Revelation 13:2 “And the dragon [that ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan- seeking to usurp the throne of God] gave to it [the Beast, the “Anti-Christ”] the power of it and the throne of it, and [was given to it] great authority.”
Authority.- This would mean God’s universal dominion over the world had been bestowed upon and passed into the possession of the Antichrist. In such a posture as Lord and King of all nature and history, the Antichrist would have unchangeable right to exercise authority over mankind, making clear his sovereign right to demand obedience. To him then, all are held responsible and accountable.
By counterfeit usurpation of God’s throne, Satan transferred his "power, throne and authority" to the "beast" - the Antichrist, who would them become at once the final court of appeal and absolute norm to which the moral life of man must be referred. Divine authority would find its focus and finality in him.
Where did the beasts (Antichrist’s) power come from? The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. God’s sovereignty was ordained for good; “clearly the devil has mastered the art of twisting what God meant for good and turning it into evil.”
Authority.- In the Bible, as in modern usage, authority is closely connected with power. Its meaning covers the actual possession or use of power, the legal or moral right to exercise it, the domain (dominion) within which it is exercised. The focus of biblical usage is in the authority which belongs to God alone, all other authority being subordinate and derivative. This same divine authority usurped by Satan was to be exercised by the “beast” (Antichrist) and claimed by him to rule over the church.
This authority is used of the seizure or exercise of political power; it can be distinguished as the legal right rather than the power to do a thing; it can be used to indicate the realm governed rather than the authority exercised; it can be used of the absolute authority wielded by the king, or of the life-and-death authority by king and judge. When these ideas are applied to the usurp throne of God, it is seen that the Antichrist’s authority is absolute- everlasting, universal, and unquestionable.
With this new conception of the range and power of the “beasts” (Antichrist’s) authority, the universal dominion claims all other authority as subordinate to him. So the authority can enunciate a conception of history where Antichrists will is universally authoritative, and where the believer can accept all that the "beast" ordains. There is no possible basis for rebellion or complaint. Antichrist can do as he will; his writ runs everywhere; his authority is absolute.
The “beast” will claim authority both in the sense that he has absolute possibility or freedom of action, being under neither necessity nor restraint, and also in the sense that he is the only intimate source of all other authorization and power within the world. So complete will be is authority that it may be compared with the power of the potter over the clay.
With this new conception of the range and power of the “beasts” (Antichrist’s) authority, the universal dominion claims all other authority as subordinate to him. So the authority can enunciate a conception of history where Antichrists will is universally authoritative, and where the believer can accept all that the "beast" ordains. There is no possible basis for rebellion or complaint. Antichrist can do as he will; his writ runs everywhere; his authority is absolute.
The “beast” will claim authority both in the sense that he has absolute possibility or freedom of action, being under neither necessity nor restraint, and also in the sense that he is the only intimate source of all other authorization and power within the world. So complete will be is authority that it may be compared with the power of the potter over the clay.
(The Truth)
Conclusion.- God and the Word. It might be accepted as basic principle that God exercises authority thorough the Word. In the intimate sense, since Christ (the “Mighty God”) is the Word, the Word is God Himself. God exercises His own authority. Nevertheless, the Word takes form not only in Christ but also in the words spoken and written by the prophets and apostles, i.e., in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. These words or Scriptures, having divine authorization, carry the authority of God Himself.
God and the Church. God also exercises His authority through the Church and its confessions, rulings, and teachings. The Church achieves its true authority not when it makes a direct claim to declare the voice of God, but when it seeks to speak God’s Word in accordance with the Word already spoken and written, so that the authority with which it is invested is authentically that of the Word.
God and Civil Authority. In another sense and sphere, civil authorities are also means by which God exercises His authority. Outside this sphere rulers have only an indistinct and perverted apprehension of this truth. They thus tend to think in terms of absolute or inherent power or to confuse divine authorization with a transferred right to do all things at will. This can raise acute problems for the Church and can produce the clash of authority that brings tension, persecution or compromise. Even where rulers are Christians and know clearly the source of their authority, they may still fail to see that this authority can be properly exercised only according to the Word of God and within the sovereign authority that God always reserves to Himself.
God grants authorization, but in so doing He does not reduce or transfer His own divine authority. Neither church nor state, then, has any mandate for tyranny.
God and the Church. God also exercises His authority through the Church and its confessions, rulings, and teachings. The Church achieves its true authority not when it makes a direct claim to declare the voice of God, but when it seeks to speak God’s Word in accordance with the Word already spoken and written, so that the authority with which it is invested is authentically that of the Word.
God and Civil Authority. In another sense and sphere, civil authorities are also means by which God exercises His authority. Outside this sphere rulers have only an indistinct and perverted apprehension of this truth. They thus tend to think in terms of absolute or inherent power or to confuse divine authorization with a transferred right to do all things at will. This can raise acute problems for the Church and can produce the clash of authority that brings tension, persecution or compromise. Even where rulers are Christians and know clearly the source of their authority, they may still fail to see that this authority can be properly exercised only according to the Word of God and within the sovereign authority that God always reserves to Himself.
God grants authorization, but in so doing He does not reduce or transfer His own divine authority. Neither church nor state, then, has any mandate for tyranny.
ISAIAH 32:1-8 “See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.”
Verse 3 “Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil; he practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water. The scoundrel’s methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the pleas of the needy is just. But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.”
Verse 3 “Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil; he practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water. The scoundrel’s methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the pleas of the needy is just. But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.”
PSALM 89:14-18 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne (God); love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness. For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belong to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”
PSALM 11:2-7 “For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Verse 4 “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord in on His heavenly throne He observes the sons of men; His eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates. On the wicked He will rain fiery coals [fig. divine judgment] and burning sulfur [fig., perpetual desolation]; a scorching wind will be their lot.”
Verse 7 “For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face.”
Verse 4 “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord in on His heavenly throne He observes the sons of men; His eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates. On the wicked He will rain fiery coals [fig. divine judgment] and burning sulfur [fig., perpetual desolation]; a scorching wind will be their lot.”
Verse 7 “For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face.”
Demonic Authority. That the powers of evil exercise only a usurped authority is portrayed by the image of the dragon, being thrown down from heaven. The methods of the “devil” to gain power are through government and public officials invested to a small privileged class consisted of those believed to be best qualified. In such a manner the world rulers of this darkness and spiritual force of wickedness arises to world dominion.
The triumph of God’s ultimate authority is vividly portrayed by the image of the devil and his minions (favored servants) being thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone.
SATAN.- The popular image of Satan as the devil dressed in red with a long tail and a pitchfork is archetypal. While the details of this portrayal of Satan are largely a figment of the popular imagination, the identification of Satan as demonic figure and archenemy of God does have a basis in the New Testament. There Satan is the devil, who stands diametrically (entirely) oppose to God and human well-being.
Satanic Figures in the Old Testament. Contrary to what we might expect, Satan does not play a large role in the Old Testament. Used in only a handful of passages, the Hebrew noun satan is often employed to describe the character of an action rather than as a proper name for the character performing an act. Thus the word satan is employed to describe actions of obstruction, opposition and accusations (allegations that someone has done something illegally of wrong).
Satan’s hostility toward humans is also seen in his role as the author of misfortune, disaster and illness. The association of Satan with darkness and God with light is characteristic of the broader images of darkness and light, evil and good, damnation and salvation. The important point here, however, is that this reflects the underlying antipathy (strong hostility) between Satan and God.
The conflict between Satan and God comes to its most colorful expression in Revelation. Here we find explicit references to the struggle between Satan and God that had broken out in heaven and was fought on the terrestrial plane. The imagery is rich: "And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon [usurping the throne and sovereign authority of God] and his angels (fig., the message of perverted teachings, twisting the words of the written word of God into a malignant doctrine) fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon (with his malignant doctrine) was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Rev. 12:7-9)."
Satan’s hostility toward humans is also seen in his role as the author of misfortune, disaster and illness. The association of Satan with darkness and God with light is characteristic of the broader images of darkness and light, evil and good, damnation and salvation. The important point here, however, is that this reflects the underlying antipathy (strong hostility) between Satan and God.
The conflict between Satan and God comes to its most colorful expression in Revelation. Here we find explicit references to the struggle between Satan and God that had broken out in heaven and was fought on the terrestrial plane. The imagery is rich: "And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon [usurping the throne and sovereign authority of God] and his angels (fig., the message of perverted teachings, twisting the words of the written word of God into a malignant doctrine) fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon (with his malignant doctrine) was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Rev. 12:7-9)."
REVELATION 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
Summary.- In the New Testament, Satan has become the devil, the archenemy of God, who mounts a significant, but ultimately futile, challenge to God’s authority.
His position. When Satan confers his “throne and authority” to the “beast” (the Antichrist), he acquires and holds a position of great power. The New Testament reveals that Satan is the ruler over a powerful kingdom of evil which he rules with intelligent consistency. The “beast” does not operate in isolation but is the head of a well-organized kingdom in which his subjects exercise delegated responsibility under his direction. The Antichrist is the leader of a vast, compact organization of “his angels” (teachers and ambassadors) who do his bidding.
The Book of Revelation reveals that at the close of this age and in the great tribulation there will be a fearful outburst of demonic (fig., intense, frantic, wild, wicked) activity.
At the time when Satan has given his “power, throne and authority” to the “beast”, the Antichrist, he will rule in the present world system organized according to his own principles, methods, and aims to achieve world supremacy. The greed and self-centered ambitions of the nations, the deceptive diplomacy of the political world, the bitter hatred and rivalry in the sphere of commerce, the godless ideologies of the masses of humanity, all spring out of and are fostered by these influences. The Antichrist will exercise his domination over “the sons of disobedience”. The world of unregenerate humanity lies in the grip of the Antichrist and supinely (passively) yields to his power. But, the Antichrist has gained his power over mankind by trickery and usurpation. This stamps him as “the enemy” of God and truth. His activities are associated with the realm of moral darkness.
The people of God are always the objects of his fierce hatred.
The Antichrist uses the weaknesses and limitation of men to entice them to sin. He also employs the allurements of the world. He commonly tempts men to evil by the falsehood that they can attain a desired good through the doing of wrong. Deception is a universal feature of his activities. He constantly lays “snares: for men to make them his captives. Antichrist opposes the work of God through his counterfeiting activities. He oversows the wheat with poison seed, placing counterfeit believers among “the sons of the kingdom”. These counterfeit believers form “a synagogue of Satan”. The “beast” often disguises himself as “an angel of light” by presenting his messengers of falsehood as messenger of truth. Those who thus give themselves over to do evil and become the agents of Satan to persuade others to do evil are the children and servants of the devil. Apostate workers may engage in great religious activity (with the Christian Church) without accepting the power of God’s truth, for Satan’s malignant doctrine blinds the minds of men to the light of the Gospel and induces them to accept his lie.
The Book of Revelation reveals that at the close of this age and in the great tribulation there will be a fearful outburst of demonic (fig., intense, frantic, wild, wicked) activity.
At the time when Satan has given his “power, throne and authority” to the “beast”, the Antichrist, he will rule in the present world system organized according to his own principles, methods, and aims to achieve world supremacy. The greed and self-centered ambitions of the nations, the deceptive diplomacy of the political world, the bitter hatred and rivalry in the sphere of commerce, the godless ideologies of the masses of humanity, all spring out of and are fostered by these influences. The Antichrist will exercise his domination over “the sons of disobedience”. The world of unregenerate humanity lies in the grip of the Antichrist and supinely (passively) yields to his power. But, the Antichrist has gained his power over mankind by trickery and usurpation. This stamps him as “the enemy” of God and truth. His activities are associated with the realm of moral darkness.
The people of God are always the objects of his fierce hatred.
The Antichrist uses the weaknesses and limitation of men to entice them to sin. He also employs the allurements of the world. He commonly tempts men to evil by the falsehood that they can attain a desired good through the doing of wrong. Deception is a universal feature of his activities. He constantly lays “snares: for men to make them his captives. Antichrist opposes the work of God through his counterfeiting activities. He oversows the wheat with poison seed, placing counterfeit believers among “the sons of the kingdom”. These counterfeit believers form “a synagogue of Satan”. The “beast” often disguises himself as “an angel of light” by presenting his messengers of falsehood as messenger of truth. Those who thus give themselves over to do evil and become the agents of Satan to persuade others to do evil are the children and servants of the devil. Apostate workers may engage in great religious activity (with the Christian Church) without accepting the power of God’s truth, for Satan’s malignant doctrine blinds the minds of men to the light of the Gospel and induces them to accept his lie.
His limitations. Although a mighty and determined enemy of God, the Scriptures make it clear that Satan is a limited being, though he will be able to achieve the full outburst of evil in the end-time in the manifestation of the man of lawlessness- the Antichrist. He is not co-equal to God.
Believers are assured that God is greater than the forces of evil and that they will never be able to defeat God and separate them from the love of God.
Satanic doctrine is not divine; those who promote it are neither omnipotent, omniscient, nor omnipresent. Antichrist will have vast power, but that power is definitely limited.
God has permitted the effort of Satan to establish his own will in opposition to the divine will to be thoroughly tested. The unrelenting conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of evil is the direct result of Satan’s determination to establish his claim. The presence of sin, suffering, and death reveal the inevitable consequences of the satanic claim. Through his seduction of Adam and Eve Satan succeeded in establishing his domination over mankind. Through the word and life of Christ that power was broken.
In his efforts to establish a world empire the Antichrist relentlessly works to thwart the purpose and work of God. In his ambition to assume the place of God Antichrist will be mastered by a consuming passion for world dominion and desire to receive worship as God. This is idolatry. It is an attempt to divert worship from the true God.
While judgment has already been pronounced upon him, Satan is still permitted to operate as a usurper until the time he is cast into the lake of burning sulfur.
His doom. Scripture reveals the certain outcome of the conflict between good and evil and the inevitable doom of Satan and his hosts. Jesus asserted that “the eternal fire” had been prepared “for the devil and his angels”. For effective doctrinal victory over Satan believers must recognize that on the basis of the work of Christ the Antichrist is a defeated foe. They are called upon to take a firm stand against the devil. Recognizing that Antichrist is a powerful and crafty foe, they must “give no opportunity to the devil” by allowing this blasphemous ideological sin in their lives. Instead, they must “be sober, be watchful,” alert to the danger from the devil, and firmly resist him in faith.
[Conclusion from Study Notes]: It is claimed that the devil is in reality an invention of “visionary theorizing”, manifest in concept to reveal the philosophy underlining an extremely malignant doctrine designed to usurp the authority of God. Nonetheless, as the personification of evil, Satan’s general objective is to break the bonds of communion between God and man. God is the only eternal self-existent being represented in the Bible. Satan is not self-existent. Satan must have, therefore, a point of origin.
Satan (the origin for moral evil) was created in an ethical concept when God planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, giving way for man to possess a free moral agency of “choice”. All God created was good, yet, to disobey or slyly tempt another to disobey God is not good (“fall of man”). Thence, in theory, moral evil (sin) finds an origin through the temptation of another to fall into sin - discerned as disobedience to God.
Mankind has “free will”- a choice to do “good” or to do “evil”. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God, to fear God is to hate evil.
Wisdom’s Call
Proverbs 8:1 “Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?”
Verse 12 “I, wisdom dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, alone the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”
“The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when He set the heavens in place, when He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundation of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind.”
“Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
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