Heaven's Horrible Enemy Here On Earth Series

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Just notice a brief list of scriptures (Taken from Nave’s Topical Bible), which speak of the persecution of the saints, warning and encouraging us to be faithful in spite of persecution:

Matt. 5:10-12,44; Matt. 10:16-18,21-23,28; Matt. 20:22,23; Matt. 23:34,35; Matt. 24:8-10; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33;. Mark 9:42; Mark 13:9,11-13; Luke 6:22,23; Luke 21:12-19; John 12:42; John 15:18,19; John 16:1,2; John 17:14; Acts 4:16-20; Acts 5:29,40-42; Acts 7:52; Acts 8:4; Acts 28:22; Rom. 8:17,35-37; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 1 Cor. 13:3; 2 Cor. 4:8-12;

2 Cor. 6:4,5,8-10; 2 Cor. 11:23-27; 2 Cor. 12:10; Gal. 4:29; Gal. 6:12,17; Phil. 1:12-14,28,29; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 1:6; 1 Thess. 2:2,14,15; 2 Thess. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:8,12; 2 Tim. 2:9,10,12; 2 Tim. 3:2,3,12; 2 Tim. 4:16,17; Heb. 10:32-34; Heb. 11:25-27,33-38;

Heb. 12:3,4; Heb. 13:13; Jas. 2:6; Jas. 5:6,10; 1 Pet. 3:14,16,17; 1 Pet. 4:3,4,12-14,16,19; 1 John 3:1,13; Rev. 2:3,10,13; Rev. 6:9-11; Rev. 7:13-17; Rev. 12:11; Rev. 17:6;

Rev. 20:4#.

Finally, we come to what is perhaps the most widely misunderstood passage in the book. The number of the beast: 666.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

To properly understand this number, we need to ask what the Bible itself says about it, and particularly in its context.

God’s word is telling us that this is wisdom. Wisdom is that which causes man to do what is right and avoid what is wrong. Folly is the inability to chose right. Wisdom to do what is right and best comes from understanding the number of this beast.

Underline these three words in verse 18: “the number is.” Now, what does the Bible say that the number is? Two things are said. What are they?

1.

2.

What does six represent?

On which day did God create man?

In the days that the Bible was written, one way to emphasize something was to repeat it. If you repeat it twice, it is important: Jesus would sometimes say: “Verily, verily, I say unto you…” Or, “Truly, truly…” (some of the modern translations have him saying, “I tell you the truth…” but actually, Jesus used repetition as a device to make it clear that what he was about to say called for special attention). Paul, when he wrote Galatians 1:8-9 uses the same device. But on rare occasions the point is emphasized to the third degree.