71. Revelation 13 - Bible Study - Part 4A

Rev 13:5-7 : The Antichrist exercises his power
A GUIDED BIBLE STUDY OF REVELATION 13

Part 1. Literal vs. Symbolic in Revelation 12 (Post #64 Link)
Part 2. Rev 13:1-2 : Introduction to the Antichrist (Post #66 Link)
Part 3. Rev:13:3-4 Satan empowers the Antichrist (Post #67 Link)
==> Part 4A. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power
Part 4B. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power
Part 5. Rev 13: 8-10 The Reign of the Antichrist
Part 6. Rev 13:11-13 Another beast: The False Prophet
Part 7. Rev 13:14-15 The Image of the beast
Part 8. Rev 13:16-18 The Mark of the Beast

Overview of Part 4A:
1. The Biblical Text of the Passage
2. An Expanded Version of the Text
3. The Explanation

1. The Biblical Text of the Passage (this lesson in bold)

13: 4 So they worshiped the dragon, for he had given authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war against him?”
5 And the beast was given a mouth speaking insolent words and blasphemies, and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name, and his dwelling place, and those who dwell in heaven. 7. It was granted to him to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.

2. An Expanded Version of the Text (this lesson in bold)

13: 4 So they worshiped the dragon (Satan), for he had given authority to the beast (a.k.a. the antichrist), and they (also) worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war against him?”
5 And the beast was given a mouth speaking insolent (proud, haughty) words and blasphemies (words against God), and [he was allowed] to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He (or, it* {where appropriate}) opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander (blaspheme) his name, and his dwelling place (his tabernacle), and those who dwell in heaven. 7. [Also,] he was given power (was allowed) to make war against the saints and to conquer (overcome) them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.

*in referring to the beast, some versions say "it" instead of "he".

3. The Explanation

At the end of the previous lesson (part 3), we saw that the last verse, verse Rev 13:4, told us from whom the antichrist (the beast) receives his power and authority: from Satan himself:

4 So they worshiped the dragon, for he had given authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war against him?”

In our second lesson, we saw that in verse Rev 13:2, it says that the antichrist had a mouth like a lion. That means many things, but one thing is for certain: that the Satanically empowered antichrist does not have to ask anyone for permission to speak, nor to receive counsel on what to say. The antichrist will clearly say what he wants to, and most of what he says falls into the categories of:

(1) insolent, arrogant, proud, haughty, pompous, flattering and destructive words, and
(2) words against God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), words against the very name of God, against the place where God dwells (in the highest heaven), and even against those who dwell with God in heaven, and
(3) lying and deceiving words, about who he (the antichrist) is, and what he (the antichrist) will do. If the antichrist is not lying about himself, he will be lying about God.

It may be that he will start out his rise to power primarily with words, but will move to actions as the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation unfold. This was the way it was with Adolf Hitler. He gave lots of economic and political speeches at the start, and also did much “motivational speaking" (from the pit of hell), but Hitler’s first action failed and he was thrown into prison (more like protective custody in an apartment). And soon thereafter, the works of darkness came gushing forth. This is not an unusual pattern. After a small failure, great victory.

So, it may be also, that in the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation, we may see some failures in the actions of the antichrist – but scripture says in 13:4b :

and [he was allowed] to exercise his authority for forty-two months.

I have written elsewhere that there are seven passages in scripture where it mentions the 42 months, (which is the same as) 3 ½ years, (which is the same as) 1260 days. My position is that in ALL seven passages, the events mentioned refer to the second 3 ½ years, the second half of the tribulation, also known as the Great Tribulation. This is when the antichrist will be permitted to exercise this power and authority that he has received from Satan himself.

When will the antichrist actually come upon the scene? Will it be at the midpoint of the tribulation? Or will it be at the start of the tribulation? Or will it be at the rapture of the church, when the church is snatched away from the earth to meet the Lord Jesus in the air (see 1 Thess 4:13-18)? Or will it be even earlier, possibly even in our present time?

The world will definitely be aware of the antichrist before the midpoint of the tribulation. And here is why: Chapter 6 of the book of Revelation is considered by almost all students and teachers of the word to be at the very start of the tribulation. There the event that opens Chapter 6 is when the Lamb (the Lord Jesus) opens the first of the seven seals (the first of many judgments occurring in the book of Revelation).

When that first seal is opened, scripture says:

“Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder “COME!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”

Now who is this rider, and how is he conquering?

In a future post, I will discuss all the reasons why this rider on a white horse is not the rider on the white horse in Rev 19:11, where it says “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! And he who sat on him was called faithful and true. And in righteousness he judges and makes war”. It is clear from the context that this rider is Jesus, coming back in great splendor and glory to put all enemies under his feet, and to prepare the world for the start of his 1000 year reign.

The main reason above all reasons that the rider in Rev chapter 6 is not Jesus, but rather the antichrist, is because of those three other riders who immediately follows him in his wake: three more horses bringing death and destruction, and the rider of the second horse is specifically given power to “take peace from the earth, and to make men slay each other. And he was given a great sword.”

It is generally believed that the tribulation in chapters 6 through 19 is mostly chronological, with periodic parenthetical sections (see my outline of Revelation at post #23)

So, this second rider who will take peace from the earth, will come soon after the first rider, maybe only months, or weeks, or days, after the first rider. So how did the first rider “conquer”? He must have conquered with peace! Nations and peoples must have been convinced to join some sort of world alliance promoted by the antichrist in bringing peace to the earth.

There is another event that is also generally considered to be at the opening of the tribulation, brought about by the antichrist (which is a second reason why the first rider is most likely the antichrist) – and that event is the signing of a 7-year peace treaty between Israel and her enemies, OR, between Israel and the antichrist, acting as Israel’s protector.

The event that marks the mid-point, the 3 ½ year point, is when antichrist breaks that peace treaty, and sells Israel out to its enemies. But if you’ve been reading here all along, you know that Israel is miraculously rescued, and whisked away to a place of protection in a wilderness location for 1260 days (3 ½ years).

The verses in bold at the start of this lesson, speak primarily of the last 3 ½ years, where he will speak against God and the things of God horribly, and, as it says in verse 13:7, “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to conquer them.”

Saints? Who are these saints? By way of reminder, according to the premillennial, pre-trib position, all the church was taken up to be with God sometime before the start of the seven-year tribulation. So, as this viewpoint goes, there are no Christian believers left on the earth immediately after the rapture. But when the rapture occured, there were likely many who were weeks, and days, and hours (and minutes?!) away from making a decision to believe in Jesus; and now these people are easily convinced. And so, shortly after the rapture a new set of believers emerge, the saints of the tribulation.

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I am cutting off the lesson here (as Part 4A.), so we can consider what I have said to this point, and will complete the lesson (Part 4B.) soon. We'll learn more about these tribulation "saints", and more about the condition of all the other people in the world, those who are convinced to follow the antichrist.

Please post your comments and questions about the studies.

Next lesson:
Part 4B. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power (Post #78 Link)
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