Revelation, Part 23 Series

Revelation Part 22

Revelation 13:9-12

Introduction

Last time we concluded with the beginning understanding of the religion of the beast, and how it will affect all nations to the very end of time. It is critical that we understand how easy it will be for Satan to control those of this world who are not following God. These will be looking for the same thing as us ¡V someone to listen, guide, and love us.

Let¡¦s look today, at how this world dominator will control his subjects, and prayerfully we will gain insight as to what the role of the church is TODAY.

Pray

Point 1 ¡V The Persecution Continues (v9-10)

John is writing here and addressing us specifically! He is saying that any who has an ear, pay attention. This ¡§ear¡¨ that he refers to is not only the physical ear on your head, but that you should have an ear for the Spirit! Remember that God¡¦s Word is constantly speaking to us, and we should be at a point of listening and paying attention to the Word.

John is also describing the patience of those who believe at this time. Remember that the church is no more, it has been raptured since it is no longer mentioned ¡V but that there should be understanding that there will be those who are saved during this time, and their patience is extremely important to this time in history. They are being hunted down and killed, and they must remain patient for the Lord¡¦s final return.

God is allowing this persecution, because it¡¦s only temporary and exposes those who dwell on the earth for who they truly are ¡V in this time, you will not be able to hide!

Point 2 ¡V The False Prophet (11-12)

This ¡§other¡¨ beast is the third member of this unholy trinity -- Satan¡¦s counterfeit of the trinity.

This beast is a man called the ¡§False prophet¡¨ (Rev 19:20). He is a religious leader who counterfeits the Holy Spirit, by pointing to the Beast (First Beast) as the object of truth and worship. The false-prophet and the Antichrist work together from the start.

This new world religion will operate under the false ideal of ¡§Relative truth¡¨, those who insist on Jesus being the focus of objective truth will be killed during the first half of the tribulation. Jesus spoke about this individual and the antichrist in Matthew 24:24 ¡§For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.¡¨

How do we get leaders in this nation? They are elected ¡K thus, the ¡§elect¡¨ reference,

He had two horns like a lamb; remember that lambs are used mainly in the scriptures as a picture of sacrifice; Jesus is called the ¡§Lamb of God¡¨, God¡¦s Passover lamb. The lamblike nature of this beast demonstrates his religious aspect. The two horns have significant meaning and can be interpreted in several ways.

The two horns on this lamb can represent two distinct religious systems unified by the false prophet. There is strong evidence to suggest, this united religious system will be the adulterous church pictured in three of the seven churches (Laodicea, Sardis, Thyatira) unified with the remnants of Islam by the False Prophet.

Four points regarding this position: *

1. Catholicism already accepts Muslims and Jews as having salvation, without having to believe Jesus died on the Cross, or that he is the Son of God. (Taken directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day."

839 The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, "the first to hear the Word of God." The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ", "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."

2. Islam is a major force on the scene must be reduced for the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt at start of the 7-year tribulation period. The ¡§Dome of the Rock¡¨ must be destroyed which is either the cause or the conclusion of a war between Islam and Israel. A defeated Islam will be ripe for a new religious system.