Revelation 13--A Beast, Dragon or an Ordinary Person

When you look at Revelation 13, you begin to ask questions. Does the beast look like a dragon, or is he an ordinary person? Does he really come out of the sea, or is he found among humanity? This article attempts to answer your questions concerning him.

The Seashore

The Dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. In thinking about the word "seashore", is this beside a real sea, or could it be metaphorically speaking that he stands in the multitudes of peoples? 

Sometimes the word "sea" in the Bible can indicate people or society rather than a body of water. However and when possible, the Roman army loved to come out of the sea from boats. Maybe John sees the dragon on a real seashore and the beast literally coming out of the sea. Just a thought—don’t know for sure.

Another possibility for sea, the Jews believed the dragon to be Leviathan who lived in the sea. Isaiah 27:1, “In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.”

The Dragon

Who is the dragon?  Revelation 12:9 tells you that the dragon is Satan. In the previous chapter Revelation 12:3, “Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.”

Then in verse 9 of chapter 12, the dragon is identified, “And the great dragon was thrown                  down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan. . .”

 “The Dragon” is mentioned 13 times in Revelation alone. Here, the dragon has been thrown out of heaven. Some believe that he never was in heaven that a just God couldn’t allow him to be there

However, how can he be kicked out during the middle of the tribulation period if he were                never there? Therefore, the dragon is none other than Satan.

What is Satan’s Role Today

                He rules our world system

                He isn’t a god; therefore, he has no God characteristics

                He can only imitate the real God

                Therefore, throughout this chapter we see him trying to duplicate the Holy Trinity.

                Don’t you think it would be great if the dragon came into yours and my life looking like

                                a dragon or beast?

                However, here in John’s version, Satan stands on the seashore described as a dragon

The Beast from the Sea

Out of the sea, or from among the peoples, Satan brings a representative of himself.

                The beast has:

                                10 horns             

                                  7 heads 10 horns and 7 heads appear to be its several powers

                                10 diadems—crowns represent it’s power  v 4 they worship the dragon

                                                because he gives his authority to the beast (Matthew 4:9)

                                Blasphemous names written on his heads oppose the glory of God by

                                                promoting idolatry—the people will worship the dragon and the beast

                                                voluntarily at first later, everyone will be forced to worship him

 One of his heads receives a fatal wound (death). However, he recovers somehow, miraculously. This recovery or resurrection imitates the resurrection of Jesus. 

Satan can only lie and mock what God does. Jesus says that Satan was a liar from the beginning.      However, this resurrected person cannot give life as our resurrected Lord can.

John Describes the Beast

Think about this. If the beast looks like an ogre, would they follow him? Could it be that the beast looks like a regular man? I wish Satan came in a red suit with a pitchfork in his hand and a long pointed tail. However, he doesn’t look like a beast, does he? He only acts like one! he comes in our thoughts. 

You're sitting in church and instead of listening to the sermon, you think, “If this guy (the preacher) doesn’t hurry, I’m going to starve to death the chicken will get cold, all the chicken will be gone off the buffet down at XYZ Restaurant.

You see, he doesn’t want you to listen to the word on Sunday. It’s ok for you to come to church, but the message isn’t for you. It’s for sister or brother so and so! The same happens here. 

John describes the beast as a leopard, a bear and a lion.

However, Daniel describes this beast in 7:1-8, “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw in a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.

Daniel's Report

Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts were coming up

from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion (Babylon and Belshazzar) and         had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from

the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. And

behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear (Medo-Persia and Cyrus). And it was

raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to             it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard,

(Greece and Alexander the Great)  which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, (Alexander’s 4 generals)  and dominion was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, (Rome and Caesar Augustus) dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and  trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.” (words in parenthesis are the author's).

Daniel’s beast had ten horns, but three were destroyed leaving 7. That’s how our beast appeared to John, it had 7 horns, amazing after all those years had passed since Daniel had his vision, John has nearly the same vision!

One Government--One Church

I think John's description of these beasts depicts the ability of the beast to move and conquer.            Before this chapter is over, he will rule the world. Further, he will rule over a one world church.

I believe that having only one church denomination would create universal power for the leader of a one world church. Also, I would point out that although the beasts are pictured in reverse in Revelation as compared to Daniel, I believe there is an explanation for this reversal, also. John saw them after their time in history. Daniel saw them prior to their historical appearance. John looks backwards in history while Daniel looks forward in history.

Besides, notice that Daniel’s beasts are men in history. Why, then, wouldn’t John’s beast be a man in history?

A Great Praise and Worship

When the people see his miraculous recovery from apparent death, they praise him and worship him and the dragon.

Notice that no one makes them worship these two impostors. The people praise (they say, who is like the beast, and who can make war with him) the dragon of their own free will.

Because of this miracle and the beast’s ability to speak well, he is given authority over the whole world. Notice however. God is in Control! Even though the beast or the antichrist rules the world, God still controls everything.

The antichrist’s power is limited to 42 months, 1260 days by the Jewish calendar or 3-1/2 years. He can’t harm the remnant of Jews chapter 12 whom God hides in the wilderness.

                His end is predictable—i.e. 42 months

                He can’t touch the 144000 Jewish evangelists of chapter 7, either

He Captures the World

                He was given authority from Satan

                He overcomes the saints, most likely kills them

                He captures the whole world, every tribe and people and tongue and nation

                All who dwell on earth will worship him   one church   one denomination

However, All  Is Not Lost

                Remember, God is in control

                The new kingdom lasts only 42 months

                Then the end comes quickly for the Satanic ruler

               

At This Point

The beast or antichrist comes on the scene in an unconventional way. He makes war and rules the world in an unconventional way--most likely through economics. Many follow him because of his miracle of returning to life.
He comes from humanity; therefore, he may be human rather than a spirit supplied by Satan. His reign will be short lived, 42 months. Yet for the Jews and the believers, three-and-one-half years will seem an eternity.
Bear in mind that God is in control. He will overcome!
If you have questions or comments, I'm here to help. Leave any communication in the comment section.

Blessings,

Howard

PS: A complete study on your freedom through rest can be had from B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us for your free copy.

PSS: Our first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, has been published. The novel is fiction about a little known Biblical character who meets Jesus. Check it out here. Or you can email us for your copy.

Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

 

Explained: The Healing at Bethesda--the Pool

The healing at the pool called Bethesda is located on the northeast corner of Jerusalem just inside the Sheep Gate. The temple was located near the same area. Jesus would have used this gate often on his way to teach in the temple courtyard.

House of Mercy

Chapter 5 of John begins, "After these things there was a feast. . .". You have no time-frame for the phrase, “after these things.” Neither can you know which feast is being talked about here. However, many agree it was the Passover. However, John doesn't identify which feast. Nonetheless, you do know that Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to attend a feast. 

Bethesda in Aramaic means “house of mercy.” You can see that the name is appropriate since the people who lay by the pool were afflicted physically and needing a miracle. However, to most, the house wasn't too merciful. The blind, lame and paralytic lay beside the pool waiting for an angel to stir the water—legend had it that the first in after the waters were stirred would be healed. 

Searching for a Miracle

Notice that the ones who lay beside the pool all hoped for a miracle and believed in the miraculous. Also you might suggest that each one secretly in his/her own heart wanted to be first and receive the blessing of a healed body. 

Talk about competition! Can’t you imagine the pushing and shoving that took place whenever the waters were stirred or “moved?” 

I would point out that from the last part of verse 3, “waiting for the moving of the waters; “ and all of verse 4 are surrounded by brackets in the NASB that I use with permission. This means that these words were not found in the earliest manuscripts. However, verse 7 is in all the earliest manuscripts, which gives credence to verse 4. If your Bible has a verse 4, just know that the translators took advantage of context and added it. 

John Alone Records This Miracle

John’s account of this portion of Biblical history tells you that among those at the pool was a man who was ill for thirty-eight years. We know the man is mostly paralyzed; therefore, he is unable to get into the pool quickly when the waters are stirred. 

Jesus knew the man had been in this condition for a long time, but does not put a number to his knowing. The above verse says he had been there 38 years. Apparently John asks the man or a relative how long he has been in this condition. Whenever someone is in the same state for 38 years with no hope of getting better, he might simply accept his plight and become content to remain that way. 

I’ve known alcoholics and drug abusers who had been in their state of illness for so many years they didn’t want to get well. These abusers of chemicals saw no hope of ever getting rid of their illness. 

Do You Want to Get Better

So Jesus gets right to the point. Do you want to quit. Some people like their mistakes, miseries and bad memories so much they do not want to give them up. Jesus will ask you if you want to get better. 

Jesus wants to know if this man, like many in our churches today, is just sitting on a pew taking up space or sucking oxygen, or does he wish to get into the game. So he asks him if he wants to get well. 

Often, the realities of your past will dictate your view of your present and future. However, Jesus shows you by this example from scripture that your present and future does not need to be controlled by the realities of your past. 

Other Miracles Occur

Several miracles had to take place for the man to walk. First, the healing took place. Aside from the miracle of healing that took place here, you can see evidence of other miracles that had to take place, too. The man had to believe or else he wouldn’t even try. Since he hadn’t walked in 38 years, he would have to learn to walk all over again without a miracle taking place. However, he could walk immediately. Then, he carried his bed on the Sabbath. This was totally against Jewish tradition. 

So you see much more than the miracle of healing took place when Jesus commanded the man to take his bed and walk. This is a good example of why you do whatever Jesus asks of you. Sometimes what he asks seems impossible, There is much more than the simple request hanging in the balances. 

You now know John’s reasoning for mentioning it was a Sabbath. No work could be done on a Sabbath. Even healing could not take place on a Sabbath according to Jewish traditions. However, Jesus didn’t follow man-made traditions. 

You are breaking rule number 1 by working on a Sabbath. You can’t do that.” Watch how the man answers them! 

Are Churches Interested in Tradition Rather Than People

Does it seem to you that churches and believers are more interested in stuff than with the value God places on a human being? The religious folk were more interested in the fact that he was carrying stuff, a bed, on the Sabbath than they were in the fact that he had been healed and could walk.

A great miracle had taken place and all the religious folk could see was someone breaking one of their own rules—not God’s. Many people today are more interested in the rules of their organization than souls saved. 

H. R. Ministries, Inc. located in Princeton, Kentucky, at the Job Corps in Sturgis, Kentucky were getting young people saved, baptizing them and sending them to other churches. The other churches began to complain because these young men and women hadn’t been baptized in their church; therefore, they weren’t baptized and had to be dunked again.

For some of these young believers, the second baptism was just too much. They simply dropped out of church altogether. 

Finger Pointing

The man who has been healed would tell on Jesus. He told them that a man told him to take up his pallet and walk. Now, they want to know who did this terrible deed. 

However, the man can’t truly rat out Jesus because he doesn’t know the name of the man who healed him. Do you find this amazing that a man is healed after 38 years, is now walking and he doesn’t know who healed him or preformed the miracle 

After the Pharisees and onlookers have questioned him, Jesus finds the healed man in the temple. He tells the man to straighten up or something worse can happen. 

Since he was carrying his pallet and had been healed on a Sabbath, the Jewish leaders use these two things to try to arrest Jesus for breaking one of their man-made laws. No one could do work on the Sabbath, and they considered healing on the Sabbath work. Their traditional religion dictated that no work could be done on the Sabbath. However, the overriding code of love is what Jesus followed, c.f. Leviticus 19:18. Is there anyone who wouldn’t love himself enough to heal himself on a Sabbath? 

Does God Work on the Sabbath

Jesus tells the religious leaders that God works on the Sabbath to do good, and I work to do good on the Sabbath. Maybe you should take a lesson. Now the Jewish leaders can add another charge to Jesus. He claims to be equal with God. They recognize his claim here to be more than merely human. He claims to be God and equal to God. 


The House of Mercy certainly became that to the man in John's scripture. The man had to fight through some traditions, and he partially blamed the one who healed him. He didn't want to get in trouble with the religious leaders.
We also see that a couple other miracles and some prejudices had to be overcome as well. Our church traditions can keep people out of church and out of the Kingdom. Don't allow traditions to cloud your beliefs.
I'm here to help. If you have questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section.

Blessings,

Howard

PS: A complete study on your freedom through rest can be had from B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us if you'd like a free copy.

PSS: Our first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, has been published. The novel is fiction about a little known Biblical character who meets Jesus. Check it out here. Or you can email us for your copy.

Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

Why Should I Become a Disciple of Jesus

I know I should but sometimes I wait 

There are even times I might hesitate 

Yet for all my sins I come to know 

Jesus comes with me wherever I go 

There's a major difference in being a disciple of Jesus than a believer in him. You can believe in Jesus without being devoted to him as his disciple. 

Because Jesus Values Servant hood 

From the Old Testament you learn the exact term, servant hood. Look at what the Bible says about the subject: 

When a fellow Hebrew falls on hard times, he may go to a brother and ask the brother to pay his debt. If the brother agrees, then the follow Hebrew shall become a servant to his brother. He shall serve his brother as a slave for the remainder of the seven years. 

At the end of every seven years, all Hebrew servants are allowed to go free, and his brother to whom he has worked for the past years shall give to him generously. The gift will help the Hebrew servant get a new start. 

Remember that Jacob worked seven years for Leah and seven years for Rachael. Afterwards, he went out a rich man. God blessed him with an abundance (Genesis 29 – 31). 

At the end of the next seven-year cycle, the Hebrew servant can leave his master’s house. However, if the Hebrew servant decides he would rather live with his master rather than go free, he will tell his master. 

The master will take him to the tent of meeting, pierce his ear with an awl, and the Hebrew brother will become an indentured servant for life (Exodus 21:2-6). 

For you to become an indentured servant for life to Jesus, you must, as with the Hebrew brother above, tell Jesus that you want to become His servant for life. 

In essence you allow your ear to be spiritually pierced. You tear your heart not your garments. You voluntarily join Jesus’ followers as a slave. I know, the idea of servant hood goes against everything you have been taught as an American. 

Understand, Jesus’ kingdom can never be a democracy. He wants to be your King. However, he will only become your King if you volunteer to become His servant! 

Jesus is a gentleman. He will never force His ways and ministerial ideas on you. You agree to allow Him to work through your giftedness and personality while you rest. 

There is food and more as a servant in God’s house. All you need do is fall before Jesus and say, “I’m yours! Can I yoke up with you?” He will take you to levels of maturity you can never on your own achieve! 

Spiritual servant hood works nearly the same as did the physical servant hood described above from Exodus. Having a despot as a ruler makes really good sense. Especially when the despot if Jesus. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, Jesus directs every aspect of your life, but only after you give him permission. 

It takes your permission to allow Jesus to rule. Remember the scripture from Revelation 3”10, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. . .” Jesus knocks. He wants more than anything to direct your life. However, will you open the door? He only enters at your request. 

You choose! Do you give him free reign, or do you continue to direct your own life? How has directing your life worked for you so far? Most of us screw up our lives whenever we decide to run them by ourselves. 

The author attempted to do ministry on his own. His attitude was, “Hide in the bushes and watch. I can do this well on my own.” 

When his ministry went nowhere, the author finally said, That’s it. I quit. I told you up front that I couldn’t do this.”  

The Holy Spirit said, “Good! Now we can get somewhere.” 

In order for you to become a servant of Jesus, you must surrender to Him. He wants full custody not simply weekend visits. So, give in and allow Him to run your life. You’ll experience the greatest peace of all. 

Out of Hell into Heaven 

When you really consider your initial relationship with Jesus, you joined because you needed fire insurance. You wanted to be out of hell and into heaven. 

After you have been going to church for a bit, someone may ask you to do some service job, I.e. serve on a committee, host a small group, join a small group, be on a committee or some other task that makes a church run. 

Through these positions you begin to find areas of ministry that you like and are proficient at handling. Some church tasks align with your giftedness and personality. You are learning what your gift(s) is.  

It is possible to move into a gifted area without realizing you have the gift. The Holy Spirit begins using you. Often, He places you into areas of ministry that you like. You know, “This is the place I want to be!” 

At this point you begin to think, I enjoy this ministry! The ministry is why I’m here. This is more important than out of hell into heaven. 

• Working in your gifted area 
• Using your gifts and talents 
• Loving your ministry 
• Maturing in faith 
• Learning the truth in His word 

• Blessings upon blessings 
• A sense of need 
• Knowing rather than thinking 
• Faith and trust 
• 
  
• 
  
• All these spiritual life elements add to your abundant life in Jesus. When you allow the Holy  Spirit to lead, you become yoked to Jesus. Allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your ministry brings fulfillment, joy and peace. 

You know you are in the right place!
All these spiritual life elements add to your abundant life in Jesus. When you allow the Holy Spirit to lead, you become yoked to Jesus. Allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your ministry brings fulfillment, joy and peace. 

You know you are in the right place!

Blessings,

Howard

PS: A complete study on your freedom through rest can be had from B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us if you'd like a free copy.

PSS: Our first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, has been published. The novel is fiction about a little known Biblical character who meets Jesus. Check it out here. Or you can email us for your copy.

Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.