Bible Reading
Revelation 13:1-18 “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, 'Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?' The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 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. 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.' This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.”
[34:25]Revelation 14:1-13 “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.' A second angel followed and said, 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.' A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.' This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
[44:11]Deuteronomy 11:18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
[46:57]Observation questions
- What details in Revelation 13 show that the first beast receives authority from the dragon and seeks worship from the world? [34:25]
- How is the second beast described, and what contrast is there between its appearance and its voice? [40:07]
- In Revelation 13 and 14, where are the marks or names placed, and whose names do the two groups bear? [44:37]
- According to Revelation 14:4, what are several characteristics of the people who belong to the Lamb? [53:33]
Interpretation questions
- Why does Revelation portray the beasts as seeking worship and allegiance rather than merely trying to lead people into individual sins? [45:40]
- What does it mean for the mark on the forehead to picture a person’s beliefs and identity, while the mark on the hand pictures that person’s actions and compromises? How does Deuteronomy 11:18 help explain this picture? [46:23]
- Why might the second beast’s lamb-like appearance make it especially dangerous in a culture? What kinds of messages or influences can look good while leading people away from Christ? [40:29]
- Revelation acknowledges that conformity to the beast can bring economic or social advantages for a time. Why does the passage still call God’s people to patient endurance and faithfulness? [57:40]
Application questions
- What voices most shape the way you think about success, identity, meaning, and truth—Scripture, Christ, social media, politics, work, friends, or something else? What does that reveal about the battle for your mind? [47:55]
- Is there an area where you feel pressure to compromise your convictions in order to fit in, keep peace, gain approval, or avoid losing an opportunity? What would faithful allegiance to the Lamb look like there? [59:03]
- The Lamb’s people follow Him wherever He goes. What is one clear teaching or example of Jesus that you find difficult to follow right now, and what makes it difficult? [55:34]
- What practices could help you place God’s Word more deeply in your mind and daily decisions this week—such as a regular Bible-reading plan, memorizing a verse, prayer before decisions, or discussing Scripture with another believer? [47:30]
- Where might temporary rewards from the world be tempting you to trade long-term faithfulness for short-term comfort, profit, acceptance, or advancement? [01:01:18]
- Jesus rescues His people from the dominion of darkness through His sinless life, His cross, and the forgiveness of sins. How does remembering that rescue give hope when you recognize past compromises or present struggles? [01:09:07]
