What beast are we talking about here that will eventually rise out of the sea? The apostle, John, writes about these things in the book of revelation from the visions that God, His angel, had revealed to him. The book of revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ and is the unveiling or disclosure of things to come during the end times as explained in Revelation 1:1-2, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” These were also prophesied by God’s prophet Daniel, but he was told to close up the book until the end times (Daniel 12:4) to where these things would be revealed later by John in the book of revelation. The book of revelation was NOT written to scare us but to prepare us for the things to come. The things mentioned in revelation by John will scare many (unbelievers) as they take place, but Christians should NOT fear for God’s great love and grace, through His only Son Jesus, overcomes all fear. We will be spared from God’s wrath like Noah’s family (Great Flood) and Lot’s family (Sodom & Gomorrah) were spared during their time of God’s wrath (Luke 17:26-30) as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” God is storing up His wrath for the wicked unbelievers (non-Christians) who have continued to reject God and His word. God’s word tells us that the beast will rise out of the sea during the tribulation and will receive all power and authority from the dragon (Satan) for 42 months, or 3.5 years during the second half of the 7-year tribulation period. The beast (known as the Antichrist) will have authority over all the earth, over all the peoples, tongues, and nations and will speak great things, pompous words, blasphemies against God and Jesus, and will perform many great signs and wonders. The Antichrist will also make war with the saints and all those that reject to worship him and receive his mark. John reveals his vision from God’s angel in Revelation 13:1-8, “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’ And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb (Jesus) who was slain.”
With all the increased violence and evil taking place in the world today, has the beast already risen? What about all the increased plaques, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, wildfires, and bizarre weather patterns? What about the increases in demonic possessions and UFO sightings? With the extreme increases in darkness on the earth, it appears that the evil forces have increased, but Jesus clarified this for us in His word. The Antichrist may already be here on earth but may not be possessed or recognized by the dragon (Satan) yet. The beast of the sea has not yet been revealed but we believe that his time is remarkably close. The gospel of Mark tells us that the darkness we are experiencing on earth are the beginning sorrows or birth pains, that will increase in intensity and frequency during the last days leading up to the start of the tribulation. Christians will also be persecuted with some being put to the death for the sake of following Jesus during this time prior to the rapture and during the tribulation. No one knows the day or hour when the rapture will take place except God – Mark 13:32. The gospel must be first preached to all the nations – Mark 13:8-13. The Christians (a.k.a Church) that you may be acquainted with as friends, family members, co-workers, or neighbors will disappear within a twinkling of an eye before or during the tribulation – Luke 17:34-36. Only Christians will be spared from God’s wrath, where Jesus raptures all His saints – 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6. The bible tells us that these things would happen in the last days (end of days) like the wicked days of Noah’s time. The Antichrist will come on the scene as a famous, charismatic, and powerful ruler that will rise up shortly after the rapture takes place. The world or Antichrist will tell everyone a lie about why this miraculous rapture has taken place – Mark 13:22-23. If you are left behind (and have missed the rapture) on earth, whatever wild stories they tell you, do NOT believe the lies. The bible teaches us that as Jesus is removed and rejected in the world, the spirit of the antichrist is being invoked. The apostle John provides warnings for the spirit of the antichrist that was already in the world 2,000 years ago and how we must test every spirit according to God’s word – 1 John 4:1-4. Jesus warns of when His second coming would take place as Lord of Lords and King of Kings towards the end of the great tribulation, which will happen when we see the Antichrist take control and sit in the temple of Jerusalem declaring himself to be God (the abomination of desolation) – Matthew 24:15-22. Jesus also told us there would be many false christs (or antichrists) that would arise in His name during the last days as we read in Luke 21:8-19, “…See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once. Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.’ ” The scriptures tell us that Jesus will NOT appear again for His second coming until the abomination of desolation happens as explained in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who (Antichrist) opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
There will be great distress and fear among all who are left behind during the tribulation (end of days) of God’s wrath, such as has never been seen before as stated in Revelation 6:15-17, “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’ ” Also, the Old Testament prophet Daniel explained the rapture and great tribulation in Daniel 12:1-3, “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” The bible also tells us that there will be people saved during the tribulation on the earth as long as you REJECT the mark of the beast (become saved by praying the sinners prayer) as stated in Revelation 13:16-18, “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, 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. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” We see that all who are saved and reject his mark will be punished by death by the Antichrist but will receive eternal salvation from Jesus as stated in Revelation 20:4, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.”
Everything that Satan does is to go against God and His word by deceiving the entire world and by mimicking God’s holy trinity (God the Father, the Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit). Satan will soon make his appearance with his trinity, the Dragon (Satan), Antichrist, and False Prophet. The false prophet will be the second beast that rises out of the earth and will perform many miracles and wonders as stated in Revelation 13:11-15, “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” The bible tells us of Satan’s trinity and how they will wage war in the end at the battle of Armageddon when Jesus returns with Power and Glory at His second coming as we read in Revelation 16:13-14, “And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.”
No matter how anxious and dark things seem to get, God is always in full control. The bible tells us that when we become saved (believers), we are born again and no longer walk in darkness but remain in the light. We are also called as light to expose the darkness and their unfruitful works – Ephesians 5:8-14. Because we are believers, we are aliens of this world and our true home is in heaven with our Lord Jesus – Philippians 3:20-21. For with God, nothing is impossible – Luke 1:37. We can have peace and put our minds at ease as we read in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Even though the dark clouds that hover over us never seem to end, we can have hope in 1 John 4:4, “…for He (Jesus) who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Jesus tells us to NOT fear men or evil forces but to fear only God who can destroy both the soul and body – Matthew 10:28. Our hearts can take rest since ALL things work together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose – Romans 8:28-30. So, let us put on the whole armor of God by walking in the spirit and resist all forms of evil and darkness – Romans 13:12-14. God has stated that there will be a judgement day where we will all stand before Him to answer for our actions, beliefs, and to be tested by the fire. This will determine our eternity fate by whether our names are written in the Lambs book of life. For on that day there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus, our beloved Savior and Redeemer, gives us hope for the great judgement day since in Him alone we have true salvation – John 12:48-50. Jesus, alone, saves us from eternal condemnation and destruction – John 3:18-21.
Watch this inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – Beginning of Sorrows! Watch another inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – When Will Jesus Rapture The Saints To Heaven? Watch this inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – We Are In The Last Days!
Do you know where you will spend eternity after you die on earth? Will Jesus be your Lord and Savior or your eternal judge – John 3:15-21, Romans 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1? Jesus says He is the narrow gate to heaven where it is difficult to find and only a few will enter by it where many will enter the easy, wide and broad gate that leads to Hell and destruction – Matthew 7:13-14. Will you experience the second eternal death (spiritual death) – Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 21:8? Do you know for sure that you are written in the eternal Lamb’s Book of Life – Revelation 3:5, Revelation 20:12-15? The place called Hell is NOT a myth and is very real and an extremely scary place – Watch this Video!
Do you need Prayer?