The Antichrist, False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast

Summary

The slides open with a chapter-by-chapter outline of Revelation so far. In 13:1–4 a beast rises out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and the world marvels. The slides compare it to the four beasts of Daniel 7, especially the fourth, and ask the class to be watchful against deception and to resist worldly worship.

In 13:5–10 the beast speaks blasphemies, is given authority for forty-two months, makes war on the saints and receives worship from everyone whose name is not in the Lamb’s book of life. The slides tie this to 2 Thessalonians 2, treat the first beast as the little horn of Daniel 7 and give a side-by-side comparison, and gather verses on the Book of Life from across Scripture.

In 13:11–18 the second beast, with two horns like a lamb and a voice like a dragon, performs signs, makes an image of the first beast and causes all to be marked on the right hand or forehead so that no one can buy or sell without the mark. The slides give three views of 666: a symbol of imperfection short of 777, a numerical code possibly pointing to Nero Caesar, and the height of human rebellion. The takeaways are to beware deceptive authority, signs and wonders, enforced worship and economic pressure.

The two beasts

The chapter divides this way:

Practical takeaways

The slides give these takeaways: