In the
last post we were introduced to a great beast with seven heads and ten horns
that arises out of the sea, a picture of “restless humanity away from God” as
described by Arthur Pink. I concluded
that this beast is picture of the Antichrist possessed by Satan. Next John seems to see the beast imitate the
death and resurrection of Jesus.
Revelation 13:3–4 “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?”
The
Greek for the word “wounded” references butchering an animal for sacrifice; in
other words, it appears to reference the actual death of the Antichrist. Arnold
Fruchtenbaum states that “as it were wounded unto death” is an idiom for a
resurrected individual and that real death is involved. The same phrasing
is used in reference to the Messiah in chapter 5, verse 6. The expanded Greek translation by Kenneth
Wuest adds clarification: “And one of his heads appeared to have been
mortally wounded, the throat having been slashed. And his death stroke
was healed.”
In light of his amazing resurrection,
the people of the world determine that there is no one that compares to the
beast. With the technology available
today this event will be well documented and observed by thousands—very unlike
the resurrection of Jesus.
I believe it is at this point that Satan indwells
the Antichrist. John makes the point of
saying that the resurrection of the Antichrist causes the people to worship
Satan. It seems obvious to me that Satan
intends the Antichrist to mirror Christ in every way possible. He credits
his authority as coming from Satan in the same way that Jesus accredited His
authority to His Father in heaven. He works lying wonders to deceive in
contrast to the true miracles Jesus worked to inspire faith. He stages an
apparent resurrection from the dead in light of the resurrection of Jesus from
the dead.
Revelation 13:5-6 “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.”
As Satan always does, he blasphemes God and
everything connected to Him. John notes
that he specifically blasphemes the name of God. The name of God
is indicative of things precious to God throughout the scripture—among them the
nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. God is very jealous
concerning His name.
Deuteronomy 32:9–10 “For the LORD’S
portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He
found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him
about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
Numbers 6:27 “And they shall put my
name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”
2 Chronicles 6:6 “But I have chosen
Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my
people Israel.”
Isaiah 48:11 “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not
give my glory unto another.”
Satan is aware of the scripture and all that is
embodied through the name of God, and it is no small thing that he chooses to
blaspheme the name of God.
The beast also blasphemes God’s tabernacle, His
dwelling place. Although believers are indwelt by the Spirit in this age
of grace, I am not sure that is a given in the seven years of tribulation known
as the 70th week. People of faith in Old Testament times were only
indwelt by the Spirit for specific periods of time according to God’s purposes.
The seventieth week of Daniel is directly connected to a time that God is
dealing with the Jews under Old Testament law, and it would seem that He would
continue to work during that time as He did during the first 69 weeks.
It’s interesting that the beast also blasphemes
“them that dwell in heaven (the sky; by extension, heaven—as the abode of
God).” Satan is well aware of the reality of heaven as God’s dwelling
place; he’s had access all these years to accuse the brethren. Is he just
thinking of the angels that remained true to God and refused to rebel with
him? I believe he is also thinking of the saints that are at home in
heaven with the Savior as well. He has now been kicked out forever, and
it’s like he is cursing to vent his anger.
Daniel also noted the blasphemies that would be
spoken by this ruler.
Daniel 7:25 “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.”
Although he is given his power by
Satan, the time established in which this power will be allowed to operate with
supreme authority has been determined by God—42 months, or 3.5 years.
This timeframe references the last half of the 7-year tribulation period.
Daniel 12:6–7 “And one said to the man clothed in linen,
which was upon the waters of
the river, How long shall it be to
the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him
that liveth for ever that it shall be
for a time, times, and an half; and
when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all
these things shall be
finished.”
Revelation 12:14 “And to the woman
were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness,
into her place, where she is nourished for
a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
A time =
one year
Times =
two years
Half a
time = half a year
Total =
3.5 years or 1260 days as stated in Revelation 12:6 – The time that the
remnant of Israel will need God’s special protection from Satan’s all out
attack to destroy them.
Revelation 12:6 “And the woman fled
into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should
feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”
(to be continued…)
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