Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was formally constituted on Aug. 23, 1948, at Amsterdam by an assembly representing 147 churches from 44 countries, mostly Protestant liberals.

In 1973, member churches numbered 263 from 90 countries—from the Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Old Catholic Confessions.

The WCC now has a constituent membership of over 400 million members—almost one-half the total Protestant and Roman Catholic peoples of the world.

The motto “ONE WORLD-ONE CHURCH” was adopted at its first Ecumenical Assembly held in Amsterdam in 1948.

At the Council’s Third General Assembly in New Delhi, India, in 1961, the Eastern churches—Russian, Rumanian, Bulgarian and Polish Orthodox churches—were accepted into full membership in the WCC.

They claimed a membership of 70 million.

WCC leaders were jubilant at this great Christian “advance.”

Later, the WCC General Secretary, Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, told newsmen in Rome that if the Roman Catholic Church wishes to become a member of the WCC, the Council will make the necessary changes in its structures.

“If the Church reaches this decision,” Blake said, “we will do what is necessary to make its accession possible.”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was formally constituted on Aug. 23, 1948, at Amsterdam by an assembly representing 147 churches from 44 countries, mostly Protestant liberals.

In 1973, member churches numbered 263 from 90 countries—from the Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and “Old Catholic” Confessions.

Today the WCC now has a representative membership of more than half a billion Christians around the world—almost one-half the total Protestant and Roman Catholic peoples of the world.

The motto “ONE WORLD-ONE CHURCH” was adopted at its first Ecumenical Assembly held in Amsterdam in 1948.

At the Council’s Third General Assembly in New Delhi, India, in 1961, the Eastern churches—Russian, Rumanian, Bulgarian and Polish Orthodox churches—were accepted into full membership in the WCC.

They claimed a membership of 70 million.

WCC leaders were jubilant at this great Christian “advance.”

Later, the WCC General Secretary, Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, told newsmen in Rome that if the Roman Catholic Church wishes to become a member of the WCC, the Council will make the necessary changes in its structures.

“If the Church reaches this decision,” Blake said, “we will do what is necessary to make its accession possible.”

“ONE WORLD-ONE CHURCH” will succeed one day

Transition:

As we continue through the interlude of 12–ch.14, chapter 12 closes with Satan standing on the shore of the sea.

Chapters 12 and 13 must be seen as one whole unit.

Today begins the study of Chapter 13.

Having been prevented from reaching the woman, the dragon now calls forth two evil agents to continue his mission of blaspheming God, warring against believers, and deceiving the world: the beast from the sea (13:1–10) and the beast from the earth (13:11–18).

In this chapter, we will examine the beast, the anti-Christ, the false prophet, which make up the “unholy trinity.”

Next week, we will conclude this chapter with the relevance of the number 666.

Through it all, God remains in control since the beast operates within the divine limits.

Scripture Reading:

As we continue through the interlude of 12:1–14:20, chapter 12 closes with Satan standing on the shore of the sea (12:18 in the Greek text but moved to 13:1 by some translations).

Chapters 12 and 13 must be seen together.

Having been prevented from reaching the woman, the dragon now calls forth two evil agents to continue his mission of blaspheming God, warring against believers, and deceiving the world: the beast from the sea (13:1–10) and the beast from the earth (13:11–18).

The dragon, the beast from the sea (antichrist), and the beast from the earth (false prophet) comprise the “unholy trinity” (paralleling Father, Son, and Spirit, respectively).

This unit describes the beast’s origin, relationship to the dragon, actions against God and his people, and influence on the world.

Through it all, God remains in control since the beast operates within the divine limits (“was given” occurs five times in 13:5–7, 14–15).

The unit concludes with a prophetic warning to believers, calling them to faithful endurance.

and have often been compared when thinking about the relationship between the Christian and the government, or the state.

The apostle Paul reminds us that God created human government in v1: [[]]

John had previously recorded Jesus’ words about this exact issue in his Gospel when talking to the governor, Pilate [[]].

When operating properly under divine authority, the state upholds law and order and serves as an instrument of justice as in [[]].

But human institutions become corrupt and used for evil, and such is the case in .

Satan sometimes works through secular power systems and the wicked individuals who rule those systems.

When the state turns oppressive and demands unconditional allegiance, We have no choice but... [[]].

to “obey God rather than man”

John Stott identifies the theological principle at work: “We are to submit right up to the point where obedience to the state would entail disobedience to God.

But if the state commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, then our plain Christian duty is to resist, not to submit, to disobey the state in order to obey God.”

Transition:

Understanding the mission of Satan is mandatory for ANY Christian.

SO here we find ourselves in the future narrative when Satan himself, is the source of human government:

I.

The Beast (13:1–2a)

Satan appeared on the Earth and sought to attack the woman (Israel).

In Daniel and Revelation, the Beast seen is portrait of last human gov’t.

They represent a time BEFORE the second coming of the Messiah to Earth

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.

Whether the phrase “the dragon stood on the shore of the sea” concludes chapter 12 or introduces chapter 13, the point is that the dragon calls forth and empowers the beasts to continue his war against the saints.

In light of the Old Testament tradition equating the dragon with Leviathan or Rahab, the sea monster that symbolizes the chaos and evil that threaten God’s creation (e.g., Pss.

74:13–14; 89:10; Isa.

27:1; 51:9; Job 40–41), it naturally follows that this beast emerges from the sea.

It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.…

The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Like the dragon, the beast has ten horns and seven heads (12:3), but the order is reversed and ten “crowns” (diadēma) appear on the horns, stressing again the force and strength and power of the beast.

(Note the repeated use of “authority” in 13:2, 4, 5, 7, 12.) John also seems to take into account the four beasts of Daniel 7 that come up from the sea.

Since the beasts and kings in Daniel 7 portray nations and rulers who attack God’s people, John appears to have something similar in mind.

The name of blasphemy on each head likely refers to divine names accepted by Roman emperors (e.g., “Lord,” “Savior,” “Our Lord and God”).

Putting it all together, the beast from the sea symbolizes the “perpetual deification of secular authority”1 or “the powers of evil which lie behind the kingdoms of this world.”2

More specifically, this beast represents political, military, and economic power used in the service of Satan to oppose God and his people.

Often such secular power is personified in a single wicked leader (e.g., Nero and Domitian in first-century Rome and Hitler in Nazi Germany; cf. the many “antichrists” of 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7).

The final eschatological leader who personifies this particular beast has traditionally been called the antichrist

Like the dragon, the beast has ten horns and seven heads (12:3), but the order is reversed and ten “crowns” (diadēma) appear on the horns, stressing again the force and strength and power of the beast.

The 10 crowns represent the 10 Kingdoms (similarities to the dragon)

-- These make up the initial kingdoms to be established by the anti-Christ

-- His authority over the Earth is supreme; it is vicious; without mercy

-- There is nowhere to hide and from those who serve him

John also seems to take into account the four beasts of that come up from the sea.

The four great beasts are four kings (literal people, not animals) that will rise from the earth.

Since the beasts and kings in portray nations and rulers who attack God’s people, John appears to have something similar in mind.

The name of blasphemy on each head likely refers to divine names accepted by emperors (e.g., “Lord,” “Savior,” “Our Lord and God”).

When Jesus returns the beast will be the dominant force here

- The beast mentioned in Daniel will be the revived Roman Empire

-- Daniel covers this completely in , , and 9

-- The beast represents human opposition to God; not necessarily a literal creature

-- These make up the initial kingdom to be established by the anti-Christ

-- His authority over the Earth is supreme; it is vicious; without mercy

-- There is nowhere to hide and from those who serve him

Putting it all together, the beast from the sea symbolizes either humanity itself that the beast rises out of and sets up the dragon or perhaps the deification of secular authority” or even “the powers of evil which lie behind the kingdoms of this world.”

More specifically, this beast represents political, military, and economic power used in the service of Satan to oppose God and his people.

Illustration:

Transition:

Often such secular power is personified in a single wicked leader (e.g., Nero and Domitian in first-century Rome, and Hitler in Nazi Germany, and the many “antichrists” of ; and ).

Satan directly uses a human being to lead and to mimic Jesus’ earthly ministry for his own “unholy trinity”

II.

The Man (13:2b-3)

The final eschatological leader who personifies this particular beast symbolically as a dragon, has traditionally been called the antichrist.

This is the anti-Christ’s entrance onto the world:

“And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority”

Illustration:

Satan often works through secular power structures and their leaders

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