Pastor Noble Baird
The Beast – there is no easy way to share this passage of Scripture in Revelation 13:1-10. John shares the vision he has about the Beast, which is another name for the Antichrist. Throughout the book of Revelation, it is the true endgame of this world. Satan will be attempting his last quarter push, pulling out all the stops, and throwing everything he has at this world. His desire is the same desire he had in the Garden of Eden, to deceive and destroy lives. In Revelation 13:1-4 we have an intense description of the Antichrist as he comes into power, “And 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. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 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. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’” We go to the movies and think that Hollywood is amazing and so creative with its writings, yet John wrote this description and illustration thousands of years before Hollywood even existed. It is amazing. John gives us this depiction of the Antichrist’s coming to power and we see people so deceived and awestruck by this false Christ as they worship and declare, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
Yet, as the world is being deceived and it seems as though Satan’s plan is coming to fruition; what are we as followers of Christ called to do? Are they to wave the white flag and cash in their chips? No. John writes in Revelation 13:10, “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” John calls us to endure. If we are captured, or yes, even if we are killed; we as followers of Christ are called to endure. I know this may not seem like the happy-go-lucky devotional you may have been expecting today. However, as a pastor and brother in Christ, we must share the reality of what will come to this Earth before Christ victoriously returns. Remember, all the disciples except John (trust me he did not get off the hook – they tried to kill him!) died giving their lives for the cause of the Gospel.
Today, I just want to encourage you to endure and cling to the Gospel of Christ. Remember that no matter what this world throws at us, whether that be at work, school, or family outings, we must endure. As you endure through trials and hardships, share the light and love of Christ wherever you walk.
I simply want to leave you with the words of Stephen as he was being stoned to death for his faith and proclamation of the Gospel in Acts 7:60, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” With his dying breath, Stephen not only endured in his faith, but he loved and knew that this was the will of the Lord. May we endure for the cause of the Gospel.