WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WITH THE ONE WHO HAD THE DEADLY WOUND AND STILL LIVED?
The first beast of Revelation 13, the Antichrist, has been portrayed in books and movies, that in many ways have been very fictional, no matter how Bible-based they may have claimed to be. Let’s take a serious look at the Scripture involved and the see what we can glean from these verses (and others) that relate to the Antichrist and his popularity.
Revelation 13:3-4 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
Revelation 13:11-12 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Revelation 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
For comparison, let's look at the same three sections of Scripture are listed in the Amplified Version.
Revelation 13:3-4 And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. 4 They fell down and paid homage to the dragon, because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion and authority; they also praised and worshiped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and, Who can make war against him?”
Revelation 13:11-12 Then I saw another beast rising up out of the land [itself]; he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke (roared) like a dragon. 12 He exerts all the power and right of control of the former beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell upon it to exalt and deify the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and to worship him.
Revelation 13:14 And because of the signs (miracles) which he is allowed to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, he deceives those who inhabit the earth, commanding them to erect a statue (an image) in the likeness of the beast who was wounded by the [small] sword and still lived.
Starting with the first section of Scripture.
Revelation 13:3-4 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
This is mind boggling Scripture for many reasons. The evil head of an evil beast that Satan gives his power, his throne and authority to (Revelation13:2b), receives a wound (by a small sword, Revelation 13:14, Amplified Version) and is healed from it to the point that the whole world marvels and follows the beast that this entity is the head of. And not only this, but it says that they additionally worship the dragon.
This calls for a serious pause.
We know the head of the beast is the Antichrist. We know that in the physical he will seem to rise up from small beginnings (Daniel 8:9-12,11:21-24) but in the spirit, we can see from Revelation 6:2 that he enters the scene with authority and a white horse that are given to him with instructions to conquer. He will seem to many like a good guy but we know that he is an impostor and a son of the master of deception and destruction. We can also tell from Daniel 7:8,23-25, that he will be a successful strategist in war. It is most unlikely that he gets his own hands dirty on the battlefield, but he will be successful at “conquering.” And after this assassination attempt, by a small sword or machete of some kind, the whole world will marvel and be “taken in” by him. The Bible says he will be “followed by” them.
Additionally, it says the dragon who gave him his authority will be worshiped too.
When it says, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" - it is saying that people will be believing that the Antichrist is unstoppable.
That is, the people of the world. True Christians will be present but will not be deceived. Paul told of how the wicked will be deceived in 2 Thessalonians.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Daniel had much to say in various places about this “lawless one,” this “son of perdition” that corresponds with what is said in the New Testament and even gives additional information.
Daniel 8:23-25 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 "Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.”
Daniel 11:29-31 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
The abomination of desolation is the image of the beast.
Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
This corresponds with what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (posted earlier). The evil one really will corrupt the wicked with flattery and they will believe it. Thank God for those who will “know their God” and “be strong, and carry out great exploits.” It is utterly amazing that some people try to say these verses are only for Jews (non-Christian ones). Could anyone really believe that anyone who has rejected Jesus and “refused the love of the truth” would be able to resist the delusion and pressure that is coming? Without being a Christian and having the Holy Spirit inside us, no one would be able to “know their God” and “be strong” and “carry out great exploits.”
Daniel 11:33-35 "And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.”
This is certainly before the mark of the beast is imposed because after the mark is taken, anyone worships the beast and his image, will be eternally doomed according to Revelation 14:9,11.
Daniel 11:36-35 "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.”
The “lawless one” will do according to his own will. Once again, we can see the Old and New Testament verses verifying each other. This evil one is blasphemous against God. This means against Jesus. This verifies that he is antichrist because he will deny that Jesus is God an blaspheme the Lord and all that is good (Revelation 13:6). It is Christians who will be being persecuted, martyred and killed, just as it says in Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:12-13, Luke 21:16-17Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 18:24 and even in more places.
This is a repeat from the section above,
“But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory... ”
Coming back to an earlier verse:
Revelation 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
Anything coming to mind? Will he call his boss, “Satan" or “the dragon”? Maybe the devil will pose as something bizarre such as “an alien they call the dragon,” or maybe he will simply be called “the god of the beast or fortresses,” but whatever the name will be, it means they will worship the beast (Antichrist) and his god, the dragon, who is Satan.
One might wonder, how could he be “a false but believed to be, Jewish Messiah,” and fit into these verses? There is no doubt that he will start out seeming like a good guy, telling people what they want to hear, and just like all corrupt politicians, the more secure he becomes in time, the more corrupt he will become.
In the end, he will declare that he, himself, is God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
As Daniel said, no matter how people try to interfere with the future, to stop or to force it, what is determined and prophesied to happen, will still happen.
When I was young and studied these things, my bravery would go up and down like a roller coaster. Sometimes I start to get a little antsy even today. But you know what? The Lord knew all these things and shared much of it to us so that we can be informed and in some measure be prepared. And still, much of the things we will need to say and do will come from the strength and direction of the Lord that will come at the time we will need it.
Corrie Ten Boom is a hero of the Christian faith. She suffered horribly during World War 2 in a concentration camp for staying true to her faith. It took great courage for Corrie and her family to help many Jews escape the Nazis, at great personal risk. Once, before the Nazi’s caught she and her family, Corrie remembered asking her father when she was a little girl about being scared about dying and having courage. Her father told her something to this effect. “Daughter, when we go to ride the train, when do I give you the ticket?” She replied, “just before we board the train Papa.” He said, “That is right. And whenever we need it, the Lord will give us the strength, just at the right time too.”
In closing, while the wicked of the world will think that they will be unstoppable, they will most certainly be stopped.
Revelation 19:19-20 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Daniel 8:25d "... he shall be broken without human means."
And as Daniel prophesied to King Nebuchadnezzar:
Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.
Revelation 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
And as Daniel saw into the future:
Daniel 7:13-14 I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.
And the angel with Daniel declared:
Daniel 7:26-27 "But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 27 Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'"
And John recorded:
Revelation 21:1-5 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
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