*Below is Pastor Andrew’s teaching outline from Sunday evening’s church history study, not a word for word manuscript. This is meant as aid in seeing the thought and direction of the lesson.
Rev 12-The casting out of the Dragon & his defeat in Heaven (Taking place at Christs death & resurrection)
New cycle of seven
Chapter 12 concludes by transitioning directly into the events of 13
Revelation 12:18 ESV
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
(Not al your texts list verse 18)
Counterfeit Authority (1-3)
Revelation 13:1–3 ESV
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
The Beast is an instrument of the Dragon
-Composite of the beast found in Dan 7
Dan 7
-The kingdoms of the world who ow their power loyalty to the Prince of the power of the air
-Each Kingdom is seen as subservient to the beast whom they believe to be their source
The Beasts Authority is great yet Illusionary
-The Dragon bestows on Him all His authority (which was stripped of him in chapter 12. The authority he has is purely that which God has allowed.
The Beast sets Himself up as a counterfeit Savior
-His head is truly crushed though (Gen 3)
-His appearance is that of the Christ His description here similar to chapter 5
Slain but Risen: 5:6 (13:3)
Revelation 5:6 ESV
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Horns 5:6 (13:1)
Authority 5:9 (13:7)
Revelation 5:9 ESV
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
Worship 5:8-14 (13:4,8)
Revelation 5:8–14 ESV
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
-Whether Man or and Individual ruler the point is that it is from the beast that people believe thy will find their salvation
Counterfeit Worship (4-8)
Revelation 13:4–8 ESV
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Praise Arise from apparent Power & Dominion ( different from Christ)
Blasphemes God & is Adored
-Sets Himself up as God
-His rule is limited
Uses the Sword not for justice but for Vengeance on God’s Elect
-This authority though is seen as temporary & Not His own
-He is doing what the Lord has ordained (This is still a retelling of the events we have seen played out before, persecution come son the church.)
Misuse of God’s Gift
Romans 13:1–7 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Those apart form Christ will Worship with Joy. (those who dwell on the earth)
-Those who are Christ will not fall
-The lure of the world will harden their hearts to the truth of Christ
-They willingly persecute the church (Christ willingly preserves His own)
Authentic faith Perseveres (9-10)
Revelation 13:9–10 ESV
If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
-Those who have ears let them hear (Words of Christ to the seven churches & in his parables)
Jeremiah 15:2 ESV
And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “ ‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are for the sword, to the sword; those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’
Jeremiah 43:11 ESV
He shall come and strike the land of Egypt, giving over to the pestilence those who are doomed to the pestilence, to captivity those who are doomed to captivity, and to the sword those who are doomed to the sword.
Those destined for destruction will meet their end. God is in control over all that transpires. He will avenge and He will redeem.
Trust must be in Christ through the pain
