THE FALSE CHRIST: THE 1st BEAST - THE ANTiCHRIST

The False Christ: the First Beast, the Antichrist vs. lb-10

"....and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." "If any man have an ear, let him hear." "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." 

 

 

The Person of the False Christ vs. lb-2

"and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

The Origination of the Beast

• He comes from out of the sea of the nations and is therefore a man. (lb with 18) cf. 17:1, 15.
• He comes out of the Abyss and is therefore an evil spirit energizing the man (11:7; 17:8).
• His rise into prominence is gradual and progressive. Present tense of verb "rise up."

The Description of the Beast

• In character this person is a wild beast. The first use of the word "therion" in 6:8 indicates that it means a beast of prey
• In dimension this beast is both a man and a kingdom

Man: cf. 13:18 "The number of a man." This is "the man of sin" spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:3-4. cf. Rev. 19:19-20, "The best and the kings of the earth . . . cast alive into a like of fire."

King: cf. 17:10-11 "and the beast . . . he is the eighth." Dan. 8:9, 23, "A little horn which waxed exceed­ing great" (9). "A king of fierce countenance . . . shall stand up" (23).

Kingdom: cf. Dan. 7:7, 17, 23: This is the Revived Roman Empire. "Seven heads and ten horns" - kingdom and kings. "These great beasts are four kings" (17). "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom" (23).

Notes:

1. Double symbolism in Daniel. A beast is a symbol of a kingdom and a king (Dan. 7:17, 23) and the horn is a symbol of a king (Dan. 8:9, 23).
2. This same symbolism obtains in the Revela­tion. Rev. 17:9-11,16 (ASV). Rev. 17:3 "Beast has seven heads and ten horns." Rev. 17:12 "Ten horns are ten kings." Rev. 17:11 "The beast is the eighth" king.
3. In intention the beast is morally set against God and His Christ. cf. 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Dan. 11:36, 37, 38.

The Concentration in the Beast vs. 2a

"And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion...."

• John reviews his appearance and notes three things. This beast was like a leopard, feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion. By comparison with Dan. 7:3-7 it will be noted that each one of these beasts referred to symbolize a preceding kingdom: Greece, Medo-Persia, Babylon. This last beast is like all of them put together.

• Thus he sums up in this beast and kingdom all the brilliance of Greece, all the tremendousness of Medo-Persia, and all the autocratic power of Babylon. Such is the great Revived Roman Empire of the end time.

The Organization For the Beast vs. 2b

• The dragon has things organized for the Antichrist
• He gives him his power to produce results (dunamin)

This one is to come with all the power Satan has to confer upon him (2 Thess. 2:9). This same word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to refer to miracles and its sense here must be that. It is there­fore to be expected that he shall perform some great miraculous feats, the one in verse 3 being the outstanding one. Cf. 13:13-14.

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men," "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."

• He gives him his throne or position (qronon)

A throne is the sign of position and power. Satan's throne has been over the nations (Luke 4:5-8). He offered his throne to Christ and Christ rejected it. This throne (Rev. 12:3) now possessed by Satan is offered to Satan's man and he accepts it.

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time." "And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it." "If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads."

• He gives him his authority which is great (exousian) cf. 1 John 5:19.

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."

This is the delegated right from Satan to pursue a certain course of action. In this case it must be the blasphemy of God and high-handed dominion over his empire for 42 months (13:5).

There is a suggestion here that Satan is still pursuing his selfish way even with his own dupes. He uses Antichrist as his tool and when he is through with him he will let him go.