GETTING THE MESSAGE/Deliver us from evil

GETTING THE MESSAGE/Deliver us from evil

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The book of Revelation has such dramatic visions to impress upon us spiritual realities that we don’t see clearly in our physical realm. It is a letter written by the Apostle John to Christians going through tribulation, a prophesy of how God addresses his people facing trouble and temptation in the world. 

Chapter 13 describes to us the evil opposition to Christ and his people. John sees “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.” The beast is described like the dragon from 12:3, except the dragon has his crowns on his heads, indicating he is one who directs the beast.

In 13:2, we see that the beast is a composite of the four beasts in Daniel 7, which were four different kingdoms of men, the last pointing to Rome. Early Christians saw an expression of the beast in the emperor Domitian, who persecuted Christians and insisted on the title of Lord and God. There have been many other Rome-like beasts.

Every Christian generation until Christ returns will have conflict with the beast, who we will see doesn’t only appear as an oppressive power, but a deceptive one also. Scripture indicates that there will be an intensification of the manifestation of the beast before Christ comes. In 2nd Thessalonians, Paul says that Christ will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed, but that the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, so the early church was already challenged.

It is evident that the beast is Satan’s alternative to Christ. The dragon gives the beast “his power and his throne and great authority” (13:2). In chapter 5, the Lamb, with 7 horns, is worthy of all power and authority from the throne of God. 

The difference in appearance reflects the attributes of each. The beast is beast-like and malicious: the Lamb is tender toward his people; he appears as slain to remind his people that he loved them even unto death on a cross. Yet, the Lamb is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

In verse 3, the beast seems to have a mortal wound, but his wound is healed and all the earth marveled as they followed the beast. The mortal wound is from the death and resurrection of Christ. It appears to be healed because Satan is still active, but he has been cast down, defeated by Christ. And those who know Christ overcome him also, being willing to lose their lives in following Christ (Chapter 12:12). Faith in forgiveness gives hope in the face of the beast and death.

The beast’s continued existence is not a reversal of Satan’s defeat. Satan is destined for destruction, along with the beast. Satan knows his time is short (12:13). Those who Satan deceives worship the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it” (verse 4). The beast is given the worship that is due to God alone, and that is Satan’s purpose. 

Men worship the beast because he represents to them the source of whatever they can find without God; wisdom, power, glory, pleasure, riches, etc.. They accept the alternative to the glory of God and his gift of Christ. It is as if Christ had never come into the world. The power of the beast is at work in those who reject or deny Christ. It could be written of them that here are they who never served the living God but rather served the beast. 

The beast came out of the sea, which often represents sin and evil: “The wicked are like the stormy sea. The waters stir up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Isaiah 57).” Jesus calmed the stormy sea with a word. He walked upon the water and promised his people that he will soon put Satan under their feet. Take notice not only of how great grace is, but the God in grace. Christ delivers you from sin, is greater than any beast, and leads you in the love of God. In verses 5-6, the beast utters haughty and blasphemous words against God, blaspheming his name and those who dwell in heaven. The apostle Paul spoke of the need Christians have to be heavenly minded and seek things above where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-2). This means to let the cause of Christ be your cause, though powers on earth fear not to blaspheme God. 

The haughty words come out of the mouth of the beast. When Christ saves a soul, the first thing he teaches them in prayer is “Hallowed be thy Name.” Christians are told of the beast so that they are prepared, but also so they can praise God who gave such a Savior to deliver them from evil.

 

 

The Rev. Chris Shelton is pastor of Union’s First Presbyterian Church.






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