THE SATANIC
TRINITY
The Final Conflict in Revelation 13 - The message of Rev.
13 deals with the great effort of Satan to counterfeit the Holy Trinity and
thus deceive the peoples of earth.
THE FALSE GOD—SATAN - (REV. 13:1)
It is not John who stands upon the sand of the sea, but the dragon.
What he sees not only interests him, but also provides for him the opportunity
for which he is looking. He is a dragon, a great fiery monster, and brilliant,
attractive, formidable (Ezek. 28:12).
He is that old serpent who introduced all the sin, and sorrow, and suffering
into this world. He is a devil, a slanderer, and an accuser of the brethren
through the centuries. As Satan, he opposes and is also the adversary of the
Lord and His people. By his serpentine methods he has filled the role of
deceiver of the nations, for he is a liar from the beginning and the father of
the lie (John 8:44). He sees the sea
of the nations in agitation, restless, troubled, in confusion, and disorder (Luke 21:25-26; Rev. 17:15). The
difficulties and perplexities of the nation’s attract him, and shortly provide
him with his great opportunity.
THE FALSE CHRIST—ANTICHRIST - (REV.
13:1-10)
Let us consider the origination,
description, concentration, and organization of this first beast.
His origination is out of the sea of the nations, and he is therefore
a man. He is some great personality who finally emerges from the milling masses
of people. In the desperation and perplexity of the nations, this man appears
on the horizon as the one who is able to solve the problems of humanity and
lead them cut of confusion and chaos into order, system, and happiness. But
while he is a man with great ability, he is one who has some real relationship
to the abyss. Twice it is affirmed that he comes out of the abyss (Rev. 11:7; 17:8). This must mean that
he is so much in league with Satan that he is finally indwelt by an evil spirit
from the pit and supernaturally energized for his task.
The description of this beast is most
significant. In character he is like a wild beast (cf. Rev. 6:8 for meaning of this word). Though he may appear to be the
very fullness of perfection as men see him, God knows that nature within. It
has a wild, untamed, rebellious nature. He is expressly called a man and
treated as such in other Scriptures. He is also described as a king (Rev. 17:10-11). But in addition to
these he is a kingdom. There is no better symbol of a kingdom than the king.
The
concentration of all preceding empires is in this beast. This beast sums up in
his kingdom all the brilliance of Greece, all the tremendousness of
Medo-Persia, and all the autocratic power of Babylon. Such is the revived Roman
Empire of the end time.
The
organization of an empire for the beast is unseen and spiritual. Satan has
everything arranged for the coming of this mighty man. The dragon gives to this
superman his own power, such power as will produce results. The coming of
Antichrist is after the working of Satan (2
Thess. 2:9). He also gives to him his throne or position. A throne is
always the symbol of position and power. Satan's throne has been over the
nations (Luke 4:5-8). The Devil
offered this to Christ, but He rejected it. This man will receive it. Satan
also gives to him authority which is great.
The wounding of one of the heads of this
beast is the first matter of importance. The object of this wound is the
seventh head. This kingdom has seven heads, which are seven mountains which in
turn stand for seven kings. Five of these kings are fallen, one is now reigning
as John writes, and the seventh king has not yet arrived. It is this last king
and kingdom that is wounded. This king dies, comes to life again, and thus
becomes the eighth king (Rev. 17:10-11).
The nature of
this wound is marked by the words "as
it were wounded." These words imply the exercise of violence. Without
a doubt this is the permitted imitation of the crucifixion of Christ in order
that this man may in every way possible become the great counterfeit of Christ—the
Antichrist.
No one doubts that Christ experienced
death as a result of His death wound. Why should there be any hesitation here
when the same words are used of the wound, and then it is added that it was
unto death? This attracts such worldwide attention that if it is not a wound
which produced death, it is so cleverly executed that everyone thinks the
Antichrist died and rose from the grave.
There is no
doubt that God permits this in order that men who have rejected the true Christ
may believe the heresy (2 Thess. 2:11).
For the first
time, a world that has denied the possibility of resurrection and the fact of
resurrection in Christ, now awakens to the fact that here is one who has
conquered death. In amazement this world believes the lie, the counterfeit and
men join themselves to the Antichrist as the invincible warlord, and give
worship to Satan and Antichrist that only God deserves.
Armies and war are turned loose against
the saints in the earth, and this lasts for the remaining period of three and
one-half years of The Tribulation. This dominion is well-nigh universal.
Perhaps by this time the other three powers—the northern, eastern, and
southern—are subjugated. The effect of his dominion is universal worship. By
miraculous works and marvelous deeds he attracts the worship of millions, and
by compulsion he gains the worship of many other millions.
THE FALSE SPIRIT, THE FALSE PROPHET - (Rev.
13:11-17)
The person described here as the second
beast has a relationship to the first beast that simulates the relation of the
Holy Spirit to Christ. This person is described as a wild beast. The two horns
like a lamb suggest religious power. But he speaks like a dragon. Since this
does not have to do with appearance, it must refer to his message. With all the
religious subtlety of the serpent through the centuries, this beast propagates
a message of religious delusion (2 Cor.
4:4; 11:13-15). This beast is the counselor and prime minister for
Antichrist. His purpose is to turn all devotion and worship toward Antichrist.
And he has force at his command to compel devotion to the first beast.
The power of
this second beast to compel obedience to his commands is tremendous. With the
wealth of the world concentrated in his hands, he is able to perform feats that
would otherwise be impossible.
Because he has a commercial monopoly on
the wealth of the world, the false prophet is able to compel all men to bow the
knee to his demands. If they want to live, they must receive the mark, bear the
name, or the number of the first beast. Extreme need drives men into the camp
of the Antichrist. Only those who love not their lives unto death because they
have the mark of Christ upon them in salvation will resist this tyranny of the
end time. Since Christ is all the fullness of God incarnate in human flesh, it
is to be expected that Satan will produce a counterfeit.
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