Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Why You Need to Know the Gospel”

Scripture: Revelation 13:11-18; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:18-21; Rev 7:2-3

(Main commentary helps listed at the end)

Last week: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”

This week: “Why You Need to Know the Gospel”

Bottom line:

Last week’s Bottom line: Knowing the Truth—really knowing—sets us free and leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.

Opening story: (repeat of last week’s)

Scotland Yard detective, an expert on identifying counterfeit bills, was asked how he was so good. He answered that he studied the authentic bills so thoroughly that he couldn’t help but recognize the fakes.

Questions to consider:

• Do you know the gospel well enough?

• What is the gospel?

• Are you prepared to die rather than obey a gospel contrary to scripture?

Intro notes (Nicky Gumbel commentary on Revelation 13)

Revelation 13:1b–18

The first ‘beast’ (v.1b) appears to be a persecuting power. This chapter contains a description of human government at its worst – a demonic power. It needs to be read alongside Romans 13, in which human government is seen at its best – a godly authority. All human government is a mixture of Revelation 13 and Romans 13. Some governments are more like Romans 13, and some more like the description here. Do not be surprised, therefore, by governments making anti-Christian laws and even persecuting the church.

Perhaps the ‘seven heads’ (Revelation 13:1b) represent the seven hills on which Rome was built (see 17:9). The prophet Daniel saw beasts that look like the leopard, the bear and the lion, representing three successive world powers (Daniel 7:3). Here they are all rolled into one (Revelation 13:2).

‘The fatal wound’ that ‘has been healed’ (v.3) may refer to Nero (notorious for his persecution of Christians), who attempted suicide in AD 68 and was believed to have survived or come alive again (according to legend). This could be seen as a parody of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The beast attacks God’s people for forty-two months or three and a half years (this is typically the period that represents the time between the first and second coming of Jesus – that is, the age of the church). The beast persecutes the church. He makes ‘war against the saints’ (v.7). He has a large following.

The only ones who do not follow him are all those whose names are written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb, who was slain from the creation of the world (v.8b).

The second beast is a pseudo-Christ figure. He performs ‘great and miraculous signs’ (v.13). He is a deceiver. He forces everyone to have his mark on their right hands or on their foreheads (v.16). His number is 666 (v.18).

The number 666 at one level may again represent Nero, since the Hebrew letters for ‘Nero Caesar’ when converted into numbers total 666. On another level, numbers in Revelation are normally symbolic. Six is the number of imperfection (since seven is the number of perfection). 666 is therefore the number of triple imperfection, or complete sinfulness.

‘This calls for wisdom’ (v.18a). Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light and his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 11:13–14). The first beast has a ‘mouth like that of a lion’ (Revelation 13:2). The second beast has two horns ‘like a lamb’ (v.11). It is as if they are trying to appear to look like Jesus (who is the Lion and the Lamb, see Revelation 5:5–6).

Later, we will read of a third beast – Babylon (see Revelation 14:8 and chapters 17–18). The three beasts together seem to masquerade as a diabolical parody of the Trinity. They seem great and deceive many people. We need wisdom to discern the good from the evil.

Thank God that by his hand he has written your name in the Lamb’s book of life.

Outline:

I. The False Prophet and his work. (13:11-12)

A. What he’s like.

B. What he does.

1. Deceives.

2. Forces to worship first beast.

II. Signs that deceive and produce idolatry. (13:13-15)

A. The first beast is about a one-world government.

B. The second beast is about a one-world religion.

C. We must be able to see difference between the true and false gospel. 2 kinds of false:

1. Universalism

2. Inclusivism

III. The mark of the beast. (13:16-18)

A. The mark is real though we don’t know what it will actually be.

B. What did the early church think of when they heard Revelation 13?

1. Nero is the Anti-Christ.

2. Biblical interpretation requires that a passage cannot mean today what it did not mean to it’s original audience.

Conclusion:

Last story:

God’s hand writes your name in the book of life

What an amazing privilege to have God’s hand write your name in ‘the book of life’ belonging to Jesus (v.8b). In the face of persecution ‘God’s holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground’ (v.10b, MSG). —Nicky Gumbel

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Book of Revelation, NICNT, Robert Mounce

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

• Bible in One Year reading plan, Nicky Gumbel