We are looking at what we call the antichrist in Revelation 13. He has now stepped up. He is Satan’s man. We have seen that several times already. He has been killed. Some believe that it was the two witnesses back in Revelation 11 that killed him, because it said anybody that would oppose the witnesses would face their wrath and be devoured by them. So, some believe they killed him, and now he has been brought back to life and then he goes and takes their lives. That is a bit of guess work. It is not impossible. It all seems to be wrapping around the same timeframe, but we won’t be dogmatic about that. We will say it is a possibility. Nevertheless, he has come back to life, and he is being worshiped and honored and feared by the world.
We also find that in Revelation 13:5 his speech is arrogant and blasphemous, it says, “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.” We can hear his arrogance. He is given authority for forty-two months. Once again, we are at that three-and-a-half-year timeframe. This begins at the midpoint of the Tribulation and continues to the Second Coming of Christ. He is blaspheming God. He is basically setting himself up as God according to 2 Thessalonians 2. He is sitting in the temple. He wants worship, and at the same time he is blaspheming the Lord himself.
In Revelation 13:7 it says, “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them,” once again we have war going on and this time against the saints and he is victorious, “and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.” He is absolute monarch of the earth at this stage. It has been given to him to have this power. The question is who gives him this power? Is it the devil who is obviously empowering the antichrist or is it God Himself who has allowed him to set up for this period of time? We are not certain, but we are certain that at the very least, God would have had to allow it.
In Revelation 13:8 it says, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him,” we have some exceptions coming here, “everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” In other words, only everyone who is not a believer is going to worship the antichrist. However, those who are on earth at this time whose names are in the book of life and who know the Lord as their Savior will not worship him. They will be worshiping God and following Christ . . .
