option – kill those who refused.

Q. At times we may think being a Christian is hard; the sacrifices we make are mighty; we give up a great deal to walk with the Lord.

R. Before we draw these conclusions it is best to study the book of Revelation;

(1) If we want to know what extreme suffering is,

(2) If we want to understand what a rigorous life is like,

(3) If we want to know the meaning of persecution; opposition; pain; grief; hurt and abuse, this book tells us.

(4) These brethren were pounded and pounded and pounded.

(5) After perhaps years of brutal assaults many were killed.

(6) The deaths were usually not swift and painless.

III. THE PERSECUTION THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IS INCOMPLETE UNLESS WE LOOK AT THE REMAINING VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER.

A. John refers to a “mark” in verse 16.

B. Contrary to what many believe this is not a computer chip.

C. John was not looking forward to our day or to our future.

D. What is written in this chapter has already taken place.

E. In John’s day there was a mark.

F. In a moment more will be said about this.

G. For now, let’s examine the purpose of this mark. Verse 17 – READ.

H. When I read this verse I am reminded of the Air Force.

(1) On most military bases where I served there was a grocery store.

(2) Before entering this store service members had to show their ID card.

(3) There was no exception to this.

(4) I could not enter the store without showing the card.

(5) Not a single grocery item could be purchased without my ID card.

(6) This was true for every other service member.

(7) Servicemen could beg; plead; scream; complain – no exceptions were made.

(8) No card – no admittance.

I. Imagine a culture where everyone had an ID card.

(1) Anything you did required this card.

(2) Do you want gas for your car? Show the card.

(3) Do you want to buy pop? Groceries? Dog Food? Show your ID card.

(4) Do you need to buy parts for your car? Do you need to have a mechanic fix your car?

You must first show your card.

(5) Do you want to apply for a new job?

(6) Do you want to rent an apartment? Buy a house?

(7) Buy a book? Buy dirt, gravel, or sand?

(8) Do you want to enroll your child in school? Show the card.

J. Imagine living in a society where every transaction requires a card.

(1) Without the card life would be nearly impossible.

(2) Rome had come up with a “mark”.

(3) I am not persuaded that this was a literal mark but now is a computer chip.

(4) If people worshipped as the devil wanted;

(5) If people would acknowledge the emperors were God;

(6) These obedient souls would receive the mark.

K. With this mark (document), people could buy and sell. (V. 16-17)

L. Without this mark, people could not buy or sell. (V. 17)

M. I again say if we think times are tough for us;

and the next time we think that life is really rotten;

when we are discouraged and even depressed – read the book of Revelation.

N. These people lived under conditions we can only begin to understand.

(1) Because these people refused to follow the devil, they did not have the mark.

(2) Without this mark every day of life was an uphill battle.

O. If you have looked carefully at this chapter you have noticed V. 18.

P. Here John uses that dreaded “666” number.

Q. Men throughout the ages have puzzled over this figure.

R. Who does it mean?

(1) At a recent preacher’s meeting I saw a new explanation for this number.

(2) Someone took it and showed on paper that it can be translated as “Barney the Dinosaur.”

(3) This is no joke. This was really done.

(4) Before identifying this figure with Barney, recent presidents have been referred to as the “666 man”.

(5) Adolf Hitler was labeled as being this person.

(6) Domitian (a Roman emperor) and the pope have also been accused of being this person.

S. If I was asked about all of the explanations that have been given, I would respond that none of

them seem to be adequate.

(1) Recall what I said about remembering the contents of Rev. 13.

(2) The number 13 is considered by many to be an unlucky number.

(3) In Rev. 13 there are three bad forces.

(4) The number “666” may summarize these evil sources.

S. Think of the matter in this way:

(1) The number 7 is the number of perfection.

(2) Six falls short of that.

(3) The number six often appears in an unfavorable way.

(a) The serpent was created on day six.

(b) Cain’s family was numbered through six generations.

(c) The flood on evil men came in Noah’s 600th year.

(d) At the crucifixion, darkness came at the sixth hour.

(e) Goliath was 6 cubits tall; had 6 pieces of armor; his spear weighed 600 shekels.

(f) Nebuchadnezzar built an image that was 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits wide.

(g) In Rev. 12 Satan is described by six titles.

(4) If the number six is often used in a negative (evil) way, the repetition of this number

intensifies the meaning.

(5) If we use the word “holy” to describe God … “holy, holy, holy” is more intense.

(6) One six would have been strong; two sixes would have been stronger; three sixes (and three sources of evil) seem to make this point: Evil to the nth degree. Evil in its most powerful form.

(7) This is what those in John’s day had to face.

T. This explanation of the number 666 is appealing for several reasons.

(1) One of these reasons is in Verse 18.

(2) John said that the number 666 is that of “a man”.

(3) The KJV does not have “the man” (a specific man).

(4) The ASV also does not have the definite article.

(5) The Greek text does not have the definite article.

(6) We would expect if a specific person were in God’s mind, the definite article would have been used. It is conspicuously absent.

CONCLUSION:

1. If I had been a preacher under the conditions described in Rev. 13, I could have understood why

people would have said no to Christianity; I could have understood why some turned their back on

Christ.

2. The pressure upon these people was intense.

3. In looking at this history and our present condition, I cannot understand why anyone who is currently

living in America could say no to Christianity or turn away from the Lord.

4. Anyone who understands what these brethren faced must conclude that our problems begin to pale in

comparison.

5. The cost we pay for Christianity, compared to these people, is very low.

6. Christianity is so important that these people endured what has been described.

7. Nothing in the world but Christianity is worth the price that they paid.

8. These people knew that nothing mattered if they were not in a right relationship with God.

9. Long ago a wise man said that man’s duty is to fear God and keep His commandments.

10. If this choice is one that you have yet to make, we pray that you will do so tonight.