What does a one world government look Like?

 Read Revelation 13.

The Apostle John was shown more of what will take place in the last 42 months (3 1/2 years) of the Great Tribulation.  Satan is a counterfeiter.  He endeavors to copy God in order to distract and to deceive people away from the truth.  Here we are told of his attempt at an unholy trinity.  The devil ("dragon" 12:9, 13:4) raises up and empowers two world leaders whose character and behaviors are more like wild animals.

1. The Beast from the Sea. (vv.1-10)
The term antichrist does not appear in Revelation.  John wrote and identified him as such in 1 John and 2 John 2:7.  It is this beast that killed the Two Witnesses in chapter 11.  This passage parallels Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 7.  Daniel called him "the prince that shall come" (Daniel 9:26).  Isaiah referred to him as "the wicked" (Isaiah 11:4).  Paul labeled him as "the man of sin, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  Daniel saw the world's dominant empires in advance.  This will be a Gentile leader who will rule the sea of humanity.  Compare Daniel 7:7-8.  

This beast of a man will be mortally wounded.  But in Satan's continuing efforts to provide cheap counterfeits, this antichrist will come back to life as a substitute resurrected messiah.  Those without faith in Jesus will be duped into thinking that there is no one "who can fight against it".  The devil will give him absolute authority and control over the world.  He will speak with great pride and blaspheme the God of heaven.  Like Nebuchadnezzar's foolish decision, he will launch a war to eradicate anyone who does not worship him. 

2. The Beast from the Earth. (vv.11-18)
This same person is mentioned in 19:20 and 20:10. This is the third party in the unholy trinity.  Satan will raise up and empower a false prophet.  He will be the worship leader of the world's false religion.  Again, in copycat fashion, this religious leader will perform signs and wonders.  Satan tried this before in Exodus when Egypt's sorcerers attempted to reproduce the plagues.  People will be so enamored by these spectacles that they will not care about the source of them.  They will be deceived and drawn into blatant demonic worship.

Given this environment of total control of world government and spiritual worship, the next step will be to control all commerce.  No one will be legally allowed to buy or sell anything without a government approved identification.

The obvious target will be those who believe and stand for their faith in Jesus.  Their names are forever written in the Lamb's book of life.  While believers are saved for eternity, those who are alive during this time will need much endurance to remain steadfast (v.10).

We need not fear that day.  Our true home, and certainly our true hope, was never in this world.  We look forward to being with the Lord, one way or another.  Believers in Jesus have already been set apart and sealed by the Holy Spirit for eternity.  In the meantime, we are to live godly lives that please Him.  "But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his', and , 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'" (2 Timothy 2:19)