1. The beast of the sea. v.1-10 V.1 a) Arising beast of the sea - Dan. Ch.7; 2:42-43 I. The beast rises out of the multitude of the nations 17:15; Dan.7:2-3, The sea could also be a reference to the bottomless pit, which the beast arises from. 11:7; 17:8 II. The beast has 7 heads, which speaks of 7 empires and kings: 12:3; 17:7-11 1st empire - Egypt. 3000-1100 B.C. 2nd empire - Assyria. 750-612 B.C. 3rd empire - Babylon. 612-539 B.C. Dan.7:4; 8:4 4th empire - Medo-Persia. 539-331 B.C. Dan.7:5; 8:3 5th empire - Greece. 331-146 B.C. Dan.7:6 6th empire - Rome. 146 B.C. - 476 A.D. Dan.7:7 7th empire - Revived Roman Empire. Dan.9:26-27 III. The beast has 10 horns and crowns, it speak of the 10 ruling kings of the Revived Roman Empire that Antichrist rules over. 17:12-17; Dan.7:7-8, 24 IV. The 10 crowns are put on the 10 horns, not on their heads, perhaps because they take their dominion by force. V. The blasphemous name on his head is probably his own name. VI. The beast “ The Antichrist” is the little horn of Daniel’ s prophecy. Dan.7:7-8 V.2 b) Authority of the beast - I. The overall appearance of the beast was like a leopard; a leopard is very fast and shift. It has the speed to conquer of ancient Greece. Dan.7:6 Greece was known for its brilliance, arts, architecture, sciences, philosophy and literature; perhaps these will be a part of the Revived Roman Empire. II. It had feet like a bear; a bear has strong feet that are well established. It has the strength of control of ancient Medo-Persia. Dan.7:5 III. It had the mouth of a lion; a lion’ s mouth stirs fear. It has the arrogant communicational skill of deception of Babylon. Dan.7:4 IV. Satan gives the antichrist: A. Power - Power to influence. B. Throne - Reign over the world. C. Authority - Ability to exercise. D. These 3 speak of his Power and Position. V.3 c) Astonishment of the healed beast - I. Perhaps the Antichrist is going to be assassinated, but will experience demonic healing. 13:14; Zech.11:16-17 II. The Antichrist will be an imitator of Christ, Christ died and rose from the dead, Antichrist will be deadly wounded but delivered from death. III. Antichrist will have his followers believe in him because of his deliverance from death. IV. There will be 2 groups of people on the earth during the great tribulation: 1. Those who believe in Antichrist because of his deliverance from death - Demonically Raised. 2. Those who believe in Christ because of His resurrection from the dead - Divinely Resurrected. V. Another possible view of the wounded head could be that the 6th head (Roman empire) was wounded in the past, it comes to life as the 7th head (Revived Roman empire). V.4 d) Adoration of the beast - I. The earth dwellers become Satan and man worshippers. II. Because of his deliverance from death, man will think that the Antichrist is perhaps immortal and unconquerable. V.5-6 e) Abundant blasphemies of the beast - I. His Arrogance - He perhaps gives great visions and promises. Dan.7:8 II. His Anger - He speaks blasphemies against God in 3 ways: Dan.7:25 A. Against His name - Speaking against God’ s nature or even denying His existence. B. Against His tabernacle - Speaking against God’ s dwelling Place and Plan of redemption. C. Against His people in heaven - Speaking lies about them and questioning their intentions. III. His Authority - He speaks in such away for 3½ year - The great tribulation period. V.7 f) Authority of the beast over man - I. The Antichrist is a world ruler over the entire world. II. The Antichrist will be given to overcome the saints. 13:15; 17:6; 20:4; Dan.7:21, 25; 8:24 III. The saints that are overcome are not the Church, for the gates of Hades will not overcome the Church. Matt.16:18 (The Church is raptured before the great tribulation) V.8 g) All the earth dwellers worship the beast - I. All the earth dwellers will worship the Antichrist except the saints. II. Those who are written in the Book of Life are written in it before God created the earth. A. It’ s a Book that contains all who believes in God and His Christ and therefore inherits eternal life. B. God has written all believers in the Book by His sovereign foreknowledge, He knew who would chose Him and His salvation before He created the earth. C. For reference to the Book of life see the notes in 3:5 V.9-10 h) Acquired patience of the saints - Jer.15:2 I. The Responsibility - An ear to hear was first said to the Church, now it is said to the tribulation saints “ What the Spirit says to the churches” is missing, for the Church is raptured. II. The Repaying - The tribulation saints are here exhorted not to repay evil with evil but to be longsuffering and remain faithful. Gen.9:6; Matt.26:52; Rom.12:19, 21; Rev.14:12 III. God will judge those that lead in captivity and kill by leading them captive and be killed.