1) Evil will have a face in the last days. Who will this be?
2) Unity is an ideal worth pursuing; or is it? What will it mean to be united in the last days?
3) They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but sometimes it shows a lack of creativity. How have you seen this played out?
Two more main characters of the last days are introduced in Chapter 13. Both are referred to as beasts. The “beast coming out of the sea” is Antichrist, the world ruler who comes on the scene doing the work of Satan (13:1-2). The “beast coming out of the earth” is the first beast’s second in command. See Daniel 9:20-27 and 2 Thessalonians 2 for more on Antichrist.
The ideas of a future with one world government, one world religion and one world economy are not just found in end times thrillers. All of these have their basis in the Bible as we see in Revelation 13. Verse 7 indicates that the beast (Antichrist) will have authority over all people. Verse 15 promises death to anyone who does not worship the beast. Finally, verses 16-17 refer to the need for a mark to buy and sell.
It’s interesting to see how uncreative Satan is in trying to establish himself over God. All he is able to do is duplicate what God has already done including copying the resurrection (13:3) and miracles (13:13). Satan even goes so far as to set up his own version of the Trinity with himself as God, Antichrist as Jesus, and the second beast as the Holy Spirit (the one who testifies).
Comments