The Lamb-Like Beast

Revelation 13:11-18 11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

In case you haven’t noticed, you and I are living in an extraordinary time in earth’s history. It is also a very pivotal time in our nation’s history. And lastly, but even more importantly, we are living in an incredibly climactic time in prophetic history. And we, as the remnant church of these last days are called to navigate these prophetic and perilous times guided and empowered by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. But while we’re doing that, we are also called to warn the world of what we know is soon to come, and lead them to Jesus Christ.

What I'm about to say is unpleasant but necessary. You see, I love this country; I’m proud to be an American citizen—I consider it a blessing to have been born and raised in this great nation. That said, when I look at this passage we just read in the light of other prophecies in Scripture, the Bible is clear that the government of this country that I love will ultimately play a key role in deceiving a vast majority of people on earth. It will attempt, and succeed at causing most people to worship something other than the true God of heaven. And their decision to do so, whether made freely or under strong compulsion, will be to them that symbolic mark of the beast that will signal their utter and complete destruction.

Now I know most people would like to think this is something that will happen far in the distant future, but as I carefully consider what I read in Scripture, and compare it to what I’m seeing unfolding right now in the religious, social and political arenas, it is quite evident to me that we are living on the very cusp of the fulfillment of these events described here in Revelation 13.

And right here, in the middle of Revelation 14 John talks about three angels that God showed him in prophetic vision. These three angels represent God’s last-day world church, which I believe you and I are a part of. And by the way, that word, “angel” here in Revelation 14:6 is from the Greek word “angelos” which can simply mean “messenger.” So we, as God’s church in these last days, are primarily messengers sent by God to a lost and dying world. And today more than ever before, we need to faithfully and unrelentlessly deliver the urgent messages of these three angels! Including the Third Angel’s message. Listen to what this angel says in Revelation 14:9-12

Revelation 14:9-12 “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice:

“If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”

Notice in verse 9 that this message is to be proclaimed with a LOUD voice. That Greek word there is “megas” from which we get “megaphone.” And here, it implies not only a “loud” message, but also an unmistakably clear message. And that’s important...