The Way - Day 223 (Revelation 13)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 13:1-18
Revelation 11:15-12:17 gave a list of some of the key participants during the seven-year tribulation period – God, Israel, and Satan. This time of tribulation will bring extreme judgment on the inhabitants of the earth because of their rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior. We have already witnessed two series of judgments - 7 seal judgments (Revelation 6:1-8:6) and 7 trumpet judgments (8:7-11:19). These have left many dead and a great amount of destruction on the earth. Currently, we are in the middle of the seventh trumpet judgment which John began writing about in Revelation 11:15. He has written about the woman (Israel), the Child (Jesus Christ), and the dragon (Satan). Satan has been thrown out of heaven for the last time and in anger he turns his wrath upon Jews, but God sends special protection upon them (12:7-16). In frustration, Satan begins to inflict turmoil on all those who believe in Jesus Christ (12:17).
 
In Revelation 13 the dragon (Satan) gives power and authority to the beast (Antichrist). It appears that Satan stages the death of the Antichrist and then claims that he has been brought back from the dead (13:3). The people of the earth respond to this so-called miracle through marveling and following after the beast. John also records that the people "…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?'" (13:4) The Antichrist will be given great speaking power bringing deception upon mankind and he will speak blasphemies against God for three and a half years (13:5-6).

"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. 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." (Revelation 13:7-8)

The Antichrist will murder the saints, but they will still be granted eternal life because they have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ. However, those who have rejected Christ will be tormented on earth by the Antichrist, whose purpose is to turn people away from God.

John introduces another key accomplice, whose goal is to cause people to worship the Antichrist as God. He is often referred to as the false prophet (16:13; 19:20; 20:10). He will deceive many through great signs and cause them to set up an image of the Antichrist, which will appear to be given life (13:11-15). Those who refuse to worship this image as God will be killed, but those who are deceived and worship the image will receive a mark (666) "…on their right hand or on their foreheads" (13:16, 18). Many have referred to this mark as the mark of the beast. Receiving this mark will allow a person to engage in daily activities needed for survival, such as buying and selling (13:17). Without this mark, an individual will have a difficult time enduring this chaotic time. This added burden will cause many to take the mark of the beast and invite death upon those who refuse the mark. John paints a bleak picture for those who dwell on the earth during this future time. May God have mercy on many and may believers be motivated to share the hope a person has in Jesus Christ.

Dear God, place within me a picture of the things to come so that I might warn those who have rejected Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, I pray that You would send conviction of sin so that they might turn to You for mercy and grace.