Revelation 13 - Beast Of The Sea & Beast Out Of The Earth -

John’s introduction of the main players in the end times continues in Revelation 13. John introduces 2 more main players. The beast of the sea. And the beast from the earth.

“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. 2 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.” – Revelation 13:1-2

In various places the Bible uses language such as “the sea of humanity “. The sea represents the peoples of all nations.

“Ah, the thunder of many peoples; they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations; they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!” – Isaiah 17:12

“But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” – Isaiah 57:20-21

In another vision John will have in Revelation 17 he sees waters or the seas.

“And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.” – Revelation 17:15

The “beast of the sea” is an indication that the antichrist in the Great Tribulation, or the day of the Lord, will be human.

Daniel had a very similar vision of the antichrist (the 4th beast in his vision), or the beast of the sea that John saw in his vision in Revelation 13. Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7 was about 4 kingdoms, of which the 4th kingdom was the antichrist’s reign in the final 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots…Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.” – Daniel 7:7-8, 19-22

Other clues that show that the antichrist will be a powerful human world leader are found in Daniel’s visions.

“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.” – Daniel 7:8

“and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.” – Daniel 7:20

“eyes like the eyes of a man” , and a mouth speaking great things. This will be a very intelligent man that will be a great and influential speaker.

10 Regions or Kingdoms In The Antichrist’s World Kingdom

Daniel and John both describe the beast, or antichrist, as having 10 horns and crowns, or diadems. This points to the antichrist’s world kingdom being divided into 10 regions or kingdoms under his control.

Horns in the Bible represent power. Crowns represent dominion. The multiple heads and crowns are symbolic of the antichrist having great power and authority over the whole earth. In the history of mankind no previous king or world leader will come close to the antichrist.

In John’s vision in Revelation 13 he also describes the beast as having 7 heads. This represents past kingdoms of the world. We will look into this more closely when we study Revelation 17, as this is discussed in greater detail there.

Satan Gives The Antichrist His Power

“And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.” – Revelation 13:2

John tells us that the human antichrist receives his power and throne and authority from the dragon. The dragon, as revealed in Revelation 12 and various other Bible verses, is Satan.

Isaiah back in Isaiah 27 talked about the day of the Lord. And he described how God would punish “Leviathan ” the serpent. He also describes him as the dragon of the sea.

“In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.” – Isaiah 27:1

Isaiah described the day of the Lord, which is the 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. And how God will punish and defeat the dragon Satan once and for all.

A Beast Like A Leopard, Bear, And Lion

“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.” – Revelation 13:2

John describes the beast of the sea with parts that resemble a leopard, a bear, and a lion. This is similar to Daniel’s vision of 4 beasts in Daniel 7. Daniel saw a beast that resembled a lion. Then a beast that resembled a bear. Then a beast that resembled a leopard.

“And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” – Daniel 7:3-7

The first beast like a lion in Daniel’s vision was the kingdom of Babylon. The second beast like a bear was the Medo-Persian empire. The third beast like a leopard was the Greek empire.

The fourth beast in Daniel’s vision is the same as the beast of the sea in Revelation 13, the antichrist.

The antichrist will be the world leader of a world empire with characteristics of the previous great kingdoms of the earth. Fierce like a lion. Strong like a bear. And swift like a leopard. Only the antichrist and his world empire will be far greater than any previous empire.

“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.” – Revelation 13:3

The beast of the sea that John saw in his vision has 7 heads. Here in verse 3 John describes one of the heads as seeming to have a mortal wound. But the mortal wound was healed.

We will study in more detail the 7 heads in our study of Revelation 17. And also the one head that seemed to have a mortal wound. There are more details and clues about the 7 heads there.

I will say that the 7 heads represent 7 kingdoms throughout the history of the world. If you would like a preview of the details and clues of the 7 heads you can read Revelation 17. Especially Revelation 17:7-12

People Will Marvel At The Antichrist

“and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 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?” – Revelation 13:3-4

Satan and the antichrist will deceive a great number of people in the world. And they will get many people to marvel at them and their power. And eventually they will force people to bow down and worship them.

This is nothing new. In our Bible studies of the letters Jesus wrote to 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3, we saw that there was great pressure on the people to worship the Roman Caesars. And they even built temples used for Caesar worship.

The Ultimate Destiny Of The Tribulation Martyrs

But in the 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation this will be on a much greater scale. Everyone in the world will be forced to worship Satan and the antichrist. Or be killed. Beheaded.

Later in Revelation, in Revelation 20, at the very end of the Great Tribulation and the beginning of Jesus’ 1000 year millenial kingdom on earth, we will see this scene:

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4

Haughty And Blasphemous Words

“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.” – Revelation 13:5-6

John describes the beast, or the antichrist, as uttering haughty and blasphemous words against God. He is a man indwelled by Satan himself, who is God’s enemy that has been trying to defeat God since the beginning of creation.

Here is Satan’s final but futile attempt to take the reign of the universe from God and His heir Jesus. John reveals that Satan’s kingdom on earth, led by the antichrist, will be for 42 months. This is the length of the 2nd half of the 7 year tribulation. Which is known as the Great Tribulation.

God Is Sovereign And Always In Control

An important note is what John says in Revelation 13:5 “it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.” The only reason that Satan and his servant the antichrist were in power during the Great Tribulation is that God allows it. It is part of God’s sovereign plan for “the day of the Lord “. Or God’s final wrath and judgment for all who rebel against Him, and refuse to repent and turn to Jesus.

Paul Teaches About The Antichrist

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

Paul calls the antichrist the “man of lawlessness ” and the “lawless one”..

The Antichrist Will Claim To Be God

And Paul tells us that the antichrist opposes God, and that he will deceive many and will claim to be god.

“who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:4

Daniel prophesied about this in Daniel 9.

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” – Daniel 9:27

Jesus also spoke about this when teaching about the end times in Matthew 24.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” – Matthew 24:15-16

The Antichrist Will Try To Kill All Believers In Christ

“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” – Revelation 13:7

Verse 7 tells us that the beast of the sea, the antichrist, is allowed to make war against the saints and to conquer them. Allowed by who? Allowed by God.

The dragon, Satan, and his human servant the antichrist, are allowed by God to set up a kingdom on earth for a short specified time of 42 months.

And they are allowed to make war against those that have repented and turned to the Lord Jesus during the tribulation. And many believers will be martyred during the tribulation, for refusing to worship the antichrist. We saw in John’s vision in Revelation 7 a great multitude of martyred saints by God’s throne in heaven.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” – Revelation 7:9-10

“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” – Revelation 7:13-14

“If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” – Revelation 13:9-10

“If anyone has an ear, let him hear” is a warning from God through John. After John describes how the antichrist will war against the saints in the Great Tribulation, he concludes this part of his vision with a warning from God.

God is warning that anyone that worships the beast, the antichrist, and participates in or supports his war against God and His saints, will pay the price.

Anyone that participates in or supports the capturing and killing of God’s people will themselves ultimately be taken captive and destroyed. Along with Satan and his servants. The ultimate destiny of Satan and his servants is set as the eternal lake of fire.

And the ultimate destiny of God’s people, the saints, is an eternity of glory in God’s presence in heaven.

John introduces another main character in the tribulation. Another of Satan’s servants in his war against God.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” – Revelation 13:11-12

After seeing and describing the first beast from the sea, John sees a second beast in his vision. The beast from the earth.

The Greek word for “out of the earth” is anabainō, which means the beast comes up from below the earth. Most likely this indicates that the beast is a man that is possessed by a demon that was released from the bottomless pit, or abyss, in Revelation 9.

Who Or What Is The Second Beast?

When John says “and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast” he gives us a clue as to the identity of this 2nd beast.

The second beast will be a powerful world religious leader. Demon possessed and empowered by Satan. The first beast, the antichrist, will be a powerful world political leader. Demon possessed and empowered by Satan.

The appearance of the first beast of the sea was frightening, terrifying, and intimidating. The appearance of this second beast is not.

He appears like a lamb with 2 horns. He appears to be more appealing, and gentle.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins. In a way the second beast is Satan’s counterfeit lamb.

But when the beast speaks he speaks “like a dragon”. Despite his deceiving appearance, the 2nd beast will speak the words of the dragon, Satan.

In Revelation 16 John calls this second beast the “false prophet “.

“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.” – Revelation 16:13

According to John’s description in Revelation 16 of the beast (the antichrist) and the false prophet (the 2nd beast), they will both be demon possessed humans.

Satan’s Duo To Deceive The World

The false prophet, or 2nd beast, will team up with the antichrist, to deceive as many people as possible. In order to get them to follow and even worship the antichrist and ultimately Satan.

Jesus and others spoke about and warned about false prophets and false christs coming to deceive and turn people away from God. In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the end times and the Great Tribulation.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” – Matthew 24:23-24

Warnings About False Teachers And Prophets

Jesus also warns against false prophets in Matthew 7.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” – Matthew 7:15-17

Paul also warns us about how Satan uses false teachers and prophets to deceive people in 2 Corinthians 11.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

This particular false prophet or beast of the earth in Revelation 13 will be one that has religious power and influence on a worldwide scale.

The Deadly Wound Of The First Beast

“And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” – Revelation 13:2

The false prophet will deceive and cause many people to worship the first beast, the antichrist. John mentions that the first beast has a “deadly wound” that was healed. What is this?

Back in Revelation 13:3 John says this about the first beast, the antichrist:

“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” – Revelation 13:3

John will mention this again in his vision in Revelation 17.

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” – Revelation 17:8

In each of these verses we see that as a result of the antichrist’s deadly wound being healed many people will marvel at and worship him. It appears that the antichrist will have a deadly wound, or it will seem to many that he apparently dies. And then he miraculously comes back to life.

The Counterfeit Resurrection

Since Satan is the father of all lies, and a master deceiver, this is most likely a great deception to fool and deceive many people in the world. He and the antichrist most likely will counterfeit Jesus’ resurrection in order to “prove” his claim to be god.

Remember all of the terrible things and judgments that have been poured out by God onto the world in the tribulation. People will be desperately looking for someone to help and rescue them.

And Satan and his servants the antichrist and the false prophet will take advantage of their desperation. And get them to turn against God and turn to and worship the antichrist and Satan.

Power, False Signs and Wonders

Paul teaches about the antichrist and his power and use of false signs and wonders in 2 Thessalonians 2.

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:9

False Prophet Performs Great Signs

“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast” – Revelation 13:13-14

The false prophet is given power by Satan to perform great signs. Including to make fire come down from heaven to earth.

Back when God sent Moses and Aaron to free His chosen people from Egypt, He gave them power to perform signs and bring 10 plagues. The Egyptian magicians were able to replicate the first 2 plagues. Turning water into blood, and making frogs appear. After that the magicians could not replicate the other plagues.

“Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” – Exodus 7:20-22

“And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 8:5-7

Satan and those that follow him have power. We are told in Ephesians 6 that we are in spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil. Our enemy is fierce and powerful.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6:12-13

Prophets Of Baal Could Not Bring Fire Down From Heaven

Elijah confronted the evil practices of the followers of Baal, an ancient false god that many in Israel began to follow. He challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to bring down fire from heaven to burn their sacrifice to Baal on the altar they made. They could not.

“Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” – 1 Kings 18:22-24

“Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” – 1 Kings 18:25-29

After the prophets of Baal failed, Elijah did bring down fire from heaven. In order to show all that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel is the True Living God.

The 2 Witnesses In Revelation 11

We also saw in Revelation 11 God’s 2 great witnesses that will preach the Gospel to the world from Jerusalem. They will most likely be Elijah and Moses. They have power to pour fire from their mouths to kill anyone that tries to harm them.

“And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed.” – Revelation 11:5

The False Prophet Can Bring Fire Down From Heaven

The second beast, the false prophet, is powerful enough to bring down fire from heaven. A feat that no other magician or false prophet had been able to do in the history of mankind.

By performing great signs, and bringing fire down from heaven, the false prophet will deceive a great number of people. In order to get them to bow down and worship the antichrist and Satan.

In the Scriptures Satan is known by various names and characteristics. The dragon, the serpent… and “the father of all lies” (John 8:44), “like a lion seeking to devour ” (1 Peter 5:8), and “the deceiver of the whole world ” (Revelation 12:9). And Satan is “disguised as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

In the final 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation, people will be deceived, coerced, and forced to make their choice. To follow and worship the antichrist and Satan, or follow and worship Jesus.

Satan And His Counterfeit Trinity

We know that God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit make up the real Holy Trinity. Satan has always tried since the beginning of creation to defeat God and become like God.

In the final 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation Satan will make his final attempt to defeat God and become god. And in Revelation 13 we see Satan’s counterfeit trinity.

Satan the false or counterfeit god the father, the antichrist the counterfeit god the son, and the false prophet the counterfeit god the holy spirit.

The False Prophet & The False Global Religion

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.” – Revelation 13:14

The 2nd beast, or false prophet, will be a powerful and influential word religious leader. He will be able to unite all other religions of the world into an official global religion in the antichrist’s worldwide kingdom. It will be the only authorized and approved religion in the Great Tribulation. It will include all other religions of the world, except Christianity and faith in Jesus Christ.

And the antichrist will use the official religion led by the false prophet to control and deceive people. And to get them to worship the antichrist and Satan.

Another Description Of The False Global Religion

In Revelation 17 John gives us a description of the antichrist’s political system and world government teaming up with the false prophet and the official world religion in the Great Tribulation. Religion has been used by Satan throughout the history of the world to turn people away from Jesus and salvation.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” – Revelation 17:3-6

The woman sitting on the scarlet beast is the religion led by the false prophet. And the scarlet beast is the world government led by the antichrist.

The False Religion Uses An Idol

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” – Revelation 13:14-15

The false prophet, the leader of the official false world religion in the Great Tribulation, will make an idol that is some sort of image of the antichrist. And with demonic powers and human ingenuity he will get the idol or image to speak.

And the idol or image of the antichrist will somehow have the power to kill anyone that does not bow down and worship the antichrist and Satan.

Past Idols Could Not Speak

Idols are found in many parts in the Bible. They were a human made symbol of a false religion or a false god.

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak.” – Psalm 115:4-5

“Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” – Jeremiah 10:5

But the idol or image created by the antichrist and his false prophet will have demonic powers that enable it to speak. And to kill anyone that does not worship the antichrist. This will be like no other idol the world has ever seen.

“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, 17 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.” – Revelation 13:16-17

The false prophet will make people take some type of mark that identifies them as a worshipper and follower of the antichrist and Satan. Verse 16 tells us that the mark of the beast will be on (or in) the right hand or the forehead.

The Global Economic System

And here we see a snapshot of the 3rd part of the antichrist’s worldwide kingdom. First the antichrist controls the world or global government.

Second, the antichrist and his false prophet control the global false religion. And here in verse 17 we see that the antichrist controls the world or global economic system.

“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.” – Revelation 13:17

There will be a system that keeps track of people that worship the antichrist, and those that do not. And if anyone does not worship the antichrist, he or she will be an outcast, or even a criminal and fugitive.

Believers and followers of Christ will not be able to get employment. And they won’t even be allowed to buy food or anything under the tyrannical rule of the antichrist.

Satan and the antichrist will use force and coercion, along with deception to get people to blaspheme against God, and to worship the antichrist and Satan.

The Technology Already Exists

The technology to “mark” people in the hand or wrist, or in the forehead already exists. Various countries, especially in Europe, have already adopted a system to insert a small chip under a person’s skin.

The chip is capable of tracking a person’s health records and history, financial and bank records… This type of technology and system would make it easy for a tyrannical leader and government to control every aspect of a person’s life.

Social Score To Control People

There is another system in place in the world today to influence and control people. It is known as the social score.

China is one of the countries that utilizes the social score and the electronic chip system to track and control people. Basically if you do not go along with the government’s policies and beliefs, then you are not allowed to get jobs. And your finances and other aspects of your life are controlled.

Basically it is forced compliance. And this will certainly be used in the Great Tribulation.

A Preview Of The Ultimate Fate Of Those That Worship The Antichrist

In the next chapter, Revelation 14, and also in Revelation 20, we get a preview of what is going to happen to anyone that rejects Jesus, and decides to take the mark of the beast and worship the antichrist and Satan. An eternity in the lake of fire.

“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” – Revelation 14:9-11

The Ultimate Fate Of The Antichrist & The False Prophet

Revelation 19 gives us a look at the ultimate fate of the antichrist and his false prophet.

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” – Revelation 19:19-20

The lake of fire, eternal damnation and punishment, is the ultimate destination for the antichrist. And his false prophet. And Satan. And anyone that rejects God’s merciful offer of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus, and who decides to worship the antichrist and Satan instead.

We will study more about the lake of fire in the latter chapters of Revelation.