2. Satan is coming, again to setup himself up in place of GOD, like he did in the time of old, with another beast kingdom on earth.
In Rev.13 we are told of a beast that comes out of the sea having ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns. In Revelation 13:2 our Lord reveals links to the beast kingdom types of Daniel 7. We can't forget the link with the seven crown beast kingdom of Rev.12 that Satan used of old though.
Men's traditions are ever playing with the beast idea in Rev.13, assigning all kinds of ideas to it when often it's Satan playing with their minds to confuse the Scripture to them. Two different beasts are mentioned there, the first one is a kingdom, because it has ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns. The second beast mentioned starting in Revelation 13:11 is about "another beast", a 2nd one, but a person instead. Who is it? The Pope? An Arab king? The U.S. President? A ruler from the EU? All of those ideas have been offered. But the reality of his identity is simple when heeding the actual Scripture.
Rev 13:11-14
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
This 2nd beast comes up out of the earth. If you've already done study in all of the Book of Revelation, you should recall Rev.11:7 says a beast ascends out of the bottomless pit to kill God's two witnesses in Jerusalem for the end. That was 2 Chapters back, so we should recall that. Then back in Chapter 9 we were told there is a king which is an angel over the bottomless pit and his name in the Greek is Apollyon (perdition) and in Hebrew is Abaddon (destroyer). And when you get to Rev.17, we are told about the beast that was, and is not, and yet is, ascending out of the bottomless pit, involving the idea of a beast king.
So how many clues does one need to realize all that is pointing directly to Satan himself. Why does he here have two horns 'like' a lamb but speak as a dragon? Back in Revelation 12:9 we were shown some of Satan's titles. One of his titles is the "dragon".
Our Lord Jesus is The Lamb slain; He came to die on the cross for us, meek as a lamb. Yet Satan here is shown playing the role of a meek lamb. What's that about? Do you recall how Satan coveted God's throne originally? Satan wants to be The Christ, and usurp His throne.
This is not showing us some flesh born man is going to try and do this. It is showing us that Satan himself, de facto, IN PERSON, is going to try to do this, again, i.e., usurp God's throne and try to rule over God's people.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
The 1st beast of course is a kingdom beast. One of its seven heads is to suffer a deadly wound. But that wound is shown having been healed here when this "another beast" shows up.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
KJV
We were warned about a false one before by our Lord Jesus that that false one would come doing those great signs and wonders on earth, as He warned us to not believe on that false one when the deceived proclaim him as Christ (Matthew 24:23-26; KJV "false Christs" = a pseudo Messiah). Apostle Paul also warned of that false one coming prior to our Lord Jesus' coming to gather His Church, and how that false one would set himself up as God in a stone temple in Jerusalem, doing those signs and wonders on earth to deceive.
This isn't about some flesh man doing those miracles on earth by being possessed by Satan. It will be Satan himself doing those things here on earth in the sight of men.
Rev 12:7-12
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
That phrase in red is especially important. This war in heaven happens at the end of this world we will find out later here. When it happens, notice there is no more place found for Satan in heaven. Right now, he is allowed to move freely between heaven and earth (1 Peter 5:8). There are only 2 different dimensions of existence written of in God's Word, this earthly where we live, and the heavenly where God and the angels live, behind a veil we cannot see. The heavenly is also where Satan dwells in a place of separation called Hades. At this war, Satan is kicked out of the heavenly. That leaves only one other place he can go. Where do you think that is? HERE, on earth in OUR dimension.
This means Satan is coming HERE, on earth, in person. Recall that angels can... appear, work and live on earth (Gen.19). They don't need a flesh body. We learn this especially with the mating of the fallen angels with flesh woman in Genesis 6 that produced the giant hybrids which God did not create.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Not only is Satan in person coming, but his angels are coming with him!
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.'
Did you know Satan stands as our accuser against us before God's throne in heaven? In this world he is allowed to approach God's throne as he did in the Book of Job. But at this point, when he is cast out of heaven to our earth, he will no longer be allowed in heaven to accuse us. In heaven at that point when this war happens and Satan and his angels are cast out, Christ's Salvation will come there in the heavenly. This reveals this casting out is not of old, but for the future in our time.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
That is about those saints on the 5th Seal that ask how long, and are told their brethren must be beheaded as they were, overcoming in Christ. That again reveals what timing this casting out is, i.e, for the end of this world. These on the 5th Seal timing is about the time of great tribulation. This reveals Satan's casting out here is tribulation timing.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
KJV
That "short time" is the shortened time of great tribulation Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 24.
Rev 13:4-9
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
KJV
Do you have ears to hear, meaning spiritual ears? Can you understand this is about Satan in person coming to this earth in OUR dimension, and that we will see him in the form of a man? Our Heavenly Father said that he made him "perfect in beauty" (Ezekiel 28:12-14). So he's not going to have a goatee, horns, a pitchfork and red flannel underwear. He is a beautiful looking cherub.
