INTRODUCTION This is an important chapter. Not because it contains much more vital information. Just the opposite is true. It does not deal with any more vital information than the chapter before it or the chapter that follows it. The reason this chapter is important is because of the many misunder... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name._ A. Some have tried to make this literal. They claim that John was on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and that... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority._ A. The symbols of a leopard, bear and lion have a double emphasis. 1. These are three of the four beasts... [ Continue Reading ]
_3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast._ A. Some commentators have tried to identify each of the seven heads as individual kings. Then they try to ascertain which one was wounded. B. If th... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”_ A. Notice first that worship is offered to two things. They (sea of humanity) are worshiping the dragon (Satan) and they are worshiping... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months._ A. His voice is also powerful. He is able to speak great things. B. Blasphemy can include all types of critical lies. The Greek word means, “to speak against.” Today we... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven._ A. These evil governments will blaspheme God. They will slander the good name of God. They will ridicule His tabernacle. They will speak against Christians. B. NOTE: The ta... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world._ A.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear._ A. This short verse reminds us of the ending of each of the letters in chapters 2 and 3. B. The purpose is to issue a admonition to pay close attention. Something very important is about to happen and you will not want to miss this.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints._ A. Some have used this verse to oppose capital punishment. Others have suggested that this verse teaches that Christians must not g... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon._ A. We are now introduced to the second beast. This beast rises from the earth. B. He is described as looking like a lamb. I believe this indicates that it would look religious. C.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed._ A. When the Roman Empire suffered its decline and fall in 476, the civil government was dead. B. When Pope Leo III... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men._ A. This beast that looks like a lamb, also tries to act like a religious power. He does great signs (miracles) to impress people and command obedience. B. Men are caused to fear the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived._ A. These miracles are a fake. They are deceptions, a fraud. The beast do... [ Continue Reading ]
_15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed._ A. He, in this verse, refers to the civil government, which was to be worshiped. This beast was given delegat... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,_ A. There has been far too much speculation about the mark mentioned here. What is that mark? Is it a literal mark? It is literally placed on the forehead? B. Some... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name._ A. This second beast represents false religious leaders, in whom also rests the power over the emperor. Between the two beasts there is tremendous power and control over all parts... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number Isaiah 666._ A. The number is important, not the name. See the introduction to this chapter for some of the ways this number has been explained. B. Since seven is the num... [ Continue Reading ]