Revelation Part 24
Revelation 13:13-18
Introduction
A few weeks ago, we left off in Revelation discussing the beast that will rise from the Earth, the power that will be given unto him to lead people astray, and even how his counterfeit reproduction of the resurrection of Jesus Christ will play out for all to see (rising from a fatal head wound).
This morning, we conclude in Chapter 13 with a few clear cut verses about the agenda of this person who God gives total control too. At the end of our service today we will have the Lord’s Supper, so I want you to think this morning about celebrating the Lord’s Supper, what it means to you, how special it is, and imagine for a moment there will be a time when this sacred act will be outlawed in this world – because a ruler has come to seek and destroy all that belongs to God.
Read Revelation 13:13-18
Pray
Point 1 – Satanic Signs & Wonders (v13-14)
He performs great signs….The false prophet does the signs as a means of deception. Signs are not limited to God’s kingdom alone. God allows Satan to also perform signs as a way of testing people.
How amazed would you be if one could call fire down from the Heavens? Admit it … that would be a pretty neat trick. This man has power to create signs and wonders to fool those who are left on this Earth into believing him. We are a people who DEMAND signs, we DEMAND proof, and I want to tell you that the devil knows this.
When we demand a sign from God to prove His existence, there are two things going on. The first is that (and most dangerously): We are testing God to show Himself. How dare we?!? We are telling God that unless he shows us something we will not believe what we hear with our ears -- OR WHAT THAT SPIRIT SAYS!
The second is that the devil knows that we “need” to have proof – he knows that we demand “signs” to prove claims are real – so he will use that against us. Think for a moment of the extraordinary efforts that science has put out to discredit God, to discredit creation, and to discredit the things which are considered “holy”. The devil is counting on this doubting on our behalf!
With that in mind, how tough would it be to get people to believe in this false Christ?
It wouldn’t, as a matter of fact – it is already being done today. Note the amount of “successful” religions (Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.) that seek to take away the deity of Jesus Christ in this world. The anti-Christ’s power will be given by God to do what he wants to do – and fooling us will be his easiest task.
Ref: Ex 20 -- One of the first acts of Satan is to immediately have the first 3 of 10 commandments broken – there is no god but God, do not make an image, do not worship an image. Satan has succeeded in breaking the first three commandments – think of the authority he must have been given by God! Think of the absolute hatred he must have for God to do this so publicly!
Point 2 – The Image of the Beast (v15)
The image created by men of the Beast seemingly comes to life. This Satanic miracle is allowed to take place by God. Man is being tested by this part of the strong delusion that God is allowing to fall on those who refuse to believe the “Truth”. The “Image” of the Beast comes to life and further validates the identity of the “Beast”. Those who know the scriptures will have a clear choice today – to accept it or to turn away and go into hiding.
This is why it is SO important for us to spread the Gospel! We must know the truth, we must be involved in the truth, and we must NOT sit back and wait for someone else to do it! God has called you to do it – and failure to help spread the Word is your disobedience. In order for others to know what the Word of God says they have to be told! This is the duty of the church, period.
In this time, a hunt across the entire world ensues to kill all those who fail to worship the image of the beast. Just as God knows where you are, the devil is given complete control to seek those who are in hiding out … if you think today you can hide from God, think for a moment about hiding from a hunter who is specialized and trained in killing and destruction!
1 Peter 5:8 “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” You let a lion out of a cage, he does not need training – he is already a killer. The devil is compared to a lion because all he needs is the permission from God to make it happen, and he is on the loose! Be aware and wake up church!!
Point 3 - The Economic System of the Beast (v16-18)
The False Prophet will implement a system to demand worship from all. Even the rich and powerful will not be able to escape the requirements. Each man, woman, and child will be required to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, professing their allegiance to the beast.
The mark will be a system that allows control of the individual. Without submission to the Beast there will be no ability to participate in the economic system. Food, clothing, shelter and fuel will not available to those who have not submitted to the Beast.
New technologies known as bio-metrics are being developed to track and control segments of the population. With the increase in terrorism little resistance to such a system can be logically justified today. Fear of terrorism has removed many of our concerns of an intrusive government; citizens want to know who is a threat – and perhaps accepting this mark Satan will use it to justify that only “he” can protect you from this world.
There will be three ways to accept the beast: take his mark, take the name of the beast, and take the number of his name. Failure to do so will result in your death, period!
Anyone who is alive during this time is required to understand what is going on - To recognize the signs and to stay away from this “man”. However, look at the signs of today and compare them to the first 13 chapters that we have studied: There is disobedience to God, famine, plagues, earthquakes, wars … how much more does this world need to pay attention?
The Antichrist is a Man, given authority by Satan (from God) to destroy and demand worship – and failure to worship will bring your death, period. Those who choose the mark swear allegiance to Satan and turn away from God forever – their eternity is in hell.
Those who choose to not accept the mark have one of two things happen to them. Either they are children of God (they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior) and so they will be in Heaven when they die – or – they are unsaved and when they are killed will go to hell.
Satan does not care – if you are saved then you are a threat and need to be removed. If you are not saved – then you belong to the devil anyway and he’ll see you in hell. It does not matter – either way, live or die, the choice is, and always has been, yours to make.
What will you choose when asked? Will you accept Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation forever or will you blindly roll the dice and hope that God will let you slide by because you are a “good person”? Let me tell you, hell is filled with good people who had good intentions of doing good things … if you die today without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your eternity is with those who denied Jesus.
What will you choose? Where will you spend eternity? Today I would love to introduce you to Jesus Christ, to get your eternity secured forever … but you have to make the first move.
Conclusion
How will the devil be able to control so many? How will those who are thought of as educated be fooled so easily? Perhaps an analogy of this question will help you answer it. Think for a moment of the beatitudes that Jesus gave us – what if the devil wrote his own?
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians -- they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy that stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers -- I’m all ears to them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister’s mannerisms and mistakes --for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church--for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God’s work -- for they are my helpers.
Pray
This morning we will offer the Lord’s Supper to anyone who wishes to partake. This is not a Baptist thing, but this is an opportunity to join together as a family of God to celebrate what Jesus has done for us. Before we can partake though, I need to give a word of caution from God about taking the Lord’s Supper with un-confessed sin in your life. This is sin that God knows about, but that you have not dealt with him on.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Take this time this morning to examine your life, to do business with God, and to honest with yourself. Taking part in the Lord’s Supper is serious business, and if you need to come and pray and do business with God, I encourage you to do that very thing.
If you need to meet Jesus Christ, I would love to introduce you to him if you would only come forward. All that come to Jesus receive forgiveness forever, do you need forgiveness today? Do you need to come to a place of rest? Are you looking for a church to belong too? Whatever it is, I am here to pray with you if you need – but ultimately, you have to make a choice to accept or deny Jesus Christ today.
Pray
Play CD
With every head bowed and every eye closed …
Lord’s Supper
* Research taken from TruthNet.org
