THE WONDERING AFTER THE BEAST - BUY INTO HIM

The Wondering After the Beast vs. 3

"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."

The Extent of the Wondering

"All the world" AV. "Whole earth" RV.

The language of the text does not leave one in doubt about the extent. It is not merely the revived Roman Empire. The original is "the whole earth." So far as I can see there is no reason to reduce the conception of these words. Here is an event that is known the world over.

The Nature of the Wondering

"wondered"

This was in the nature of marveling, admiring, agreeable surprise. The sad fact is that the world is caught with delusion. This one who has come after the working of Satan (2 Thess. 2:9) appears to be the Christ and is received as such (John 5:43). This miracle of resurrection completely deludes the people. All the wisdom of men goes for naught and they believe "the lie" (2 Thess. 2:11).

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"
"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"

The Result of the Wondering
"after the beast" (opisw)

The word "after" means more than "at." It signifies that the world of men follow Antichrist. A miracle of resurrection is the thing that captures them (cf. John 12:9, 19; the case of Lazarus). The king of terrors has been conquered (Heb. 2:15) and the people follow the false Messiah, expecting to enter into the same experience at his hand.
"Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead." "The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him."
"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

The Worship of the Dragon vs. 4

"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?"

This was the great ambition of the dragon in the beginning (Isa. 14:14). "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds" seeking adoration. This is what he sought to get from Christ at the temptation (Matt. 4:8-10). This is his purpose in counterfeiting the Christ. He is using the Antichrist as his tool.

"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;" "And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

The Worship of the Beast vs. 4
"And they worshipped the beast."

People Give him the Position of God in Their Lives

They worship him. He exalts himself above all that is called God or worshipped and seats himself in the temple of God, dis­playing himself as God (2 Thess. 2:4), and people adore him as very God. This is blasphemy and idolatry of the basest kind.

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

People Declare his Person is so Supernatu­ral

"Who is like unto the beast."

This is laying emphasis by means of a rhetorical question. The answer is that no other one in all the world is like this beast. He is divine and supernatural in his person. He died and rose again.

People Point to his Power as a Leader in War

"Who is able to make war with him?"

This question is like the above. If he is a creature who suffered a death wound and yet came forth from death, what folly to make war against him. He is invincible. They who demanded "peace" now elevate the man of war.

The Speech of the False Christ vs. 5-6

"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."

The Nature of his Speech vs. 5

"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."

Two things are asserted of it:

1. Great things: This must mean great things in the sense of science, philosophy, and human wisdom (cf. Dan. 7:8, 20, 25). Here is one to whom the devil has communicated his great wisdom (Ezek. 28:12). If indwelt by a demon from the pit, it is altogether possible that some of it may be attributed to that. Nevertheless, here is one who is the superman in wisdom and learning of the end time.

"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." "And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows." "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."

"Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty."

2. Blasphemies: From this one there comes that cold, dispassionate, calm affirmation of untruth about God and the things of God. These will be welcomed by a Christ-rejecting world, for they have received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, but believe the lie that they might be damned (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

The Period of his Speech vs. 5b

"....to continue forty and two months."

Duration: This is specifically limited to 42 months. This agrees with the words of 11:2-3, 7. This is the final 3¹/₂ years of the tribulation week. It is that period in which the Antichrist breaks covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27) and moves from the heighth of his career to his final doom.

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Purpose: "to continue" or Greek "to do." This not only includes his speech but all that he is authorized to do as the tool of Satan. While he will instigate the great­est persecution ever known against the people of God and Israel especially, the truth is his most dangerous enemy. Blas­phemy is the most deadly weapon he has against it. Deadliest weapon of Russia: lies. Article that appeared in Post years back during the Reagan years.

The Object of his Speech vs. 6

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."

Ultimately Satan and his Messiah are against God. All other personalities are simply means to an end. Two objects, therefore, fall within the reach of Antichrist.

1. The Name of God
Name usually stands for person and possessions. In this case, since it is impossible for him to attack God with force, he assails the truth of his name. This undoubtedly extends to any or all of the names he bears.

2. The People of God
"his tabernacle, even them that dwell in heaven" is the way the revisers think this should read. This must refer to the church a in heaven. It is the holy temple and the habitation of God (Eph. 2:21-22). The disappearance of this group of people from the earth is known. Lest people believe the truth, the beast blasphemes it. Best Mss. leave out "and" or "even." Six interpretations have been given: (1) Mother of God; (2) Heaven; (3) Shekinah; (4) Temple; (5) Christ; (6) Church. cf. 1 Cor. 3:16-17.

"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:" "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."