Read Daniel 7:1-11- Babylonians; Medes/Persians; Greeks, Alexander The Great; Rome.
13:1 Beast- a wild animal, brutal, bestial, savage, ferocious.
This seems to be a different personage than Satan, who was described as a Dragon. (Revelation 12:9)
Seven heads and ten horns- Though this creature is a different creature, it is connected to Satan who also had seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 12:3)
Seven heads- authority
Ten horns- strength, power. Antichrist will initially rule over a ten-nation confederacy. (Daniel 7:24)
Blasphemous name- slander, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name, impious and reproachful speech against the divine majesty. This personage is marked by hatred towards God.
I believe this creature is the one known as The Antichrist.
It is true that he opposes Jesus, but he will introduce himself as a substitute Messiah.
Anti- can mean “opposite of” or “instead of”.
Satan can appear as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Guzik- Other names for the Antichrist-
· The little horn of Daniel 7:8
· The king of fierce countenance of Daniel 8:23
· The Prince that shall come of Daniel 9:26
· The willful king of Daniel 11:36-45
· The one who comes in his own name of John 5:43, whom Israel will receive as a messiah
· The son of perdition, the man of sin, the lawless one of 2 Thessalonians 2:3
I believe that when the Antichrist comes, he will initially be the most charming, intelligent, charismatic, and well-loved ruler of all time, and will be accepted by all except those who are saints.
13:2 This Beast is a composite of the four creatures that Daniel saw in Daniel 7.
It has components of all four creatures and is the fullest outworking of those four kingdoms.
13:3 Antichrist will suffer an apparently deadly head wound, but will survive, & people will follow
This may be the Antichrist’s attempt at mimicking the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
13:4 Revelation 12:9 says that the Dragon is Satan. The Beast receives its authority from Satan.
13:5, 6 The Beast is granted a mouth. His authority will be from Satan.
He will be a blasphemer of God and of all that pertains to God.
Forty-two months- Satan gives the Beast great power, but it will be limited by God.
13:7 The Beast will successfully seek and destroy many Christians upon the earth.
He will temporarily rule over planet Earth.
13:8, 9 This is a prediction and a warning.
slain from the foundation of the world- God’s plan for salvation is eternal. (Ephesians 1:1-14)
the Book of Life of the Lamb- The people saved during this time are known as those whose names are written in the Book of Life. (Revelation 20:15)
13:10 An announcement of the judgment that will come upon those not written in the Book of Life.
13:11, 12 This second person points to the first beast. He is subordinate to the first beast.
He is often called “the false prophet” and is the one who points people to “the Antichrist”.
Some think he will be a worldwide leader of an apostate church.
13:13 The false prophet somewhat emulates the signs done by the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11.
Miracles/wonders are not proof that one is from God. Satan has some degree of power over nature.
Pharaoh’s magicians emulated the sings done by Aaron, Moses’ brother. (Exodus 7-9)
Jesus said that some who worked miracles in His name were false followers and would perish (Matthew 7:22-23).
Jesus said that in the end times, false prophets would show great signs and wonders to deceive (Matthew 24:24).
Paul said that the Antichrist will come with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
13:14 The goal of Satan has always been to rule over creation and be worshipped as God.
This second beast (false prophet) will instruct people to make an image of the Beast.
The first beast is the Antichrist who is a false Jesus.
The second beast is a false prophet and is a false type of John the Baptist.
13:15 This secondary beast animates the image of the first beast, who demands to be worshipped.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
13:16, 17 The Beast (Antichrist) will demand absolute surrender and worship and will seek to enforce that demand by controlling the economy.
Mark- literally, a mark, a stamp, a scratch, an etching, a thing carved. Perhaps a laser tattoo with I.D.
This seems to emulate or copy the mark that God gives His own in Chapter 7.
NOTE- I think it is important to understand that the mark of the Beast is a twofold application.
1. The ability to buy and sell.
2. Showing allegiance and surrender to the Beast.
3. Microchip technology is not taking the mark of the Beast.
4. Receiving a vaccine is not taking the mark of the Beast.
13:18 Biblically, the number of man is 6. Hebrew & Greek assign numbers to letters.
Lessons-The world is heading towards a one world ruler who will initially captivate the masses.
- Satan and his workers can appear as angels of light. Watch out for spiritual imposters.
- Don’t seek after or automatically believe in signs and wonders.
- Satan can do signs and wonders.
- The mark of the beast is about allegiance to Antichrist and having the ability to buy and sell. It is received willingly and with understanding.
- Not necessarily about microchip technology.
- There is a book in heaven called The Book of Life. Is your name written in it?