As we set sail into Revelation 13, we find the Antichrist rising in power and global domination. As the chapter opens, we are given John’s vision of his growing world power:

I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. (verses 1-2)

I must say, this is one strange beast. Elsewhere, he is called “antichrist” (1 John 2:18); he is called “the lawless one” (2 Thessalonians 2:9); he is called “the prince who is to come” (Daniel 9:26). But here in the book of Revelation he is always called the Beast.

This term suits him well because he is a cruel beast. This term represents not only him but also his kingdom. His kingdom consists of ten kings, symbolized by ten diadems. His kingdom also is shown here with seven heads. This represents the culmination of the seven world empires that have ruled the known world throughout world history.

John also writes in verse 1 that there are “blasphemous names on [the Beast’s] heads.” That simply means his kingdom has one unified purpose—to destroy the work of God and any worship of the true Christ, the Messiah Jesus.

John describes this beast as having the likeness of a leopard, a bear, and a lion. Daniel’s prophecy used these same images to picture the kingdoms of Greece, Medo-Persia, and Babylon respectively (Daniel 7:3-6). So what we are being told here is that the Antichrist’s kingdom will combine the most powerful characteristics of these former empires.

But do not miss this: Behind the Antichrist’s emerging global power is the enabling power of Satan. John writes that Satan, the Dragon, will give to the Antichrist “his power . . . and great authority” (verse 2).

That satanic power is powerfully demonstrated in verse 3:

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

The wording in the Greek language clearly indicates the Antichrist is mortally wounded—more than likely assassinated—but then brought back to life. Now obviously, this is going to require God’s permission and power delegated to Satan. This is similar to the delegated power given to Pharaoh’s magicians, who were able to imitate some of the miracles performed by Moses. As a result, those who defied God were led into deeper deception.

Keep in mind that when you see the word Antichrist, you typically think of the prefix “anti-” as meaning “against,” and it does mean that. But it also means “in place of.” The Antichrist is not just fighting against Christ; he is also attempting to replace Christ. With this miraculous event, he is attempting to imitate Christ’s resurrection.

And this “deceiving miracle” will have its intended effect. Verse 3 says, “The whole earth marveled [and] followed the beast.” Verse 4 says they worship the Antichrist, and in so doing effectively worship Satan.

This will not last forever. The Antichrist is given “authority for forty-two months” (verse 5). That is equal to three and a half years. You might remember that when the Antichrist first appeared on the scene in chapter 6, he was riding a white horse. He brings peace to the land of Israel, and we know the temple is quickly rebuilt for the Jewish people. Many will believe their Messiah has finally arrived!

But as the prophet Daniel explains, the Antichrist will break that peace treaty midway through the seven-year tribulation (Daniel 9:27), and he will try to wipe Israel off the map.

Verse 6 says he will “utter blasphemies against God.” The ultimate blasphemy will be entering this newly constructed temple and claiming to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This is described in other passages as the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15; cf. Daniel 9:27).

In addition to this declaration of his own deity, the Beast will be “allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7). In other words, this reign of terror will bring a bloodbath—the martyrdom of believers. John writes that the Antichrist will gain power “over every tribe and people and language and nation.”

Frankly, it looks like the Antichrist is going to win. He achieves what no one has achieved before—worldwide dominion. And the world could not be happier about it. He will be praised and worshiped by “all who dwell on earth” (verse 8)—that is, John adds, “everyone whose name has not been written . . . in the book of life of the Lamb.” Those who have become followers of Christ are going to refuse to worship the Antichrist—and many of them will die a martyr’s death.

If this is not bad enough, a second beast appears on the scene in verse 11. It has “two horns like a lamb” but speaks “like a dragon.” He is called the “false prophet” in Revelation 19:20. Like all false prophets, he appears innocent and harmless as a little lamb, but he is directed by Satan, the ultimate deceiver.

This false prophet is Satan’s imitation of the Holy Spirit; he is the anti-Spirit, so to speak. Just as the Holy Spirit exalts the glory of Christ (John 16:12-15), so this false prophet will exalt the glory of the Antichrist. And he is going to create a global religion to unify the world in worshiping the Antichrist.

He does this by means of “great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people” (Revelation 13:13-14). Hey, it looks like the prophet Elijah has finally returned.

It is not long before the False Prophet has a statue of the Antichrist set up, more than likely, inside the temple. But this is not just an ordinary statue. Look at verse 15:

[The False Prophet] was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

This appears to be another miracle. The statue actually speaks! And it encourages the killing of believers, who refuse to worship the Antichrist.

So, this reign of terror includes a global government and a global religion. But it also includes a global economy.[1] And that is established through the False Prophet causing everyone “to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark” (verses 16-17). This is the mark of the Beast.

Back in Revelation 7:3-4, God marked the foreheads of His 144,000 evangelists. So, here goes the little copycat Antichrist again. His servants will be marked as well. We are told here in verse 18 that his mark is a number that represents his name; and John writes, “His number is 666.”

Now through the years, people have tried everything imaginable to determine the identity of the Antichrist by this number. And they have come up with a long list of candidates, including the Emperor Nero, Mussolini, and Stalin. Hitler was an especially popular choice since his goal, like that of the Antichrist, was to exterminate the Jewish people. Of course, none of these was the Beast, who has yet to appear.

Forget that kind of speculation, beloved. The bottom line is the Lord did not want to give us this man’s name or He would have told us. There will come a time when the meaning of this number will obviously fit a world dictator. But when that happens, if you are a believer, you will already be in heaven, waiting to return with Christ at the end of the tribulation. You have nothing to fear from the Antichrist or being given the mark of the Beast.

Let us reject all this speculation and get on with the mission. Let us make disciples who join us in following the true Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.