Revelation-16-The Dragon, The Beast And The False Prophet

Tonight we continue with our midweek study of the book of Revelation. Pastor Brad teaches out of Revelation chapters 12 and 13(NKJV) about The Dragon, The Beast And The False Prophet.

Pastor's Notes:

Good evening everybody!
I hope you are as excited about this lesson tonight as I am. Revelation 12 and 13 are very pivotal chapters in the book. Now are are going to see some symbolism that we will need to interpret in the light of the rest of Scripture.
Last week, we looked at the seven trumpet judgement that will come upon the earth.
Revelation 12 and 13 give us an introduction to three characters: Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.
BACKGROUND
In this passage, John is seeing two specific signs in the heavens.

A woman giving birth to a Son.

A seven headed dragon with ten horns and seven diadems on his heads ready to devour the Child that was given.

It also shows us that Satan is the great enemy of the church and will continue to be until the very end.
He accuses the saints in heaven, and he attacks them here on the church.
It also shows us that Satan continues to use people to do his will, even until the end.

It also shows us how God is victorious in the very end. Let’s dig deep and look at the
APPLICATION1. The Woman (12 vs. 1)
- To interpret this passage correctly, we have to find out who this woman is.
- The Common Interpretations:
The woman is the church (The Bride of Christ). The woman is the Virgin Mary (who gave birth to Jesus). The woman is Israel (the nation).
- I personally believe the women is ISRAEL. Here's why:- These references will verify Israel being compared to a woman:
*Isaiah 54:4-7*Jeremiah 4:31*Micah 4:9-10
NOTICE THE DREAM OF JOSEPH IN GENESIS 37:9-10
Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and stars bowed down before him. Jacob said, Shall I, your mother and your brethren bow before you? The sun and moon represent Jacob and his wife. The twelve stars represent the twelve sons of Jacob.


The woman is clothed with the sun. (12:1)
The moon is under her feet. (12:1)
A crown of twelve stars surrounds her head. (12:1)
She travailed with child. (12:2)
She brought forth a man child. (12:5)


2. The Son (12 vs. 2)
- Jesus was born out of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Judah, born of a Hebrew woman. Psalms 2:9 prophesied that Christ would rule all nations with a rod of iron.
- The devil tried to kill Christ as soon as He was born. (Matthew 2:16) -Jesus was caught up to the throne of God. (Acts 1:9)- Jesus will rule with a rod of iron. (Revelation 12:5)
3. The Dragon (12 vs. 3, Daniel 7)
- IN REVELATION 12:9 HE HAS FOUR NAMES:
- The Dragon (Prince of the Air)
- The Old Serpent (The Deceiver)
-The Devil (The Accuser)
-Satan (The Adversary)
The Dragon will persecute the remnant of this woman’s seed. These are the Jews who will flee into the wilderness to be protected by God during the final forty-two months of the Tribulation. The remnant will flee to Petra in Jordan. Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:42-45) The prophets speak of this area (Isaiah 16:1-5, Isaiah 26:20-21, Psalms 60:8, 12) Jesus told the Jews to flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-21)
THIS IS A REVELATION OF HOW SATAN CONTROLS THE NATIONS!
The Seven Heads:
The Dragon has seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head.
The seven heads of the dragon are seven chief spirits (prince spirits). 1. Satan has “prince spirits” who rule over nations. (Ephesians 6:12)

2. The word for principalities is translated governments. 3. Satan can put people in high places. (Luke 4:6)
The tenth chapter of Daniel lists two prince spirits that ruled over the nations of Persia and Grecia. They are called the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Grecia. The seven spirits are prince spirits that ruled the previous empires.
THE SEVEN CROWNS:
The seven crowns are the nations (empires) that are mentioned in Bible prophecy:
1. The Egyptian Empire
2. The Assyrian Empire
3. The Babylonian Empire
4. The Media-Persian Empire
5. The Grecian Empire
6. The Roman Empire
7. The New Roman Empire
THE TEN HORNS:
These ten horns are ten kings that will rule with the Antichrist. They are not crowned in Chapter 12 but are crowned in Chapter 13 when the “Beast” Antichrist begins to form the eighth and final world kingdom. These ten horns were also seen by the Prophet Daniel in Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:20, and Daniel 7:24.
And the ten horns out of this kingdom (are) ten kings that shall arise. – Daniel 7:24
REVELATION CHAPTERS 11-13 ARE THE BEGINNING OF THE GREATER PART OF THE TRIBULATION!
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. – Matthew 24:12
This time of “greater tribulation” is intensified due to the following:

1. The wrath of God is unleashed in the final forty-two months (Revelation 14:8)
2. The wrath of God is mentioned seven times in Revelation:
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand. – Revelation 6:17
3. The wrath of Satan is unleashed, knowing his time is short.
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time. – Revelation 12:12
Satan is able to come down to earth because the restrainer has been removed. Only after the restrainer is removed can Satan’s power be unleashed in full force. Only when the restrainer is removed can the Antichrist take full control!
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
WHAT RESTRAINS THE ANTICHRIST FROM TAKING FULL CONTROL?
1. The church is a restraining force and is removed in Revelation 4:1-2.2. The two witnesses are a restraining force and are removed in Chapter 11. 3. Michael the archangel is a restraining force and steps aside in Chapter 12.
The church restrains evil from taking over the earth.
The two witnesses restrain the Antichrist from taking over Jerusalem
Michael restrains Satan from taking possession of Israel.
When these three are finally removed, then the Antichrist is revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
A STRONG SPIRIT WILL BE RELEASED TO POSSESS THE ANTICHRIST. AT THIS TIME, THE REMNANT OF JEWS WILL FLEE TO THE WILDERNESS.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.Revelation 12:6
THE WILDERNESS IS IN JORDAN.
1. Jordan (Edom, Moab and Ammon) will escape the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:42)

NOTE: THE CITY OF PETRA
Jesus told the Jews in Matthew 24:15-16 that when they saw the abomination of desolation (which will be the image of the beast—Revelation 13), then they should flee to the mountains.
4. The Beast from the sea (Revelation 13:1-10, Daniel 7)
- The beast is coming up “out of the sea”.
- The beast is a person. Personal pronouns are used when speaking about this beast. The beast will eventually be cast into the lake of fire, along with the false prophet.
He comes up out of the sea; this is symbolic of peoples. (Daniel 7:2-3, Revelation 17:1, 15)This beast refers to the rise of a kingdom, and in particular, the Antichrist (the earthly head of this kingdom). He will be given power by Satan (Dragon) to gain authority, make war and control events.
This “wild beast” is the Antichrist. He has invaded Jerusalem and has a “deadly wound” that has been healed. What is the deadly wound?
The wound to the head could be:
Remember that the heads of the beast represent empires or nations. 1. A literal wound to the physical head in a time of war or battle.2. A wound to one of the nations (heads of the beast) that is healed. 3. A past empire (Babylon) that is now dead but will be revived.
5. The Beast from the earth (13 vs. 11-18)
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. Revelation 13:11
The first beast (antichrist) came up out of the sea. The second beast came up out of the earth.
Daniel never saw this beast. This beast represents a false Christianity. The false prophet may actually claim to be Jesus. Both Jesus and Paul warned of this person.


For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Matthew 24:24
▪ False christ (false anointed ones) the antichrist▪ False prophets (the false prophet of Revelation 13:11)▪ False miracles (calling fire down and building the image of the beast)
Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
THE FALSE PROPHET
He is identified with the symbol of a lamb. Christ is the Lamb throughout the New Testament. In this reference, this lamb is a false representation of Christ. The lamb also has two horns. These horns represent authority over two branches of religion.
THE FALSE PROPHET
1. This beast is a man. Personal pronouns are used to describe him. 2. This beast leads a global religion from Jerusalem.3. This beast will be the spiritual head of two major religious forces.
The antichrist is a military power; this beast, however, is a spiritual power.▪ Who can make war with the beast? (This is military power.)▪ And they worship the beast. (This is spiritual power.)
THE COMING FALSE PROPHET

He will move the world religion headquarters to Jerusalem.(Rome will be burned.)
He will produce false miracles, such as calling fire down from heaven.
He must deny the divinity of Christ or claim himself to be the Christ.
He will cause men to worship the beast. Revelation 13:11-18.

The false prophet (Revelation 13:11-18) will cause men to worship the beast, the image of the beast, and receive the mark of the beast.
CONCLUSION