Time of Distress (11) - Role of the Beast

The book of Revelation describes the emergence of the Beast and explains that it will do four things. They are quite different from what many Christians expect.

1. Blasphemy

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies…. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven (Rev 13:5-6).

A person blaspheming usually speaks against God to mock him. The Beast is different, as it speaks “proud words” not rude word. It insults God by claiming his place and offering salvation that is better than the salvation offered through Jesus. This is the blasphemy of the Beast.

He will speak against the Most High and…try to change the set times and the laws (Dan 7:25).

Political messiahs will promise complete human salvation using political power. Most people believe there is no God, so human government is the only hope for salvation. The Beast is an attempt to create a better world by applying human wisdom to government. It is not established by evil men to do evil, but is established by good men to do good.

2. Economic Control
The Beast will control the economic system to prevent economic collapse.

It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave (Rev 13:16).

Political powers have always manipulated the little people who are poor. Their misery does not change. The big difference is that the Beast controls the rich and the powerful. It will even control those who are too big to fail (the big and the free). These activities will make preferred merchants and traders very rich (Rev 18:11-20).

3. Worldwide Influence
Authority and influence will be surrendered to this dominant nation by governments all over the world (Rev 13:5).

And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (Rev 13:7).

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled (Rev 17:17).

The nations do not disappear during this period. They carry on, but give some of their sovereignty to the dominant nation, so it can deal with crises sweeping across the earth.

John calls this behaviour adultery and names the beast as a prostitute.

The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries (Rev 18:3).

The nations belong to God, so they should have been loyal to him. Instead they surrender to a power nation for pleasure and prosperity. They compromise to get what they want

Daniel suggested that some nations would be broken up under the Beasts influence (Dan 7:7). This has already happened in Yugoslavia, Somalia and Sudan, and may possible happen in Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan.

4. Christians Persecuted
Christians who cannot accept the authority and the provision of the Beast will experience terrible persecution.

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them (Rev 13:7).

If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed (Rev 13:7).

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them (Dan 7:21).

Some Christians will understand that the Beast is a false messiah offering a false hope. Those who warn of the dangers of trusting this dominant nation for salvation will be persecuted savagely.

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people (Rev 13:7).

The main role of the Beast is to persecute Christians to create the suffering church that will be ready to receive the kingdom.

This powerful nation does not engage in blatant evil. It controls trade and puts big business back in its place. It puts uncooperative Christians back in their place, too. It promises to bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world. These are things that all good governments are expected to do. Many Christians will applaud this nation when it begins to exercise greater influence in the world.

The book of Revelation warns that this Beast will collapse and fail eventually when the next season emerges. This is a positive message for Christians, as the church is guaranteed to endure and outlast the Beast.