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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About Our Lord's Return (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 37. The Lawless One
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The Lawless One
The fourth view runs through chapters twelve to fourteen. It gives a full swing of events for the same period, but especially a sort of sketch of the career of the leader of evil, called by Paul "the lawless one," and by John "the Antichrist." The symbolism is intensely Jewish, and so should be clear to the reader of the Jewish Scriptures, our Old Testament. It may be put briefly thus: the Jewish nation gave birth to Jesus, who ascended to heaven. [Note: Rev_12:1-5.] Ignoring the long Gentile gap, the Jew, again a nation, is persecuted for twelve hundred and sixty days, but divinely guarded. [Note: Rev_12:6.]
Meanwhile there is a conflict up in the heavens, where the evil one during all these years, and up to this moment, has his headquarters. [Note: Eph_6:12.]The archangel leads the hosts of God, routs the evil one, whose identity is specially emphasized, and casts him down to the earth. [Note: Rev_12:7-12.]
Then begins the persecution of the Jewish nation already spoken of. This continues "time, times, and half a time," which thus becomes an equivalent phrase for twelve hundred and sixty days, or forty-two months. Thus in three different ways the time is stated, that it may be quite clearly understood. The arch-demon persecutes not only the woman—the Jew—but also "the rest of her seed,"—the Church of course was given birth by the Jewish nation. [Note: Rev_12:13-17.]
Then follows the sketch of the Antichrist, and of his brief reign. [Note: Rev_13:1-18.] The casting down of the evil one out of his present position in the heavens, is the point at which there appears on this earth a strange being called a "beast," an awful, uncanny, nondescript beast. It is noticeable throughout the prophecies, and here, that the governments and kingdoms of earth, and the evil one himself, are represented by beasts.. This evil leader is, in his character, so unlike anything thus far known that it is difficult for John to describe him. He combines in himself all the evil traits known. He is empowered with all the authority of the evil one himself, and draws out the worship of the wondering, befooled multitudes.
He has an assistant who becomes a sort of court-preacher, having great influence over the crowds, doing strangely miraculous things. The multitudes are required under penalty of death to worship an image set up in honour of the lawless leader; so the terrible description goes on. It is the most complete we have yet had of the time of tribulation. In the midst of it all comes a solemn, tender voice calling to God's people to be steadfast. [Note: Rev_13:10.] Every man must follow the bent of his own free choice; must be made morally captive by yielding to evil, or use force in fighting, or use the other, mightier weapons, and steadfastly endure. Here is the great testing time for the saints. The chapter ends with the blasphemous worship, and the persecution at its height and in full swing.
Then as John is noting all this from his point of vision in heaven, he is suddenly startled with a new sight before the throne [Note: Rev_14:1-5.] (just as he was in the first view). "Behold," suddenly, unexpectedly, he sees a great multitude before the throne surrounding the Lord Jesus. They are singing the sweetest music, whose volume is as a great thunder. The description of them is very winsome, their faces reflect the likeness of the Lord Jesus and the Father. They are pure as purest virgins, and obey the Lord Jesus perfectly. [Note: Rev_7:9.] The description tells us at once what has taken place. When things are at their devilish worst on earth, the Lord Jesus has caught away His believing followers, and they have become like Him, when they see Him as He is. [Note: 1Jn_3:2.]
This company is unlike those suddenly seen in like manner before the throne in the first vision [Note: Rev_7:9.] in one particular. There the multitude is uncountable by man's reckoning. Here an exact number is given. It is a symbolical number, the number of full corporate completeness, as with the Spirit-baptized Jews in chapter seven. The believers caught up have been joined with those of all time, awaiting this day up in the Father's presence. The number is complete of all in every century, from Creation's earliest dawn, who have by grace followed fully regardless of circumstance or opposition.
But things are not quite cleared up yet down on the earth. [Note: Rev_14:6-20.] An angel solemnly calls on the multitudes of frightened men remaining on the earth to give their worship to the true God. Another angel warns the earth of the fall of the vast system of evil in which they are enmeshed. A third angel warns against the worship of the beast which is still going on. Then is heard on the earth a strengthening voice to those who are heeding these warnings, and are being persecuted and killed. It is blessed to die when it is a death for the Lord, in the midst of such blasphemy and persecution. And the end is quickly told in the language of a harvest. This is the fourth view of the tribulation, describing chiefly the coming and rule of the lawless one.
The fifth view makes up chapter sixteen, with chapter fifteen as an explanatory introduction. This is a view not of the whole period but of events near and at its close. It connects back with some martyrs before the throne, who have come up out of the tribulation experiences. This is to make clear that it is at this point in the tribulation that there occurs what is now described in the fifth view. [Note: Rev_15:1-4.] It connects back also with the completing event in the second view in chapter eleven, verses fifteen to nineteen. That event is merely named there to complete the record. Now it is given here in detail. [Note: Cp.] Rev_11:19 with Rev_15:5-8.]
Then follows the account of final events in the tribulation, ending in the great earthquake. [Note: Revelation 16.]It tells of the final judgment upon earth, sea, rivers, and sun; then upon the throne of the lawless one; then the special demon activity preparatory to the final supreme measuring of the power of evil against God. Then the great final earthquake closes the scene, as in views one and two, with terrible accompaniments. This is the fifth view, describing the final part of the tribulation.