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The Legacy Standard Bible has been produced with the conviction that the words of Scripture as originally penned in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are the eternal Word of God. The Holy Scriptures speak with authority to each generation, giving wisdom that leads to salvation, that people may serve Christ to the glory of God. Because it is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), every word of it is inspired, every word is true, and every word must be conveyed to every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (Rev. 7:9), so that every word can be taught and obeyed (Josh. 23:14; Mt. 28:20; Jn. 17:17).
THE FOURFOLD AIM OF THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION
1. These publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
2. They shall be grammatically correct.
3. They shall be understandable.
4. They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the place which the Word gives Him; therefore, no work will ever be personalized.
PREFACE TO THE LEGACY STANDARD BIBLE
In the history of the English Bible translations, the King James Version is the most well-known. This time-honored version of 1611, itself a revision of the Bishops’ Bible of 1568, became the basis for the English Revised Version, which appeared in 1881 (New Testament) and 1885 (Old Testament). Its American counterpart, a product of both British and American scholarship, was published in 1901. Recognizing the values of the American Standard Version, The Lockman Foundation felt an urgency to preserve the ASV while incorporating recent discoveries of Hebrew and Greek textual sources and rendering it into more current English. This resulted in the New American Standard Bible, a translation based upon the time-honored principles of translation of the ASV and KJV, along with other linguistic tools and biblical scholarship.
The Legacy Standard Bible reflects another iteration of such preservation and refinement. Worked on by a core translation team in conjunction with pastors and educators from different countries, it is designed to honor, maintain, and advance the tradition represented by the NASB.
PRINCIPLES OF TRANSLATION
Key Principles: The Legacy Standard Bible has worked to uphold the style and translational choices of the NASB as much as possible. Even more, it has endeavored to follow through on the NASB’s stated intent to be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. While the interpreter, teacher, and pastor have the goal of understanding what the text means, the translator is to provide them with what the text says. Consistently, the goal of this translation is to be a window into the original text. Within that goal, this revision has focused upon accuracy and consistency. It has checked that words and grammar have been carried over properly. It also established rules for the consistent translation of terms within their various nuances. This allows the reader to more easily reconstruct what the original texts said. It also helps the reader more easily trace the flow of argument within a text, identify when the same word is used in another passage, and make connections between texts.
There are limits to the application of this philosophy. In this edition, a word might not be translated consistently in order to maintain a highly familiar rendering of a text or to preserve a wordplay in the text that advances the inspired author’s message. Moreover, because Scripture is a literary masterpiece, some linguistic features could not be transferred to this translation, not even by a note. Nevertheless, ensuring that the original languages are precisely rendered paves the way for careful readers to discover these insights for themselves.
In this way, the LSB upholds the philosophy that a translation does not replace pastors or teachers but rather depends upon faithful believers and the church to study and live out what has been written (Acts 8:30-31). Translation is a tool for the church and must be done in that context so that each word of Scripture may be taught and lived.
Modern English Usage: The attempt has been made to render the grammar and terminology in contemporary English. When word-for-word literalness was determined unacceptable to the modern reader; a change was made in the direction of a more current English idiom. In the instances where this has been done, the more literal rendering has been indicated in the notes. There are a few exceptions to this procedure. Of note, while an effort has been made to incorporate conjunctions as much as possible, the conjunction “and” is occasionally not translated at the beginning of sentences because of differences in style between ancient and modern writing. Punctuation is a relatively modern invention, and ancient writers often linked most of their sentences with “and” or other connectives.
Alternate Readings: In addition to the more literal renderings, notations have been made to include readings of variant manuscripts, explanatory equivalents of the text, and alternate translations that may bring out a play on words difficult to maintain in the text. These notations have been used specifically to assist the reader in comprehending the terms used by the original author.
THE COMMITMENTS OF THE LEGACY STANDARD BIBLE
The Legacy Standard Bible aspires to be a legacy preserved – to uphold the work and tradition that is found in translations from the KJV, ASV, to NASB.
The Legacy Standard Bible aspires to be a legacy performed – to advance the commitments of past translations by bringing forth features of the original text relative to accuracy and consistency.
The Legacy Standard Bible aspires to be a legacy passed on – to equip generations to study Scripture and continue the philosophy of being a window.
~ The Lockman Foundation
For additional information we recommend you contact The Lockman Foundation -- https://www.lockman.org/legacy-standard-bible-lsb/
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Tribulation Signs - Mark Of The Beast - Audio Link
MARK OF THE BEAST
Text: Revelation 13, and Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we begin today’s sermon, I just want You to know how thankful we are for
Your Word and the truths it reveals. We pray for understanding of the
Scriptures and wisdom in applying them to our lives. We ask for the Holy Spirit
to help us live them out daily. We also pray for others who might be listening
to this message on our website that their lives will be transformed by the
saving power of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Introduction: Jakob Frenkiel grew up as one of seven sons in a Jewish
family outside of Warsaw, Poland. Jakob was ten years old when Germany declared
war against Poland in 1939 – old enough to remember the German soldiers
invading his town and burning down the wooden synagogue close to his home. Like
so many Jews during that time, Jakob and the other males of his family were
eventually shipped to a concentration camp.
For Jakob and his brothers, it was Auschwitz. He said in his own words: At age 12, I was put in a group of men to be sent to labor camps. More than a year later, we were shipped to Auschwitz. The day after we arrived, my
brother Chaim and I were lined up with kids and old people. I asked a prisoner
what was going to happen to us. He pointed to the chimneys. “Tomorrow the smoke
will be from you.” He said if we could get a number tattooed on our arms, we’d
be put to work instead of being killed. We sneaked to the latrine, then escaped
through a back door and lined up with the men getting tattoos.
Virtual Library offers an explanation for the use of tattoos: While
it cannot be determined with absolute certainty, it seems that tattooing was
implemented mainly for ease of identification whether in the case of death or
escape; the practice continued until the last days of Auschwitz.
As citizens of the modern world and participants in a (quote) “civilized”
culture, we like to think the Holocaust represents the last time a mark will be
used for identification as a way of perpetuating evil in our world on such a
large scale. But that is an incorrect assumption. Satan plans to use another
mark during the Tribulation, the mark of the Beast, and its use will be
worldwide. Though we looked at it briefly in a previous lesson, today we’re
going to explore it in more detail.
I. THE PERSONALITIES
BEHIND THE MARK
[READ Rev. 13:11a]
11a Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth ….
This beast is later identified as the False Prophet (16:13).
While the False Prophet will be the implementor of the
mark, he will be acting on authority that comes from higher up. As John tells us,
[READ Rev. 13:12a]
12a And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
And where does the first beast, the Antichrist, get his power?
[READ Rev. 13:2b]
2b … The dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
Satan himself will instigate all the terrible evil of the
Tribulation period with the Antichrist and the False Prophet acting as his
diabolical agents.
The False Prophet, working on behalf of the Antichrist,
will use the mark to subjugate the world during the Tribulation period. John
tells us …
[READ Rev. 13:16-17]
16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the
poor, and the free men and the slaves, that they be given a mark on their right
hand or on their forehead, 17 and that no one will be able to
buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the
beast or the number of his name.
As the word “prophet” indicates, the False Prophet
will be the kind of religious leader Jesus warned about when He said ...
[READ Mt 7:15a]
15a Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Many false prophets have come and gone, but none have had
the devastating impact on the world’s population that the False Prophet of
Revelation will inflict. He will use religion to deceive the world, and once
deceived, he will use the mark of the Beast to enslave all people economically,
forcing them to endure the unrelenting tyranny of Satan and the Antichrist.
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE
MARK
Revelation 13:17 tells us what the mark will do on a
day-to-day basis.
[READ Rev. 13:17]
17 … No one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the
mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Only those who have the mark of the Antichrist’s name or his number,
identifying them as his followers, will be able to sell goods and services to
support themselves and secure what they need. Anyone refusing to wear the mark
will struggle to survive.
It’s notable that the word mark in verse 17, is translated
from the Greek charâgma. The charâgma was a symbol
used pretty much like notary seals are used today. The symbol consisted of a
portrait of the emperor and the year of his reign. It was required to complete
commercial transactions and was stamped in wax on official documents to
authenticate their validity. The mark of Beast will function in a similar way,
identifying those who bear it as worshipers of the Beast and permitting them to
conduct financial transactions.
This fusion of government and religion will put the squeeze on these
Christian rebels, leaving them nowhere to turn. Those who refuse the mark will
be shut out of society altogether. No one will buy their products or services.
Barred from employment and from shopping in stores or online, they will face
bankruptcy and starvation.
Given our modern financial system, it’s hard to imagine a scenario
in which Christians are shut out like this. But the Bible is clear that Satan’s
intent is not only to keep them from a means of survival, but also to force
them to make a decision: Will they continue to stand for Christ, refusing the
mark despite the hardship promised? Or will they succumb to the loyalty demands
of Satan and take the mark to relieve that hardship?
In many countries now, Christians face persecution and even death
when they stand for Christ, just as those without the mark will during the
Tribulation. During that time, these questions will be put before the entire
world’s population, without exception. They will come in the form of the
offered mark, supposedly to promote a good life, but with the intent to make
clear who will live for Christ and who will yield to Satan.
III. THE PERPLEXITY ABOUT THE MARK
It’s not unusual for people who have never read the Bible
or heard a sermon about it to at least know something about the mark of the
Beast and its associated number, 666. The mark and number have been featured in
novels and feature films, invoking mystery and terror, but usually with little
to no solid biblical content. In fact, some TV and film scripts make jokes
about the mark, as if Satan’s work can ever be a laughing matter.
This exposure is enough to make people wary of the number
666. For example, in the same way many high-rise building owners refuse to
designate a thirteenth floor, many people try to eliminate the number 666
sequence from their phone numbers, home addresses, license plate numbers, and
almost any other personal number you can think of. Maybe you have done that as
well; the number itself can be unsettling.
No one knows what form the mark of the Beast will take.
John gives us a mysterious clue that has tantalized theologians for centuries.
[READ Rev. 13:18]
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number
of the beast, for it is the number of man; and his number is 666.
Theories about the meaning of the number 666 run rampant,
ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd. No coincidence or fact from the
Bible or from history is safe from becoming a subject for speculation. For
example, Goliath stood six cubits high; the head of his spear weighed 600
shekels; and he wore 6 items of armor (see 1 Sam. 17:4-7). Will the
Antichrist be another Goliath? The statue of Nebuchadnezzar stood sixty cubits
high, six cubits wide, and six musical instruments summoned the Babylonians to
worship it (Dan. 3:1, 5). Will the Antichrist be a revived Babylonian
emperor? Numbers in names and on calendars have been manipulated to designate
the Pope, Hitler, and many US presidents as the Antichrist. But these
interpretations are nothing more than contrivances. The bottom line is no one
knows yet what the real meaning of 666 is.
The most likely answer is probably the least sensational.
John tells us that 666 is the number of a man. Could he be saying simply that
this number refers to humanity in general? The Bible often connects the number
six with mankind. Humans were created on the sixth day. We are tasked to work
six days a week. Hebrew slavery was limited to six years.
By contrast, the number associated with God is seven. He
created many things in sets of sevens – 7 colors in the spectrum; 7 notes in
the diatonic musical scale; and 7 days in a week. God also ordained many events
in series of sevens: 7 feasts of Jehovah (Lev. 23); 7 priests bearing 7
trumpets led the Israelite army around Jericho for 7 days – then 7 times on the
7th day – causing the city walls to fall (Josh. 6). The
number seven is found more than 30 times in the book of Revelation, which includes
7 of each of the following items: 7 churches, 7 spirits, 7 stars, 7 lamps, 7
lampstands, 7 seals, 7 horns, 7 eyes, 7 angels, 7 plagues, 7 bowls, 7
mountains, 7 kings, 7 beatitudes, 7 judgments, 7 letters, 7 songs, and 7 “I
am” statements of Christ.
Seven is often called the perfect number, while six is an
incomplete number. When you try to indicate the fraction 2/3rds
decimally, your calculator strings out an endless succession of sixes, never
quite completing a precise presentation of 2/3rds. This may indicate
the significance of 666. It is the number of humanity and no matter how many
sixes you add, it never reaches the perfection of seven – God’s number. Man
without God is always incomplete, and we long for the completeness we can find
only in a relationship with Him.
It would be much more beneficial to abandon our quest for the
meaning of 666 and focus instead on the desire which that incomplete number
should arouse in us – the desire to rise above our fallen nature and find
completeness in God.
Humans seem to have a built-in desire for completeness. We see this
desire at work in the story about a trick the mischievous children of the
composer Johann Sebastian Bach sometimes played on their father. According to
the legend, shortly after he went upstairs to bed, the children would sneak to
the parlor harpsichord and play all the notes of the scale except the last one.
Even though Bach was freshly snuggled into his bed, he could not stand hearing
the incomplete scale lingering in his mind – it nearly drove him mad. He had to
get out of bed, put on his robe, descend the stairs, and plunk that final,
scale-completing key.
You see, our very nature longs for completion, not only of the
musical scale, but also of ourselves. We should use the number 666 to remind us
that since the fall of mankind something has been missing from our lives. That “something”
is found in a Someone – Jesus Christ Himself, the perfect One who can
give us the completeness we lack.
IV. THE PRECURSORS TO THE MARK
The apostle John didn’t know how the False Prophet could
cause a mark to have such power to divide and conquer; he just knew he would.
But I think we, living in the 21st century have some idea of what
can make it possible for the False Prophet to effectively weaponize the mark of
the Beast: technology.
Living in the first century, John would likely have
understood the mark to be like a tattoo or a brand on the skin. The possibility
of using a microchip or other technologies we have today would have been an
unfathomable mystery to him. But these technologies are advancing almost at lightspeed,
and there is little doubt that the technology for implementing the mark of the
Beast is either already here or a new one will arise to be fully developed and
realized in the time of the Tribulation.
I believe we’re already in the last days, and we know the
Rapture could come at any time. We also know that the mark of the Beast will be
fully employed in the middle of the 7-year Tribulation period. This could mean
the extreme hardships caused by the mark could in all actuality be no more than
3½ years away -- making it a very real danger for much of the world’s present
population.
While we have no idea exactly how technology might be
used to implement the coming mark of the Beast, present technology already
indicates a couple of ways by which it could happen.
The first is through microchips and sensors. The practice
of implanting microchips in humans is growing because people are attracted to
the benefits of ease and safety they provide. Microchips can be implanted
invisibly under the skin. They can be read by short-range frequency
identification (RFID) signals to enable the wearer to buy goods in stores
without using a plastic card or cell phone. Microchips can also be used to
identify everyone who walks through a security checkpoint.
But there’s a downside. There are “concerns about the
wrong people accessing personal information and tracking you via the chips.”
Think about that: “the wrong people.” What people could be more wrong
than the Beast and his conspirators? Yet despite the serious and obvious
downsides, more and more people are willingly acquiring and submitting to
microchip implants to take advantage of their perceived convenience and benefits.
All the way back in January of 2018, Amazon opened a
convenience store in Seattle testing new technology that could become common
nationwide. It’s based on a grab-and-go concept with no cashiers, no shopping
carts, and no checkout lines. Using a combination of cell phone technology and
in-store scanners, shoppers’ accounts are automatically debited electronically
as they carry goods out of the store.
Now picture this: during the Tribulation, store scanners
reading data from shoppers’ implanted microchips as they attempt to buy food or
other necessities. If they don’t have the mark of approval, if they’ve refused
to worship the Antichrist and give in to the system put into place by the False
Prophet, they’ll go without.
Another possible precursor to the mark of the Beast is
Bitcoin. Bitcoin is completely virtual money not issued or controlled by a
centralized government. Physical coins and currency are completely eliminated,
and all money is electronic, tracked either by implanted chips or on the
Internet. Some believe Bitcoin could pave the way for the future mark of the
Beast.
Oh, and have you heard about Neuralink? It is a company
that has developed non-invasive, brain-computer interfaces by way of a brain
implant. The implant is known as the N1 Implant or “the Link.” This
coin-sized brain chip is surgically embedded under the skull, where it receives
information from neural threads that fan out into different sections of a
subject’s brain in control of motor skills. In other words, one’s brain
activity data is captured not only when they take action, but also if they
think about taking action. These brain chip devices record complex data sets,
and then machine learning algorithms and other artificial intelligence agents
are then employed to make sense of the information. According to Neuralink’s
website, the company’s initial goal is to help those immobilized by paralysis
to control external devices with their thoughts and regain lost communication
skills. Down the line, it intends to pursue restoring motor, sensory and visual
functions as well as treatment of neurological disorders. Also, a
Neuralink-like device has the potential to enhance human memory, processing
speed and cognitive abilities by creating a direct interface between the human
brain and digital devices. As of January 2026, there are 21 individuals with
this chip as it goes through test trials to further develop the product. Though
on the surface “the link” may sound like an amazing and benevolent
device, do not be deceived. There are numerous ways the Antichrist and False
Prophet could hijack this technology to their own evil ends.
How or if these particular technologies will be used to
implement the mark would be mere speculation at this point in time. The False
Prophet might use either one of these technologies, a combination of them, or
some technology yet to be invented. Really, we don’t know for certain how the
mark of the Beast will be incorporated until it’s too late.
V. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE END?
The form and nature of the mark will remain a mystery
until it is actually implemented. But there is no mystery about the future of
those who accept the mark. As long as the Beast maintains control, all will be
well with those who accept it. But their time of prosperity will be short,
followed swiftly by the inevitable judgment of God.
[READ Rev. 14:9-11]
9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud
voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his
forehead or on his hand, 10 and he also will drink of the wine
of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His rage,
and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone 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; they have no rest day and night, those
who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his
name.”
While the Beast maintains control, followers of Christ who refuse
the mark will experience deadly persecution. But after that, John tells us.
[READ Rev. 20:4]
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to
them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of
their witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also had not
worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their
forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years.
Christians who reject the mark will be acting on the admonition of Christ who said,
[READ Mt. 10:28]
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the
soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
You may believe you are safely exempted from this warning because
Christ will take the church into heaven before the horrors of the Tribulation
begin. You will never have to make the decision to refuse the mark and face the
suffering that will follow. While this is true, it does not exempt you from the
possibility of facing persecution. Christians have suffered for their faith
throughout history, and many around the world are suffering severely right now
while we’re in our comfortable church. We live in a fallen world, which means “the
whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now” (Rom.
8:22). These “birth pangs” will get increasingly worse as we move
toward the time when all comes crashing down in the Tribulation period.
Even today, we must choose. Will we be marked as God’s own in our
hearts and in our actions? Or will we be marked as Satan’s own? Will we stand
up for Christ, God’s Son, no matter what the personal cost may be? Will we
endure any hardship or persecution for His sake?
Conclusion: Let me bring today’s message to a close by
asking you one final question, which you may find difficult to answer. If you were forced to choose between standing
with God by rejecting the mark or taking it to ensure the immediate safety and
security of your family, what would you do? We see the right answer powerfully
demonstrated in the account of the three young Jewish men as related by the
prophet Daniel.
[READ Dan. 3:1, 4-6]
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of
gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six
cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon …. 4 Then
the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, O peoples, nations, and men
of every tongue, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of
the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you
are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has
set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall
immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.”
After the image was unveiled, the people of Babylon were
ordered to assemble before it. The musical call to worship was sounded, and
immediately the entire population fell to their knees. That is, all but three
young men who stood tall and unbending among the carpet of worshipers
surrounding them. These three men were Jews taken from Jerusalem whom we know
by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Their refusal to
worship the image infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar. Yet he offered them a second
chance, warning if they refused to bow a second time, they would be cast alive
into a superheated furnace of fire.
As we read the response of these three courageous men, see
if it doesn’t stir your soul, causing you to ask yourself if you would be able
to reply in the same manner, as it does mine every time I read of their
encounter.
[READ Dan. 3:16-18]
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and
said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with
an answer concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our
God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He
will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 But
if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your
gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
These three brave men were precursors to those in the
coming Tribulation period who will refuse the mark of the Beast. Like Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, they will refuse the safe and easy path and choose to
stand for God rather than bow to evil.
We often tend to make the right choices much too complex.
When the outcome seems doubtful or ominous, we want to hold off the decision
while we weigh all the factors, examine all the nuances, and consider all the
outcomes. But in essence, almost all moral decisions are starkly simple: either
we stand for God or we fall for Satan. Whether the result will be inconvenient
or painful or even fatal should never be a factor. The only decision to be made
is whether you are on God’s side, which means you will follow Him regardless of
the cost.
The decision may mean repression or loss of freedom. It
may even mean death. But if we stand tall and true to God while all others are
taking the mark and bowing to the image, we can rely on His promise that we
will ultimately reign with Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are amazed that You have
given us such a clear glimpse of the future. Nowhere else except in the pages
of Scripture is the future revealed, and so clearly. We know where the world is
going. Rapidly Satan is already moving toward a one-world religion and a
one-world government, setting the stage for the Antichrist and the False
Prophet. In that day, no doubt billions will perish. While it is still day,
before the night comes, may we be faithful to proclaim the saving gospel of Christ
and see people rescued from the wrath to come. Lord, we are so grateful to You
that we do not look forward to such an awful event, but rather we wait for Your
Son from heaven, whom You raised from the dead – Jesus who delivers us from the
wrath to come. It’s in this hope that we live and rejoice. And it’s to this
hope we call people so that they might enter into the same joy that we’ve
found. Make us ever faithful to that calling, in Jesus’ name I pray name, Amen.
Invitation # 204: “Rock of Ages” (4
vs.)
Benediction: Beloved, this is
a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we
endure, we will also reign with Him; but if we deny Him, He also will deny us. Yet
even if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. Amen!
(2 Tim. 2:11-13)
MARK OF THE BEAST - Study Guide
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs (Pt. 4, Lesson 25) - July 26, 2026 - Rev. Alan Cousins
MAIN TEXTS: Rev. 13 (LSB)
INTRODUCTION: As citizens of the modern world and participants in a “civilized”
culture, we like to think the Holocaust represents the last time a mark will be
used for identification as a way of perpetuating evil in our world on such a
large scale. But that is an incorrect assumption. Satan plans to use another
mark during the Tribulation, the mark of the Beast, and its use will be
worldwide. Though we looked at this mark it briefly in the lesson on the False
Prophet, today we’re going to explore it in more detail.
I. PERSONALITIES BEHIND THE MARK
Many Christians are surprised to learn that
the mark of the Beast will not be implemented personally by the Antichrist –
the Beast that arises from the sea (Rev. 13:1). Later in the same chapter, John
tells us that this mark will be initiated by a second beast …
Revelation 13:11a
This beast is later identified as the False
Prophet (16:13). While the False Prophet will be the implementor of the mark,
he will be acting on authority that comes from higher up.
Revelation 13:12a, 13:2b
Satan himself will instigate all the terrible
evil of the Tribulation period with the Antichrist and the False Prophet acting
as his diabolical agents.
The False Prophet, working on behalf of the
Antichrist, will use the mark to subjugate the world during the Tribulation period.
Revelation 13:16-17
As the word “prophet”indicates, the False Prophet will be the kind of religious leader Jesus warned about.
Matthew 7:15a
Many false prophets have come and gone, but
none have had the devastating impact on the world’s population that the False
Prophet will inflict. He will use religion to deceive the world, and once
deceived, he will use the mark of the Beast to enslave all people economically,
forcing them to endure the unrelenting tyranny of Satan and the Antichrist.
II. PURPOSE OF THE MARK
Revelation 13:17
Only those who have the mark of the
Antichrist’s name or his number, identifying them as his followers, will be
able to sell goods and services to support themselves and secure what they
need. Anyone refusing to wear the mark will struggle to survive.
The word “mark” is verse 17, is the
Greek word charâgma. This was a symbol used much like notary
seals are used today. The symbol consisted of a portrait of the emperor and the
year of his reign.
The fusion of government and religion will
squeeze Christian rebels, leaving them nowhere to turn. Those who refuse the
mark will be shut out of society altogether. Barred from employment and from
shopping in stores or online, they will face bankruptcy and starvation.
The Bible is clear that Satan’s intent is not only to keep Christians from a means
of survival, but also to force them to make a decision: Will they continue to
stand for Christ, refusing the mark despite the hardship promised? Or will they
succumb to the loyalty demands of Satan and take the mark to relieve that hardship?
III. PERPLEXITY ABOUT THE MARK
The mark of the Beast and its associated number 666, have been featured in novels
and feature films, invoking mystery and terror, but usually with little to no
solid biblical content.
No one knows what form the mark of the Beast will take. John gives us a mysterious
clue that has tantalized theologians for centuries.
Revelation 13:18
Numbers in names and on calendars have been
manipulated to designate the Pope, Hitler, and many US presidents as the
Antichrist. But these interpretations are nothing more than contrivances. The
bottom line is no one knows yet what the real meaning of 666 is.
It would be much more beneficial to abandon
our quest for the meaning of 666 and focus instead on the desire which that
incomplete number should arouse in us – the desire to rise above our fallen
nature and find completeness in God.
Since the fall of mankind something has been
missing from our lives. That “something” is found in a Someone – Jesus
Christ Himself, the perfect One who can give us the completeness we lack.
IV. PRECURSORS TO THE MARK
Now living in the 21st century, I think we have some idea of what can
make it possible for the False Prophet to effectively weaponize the mark of the
Beast: technology.
Here are a few technologies that could be used to create the mark of the Beast: (1)
microchips or sensors; (2) cell phones and scanners; (3) Bitcoin or one of its
competitors; or (4) Neuralink – brain-computer interfaces.
How or if these particular technologies will be used to implement the mark would be
mere speculation at this point in time. The False Prophet might use either one
of these technologies, a combination of them, or some technology yet to be invented.
V. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE END
The form and nature of the mark will remain a mystery until it is actually
implemented. But there is no mystery about the future of those who accept the
mark. As long as the Beast maintains control, all will be well with those who
accept it. But their time of prosperity will be short, followed swiftly by the
inevitable judgment of God.
Revelation 14:9-11
While the Beast maintains control, followers
of Christ who refuse the mark will experience deadly persecution.
Revelation 20:4; Matthew 10:28
If
you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will never have
to make the decision to refuse the mark and face the suffering that will
follow. While this is true, it does not exempt you from the possibility of
facing persecution.
Will
we be marked as God’s own in our hearts and in our actions? Or will we be
marked as Satan’s own? Will we stand up for Christ, God’s Son, no matter what
the personal cost may be? Will we endure any hardship or persecution for His
sake?
CONCLUSION: If you were forced to choose between standing with God by rejecting the
mark or taking it to ensure the immediate safety and security of your family,
what would you do?
THE
EXAMPLE OF SHADRACH, MESHACH, & ABED-NEGO
Daniel 3:1, 4-6; 3:16-18
These three brave men were precursors to
those in the coming Tribulation period who will refuse the mark of the Beast.
They will refuse the safe and easy path and choose to stand for God rather than
bow to evil.
We often tend to make the right choices much
too complex. When the outcome seems doubtful or ominous, we want to hold off
the decision while we weigh all the factors, examine all the nuances, and
consider all the outcomes. But in essence, almost all moral decisions are
starkly simple: either we stand for God or we fall for Satan. Whether the
result will be inconvenient or painful or even fatal should never be a factor.
The only decision to be made is whether you are on God’s side, which means you
will follow Him regardless of the cost.
The decision may mean repression or loss of
freedom. It may even mean death. But if we stand tall and true to God while all
others are taking the mark and bowing to the image, we can rely on His promise
that we will ultimately reign with Him.
Will You Choose Christ Today?
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10
This prayer is about the internal disposition needed for
genuine faith. It’s not just about saying words, but about the heart’s true
longing for God. A sincere heart is one that is honest before God, recognizing
its own imperfections and actively seeking His divine intervention. It’s a
heart that is ready to be molded and transformed by His love and truth. True
acceptance comes from a place of genuine desire, a yearning to be reconciled
with our Creator and to walk in His light. This sincerity is what God looks
for, a willingness to be vulnerable and to allow His spirit to work within us,
preparing us for the incredible gift of salvation.
Lord Jesus, I come before You today with a
humble and open heart. I acknowledge my need for Your saving grace and the
forgiveness You offer. I desire to surrender my life to You, to follow Your
teachings, and to live according to Your will. Please grant me a sincere heart
that truly desires to accept You as my Lord and Savior. Help me to let go of
past mistakes and to embrace the new life You promise.
Tribulation Signs - The Dragon - Audio Link
THE DRAGON
Text: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly Father, once again we thank You that we can
come to Your Word with confidence. We are learning that the more we study, the
longer we study, the deeper we study, the truer and clearer the Scriptures
become to us. We thank You that we are not without direction, that we do not
have to be confused about the future, because You have so clearly outlined it
for us.Bless our study today by giving us
focused minds and eager hearts for the truth. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Introduction: William Golding’s classic novel Lord of the Flies
tells the chilling story of a group of pre-adolescent British boys marooned by
an airplane crash on an uncharted Pacific island. They choose a leader who
tries to establish order to ensure survival. But jealousy and dissention soon
undermine his authority, and order disintegrates into chaos as rebellion and
sheer malice divide the boys into hostile camps. The chaos quickly descends
into savagery, as the boys yield to superstition and paranoia, smear themselves
with pig’s blood, and perform barbaric rituals. The rituals climax when a
decaying boar’s head, swarming with flies, is impaled on a pole and worshiped
as the Lord of the Flies. All semblance of order evaporates as some boys are
killed in ritualistic frenzies and a rebelling faction maliciously ignites a
forest fire that will destroy the entire island.
It’s the story of our world – past, present, and future. We’ve all sensed the reality of
it. It seems there is more evil operating in the world than mere human sin can
account for. Ever since humanity rejected God’s authority, there has been an
ever-present, lurking, persistent, dark force poised to invade the human heart
given the slightest opening – a force that is pushing the world toward a
cataclysmic end of ruin and destruction.
Lord of the Flies is a literal translation of “Beelzebub” or “Baal-Zebub”
from 2 Kings 1:2-3, 6, 16. The name is applied to “the ruler of the demons”
in the NT (see Mt. 12:24). Lord of the Flies actually
means “the lord of death, to which flies are attracted.” Beelzebub is
often synonymous with Satan, the antagonist in the drama of human history from
its beginning to is prophesied end. Satan, the lord of death, is our perennial
adversary, the archenemy of God and His creation. It was his rebellion that
corrupted creation and brought death and evil into the world. He has been
mankind’s bitter enemy, temper, and inflictor of grief ever since.
In Revelation 12, we learn a lot about this archfiend’s role in the end times
drama. John uses five phrases of such cosmic significance that all but one are
preceded by the adjective great – a great sign, a great dragon, a
great war, a great wrath, and finally, the wings of a great eagle. Today, we’re
going to explore these revealing symbols one by one.
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman
clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of
twelve stars. 2 And she was with child, and she cried out,
being in labor and in pain to give birth.
This woman, bathed in light, crowned with stars, and
laboring in the throes of childbirth, has endured many interpretations, but
only one is fully consistent with the Bible. She is most certainly the nation
of Israel, the target of Satan’s deadly malice.
The OT often characterizes Israel as a woman enduring the travail of childbirth.
[READ Isa. 26:17-18]
17 As the woman with child draws near to the
time to give birth, she writhes and cries out in her pangs of labor,
thus were we before You, O Yahweh. 18 We were with child, we
writhed in labor; we gave birth, as it seems, only to wind.
We could not accomplish salvation for the earth, and the inhabitants of the
world were not born. (see also Isa. 66:7-8; Mic. 4:10; 5:3)
This unhappy image of a pregnant woman failing to deliver
her child pictures Israel’s failure to deliver God’s light of hope to the
nations. Yet even after centuries of failure, the Jews had the honor of
delivering Christ to the world.
[READ Rev. 12:5] As John says,
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is to rule all
the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
This concise, yet powerful, verse highlights three of the
most significant events defining the role of Jesus Christ in human history.
1. Christ’s Incarnation: “She bore a male Child.”
2. Christ’s Ascension: “Her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”
3. Christ’s Second Coming:He will “rule all the nations with a rod of iron.”
The prediction that Christ will “rule all the nations
with a rod of iron” is reaffirmed in the final chapters of Revelation where
John describes Christ as He descends to fight mankind’s final battle:
[READ Rev. 19:15a]
15a And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so
that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron.
In this first great sign, we see Satan’s objective. He is
determined to destroy the woman’s Child to prevent both God’s redemptive
purpose and his own destruction.
II. THE GREAT DRAGON
[READ Rev. 12:3-4, 9]
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon
having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And
his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when
she gave birth he might devour her child. … 9 And the great dragon was
thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives
the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown
down with him.
Here we see Satan thwarted in his attempt to destroy the Christ
child. He and his army of fallen angels are driven from heaven and plunge
headlong to the earth. From that moment on, his trajectory is always downward.
Like a crashing plane caught in a tailspin, he falls from heaven to earth; from
earth to the bottomless pit; and from the abyss to the lake of fire.
Revelation 12 gives us more concentrated information about the
dragon, Satan, than any other chapter in the Bible. Here we learn about his
personality, his power, his partners, and his purpose.
SATAN’S PERSONALITY (See 2 Cor. 11:14; Isa. 14:12; Jn. 8:44)
The last verse we just read, Revelation 12:9, pictures Satan as a great dragon, an old serpent,
the Devil, and the world’s deceiver. These repugnant descriptions refer not to
his physical appearance but to his character. Movies and works of art often
portray Satan as physically hideous. But in reality, his appearance is bright
and glorious, as you would expect of an archangel – even a fallen one.
According to Paul, Satan “transforms himself into an angel of light” (2
Cor. 11:14). Isaiah calls him Lucifer, which means “the morning star” (Isa. 14:12).
Satan is the instigator of sin, which reflects his nature – appealing on the surface but
deadly when followed. Peel away his superficial attractiveness and you confront
the shocking truth: he is vile, vicious, ferocious, depraved, and diabolical.
Red is his traditional color – the color of blood, which stains his murderous
hands. Satan’s serpentine nature was on full display in Eden, where through
cunning deception he plotted the annihilation of humanity and succeeded in bringing
about our fall. This is why Jesus called him “a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44).
The word Satan means “adversary” – a name he notoriously lives up to, being the
archenemy of God and mankind. Peter calls him “a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Satan’s name occurs fifty-four times in
the Bible, fourteen times in the OT and forty in the NT.
The NT also refers to Satan as the Devil. The term for Devil in Greek is diabolos,
which means “slanderer.” It’s the term John uses when he describes Satan
as “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10). He acts as a
corrupt prosecuting attorney, falsely accusing and defaming Christian
believers, viciously intent on destroying our reputation in the courtroom of heaven.
Satan is the being who “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). Having failed to keep
Christ from coming into the world, he is now determined to keep the world from
coming to Christ. Utterly devoid of scruples or conscience, he lies,
misrepresents, and hides truth to plant the seeds of doubt about the reality
and goodness of God. Paul explains it this way:
[READ 2 Cor. 4:4]
4 … The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
SATAN’S POWER (see Deut. 33:17; 1 Ki. 22:11; Ps. 69:31)
[READ Rev. 12:3]
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten
horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
In the Bible, the number seven generally symbolizes completeness or totality. We recognize the
head as the seat of intelligence. Horns are often biblical symbols of strength (see
Deut. 33:17; 1 Ki. 22:11; Ps. 69:31). Therefore, the dragon’s seven heads
and ten horns symbolize extreme intelligence and enormous power.
The diadems crowing the dragon’s heads symbolize a fact that surprises many people. Satan is the
ruler of the world. Jesus Himself tells us that the Devil has a kingdom.
[READ Mt. 12:25-26]
25 And knowing their thoughts He said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste;
and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 And
if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
Paul describes him as “the ruler of this age” (Eph. 6:12), “the god of this age”
(2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph.
2:2). On three occasions, John calls him “the prince of this world” (Jn.
12:31; 14:30; 16:11). He adds that “the whole world lies in the lap of
the wicked one” (1 Jn. 5:19).
In his role as “the prince of the world,” Satan’s subjects are men and women who reject Christ.
As “the prince of the power of the air,” his subjects are the evil
spirits in the invisible realm. In both realms, he rules over all who rebel
against God.
How did the lord of death become the lord of the world? It certainly was not by God’s appointment.
Satan usurped the title from its legitimate owners – Adam and Eve. God charged
them to “fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over … every living
thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28). However, when the first
human couple rebelled against God, they lost the power to hold on to their
kingdom, and Satan seized the throne for himself.
SATAN’S PARTNERS (See Job 1:6-12; 38:7; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:10)
One reason for Satan’s inordinate power is the fact that he commands a vast army, which he
assembled by drawing them to himself …
[READ Rev. 12:4a]
4a And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.
These “stars” are actually angels, called stars here as they are in Job 38:7, where we’re
told they sang in exultation as God created the earth. One-third of these
angels joined Satan in a mass rebellion against God.
None of the fallen angels retain their original, pre-rebellion goodness. Some have been imprisoned
already (see 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). Those that remain free function as
Satan’s accomplices, subverting mankind, manipulating world events, and
stirring up chaos to bring about the ultimate destruction of humanity. Listen
to how Paul puts it …
[READ Eph. 6:12]
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Satan and these yet unbound angels have immense freedom to prowl about at will. He infiltrated Eden
to seduce our primeval parents. He confronted Christ in the Judean wilderness.
He is even allowed limited access to stand before God and accuse believers (see
Job 1:6-12; Rev. 12:10). Satan’s angels imitate their master, working out
their diabolical plots among us to undermine goodness and accomplish humanity’s
downfall.
SATAN’S PURPOSE
From the beginning, Satan’s obsession has been the eradication of God’s people. In Eden he seduced
the first couple into disobeying God, no doubt thinking God would destroy them
for their disobedience. But to his dismay, God promised redemption to the couple
and told Satan he would eventually be crushed by a descendant of the woman (Gen.
3:15). Naturally, the Devil began plotting to prevent the fulfillment of that
prophecy. He learned from God’s promise to Abraham that his nemesis would arise
out of Israel, so he strove to abort the formation of that nation. He ignited
in Esau’s heart a murderous rage against Jacob, who would beget Israel’s twelve
tribes. But Esau failed to kill Jacob, so Satan induced Pharaoh to slaughter
the male babies of the Israelites in Egypt – a plot which Moses survived. Had
Satan eradicated either Jacob or Moses, there would be no nation of Israel.
During the reign of Judah’s kings, Satan’s scheme came within a hair’s breadth of succeeding.
Knowing that the Messiah would emerge from the royal descendants of David, he
set about to cut off that line. After the death of King Jehoshaphat, Satan
incited a series of assassinations that eradicated all but one family of
David’s line – King Ahaziah and his children. When Ahaziah was also murdered, his
mother Athaliah, ordered all his royal heirs slaughtered (her own grandsons!)
and took the throne for herself.
Finally, Satan had succeeded. The royal line of David was ended and would never produce the
Messiah. Or so it seemed. But a sister to the murdered king managed to whisk
away and hide his youngest son, Joash, until he could safely be revealed and
crowned as the rightful king (2 Chr. 22:10-12). Again, Satan was
thwarted and the line of the Promised One preserved.
Next, Satan provoked a Persian official, Haman, to plot the mass extermination of all the Jews. The
brave Queen Esther exposed Haman’s conspiracy, shattering Satan’s scheme yet
again (Est. 4:14).
Despite the dragon’s devilry, Christ was born. Frustrated but undaunted, Satan goaded the already-evil Herod
to slaughter all the baby boys in Bethlehem, thinking this insidious mass
infanticide would take out the infant Christ (Mt. 2:16). But through a
dream, God directed Joseph to get the child out of Bethlehem before the
killings began. The child was born – and lived.
As Jesus neared the end of His forty-day wilderness fast, Satan laid before Him three successive
temptations designed to destroy His redemptive mission. But using no weapon
other than Scripture, Jesus repelled Satan’s attacks and sent him scurrying
away in defeat (Lk. 4:1-13).
The Devil made two more attempts on Jesus’ life. He incited Nazareth’s leaders to throw Him over
the edge of a cliff (Lk. 4:29) and the Pharisees to stone Him (Jn. 8:59).
Jesus miraculously escaped both of these attempts.
Finally, however, Satan succeeded. Coinciding with the Jewish Passover celebration, the hatred he
infused into the hearts of the Jewish leaders finally paid off. He watched in
gleeful triumph as they beat Jesus unmercifully and nailed His battered body to
a cross to die. When that body was sealed within a tomb, Satan’s victory was
complete. Or so he thought. He did not realize that Jesus’ death was but a
prelude to His resurrection – the event that would ensure Satan’s ultimate
doom.
III. \THE GREAT WAR
[READ Rev. 12:7-8]
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with
the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they
were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
The war described here is not merely a single battle; it is more
like World War II, a conflict fought by many antagonists on many fronts.
Michael battles Satan; God’s angels battle Satan’s angels; God-led humans
battle Satan-led humans. These battles are ongoing, building toward a final,
cataclysmic conflict that will forever destroy Satan and his diabolic influence.
We can understand the nature of this war better when we realize that
evil does not exist in the abstract. Though all evil originates in Satan’s
heart, he has no power to create anything that is inherently evil. All evil is
simply damage done to good. Evil consists solely of destroying, warping,
marring, co-opting, or misusing the good that God created. Satan, in his hatred
of God, has made it his whole purpose to inflict all the evil he can upon God’s creation.
To secure his usurped position as lord of the earth, Satan has
organized his fallen angels into a hierarchy, placing the most powerful ones
over nations and provinces. We see this order demonstrated in Daniel 10. Daniel
had been fasting and praying for three weeks without an answer when suddenly an
angel of God appeared. The angel explained that God had heard Daniel’s prayer
from its beginning and had immediately dispatched the angel to answer him. But
as this angel sped toward Daniel, he was attacked by a satanic angel, the
prince of Persia, who was determined to prevent the delivery of God’s message.
The two angels battled to a standoff until the archangel Michael joined the
combat and held the prince of Persia at bay, freeing the heavenly angel to complete his mission.
We know that this “prince of Persia” is an angelic being for
two reasons: first, no mere human could withstand the might of one of God’s
angels. Second, Cyrus the Great was at that time the human ruler of Persia, and
he was a benefactor to the Jews, not an enemy.
Satan’s capacity to wage war raises the theological question: If he
has already been judged by the cross, why is he free to continue the war? It’s
true that Satan has been judged, as these next two passages tell us:
[READ Jn. 16:8, 11]
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and
righteousness and judgment; … 11 and concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world has been judged.
[READ Heb. 2:14]
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself
likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless
him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Yes, Satan has been judged, but the sentence has not yet been
enforced. We see examples of delay between sentence and execution in our own
nation’s courts. In most capital cases, execution is carried out years after
sentencing. Satan has been defeated and judged, but God has chosen to delay
execution until the time is right.
The still-free Satan continues to inflict heinous evil on us, but we
believers need not despair. We can engage the battle and enforce Christ’s
victory over Satan through prayer. Daniel is our example. His three-week prayer
vigil was instrumental in defeating the satanic prince of Persia. Victories on
earth and in heaven are dependent on each other, just as in World War II the
ground troops invading Normandy were dependent on the support of air power to
soften their invasion sites. As we combat evil on earth, our angelic fellow
warriors battle evil in the invisible spiritual dimension. Churches and godly
homes are battle stations from which prayers emanate in a vast communication
network that connects both fronts. As prayer warriors, we often turn the tide of
human events. Someone has said, “It’s not the majors that make the world go ‘round; it’s the pray-ers.”
The defeated Satan fights on in sheer vindictiveness, but he cannot
conquer those of us who have joined the army of the Lord and claim Christ’s
victory as our own. We may endure persecution or even death, inflicted by the
dragon’s dying throes. But we are assured of ultimate victory, and this is our
source of courage. We are fully equipped and protected in every encounter with
Satan or his angels. Paul wrote ...
[READ 2 Cor. 10:4-5]
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely
powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, 5 as we tear down
speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and
take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
IV. THE GREAT WRATH
[READ Rev. 12:12]
12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe
to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great
wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
In this passage, the reason for the contrast between the joyful
people and the woeful ones is clear: One group, now safely in heaven, is
protected forever from Satan. The other group is about to face the devil’s
final rampage of evil. Satan is aware of reality; he knows that with the
resurrection of Christ, the game is up. He is forever defeated. Yet in the
interim between his defeat and his final sentence, his wrath will explode,
wreaking death and destruction like never before.
AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
The Greek word for wrath in this passage means “strong passion or emotion.” Donald Grey Barnhouse
likens the Devil’s wrath to that of a caged animal.
The animal that was dangerous enough when he roamed through the whole forest is now limited to a
stockade, where, mad with the restrictions which he sees around him, and raging
because he feels the end near, he throws the insane strength of the death struggle
into all of his movements.
AN ANTI-SEMITIC ASSAULT
Before the end, Satan will mount an all-out assault on God’s people, the Jews, by launching a
tsunami of anti-Semitism over the world like nothing yet seen in human history.
[READ Rev. 12:13,15]
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave
birth to the male child. … 15 And the serpent poured
water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her
to be swept away with the flood.
Satan hates Israel because it is the nation that birthed Christ. He is bent on destroying the Jews
to prevent fulfillment of Israel’s role in prophecy when Christ returns to
establish His kingdom.
Satan knows his days are numbered, but like a spiteful child who breaks a playmate’s toy because he
can’t have it, he will go all-out to crush Israel. He spews water from his
mouth to sweep Israel off the face of the earth (v. 15). This may
indicate a literal flood that will inundate Israel, or it may be a symbolic
picture of the Devil’s overall campaign to obliterate the Jews. Either way, his
intent is clear: before the end, he will launch an unprecedented offensive against Israel.
AN ANGRY ASSAULT
John tells us …
[READ Rev. 12:17]
17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who
keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.
This passage refers specifically to Jewish believers in Christ. These believers are undoubtedly the
144,000 Jewish witnesses introduced in Revelation 7, including those whom they
have won to faith in Christ. Satan’s fury will descend on these converted Jews
simply because they will have joined forces with his ultimate enemy.
V. THE GREAT WINGS (See Ex. 19:4)
[READ Rev. 12:14, 16]
14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the
woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was
nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the
serpent. … 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth
opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
The Jews would immediately recognize the “two wings of a great eagle” as being symbolic
of the grace of God. In His promise to deliver them from the bondage of Egypt,
He said: “I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Ex.
19:4). This reference assures Israel that during Satan’s aggressive
assault, God will again deliver them as He did from Egypt. He will move them to
a secure, protected place. Some think this place will be the ancient,
rock-carved city-fortress of Petra, hidden deep within the cliffs south of the
Dead Sea. Verse 14, says these Jews will be nourished, indicating a recurrence
of His supernatural provision which sustained Elijah at the brook Cherith and
Israel during the Exodus. By whatever means, God assures Israel that a godly
remnant of their number will be saved.
Conclusion: Carolyn Arends (a Christian musician,
hymnwriter, and author from Canada) tells of an incident that vividly
illustrates why the world suffers continuing damage from Satan despite the fact
that he has been defeated. She recounts an incidence reported by a missionary
couple stationed in a steamy jungle:
One day, they told us, an enormous snake – much longer
than a man – slithered its way right through their front door and into the
kitchen of their simple home. Terrified, they ran outside and searched
frantically for a local who might know what to do. A machete-wielding neighbor
came to the rescue, calmly marching into their house and decapitating the snake
with one clean chop.
The neighbor reemerged triumphant and assured the
missionaries that the reptile had been defeated. But there was a catch, he
warned: it was going to take a while for the snake to realize it was dead.
A snake’s neurology and blood flow are such that it can
take considerable time for it to stop moving even after decapitation. For the
next several hours, the missionaries were forced to wait outside while the
snake thrashed about, smashing furniture and flailing against walls and windows,
wreaking havoc until its body finally understood that it no longer had a head
….
At some point in their waiting, [the missionaries] told
us, they had a mutual epiphany ... “Do you see it?” asked the husband. “Satan
is a lot like that big old snake. He’s already been defeated. He just doesn’t
know it yet. In the meantime, he’s going to do some damage. But never forget
that he’s a goner.”
Arends reminds us that a day is coming when Satan’s
thrashing will cease. I’ll close with her observation. She writes: “The
story haunts me because I have come to believe it is an accurate picture of the
universe. We are in the thrashing time, a season characterized by our pervasive
capacity to do violence to each other and ourselves. The temptation is to
despair. We have to remember, though, that it won’t last forever. Jesus has
already crushed the serpent’s head.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, knowing that these things are going
to come to pass and how the world will end should compel us to preach the
saving mercy of Christ. The words of Revelation 12 and the supporting
Scriptures we’ve read today should cause every soul who is uncertain of their
salvation in Christ to come running to You for deliverance from the horrible
judgments that are coming in the future. How unwise to reject the saving gospel
that promises the forgiveness of sin, and eternal blessing and glory in heaven!
How foolish to hold on to the sin that damns them to an eternal hell, when they
are offered forgiveness and the grace of salvation! Merciful God, reach down
and touch that unconverted heart, that hard, rebellious heart, that sinful,
unyielding heart, and bring them to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus
Christ. Remove the darkness from them that they might turn to the Savior and
know the joy that only He brings. I ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Invitation # 329: “The Savior Is
Waiting” (2 vs.)
Prayer of Decision: Accepting Jesus
Christ is the most important decision anyone can make. It is the moment your
heart says “yes” to God, receiving forgiveness, eternal life, and a personal
relationship with the Creator. The Bible promises, “If you declare with your
mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
The prayer to accept Jesus is not about long, complicated words it is about sincerity, faith,
and the willingness to surrender your life to Him. By praying with a humble
heart, you invite Jesus into your life, turning away from sin and embracing His
love, mercy, and guidance. Here is an example of the kind of prayer you can
pray to invite Christ into your life today:
Lord Jesus, I confess with my mouth that You are Lord. I believe
in my heart that God raised You from the dead. I choose to follow You, trusting
Your guidance and surrendering my life to Your will. Help me to grow in faith,
walk in obedience, and share Your love with others. Thank You for making me
part of Your family. Amen.
Benediction:
Beloved, let’s consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds through our
encouragement. Let’s carry each other’s burdens as we follow our Lord’s
example. May we build each other up and be devoted to one another in love,
esteeming one another above ourselves. Amen! (Heb. 10:24; Gal. 6:2; 1 Thes.
5:11; Rom. 12:10)
The Dragon - Study Guide
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs (Pt. 4, Lesson 24) - July 19, 2026 - Rev. Alan Cousins
MAIN TEXTS: Rev. 12 (LSB)
INTRODUCTION: Ever since humanity rejected
God’s authority, there has been an ever-present, lurking, persistent, dark
force poised to invade the human heart given the slightest opening – a force
that is pushing the world toward a cataclysmic end of ruin and destruction.
It was Satan’s rebellion that corrupted
creation and brought death and evil into the world. He has been mankind’s
bitter enemy, temper, and inflictor of grief ever since.
In Revelation 12, we learn a lot about this
archfiend’s role in the end times drama. Today, we’re going to explore these
revealing symbols one by one.
I. THE GREAT SIGN
Revelation 12:1-2
This woman is most certainly the nation of
Israel, the target of Satan’s deadly malice. The Old Testament often
characterizes Israel as a woman enduring the travail of childbirth.
Isaiah 26:17-18
This unhappy image of a pregnant woman
failing to deliver her child pictures Israel’s failure to deliver God’s light
of hope to the nations. Yet even after centuries of failure, the Jews had the
honor of delivering Christ to the world.
Revelation 12:5
THREE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
1. Christ’s Incarnation: “She bore a male Child.”
2. Christ’s Ascension: “Her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”
3. Christ’s Second Coming: “He will rule all the nations with a rod of iron.”
Revelation 19:5a
In this first great sign, we see Satan’s
objective. He is determined to destroy the woman’s Child to prevent both God’s
redemptive purpose and his own destruction.
II. THE GREAT DRAGON
Revelation 12:3-4, 9
Revelation 12 gives us more concentrated
information about the dragon, Satan, than any other chapter in the Bible. Here
we learn about his personality, his power, his partners, and his purpose.
SATAN’S PERSONALITY (2 Co. 11:14; Is. 14:12; Jn. 8:44)
Satan is the instigator of sin, which reflects his nature – appealing on the surface but
deadly when followed. Peel away his superficial attractiveness and you confront
the shocking truth: he is vile, vicious, ferocious, depraved, and diabolical. This is why Jesus called him “a murderer
from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44).
The word Satan means “adversary,” – a name he notoriously lives up to, being the
archenemy of God and mankind.
Peter calls him “a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet.
5:8).
The NT also refers to Satan as the Devil.
The term for Devil in Greek is diabolos, which means “slanderer.”
It’s the term John uses when he describes Satan as “the accuser of our
brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
Satan is the being who “deceives the whole
world” (Rev. 12:9). Having failed to keep Christ from coming into
the world, he is now determined to keep the world from coming to Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4
SATAN’S POWER (Deut. 33:17; 1 Ki. 22:11; Ps. 69:31)
Revelation 12:3
The diadems crowing the dragon’s heads symbolize a fact that surprises many people. Satan
is the ruler of the world. Jesus Himself tells us that the Devil has a kingdom.
Matthew 12:25-26 (See also: Eph. 2:2; 6:12; 2 Cor. 4:4; Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1 Jn. 5:19)
In his role as “the prince of the world,” Satan’s subjects are men and women who
reject Christ. As “the prince of the power of the air,” his subjects are
the evil spirits in the invisible realm. In both realms, he rules over all who rebel against God.
SATAN’S PARTNERS (Job 1:6-12; 38:7; 2 Pe. 2:4; Jude 6)
Revelation 12:4a
None of the fallen angels retain their original, pre-rebellion goodness. Some have been
imprisoned already. Those that remain free function as Satan’s accomplices,
subverting mankind, manipulating world events, and stirring up chaos to bring
about the ultimate destruction of humanity.
Ephesians 6:12
SATAN’S PURPOSE
From the beginning, Satan’s obsession has been the eradication of God’s people.
III. THE GREAT WAR
Revelation 12:7-8
Evil consists solely of destroying, warping, marring, co-opting, or misusing the
good that God created. Satan, in his hatred of God, has made it his whole
purpose to inflict all the evil he can upon God’s creation.
Satan’s capacity to wage war raises the theological question: If he has already been
judged by the cross, why is he free to continue the war?
John 16:8, 11 & Hebrews 2:14
Satan has been judged, but the sentence has not yet been enforced. Satan has been
defeated and judged, but God has chosen to delay execution until the time is
right.
As we combat evil on earth, our angelic
fellow warriors battle evil in the invisible spiritual dimension. Churches and
godly homes are battle stations from which prayers emanate in a vast
communication network that connects both fronts.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
IV. THE GREAT WRATH
Revelation 12:12
Satan is aware of reality; he knows that with the resurrection of Christ, the game is
up. He is forever defeated. Yet in the interim between his defeat and his final
sentence, his wrath will explode, wreaking death and destruction like never before.
AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
The Greek word for wrath in this passage means “strong passion or emotion.”
AN ANTI-SEMITIC ASSAULT
Before the end, Satan will mount an all-out
assault on God’s people, the Jews, by launching a tsunami of anti-Semitism over
the world like nothing yet seen in human history.
Revelation 12:13, 15
Satan hates Israel because it is the nation
that birthed Christ. He is bent on destroying the Jews to prevent fulfillment
of Israel’s role in prophecy when Christ returns to establish His kingdom.
AN ANGRY ASSAULT
Revelation 12:17
This passage refers specifically to Jewish
believers in Christ, undoubtedly the 144,000 witnesses of Rev. 7, including
those whom they have won to faith in Christ. Satan’s fury will descend on these
converted Jews simply because they will have joined forces with his ultimate enemy.
V. THE GREAT WINGS (Ex. 19:4)
Revelation 12:14, 16
The Jews would immediately recognize the “two wings of a great eagle” as
being symbolic of the grace of God. God assures Israel that a godly remnant of
their number will be saved.
CONCLUSION: The missionary in the closing illustration said, “Satan
is a lot like that big old snake. He’s already been defeated. He just doesn’t
know it yet. In the meantime, he’s going to do some damage. But never forget
that he’s a goner.”
One day Satan’s thrashing will cease.
Remember, Jesus has already crushed the serpent’s head.
Prayer of Decision: Accepting Jesus
Christ is the most important decision anyone can make. It is the moment your
heart says “yes” to God, receiving forgiveness, eternal life, and a personal
relationship with the Creator. The Bible promises, “If you declare with your
mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
The prayer to accept Jesus is not about long, complicated
words it is about sincerity, faith, and the willingness to surrender your life
to Him. By praying with a humble heart, you invite Jesus into your life,
turning away from sin and embracing His love, mercy, and guidance. Here is an
example of the kind of prayer you can pray to invite Christ into your life
today:
Lord Jesus, I confess with my mouth that You are Lord. I believe in my heart
that God raised You from the dead. I choose to follow You, trusting Your
guidance and surrendering my life to Your will. Help me to grow in faith, walk
in obedience, and share Your love with others. Thank You for making me part of
Your family. Amen.
Tribulation Signs - The Two Witnesses - Audio Link
THE TWO WITNESSES
Text: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly
Father, we thank You for the veracity of Your promises, and we thank You for
Your grace to the world of sinful people. Thank You that right down to the very
finish You’re going to have two preachers that people will have to listen to,
because they’ll never be able to turn aside from them; for they will be too
powerful. They will become the topic of conversation throughout the entire
world. Television will be dominated by them. And the gospel will be preached in
both its warning and its hope. Thank You for the tremendous confidence we have
in Your Word. The more we study it and the deeper we go, the more it verifies
its authenticity, and the more it shows us who You are. Again, we thank You for
being a God who keeps His promises, even to wayward people, and a God who is
infinitely gracious to the very end. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Introduction: On June 23, 2018, twelve boys ranging in age from eleven
to sixteen – all members of a Thai soccer team – took an after-practice trip
with their coach into the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand. They had hiked
two of the cave’s six miles, when all of a sudden monsoon rains flooded the
caverns, trapping the team on an underground ledge.
When their families reported the boys missing, a search party found their bicycles
and packs near the cave entrance. Authorities immediately initiated a search of
the caves. Thai Navy SEALs entered the caverns, feeling their way through murky
water, which they described as “swimming through coffee.”
When additional rains and rushing water prevented any further advancement toward the
boys’ location, pumps were brought in order to lower the water level. Then
divers set up air pumps at intervals along the passages, creating breathing
stations that enabled them to move deeper into the caves.
After nine days, some of the divers finally located the boys and delivered survival
supplies while they devised a complex rescue system. Over the next week, they
strung underwater guidewires from the team’s location to the entrance of the cave.
Then they equipped the boys with scuba gear and brought them out one by one,
with each boy escorted by two experienced divers. The first-round trip took
eleven hours and delivered four boys. Although the subsequent trips went
faster, the entire operation took three additional days. But all of the boys
were brought out safely as the watching world applauded the heroic efforts of
the divers and their support teams.
Given the complexity of the caves, the underwater distance to be traversed, the darkness,
and the impending danger of further monsoon flooding, it would have been easy
for the authorities to have deemed the rescue attempt as too dangerous – even
impossible.
Using similar logic, God could just as easily write off the people who will be caught
in the deadly danger and darkness of the Tribulation period. The Rapture will
draw all authentic Christians out of the world and leave only unbelievers to
endure the horrors of the Tribulation. But God will not write off the billions
groping in darkness. He will send rescuers – voices to proclaim the gospel –
offering a secure lifeline out of the depths of their impending doom.
This lifeline will take the form of the two witnesses introduced in Revelation 11.
Some scholars believe these witnesses will arrive at the mid-point of the
Tribulation period. Personally, I believe they will arrive at the beginning,
immediately following the Rapture. For God, in His infinite love, will never
leave people without a means of turning to Him.
In Revelation 11, John reveals a lot about these two witnesses which we will discover in today’s message.
I. THE PERSONALITY OF THE WITNESSES
John introduces the two witnesses with these words spoken by an angel of God:
[READ Rev. 11:3]
3 And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Many commentators have spiritualized the identity of
these witnesses, claiming they are symbolic representations of the law and the
gospel or the Old and New Testaments. But the interpretation most consistent
with Scripture is that they will be actual persons who will speak with human
voices and perform miracles by the power of God.
Let’s explore how John affirms their humanity with two significant metaphors.
[READ Rev. 11:4]
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
John’s readers would have recognized these metaphors as
echoes from a vision of the prophet Zechariah, who describes a golden candlestick
bearing seven lamps flanked by two olive trees which produce golden oil for the
lamps. Zechariah identifies the olive trees as actual people.
[READ Zech. 4:14]
14 … These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of all the earth.
These two “anointed ones” in Zechariah’s prophecy
were prominent men of faith in his time: the high priest Joshua and Jerusalem’s
governor Zerubbabel, who restored the Jewish temple. In Zechariah’s day, Joshua
and Zerubbabel were two witnesses to the fact that God does His work through
the power of His Spirit.
[READ Zech. 4:6-9]
6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying,
“This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power,
but by My Spirit,’ says Yahweh of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O
great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will
bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”
8 Also the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 “The
hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will
finish it. Then you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you.”
The zeal of these two men provided fuel for God’s work,
like an olive tree. Their zeal also gave light for God’s work, like a
lampstand. Given this background, it’s easy to see why John identified the two
witnesses in Revelation 11 as olive trees and lampstands. Like the godly
Zerubbabel and Joshua, the witnesses will be men fueled by the power of God’s
Holy Spirit to shine lights into the darkness of the Tribulation period.
While the purpose of these two witnesses is clear, their
exact identity remains a source of controversy. Most scholars identify one of
the witnesses as the OT prophet Elijah. Here are five facts supporting this view.
Ø Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return to prepare the way for Christ’s second coming.
[READ Mal. 4:5-6]
5 “Behold, I am going
to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day
of Yahweh. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”
Some believe John the
Baptist fulfilled this prophecy. Luke 1:17 tells us that John came in the “spirit
and power of Elijah,” but this simply means that John did his work by the
power of the Spirit, just as Elijah did. He was not literally Elijah
reincarnated. John himself affirmed this fact. When the Jewish leaders asked
him, “Are you Elijah?” he answered unequivocally, “I am not” (Jn.
1:21). Clearly Malachi’s prophecy points to someone other than John the
Baptist – someone yet to come.
Ø God miraculously took up Elijah into heaven (2 Ki. 2:11). The two witnesses will experience the same miracle.
[READ Rev. 11:12]
12 And they heard a loud
voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven
in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Ø The two witnesses will prevent rain from falling.
[READ Rev. 11:6a]
6a These have the authority to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying.
Elijah did the same (1 Ki. 17:1).
Ø Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Ki. 1:10).
The witnesses will also employ fire in their ministry.
[READ Rev. 11:5a]
5a And if anyone wishes to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies.
Ø The drought Elijah imposed lasted three years
and six months (1 Ki. 17:1; Lk. 4:25; Jas. 5:17-18). This is exactly the duration of the two witnesses’ ministry.
[READ Rev. 11:3]
3 And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
As to the identity of the second witness, some scholars
propose Enoch. I believe the more likely candidate is Moses. Here’s why:
Ø Both Moses and Elijah appeared at Christ’s transfiguration.
[READ Mt. 17:3]
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Ø By God’s power, Moses turned water into blood (Ex. 7:19-20). The two witnesses will perform the same miracle.
[READ Rev. 11:6b]
6b … They also have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with
every plague, as often as they wish.
Ø Moses’ body was miraculously buried and preserved by God
in a real but secret location, possibly for restoration (Deut. 34:5-7).
When the witnesses die, their bodies will be restored.
[READ Rev. 11:11]
11 But after the three
and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on
their feet, and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
Ø Satan fought the archangel Michael for possession of
Moses’ body. He may have intended to prevent God’s program of restoration in
the last days.
[READ Jude 9]
9 But Michael the
archangel, when he, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of
Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a blasphemous judgment, but said,
“The Lord rebuke you!”
Ø Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets. Since
the witnesses will minister within the nation of Israel, this connection to the
Jewish Scriptures will underscore their message.
Prophecy scholars Timothy Demy and John Whitcomb present
strong reasons for identifying Moses and Elijah as the two witnesses:
No two men in Israel’s entire history would receive
greater respect and appreciation than Moses and Elijah. Moses was God’s great
deliverer and lawgiver for Israel (Deut. 34:10-12). First-century Jews actually
thought that Moses had given them the manna in the wilderness (Jn. 6:32). And
God raised up Elijah to confront Israel in a time of great national apostasy.
God vindicated him by sending fire from heaven and “a chariot of fire and
horses of fire” to escort him out of this world. So highly did the Jews of
Jesus’ day think of Elijah that when they saw Jesus’ miracles, some people
concluded that Elijah had returned (Mt. 16:14).
II. THE PROPHECIES OF THE WITNESSES
Also in Revelation 11, John gives us two details indicating the
duration and character of the witnesses’ prophecies.
[READ Rev. 11:3]
3 And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will
prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
The duration of their ministry is stated in exact terms. It will
last 1,260 days, which is equivalent to 42 months or 3½ years.
The nature of their prophecy is indicated in their attire. They will
wear sackcloth, a coarse mohair fabric Jews wore to express mourning, distress,
or repentance. Jacob donned sackcloth when told his son Joseph was dead (Gen.
37:34). David wore sackcloth when told that Joab had slain Abner (2 Sam.
3:31).
These witnesses will prophesy to both Jews and Gentiles, which may
be God’s purpose in sending two of them. Whichever group they’re preaching to,
the content of their prophecy will be the same: judgment. They will preach
impending judgment daily and relentlessly throughout their entire 3½ year
ministry.
Another reason for sending two witnesses is to comply with the legal
standards of Jewish law. At least two witnesses were required to establish the
truth of a testimony.
[READ Deut. 17:6]
6 On the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die
shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the mouth of one
witness.
One witness may be mistaken or corrupted. But the corroboration of
two witnesses confirms the truth.
The Bible often records God using two witnesses to confirm a truth.
Two angels testified to the women at the tomb that Christ had risen. Two angels
testified to the disciples that He had ascended. God has often paired people to
perform His missions: Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, Zerubbabel and Joshua,
Peter and John, Paul and Silas, Timothy and Titus. Jesus sent out the apostles
in pairs (Mk. 6:7), as well as the seventy (Lk. 10:1). These two
witnesses will confirm God’s message of judgment and His call to repentance by
their perfectly dovetailing testimony.
III. THE POWER OF THE WITNESSES
The first thing we are told about the two witnesses is the source of their power.
[READ Rev. 11:3a]
3a And I will give authority to my two witnesses ….
They will be filled with the Spirit of God, who will empower them
with both speech and actions to convict their audiences of coming judgment and
the urgency of repentance.
THE POWER OF THEIR PREACHING
The message of the two witnesses will provoke intense hatred, and we can see why. They will not pull any punches.
As William R. Newell
wrote, “They will testify unsparingly of human wickedness to men’s very
faces. You have probably never heard a preacher that told you to your face just
how bad you were … These witnesses will tell to the teeth of a horrid
godlessness which is ready to worship the Devil, just what they are before God!”
The witnesses will
warn that the disasters of the Tribulation period are judgments the people have
brought down upon themselves by rejecting Christ as Lord. They will accuse the
people of turning Jerusalem, God’s holy city, into a pit of depravity. They will
refute the claims of the Antichrist and expose him for the Satan-controlled
being he is. They will denounce the lie that man is innately good and can
improve. They will warn of more terrible judgments to come if the people do not
turn from their gross depravity.
Don’t we see it in
our own day? Unbelievers do not merely reject the truth; they go all-out to
silence it. Why? Because planted in
every heart is the innate knowledge of right and wrong. This knowledge is
stifled and buried when people give themselves over to sinful behavior. To hear
truth proclaimed arouses their dormant consciences and inflicts a sense of
guilt, which the sinner cannot tolerate.
[READ Rom. 1:18-21]
18 For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is
known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal
power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what
has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even
though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they
became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.
This explains why
the message of the two witnesses will so outrage the people that they will cry
out for their deaths. They will think killing the messengers will eradicate
God’s message.
THE POWER OF THEIR PLAGUES
Disasters often
shake people out of their complacency and spur them to seek more stability than
the world offers. That will be the primary purpose of the three plagues the
witnesses will inflict during their ministry.
1. The Plague of Death: As opposition intensifies, many attempts will be made on the
witnesses’ lives. But since their ministry is vital in the Tribulation period,
God will give them power to defend themselves. In his confrontation on Mount
Carmel, Elijah called down fire from heaven (1 Ki. 18:37-38). The two
witnesses will also employ fire, but in a unique way:
[READ
Rev. 11:5]
5 And if anyone wishes
to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if
anyone wishes to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
2. The Plague of Drought: The two witnesses possess the power to stop the rain.
[READ
Rev. 11:6]
6 These have the
authority to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of
their prophesying.
The days of their
prophecy will span 3½ years (the first half of the Tribulation period)
which matches the duration of the drought Elijah brought upon Israel.
[READ
Jas. 5:17]
17 Elijah … prayed
earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three
years and six months.
These two miraculously imposed droughts will be the longest the earth has ever experienced.
3. The Plague of Disease: The two witnesses will have the power to turn water into blood.
[READ
Rev. 11:6]
6 … they also have
authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with
every plague, as often as they wish.
This power reflects
that which was given to Moses, who turned the Nile River red with blood (Ex.
7:20). This plague compares to those announced by the second trumpet in
Revelation 8.
[READ
Rev. 8:8-9]
8 And the second angel
sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was
thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and
a third of the creatures which were in the sea -- those which had life -- died;
and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The contaminated water will cause epidemics of disease.
None of these
miracles will be performed out of anger or vindictiveness. Their primary
purpose will be to shake people out of their delusion that all is well, convict
them of their sinfulness, and awaken their need to repent. One effect of both
the preaching and the miracles of the witnesses may be that the turmoil they incite
will delay the completion of the Antichrist’s quest for world domination. Only
when they are annihilated will his path to power be clear from obstruction.
IV. THE PERSECUTION OF THE WITNESSES
Although God will protect the two witnesses until they
have completed their ministry, He will finally allow the Antichrist to destroy them.
[READ Rev. 11:7]
7 And when they have finished their witness, the beast
that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and
kill them.
The death of the
witnesses will expose the extreme depravity of the Antichrist and the
unregenerate people of the Tribulation period. But as we soon shall see, their
deaths are merely a prelude to a spectacular demonstration of God’s reality and
power.
THE DEATH OF THE WITNESSES
As the passage we’ve
just read says, the witnesses will be killed by “the beast that ascends out
of the bottomless pit.” Though we don’t really find the Beast described
until chapter 13, his career at this point will have been highly active and
successful. He will have manipulated events, taken over governments, and signed
a peace treaty with Israel, setting the stage for world domination.
Halfway through the Tribulation, the Beast will issue
an order for the two witnesses’ assassination. This act will greatly expand his
popularity and consolidate his power.
THE DISPLAY OF THEIR BODIES
After the witnesses are killed ...
[READ Rev. 11:8]
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of
the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their
Lord was crucified.
Throughout history most cultures have buried corpses
quickly – often on the day of death – or at least preserved them until burial
could be accomplished (see Deut. 21:22-23). But this will not be the
case with the two witnesses. The Antichrist will defile their bodies by leaving
them unburied to demonstrate his contempt for them and their message.
The “great city” where these bodies will be
displayed is Jerusalem. At this time, the holy city will be a sewer of
corruption like ancient Sodom and Egypt – places associated in the Jewish mind
with the most depraved sexual perversions and the cruelest tyranny.
Throughout the Tribulation period, Jerusalem will be a
city of contrasts. After God delivers it from the armies of Gog and Magog, it
will descend into extreme wickedness and debauchery, even as their temple is
rebuilt on its original site and the Jews’ ancient sacrifices are restored. On
the surface Jerusalem will seem to have reached its peak of glory and holiness.
But from within it will emanate the stench of decay and death. Dr. Henry Morris
called this future Jerusalem “the holy city and the city of peace” as
well as “the city where God’s prophets die” and the place where the
Beast’s soldiers “will apprehend and slay [the witnesses] and leave their
bodies unburied in the street for all their enemies to see.”
The unburied bodies of the two witnesses will be seen worldwide.
[READ Rev. 11:9]
9 And those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and
nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and
will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
Decades ago, critics dismissed this passage as
impossible. How could this grisly spectacle possibly be seen around the world?
Today, however, with satellite TV, social media, and the Internet, the
technological ability to do this is no longer questioned.
THE DELIGHT OF THEIR ENEMIES
The masses will celebrate the deaths of the two witnesses.
[READ Rev. 11:10]
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice
over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another, because these two
prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Here we have the only report of joy of any kind
occurring throughout the Tribulation on earth. What does this tell us about the
state of the human heart in the end times?
William Newell answers: “Now comes the real
revelation of the heart of man: glee, horrid, insane, inhuman, hellish,
ghoulish glee! There is actual delight at the death of God’s witnesses – utter
unbounded delight! … A regular Christmastime-of-Hell ensues.”
V. THE PRESERVATION OF THE WITNESSES
The account of the two witnesses will not end with their
deaths or the humiliating display of their corpses.
[READ Rev. 11:11]
11 But after the three and a half days, the
breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet, and great
fear fell upon those who were watching them.
Three-and-a-half days will pass while the world
celebrates their deaths, and then two astounding events will turn their
celebration into abject terror.
THEIR RESURRECTION
As the world
celebrates, the “breath of life from God” will infuse the two corpses –
the same breath that resurrected the body of the Lord Jesus. The wild
celebrations will abruptly cease, and the watching world will stare in shock as
the two corpses stir and rise to their feet, whole and healthy. The horror
these resurrections generate will be indescribable. The Beast will find no way
to counterfeit this miracle.
THEIR RAPTURE
Notice what happens after their resurrection …
[READ Rev. 11:12]
12 And they heard a loud
voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven
in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
The two witnesses
will experience a rapture much like that of the church, but with one
significant difference. The church will be taken “in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:52). The event
will be so sudden that no eye will see it happen. The rapture of the two
witnesses, however, will not occur in a flash but will be visible to their
enemies. It is yet another display of God’s power to jar the unsaved out of
unbelief and into repentance. John Phillips vividly describes the event:
Picture the scene –
the sun-drenched streets of Jerusalem, the holiday crowds flown in from the
ends of the earth for a firsthand look at the corpses of these detested men,
the troops in the Beast’s uniform, the temple police. There they are, devilish men from every
kingdom under heaven, come to dance and feast at the triumph of the Beast. And
then it happens! As the crowd strains at the police cordon to peer curiously at
the two dead bodies, there comes a sudden change. Their color changes from a
cadaverous hue to the blooming, rosy glow of youth. Those still, stark limbs –
they bend, they move! Oh, what a sight! They rise! The crowds fall back, break,
and form again.
Dr. Henry Morris adds:
The sight will be
enough to strike terror into the hearts of the most arrogantly rebellious of
their enemies. A moment before, such men were rejoicing in supreme confidence
that Christ was finally defeated and Satan’s man was on the victor’s throne.
But now Christ had triumphed again. The ascent of the prophets into heaven was
a dire prediction that even greater judgments were about to descend from
heaven. The three-and-a-half-day festivities were about to be followed by
another three-and-a-half years of judgments more severe than ever.
As great as the fear
of these watching enemies will be, an even greater terror will quickly descend upon them.
GOD’S RETRIBUTION
When the heavens
close over the two risen witnesses, a sudden earthquake will reduce a tenth of
the city to rubble, killing seven thousand people in Jerusalem alone.
[READ Rev. 11:13]
13 And in that hour
there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand
people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave
glory to the God of heaven.
The survivors,
quaking and groveling in terror, will have no choice but to acknowledge the
resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses and the subsequent earthquake
as acts of divine power. John tells us that they “were afraid and gave glory
to the God of heaven.” It’s unlikely that they truly turn to God in faith
and repentance. A surge of terror can trigger a momentary emotional response
without producing a permanent change of heart.
Conclusion: We saw this temporary revival of a religious
impulse in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center towers and
the Pentagon. For weeks afterward, we witnessed people seeming to turn toward
God. Prayers ascended. Church attendance soared. A renewed sense of community
prevailed. But it was not long before attitudes reverted to the pre-9/11 norm.
Fear dissipated, everyday routines resumed, and God slipped out of people’s
minds.
Yet even amid the horrors of the Tribulation period, some
will heed the two witnesses’ message of redemption and respond to the loving
call of God. As always, He will offer a way out of the darkness and into His
light. His love and mercy never cease.
Prayer: Heavenly
Father, I thank You, Lord, that You will not leave this world without a witness
to Your gospel and Your love for mankind. There will always be Your holy written
Word, because of faithful John who continued to speak and write about what he
saw. And there will be these two great preachers in the last days as we’ve
learned this morning. We praise and thank You for keeping Your promises and
keeping the doors of grace open right to the very end. With John, we rejoice,
and yet we feel sorrow because this is where the world is headed. May we be
faithful to call them to salvation before it is too late. As a church we’ll be
gone during that time; but our time is right now. Who knows but that the
tribulation could begin in the lifetime of those around us. Help us in the time
we have left to take the gospel to every corner of the world, and especially
the corner where we live. I affirm these things, and I ask for these things in Jesus’
name, Amen.
Invitation Slides: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (3 vs.)
Prayer of Decision: Lord Jesus,
I’ve ignored your claims too long. Because You are the Lord of life, I want you
to be the Lord of my life. I know nothing of my future, but I believe that the
only safe place to be is in the center of Your will. I take You as my Savior
and ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I take You as my Master, asking You
to make use of me in the great work of drawing the world to you. I renounce
evil in all of its forms. In accepting You I seek all that is good and true and
edifying. Increase my love, that out of great passion I may follow You daily.
Amen.
Benediction: Beloved, be
encouraged today “for God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and
has brought us into the kingdom of His own dear Son.” His Word promises us
that when “the righteous cry out, the Lord hears them; and He delivers them
from all their troubles.” Can I get a witness? Amen! (Col. 1:13-14; Ps.
34:17-18)
The Two Witnesses - Study Guide
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs (Pt. 4, Lesson 23) - July 5, 2026 - Rev. Alan Cousins
MAIN TEXTS: Rev. 11 (LSB)
INTRODUCTION: God could write off the
unbelievers who will be caught in the danger and darkness of the Tribulation
period. But God will not write off the billions groping in darkness. He will
send rescuers – voices to proclaim the gospel – offering a secure lifeline out
of the depths of their impending doom.
This lifeline will take the form of the two
witnesses introduced in Revelation 11. I believe they will arrive at the
beginning of the Tribulation, immediately following the Rapture. God, in His
infinite love, will never leave people without a means of turning to Him.
In Revelation 11, John reveals a lot about these two witnesses which we will discover in today’s message.
I. THE PERSONALITY OF THE WITNESSES
Revelation 11:3
Many commentators have spiritualized the
identity of these witnesses, claiming they are symbolic representations of the
law and the gospel or the Old and New Testaments. But the interpretation most
consistent with Scripture is that they will be actual persons who will speak
with human voices and perform miracles by the power of God.
Revelation 11:4 & Zechariah 4:14
These two “anointed ones” in
Zechariah’s prophecy were prominent men of faith in his time: the high priest
Joshua and Jerusalem’s governor Zerubbabel, who restored the Jewish temple. In
Zechariah’s day, Joshua and Zerubbabel were two witnesses to the fact that God
does His work through the power of His Spirit.
Zechariah 14:6-9
The zeal of these two men provided fuel for
God’s work, like an olive tree; and gave light for God’s work, like a
lampstand. Given this, it’s easy to see why John identified the two witnesses
in Revelation 11 as olive trees and lampstands. They will be men fueled by the
power of God’s Holy Spirit to shine lights into the darkness of the Tribulation
period.
Witness 1: Elijah
Ø Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return to prepare the way for Christ’s second coming. -- Malachi 4:5-6
Ø God miraculously took up Elijah into heaven (2 Ki. 2:11). The two witnesses will
experience the same miracle. -- Revelation 11:12
Ø The two witnesses will prevent rain from falling. Elijah did the same (1 Ki. 17:1). -- Revelation 11:6a
Ø Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Ki. 1:10). The witnesses will also employ fire in their ministry. -- Revelation 11:5a
Ø The drought Elijah imposed lasted 3½ yrs. (1 Ki. 17:1; Lk. 4:25; Jas 5:17-18). This is exactly the
duration of the two witnesses’ ministry. -- Revelation 11:3
Witness 2: Moses
Ø Both Moses and Elijah appeared at Christ’s transfiguration. -- Matthew 17:3
Ø By God’s power, Moses turned water into blood (Ex. 7:19-20). The two witnesses will
perform the same miracle. -- Revelation 11:6b
Ø Moses’ body was miraculously buried and preserved by God in a real but secret location,
possibly for restoration (Deut. 34:5-7). When the witnesses die, their
bodies will be restored. -- Revelation 11:11
Ø Satan fought the archangel Michael for possession of Moses’ body. He may have intended to
prevent God’s program of restoration in the last days. -- Jude 9
Ø Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets. Since the witnesses will minister within the
nation of Israel, this connection to the Jewish Scriptures will underscore their message.
II. THE PROPHECIES OF THE WITNESSES
John gives us two details indicating the duration and character of the witnesses’ prophecies.
Revelation 11:3
The duration of their ministry is stated in
exact terms. It will last 1,260 days, which is equivalent to 42 months or 3½ years.
The nature of their prophecy is indicated in
their attire. They will wear sackcloth, a coarse fabric Jews wore to express
mourning, distress, or repentance.
The witnesses will prophesy to both Jews and
Gentiles, which may be God’s purpose in sending two of them. Whichever group
they’re preaching to, the content of their prophecy will be the same: judgment.
They will preach impending judgment daily and relentlessly throughout their
entire ministry.
Another reason for sending two witnesses is
to comply with the legal standards of Jewish law. At least two witnesses were
required to establish the truth of a testimony.
Deuteronomy 17:6
These two witnesses will confirm God’s
message of judgment and His call to repentance by their perfectly dovetailing
testimony.
III. THE POWER OF THE WITNESSES
Revelation 11:3a
They will be filled with the Spirit of God, who will empower them with both speech
and actions to convict their audiences of coming judgment and the urgency of repentance.
THE POWER OF THEIR PREACHING
The message of the two witnesses will provoke intense hatred. They will not pull any punches.
Planted in every heart is the innate
knowledge of right and wrong. This knowledge is stifled and buried when people
give themselves over to sinful behavior. To hear truth proclaimed arouses their
dormant consciences and inflicts a sense of guilt, which the sinner cannot tolerate.
Romans 1:18-21
This explains why the message of the two
witnesses will so outrage the people that they will cry out for their deaths.
They will think killing the messengers will eradicate God’s message.
THE POWER OF THEIR PLAGUES
Disasters often shake people out of their
complacency and spur them to seek more stability than the world offers. That
will be the primary purpose of the three plagues the witnesses will inflict
during their ministry.
Ø DEATH – Revelation 11:5
Ø DROUGHT – Revelation 11:6; James 5:17
Ø DISEASE – Revelation 11:6; 8:8-9
One effect of both the preaching and the
miracles of the witnesses may be that the turmoil they incite will delay the
completion of the Antichrist’s quest for world domination. Only when they are
annihilated will his path to power be clear from obstruction.
IV. THE PERSECUTION OF THE WITNESSES
Revelation
11:7
The death of the witnesses will expose the extreme depravity of the Antichrist and
the unregenerate people of the Tribulation period. But as we soon shall see,
their deaths are merely a prelude to a spectacular demonstration of God’s reality and power.
THE DEATH OF THE WITNESSES
Halfway through the Tribulation, the Beast
will issue an order for the two witnesses’ assassination. This act will greatly
expand his popularity and consolidate his power.
THE DISPLAY OF THEIR BODIES
Revelation 11:8
The Antichrist will defile their bodies by
leaving them unburied to demonstrate his contempt for them and their message.
The unburied bodies of the two witnesses will be seen worldwide.
Revelation 11:9
Decades ago, critics dismissed this passage as impossible. How could this
grisly spectacle possibly be seen around the world? Today, however, with
satellite TV, social media, and the Internet, the technological ability to do
this is no longer questioned.
THE DELIGHT OF THEIR ENEMIES
Revelation 11:10
Here we have the only report of joy of any
kind occurring throughout the Tribulation on earth. What does this tell us
about the state of the human heart in the end times?
V. THE PRESERVATION OF THE WITNESSES
Revelation 11:11
Three-and-a-half days will pass while the
world celebrates their deaths, and then two astounding events will turn their
celebration into abject terror.
THEIR RESURRECTION
The same breath that resurrected Jesus will
infuse the corpses of the Witnesses. The wild celebrations will cease, and the
watching world will stare in shock as the two corpses stir and rise to their
feet, whole and healthy. The horror this event generates will be indescribable.
THEIR RAPTURE
Notice what happens after their resurrection
…
Revelation 11:12
The two witnesses will experience a rapture
much like that of the church, but with one significant difference. The rapture
of the two witnesses will not occur in a flash but will be visible to their
enemies. It is yet another display of God’s power to jar the unsaved out of
unbelief and into repentance.
GOD’S RETRIBUTION
When the heavens close over the two risen
witnesses, a sudden earthquake will reduce a tenth of the city to rubble,
killing seven thousand people in Jerusalem alone.
Revelation 11:13
The survivors, quaking and groveling in terror, will have no choice but to
acknowledge the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses and the
subsequent earthquake as acts of divine power.
CONCLUSION: Amid the horrors of the Tribulation period, some will heed the two
witnesses’ message of redemption and respond to the loving call of God. As
always, He will offer a way out of the darkness and into His light. His love
and mercy never cease.
Prayer of Decision: Lord Jesus, I’ve
ignored your claims too long. Because You are the Lord of life, I want you to
be the Lord of my life. I know nothing of my future, but I believe that the
only safe place to be is in the center of Your will. I take You as my Savior
and ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I take You as my Master, asking You
to make use of me in the great work of drawing the world to you. I renounce
evil in all of its forms. In accepting You I seek all that is good and true and
edifying. Increase my love, that out of great passion I may follow You daily.
Amen.
Tribulation Signs - The 144,000 - Audio Link
THE 144,000
Text: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful word of truth. How clear it is! How true
it is! I pray that the Spirit of grace may impress upon all of our hearts the
degree to which You have gone in order to redeem people from their wicked ways,
and from the evil that is present in every one of us. We thank You for finding
a way to cleanse and wash us, making us new and fresh again. Help us to lay
hold of this truth while the time is ripe. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Introduction: Sometimes the most unexpected people accomplish the most
outstanding feats. Dean Hess was such a person. As the newly ordained pastor of
a church in Cleveland, OH, Hess expected to spend his life in Christian
ministry. But when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, he left his
pastorate to join the Aviation Cadet Program, explaining to his stunned
congregation, “If we believe our cause is just and necessary, how in all
conscience can I ask others to protect it – and me – while I keep clean of the
gory mess of war?” Hess flew 63 combat missions in France.
After the war, Hess returned to civilian life. But he was recalled to active duty at the
outbreak of the Korean War to command a training program for Korean fighter
pilots, in addition to flying more combat missions.
During that time, Hess felt a keen burden for the large number of Korean children who
had been orphaned by the war. He joined forces with Chaplain Russell L.
Blaisdell to provide food and shelter for hundreds of children, first on a
military airbase and then in a makeshift orphanage in Seoul.
Shortly after the orphanage was established however, the Communist army marched on
Seoul, forcing thousands to evacuate the city. Hess and Blaisdell devised a
plan to transfer the children to a permanent orphanage on Jeju Island. Military
command blocked these arrangements at first, but Hess and Blaisdell persisted
until sixteen C-54 transports were approved for the mission. All told, those
airlifts and subsequent arrangements for food and supplies for the orphanage
saved the lives of more than a thousand Korean orphans.
The heroic acts of Col. Dean Hess required extraordinary courage and determination.
In that same spirit, the apostle John tells of a group of heroes who will save
millions of people in the coming Tribulation period.
This period could well be called the era of the Antichrist. During this terrible
time, his power will become virtually absolute. He will control the world’s
economy and religion, exalting himself with an enormous statue erected in the
new Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He will ruthlessly annihilate all who refuse to
bow down to him.
Yet, while the unprecedented cruelty of the Antichrist increases, God will not
forget His promise to take care of His people.
[READ Rom. 11:2]As Paul wrote:
2 GODHAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE [1 Ki. 19:10; Amos 3:2] whom He foreknew.
In the depth of the Tribulation horrors, the world will witness the greatest
spiritual awakening ever to occur on planet earth. Our loving and creative God
continually surprises us with the methods He devises to care for His people in
their darkest hours. During this time,
His care will rise through the agency of 144,000 specially-chosen Jewish evangelists.
John writes about these evangelists in Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5. We will explore
who these 144,000 evangelists are and what they will do as we examine both Bible passages.
I. THEY WILL BE SELECTED FROM ISRAEL’S TWELVE TRIBES
[READ Rev. 7:4]
4 And I heard the number of those having been
sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
John is emphatically specific in telling us that these
144,000 witnesses are Jewish. Yet some expositors insist they will emerge from
out of the Christian church. This is impossible. When the 144,000 begin their
witness, the redeemed church will already be in heaven, swept up universally by
the Rapture, which occurs between Revelation 3 and 4. It amazes me that this
error can survive in the face of Revelation 7:4-8, which clearly lists each of
the twelve tribes of Israel from which these evangelists will emerge. As J.A.
Seiss wrote, no error “so beclouds the Scriptures, and so unsettles the
faith of men, as this constant attempt to read Church for Israel, and Christian
people for Jewish tribes.”
Twelve thousand witnesses will be called out of each of
the twelve tribes of Israel, bringing their total to 144,000 (vs. 4-8).
The number twelve here is significant, for it is repeatedly connected with the
nation of Israel. The breastplate of the Jewish high priest was set with twelve
precious stones; the tabernacle table of showbread bore twelve holy loaves; the
city of God, the New Jerusalem, will have twelve gates. In each of these cases,
the number twelve symbolizes Israel’s twelve tribes (except Dan). The consistent use of the number twelve in
connection with Israel climaxes in the sealing of these 144,000 individuals –
12 x 12 – chosen from the nation of Israel for a special ministry during the
darkest period in earth’s history.
II. THEY WILL BE SEALED ON THEIR FOREHEADS
The angel who introduces the 144,000 witnesses tells us that they
will receive their seal from God. Let’s back up to Revelation 7:2-3:
[READ Rev. 7:2-3]
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun,
having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the
four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying,
“Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants
of our God on their foreheads.”
What is this seal? We are only told that it will be “the seal of
the living God.” In chapter 14, John tells us what the seal means.
[READ Rev. 14:1]
1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount
Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of His Father written
on their foreheads.
Obviously, the seal identifies the 144,000 as God’s own and serves
as a shield, protecting them as He pours out His devastating judgments upon the earth.
The OT offers several examples of God sealing of His people to
protect them from an outpouring of judgment and wrath. For example:
Ø God sealed Noah and
his family in the ark to protect them from the destruction of the worldwide
flood (Gen. 6-8).
Ø God led Lot’s
family out of Sodom, sealing them from the fiery judgment soon to descend on
that city (Gen. 19).
Ø The firstborn, of
Jewish families in Egypt, were protected from death by the seal of lamb’s blood
applied to their doorposts (Ex. 12).
Ø Rahab and her
family were sealed from the destruction of Jericho by means of a scarlet cord (Josh.
2:18-21).
Ø In Elijah’s day,
God sealed 7,000 Israelites who refused to worship Baal (1 Ki. 19).
The sealing of the 144,000 witnesses tells us that God will continue
to protect those to whom He assigns special ministries during the Tribulation.
III. THEY WILL BE SERVANTS OF GOD
The angel in heaven indicates that the seal placed on the
144,000 witnesses will set them apart for a special purpose of God:
[READ Rev. 7:3]
3 Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we
have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
By describing these witnesses as “servants of our God,” the angel is saying they will
not worship the Antichrist or take the mark of the Beast. Despite the resulting
pressure and opposition, they will devote themselves entirely to God, doing His
will and evangelizing relentlessly during the Tribulation period. This points
to the seal as being something other than a mere external mark of
identification. It will be more like a badge of office, indicating the task
with which they are charged.
In a similar way Jesus spoke of God’s seal being set on Him.
[READ Jn. 6:27]
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the
food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for
on Him the Father, God, set His seal.
This occurred when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism, which empowered Him to
fulfill His mission on earth.
The OT prophet Joel nforesaw the result of the ministry of the 144,000 witnesses and described
how they will be agents of the Holy Spirit’s power in the Tribulation period.
[READ Joel 2:28-32]
28 And it will be afterwards that I will pour out My
Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your
old men will dream dreams; your young men will see visions. 29 Even
on My menservants and maidservants I will in those days pour out My Spirit. 30 And
I will put wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of
smoke. 31 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon
into blood before the great and awesome day of Yahweh comes. 32 And
it will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be delivered; for
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has
said, even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.
By the way, God’s seal is not limited to the past or to the future. We who are Christians in the
present are also given a seal. Paul affirms this fact in three different passages.
[READ 2 Cor. 1:21-22]
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and
anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave the pledge
of the Spirit in our hearts.
[READ Eph. 1:13]
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in
Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.
[READ Eph. 4:30]
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption.
In all eras – past, present, and future – God seals those whom He calls to fulfill His
purposes and to display the power of His Holy Spirit in this fallen world.
IV. THEY WILL BE SEPARATED UNTO GOD
After John describes the 144,000 standing with the Lamb
on Mount Zion after their redemption from the earth, he adds an unexpected detail.
[READ Rev. 14:4]
4 These are the ones who are not defiled with women, for they are virgins.
Commentators hardly know what to make of this passage.
Many spiritualize it, claiming it means the 144,000 will not commit spiritual
adultery by consorting with false gods (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Jas. 4:4). That
may be correct, but I think that it more likely means these witnesses will be
celibates. The unprecedented terrors and pressures of the Tribulation period
will make it extremely difficult for a dedicated preacher, always on the run
from the Antichrist’s authorities, to maintain a marriage. Paul endorses singleness
as the best option for such troubled times.
[READ 1 Cor. 7:29, 32-33, 35]
29 But this I say, brothers, the time has been
shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they
had none. … 32 I want you to be free from concern. One who is
unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the
Lord. 33 But one who is married is concerned about the things
of the world, how he may please his wife…. 35 Now this I say
for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote propriety
and undistracted devotion to the Lord.
If there is ever a time when serving God requires total
concentration without distraction, that time will be the Tribulation.
V. THEY WILL BE STRONG IN THEIR FAITH
John describes the 144,000 witnesses as wholly dedicated
to Christ and displaying tremendous strength of character.
[READ Rev. 14:4-5]
4 … These are the ones who follow the
Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits
to God and to the Lamb. 5 And NO LIE WAS FOUND IN
THEIR MOUTH [Zeph. 3:13]; they are blameless.
The witnesses’ sterling example of unimpeachable
character coupled with their persistent declaration of the gospel will draw
millions of Jews to Christ as the world suffers increasing natural and
human-caused disasters. Living a pure life establishes a solid platform for
spiritual power, and that power will ignite a turning to God like the world has
never seen.
VI. THEY WILL BE SPARED FROM COMING JUDGMENT
Revelation 6, ends with an announcement that the day will
arrive when God’s wrath will be unleashed on the earth. Following this
announcement comes the rhetorical question, “Who is able to stand?”
Chapter 7 begins with the response to this question.
[READ Rev. 7:1-3]
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the
four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no
wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then
I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of
the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom
it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not
harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our
God on their foreheads.”
John’s report of four angels standing at the four corners
of the earth is not an assertion that the earth is square. He is telling us the
angels are positioned at the earth’s strategic compass points, ready to unleash
four destructive winds that will inflict God’s judgments over the entire earth
– north, south, east, and west.
Then John sees a fifth angel emerge from the east,
telling the four angels to delay the destruction they are about to unleash
until the 144,000 witnesses have been sealed (vv. 2-3). Thus, the
question raised in the last verse of Revelation 6 is answered: Who can stand when the great day of God’s
wrath comes? These faithful Jewish witnesses can stand because God’s seal of
divine protection will preserve them from the soon-to-be released winds of
judgment.
VII. THEY WILL BE SECURE DURING THE TRIBULATION
John gives an after-the-fact assurance that the 144,000
witnesses will be sealed and protected through the terrible Tribulation period.
[READ Rev. 14:1]
1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was
standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of
His Father written on their foreheads.
Here the apostle sees the 144,000 evangelists standing
triumphantly with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Their ordeal is over, and they have
reaped the reward for their faithfulness. Just as God protected Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Babylon from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, this
heavenly scene shows that the 144,000 will be protected through the Tribulation
and delivered safely into the portals of heaven.
As Mark Hitchcock writes, “John sees the 144,000 at
the end of the Tribulation standing triumphantly on Mount Zion – the city of
Jerusalem. Notice he doesn’t see 143,999. All 144,000 have been divinely
preserved by the Lord. Not one has been overlooked.”
VIII. THEY WILL BE\ SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR MINISTRY
Here on earth, ministers tend to evaluate their success
by the growth of their congregations. But there is a better way, which John
shows us in picturing the result of the 144,000 witnesses’ ministry.
[READ Rev. 7:9]
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a
great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all
tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands.
I wish the optimistic predictions of a great religious
revival sweeping the earth prior to the Rapture were true. But Scripture
indicates the opposite – that before the end, Christianity will experience a
great “falling away” (2 Thes. 2:3). Yes, an unprecedented revival
is coming, but it will occur after the Rapture, when the 144,000 Jewish
witnesses evangelize the world during the Tribulation period. The catastrophic
events of this time will shake millions out of their complacency, shattering
their resistance to the message of the 144,000 as they blanket the world with
the gospel.
How many souls will be saved by the message of these
evangelists? “A great multitude which no one could count, from every nation
and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Rev. 7:9). The astonishing
success of the witnesses’ campaign will fulfill the prophecy of Jesus found in
…
[READ Mt. 24:14]
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
proclaimed in the whole world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end
will come.
IX. THEY WILL BE SET APART FOR THE KINGDOM
In his heavenly vision, John sees a vast multitude
arrayed in white robes. An elder comes to him and explains who they are:
[READ Rev. 7:14]
14 … “These are the ones who come out of the
great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb.
As I mentioned earlier, the 144,000 will be sealed and
protected throughout the Tribulation period. These evangelists, who will
survive the Tribulation and be alive when the Millennium begins, will reign
with Christ throughout that thousand-year period.
In the Millennium, each tribe of Israel will have its own
specified geographical area (Ezek. 48). Each of these faithful
evangelists will live within the area assigned to his own tribe. They are the
remnant of Israel prophesied by the prophet Zephaniah to be set apart for
salvation.
[READ Zeph. 3:9, 13]
9 For then I will change them to peoples with purified lips,
that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, to serve Him shoulder to
shoulder … 13 The remnant of Israel will do no injustice and
not speak falsehood, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for
they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble.
X. THEY WILL SING A NEW SONG IN HEAVEN
When the devastation of the Tribulation ends and the
144,000 stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, John tells us what they will do next.
[READ Rev. 14:2-3]
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the
sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I
heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And
they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and
the elders. And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been
purchased from the earth.
After these evangelists have survived the worst seven
years in the history of the world, you might expect them to be hauled off to a
hospital and treated for PTSD as many brave soldiers are after suffering the
horrors of war. But no; these 144,000 survivors will stand up and sing!
Others in the Bible have responded with song after God
gave them a victory or saved them from disaster. When the Lord led Israel
safely through the Red Sea and drowned their Egyptian pursuers, Moses led the
people in a joyful song: “I will sing to the LORD, for He has
triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Ex. 15:1). When Barak defeated
the Canaanites, he and the judge Deborah sang a song of praise and victory (Judg.
5). David penned songs of victory in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18.
It’s this kind of song John hears as he gazes at the
triumphant Lamb standing on Mount Zion. It’s a new song, arising from an
enormous, exultant choir accompanied by harps. It’s a song that only these
144,000 saints can learn and sing because it grows out of the unique ordeals
they have experienced, as well as out of their exultation over the massive
numbers their ministry has brought to God. This is not the enormous choir that
John heard singing earlier, which numbered “ten thousand times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11). The choir he hears now is
composed of a mere 144,000 voices!
There’s no way to experience what a choir of this size
will sound like, but we might get a small taste from the music of Grammy
Award-winning composer Eric Whitacre. Whitacre is the creator of a virtual
choir composed of recording voices from around the world singing his
compositions. He selects the best recordings, merges them into a single track,
and posts the results on YouTube. His first Virtual Choir 1.0 consisted of 185
voices from twelve countries. Now he is now up to Virtual Choir 6.0, which
blends over 17,500 voices from 129 countries. As beautiful as Whitacre’s “choir
as big as the Internet” may be, it will not hold a candle to 144,000 voices
from the twelve tribes of Israel singing from their joyful hearts to the Lord
who saved them.
It’s significant that harps will accompany this choir.
The OT speaks of harps almost fifty times, and each time they are linked with
joy. Harps were never played to express sorrow or distress. The Jewish captives
in Babylon wept when they remembered Zion and hung up their harps rather than
play them (Ps. 137:1-2). Conversely, harps accompanying a new song are considered
an appropriate way to praise God when He delivers His people from trouble.
[READ Ps. 144:9-10] David wrote,
9 O God, I will sing a new song to You; upon a
harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, 10 Who gives
salvation to kings, Who sets David His servant free from the evil sword.
Almost everyone recognizes the power of music not only to
express emotions but also to encourage them. Professor Jeremy Begbie gives us a
striking example of music’s extraordinary power as he shares his experience one
Sunday in a poor South African church:
I was told, immediately before the service, that a house
just around the corner from the church had just been burned to the ground
because the man who lived there was a suspected thief. A week before that, a
tornado had cut through the township, ripping apart fifty homes; five people
were killed. And then I was told that the very night before, a gang hunted down
a fourteen-year-old, a member of the church’s Sunday school, and stabbed him to
death.
The pastor began his opening prayer: “Lord, You are the
Creator and the Sovereign, but why did the wind come like a snake and tear our
roofs off? Why did a mob cut short the life of one of our own children, when he
had everything to live for? Over and over again, Lord, we are in the midst of
death.” As he prayed, the congregation responded with dreadful sighing and
groaning.
And then, once he finished his prayer, very slowly, the
whole congregation began to sing, at first very quietly, then louder. They sang
and they sang, song after song of praise – praise to a God who in Jesus had
plunged into the very worst to give us a promise of an ending beyond all
imagination. The singing gave that congregation a foretaste of the end.
This “foretaste of the end,” which we experience
in song, gives evidence that what we call the end is not the end at all. When
the curtain falls on this world, it will open to the beginning of all things
new.
Conclusion: The Tribulation period will wreak
devastation like the earth has never seen. But those who turn to God will
experience this new beginning, which will be more glorious than the mind can
imagine. God’s raising up, sealing, and rewarding His dear 144,000 Jewish
evangelists gives evidence that regardless of the depths into which the world
may sink, God remains sovereign. His plan for ultimate victory will not be
thwarted. Because we who trust Him understand that, even in our darkest hours
we can sing praises to Him with great joy.
Just as God has preserved Israel throughout history, and
will continue to do so in the future, we can trust that He will remain faithful
to His promises in our own lives. When we face trials or moments of doubt, we
can find comfort in knowing that God’s plans are steadfast and that He is
continually at work, even in the midst of difficult times. The turning of many
Jews to Jesus during the tribulation period encourages us to boldly share the
gospel with others, trusting that God’s power to save is greater than any
circumstance. Our role is to remain faithful in sharing the hope we have in
Christ, knowing that the Lord’s timing and His ways are perfect, and He is
working all things according to His plan.
Prayer: Heavenly
Father, we come before You now asking for courage to share Your Word
without fear or shame. Remove every spirit of intimidation and hesitation from
our hearts. Fill us with a holy boldness to speak the gospel clearly and
confidently. May our voices carry Your truth wherever we go. We also ask You to
fill each of our hearts with Your compassion for the lost. May we not be
indifferent to those who do not know You. Break our hearts for what breaks
Yours. Help us to see people through Your eyes and love them enough to share
the gospel with them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Invitation # 345: “Blessed Assurance” (3 vs.)
Benediction: Beloved, be
encouraged by the words of the psalmist: Those who sow in tears shall reap with
shouts of joy! Those who goes out weeping, sowing the seed of the gospel,
shall go home to heaven with shouts of joy, bringing their sheaves with them.
Amen. (Ps. 126:5-6)
The 144,000 - Study Guide
THE 144,000
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs (Pt. 4, Lesson 22) - June 28, 2026 -Rev. Alan Cousins
MAIN TEXTS: Rev. 7 & Rev. 14 (LSB)
INTRODUCTION: The heroic acts of Col. Dean
Hess required extraordinary courage and determination. In that same spirit, the
apostle John tells of a group of heroes who will save millions of people in the
coming Tribulation period.
Romans 11:2
During the Tribulation, God’s care of His
people will rise through the agency of 144,000 specially-chosen Jewish
evangelists. John writes about these evangelists in Revelation 7:1-8 and
14:1-5. Today, we will explore who they are and what they will do as we examine
both Bible passages.
I. SELECTED FROM ISRAEL’S TWELVE TRIBES
Revelation 7:4
John is emphatically specific in telling us
that these 144,000 witnesses are Jewish by clearly listing each of the twelve
tribes of Israel from which these evangelists will emerge.
Twelve thousand witnesses will be called out
of each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The number twelve here is significant,
for it is repeatedly connected with the nation of Israel.
II. SEALED ON THEIR FOREHEADS
Revelation 7:2-3
What is this seal? We are only told that it
will be “the seal of the living God.” In chapter 14, John tells us what
the seal means.
Revelation 14:1
Obviously, the seal identifies the 144,000 as
God’s own and serves as a shield, protecting them as He pours out His
devastating judgments upon the earth.
The sealing of the 144,000 witnesses tells us
that God will continue to protect those to whom He assigns special ministries
during the Tribulation.
III. THEY ARE SERVANTS OF GOD
Revelation 7:3
By describing these witnesses as “servants of our God,” the angel is saying
they will not worship the Antichrist or take the mark of the Beast. Despite the
resulting pressure and opposition, they will devote themselves entirely to God,
doing His will and evangelizing relentlessly during the Tribulation period.
John 6:27
The OT prophet Joel foresaw the result of the ministry of the 144,000 witnesses and
described how they will be agents of the Holy Spirit’s power in the Tribulation
period.
Joel 2:28-32
By the way, God’s seal is not limited to the
past or to the future. We who are Christians in the present are also given a
seal. Paul affirms this fact in three different passages.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30
In all eras – past, present, and future – God
seals those whom He calls to fulfill His purposes and to display the power of
His Holy Spirit in this fallen world.
IV. SEPARATED UNTO GOD
Revelation 14:4
Commentators hardly know what to make of this
passage. Many spiritualize it, claiming it means the 144,000 will not commit
spiritual adultery by consorting with false gods (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Jas. 4:4).
It seems more likely that these witnesses
will be celibates. The unprecedented terrors and pressures of the Tribulation
period will make it extremely difficult for a dedicated preacher, always on the
run from the Antichrist’s authorities, to maintain a marriage. Paul endorses
singleness as the best option for such troubled times.
1 Corinthians 7:29, 32-33, 35
V. STRONG IN THEIR FAITH
Revelation 14:4-5
The witnesses’ sterling example of
unimpeachable character coupled with their persistent declaration of the gospel
will draw millions of Jews to Christ. Living a pure life establishes a solid
platform for spiritual power, and that power will ignite a turning to God like
the world has never seen.
VI. SPARED FROM COMING JUDGMENT
Revelation 7:1-3
John’s report of four angels standing at the
four corners of the earth is not an assertion that the earth is square. He is
telling us the angels are positioned at the earth’s strategic compass points,
ready to unleash four destructive winds that will inflict God’s judgments over
the entire earth – north, south, east, and west.
John’s report of four angels standing at the
four corners of the earth is not an assertion that the earth is square. He is
telling us the angels are positioned at the earth’s strategic compass points,
ready to unleash four destructive winds that will inflict God’s judgments over
the entire earth – north, south, east, and west.
Who can stand when the great day of God’s
wrath comes? These faithful Jewish witnesses can stand because God’s seal of
divine protection will preserve them from the soon-to-be released winds of judgment.
VII. SECURE DURING THE TRIBULATION
Revelation 14:1
John sees the 144,000 evangelists standing
triumphantly with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Their ordeal is over, and they have
reaped the reward for their faithfulness.
Dr. Mark Hitchcock writes: “Notice he
doesn’t see 143,999. All 144,000 have been divinely preserved by the Lord. Not
one has been overlooked.”
VIII. SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR MINISTRY
Revelation 7:9
An unprecedented revival is coming when the
144,000 Jewish witnesses evangelize the world during the Tribulation period.
The catastrophic events of this time will shake millions out of their
complacency, shattering their resistance to the message of the 144,000 as they
blanket the world with the gospel.
Matthew 24:14
IX. SET APART FOR THE KINGDOM
Revelation 7:14
These evangelists, who will survive the Tribulation and be alive when the Millennium
begins, will reign with Christ throughout that thousand-year period.
In the Millennium, each tribe of Israel will have its own specified geographical
area (Ezek. 48). Each of these faithful evangelists will live within the
area assigned to his own tribe. They are the remnant of Israel prophesied by
the prophet Zephaniah.
Zephaniah 3:9, 13
X. SING A NEW SONG IN HEAVEN
Revelation
14:2-3
After these evangelists have survived the worst seven years in the history of the
world, they will stand up and sing!
It’s a new song, arising from an enormous, exultant choir accompanied by harps. It’s
a song that only these 144,000 saints can learn and sing because it grows out
of the unique ordeals they have experienced, as well as out of their exultation
over the massive numbers their ministry has brought to God.
It’s significant that harps will accompany this choir. The OT speaks of harps almost
fifty times, and each time they are linked with joy. Harps were never played to
express sorrow or distress.
Psalm 144:9-10
The "foretaste of the end,” which we experience in song, gives
evidence that what we call the end is not the end at all. When the curtain
falls on this world, it will open to the beginning of all things new.
CONCLUSION: The Tribulation will wreak devastation like the earth has never seen.
Those who turn to God will experience a new beginning more glorious than the
mind can imagine. God’s raising up, sealing, and rewarding His 144,000 Jewish
evangelists gives evidence that regardless of the depths into which the world
may sink, God remains sovereign. His plan for victory will not be thwarted.
Tribulation Signs - Tribulation Martyrs - Audio Link
THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS
Text: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we begin today’s message from Your holy Word, we ask You to open our
spiritual eyes to see what we’ve never seen before. Give us the vision to see
beyond the natural. Reveal spiritual truths, unseen realities, and divine
perspective through this sermon. Let us not be blind to the work You’re doing
or the path You are revealing. Illuminate our understanding and sharpen our
vision. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Introduction: It was not a large gathering. Only a few dozen worshipers assembled in the courtyard
of the Virgin Mary Church in the village of Al-Our, 150 miles south of Cairo,
Egypt. A preacher stood and spoke in somber tones to the equally somber group: “The
life we live is but numbered days that will quickly pass, the Bible says.”
He was not beginning a sermon on time management or stewardship. He was
addressing the reason why the congregation had grown smaller. Just a few days
earlier, in February 2015, the organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) had decapitated thirteen of their members on a beach in Libya.
These Coptic Christian men were among twenty that ISIS
murdered on that day. All twenty hailed from Egyptian farming communities and
had traveled to Libya in search of work. But they had been kidnapped in late
December and early January and imprisoned in the Libyan coastal town of Sirte.
A month later, the condemned men were led single file
onto a beach, where they were lined up on their knees with one black-clad ISIS
soldier, each with a knife in hand, standing behind each of them. The
Christians were dressed in orange coveralls in malicious mockery of the orange
suits worn by radical Muslim terrorists incarcerated at the American Guantanamo
Bay prison in Cuba. The prisoners were given the opportunity to recant their
faith, but each refused. In the video of the executions released by ISIS, the
Christian men can be seen, on their knees, mouthing prayers and praise to their Lord.
The story of these men is only one example of the enumerable
hosts of believers who have been martyred for their faith over the centuries.
It has been said that the entire history of redemption is written in the blood
of martyrs. We see this early in the Bible when Pharaoh determined to slaughter
all the newborn Hebrew males. This was a precursor of worse things to come.
Before the Israelites entered their promised land, Moses prophesied that they
would be severely persecuted throughout history.
[READ Deut. 28:64-67]
64 Moreover, Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the
other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone,
which you or your fathers have not known. 65 Moreover, among
those nations you shall find no relief, and there will be no resting place for
the sole of your foot; but there Yahweh will give you a trembling heart,
failing of eyes, and despair of soul. 66 So your
life shall hang in doubt before you; and you will be in dread night and day and
shall not have any faith in your life. 67 In the morning
you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say,
‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you
dread, and because of the sight of your eyes which you will see.
This grim prophecy has been more than amply fulfilled. No
people have suffered martyrdom and persecution like the Jews. In the 6th
century BC, the
Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and deported its citizens. A few generations
later, Haman, a high official in the court of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I),
conspired to annihilate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Some three hundred
years afterward, the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes massacred 40,000 Jews
and sold another 40,000 into slavery for their refusal to worship Zeus.
Jews dispersed among the nations have suffered
persecution and deprivation throughout the subsequent centuries. The most
intense occurred under Hitler in 20th century Europe. Synagogues
were destroyed, Jewish shop windows shattered, and concentration camps at
Dachau and Auschwitz tortured and executed more than six million Jews, possibly
reducing their number in Europe to less than those who followed Moses out of Egypt.
Adolf Eichmann, a principal player in the Nazi
persecution, expressed the kind of hatred Jews have endured throughout history
when he said, “I shall leap laughing into my grave. The thought that I have
five million human lives on my conscience is to me a source of inordinate satisfaction.”
Christians seem to have inherited the hatred directed at
the Jews, for Christian history is saturated with persecution from the outset.
Herod the Great tried to prevent the rise of Jesus by killing all the infant
males born in Bethlehem. The Christian church had barely taken root when the
Jewish leaders stoned deacon Stephen to death for accusing them of murdering
Israel’s Messiah (Acts 7). Herod Agrippa executed the apostle James, the
son of Zebedee (Acts 12:1-2). In fact, all the apostles of Jesus suffered
martyrdom except for John, who was exiled.
The Roman emperor Domitian executed countless Christians
who refused to renounce their faith. The 2nd century Christian
bishop Polycarp was burned at the stake for refusing to bow to Caesar. Roman
Christians were fed to lions. Protestant Christians in medieval Spain suffered
the Inquisition, as well as the Jews. Many Protestants of the Reformation era
were massacred or exiled. Several hundred Chinese Christians were slain in the
Boxer Rebellion. Twentieth century Christians in Communist Russia endured
Siberia and slave labor camps. Even in the “enlightened” 21st
century we are seeing an alarming increase of Christian persecution and
martyrdom throughout the world.
The apostle John tells us that there is much more
Christian martyrdom yet to come – the result of unprecedented persecution to be
inflicted by the Antichrist during the Tribulation period. This morning we are
going to look deeper into the lives of these heroic Christians and the
circumstances that lead to their martyrdom.
I.
THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Who, exactly, are these martyrs? John gives us the answer:
[READ Rev. 6:9-10]
9 And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been
slain because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had
maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying,
“How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
These martyrs are believers who will be killed after the church is raptured and the dead in
Christ have been resurrected. The fact that they will be slaughtered for their
faith and taken into heaven while their murderers still thrive on the earth
gives strong evidence that they will be martyred during the Tribulation period.
These souls under the altar will apparently be converted Jews. Let’s look at how this conversion will
come about. After the rapture of the church, God will redirect His focus,
placing it again on Israel. The seven years of Tribulation will see a huge number
of Jews turn to Christ. Paul affirms that the salvation of Israel is a key element in God’s ultimate plan.
[READ Rom. 11:25-27]
25 For I do not want you, brothers, to be uninformed of this mystery -- so that you will not be wise
in your own estimation -- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until
the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel
will be saved; just as it is written [Isa. 59:20-21], “THE DELIVERERWILL COME FROM ZION, HEWILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” 27 “ANDTHIS IS MYCOVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
It appears that God’s plan to save the nation of Israel will come to fruition during the Tribulation
period. This turning to God will infuriate the Antichrist, provoking him to
martyr so many Jews that their spilled blood will flow like a river.
This massive conversion of Jews raises a question. If the Rapture removes all believers from
the earth at the beginning of the Tribulation period, who will be available to
teach them about Christ and preach the gospel to these Jews? One answer is that
during the Tribulation God will send two witnesses to the earth who will
proclaim Christ and confirm their message with spectacular miracles. God will
then “seal” 144,000 of these Israelis (those saved by accepting the
gospel preached by the two witnesses) to evangelize their people during the Tribulation (Rev. 4:7ff).
Dr. Henry Morris suggests another means – a silent witness – by which the Jews may be evangelized.
Millions upon millions of copies of the Bible and
Bible portions have been published in all major languages, and distributed
throughout the world … Removal of believers from the world at the rapture will
not remove the Scriptures, and multitudes will no doubt be constrained to read the Bible.
He continues, Thus, multitudes will turn to their
Creator and Savior in those days, and will be willing to give their testimony
for the Word of God and even … their lives as they seek to persuade the world
that the calamities it is suffering are judgments from the Lord.
Martyrdom will be an everyday occurrence in the
Tribulation period. Even in the face of certain death, believers will proclaim
that they love God more than their own lives. As John wrote: “they did not
love their life even to death” (Rev. 12:11).
We find an inspiring example of the attitude of the
martyrs in a famous incident involving three godly young Jewish men during
Judah’s Babylonian captivity. When told they must either bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s
golden image or be cast into a furnace of fire, their response was unequivocal:
[READ Dan. 3:17-18]
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to
save us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will save us out of your hand,
O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we
are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that
you have set up.”
According to the prophet Zechariah, in the Tribulation
period 2/3rds of all the Jews on earth will be slaughtered. Yet God
has promised to preserve His people, saying ...
[READ Zech. 13:8-9]
8 And it will be in all the land,” declares Yahweh, “That two parts in it will be cut off and
breathe their last; but the third will be left in it. 9 And I
will bring the third part through the fire and refine them as silver is refined
and test them as gold is tested.
Jesus also addresses the terrible suffering of the Tribulation period in His Olivet discourse.
[READ Mt. 24:9-10]
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all
nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall
away and will betray one another and hate one another.
Revelation presents the Tribulation period as a time when every faithful Christian must look
martyrdom in the face. As Bible scholar Richard Bauckham explains it, “It is
not a literal prediction that every faithful Christian will in fact be put to
death. But it does require that every faithful Christian must be prepared to
die.”
II.
THE CAUSE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
John leaves no ambiguity about the reason why the martyrs in Revelation 6 would be slain:
[READ Rev. 6:9]
9 … I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and
because of the witness which they had maintained.
These martyrs will suffer death for the same reason John was exiled. In fact, John’s description
of the cause of his exile is almost exactly like his description of the cause
of their martyrdom. John had been exiled “because of the word of God and the
witness of Jesus” (Rev. 1:9).
These souls will be martyred for “the witness which they had maintained” or “for the
testimony which they held,” which surely refers to their proclamation of
coming judgment as the Tribulation period descends into its darkest horrors.
They will urge repentance and give warnings of a day of reckoning soon to come
for those who do not repent. But their message will be rejected, and they will
be executed. At the Rapture of the church, the Holy Spirit will withdraw all of
His restraints on evil from the earth. Unprecedented malevolence will be
unleashed as the demonic rulers express their rebellion against God by venting
their anger on His people.
The faithful will be ruthlessly killed for bearing God’s message, joining an exalted list of
courageous prophets who suffered for speaking boldly against the evils of their
times:
Ø The evil queen Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life because he condemned the prophets of Baal (1 Ki. 18-19).
Ø Isaiah told Judah’s kings that Jerusalem and the temple would be razed and the people marched into
captivity (2 Ki. 20). Tradition says he was ordered sawn in two by King Manasseh (Heb. 11:37).
Ø Jeremiah was chained in stocks for delivering essentially the same message as Isaiah to the
kings of Judah. (Jer. 20:2-3).
Ø John the Baptist was beheaded for denouncing the immorality of Herod Antipas (Mt. 14:1-12).
Ø Jesus consistently denounced the Jewish religious leaders and prophesied judgment. He was crucified.
Dr. Criswell explained that despite the possibility of severe consequences, it is always the
prophet’s nature and duty to proclaim judgment. He wrote …
Whenever there is a true prophet of God, he will preach judgment. These modern so-called ministers
of God speak all things nice … There is not any hell and there is not any Devil
and there is not any judgment of God … In our enlightened and sophisticated day
… we stand up and we speak of the love of Jesus, and we speak of peace, and we
speak of all things pretty and beautiful. But remember … the same Book that
tells us about the good, tells us about the bad. The same Revelation that
speaks to us about heaven, speaks about hell. The Bible that presents the Lord
Jesus as the Savior, is the same Bible that presents to us the Devil as our
enemy and adversary of damnation and destruction. The two go together. If there
is not anything to be saved from, we do not need a savior.
III.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
As I’ve already told you, these faithful martyrs will suffer and give their lives for their
dedication to the Lord. How will they benefit from their sacrifice? John gives
us a clue going back to:
[READ Rev. 6:9]
9 And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath
the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and
because of the witness which they had maintained.
Now remember, in this part of John’s account, he is
describing his visions of scenes in heaven. In this vision, he sees an altar,
and the souls martyred for their faithful testimony are situated “underneath
the altar.” To appreciate the full impact of what this means, we must turn
back to the OT. The altar was a prominent feature of the Israelite tabernacle (and
later, the temple) where the people offered animal sacrifices to God. “Underneath
the altar” is where the priests poured out the blood of the sacrificed
animals (Ex. 29:12).
The Greek word John uses to indicate the martyrdom of
these souls is rendered as “slain” in the English LSB translation we are
using. But it can just as accurately be translated as “slaughtered,”
which is the term applied to OT sacrifices killed as offerings to God. In the
eyes of the world, these martyrs will be annihilated – their lives ended. But
in reality, they will be slaughtered as a sacrifice offered to God, who will
bring them into His holy presence. This is the glorious meaning of their being “underneath
the altar.”
IV.
THE CRY OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
The Tribulation martyrs underneath the heavenly altar will remember the severity of their
persecution on earth and will appeal to the Lord for justice:
[READ Rev. 6:10]
10 And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not
judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
This cry for vengeance places these martyrs squarely within the Tribulation period rather
than in the prior church age. Notice how different their plea is from that of
Stephen, the first martyr of the church. Stephen prayed for mercy: “Lord, do
not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60). But those who suffer
Tribulation atrocities will be justified in calling for vengeance because the
age of grace will have ended and the day of God’s judgment will have arrived.
Pastor and Christian educator Louis T. Talbot explained it this way:
A man prays according to the attitude God is taking toward the world in the dispensation in which he
lives. This present age is the age of grace. God is showing … mercy to the
worst of men, and we are told to pray for them that despitefully use us. But in
the Tribulation period God will be meting out judgment upon the earth.
The martyrs’ cry for vengeance will be in perfect accord with God’s will.
V.
THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
The Lord heard the cry of the martyrs underneath the altar, and John records God’s response:
[READ Rev. 6:11]
11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a
little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their
brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
Although the time has not yet come for God to act on the martyr’s request for justice, He will
provide them with five comforts as they wait.
REFUGE
God gives these faithful servants a refuge by placing
them under the altar, a position of safety and redemption. We have the wrong
picture in mind if we think of them as hiding and peeping out as from
underneath a bed.
Donald Grey Barnhouse explained that “under the altar”
will be a position of honor. “To be ‘under the altar’ is to be covered in
the sight of God by that merit which Jesus Christ provided in dying on the
cross. It is a figure that speaks of justification … These martyred witnesses
are covered by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
ROBES
God graciously awards to each martyr a white robe. We are
familiar with clothing being awarded for singular achievement. Varsity high
school athletes are awarded a letter jacket, Masters Gold Tournament winners a
green sport coat, and martial arts masters a belt. When the prodigal son
returned in Luke 15:22, his father called for the best robe to be put on him.
Earlier, John told us that white garments will be the standing reward issued to
overcomers (Rev. 3:5). The white robe will be awarded to these martyrs
for facing and overcoming the extreme evil of the Tribulation.
The issuing of these robes raises a perplexing question.
John tells us that the Tribulation martyrs will not receive their resurrection
bodies until the Tribulation ends (Rev. 20:4-6). So, how can they wear
clothing if they do not yet have their resurrected bodies?
Dr. John Walvoord offered a possible answer. He hypothesizes
that they will have a body of some kind, but: “It is not the kind of body
that Christians now have, that is, the body of the earth; nor is it the
resurrection body of flesh and bones of which Christ spoke after His own
resurrection. It is a temporary body suited for their presence in heaven but
replaced in turn by their everlasting resurrection body given at the time of
Christ’s return.”
REST
When the martyrs call for judgment against their slayers, tyhey are told to …
[READ Rev. 6:11]
11 … Rest for a little while longer, until the
number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even
as they had been, would be completed also.
The fifth seal, under which these events occur, will
initiate the first of two periods of the Tribulation in which believers will
suffer martyrdom. God must delay His answer to their cry for justice until the
believers under the second part of the Tribulation period have been martyred.
While the first set of martyrs wait, they are invited to
take advantage of the delay and enjoy rest from their labors.
[READ Rev. 14:13] John gives us this insight …
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write,
‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the
Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with
them.”
RETRIBUTION
The time for judgment will finally arrive, and God will fulfill His promise to the Tribulation martyrs.
[READ Rev. 14:18-20]
18 Then another angel, the one who has authority
over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who
had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters
from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So
the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from
the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of
God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and
blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance
of 1,600 stadia [184 mi.].
Here in one of the Bible’s most graphic depictions of
God’s wrath, the martyr’s cry for justice is answered when the blood of their
crushed oppressors will flow in a stream five feet deep and nearly 200 miles long.
REWARD
The honor God bestows on these martyrs will be eternal.
Even prior to their heavenly reward, they will receive honor during Christ’s
reign on earth during the Millennium.
[READ Rev. 20:4]
4 Then … I saw the souls of those who
had been beheaded because of their witness of Jesus and because of the word of
God, and who also had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not
received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and
reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
When these martyrs are resurrected after the Tribulation
period, they will rule with Christ in His millennial kingdom. Finally, these
heroic believers will enjoy the peace and justice so long denied them.
VI.
THE COURAGE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
We tend to think of Christian martyrdom as a thing of the past – a phenomenon of ancient history
like the many accounts described in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. But
martyrdom is widespread around the world today. The Center for the Study of
Global Christianity estimates that over half of all historical Christian
martyrdoms occurred in the 20th century. They estimate that 89,750
Christians were killed each year between 2006 and 2015. The following facts
shed additional light on these appalling figures.
Ø A conservative estimate is that almost 9,000 Christians are martyred worldwide each year.
Ø According to OpenDoors.net, Christians in more than 78 countries are persecuted by their
government or their neighbors.
Ø As of 2026, Christianity is illegal in 52 countries around the world (Global Christian Relief).
Ø It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are being held in North Korean labor camps.
Ø Latest reports reveal that 32 Christians are being killed in Nigeria every day. There have
been 1,200 churches totally destroyed every year for the past 16 years.
Ø As of April 2026, there are 13 states in India that have passed anti-conversion laws, which are
used to disrupt church services, force Christians from their homes, destroy
church buildings, and even kill pastors.
Whether we look at history, current events, or the future revealed in Revelation 6, we find that
persecution and martyrdom have always accompanied Christianity – and always
will, until Jesus comes and sets up His kingdom. Satan, who in the garden of
Eden usurped the lordship of this fallen world, is determined to annihilate
anyone exuding the aroma of goodness and godliness.
Conclusion: As I began today’s sermon, I told you that ISIS had beheaded twenty Christians on that Libyan
beach. But the actual number killed was 21. I didn’t tell you about the last
one, so that I could end with his inspiring story.
When ISIS published the video of the mass beheadings, there was one face among the Egyptians whom
no one could identify. It was later learned that he was an African from Chad,
named Mathew Ayairga, who had migrated to Libya to find work. He was not a
Christian at all. For reasons that are not clear, he had been swept up with the
twenty Egyptian Coptic Christians and marched to the beach to die.
Ayairga (the gentleman in the middle of the photo) knelt in his orange suit in the line
as the executioners asked each of the Christians to reject Christ and then
beheaded them when they refused. Finally, the butchers reached Ayairga.
Although he was not a Christian, they demanded that he reject the Christian’s
God. “Do you reject Christ?” they demanded.
Having observed the faith and courage of the Egyptian Christians throughout the ordeal, Ayairga was
deeply moved by the unbending power of their belief. At that moment he knew he
wanted what they had more than life itself. He calmly confessed to his captors,
“Their God is my God.”
Moments later, like the repentant thief on the cross who confessed his faith in Christ (Lk.
23:39-43), I believe Ayairga entered paradise along with his fellow
martyrs. In attempting to shrink the size of the church triumphant, ISIS
actually caused it to grow by one. Heaven will one day reveal how many others,
like Ayairga, will be there after witnessing the faith of God’s martyrs.
I hope the courage of the martyrs we have studied today will inspire you to stand strong in your
commitment to Christ regardless of the severity of the cost. Even if it means
giving up your own life, what is that compared to the glory of the reward?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of the sacrifices made by those who have gone
before us; martyrs who stood firm in their faith amidst trials and persecution.
We come to You today with humble hearts, seeking to honor their legacy while
praying for strength in our own walk with You. Lord, we acknowledge the pain
and suffering that these faithful servants endured. Each soul represented under
the altar is a testimony to unwavering faithfulness in the face of death. We
cry out for their courage, their steadfastness, and their deep-rooted love for
You that empowered them to endure what was beyond human comprehension. Help us
to understand the depth of their commitment, the fire that burned bright in
their hearts, and their unyielding devotion to Your Word. In our world today,
we are often faced with choices that challenge our beliefs and test our
commitment to Your Gospel. We certainly have not met such trials as these
martyrs, but we see the creeping shadows of persecution invading our world.
Grant us courage, Lord. Just as You gave strength to them, pour Your Spirit
upon us so that we might stand firm when faced with opposition. Let our spirits
be ignited by the examples set before us, and let us not shy away from
proclaiming the truth of Your Word, nor from holding steadfast to the testimony
of our faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Invitation # 279: “Faith of Our Fathers” (4 vs.)
Benediction: Beloved, when you must endure persecution for your faith in Christ, be encouraged by these words
from the apostle Peter: after you have suffered a little while, the God of all
grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore,
confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and
ever. Amen. (1 Pet. 5:10-11)
The Tribulation Martyrs - Study Guide
THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs
(Pt. 4, Lesson 21) - June 21, 2026 - Rev. Alan Cousins
OPENING TEXT: Deut. 28:64-67 (LSB)
INTRODUCTION: The apostle John tells us that
there is much more Christian martyrdom yet to come – the result of
unprecedented persecution to be inflicted by the Antichrist during the
Tribulation period. This morning we are going to look deeper into the lives of
these heroic Christians and the circumstances that lead to their martyrdom.
I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Revelation 6:9-10
The fact that they will be slaughtered for
their faith and taken into heaven while their murderers still thrive on the
earth gives strong evidence that they will be martyred during the Tribulation
period.
After the rapture of the church, God will
redirect His focus, placing it again on Israel. The seven years of Tribulation
will see a huge number of Jews turn to Christ.
Romans 11:25-27
God’s plan to save the nation of Israel will
come to fruition during the Tribulation period. This turning to God will
infuriate the Antichrist, provoking him to martyr many Jews.
If the Rapture removes all believers from the
earth at the beginning of the Tribulation period, who will be available to
teach them about Christ and preach the gospel to these Jews?
During the Tribulation God will send two
witnesses to the earth who will proclaim Christ and confirm their message with
spectacular miracles. God will then “seal” 144,000 of these Israelis (those
saved by accepting the gospel preached by the two witnesses) to evangelize
their people during the Tribulation (Rev. 4:7ff).
Dr. Henry Morris suggests another means – a silent witness – by which the Jews may
be evangelized. “Millions upon millions of copies of the Bible and Bible
portions have been published in all major languages, and distributed throughout
the world … Removal of believers from the world at the rapture will not remove
the Scriptures, and multitudes will no doubt be constrained to read the Bible.”
Martyrdom will be an everyday occurrence in the Tribulation period. Even in the face of
certain death, believers will proclaim that they love God more than their own
lives. As John wrote: “they did not love their life even to death” (Rev. 12:11).
Daniel 3:17-18; Zechariah 13:8-9; Matthew 24:9-10
Revelation presents the Tribulation period as a time when every faithful Christian must look martyrdom in the face.
II. THE CAUSE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Revelation 16:9
These souls will be martyred for “the
witness which they had maintained” or “for the testimony which they
held,” which surely refers to their proclamation of coming judgment as the
Tribulation period descends into its darkest horrors.
The faithful will be ruthlessly killed for bearing God’s message,
joining an exalted list of courageous prophets who suffered for speaking boldly
against the evils of their times.
III. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Revelation 6:9
John is describing his visions of scenes in
heaven. In this vision, he sees an altar, and the souls martyred for their
faithful testimony are situated “underneath the altar.” To appreciate the full
impact of what this means, we must turn back to the OT. The altar was a
prominent feature of the Israelite tabernacle (and later, the temple)
where the people offered animal sacrifices to God.
The Greek word John uses to indicate the
martyrdom of these souls is rendered as “slain” in the English LSB
translation we are using. But it can just as accurately be translated as “slaughtered,”
which is the term applied to OT sacrifices killed as offerings to God.
IV. THE CRY OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Revelation 6:10
This cry for vengeance places these martyrs
squarely within the Tribulation period rather than in the prior church age.
Those who suffer Tribulation atrocities will
be justified in calling for vengeance because the age of grace will have ended
and the day of God’s judgment will have arrived.
The martyrs’ cry for vengeance will be in perfect accord with God’s will.
V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR
MARTYRDOM
Revelation 6:11
Although the time has not yet come for God to
act on the martyr’s request for justice, He will provide them with five
comforts as they wait.
REFUGE
By placing them under the altar, God gives these faithful servants a position of safety and redemption.
ROBES
John told us that white garments will be the standing reward issued to overcomers (Rev.
3:5). The white robe will be awarded to these martyrs for facing and
overcoming the extreme evil of the Tribulation.
REST
Revelation6:11
The fifth seal, under which these events occur, will initiate the first of two periods of
the Tribulation in which believers will suffer martyrdom. God must delay His
answer to their cry for justice until the believers under the second part of
the Tribulation period have been martyred.
Revelation 14:13
RETRIBUTION
The time for judgment will finally arrive, and God will fulfill His promise to the Tribulation martyrs.
Revelation 14:18-20
REWARD
The honor God bestows on these martyrs will be eternal. Even prior to their heavenly
reward, they will receive honor during Christ’s reign on earth during the Millennium.
Revelation 20:4
VI. THE COURAGE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM
Martyrdom is widespread around the world
today. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that over half
of all historical Christian martyrdoms occurred in the 20th century.
They estimate that 89,750 Christians were killed each year between 2006 and
2015. The following facts shed additional light on these appalling figures.
Ø A
conservative estimate is that almost 9,000 Christians are martyred worldwide each year.
Ø According
to OpenDoors.net, Christians in more than 78 countries are persecuted by their government or their neighbors.
Ø As
of 2026, Christianity is illegal in 52 countries around the world (Global Christian Relief).
Ø It
is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are being held in North Korean labor camps.
Ø Latest
reports reveal that 32 Christians are being killed in Nigeria every day. There
have been 1,200 churches totally destroyed every year for the past 16 years.
Ø As
of April 2026, there are 13 states in India that have passed anti-conversion
laws, which are used to disrupt church services, force Christians from their
homes, destroy church buildings, and even kill pastors.
Whether we look at history, current events,
or the future revealed in Revelation 6, we find that persecution and martyrdom
have always accompanied Christianity – and always will, until Jesus comes and
sets up His kingdom.
CONCLUSION: As I began today’s sermon, I told you that
ISIS had beheaded twenty Christians on that Libyan beach. But the actual
number killed was 21. I didn’t tell you about the last one, so that I could end
with his inspiring story.
When ISIS published the video of the mass beheadings, there was one face among the Egyptians whom no
one could identify. It was later learned that he was an African from Chad,
named Mathew Ayairga, who had migrated to Libya to find work. He was not a Christian
at all. For reasons that are not clear, he had been swept up with the twenty
Egyptian Coptic Christians and marched to the beach to die.
Ayairga knelt in his orange suit in the line as the executioners asked each of the Christians to
reject Christ and then beheaded them when they refused. Finally, the butchers
reached Ayairga. Although he was not a Christian, they demanded that he reject the
Christian’s God. “Do you reject Christ?” they demanded.
Having observed the faith and courage of the Egyptian Christians throughout the ordeal, Ayairga was
deeply moved by the unbending power of their belief. At that moment he knew he
wanted what they had more than life itself. He calmly confessed to his captors,
“Their God is my God.” Moments later, like the repentant thief on the
cross who confessed his faith in Christ (Lk. 23:39-43), I believe
Ayairga entered paradise along with his fellow martyrs.
I hope the courage of the martyrs we’ve studied today will inspire you to stand strong in your
commitment to Christ regardless of the severity of the cost. Even if it means
giving up your own life, what is that compared to the glory of the reward?
Tribulation Signs - The False Prophet - Audio Link
THE FALSE PROPHET
Text: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we bow before You today, with hearts filled with reverence and
gratitude for the truth of Your Word. Lord, I pray for the Holy Spirit to
illuminate Your words of eternal truth to our minds and hearts today. Help us
to be attentive to the teachings we encounter, whether at church, through the media,
or in the conversations we have with others. Protect our minds and hearts from
the subtle lure of heresies disguised as truth, for You have warned us that
many wear the cloak of righteousness while sowing seeds of confusion and doubt
among Your people. Lord, I thank You for assurance, that despite the presence
of these dangers, we are secure in Your love and truth. Help us to stand on the
truth that Your Word is both our anchor and refuge. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Introduction: In the spring of 1993, Americans watched their TVs in
shock as the standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians cult ended in
the fiery conflagration of the cult’s Waco compound. The Branch Davidians were
led by David Koresh, who claimed prophetic powers that enabled him to crack the
code of the seven seals in the book of Revelation. Koresh convinced his followers that he had
been called to raise an “Army of God” and began stockpiling weapons in
preparation for the Apocalypse. Allegations of sexual and physical abuse of
women and children led to several investigations of the cult and, finally, to
the deadly standoff that ended in the burning of the compound and the deaths of
more than 70 cult members, including their children.
The world has suffered no shortage of false prophets. Throughout history, many
self-proclaimed prophets attracted masses of followers and led them either to
disappointment or disaster when their predictions failed. In the early 1840s,
many sold their homes and possessions in response to William Miller’s
prediction that Christ would return by 1844. In 1978, the world was shocked
when cult leader Jim Jones led or coerced more than 900 of his followers to
commit suicide.
The apostle John tells us clearly that the world has not seen the last of false
prophets. One is yet to come whose massive deceptions will make those of men
like Koresh, Miller, and Jones seem minor and localized. In today’s message, we
will learn what the Bible tells us of this False Prophet’s emergence, his
profile, his purpose, his power, his program, and finally, his punishment.
I. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PROFILE
[READ Rev. 13:11] John introduces the False Prophet this way:
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the
earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and he was speaking as a dragon.
The descriptions of the beast in this passage are
metaphoric; as we soon learn, John is merely using them to illustrate the
extremely evil nature of the man who will become known as the False Prophet (16:13;
19:20; 20:10). It’s significant that John’s imagery combines two animals
with opposite natures – the meekness and gentleness of a lamb merged with the
predatory, devouring malevolence of a dragon.
There is nothing random about this description. The False
Prophet will come on the scene as a reasonable, humble, self-effacing person
whose magnetic personality will easily attract a large following. He will be
the epitome of the type of deceiver Jesus warned us against:
[READ Mt. 7:15]
15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Bible expositor John Phillips explains how the False
Prophet will manipulate and deceive masses of people:
The dynamic appeal of the False Prophet will lie in his
skill in combining political expediency with religious passion, self-interest
with benevolent philanthropy, lofty sentiment with blatant sophistry (false arguments), moral platitude
with unbridled self-indulgence. His arguments will be subtle, convincing, and
appealing. His oratory will be hypnotic, for he will be able to move the masses
to tears or whip them into a frenzy …. His deadly appeal will lie in the fact
that what he says will sound so right, so sensible, so exactly what
unregenerate men have always wanted to hear.
Let’s step back for a minute and take this all in. We know that Satan is a liar and deceiver.
Satan’s minions, the demons, are at work deceiving the whole world. We’ve
learned that the Antichrist is deceiving. Now we add in the False Prophet who
is also a deceiver. But there’s another component you may not have thought about.
[READ 2 Thes. 2:11-12]
11 And for this reason God sends upon them a deluding
influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order
that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in
unrighteousness.
No wonder the whole Tribulation world is deceived. Satan, the demons, the Antichrist, and the
False Prophet are beguiling in their duplicity. Then on top of all this, God will
send a deluding influence into the world. The result of all this is that
everybody on the earth who is not saved, who has not believed the truth of the
Gospel, are going to be misled and betrayed.
The combination of widespread appeal and diabolical
deception leaves no doubt as to the strong relationship that will exist between
the False Prophet, the Antichrist, and Satan himself. But the plot goes even
deeper than you may realize. By recruiting these two malevolent accomplices,
Satan will be attempting to form a trinity of his own. In this unholy trinity,
Satan himself counterfeits God the Father; the Antichrist counterfeits God the
Son, and the False Prophet counterfeits God the Holy Spirit.
II. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PURPOSE
Understanding how Satan’s unholy trinity imitates the holy Trinity
of God helps us discover the False Prophet’s purpose.
[READ Rev. 13:12]
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his
presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first
beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
Matthew 11:27, tells us that Christ received authority from the
Father. In a similar way, the Antichrist will receive authority from the
dragon, who is Satan (Rev. 13:4). The primary purpose and objective of
God’s Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son (Jn. 16:14). The False Prophet
will imitate this purpose by leading people to worship the Antichrist (Rev.
13:12).
The False Prophet will come on the scene as a religious leader. At
the outset, he will encourage worship in all non-Christian religions, knowing
that increased participation in multiple religions will dilute the influence of
Christianity. But behind this façade of “benign religious tolerance”
will crouch a demonic purpose, which is to compel all the world’s diverse
religions to worship the Antichrist.
Because religion has become largely irrelevant in our highly secularized
society, it may seem odd that a religious leader would figure so prominently in
the political turmoil of the Tribulation period. But history shows that this
fits a consistent pattern. Politics and religion have always worked in tandem
as the primary forces that control humanity. Politics compels compliance by
authority, while religion draws compliance by attraction. When these two
combine forces, their power becomes virtually absolute.
W.A. Criswell offers some powerful examples of this phenomenon:
I do not suppose that in the history of mankind, it has ever been
possible to rule without religious approbation and devotion.… In the days of
Pharaoh, when Moses and Aaron stood before the sovereign of Egypt, he called in
Jannes and Jambres, the magicians, the religionists of his day, to oppose
Jehovah. When Balak, the king of Moab, sought to destroy Israel, he hired the
services of Balaam to curse Israel.… Ahab and Jezebel were able to do what they
did in Israel, in the debauchery of the kingdom, because they were abetted and
assisted by the prophets of Baal.
Religion has always been a powerful force in influencing humanity.
Therefore, Satan will use religion as one of his most effective tools to bring
the world under the control of the Antichrist. The False Prophet will be
Satan’s agent in turning the world’s worship toward the Antichrist.
III. THE FALSE PROPHET’S POWER
John tells us the False Prophet will exercise enormous
power, but that his power will be derived from another:
[READ Rev. 13:13-14a]
3 And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire
come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14a And
he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which were given
to him to do in the presence of the beast.
Here we see demonic power flowing downward through a vertical chain of command: The False
Prophet receives his power from the Antichrist (the Beast), and the Antichrist
receives his power from Satan (the dragon). Scripture amply documents
this flow of power. John states five times in Revelation 13:2-8 that the
Antichrist will derive his power from Satan. Then in verses 12-15 he states
three times that the False Prophet will derive his power from the Antichrist:
[READ Rev. 13:12a, 14a, 15a]
12a And he exercises all the authority of the first beast
in his presence…. 14a And he deceives those who dwell on the
earth because of the signs which were given to him to do in the presence of the
beast, … 15a And it was given to him to give breath to the
image of the beast.
These passages leave no ambiguity as to the source of the False Prophet’s power. It is
satanic, both in its source and its nature. Some believe that only God gives
power to work miracles, and they therefore assume the False Prophet’s signs and
wonders are mere tricks. But Jesus Himself counters that assumption:
[READ Mt. 24:24]
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and
will show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Let’s take a few moments to identify three of the False Prophet’s miracles, which show how his demonic
power will be employed.
HE WILL CALL DOWN FIRE UPON THE EARTH (Rev. 13:13; Gen.
19:24; Lev. 10:1-2; Rev. 20:7-9; Mal. 4:5; 1 Ki. 18:20-39; Deut.
13:1-5; Mt. 7:15-23)
[READ Rev. 13:13]
13 And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the
presence of men.
This is yet another instance of demonic mimicry of the power of God, who has often used fire in
executing His judgments. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with a downpour of
fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:24). He used fire to consume the wicked
priests Nadab and Abihu for flouting tabernacle rituals (Lev. 10:1-2).
And at the end of the Millennium, God will send fire from heaven to annihilate
Satan’s army (Rev. 20:7-9).
However, Scripture indicates that there may be an even deeper purpose to the False Prophet’s use
of fire other than mere mimicry.
[READ Mal. 4:5]
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day
of Yahweh.
The False Prophet’s use of fire will evoke a strong connection between himself and the OT prophet
Elijah, who ministered to Israel in the days of the divided kingdom. In a
spectacular confrontation with the priests of Baal, Elijah called for God to
send down fire to ignite the sacrificial bull he had prepared on an altar atop
Mount Carmel. The fire descended and consumed not only the sacrifice, but also
the altar itself and the water in the trench surrounding it (1 Ki. 18:20-39).
This was the Elijah prophesied by Malachi to be the forerunner announcing the
imminent coming of Christ. The False Prophet will mimic Elijah’s miracle of
fire and claim to be the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy. He will pose as the
promised Elijah and act as the harbinger of the Antichrist.
Many will see the power of the False Prophet as a sign of his authenticity. But biblical scholar Craig
Keener warns against accepting miracles alone as validation of an authentic prophet of God:
Signs by themselves can be positive or negative; what enables us to discern true prophets from
false ones is … to evaluate them by their moral character. The point is that we
know them by their message and their fruit, not by their gifts.
[READ Deut. 13:1-5] Moses taught:
1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and
the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying,
‘Let us walk after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’
3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that
dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you to find out if you love
Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You
shall walk after Yahweh your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His
commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. 5 But
that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death because he has
counseled rebellion against Yahweh your God who brought you from the land of
Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in
which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk. So, you shall purge the evil from
among you.
[READ Mt. 7:15-23] Jesus warns:
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will
know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from
thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the
bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So
then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will
enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in
Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your
name do many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
HE WILL COMMISSION AN IMAGE TO BE BUILT (Rev. 13:14-15;
14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4; Mt. 24:15-16, 21; 2 Thes. 2:3-4)
The False Prophet’s occult power will gain him an enormous following. When his influence and
deception become pervasive, he will commission an enormous sculpture honoring
the Antichrist to be set in the reconstructed Jewish temple. John describes the
statue as “an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived”
(Rev. 13:14). This image is a prominent feature in the book of
Revelation, mentioned 10 times in seven chapters (13:14-15; 14:9, 11; 15:2;
16:2; 19:20; 20:4). The worship of the Antichrist will center on this idol
until the end of the Tribulation period, marking the final stage of apostasy,
which is idolatry – the hallmark of all false religions.
Nineteenth-century theologian J.A. Seiss, noted the factors that will lead the world to worship
the image of the Beast:
[It is not] difficult to trace what sort of arguments will be brought to bear for the making of this
image. In the ages of great worldly glory and dominion statues were raised to
the honor of the great of every class, but who of all the great ones of the
earth is so great as the Antichrist! Statues have ever been common for the
commemoration of great events; but what greater event and marvel has ever
occurred than that in the history of this man, in that he was wounded to death,
and yet is restored to life and activity, with far sublimer qualities than he
possessed in his first life? … And who will there be among the proud sons of
earth to stand against such arguments?
Jesus was apparently referring to this image of the Antichrist in His Olivet discourse when He said:
[READ Mt. 24:15-16,21]
15 Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the
prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. … 21 For
then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the
beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
The apostle Paul also referred to the image of the Beast and the apostasy that will accompany it:
[READ 2 Thes. 2:3-4]
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who
opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so
that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being
God.
When this desecration of the temple occurs, the False Prophet will have achieved his goal of making
the worship of the Antichrist a worldwide phenomenon.
HE WILL CONJURE THE IMAGE TO BREATHE & SPEAK (Rev. 13:15)
When the image of the Antichrist is erected in the Jewish temple, the False Prophet will then …
[READ Rev. 13:15]
15 … Give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause
as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
So, what exactly is the nature of this wonder? The Bible does not say. The old speculation was that
the “image of the Beast” would be a statue given the appearance of life.
With the rise of new technologies come new theories, including holograms,
androids, cyborgs, a human-animal hybrid, a human clone, or artificial
intelligence. Whatever it is, the image of the beast is the focal point of
worship in the “religion of the beast” during the second half of the
tribulation.
Let’s pull over here for a minute or two, because I think there are a couple of important things I
should point out to you.
[READ Ps. 135:15-17]
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work
of man’s hands. 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but
they do not hear, surely, there is not any breath in their mouths.
This is a firm, OT statement against idolatry.
In fact, it’s repeated several times that idols are dumb and idols cannot speak.
[READ Hab. 2:19]
19 Woe to him who says to a piece of wood,
‘Awake!’ to a mute stone, ‘Arise!’ and that is your teacher?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all
inside it.
But contrary to what is normal, as far as graven
images go, this idol can speak. Now, this is amazing. The Antichrist, will be
established as the focus of world-wide worship. The False Prophet commissions
this image and is somehow given the power to give it breath so that the image
can speak.
In Revelation 13:15, the word translated as “breath”
is not zōē, it’s not bīos, the two Greek words which
are used for life in the NT. Instead, John employs the use of the word pneûma,
which means “spirit-powered.” I believe John is describing an image that
has the appearance of life, but it is not flesh and blood life.
Some maintain that this image will actually come to
life, but I have a hard time believing that. You see, Satan cannot give life; he
can counterfeit it, but he cannot create life – only God can do that. So, the
Antichrist’s supposed resurrection is probably just another demonic fabrication.
Yet, keep in mind, that Pharaoh’s magicians could throw their staffs on the
ground and turn them into snakes to mimic Moses’ miracle. With all of the
technology available today, backed by all of Satan’s available power, this kind
of thing could be easily done. The False Prophet will animate this statue so
that it actually appears to come to life.
The late Dr. Henry Morris asserted that the image would speak and breathe through the power of a
demonic miracle: “The False Prophet is enabled (by his own master, Satan) to
impart a spirit to the image, but that spirit is one of Satan’s unclean spirits
…. This is a striking case of demon possession, with the demon possessing the
body of the image rather than that of a man or woman.”
I don’t know exactly how all of it is going to work,
but it isn’t hard to imagine that worldwide 24/7 television will keep the image
of the Beast in everybody’s homes all the time. People will be watching the
phenomenon of its movement and its speech, and they will be brought to their
knees in worship of the Antichrist. It will be much like ancient kings who set
themselves up as gods, built idols of their own design, and then demanded that
people bow down and worship those idols as symbols of worshiping them. So it
will be in the last half of the Tribulation, and anybody who doesn’t comply will
be given a death sentence.
At any rate, this image serves as a chilling example of the dark power that will dominate the
world throughout the Tribulation period – a power exercised by the False
Prophet that will confer credibility to the Antichrist and enable Satan to
complete his insidious program of deception in the final days.
IV. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PROGRAM (Rev. 13:16-18; 7:3-4)
While this beast from the earth is first a religious
leader, he will also direct the Antichrist’s sweeping economic program.
[READ Rev. 13:16-17]
16 And he causes all, the small and the great,
and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, that they be given
a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and that no
one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either
the name of the beast or the number of his name.
After securing worldwide worship for the Antichrist, the
False Prophet will capitalize on this success with a hostile takeover of the
world’s economic system. No one will be allowed to participate in any financial
transaction without a mark placed either on one’s hand or forehead. There will
be no exemptions. Those who refuse the mark will be barred from all buying or
selling.
The mark of the Beast is yet another satanic imitation of God’s activity.
[READ Rev. 7:3-4]
3 … “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the
trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And
I heard the number of those having been sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe
of the sons of Israel.
God will mark 144,000 Jewish evangelists with a seal on
their foreheads to signify their sanctification for God’s special purpose. The
False Prophet will try to replicate this act by forcing the followers of the
Antichrist to bear a demonic mark, thus sealing them as Satan’s own people.
The counterfeit mark of Satan will differ greatly from
the authentic seal of God. God’s seal will protect His witnesses from harm,
whereas Satan’s mark will inflict untold misery on his followers. God’s seal
will be given only to a select few, but everyone will be forced to bear the
mark of the Antichrist or suffer extremely severe consequences.
Dr. Mark Hitchcock explains the disastrous impact on those who refuse the mark.
No one will be able to shop at the mall, eat at a
restaurant, fill up at gas stations, pay utility bills, buy groceries, get
prescriptions filled, pay to get the lawn mown, or pay the mortgage without the
mark of the Beast. It’s the Tribulation trademark.
The recent breakthroughs in medical implant chips and
RFID technologies have increased interest in the mark of the Beast
spoken of in Revelation chapter 13. It is possible that the technology we are
seeing today represents the beginning stages of what may eventually be used as
the mark of the beast. Many good expositors of Revelation differ widely as to
the exact nature of the mark of the beast. Besides the implanted chip view,
other speculations include an ID card, a special tattoo, or simply a mark of
some kind that identifies someone as being faithful to the Antichrist’s
kingdom. This last view requires the least amount of speculation, since it does
not add any more information than what the Bible gives us. Any of these things
are possible, but at the same time they are all speculations. We should not
spend a lot of time pondering over the precise details.
[READ Rev. 13:18]
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man; and his number
is 666.
The meaning of 666 is a mystery, and it appears that the
apostle John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intended it to
be that way. Calculating it, John says, requires “wisdom.” Some, using
gematria (assigning a number value to each letter of a name or word and then
combining the number values to arrive at a total number), have identified
the Antichrist as various people in world history. Some of the popular targets of
the past have been “Caesar Nero,” “Ronald Wilson Reagan,” “Mikhail Gorbachev,”
and various popes in Roman Catholic history. The lengths some will go to in
order to get a person’s name to add up to 666 are amazing. Virtually any name
can add up to 666 if enough mathematical gymnastics are employed. Six hundred,
sixty-six will somehow identify the beast, but precisely how 666 is
connected to the beast is not the main point of Revelation 13:18.
The Bible often uses the number 7 to refer to God
and His perfection. Traditionally, 6 is thought to be the number of man
-- created on the sixth day and always “falling short” of God. The Beast/Antichrist
will strive to be like God. He will even claim to be God. But, just as the
number 6 falls short of the number 7, so will the Beast/Antichrist,
with his “trinity” of 6’s, ultimately fail in his effort to
defeat God.
Suffice it to say, somehow, the number 666 will identify
the Antichrist. For centuries Bible interpreters have been trying to identify
certain individuals with 666. Nothing is conclusive. That is why John said the
number requires wisdom. However, when the Antichrist is revealed (2 Thes.
2:3-4), it will be very clear who he is and how the number 666 identifies
him.
V. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PUNISHMENT (Rev. 19:20; 14:9-11; 20:4)
Despite the immense demonic power and control wielded by the False Prophet, he will finally
come to the horrible end prophesied by John.
[READ Rev. 19:20]
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false
prophet who did the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two
were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Being cast alive into the lake of fire seems a fitting end to this demonic mass deceiver. Though
his power and influence will reach throughout the world, inflicting death and
misery on countless millions, his days will be cut short. He will be caught in the
relentless wheels of God’s justice and spend eternity with his cohorts, Satan
and the Antichrist, in the everlasting lake of fire.
What will happen to the millions he deceived? They too will be severely punished.
[READ Rev. 14:9-11]
9 … “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and
receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 and he also
will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in
the cup of His rage, and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone 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; they have no rest day and
night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark
of his name.”
Some may question the fairness of this judgment against those who accept the mark of the Beast,
thinking they will merely be doing what is necessary for survival. Yet, when we
look at their choice from an eternal perspective, we can see that it will bring
about the opposite of survival. It may briefly extend their earthly lives, but
at the end of the Antichrist’s regime, they will be plunged into eternal death.
Conversely, those who refuse the Beast’s mark will face the prospect of
immediate death, but they will awaken from that death into eternal life.
[READ Rev. 20:4]
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment
was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
because of their witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also
had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on
their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and reigned with Christ
for a thousand years.
Conclusion: In this fallen world, Christians are not
called to a life where all choices lead to comfort or safety. We are called to
a life of commitment to the One who loves us enough to die for us. The Bible
often tells us this commitment will mean trouble and pain. We must draw
encouragement from the words of Jesus, who said …
[READ Mt. 10:28]
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but
are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we’re living
in perilous times. The kingdoms of this world are in an uproar. The nation of
Israel sits at the hub of history, and the predictions of Your Word are
unfolding like a scroll. Evil has never been stronger and the end has never
been closer. Our world is in the grip of the birth pangs of tribulation, the
likes of which have never been seen before and will never be seen again. Lord,
rejecting the spirit of fear, we claim the Spirit of power, love, and a sound
mind. Help us share the Gospel in these last days. Give us a sense of urgency,
anticipation, and evangelism as we await the upward call. May we persevere as
we listen for the shout, for the voice of the archangel, and for the trumpet
call of God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Invitation # 375: “Jesus Calls Us” (4
vs.)
Benediction: Beloved, the Lord
gives us wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. So, trust in
the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Amen. (Prov.
2:6; 3:5-6)
The False Prophet - Study Guide
THE FALSE PROPHET
SIGNS: Tribulation Signs
(Pt. 4, Lesson 20) - June 14, 2026 - Rev. Alan Cousins
TEXT: Selected Scriptures from the LSB
INTRODUCTION: The apostle John tells us
clearly that the world has not seen the last of false prophets. In today’s
message, we will learn what the Bible tells us of this False Prophet’s
emergence, his profile, his purpose, his power, his program, and finally, his
punishment.
I. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PROFILE
Revelation 13:11
John uses this image to illustrate the
extremely evil nature of the man who will become known as the False Prophet (16:13;
19:20; 20:10). It’s significant that he combines two animals with opposite
natures – the meekness and gentleness of a lamb merged with the predatory,
devouring malevolence of a dragon.
The False Prophet will come on the scene as a
reasonable, humble, self-effacing person whose magnetic personality will easily
attract a large following.
Matthew 7:15
We know that Satan is a liar and deceiver.
Satan’s minions, the demons, are at work deceiving the whole world. We’ve
learned that the Antichrist is deceiving. Now we add in the False Prophet who
is also a deceiver.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
No wonder the whole Tribulation world is
deceived. Satan, the demons, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet are
beguiling in their duplicity. Then on top of all this, God will send a deluding
influence into the world.
The combination of widespread appeal and
diabolical deception leaves no doubt as to the strong relationship that will
exist between the False Prophet, the Antichrist, and Satan. Satan will be
attempting to form a trinity of his own. In this unholy trinity, Satan
counterfeits God the Father; the Antichrist counterfeits God the Son, and the
False Prophet counterfeits God the Holy Spirit.
II. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PURPOSE
Revelation 13:12
The False Prophet will seek to imitate the
purpose of the Holy Spirit by leading people to worship the Antichrist.
Politics and religion have always worked in
tandem as the primary forces that control humanity. Politics compels compliance
by authority, while religion draws compliance by attraction. When these two
combine forces, their power becomes virtually absolute.
Religion has always been a powerful force in
influencing humanity. Therefore, Satan will use religion as one of his most
effective tools to bring the world under the control of the Antichrist. The
False Prophet will be Satan’s agent in turning the world’s worship toward the
Antichrist.
III. THE FALSE PROPHET’S POWER
Revelation 13:13-14a & 13:12a, 14a, 15a
The False Prophet’s power is satanic, both in
its source and its nature. Some believe that only God gives power to work
miracles, and they therefore assume the False Prophet’s signs and wonders are
mere tricks. But Jesus Himself counters that assumption.
Matthew 24:24
Let’s take a few moments to identify three of the False Prophet’s miracles, which
show how his demonic power will be employed. The False Prophet will …
CALL DOWN FIRE UPON THE EARTH
Revelation
13:13
This is yet another instance of demonic mimicry of the power of God, who has often used
fire in executing His judgments (see Gen. 19:24; Lev. 10:1-2; Rev. 20:7-9).
However, Scripture indicates that there may be an even deeper purpose to the
False Prophet’s use of fire other than mere mimicry.
Malachi 4:5
The False Prophet will mimic Elijah’s miracle of fire and claim to be the fulfillment of
Malachi’s prophecy. He will pose as the promised Elijah and act as the
harbinger of the Antichrist.
Many will see the power of the False Prophet as a sign of his authenticity. But biblical
scholar Craig Keener warns against accepting miracles alone as validation of an
authentic prophet of God: “Signs by themselves can be positive or negative;
what enables us to discern true prophets from false ones is … to evaluate them
by their moral character. The point is that we know them by their message and
their fruit, not by their gifts.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 & Matthew 7:15-23
COMMISSION AN IMAGE TO BE BUILT
When his influence and deception become pervasive, he will commission a sculpture
honoring the Antichrist to be set in the reconstructed Jewish temple. This
image is a prominent feature in the book of Revelation, mentioned 10 times in
seven chapters (13:14-15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).
The worship of the Antichrist will center on this idol until the end of the Tribulation
period, marking the final stage of apostasy, which is idolatry – the hallmark
of all false religions.
Matthew 24:15-16, 21 & 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
When this desecration of the temple occurs, the False Prophet will have achieved his goal
of making the worship of the Antichrist a worldwide phenomenon.
CONJURE THE IMAGE TO BREATHE & SPEAK
Revelation 13:15
What exactly is the nature of this wonder? The Bible does not say. The old speculation was
that the “image of the Beast” would be a statue given the appearance of
life. Whatever it is, the image of the beast is the focal point of worship in
the “religion of the beast” during the second half of the tribulation.
Let me point out a couple of important things in regard to this image.
Psalm 135:15-17 & Habakkuk 2:19
Contrary to what is normal, as far as graven images go, this idol can speak. The
Antichrist, will be established as the focus of world-wide worship. The False
Prophet is somehow given the power to give it breath so that the image can speak.
In Revelation 13:15, the word translated as “breath”
is not zōē, it’s not bīos, the two Greek words
which are used for life in the NT. Instead, John employs the use of the
word pneûma, which means “spirit-powered.” I believe John
is describing an image that has the appearance of life, but it is not flesh and
blood life. For you see, Satan cannot give life. He can counterfeit it, but he
cannot create life – only God can do that. So, the Antichrist’s supposed resurrection
is probably a demonic fabrication as well.
With all of the technology available today,
backed by all of Satan’s available power, this kind of thing could be easily
done. The False Prophet will animate this statue so that it actually appears to
come to life.
The image of the Beast serves as a chilling
example of the dark power that will dominate the world throughout the
Tribulation period – a power exercised by the False Prophet that will confer
credibility to the Antichrist and enable Satan to complete his insidious
program of deception in the final days.
IV. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PROGRAM
Revelation 13:16-17
After securing worldwide worship for
Antichrist, the False Prophet will take over the world’s economic system. No
one will be allowed to participate in any financial transaction without a mark
placed either on one’s hand or forehead. There will be no exemptions. Those who
refuse the mark will be barred from all buying or selling.
Revelation 7:3-4
Revelation 13:18
The meaning of 666 is a
mystery, and it appears that the apostle John, writing under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, intended it to be that way. Calculating it, John says,
requires “wisdom.”
Somehow, the number 666
will identify the Antichrist. However, when the Antichrist is revealed (2
Thes. 2:3-4), it will be very clear who he is and how the number 666
identifies him.
V. THE FALSE PROPHET’S PUNISHMENT
Revelation 19:20
What will happen to the millions he deceived? They too will be severely punished.
Revelation 14:9-11
Conversely, those who
refuse the Beast’s mark will face the prospect of immediate death, but they
will awaken from that death into eternal life.
Revelation 20:4
CONCLUSION: Christians are not called to a
life where all choices lead to comfort or safety. We are called to a life of
commitment to the One who loves us enough to die for us. The Bible often tells
us this commitment will mean trouble and pain. We must draw encouragement from
the words of Jesus (see Mt. 10:28).