Sermon Devotional: Evil’s Counterfeit Kingdom
Sermon Title: Evil’s Counterfeit Kingdom
Scripture: Revelation 13 (ESV)
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.” Revelation 13:8
The fantastical imagery of Revelation continues in our passage today. In Revelation 13 we learn about three creatures – the dragon, the first beast, and the second beast. These three powerful and evil creatures seek to mirror the Triune God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are counterfeit gods who seek to establish a counterfeit kingdom.
We are told in Revelation 12 that the dragon is Satan. “And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9). At the end of chapter 12, Satan is enraged that God has rescued the woman and the child. So Satan “went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea” (12:17). As Revelation 13 opens, we see the dragon’s strategy for warring against God’s people begins at the sea—the place of chaos. The dragon summons the first beast and John sees him “rising out of the sea” (13:1). And to the first beast, “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” (13:2-3).
John writes, “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon” (13:11). This second beast “exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed” (13:12). This beast is the mouthpiece of the dragon. “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the [first] beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the [first] beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived” (13:13-14).
Chaos. Deception. Manipulation. Evil. Three counterfeit “gods” seeking to create a counterfeit kingdom. But the “Lamb’s book of life” and “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (13:8) cannot be counterfeited. The dragon and the two Beasts were given power that God allowed. We may ask why these evil deceivers were given any power at all; however, it is God alone who knows the “why” and it is God alone who establishes the limits of this counterfeit trio. Echoing Old Testament prophets, John writes, “Whoever has ears, let them hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed” (13:9-10). With this declaration, John warns, “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people” (13:10).
Even in the face of evil deception and persecution by the enemies of their souls, Christ-followers remember the redemption won for them by Christ alone. They immerse themselves in the Word of God and seek the Spirit of Truth to discern what is righteous and what is counterfeit. The writer of this difficult Revelation is also the writer of the Gospel of John. Remember the Vine of John 15? The branch is enlivened and renewed by the unshakable love and the pruning grace of the Gardener-Father. And the branch is kept eternally safe and secure when he or she remains in perfect dependence upon the sustaining and life-giving Vine. May the Spirit enable and inspire patient endurance and faithfulness for all God’s people.
Consider—
╬ Satan is our enemy every day. But because Christ Jesus is seated on the Kingdom’s throne, there is no need to shrink from Satan’s schemes and deceiving ways. How does the vision of Christ enthroned in glory and the truth revealed in today’s scripture passage, give you courage to face the real deceptions of our Enemy?
╬ Each of us requires help to embrace patient endurance and faithfulness. This help comes first from Christ Jesus by the Spirit. It also comes from the faithful followers of Christ who are in your community. Who do you know who can help you grow in patient endurance and in greater faithfulness? Who do you know who needs help to endure today’s trials and temptations? Pray and respond.
╬ Almighty God, quicken us to become so dependent upon your love that we hunger for your Word. May we live out your truth in such a way that people are drawn to the Light that is Christ Jesus. Lord, you shine in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome the Light. We worship and praise you and ask for your sustaining grace in trial and your courage to stand firm. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 13 (ESV)
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.” Revelation 13:8
The fantastical imagery of Revelation continues in our passage today. In Revelation 13 we learn about three creatures – the dragon, the first beast, and the second beast. These three powerful and evil creatures seek to mirror the Triune God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are counterfeit gods who seek to establish a counterfeit kingdom.
We are told in Revelation 12 that the dragon is Satan. “And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9). At the end of chapter 12, Satan is enraged that God has rescued the woman and the child. So Satan “went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea” (12:17). As Revelation 13 opens, we see the dragon’s strategy for warring against God’s people begins at the sea—the place of chaos. The dragon summons the first beast and John sees him “rising out of the sea” (13:1). And to the first beast, “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” (13:2-3).
John writes, “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon” (13:11). This second beast “exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed” (13:12). This beast is the mouthpiece of the dragon. “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the [first] beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the [first] beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived” (13:13-14).
Chaos. Deception. Manipulation. Evil. Three counterfeit “gods” seeking to create a counterfeit kingdom. But the “Lamb’s book of life” and “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (13:8) cannot be counterfeited. The dragon and the two Beasts were given power that God allowed. We may ask why these evil deceivers were given any power at all; however, it is God alone who knows the “why” and it is God alone who establishes the limits of this counterfeit trio. Echoing Old Testament prophets, John writes, “Whoever has ears, let them hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed” (13:9-10). With this declaration, John warns, “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people” (13:10).
Even in the face of evil deception and persecution by the enemies of their souls, Christ-followers remember the redemption won for them by Christ alone. They immerse themselves in the Word of God and seek the Spirit of Truth to discern what is righteous and what is counterfeit. The writer of this difficult Revelation is also the writer of the Gospel of John. Remember the Vine of John 15? The branch is enlivened and renewed by the unshakable love and the pruning grace of the Gardener-Father. And the branch is kept eternally safe and secure when he or she remains in perfect dependence upon the sustaining and life-giving Vine. May the Spirit enable and inspire patient endurance and faithfulness for all God’s people.
Consider—
╬ Satan is our enemy every day. But because Christ Jesus is seated on the Kingdom’s throne, there is no need to shrink from Satan’s schemes and deceiving ways. How does the vision of Christ enthroned in glory and the truth revealed in today’s scripture passage, give you courage to face the real deceptions of our Enemy?
╬ Each of us requires help to embrace patient endurance and faithfulness. This help comes first from Christ Jesus by the Spirit. It also comes from the faithful followers of Christ who are in your community. Who do you know who can help you grow in patient endurance and in greater faithfulness? Who do you know who needs help to endure today’s trials and temptations? Pray and respond.
╬ Almighty God, quicken us to become so dependent upon your love that we hunger for your Word. May we live out your truth in such a way that people are drawn to the Light that is Christ Jesus. Lord, you shine in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome the Light. We worship and praise you and ask for your sustaining grace in trial and your courage to stand firm. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.