THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST - From Commencement to Completion (video series)- Chapter 6, Revealing the Annointed King Part 13
by Brett Jacobsen
The focus of this teaching is to promote the biblical truth that Christ’s Kingdom is active and increasing right now on this earth, in this age. Erroneous eschatology has detracted from this truth in many circles of the Christian faith.
All of the major eschatological (study of how things end) passages are covered but the end of the world is not the important issue and true eschatology is merely a means to an end- Christ Himself as King of kings. Though we will look at the glorious end of earthly history from time to time, we will more so continually use the scriptures to interpret the scriptures and arrive at the present victorious Kingdom of Christ.
For most Christians this teaching will challenge you deeply in your understanding of the New Covenant and Christ’s Kingdom as well as liberate you greatly in the truth of His Word.
Revelation chapter 13
Below are the notes from this teaching so you can read along:
This vision of the two beasts is imminent and relevant to the 1st century church.
The sea beast is both a generic kingdom as well as an individual leader…
Generic- 1st century Roman Empire
Specific- Caesar, but more specifically Nero Claudius Caesar (born- Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus).
The land [ge] beast is the false prophet, the religious leaders of 1st century apostate Israel.
Chapter 13:1
13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea [1], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
[1] Nameless sea = a multitude. The 1st century Roman Empire ruled the largest multitude (sea) of the world.
- Also, Dan 7’s four beasts came out of the sea (Dan 7:3)
* Literal- “ten horns and seven heads” – mirror image of the dragon – seven heads and ten horns (Chilton)
* Seven heads = “The seven heads are seven mountains” (17:9) – The seven hills of Rome
“there are seven kings” (Rev 17:10) – The line of the Caesars – discussed in chp 17.
* Ten horns with ten crowns = “And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast.” (17:12-13)
- these are the governors of the ten imperial provinces.
* The dragon is the driving force behind the sea beast – “a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and SEVEN crowns upon HIS heads” (12:3) (emphasis mine)
- Satan has seven crowns (the Caesars) Rome has ten crowns (the governors of the provinces).
* “the name of blasphemy” = allegiance to the Caesar god. “Each emperor was called Augustus or Sebastos, meaning One to be worshiped; they also took on the name divus (god) and even Deus and Theos (God)” (TDOV p 327-328)
- Blasphemy = “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:33)
Chapter 13:2
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion [1]: and the dragon gave him his power [dunamis], and his seat [thronos], and great authority [exousia]. [2]
[1] Reverse order of Dan 7’s beasts- lion, bear, leopard – (Dan 7:3-6) (John was looking back through history, Dan was prophesying forward {Pete})
- The Romans brought the full measure of the world powers (beasts) before them. It was Satan working through all of them.
- The main point of Dan 7’s vision is v 9-10 & 13-14 & 27, the main point of John’s revelation is “The kingdoms of this world are become…” (Rev 11:15).
Of course Dan’s “fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly” (7-8) is the Roman Empire – which this vision is speaking of.
[2] It is the dragon (Satan) who gives the Roman beast- dunamis, his throne and exousia.
Chapter 13:3
3 And I saw one of his heads [Caesars] as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed [1]: and all [holos] the world [ge- land] wondered after the beast. [2]
[1] The beast is both the generic kingdom (Rome) and the ruler (Caesar, particularly Nero)
- Chilton – head wound- Satan in the garden – Jesus “bruise your head” (Gen 3:15)
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death [Christ smashed Satan’s head, and/or Nero Caesar’s death]; and his deadly wound was healed [the beast continued to rule the natural world, and/or a new Caesar (Vespasian) continued the beastly rule]…”
- It doesn’t say that the head came back to life, it says “his deadly wound was healed”
[2] “we have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15)
Chapter 13:4-5
4 And they [“all the ge”] worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? [1]
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months [3 & a half years] [2].
[1] Those in Jerusalem (the land) worshiped Satan by worshipping the beast.
- The manner in which they worshiped was – “who is able to make war with him” – they put their security in him over Christ – 1. “we have no king but Caesar”, and 2. “the security of their right hands” (The Wars of the Jews, book 2 chp 17 on – Josephus)
- In response to Jesus raising Lazarus:
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place [topos- location] and nation [ethnos]. (John 11:47-48)
[2] Either 42 months that Nero persecuted the church (Nov 64 to June 68) (Chilton TDOV)
- or 42 months of the Jewish wars which Revelation is very focussed on (although Rome was ruling before and after this 42 months, it is this period which is relevant to the covenant community and the covenant apostates.
Chapter 13:6-7
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell [skenoo] in heaven. [1]
7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them [2]: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations [3].
[1] Satan, through the beast, blasphemed God’s “name” (authority) “His tabernacle” (the church corporate) and “them that skenoo in heaven” (the saints who tabernacle in Sion).
[2] Jesus prophesied this:
Fill you up then the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth [ge- land… (Matt 23:32-35)
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.” (Matt 24:9)
The land beast (apostate Israel’s leaders) “exercises all the power of the first beast” (Rev 13:12). Israel wars against the saints with the power of Rome whose power is of Satan.
[3] Caesar and Rome ruled the habitable world
Chapter 13:8-9
8 And all that dwell upon the earth [ge- land (of Israel)] shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
* Those who dwell upon the land of Israel (the Jews) who “are not written in the book of life” “shall worship him” (the beast/Satan). (The remnant Jews were written in it).
* If this prophecy was for two thousand + years in the future, why would he say to the seven churches of Asia “If any man have an ear, let him hear”?
Chapter 13:10
10 He that leads [“is destined for” NASB] into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword [1]. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. [2]
[1] He’s thinking of Jeremiah’s prophecy against Israel:
Then said the LORD to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall come to pass, if they say to you, Where shall we go forth? then you shall tell them, This says the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. 3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, says the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. 4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how you do? 6 You have forsaken me, says the LORD, you are gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting. 7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. (Jer 15:1-7-)
[2] Patiently waiting in faith for God to judge the wicked and enforce His Kingdom.
Chapter 13:11
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth [ge- land (of Israel)]; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
* This beast comes out of the ge- land of Israel: it is Jewish.
* He had “two horns like a lamb” – not Jesus the lamb but a counterfeit lamb- a counterfeit spiritual leadership.
* He “spoke as a dragon” because he is moved by the dragon- Satan.
* He is the false prophet:
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Rev 16:13)
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Rev 19:20)
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matt 7:15)
Chapter 13:12
12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth [ge] and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
* The false prophet leaders of Israel used the power of the first beast (Rome) to persecute the church –
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done. (Acts 4:26-28)
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) (Acts 12:1-3)
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, (Acts 14:1-5)
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come here also; 7 Whom Jason has received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. (Acts 17:5-8)
And when he was come to us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, This says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:11)
Also, Acts 24:1-9, 25:1-9.
* As explained above- they worshiped the beast by relying on his waring might.
Chapter 13:13-14
13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [1]
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth [ge] by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast [2]; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast [3], which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
[1] Jesus spoke of these:
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matt 24:24)
There were many Jewish false prophets in the last days between 30AD and 70AD:
And when they had gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:6-11)
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:13-16)
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one… (Acts 8:9-24)
[2] The false prophet/land beast appeared to be moving in the power of God as they through the Romans/sea beast were judging and executing the church…
- fire down from heaven resembles Elijah dealing with the false Baal prophets
- The Jews would have thought the land beast was bringing God’s judgement on the Christians when they were persecuted.
[3] “make an image”- This represents idolatry, not a literal image. “no king but Caesar”.
Chapter 13:15
15 And he had power [didomi- was granted] to give life [pneuma- spirit] to the image [idolatry] of the beast [1], that the image of the beast should both speak [2], and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. [3]
[1] In Gen 2:7 God breathes spirit into man. Here, God let’s the false lamb make the Roman idolatry come alive in Israel.
[2] This idolatry caused Israel to give ear to the Roman idol rather than God.
[3] “The Jewish synagogues enforced submission to the Emperor. Indeed, their leaders’ charge against Christ himself was that he was a rival to the all/embracing authority of Caesar (John 19:12-15). Similarly, they organised economic boycotts against those who refused to submit to Caesar as Lord, the leaders of the synagogues “forbidding all dealings with the excommunicate, [Farrer]” and going so far as to put them to death.” (TDOV p 341)
Chapter 13:16-17
16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond [1], to receive a mark [charagma] in their right hand, or in their foreheads [2]:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [3]
[1] six categories = 6 man’s number.
[2] Charagma – stamp (as a badge of servitude). Remember in Rev 7:1 & 14:1 the first fruits saints were sealed in their foreheads by God. Now, Satan, through the beasts has the apostate Jews sealed with his badge of submission (just as symbolically as in chapter 7).
* The “right hand” = action and deed, “foreheads” = mind/affection.
And if your right eye [mind] offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand [action] offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. (Matt 5:29-30)
- Also, “the security of their right hands” (TWOTJ 2:xvii:x)
And “The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make thine enemies your footstool.” (Ps 110:1)
- Also, the law: “And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” (Duet 6:8)
[3] “no man might buy or sell” financially outed from society due to no Caesar idolatry. You couldn’t keep a job etc unless you bowed to Caesar.
* The mark, name and number:
- “the mark” = the badge or allegiance {Rome} (as discussed) (** look up Roman signet)
- “the name of the beast” = name denoted authority, i.e. ‘in the name of Jesus’ {Caesar}
- “the number of his name” = the number of humanism or man’s might/security {Nero} (discussed below “number of A man”)
Chapter 13:18
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count [psephizo] the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man [1]; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666]. [2]
Psephizo- (Strong’s- “to use pebbles in enumeration, i.e. (gen.) to compute” See TDOV)
[1] “it is the number of a man” – This speaks more of the person Nero than the office of Caesar or the Empire of Rome (but Rome is the beast just as much. Rome upheld Caesar as god; he was the man who ruled the humanistic Empire). Nero was in power when this was written (see BJF- DTBOR)
- Also, “shortly come to pass” “the time is at hand” and ‘the temple being still erect’ (chp 11).
[2] 666= humanness multiplied
* God’s number is seven (completeness)
- 6 = man and beast (not complete on their own)
- Both man and beast were created on the sixth day – (Gen 1:24-31)
- Goliath was six cubits tall “and a span [hand]”, his spear head was 600 shekels (1 Sam 17:4, 7)
- Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image/idol was 60 cubits high by 6 wide (Dan 3:1)
* Nero Caesar also = 666 – Neron Kesar (Heb) numerical value of the letters = 50 – 200 – 6 – 50 – 100 – 60 – 200 = 666 (Hebrew Christians would have immediately thought Neron Kesar and computed 666 because of their alphabets duality (letters & numbers).
TDOV p 351- 37. It k charged by some that Neron Kesar is merely a convenient “misspell- ing” of Nero’s name in Hebrew. This objection overlooks the fact that before the modern introduction of dictionaries the world was simply not as concerned as we are about uniformity in the spelling of names. Alternate spellings were common (e.g. “Joram” and “Jehoram” in the Old Testament), especially in the transliteration of words into a foreign tongue. But the allegation of misspell- ing is wholly wrong anyway. The form Neron Kesar (1) is the linguistically “correct” Hebrew form, (2) is the form found in the
Talmud and other rabbin- ical writings, and (3) was used by Hebrews in the first century, as archaeologi- cal evidence has shown. As F. W. Farrar observed, “the Jewish Christian would have tried the name as he thought of the name-that is in Hebrew letters. And the moment he did this the secret stood revealed. No Jew ever thought of Nero except as ‘Neron Kesar,’ and this gives at once . . . 666” (The Ear[y Days of Christianity, Chicago and New York: Belford, Clarke& Co., 1882, p. 540). Of some related interest is the fact that if Nero’s name is written without the final n (i.e., the way it would occur to a Gentile to spell it in Hebrew), it yields the number 616 — which is exactly the variant reading in a few New Testament manuscripts. The most reasonable explanation for this variant is that it arose from the confusion over the final n.
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