Up until now in our study of Revelation, Satan has only been mentioned a few times, all of them in an off-hand sort of way. This is rightly so, because we’ve seen that the book of Revelation is not about Satan or the antichrist or the beast or the number 666 - it is about God. Everything up until this point has been focused on giving us a picture of who God is, what He is doing, and what He will do at the end of all things.
But what about Satan and the antichrist and the beast? What part do they play in all of this?
We’re in chapters 12-13 this week, and we are going to get uncomfortably up close and personal in our look at this trio of evil. Lord-willing, we’ll look at several things:
- Who they are, what they look like, and what that means
- The war that has been going on since before time began, and its current condition and location
- The counterfeiting nature of this false trinity
- How God’s sovereignty is seen in the described reign of evil
- The call to believers to endurance and faithfulness
At the risk of not getting any replies, I’m interested to get your reaction to chapters 12 and 13 . . . after reading the text, what questions jump out at you? I know I had plenty, so it would help me in preparing to know what questions you guys have. Thanks for your help!
You know the drill on preparing for Sunday . . . read, pray, and get some sleep Saturday night!
Ben
OK, I’ll go first.
1. Does the Dragon and war with the woman’s offspring parallel the serpent and the woman’s offspring in Gen 3?
2. The first beast is a blasphemer. I believe Pastor Whipple is preaching on the unpardonable sin from Luke 12 (blasphemy against the holy spirit) this week. How does this relate?
3. Rev 13:7 – The beast was allowed to make war. How do you explain a God “who so loved the world” to allow that?
4. Also from 13:7, how can the first beast conquer the saints? I thought we could have faith in God to win this battle.
By: Mikel Berger on February 20, 2008
at 10:39 pm
Second, but certainly not least
1) Is the war in heaven describing when Lucifer originally fell, or is this a depiction of the final battle?
2) In 12:11, the saints conquer. In 13:7, they’re conquered. Why the discrepancy?
3) What’s with all the 42 months/1260 days stuff in chpts. 11-13? What’s it mean?
4) Why are these two chapters in the book? What do they reveal to us about Jesus?
By: Matt Borg on February 21, 2008
at 11:04 pm