The Dragon Wars with the Saints

1. Read: Revelation 12:17

2. About the Text:

1) The dragon failed to stop the Messiah, take over heaven, and destroy the church.

2) His only goal is to conquer individual Christians.

3) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

4) The Dragon/Satan has two primary offensive weapons to war against Christians.

a. The beast of the sea.

b. The beast of the earth.

5) What are these weapons the Dragon uses?

6) How can we resist?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. This beast comes from the sea (v.1).

1) Enemies that come from the sea are foreign enemies.

2) They come from outside.

2. This beast has an appearance (v.1-2).

1) Seven heads.

2) Ten horns.

3) Looked like a mix of a leopard, bear, and lion.

3. The authority of this beast (v.2).

1) The dragon gave this beast its authority.

2) It is a tool of the dragon.

4. One head of this beast appeared mortally wounded, but was healed (v.3).

1) This indicates a temporary setback.

2) However, this beast cannot be permanently defeated by the saints.

5. All the world responded to this beast (v.3-4).

1) They marveled.

2) They followed the beast.

3) They worshiped the dragon.

4) They worshiped the beast.

5) They asked, “Who is able to make war with him?”

6. The beast was given a mouth (v.6).

1) He used it to speak great things.

2) He used it to blaspheme.

3) He continued for forty-two months.

4) He blasphemed . . .

a. God

b. God’s name.

c. God’s tabernacle.

d. Those who dwell in heaven.

7. The beast was permitted to make war with the saints and overcome them (v.7-8).

1) He was given authority over all tribes, tongues, and nations.

2) All who dwell on the earth will worship him.

3) Those whose names are written in the book of life will not worship him.

8. There is natural retribution against the beast (v.9-10).

1) He who leads captive will go into captivity.

2) He who kills with the sword will be killed with the sword.

9. The saint must have patience and faith (v.10).

1. This beast comes from the earth (v.11).

1) Enemies that come from the earth are domestic enemies.

2) They come from within.

2. This beast has an appearance (v.11).

1) He has two horns like a lamb.

2) He speaks like the dragon.

3. The authority of this beast (v.12).

1) He exercises the authority of the first beast.

2) They are allies.

4. The efforts of this beast (v.13-14).

1) He causes the earth to worship the first beast.

2) He performs great signs.

3) He deceives those who dwell on the earth.

4) He tells them to make an image of the first beast.

5. He exalts an image of the first beast (v.14-17).

1) He gives breath to the image of the beast.

2) This image speaks.

3) It causes those who will not worship it to be killed.

4) He causes all to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.

5) He prohibits buying or selling unless one has the mark, the name of the beast, or the number.

6. The number of the beast is the number of man, 666 (v.18).

1. These two beasts are enemies of God’s people.

2. What are they?

1) Humanly devised power – enemies originating outside of God’s people.

2) Humanly devised religion – enemies originating among God’s people.

3. The beast of the sea – humanly devised power.

1) The beasts in Daniel 7 were world powers: Babylon, Medes/Persians, Greece, and Rome.

2) But this is a combination of all of them – humanly devised power.

3) Human power wanes and waxes; it appears to die for a time but returns later (v.3).

4) This beast is an enemy of God and the saints – no pretense (v.5-6).

5) This beast will continue until the Messiah returns – 42 months = 1260 days (v.6).

6) Those who are not Christians worship this beast by seeking power over others (v.8).

7) This is the way of the world – dog eat dog – Galatians 5:15 – “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

8) But remember James and John? – Matthew 20:20-34.

9) Those who participate in the schemes of the beast will suffer the consequences of their own actions (v.10).

10) Matthew 26:52 – “But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’”

11) Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

12) This beast rears its ugly head in our life when we permit the ways of the world of dominance, power, and control to guide our thoughts and actions.

4. The beast of the earth – humanly devised religion.

1) He looks like a lamb (v.11), an impostor to Jesus!

2) He speaks like the Dragon (v.11), a messenger of Satan.

3) “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Cor.11:13-15).

4) He uses the same authority as the first beast – humanly devised power (v.12).

5) He uses religion to do the same thing that the first beast does – to practice the dominance, power, and control of the world upon others, but with a façade of spirituality (v.12-14).

6) He makes an image of the first beast and causes many to worship this image (v.15).

7) He kills those who do not worship the first beast (v.15).

8) He imitates God’s seal by placing marks on people (v.16, see. Revelation 7:3).

9) He seeks to control through money and the economy because he is covetous (v.17).

10) “…who suppose that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:5).

11) They key to the whole chapter is in verse 18 – man=beast (v.18).

1. The Dragon Wars with the Saints by . . .

1) Using Humanly Devised Power and Attacking externally.

2) Using Humanly Devised Religion and Attacking internally.

2. Invitation