Watchman on the Wall

Southwest Radio Ministries: Welcome to Watchman on the Wall, a daily outreach of Southwest Radio Ministries and swrc.com. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things. Today, Donald Perkins will continue his study through the book of Revelation, and then a little later, Larry Stam will help us share our faith with others.

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Time to get our Bibles out and open to the book of Revelation. Donald Perkins is here, and he's ready with the next lesson in the Understanding Revelation series.

Donald Perkins: We're continuing our series, Understanding the Book of Revelation, Part 36. Now, last time, we began a new start in Revelation chapter 13, looking at the beast out of the sea. We're going to continue there and, again, we're going to see some amazing things. We'll further identify this beast of Revelation chapter 13.

Just by way of review, we covered a number of things. We talked about the beast out of the sea and gave reference to this kingdom coming out of the world nations. It represented a multitude of people, nations, languages, and tongues. We talked about how this beast, as he comes out of the sea, he has ten horns and the horns have ten crowns. This represents the revived Roman Empire, the crowns representing that particular revived Roman Empire being in power at that time. Its leader will be none other than the man of sin, the Antichrist.

We also mentioned in chapter 13, verse 2, when John saw this beast, it looked like a leopard, it had feet like a bear, and it had a mouth like a lion. We talked about that, which tied back to the book of Daniel, looking at the Grecian Empire represented by the leopard. We talked about the bear feet representing the Medo-Persian Empire, and then the mouth like a lion representing the Kingdom of Babylon.

In other words, when John saw this beast coming out of the sea, he saw a conglomeration of world kingdoms and governments throughout the course of history who have come against the nation of Israel. It will come to a basic culmination or end with the revived Roman Empire, represented by the ten horns out of this beast. Again, its leader will be none other than the Antichrist.

Now, I want to bring in a chart from the book, Charting the End Times. It's a wonderful book, and this is an outline of the future. But you see a diagram here of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. This is from Daniel chapter 2. King Nebuchadnezzar saw a head of gold, a chest of silver, a belly of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. If you look further down the chart, Daniel also saw a vision of these different kingdoms as well, represented as different animals.

Here you see the Babylonian Empire, which is represented by the lion. You see the bear represented by the Medo-Persian Empire. You see the leopard there, represented by the Grecian Empire. Then you see the Roman Empire. It's more of an indescript beast here, but this is the Roman Empire. Then, lastly, you see the last one with the feet of iron and clay. You see a man there; it's part of the revived Roman Empire, which is the Antichrist. This is where we are in prophecy. We are moving into Revelation chapter 13. We're in the mid-part of the Great Tribulation.

Last week, we closed out looking at verse number 3. John wrote this. He says, "And I saw one of the heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered about this beast." Now, one of the heads of the seven-headed beast was wounded with a mortal death wound or deadly wound. Again, there has been much debate among scholars today as to what this means.

Some scholars hold the belief that this represents the Antichrist and that he will receive a deadly wound and that he will be resurrected during the Great Tribulation. I'm going to talk a little bit more about that. As a result of this great miracle, many believe that this miracle will cause great deception and it would allow people to literally believe the Antichrist as to who he claims that he will be.

Others hold to the fact that this is showing the fall of the Roman Empire and then the miracle of it being the revived Roman Empire in the end. Now, for many years, I believed this deadly wound to one of the beast's heads represented one of the seven kingdoms that would fall, namely the Roman Empire, and the miracle of it was the healing. So I held that view for a long time.

But, you know, I'm forever a student and I'm constantly growing as well. Looking at other colleagues and other scholars, I've come to a different view now, and I'm going to present that to you as well. I believe that this does represent Antichrist during the time of Tribulation, being wounded unto death and literally being healed.

So what I'm going to do, I'm going to give you some scholars' views in reference to it. The first one I want to look at here is Dr. Mark Hitchcock from his book, 101 Answers to Questions About the Book of Revelation. He deals with the subject: Will the beast be assassinated and come back to life? Listen to what he says.

"There are three main views on the meaning of these words. Some believe that the death and resurrection here refers to the demise of the Roman Empire in AD 476 and its comeback in the end times. In other words, this is talking about the empire rising from the dead and not a man. The main problem with this view is how the world responds to the beast's restoration. And, again, this is one of those key things that we must look at too, because we're going to see as we go further in the text of Revelation 13 that the world will literally marvel at the beast's restoration as he comes back to life. They're going to be amazed by it."

He goes on to say this. "Would the revival of the Roman Empire really cause people all over the globe to respond as described in Revelation 13:3? No, the people will be so amazed that they follow after the beast. This would be much more likely if it refers to a man rather than an empire. A revival of the Roman Empire would hardly lead the world dumbstruck and cause everyone to follow."

And, again, that's a great point to bring out. This transition would be a slow transition of it coming back, and the world probably really wouldn't notice it before they realized they're in the revived Roman Empire. But if this man was raised from the dead, that would make the news and, again, many people would literally follow him.

He goes on to close it by saying this. "If a great world leader were assassinated with a fatal wound to his head, then came back to life a few days later, people would understandingly respond in amazement." And, again, that's a great point that you've got to look at. During the time of the Great Tribulation, we're going to see, too, that the Antichrist is about miracles, he's about making his case, he's about deceiving people. People will come under the Antichrist's demonic influence and, as a result of that, it's going to be people will literally be deceived by the deceptive miracles that will happen during that time.

Now, I want to quote another scholar, from the late Dr. Jack Van Impe from his book, Revelation Revealed. Listen to what he says. He says, "The wounding of the beast is mentioned three times in the chapter: verse 3, verse 12, and verse 14. The wound produced death, but restoration to life follows. Some commentators think that this statement represents the fall of the old Roman Empire and its restoration through the ten-nation confederacy."

"Others believe that it speaks of the resurrection of Judas Iscariot. Listen at this: Some believe that this talks about the resurrection of Judas Iscariot, for he and Antichrist are the only ones called 'the son of perdition.' And that's true. Judas was called the son of perdition. The Antichrist is called the son of perdition or the son of hell. In other words, these men, their lives and their choices will send them both to this place called hell."

He goes on to say in John 17:12 and 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse number 3, "A third possibility would be that the Antichrist is assassinated midway through the Tribulation hour, perhaps in retaliation for overthrowing three members of the original ten confederation." And that's going to happen because when Antichrist comes on the scene, he's going to come conquering, and three of the ten nations that form with him in this ten-confederacy, three of them he's going to shut them down. He's going to attack them and he's going to conquer them, and then the others will basically just submit their will or kingdoms to him.

He goes on to say, "Such an event would give the great counterfeiter, Satan, the opportunity to perform a resurrection. This would prove invaluable to the prestige of the Antichrist, since the deity of Jesus Christ was affirmed by the resurrection 2,000 years before, in Matthew chapter 12, verses 39 through 40."

He said, "Remember that Antichrist proclaims himself God and even sits in the temple of Jerusalem during the Tribulation. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse number 4 and Matthew chapter 24, verse 15. Thus, a counterfeit resurrection would assure the world that he is all he claims to be. I personally believe this to be the correct solution, because when it happens, all the world wonders after him."

And that's what the scripture says; they wonder after him. Mankind is literally overwhelmed by the Antichrist's power and authority. You know, this is really amazing here, because the scripture literally talks about this great deception that the Antichrist will cause. You know, I'm reminded of a passage, and I wish I had this in the presentation, but I'm going to go and read this to you, because when the Antichrist comes on the scene, it's going to be such a deception. The scripture literally talks about this supernatural deception that's going to literally come on the scene.

So I'm going to read this for you. This is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and it's literally talking about the Antichrist when he deceives. I'm going to start here, chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians, verse number 7. The Bible says, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Verse 8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed," talking about the Antichrist. "That Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

Listen at this: "Even him," talking about the Antichrist, "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Listen at this: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

This is powerful, saints. This is during the time of the Tribulation. The Antichrist will have a supernatural ability to deceive mankind. The scripture says here that God will allow them to receive a spirit of delusion because they have rejected the truth. They've rejected the truth of the gospel. Many people who have heard the gospel and rejected that gospel, they don't want it. Many of them may find themselves on the other side of the Tribulation, coming under this supernatural deception of the Antichrist.

Again, verse 11 says, "For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." These people have rejected Christ. They've rejected God's love advanced, and when the Antichrist comes on the scene, they're going to be marveled and deceived by him.

Again, I want to bring in our chart again. This is taking place right at the center part of the Great Tribulation, right at the midpoint, is when the Antichrist, he will desecrate the Jewish altars. He's going to break the covenant with Israel, and he will receive his power. Now, something I didn't mention before, in verses 1 and 2, it also talked about the Antichrist or this beast receiving his seat, power, and authority from the dragon.

Now, the dragon is Satan, the devil. What's going to happen at the time of the Great Tribulation, we're going to see it going forward here, that God is going to allow the Antichrist to receive his full demon power from Satan, a seat of authority. I mean, he's going to allow him to rule over the Antichrist—I mean, to rule over the revived Roman Empire. This is going to be a different world this world has never seen. That's why, again, I keep reiterating as we go through the Tribulation, Jesus said it would be a time this world has never seen nor never ever will see again. It's going to be a world like none other.

But you know something? Men today are hungry for a world leader. Mankind wants peace, but he doesn't want to come to God. You know, peace is only found in Jesus Christ. You know the Bible calls Jesus the Savior, the Prince of Peace? You know peace will not last or happen until we get into the Millennial Kingdom when the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, is seated on the throne? Any peace before that will literally be a counterfeit peace. And this is what the Antichrist is going to offer. Daniel said that by peace, this Antichrist, this man of sin, he would destroy many by this false peace.

Now, we're going to move a step further now in the study. We're still in chapter 13. We're looking at this Antichrist, and now we're going to literally see the man of sin being revealed. But I want to quote an amazing quote here. We mentioned this quote in our series dealing with the Antichrist. But this is something that's amazing. The Secretary General of NATO, back in around 1957 to 1960, he made an astounding quote that I think is the heart of the world today looking for a man who's going to bring peace. The world is ready, I believe, to receive an Antichrist.

Listen to what he says. Now this is quoting Henry Spaak, the Secretary General of NATO, 1957 to 1960. He said this: "What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the alliances of all the people and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man and, be he God or devil, we will receive him. We will receive him."

Listen, this is the heart cry of the world. The world is looking for a man who can bring peace. Henry Spaak said, be it God or the devil. Give us somebody who can lift us out of where we are. This was back then, 1956, 1960. And you know where we are today and the things that are going on today? I mean, the world is crying for a world leader and, guess what? One is coming, but they're not going to like him.

Now, I want to give you another verse here in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 3. The Apostle Paul, again talking about the Antichrist, he said, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." The scripture tells us that this man, this Antichrist is coming, and here we find it in Revelation chapter 13.

Now, I want to quote here from the book, Who is the Antichrist? by Dr. Mark Hitchcock, and I love what he shared here. It's in reference to why should we be concerned about the Antichrist. Listen to what he says. "Few people probably realize that there are more than a hundred passages of scripture that describe the origin, the nationality, the character, the career, the kingdom, and the final doom of the Antichrist. God doesn't want us to be over-occupied with this individual in an unhealthy or unbalanced way, but clearly God wants us to know about this coming prince of darkness, for he has chosen to tell us a lot about him. The sheer volume of information about the Antichrist in the scriptures is reason enough for us to understand who he is and what he would do."

Now, again, in chapter 13 is where we're going to find out a lot about this man of sin, this Antichrist, this world leader, this world conqueror, the head, the leader of the revived Roman Empire. Now, let's go back to Revelation 13 and now we're going to pick up at verse number 4. John wrote, "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"

Now, here an amazing thing happens in the Tribulation. Worship is going to break out for the dragon. Now, we learned last week the dragon represented the devil, so there will be satanic worship during the Tribulation. These people are going to worship the devil because he has given power to his man, the Antichrist. They're going to also worship the beast. Now, we're going to find out going forward that people will take the mark of the beast, but also people who worship the Antichrist, they will have damned their souls for all eternity. To worship the Antichrist is just like taking the mark of the beast, and we're going to see that as we go forward. But, again, these people are going to worship Satan—satanic worship—and they're going to worship the beast, the Antichrist. Then they're going to declare, "Who is able to make war against him?" What a declaration! They think that this Antichrist will be all-powerful, but guess what? He will be powerful for a season, for a season.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Donald Perkins' series, Understanding the Book of Revelation, is now available. This 24-DVD set contains all 71 lessons going verse by verse through the book of Revelation. Order Understanding the Book of Revelation by Donald Perkins today. Call 1-800-652-1144. That's 1-800-652-1144. You can also order on our website, swrc.com. This study is an excellent resource for churches, Sunday school classes, small group studies, and homeschool Bible classes. 71 lessons on 24 DVDs. Understanding the Book of Revelation. 1-800-652-1144.

Larry Stam is here, ready to help us serve the Lord without anxiety or fear.

Larry Stam: Shalom friends, Larry Stam here, so glad you are joining us as we continue in our series, Serving in His Court: Biblical Principles for Personal Evangelism from the Heart of a Coach. In this lesson and in following teachings, we are going to begin discussing worldviews and our Christian witness. It's interesting to note that there are only a handful of general worldviews that every person on the globe adheres to in some way, shape, or form. And understanding worldviews is going to really help you in your Christian witness. And I hope that as we go through this series of worldviews and how they impact our witness for Jesus Christ, I hope it really helps you.

Principle number one, as we think about understanding and engaging people with different worldviews, is this: understanding our audience will inform and bolster our witness. To begin with, we're going to focus on just a handful of basic worldviews, five that I've categorized. You or other Bible teachers or apologists may have a different number of basic worldviews, but all of these people—all the people in the world—will adhere to one of these basic worldviews in one way, shape, or form.

As we think about worldview, I want to unpack this idea of truth. What is truth, and why does it matter? Well, in its essence, truth is that which corresponds with reality. If someone goes, "What is truth?" and you go, "Truth is that which corresponds with reality." If you remember, Pilate famously asked this question in John chapter 18 while Jesus was on trial. It's interesting to note that Pilate was actually, when he was looking upon Christ and asking him questions, he was actually looking at the embodiment of truth, who is Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus in John 14, verse 6, simply and yet profoundly and powerfully uttered these three words. Jesus said of himself, "I am truth."

And the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, verse 160, these words about God's word. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, verse 160, "The entirety of your word is true." 2 Timothy 3:16 states all scripture is God-breathed, while Jesus stated very simply in John chapter 17, verse 17, "Your word is truth."

Now, as we think about worldviews and how they affect our witness, understand that every worldview, every philosophy, every religion, by their very nature, make truth claims and, by the way, truth claims are mutually exclusive and exclude all other truth claims. So when we talked in previous lessons about the charge that, "Oh, Christianity, you guys are just so exclusive, only Jesus," well, guess what? All truth claims—or I should say every worldview, religion, and philosophy—by their very nature make truth claims that, by default, exclude other truth claims.

So here we go. I'll tell you a little story as we introduce this topic of engaging worldviews. Years ago, a friend of mine, who was a college professor, said to me one day, we were conversing, and he said, "Larry, I am a relativist. I don't believe in absolutes." And I looked at my friend gently and I said, "Is that an absolute statement?" The silence that you're hearing over the airwaves was the same silence that I heard for a moment or two, because he was taken aback and he realized that his truth claim that there are no absolutes was, in fact, a truth claim.

So someone who doesn't believe in absolute truth, you can ask them, "Well, is that an absolute statement?" And then you're cornering them and you realize, wow, you just poked a massive hole in their truth claim that there are no absolutes. Because the reality is someone who doesn't believe in absolute truth has to acknowledge that they don't know everything about the universe and they can't be everywhere in the universe at all times, and so the possibility can exist that even within their relativist truth claim that absolute truth can in fact exist.

So there's just an example of poking a hole and a lot of times what we do when people make truth claims about their own philosophy, worldview, or religion, a lot of times in our Christian witness, we can give biblical answers and we should. But yet, sometimes it can be helpful to confront people in love and gently expose to them the lackings or failings or errors or contradictions in their own worldview, philosophy, or religion. And we're going to talk about that more next time. I hope this has been a helpful introduction to understanding and engaging different worldviews, friend. And until next time, may the Lord Jesus richly bless you and keep you. Shalom.

Southwest Radio Ministries: To enhance and grow your understanding of Revelation, we have several resources for you today. First, the book, No Uncertain Future: A Study Guide Commentary of Revelation, by Dr. Larry Spargimino; the DVD, Revealing Revelation, by J.R. Church; and Noah Hutchings' book, Revelation for Today. All three of these resources are available right now when you call 1-800-652-1144. You can also order on our website, swrc.com. No Uncertain Future, Revealing Revelation, and Revelation for Today. 1-800-652-1144.

Tomorrow, Mark Linstedt debuts his brand-new book, Lost and Found: Solving the Third Temple Mystery. Be sure to tune in by downloading our free SWRC mobile app or simply subscribe to our daily Watchman on the Wall podcast. Watchman on the Wall is a production of Southwest Radio Ministries and is supported by faithful listeners like you. Visit swrc.com.