1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:1–5)
“Please allow me to introduce” the “antichrist,” or beast for short. He is a ruler “coming out of the sea.” Most commentators refer to his “origin” or “the sea” as the nations, that he is not of Jewish descent. He will be known by his arrogance and blasphemy. He will not be glib of tongue. He won’t finesse but harangue. He will immediately draw fire and shrug off an apparent mortal wound. He will assume power over the earth and will be unassailable during a reign of terror lasting 42 months, a frequently used time period in Revelation, likely the final three and a half years of the tribulation, which will seem like an eternity. He derives his power and authority from the dragon, that is Satan. Though he is ruthless, he is worshipped by the masses. “And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast…“Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There’s something compelling about raw power. Those on earth at this time will live in their own horror movie, thinking that their allegiance to the beast will be rewarded, but it’ll be like having a viper as a pet, and you share a pit with him.
People with knowledge of this book of prophecy (the Book of Revelation), probably not many by then, will seem clairvoyant, in that they will be able to foresee the terror in the immediate future. Certainly the 144,000 witnesses and the two witnesses based in the “outer court” will know what’s in store, and will not be silent about it. Whatever the mark of the beast is, they’ll be the most adamant that it not be accepted. As the genuine Christ gathered followers by his message of life and love, the beast will use the cunning and agility of a leopard, the sheer brute force of a bear, and the ferocious roar of a lion to make his presence known, while he’s “getting the marrow out of your backbone.” (Genesis, “Supper’s Ready,” 1972)
And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:6)
The tirade starts with those who dwell in heaven, his former residence. Remember he was cast down to the earth, he and his minions. (Revelation 12:12-13) He makes his presence known on earth by his vocalized hatred of God and his heavenly tabernacle. There will be no mystery with him. He hates God and everyone will know it, and thus the line will be drawn.
It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:7)
There will be no place for believers to hide. No safe haven, unless you flee to the mountains, and this arrangement appears to have been made exclusively for believers of Jewish descent. Even so, as mentioned previously, two thirds of these souls don’t reach the caves prepared for them. They are cut down in route. The sorting will be simple by then. If you align with God, you will marked by the beast for destruction, albeit a temporal plight, since these are wisked away to the safe haven under His altar. The beast will have jurisdiction over the earthbound, and he will make this fact abundantly clear.
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (Revelation 13:8)
So it’s just this simple, at this point in time, “all who dwell on the earth will worship him,” or they won’t dwell on the earth. Believe in God? You’re dead. Believe in the “Lamb who has been slain,” you’re dead. During this time, a machinegun will be trained on believers, and they’ll be mowed down in their tracks. Let it not go unnoticed, however, that those who believe have been prewired for such a fate since “the foundation of the world,” with no malice of forethought, with only salvation in mind.
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