Seventy five years ago this October, in 1938, masses of people were duped across the United States. Orson Welles, radio actor and director of Mercury Theater, unintentionally created the greatest case of mass hysteria ever seen.
What Welles did that was so unusual was that he intentionally made his broadcast sound like a show with dance music. What seemed to be 'breaking news reports" sounded incredibly real as Welles intentionally did not announce the radio drama to create dramatic effect. These news reports, interlaced with cutback returns to the dance music were filled with the "news" that explosions could be seen on Mars, followed by the fall of what was thought to be a meteorite in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, then followed by the emergence of Martian invaders bent on taking over the planet.
Panic ensued, as people believed the radio show to be real. "People packed the roads, hid in cellars, loaded guns, even wrapped their heads in wet towels as protection from Martian poison gas in an attempt to defend themselves against the aliens", fully believing that the end of the world was upon them (www.transparencynow.com). Seems laughable, but the world will fall for an even greater lie, an even greater deception, during the end times.
Last Week In Revelation
So far in Revelation 13, we have seen in the imagery seen by Apostle John:
Satan calling up Antichrist out of the sea of humanity, specifically the peoples of the Mediterranean Sea;
That the rise of Antichrist will be mercurial in speed, brutally strong and vicious in conquest, and will demand the attention of the world
That Antichrist will have the qualities that are an amalgam of different kingdoms of antiquity, and will lead a ten nation confederation of countries that will rule the world
He will be, most likely, of Roman, Grecian and Jewish descent
Antichrist will suffer a fatal blow by sword to the head, specifically to the right side of his head, putting out his right eye, withering an arm
Satan will have a demon possess the dead but healed body of Antichrist, while Antichrist's spirit will go to Hades upon death
This demon possession of Antichrist's body will be passed off as a miraculous resurrection meant to overshadow and replace the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in importance
This week, we continue in Revelation 13, and study what the real motive of Satan is in this great lie and delusion that will be sent upon the earth.
So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:4
What Satan Has ALWAYS Wanted
When the people fall for the great delusion of the fake resurrection of Antichrist, they will give Satan what he has always wanted: worship. Satan's pride in feeling he could take over heaven was also coupled with a jealousy of the worship of God. One problem that those that are greatly blessed with talent, with beauty or with riches is that there is often a tendency for those folks to feel that they are above others. In Satan's case, his beauty, talent, intelligence and standing with God made him want to not be the servant but to be the master.
Lucifer, as Satan was then called, made the five fold statement which are known as the "five I wills" of Satan:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit." Isaiah 14:12-15 (NKJV)
I will ascend into heaven: "With the first I will, he desired to usurp God's throne and sit in the place of the Messiah" (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Satanology: The Doctrine of Satan).
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: Stars are often a euphemism for angels, and that is the meaning here. Satan wanted the worship of the angels, to be over each and every one, including Michael the Archangel.
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north: Fruchtenbaum notes that this is a reference to the Millennial Kingdom, and that Satan's desire was to be over Israel itself. One problem with this thought: How would Lucifer have known about the Millennial Kingdom?
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: "Whenever the word cloud is used symbolically, it is always a symbol of the Shechinah Glory (Ex 16:10, 40:34-38, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Matt 26:64). This unique glory, a glory that belongs only to God, is something Satan desired for himself" (Fruchtenbaum).
I will be like the Most High: The Hebrew term for "Most High" is Elyon. "El-Elyon "The Most High God" or "The Exalted One" (Num. 24:16; 2 Sam. 22:14; Ps. 18:13). Melchizadek was a priest of El-Elyon and blessed Abraham in this name (Gen. 14:19-20), referring to El-Elyon as "Maker of heaven and earth."" (Holman Bible Dictionary). It was the goal of Lucifer--the created--to assume the role of creator, the "maker of heaven and earth" and all that exists.
Satan's singular goal is to receive the worship of all creation, only meant for and deserved by God, to be for himself.
The Temptations In The Wilderness
Satan looks to dupe people. As we have discussed before, his arguments are powerful, so powerful in fact that he sweet talked a third of the angels into rebellion and, eventually, right into the lake of fire. You see, Satan knows just how to lure unsuspecting, naive people into believing lies and being blinded to the real truth of God. However, when it came to temptation Jesus gives the litmus test in that area as we see in the biblical accounts in the Gospels.
Now remember the situation in which Jesus stood. Often people forget the path that Jesus took on his way to the three temptations. Driven into the wilderness, Jesus fasted for 40 days. The effect of hunger alone would have crushed most men and women. "Hunger not only makes us physically weak but also tends to weaken our moral and spiritual resistance as well. When we are tired, hungry, or sick we are usually less concerned about other needs and dangers and tend to be vulnerable to anything that might provide relief from our present distress." (John MacArthur, MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 1-7) Physically, Jesus would have been at his weakest point. Think for a moment about how you feel when you are incredibly hungry, and multiply that by forty days. Not forty minutes or forty hours but forty DAYS. Surely, you and I would not have the fortitude to stand against the temptation of fresh bread.
Not only was Jesus suffering from hunger, but we are mistaken if we think that the temptations came only at the end. In fact, Jesus was "being tempted for forty days by the devil." (Luke 4:2 NKJV) The Greek word for tempted means "to try, tempt or assay" (Vines). The temptations were not limited to just the last day of the 40 but were day in and day out, and meant to test and prove Jesus as to whom he was and his flawless, sinless character. In addition, when the three temptations were over, Satan left Jesus alone "for a season"--in other words, Satan came back later and tempted Jesus again and again. When someone becomes saved, they are changed from a child of the devil to a child of God the Father and I give them this advice: get ready, because Satan's hoodlums are going to throw you a curve ball."
What does that mean? If you are Satan's child, then he could care less if you sin or not. Most of the time, Satan does not mess with the unsaved; why waste his effort if he already has a person? Satan spends his time and effort on those that are Jesus' because when he persecutes us, he persecutes Jesus as we are members of the body of Christ. When you become saved, God will allow Satan to test you, to build your character, to bring you closer to God so you will trust Him more. Those that profess Christ that really are not saved will wilt under the trials, tuck tail and never darken the door of a church again. More tomorrow.
The Third Temptation
Worship is what Satan wants. The English term "worship" comes from an Old English word "worthship"; it means adoration of someone that is "worth it". The Greek verb for worship is proskunéo, and though a little lengthy Zodiates defines it best: "to kiss, adore. To worship, do obeisance, show respect, fall or prostrate before. Literally, to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or homage. The ancient oriental (especially Persian) mode of salutation between persons of equal ranks was to kiss each other on the lips; when the difference of rank was slight, they kissed each other on the cheek; when one was much inferior, he fell upon his knees and touched his forehead to the ground or prostrated himself, throwing kisses at the same time toward the superior. It is this latter mode of salutation that Gr. writers express by proskunéo. In the NT, generally, to do reverence or homage to someone, usually by kneeling or prostrating oneself before him."
Worship. Satan wants it, he craves it, and he will do whatever he can to get it. Worship of a person contains a great power of the person worshipped over the person that is worshipping; Satan seeks power, control and worship of all things. He wants people to worship him, to bow before him, to adore him.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan tempted Him with three specific temptations. The specific order in the Gospel of Matthew was the temptation of serving self (satisfying hunger by turning stones into bread), substantiation or proof (proving He was God by casting Himself by jumping from the top of the temple, a 430 ft drop).
However, Satan's last temptation was really what Satan really wanted: Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." Luke 4:5-7
It's all about whom Jesus would serve. In a nutshell, Satan--the "god of this world", "the prince of the power of the air", has domain over the planet. God is still sovereign and somehow uses Satan's evil for his purpose, but Satan does control the world system. Satan took Jesus to a high vantage point and promised Him a shortcut, seemingly painless, to rule the world: "bow down to me, worship me and it's all yours". Now just give this some thought: Satan, the super-smart most intelligent being ever created knew exactly what Jesus was called to do. In order to save us, the Son of God had to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. He was to bear our sin. He could take a short cut, worship Satan and not die on the cross, bear the sin of the world and still end up as the ruler of the world.
Jesus' answer? "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'"Matt 4:10 NLT In short, he told Satan to bug off, because Jesus would only go by the Word of God. Therein lies the key: The Word of God, the Truth is our defense!
So What's The Point?
The ultimate goal of the dragon was, of course, to draw people away from Christ and to himself. He wanted people's worship. Thus, the people who were astounded by the Beast followed him and even worshiped him (ultimately worshiping the dragon, Satan). Worshiping anything other than Christ is worshiping Satan. At this point, the Beast gained complete governmental and religious power. The question "Who is like the beast?" is a parody of God's Word, when God's people asked, "Who is like the Lord?" (see, for example, Exodus 15:11; Micah 7:18). Here, the peoples of the earth asked, "Who can fight against the beast?"--Life Application Bible Commentary – Revelation
The people of earth will be weary from the judgments from God that we have already discussed in Revelation. War, famine, death, earthquakes, and all the judgments from heaven against God hating mankind will bring mankind to a place where they will be hungering for a world leader. The fake resurrection of Antichrist will be the greatest public con job ever, and people will fall for the deception just like the scores of people that thought the Martians had come to Grovers Mill in 1938. Satan's goal of having mankind worship him will come to fruition, and the great deception will spread across the planet.
In contrast, Jesus was tired, hungry and worn from forty days of fasting and enduring the repeated testing of Satan. When tempted with the short term solution of resolving his ravenous hunger from forty days fast, the temptation of the demonstration and test of God by jumping off the temple, and the temptation of the bloodless, painless shortcut to the throne of the world were all stopped with three simple words that Jesus stood upon: "IT..IS..WRITTEN!" Jesus succeeded by not wavering in His resolve because He stood upon the Word of God.
There have been millions that have endured trial, travail, starvation, torture and death since the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the start of the church. They stood upon the Rock--Jesus Christ--and upon His Word that rings as true today as it did when Jesus spoke those words recorded in red in the Bible.
The words of the masses--those that wanted the mountains to fall on them rather than meet Jesus--in that awful day in the future "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?", will be a challenge to those left behind that will come to Christ in faith and the others that will resist Antichrist. The will rally behind Antichrist as they will believe that he is God, and--perhaps unknowingly--will give Satan what he has always craved: worship. Thankfully, it will be short lived--3 ½ years but for those that stand for Christ it will be the most horrific persecution Christians will have ever seen.
