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Monday, September 12, 2011

The Tribulation Saints

THE TRIBULATION SAINTS

OUR TEXT:

Revelation Chapter 14

Christ is coming back to this Earth. Many may not believe it but that does not change the "fact" of His coming. His return is mentioned more than three hundred times in just the New Testament. Entire chapters teach about His second coming and the majority of some books. (Matt 13,24,25; Luke 21; 1 and 2 Thess; Rev).

Christ taught that His return would be "literal" and "physical"!

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Christ is coming back to gather all His followers:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Those mansions are already in Heaven. We know from reading the book of Revelation what is prepared is a New Earth and we can learn from the Bible how beautiful some of these things will be. The return of Jesus Christ should be in joyous anticipation for all believers. We are citizens of Heaven, the New Heaven and we will soon be going home.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: [for he hath prepared for them a city]. (New Jerusalem)

*****Our text:

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

The Lord God loves Mount Sion(Zion):

Zec 8:1  Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
Zec 8:2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
Zec 8:3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
Zec 8:4  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
Zec 8:5  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
Zec 8:6  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 8:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
Zec 8:8  And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

You see it does not matter what the world thinks. It only matters what this loving God thinks. Mount Sion is in Jerusalem. This is probably the Temple Mount but it is for sure Jerusalem.

Oba 1:15  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
Oba 1:16  For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
Oba 1:17  But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

Sion (Zion) is sanctified of God, which means He has set it aside for Himself. Zion is the place of the Tomb of David.

1.) Zion is the most Holy Place in Jerusalem.

Psa 46:4  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

2.) Zion is the place of the "upper room" where the Lord had the last supper but what did He say?

Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

3.) Zion is the place of "Pentecost" the day that the Church began!

In this same upper room.

Act 1:12  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Act 1:13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You see it is in this place where John has seen Our Lord Christ with the redeemed 144,000. Not one lost to Satan. You see when you are once sealed with the Holy Ghost you cannot ever be lost to Satan again.

Isaiah prophesied of this day:

Isa 51:11  Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isa 51:12  I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
Isa 51:13  And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?

We first saw these harps back in Revelation 5:8. That's the Church playing those harps as Heaven praises the Lord for redeeming these 144,000.

Hebrews tells us these words:

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

That new song:

The Bible says:

Psa 33:2  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psa 33:5  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psa 96:1  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 98:1  O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psa 98:2  The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

Many times in the Bible God had said to sing Him a new song. He did not want to hear those same old songs. "He said I have already heard all those old Psalms (Songs) over and over again".

"Sing Me a New Song'!

Surely these 144,000 had a song that no one else had for no one had endured the Great Tribulation and defied Satan and his followers and lived to tell about it.

Sing Brothers Sing! I will be playing on my harp. Remember what the Lord Said:

The Bible says:

Deu 30:1  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
Deu 30:2  And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
Deu 30:3  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and [will return] and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

*****Our Text:

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

There is no doubt about these and every Saint of God. They are justified!

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

The first fruits are holy unto the Lord these are the first fruit gathered from the Great Tribulation.

Eze 48:14  And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: [for it is holy unto the LORD].

Paul wrote:

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

*****Our text:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

You know the Church will never reach all the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ though we should put forth our best effort for the name of Jesus.

Those 144,ooo evangelist protected by God Himself will come close to reaching the entire world with the Gospel of Jesus but will probably not reach everyone.

Matthew wrote:

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

You see God has a plan even for those that get missed. There will not be any excuses at the White Throne of judgment. What man cannot do this angel can do. The final sermon of the Gospel of Salvation.

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

This angel will be "preaching" God's word! We should also notice that this angel begins with pointing out it is the God of Heaven that created it all. Even though Satan is powerful and his Beast and False Prophet will amaze those that are left on Earth at this time, it will be just as obvious that not one of these could have been the creator.

In places where the Gospel has never been heard we need to go back to Genesis and teach the "Creator God" of the universe.

You see Satan is about to insist on his mark and insist on his worship and he is just a "want to be". He has no real power but only that of deception.

*****Our Text:

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

We have already talked about:

1.) The Political system of the Beast.
2.) The Religious system of the False Prophet.

This verse says they have "fallen, fallen" one fallen for each system and when God repeats Himself it will happen very soon.

Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

Isa 21:9  And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

*****Our text:

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:


Here comes God's final warning.

In other words by the mouth of Joshua:

Jos 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, [choose you this day whom ye will serve]; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

These people left on the Earth at this time have this very decision to make.

They will choose:

1.) Our Lord Jesus Christ or they will worship the Beast.
2.) They will choose the Lord Jesus Christ or they will choose the "Image of the Beast". An Idol!
3.) They will choose the Lord Jesus Christ or they will choose to receive the "Mark of the Beast".

This is still the ultimate sin:

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Everyone that chooses these paths will "drink of the wine of the wrath of God"!

Divine judgment is from above:

Joh 8:23  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Notice the words "without mixture". We that know Christ know a God of mercy and grace. At this time on Earth there will be no mercy and therefore no grace to those that choose Satan. They will see the full mixture of the wrath of God. We can also see God will bring witnesses to these events. No there will be no excuses and the "White Throne of Judgment"!

*****Our text:

Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

What is torment? Extreme pain; anguish; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind.

Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

You know everyone in Hell is "now" a believer and that is part of their torment!

*****Our text:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

With the preaching of God's word by His Angels there will be some that will rebel against Satan but in doing so they will be killed or they will have to go without the freedom to work and earn an income. They will fugitives, hunted down without mercy. Upon death they will rest from their labors and rewarded for the choice they made.

You know we have to make a choice. A person can try to live a moral and just life and not believe in anything but if they do not choose Jesus Christ it will still mean eternal damnation. It takes "patience" to live a Christian life. It takes "faith" to believe the word of God. It is the "truth" of God that makes the only sense in this insane world.

This voice from Heaven will be the Holy Ghost.

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Heb 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

The scribe in Heaven will place many names in the Lambs book of life from these that reject Satan:

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It is still by the Blood of Jesus. There is no other way to get to Heaven!

*****Out text:

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

The Judgment of God:

Christ will come back just as He left!

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

There is no doubt that this is Christ on this cloud. We have seen this description many times! That sickle means it's time to reap the Earth.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The reapers are coming!

Daniel wrote:

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Luke:

Luk 3:17  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Again Matthew:

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

There will be a horrible blood bath!

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

We know that Jesus Christ is the true vine then anything else will be the false vine.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Christ will first reap the Earth of all remaining Saints. The He will reap the false vine!

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Paul wrote:

2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Those fully ripe grapes to be gathered are rotten grapes. This is the entire false religious system that is on the Earth at this time.

Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
In the next few chapters the Battle of Armageddon will be described. Christ will have the stains of this battle on His vesture.

Isaiah says:

Isa 63:2  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Isa 63:3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Isa 63:4  For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isa 63:5  And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
Isa 63:6  And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

It cannot be said that Our Lord has not told us the whole truth!

Read Ezekiel 38:1-23

To Summarize:
Chapter 4: The Redeemed Church
Chapter 5: The Book, The Lamb Prevailed
Chapter 6: The Seals removed.
Chapter 7: The sealing of the 144,000
Chapter 8: The Seventh Seal
Chapter 9: The First "woe"
Chapter 10: The Little Book
Chapter 11: The Two witnesses
Chapter 12 The war in Heaven
Chapter 13: The Two Beast
Chapter 14: The Lamb of God coming on the cloud

We know that the scripture said there would be no delay. Things are going fast now and the final battle up to the Millennial reign of Christ has begun.

Lets Pray!

Monday, September 5, 2011

THE EVIL UNHOLY TRINITY

Our text: Revelation 13

We are still in the last three and a half years of the tribulation period called the "Great Tribulation". The Devil (Satan) has been tossed from the heavens (not Heaven) by Michael and he is mad.
There are those. including some Jewish Rabbi that think the world can create messianic times without the arrival of a Messiah. Some of these same people and others think that this false Messiah will actually be a human being though Jesus Christ has proven by scripture to be that true Messiah, the Christ. We can see the world is truly ready for the Anti-Christ. Satan is smart enough to fool the Jews into thinking he is the Messiah and the Muslim into thinking he is the Mahdi. He will also convince the rest of the world that he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Our Text:
*****Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

The sands of the sea represent vast multitudes of people. The sea by itself represents unrest and turmoil among the masses.

Compare:

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

and:

Isa 10:22  For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Isa 10:23  For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

(The Beast:)

We saw this word "beast" earlier when we talked about the beast around the throne. The Greek word "zoon" was used and it meant simply an animal.

We now have the Greek word "therion" and this word means a venomous, wild, dangerous animal.
This "Beast" is the Devil incarnate. This is the Anti-Christ. Besides Anti-Christ he is called by some other names:

a.) The "man of sin":

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that [man of sin] be revealed, the son of perdition;

b.) The "son of perdition":(son of utter destruction)

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, [the son of perdition];

c.) The "Wicked":(the cursed)

2Th 2:8  And then shall [that Wicked] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

d.) The "willful king":(the perverted)

Dan 11:36  And [the king shall do according to his will]; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

e.) The Beast:(the rogue beast)

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, [the beast] that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

He is called the "Beast" 36 times in the Book of Revelation. He is a wild beast!

Oh, Don't get confused he will not look like a beast. In fact:

A.) He will be an Intellectual Genius:(uncommon powers of intellect)

Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

B.) He will be an Oratorical Genius:(lying flatterer to accomplish his purpose))

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

C.) He will be a Political Genius:(his hidden kingdom to come forward)

Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

D.) He will be a Commercial Genius:(this what he showed Jesus at the temptation)

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

E.) He will be a Military Genius:(knows how to rule an army)

Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

F.) He will be a Religious Genius:(religion will send you to hell, Christianity will lead you to Christ)

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

(The crowns)

Crowns usually denote authority. This beast will have:

1.) Power, a throne, and authority.
2.) Authority over tribes, tongues, and nations.
3.) He will be a political world dictator especially in the last 3 and 1/2 years.
4.) He is a monster and wild and will rule with terror. We can see how terrorist dominate our news now. They speak and threaten and the world trembles.
5.) He will reign about seven years with half of that being a time of terrorism.
6.) He will have a government of ten kings but he will be supreme ruler.
7.) He is a "Master Blasphemer".

Dan 7:25  And [he shall speak great words against the most High], and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The Bible says:

Jas 2:7  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Mar 3:28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30  [Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit].

The sad point about all of this is, THE WORLD IS READY FOR SUCH A MAN AND WILL WELCOME HIM WITH OPEN ARMS EVERYWHERE AT FIRST.

Jesus Christ said:

Joh 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44  [How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another], and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Our text:

*****Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

We first saw these animals in the book of Daniel:

Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

1.)The Body of the Leopard was Greece in rapid expansion. Taking over the world.
2.)The feet of the Bear was the Medo-Persians whose strength was in controlling the people to take over the world.
3.)The mouth of the Lion was Babylon, maybe the most regal of them all but they were devouring and they struck terror into those that defied them.
4.) We already know this Beast is trying to revive the Old Roman Empire that really is still alive and well in the world today.

The Beast will have all these elements wrapped up into one mighty monster machine of ruthless diplomacy and then death and his power comes from the dragon, Satan himself.

Remember these verses in Daniel:

Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

These verses have not been fulfilled as yet.

and these verses in 1John describe our day:

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:22  [Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?] He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

To look upon the wound as described here it will be said that the wound caused death, yet this man is alive. This could possibly be an assassination attempt where by a miracle or even a false resurrection that brought this beast back to life.

The Bible says:Mar 13:21  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Mar 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

This world will be in awe of such a deceiving miracle but these same ones have ignored the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Note: Some say that this healed head could mean the revived ten nation empire.

Notice "all" the world "wondered": In other words the entire known world admired and marveled this man simply for this miracle of his healing.

Has the world gotten this low in search of a miracle maker? The Bible says yes.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Satan has been waiting on this moment for over 6000 years. The world will bow down and worship him.

The Greek word "proskuneo" which means prostate yourself on the ground.

1.) They will worship the dragon (Satan).
2.) They will worship the beast (Anti-Christ)

The Bible says:

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, [and that man of sin be revealed], the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, [or that is worshipped]; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The world is looking for this "superman", this Anti-Christ. This beast will be exactly what the world wants. He will be worshiped as an "idol". He will be as the old emperors of Rome, or the Herodians, or the Czar and some Kings. Remember he will be posing as the "messiah".

1.) He is the Devil in human form.
2.) He is the world dictator.
3.) He is the second person of the unholy trinity.
4.) He will be revealed just after the rapture of the Church.
5a.) Dan 11:21  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
5b.) Dan 11:23  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
5c.) Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
6.) He will be a "religious genius"!
Some people have their basketball players, or their race car driver or their soccer player or some other sports figure. Some have their actors or their favorite singer or their richest man or woman. Some people have their politician or some other figure.

The entire world will have their Anti-Christ as their god.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Satan will be holding up the cue cards for this deceiver. He will speak exactly what he is told to speak by the devil. The devil knows all our weaknesses now he knows what all his children want and he will say he is going to give it to them and HE HATES GOD!

He will overwhelm his followers with his words. The more they worship the more his pride will swell and he will wear his pride like a medal on his chest but only for three and one half years.

Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The Bible never contradicts itself!

Our text:

*****Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, [to blaspheme his name], and [his tabernacle], and [them that dwell in heaven].

1.) He will blaspheme the "namesake" of God:

Psa 115:1  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
Psa 115:2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

The devil will try his best to do this very thing. He will say where is their God now?

The Lord said:

Eze 20:44  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

The Lord said again:

Eze 36:22  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23  And [I will sanctify my great name], which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

This is important because it is written in all four of the Gospels:

Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Mar 13:13  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luk 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

Joh 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

God will avenge His own name but we as Christians should not allow the name of God to be blasphemed.

2.) He will blaspheme the Tabernacle:

In Revelation 21:3 we read:

Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, [the tabernacle of God] is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

We can say the Jesus Christ is the tabernacle of God for he is the flesh that God dwells in. This verse does say that He will dwell with them. He would do that in that glorified body He had while on this Earth. Wherever God dwells is His Tabernacle and Satan blasphemes even the place where God dwells.

The devil is also a foolish being. My God is "ALIVE" and He knows the thoughts of every one of His creations.

This could also be the New Temple but I believe this verse refers to Christ Jesus but every saint of God is a tabernacle of God also!

Jesus prayed:
Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

The Bible says:

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

To be Born Again:

1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Jesus again:

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

3.) The Inhabitants of Heaven:
a.) God
b.) The Lamb
c.) The Angels
d.) The Raptured saints
c.) The Tribulation saints.
d.) Whatever else is there and God has not told us.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The devil, Satan has blasphemed these things also.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
We probably first see these saints in chapter 6:
Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This Anti-Christ will do his very best to kill all God's children.

Dan 7:23  Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24  And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Dan 8:25; 9:27; 11:38; 12:10; Matt 24:16-22 Rev 6:9-11; 11:7; 12:17; 17:6.

He was a murderer from the beginning!

Our text:

*****Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, [whose names are not written in the book of life] of [the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world].

We see three things here:

1.) The phrase "foundation of the world" refers to Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the Lamb of God that was determined from the creation of this world. God determined before creation that He would have to be the sacrifice for His human creation. He would have to die in the same flesh He created for us to live in. Our only means of salvation.
2.) Those names were written in the Lamb's book of life as that person accepted the Lord as savior. That's why there is a celebration in Heaven for each and every one. (Our free will)
3.) You cannot worship Satan, the Devil, the Anti-Christ and still have your name written in the Book of Life. (again our own free will to choose)

Once your name is in the Lamb's book of Life it cannot be removed!

Our text:

*****Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Right after verse 8 we get God's warning!

The "Warning": Open your ears and here what this verse says. We must not forget. This entire book is to be preached to the seven church types, in the seven church ages. This message is for Born Again saints of God. This is not just another book in the Bible. This is the message of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the truth and it is backed up by the entire Bible and every Prophet.

Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

The generation that sees these things begin to happen may be the last generation of saints before the rapture.

The words of salvation are not hard to say but they must be spoken in sincerity.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The "Beast" will be killing and making slaves at this time. To rebel against him will be instant death. Those that are saved will die a martyr's death.

Those that refuse this beast but also refuse Christ Jesus will still go straight to hell.

Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

We cannot and should not be so dull of hearing to understand this message from God. Many tribulation Christians will be locked up for refusing the mark of Satan and most all of them will die before Christ comes the second time.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Who is this Beast?

This beast on three different occasions is called the false prophet.

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

This beast will mimic the Holy Ghost!

1.) The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Holy Trinity!

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The false prophet is the third person of the unholy trinity!

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and [out of the mouth of the false prophet].

2.) The Holy Spirit will always lead mankind to all truth especially about Jesus!

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The false prophet seduces mankind to error:

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

3.) The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ:

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

The false prophet glorifies the Anti-Christ:

Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

4.) The Holy Spirit made fire come down from Heaven!

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

The false prophet will this also but only showing off for it serves no purpose:

Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

5.) The Holy Spirit gives life!

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The false prophet kills:

Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

6.) The Holy Spirit marks with a seal all that belong to God!

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The false prophet marks all that worship Satan:

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

He looks like a lamb but he sounds like a dragon (Satan).

He will rule the religious side while the first beast rules the political side.

The first beast has secular power. The second beast religious power.
The first beast had ten horns. The second beast only two.
The first beast will be the civil authority. The second beast the religious authority.
The second beast is subordinate to the first beast. He will use the military power of the first beast set up a religious dictatorship. They did not both appear at the same time!

The first beast perishes at the coming of the Lord in flaming fire.

To this beast Satan gives what he offered to Christ:

Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

This second beast rules in Palestine and becomes minister to the first beast.

This second beast will bring all religions on this Earth under one roof and then give them to Satan.

"The World Wide Apostate Church"

This beast will meet the same fate of the first beast:

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

We may think that we are sometimes losing the battle but we are still on the winning side!

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Jesus Christ came in the Father's name to do the Father's will.

THIS FALSE MESSIAH WILL COME IN HIS OWN NAME TO DO HIS OWN WILL!

Joh 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

THE MASSES WILL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE BEAST AND RECEIVE HIS MARK. THEY WILL BE SENT STRONG DELUSION AND THEY WILL BELIEVE THE LIE!

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The World is ready.

The stage is set.

The masses await this "Superman"!

It is the the false prophet that sets up an idol, an image of the first beast.

REMEMBER THE THREE JEWISH BOYS!

The death of the first beast is mentioned three times in this one chapter. Verse 14 says this wound was made by a sword. This death will be a great deception but a great wonder to the world.
This false prophet also had power that came from Satan to give life to this image. It appears to be some kind of hologram.

The masses will worship this image or die. If you choose the mark you can live and buy and sell.

Our text:

*****Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Here is wisdom:

We know that throughout the book of Revelation, God's number is seven. We can see that the number of man is six. That's at least one short of seven every time. We know man is a creation of God. Therefore this verse tells us that Satan also is a six, one short of seven and he is also a creation of God.

The Bible says of Goliath:

Six cubits, his spear head 600 shekels, he was carrying six pieces of equipment therefore it could be said he had the mark of the beast 666.

Of his son:

A giant six cubits, six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot. It could be said that he had the mark of the beast.

Of  Nebuchadnezzar's image:

60 cubits in height, 6 cubits in breadth and there were six instruments of music mentioned. This also is a mark of the beast.

Six is man's number. Six will always come up one short of seven, God's number. Satan will always fall short of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has a trinity, a six for each one (Satan, Beast 1, Beast 2) therefore 666. Satan is at least 666 times more sinful than man who is also a six but it takes only one sin to put you in hell. This number may not be this simple but any thing else is a guess also.

We know this mark is important because it is mentioned six more times.

Rev 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; and 20:4.

Not one Born Again child of God will have this mark!

Let's pray!
THE EVIL UNHOLY TRINITY
Our text:
Revelation 13
We are still in the last three and a half years of the tribulation period called the "Great Tribulation". The Devil (Satan) has been tossed from the heavens (not Heaven) by Michael and he is mad.
There are those. including some Jewish Rabbi that think the world can create messianic times without the arrival of a Messiah. Some of these same people and others think that this false Messiah will actually be a human being though Jesus Christ has proven by scripture to be that true Messiah, the Christ. We can see the world is truly ready for the Anti-Christ. Satan is smart enough to fool the Jews into thinking he is the Messiah and the Muslim into thinking he is the Mahdi. He will also convince the rest of the world that he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Our Text:
*****Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
The sands of the sea represent vast multitudes of people. The sea by itself represents unrest and turmoil among the masses.
Compare:
Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
and:
Isa 10:22  For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Isa 10:23  For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.
(The Beast:)
We saw this word "beast" earlier when we talked about the beast around the throne. The Greek word "zoon" was used and it meant simply an animal.
We now have the Greek word "therion" and this word means a venomous, wild, dangerous animal.
This "Beast" is the Devil incarnate. This is the Anti-Christ. Besides Anti-Christ he is called by some other names:
a.) The "man of sin":
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that [man of sin] be revealed, the son of perdition;
b.) The "son of perdition":(son of utter destruction)
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, [the son of perdition];
c.) The "Wicked":(the cursed)
2Th 2:8  And then shall [that Wicked] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
d.) The "willful king":(the perverted)
Dan 11:36  And [the king shall do according to his will]; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
e.) The Beast:(the rogue beast)
Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, [the beast] that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
He is called the "Beast" 36 times in the Book of Revelation. He is a wild beast!
Oh, Don't get confused he will not look like a beast. In fact:
A.) He will be an Intellectual Genius:(uncommon powers of intellect)
Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
B.) He will be an Oratorical Genius:(lying flatterer to accomplish his purpose))
Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
C.) He will be a Political Genius:(his hidden kingdom to come forward)
Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
D.) He will be a Commercial Genius:(this what he showed Jesus at the temptation)
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
E.) He will be a Military Genius:(knows how to rule an army)
Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
F.) He will be a Religious Genius:(religion will send you to hell, Christianity will lead you to Christ)
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
(The crowns)
Crowns usually denote authority. This beast will have:
1.) Power, a throne, and authority.
2.) Authority over tribes, tongues, and nations.
3.) He will be a political world dictator especially in the last 3 and 1/2 years.
4.) He is a monster and wild and will rule with terror. We can see how terrorist dominate our news now. They speak and threaten and the world trembles.
5.) He will reign about seven years with half of that being a time of terrorism.
6.) He will have a government of ten kings but he will be supreme ruler.
7.) He is a "Master Blasphemer".
Dan 7:25  And [he shall speak great words against the most High], and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The Bible says:
Jas 2:7  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Mar 3:28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30  [Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit].
The sad point about all of this is, THE WORLD IS READY FOR SUCH A MAN AND WILL WELCOME HIM WITH OPEN ARMS EVERYWHERE AT FIRST.
Jesus Christ said:
Joh 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44  [How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another], and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Our text:
*****Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
We first saw these animals in the book of Daniel:
Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
1.)The Body of the Leopard was Greece in rapid expansion. Taking over the world.
2.)The feet of the Bear was the Medo-Persians whose strength was in controlling the people to take over the world.
3.)The mouth of the Lion was Babylon, maybe the most regal of them all but they were devouring and they struck terror into those that defied them.
4.) We already know this Beast is trying to revive the Old Roman Empire that really is still alive and well in the world today.
The Beast will have all these elements wrapped up into one mighty monster machine of ruthless diplomacy and then death and his power comes from the dragon, Satan himself.
Remember these verses in Daniel:
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
These verses have not been fulfilled as yet.
and these verses in 1John describe our day:
1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:22  [Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?] He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
To look upon the wound as described here it will be said that the wound caused death, yet this man is alive. This could possibly be an assassination attempt where by a miracle or even a false resurrection that brought this beast back to life.
The Bible says:Mar 13:21  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Mar 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
This world will be in awe of such a deceiving miracle but these same ones have ignored the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Note: Some say that this healed head could mean the revived ten nation empire.
Notice "all" the world "wondered": In other words the entire known world admired and marveled this man simply for this miracle of his healing.
Has the world gotten this low in search of a miracle maker? The Bible says yes.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Satan has been waiting on this moment for over 6000 years. The world will bow down and worship him.
The Greek word "proskuneo" which means prostate yourself on the ground.
1.) They will worship the dragon (Satan).
2.) They will worship the beast (Anti-Christ)
The Bible says:
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, [and that man of sin be revealed], the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, [or that is worshipped]; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The world is looking for this "superman", this Anti-Christ. This beast will be exactly what the world wants. He will be worshiped as an "idol". He will be as the old emperors of Rome, or the Herodians, or the Czar and some Kings. Remember he will be posing as the "messiah".
1.) He is the Devil in human form.
2.) He is the world dictator.
3.) He is the second person of the unholy trinity.
4.) He will be revealed just after the rapture of the Church.
5a.) Dan 11:21  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
5b.) Dan 11:23  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
5c.) Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
6.) He will be a "religious genius"!
Some people have their basketball players, or their race car driver or their soccer player or some other sports figure. Some have their actors or their favorite singer or their richest man or woman. Some people have their politician or some other figure.
The entire world will have their Anti-Christ as their god.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Satan will be holding up the cue cards for this deceiver. He will speak exactly what he is told to speak by the devil. The devil knows all our weaknesses now he knows what all his children want and he will say he is going to give it to them and HE HATES GOD!
He will overwhelm his followers with his words. The more they worship the more his pride will swell and he will wear his pride like a medal on his chest but only for three and one half years.
Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The Bible never contradicts itself!
Our text:
*****Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, [to blaspheme his name], and [his tabernacle], and [them that dwell in heaven].
1.) He will blaspheme the "namesake" of God:
Psa 115:1  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
Psa 115:2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
The devil will try his beat to do this very thing. He will say where is their God now?
The Lord said:
Eze 20:44  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
The Lord said again:
Eze 36:22  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23  And [I will sanctify my great name], which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
This is important because it is written in all four of the Gospels:
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mar 13:13  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luk 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Joh 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
God will avenge His own name but we as Christians should not allow the name of God to be blasphemed.
2.) He will blaspheme the Tabernacle:
In Revelation 21:3 we read:
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, [the tabernacle of God] is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
We can say the Jesus Christ is the tabernacle of God for he is the flesh that God dwells in. This verse does say that He will dwell with them. He would do that in that glorified body He had while on this Earth. Wherever God dwells is His Tabernacle and Satan blasphemes even the place where God dwells.
The devil is also a foolish being. My God is "ALIVE" and He knows the thoughts of every one of His creations.
This could also be the New Temple but I believe this verse refers to Christ Jesus but every saint of God is a tabernacle of God also!
Jesus prayed:
Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
The Bible says:
Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
To be Born Again:
1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Jesus again:
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
3.) The Inhabitants of Heaven:
a.) God
b.) The Lamb
c.) The Angels
d.) The Raptured saints
c.) The Tribulation saints.
d.) Whatever is there and God has not told us.
1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
The devil, Satan has blasphemed these things also.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
We probably first see these saints in chapter 6:
Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
This Anti-Christ will do his very best to kill all God's children.
Dan 7:23  Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24  And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 8:25; 9:27; 11:38; 12:10; Matt 24:16-22 Rev 6:9-11; 11:7; 12:17; 17:6.
He was a murderer from the beginning!
Our text:
*****Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, [whose names are not written in the book of life] of [the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world].
We see three things here:
1.) The phrase "foundation of the world" refers to Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the Lamb of God that was determined from the creation of this world. God determined before creation that He would have to be the sacrifice for His human creation. He would have to die in the same flesh He created for us to live in. Our only means of salvation.
2.) Those names were written in the Lamb's book of life as that person accepted the Lord as savior. That's why there is a celebration in Heaven for each and every one. (Our free will)
3.) You cannot worship Satan, the Devil, the Anti-Christ and still have your name written in the Book of Life. (again our own free will to choose)
Once your name is in the Lamb's book of Life it cannot be removed!
Our text:
*****Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Right after verse 8 we get God's warning!
The "Warning": Open your ears and here what this verse says. We must not forget. This entire book is to be preached to the seven church types, in the seven church ages. This message is for Born Again saints of God. This is not just another book in the Bible. This is the message of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the truth and it is backed up by the entire Bible and every Prophet.
Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
The generation that sees these things begin to happen may be the last generation of saints before the rapture.
The words of salvation are not hard to say but they must be spoken in sincerity.
Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The "Beast" will be killing and making slaves at this time. To rebel against him will be instant death. Those that are saved will die a martyr's death.
Those that refuse this beast but also refuse Christ Jesus will still go straight to hell.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
We cannot and should not be so dull of hearing to understand this message from God. Many tribulation Christians will be locked up for refusing the mark of Satan and most all of them will die before Christ comes the second time.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Who is this Beast?
This beast on three different occasions is called the false prophet.
Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
This beast will mimic the Holy Ghost!
1.) The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Holy Trinity!
Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The false prophet is the third person of the unholy trinity!
Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and [out of the mouth of the false prophet].
2.) The Holy Spirit will always lead mankind to all truth especially about Jesus!
Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
The false prophet seduces mankind to error:
Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
3.) The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ:
Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The false prophet glorifies the Anti-Christ:
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
4.) The Holy Spirit made fire come down from Heaven!
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
The false prophet will this also but only showing off for it serves no purpose:
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
5.) The Holy Spirit gives life!
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
The false prophet kills:
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
6.) The Holy Spirit marks with a seal all that belong to God!
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The false prophet marks all that worship Satan:
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
He looks like a lamb but he sounds like a dragon (Satan).
He will rule the religious side while the first beast rules the political side.
The first beast has secular power. The second beast religious power.
The first beast had ten horns. The second beast only two.
The first beast will be the civil authority. The second beast the religious authority.
The second beast is subordinate to the first beast. He will use the military power of the first beast set up a religious dictatorship. They did not both appear at the same time!
The first beast perishes at the coming of the Lord in flaming fire.
To this beast Satan gives what he offered to Christ:
Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
This second beast rules in Palestine and becomes minister to the first beast.
This second beast will bring all religions on this Earth under one roof and then give them to Satan. The World Wide Apostate Church.
This beast will meet the same fate of the first beast:
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
We may think that we are sometimes losing the battle but we are still on the winning side!
Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Jesus Christ came in the Father's name to do the Father's will.
THIS FALSE MESSIAH WILL COME IN HIS OWN NAME TO DO HIS OWN WILL!
Joh 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
THE MASSES WILL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE BEAST AND RECEIVE HIS MARK. THEY WILL BE SENT STRONG DELUSION AND THEY WILL BELIEVE THE LIE!
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The World is ready.
The stage is set.
The masses await this "Superman"!
It is the the false prophet that sets up an idol, an image of the first beast.
REMEMBER THE THREE JEWISH BOYS!
The death of the first beast is mentioned three times in this one chapter. Verse 14 says this wound was made by a sword. This death will be a great deception but a great wonder to the world.
This false prophet also had power that came from Satan to give life to this image. It appears to be some kind of hologram.
The masses will worship this image or die. If you choose the mark you can live and buy and sell.
Our text:
*****Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Here is wisdom:
We know that throughout the book of Revelation, God's number is seven. We can see that the number of man is six. That's at least one short of seven every time. We know man is a creation of God. Therefore this verse tells us that Satan also is a six, one short of seven and he is also a creation of God.
The Bible says of Goliath:
Six cubits, his spear head 600 shekels, he was carrying six pieces of equipment therefore it could be said he had the mark of the beast 666.
Of his son:
A giant six cubits, six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot. It could be said that he had the mark of the beast.
Of Nebuchadnezzar's image:
60 cubits in height, 6 cubits in breadth and there were six instruments of music mentioned. This also is a mark of the beast.
Six is man's number. Six will always come up one short of seven, God's number. Satan will always fall short of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has a trinity, a six for each one (Satan, Beast 1, Beast 2) therefore 666. Satan is at least 666 times more sinful than man who is also a six but it takes only one sin to put you in hell. This number may not be this simple but any thing else is a guess also.
We know this mark is important because it is mentioned six more times.
Rev 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; and 20:4.
Not one Born Again child of God will have this mark!
Let's pray!