The Loosing of Satan - Part 3: And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.
This study is going to focus on Revelation chapter 13, and it will be easiest for me to try to explain each verse, one at a time.
Rev 13:1 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, 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.”
First I will break down the components of this verse and explain what each component signifies. The sea represents the world. The beast signifies a part of the kingdom of Satan. The rising up out of the sea signifies an entity that is rising in significance. Because the beast is rising up out of the sea signifies that he is rising in significance, or becoming more significant, in the world. The number 7 signifies perfection. A head signifies authority. The number 10 signifies completeness. A horn signifies power. A crown signifies rulership. Now to put all these components together; the beast (which is a part of the kingdom of Satan) is rising in significance in the world. It has 7 heads, which signifies that it is perfect in its authority. Because it has 10 horns, it signifies that this beast is completely powerful, or that his power is complete. Because his 10 horns have 10 crowns signifies that this beast is given complete rulership with complete power. So to rephrase it, this beast, or this part of the kingdom of Satan, is seen rising in significance in the world, and is given perfect authority to completely rule with complete power. Perfect authority = 7 heads; complete power = 10 horns; complete rulership = 10 crowns. Now upon his heads is the name of blasphemy. The word "blasphemy" was translated from the Greek noun "Blasphemia" [G988] and means "blasphemy" or "railing" or "evil speaking". So whatever this beast is, we know that it is a part of the kingdom of Satan, and that it is given perfect authority, complete power, and complete rulership, to speak evil things.
Rev 13:2 “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.”
In the Bible, leopards, bears, and lions, are wild beasts that kill and devour prey. The dragon, who represents Satan, is giving the beast his power. Because a "seat" here represents a throne, Rev 13:2 is telling us this beast will be "ruling" from Satan's throne. Because this beast has the characteristic of a leopard, a bear, and a lion, it is an entity that is going to go out to "kill and devour its prey". And so now we see a beast that is given perfect authority, complete power, and complete rulership, to speak evil things, is ruling from Satan's throne, and is going forth to kill and devour its prey, with great authority. Again, the word "authority" is doubling up from the previous verse that contained the phrase "seven heads", except that in the previous verse the 7 heads signified "perfect authority", and now in this verse we see the phrase "great authority", and so now we have a beast with perfect and great authority. Following are verses that contain the words “lion”, “leopard”, and “bear”.
Jeremiah 5:6 "Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased."
Ezekiel 22:25 "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof."
Proverbs 28:15 “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.”
Hosea 13:8 “I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion; the wild beast shall tear them.”
Rev 13: 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 head that is “wounded to death” represents the deadly blow which Satan received when Christ died at the cross. It was at the cross when God bound Satan with a great chain and cast him into the bottomless pit. The binding of Satan at the cross impaired his power and limited his ability to rule as he once was able to do before the cross. But Satan’s wound becomes "healed" when God releases him from the bottomless pit near the end of time. Next we read that “all the world wondered after the beast.” The word “wondered” was translated from the Greek verb “Thaumazo”[G2296]. It is usually translated in the New Testament as the word “marvel”, and it means “to marvel”, or “to admire”, as we read in the following verses.
Matt 8:10 “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled[G2296], and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matt 8:27 “But the men marvelled[G2296], saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
Matt 9:8 “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled[G2296], and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.”
Rev 13:3 tells us that “all the world wondered[G2296] after the beast.” The peoples of the world become in a way hypnotized by the beast and in a way you could say that they have been brainwashed. The beast creates a powerful hold on them and they are not able to think "outside the box"; the beast has now become their "lord and master".
Rev 13:4 “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?”
The peoples of the world will worship the dragon, (which is Satan), because it is the dragon who endows the beast with its power and so they are in essence glorifying Satan. And they say,"Who is able to make war with him?” because they cannot imagine anything more wonderful than this beast they glorify; they do not see beyond this beast; this beast means everything to them, and they are blinded by the strong delusion they receive from it; they have become ensnared by its false gospels.
Rev 13:5 “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.”
In Rev 13:5 we are told that the beast is “given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”. The phrase “great things and blasphemies” can also be translated as, “great and evil things,” and in the second half of Rev 13:5 it states, “and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” The number 42 can be broken down into 6 x 7. The number 6 signifies the completion of a work. For example, God created His entire Creation in six days and then rested on the seventh; a slave was to work for six years, and then be freed on the seventh, etc. Therefore the 42 months could signify a work that needs to be accomplished during a perfect amount of time. The number 42 can also be broken down into 2 x 3 x 7. The number 2 represents the sending forth of the Gospel and the number 3 represents whatever is in view. Because Satan’s greatest agenda is to destroy the kingdom of God, the 42 months could also signify the purpose of the beast to carry out its blasphemy against the kingdom of God for a perfect amount of time. This is also supported in verse 6.
Rev 13:6 “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
We can also see a “doubling” of the message of 13:5, except that here it is giving us more detail into the blasphemy that is occurring. It tells us the beast, which is controlled and empowered by Satan, is opening his mouth in order to: (1) speak blasphemy against God, (2) and His name, (3) and His tabernacle, (4) and them that dwell in heaven. The fact that 4 entities are listed here is also indicative that this blasphemy is directed against the entire heavenly kingdom of God.
Rev 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome[G3528] them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
In Rev 13:7 we see that the beast is allowed to make war with the saints and to have victory over them. The Greek word that was translated as the word “overcome” is the Greek verb “Nikao”[G3528]. It is a word that means “to conquer” or “have victory over”. This "victory" which the beast attains over the saints is also described in Rev 11:7.
Rev 11:7-8 “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[G3528] them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
Rev 13:1 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, 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.”
First I will break down the components of this verse and explain what each component signifies. The sea represents the world. The beast signifies a part of the kingdom of Satan. The rising up out of the sea signifies an entity that is rising in significance. Because the beast is rising up out of the sea signifies that he is rising in significance, or becoming more significant, in the world. The number 7 signifies perfection. A head signifies authority. The number 10 signifies completeness. A horn signifies power. A crown signifies rulership. Now to put all these components together; the beast (which is a part of the kingdom of Satan) is rising in significance in the world. It has 7 heads, which signifies that it is perfect in its authority. Because it has 10 horns, it signifies that this beast is completely powerful, or that his power is complete. Because his 10 horns have 10 crowns signifies that this beast is given complete rulership with complete power. So to rephrase it, this beast, or this part of the kingdom of Satan, is seen rising in significance in the world, and is given perfect authority to completely rule with complete power. Perfect authority = 7 heads; complete power = 10 horns; complete rulership = 10 crowns. Now upon his heads is the name of blasphemy. The word "blasphemy" was translated from the Greek noun "Blasphemia" [G988] and means "blasphemy" or "railing" or "evil speaking". So whatever this beast is, we know that it is a part of the kingdom of Satan, and that it is given perfect authority, complete power, and complete rulership, to speak evil things.
Rev 13:2 “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.”
In the Bible, leopards, bears, and lions, are wild beasts that kill and devour prey. The dragon, who represents Satan, is giving the beast his power. Because a "seat" here represents a throne, Rev 13:2 is telling us this beast will be "ruling" from Satan's throne. Because this beast has the characteristic of a leopard, a bear, and a lion, it is an entity that is going to go out to "kill and devour its prey". And so now we see a beast that is given perfect authority, complete power, and complete rulership, to speak evil things, is ruling from Satan's throne, and is going forth to kill and devour its prey, with great authority. Again, the word "authority" is doubling up from the previous verse that contained the phrase "seven heads", except that in the previous verse the 7 heads signified "perfect authority", and now in this verse we see the phrase "great authority", and so now we have a beast with perfect and great authority. Following are verses that contain the words “lion”, “leopard”, and “bear”.
Jeremiah 5:6 "Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased."
Ezekiel 22:25 "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof."
Proverbs 28:15 “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.”
Hosea 13:8 “I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion; the wild beast shall tear them.”
Rev 13: 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 head that is “wounded to death” represents the deadly blow which Satan received when Christ died at the cross. It was at the cross when God bound Satan with a great chain and cast him into the bottomless pit. The binding of Satan at the cross impaired his power and limited his ability to rule as he once was able to do before the cross. But Satan’s wound becomes "healed" when God releases him from the bottomless pit near the end of time. Next we read that “all the world wondered after the beast.” The word “wondered” was translated from the Greek verb “Thaumazo”[G2296]. It is usually translated in the New Testament as the word “marvel”, and it means “to marvel”, or “to admire”, as we read in the following verses.
Matt 8:10 “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled[G2296], and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matt 8:27 “But the men marvelled[G2296], saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
Matt 9:8 “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled[G2296], and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.”
Rev 13:3 tells us that “all the world wondered[G2296] after the beast.” The peoples of the world become in a way hypnotized by the beast and in a way you could say that they have been brainwashed. The beast creates a powerful hold on them and they are not able to think "outside the box"; the beast has now become their "lord and master".
Rev 13:4 “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?”
The peoples of the world will worship the dragon, (which is Satan), because it is the dragon who endows the beast with its power and so they are in essence glorifying Satan. And they say,"Who is able to make war with him?” because they cannot imagine anything more wonderful than this beast they glorify; they do not see beyond this beast; this beast means everything to them, and they are blinded by the strong delusion they receive from it; they have become ensnared by its false gospels.
Rev 13:5 “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.”
In Rev 13:5 we are told that the beast is “given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”. The phrase “great things and blasphemies” can also be translated as, “great and evil things,” and in the second half of Rev 13:5 it states, “and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” The number 42 can be broken down into 6 x 7. The number 6 signifies the completion of a work. For example, God created His entire Creation in six days and then rested on the seventh; a slave was to work for six years, and then be freed on the seventh, etc. Therefore the 42 months could signify a work that needs to be accomplished during a perfect amount of time. The number 42 can also be broken down into 2 x 3 x 7. The number 2 represents the sending forth of the Gospel and the number 3 represents whatever is in view. Because Satan’s greatest agenda is to destroy the kingdom of God, the 42 months could also signify the purpose of the beast to carry out its blasphemy against the kingdom of God for a perfect amount of time. This is also supported in verse 6.
Rev 13:6 “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
We can also see a “doubling” of the message of 13:5, except that here it is giving us more detail into the blasphemy that is occurring. It tells us the beast, which is controlled and empowered by Satan, is opening his mouth in order to: (1) speak blasphemy against God, (2) and His name, (3) and His tabernacle, (4) and them that dwell in heaven. The fact that 4 entities are listed here is also indicative that this blasphemy is directed against the entire heavenly kingdom of God.
Rev 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome[G3528] them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
In Rev 13:7 we see that the beast is allowed to make war with the saints and to have victory over them. The Greek word that was translated as the word “overcome” is the Greek verb “Nikao”[G3528]. It is a word that means “to conquer” or “have victory over”. This "victory" which the beast attains over the saints is also described in Rev 11:7.
Rev 11:7-8 “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[G3528] them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
No comments:
Post a Comment