the_beast_2 イエス・キリ&# The_Beast The Deception of the Beasts Two Kinds of Beasts The beasts of Revelation 13 are of two kinds. The first beast is a world government superpower, a dictator beast over a world empire. Spiritually, it's a system controlled by Satan that rules the world. The second beast is the false prophet beast over false religion. The false prophet beast does everything the first beast does and through deception causes people to worship the evil system of the world. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" (Revelation 13: 11-12). This beast has two horns. Horns are symbolic of power, dominion and authority. Two is the number of witness so this beast has power to witness. Also, he looks like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon. Jesus warned us of such false prophets in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." This beast is representative of all false religions. He has false anointing (spiritual fire) and causes people to worship the beastly system. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24: 3-5 that deception would be a major influence right before His second coming. "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." He said there even would be many coming in His name saying "I am Christ." There are those insane enough to make that claim today; however, I believe this has another meaning as well. Christ in the Greek means "the anointed one." I believe this means many shall be claiming they are anointed of Christ and shall deceive many. In this chapter, I want to look again at Revelation 13 at the description of the "dictator" beast and the "prophet" beast. Verse by verse we'll see how the world and many in the church are being deceived and marked spiritually by the beast. Although I've covered some of this in the first chapter, I want to expand on these verses so we can get a clearer picture of the beast system. The book of Revelation is written in this same manner in that we are given different views of the same happenings. We sometimes get a view of what's going on in heaven, then the scene shifts and we see what's going on in the earth. Sometimes we're given an overview of a happening, then another chapter gives us a close-up of that same event. Remember John saw these events similar to a movie. He viewed a scene, then the scene changed. At times he saw a close-up or another view of the same thing. Lying Wonders of Satan "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live" (Revelation 13: 14). An image is a mirror of a reality. It reflects or looks like something else. Making an image to the beast is talking about, I believe, people who have so taken on the beastly system that they end up looking like Satan. They'll look like him because they do the things he does. They'll be like him. In contrast, we're to be like Jesus, following in His footsteps, acting like and reflecting Him. Satan will even perform lying wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2: 9 says, "Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." Not all healing and miracles done in the name of Jesus are from God. In parts of the world there are healers who espouse the Bible, yet their work is done by satanic power. They supposedly perform surgery with their bare hands as they pull out bloody growths without making any incision. There are also other witchcraft activities that use the Bible. Many signs and wonders are occurring out there, but every miracle doesn't come from God. If it doesn't glorify Jesus, it isn't coming from Him. Also, there are supposed occurrences of religious paintings or statues weeping, so people start worshipping such objects. Such activities certainly are not of God; in fact we are forbidden to worship any images. (Exodus 20:3-5). We are to worship God in spirit and in truth. John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." "So that he (Satan) maketh fire come down from heaven" (Revelation 13: 13b). That could be literal fire from heaven caused by Satan or a flashy display of Satan's power. God caused fire to fall from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. The fire of the Holy Spirit fell on the 120 on Pentecost. Fire displays power. Satan loves to counterfeit the things of God. So false fire from heaven indicates displays of power coming from Satan's camp, from the Beast system. A Literal Mark of the Beast? "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:15-16). The government could cause this literal mark; however, Satan is already spiritually marking many people with his thoughts and causing them to do his works with their hands. Many are already spiritually marked and they do not even realize it. If there is going to be a literal mark, the government could cause that through computer technology. But long before people receive a literal mark in their right hand or forehead they are going to be spiritually marked with the beastly system. One of the deceptions the devil is using, is that of convincing Christians they can resist and not take a physical mark when it comes, when all the while, many are being marked with Satan's beastly thinking in their minds. They're being marked every day as they absorb ungodly television programming and other worldly influences. They are reading ungodly literature that is marking their minds. Ask anyone addicted to pornography if they do not feel their minds are marked with an evil that they are unable to shake. The only hope for millions of porn users is to be freed by the saving grace of Christ and have their minds cleansed by His power. People that are indulging in worldly things to the neglect of reading the Bible and their service to God in prayer will find their minds marked by the ways of Satan and the world. So many people are being marked daily without even realizing it. "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast..." (Revelation 13:15a). Satan will give power to his followers to do certain things. They will speak and cause "...as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed" (Revelation 13:15b). Jesus said there would be those who would even try to kill Christians. They would even think they were doing God a service (John 16:2). There are those who try to make life difficult for us, when they find out we are Christians. The persecution of Christians will only get worse as we approach the coming of the Lord. In this last hour, some will hate godly people so much that they'll try to kill us (Luke 21:6-19). They will say, "Don't have anything to do with those Christian people. Don't sell to them, don't do anything for them." They're so wicked themselves that the holiness of God's people will convict them. They won't be able to stand the presence of anyone walking in holiness and purity since they will not want to line up with God's Word themselves. "He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16). Notice the preposition, "in," not "on" -- in their mind, in their hand. "He causeth all" -- who is the "all"? It is all who are not Christians. True Christians will not receive the mark because they have the power of Christ protecting them. They are in God. But the devil will cause everyone else that is not in God, to be marked by him. They will become like Satan; they will become his children. The right hand is symbolic of authority and power. Ephesians 1:20 says Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. This is a position of authority and power, so taking the mark in the right hand is also symbolic of using Satan's power, authority and influence for evil and selfish works. We must read the Word of God and put His word in our minds so that we mark our minds with the mark of God. We must then do the works of God in His power and authority which will mark our hands as instruments of God. Using His authority and power that He has invested in us, we will be able to change the world for good. Will you be marked with the "mark of the beast or the "mark of God?" The choice is yours. Parable of the Tares and Wheat Matthew 13:24b-30, 37b-38 "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn...He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." We see from this parable that the devil has children, the tares, and they're marked for destruction. Symbolically Satan's children are marked with the number six, six, six, which represents men (mankind) in the world system under the devil's control. 666 is the number of mankind under the devil's influence. Revelation 13:18: "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." God, too, has children marked. Spiritually if God's children would have a number or mark from God it could be 777, which represents perfection. Although the Bible does not speak of this, using symbolism, God's children could be said to be marked with His mark of seven, seven, seven, which stands for perfection in God. In other words, we're His children. Since God is perfect and the symbolic number for perfection and completion is the number seven, we can be numbered with His perfection and completion because we are perfect and complete in Jesus. We operate under God's heavenly system, the kingdom of God. So a number description of God's mark could be 777, if He had a number. "The enemy that sowed them (the tares) is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels" (Matthew 13:39). "The end of the world" is better translated "the end of the age." We're approaching the end of the age. Before Jesus returns the tares are gathered and burned in the fire. Who is dealt with first? The tares. God destroys the wicked. The wicked are destroyed while those with the mark of God are kept safe. They're not touched because they're marked with God. They have God, they have purity, they have victory; so they're not touched. But the destruction through wars, famines, and pestilence will destroy the tares. "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" (Matthew 13:41). God's going to purge his own kingdom as He deals with everything that offends. Judgment begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17-18: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"). There are people within the body of Christ who are tares. As the pressure mounts we're going to find out who is truly with us. Those born of God will continue on; those who fall away were never truly of us, or were of us, but will deny the faith. There are distinctly two classes: some who will deny the faith and some who were never with us. I John 2:18-19 says, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." As the church matures, the tribulation and pressure that is coming will reveal who is really a Christian and who is not. Those in the kingdom who offend God shall not only be exposed but shall suffer in anguish. "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:41-42). This represents the purging of the church. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43a). After the purging, we're going to see the church come forth in her glory. She's going to shine forth as the sun. How beautiful this will be and how God's heart will rejoice when He sees His bride in her white garments. Revelation 21:2-3: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." The Mark of the Beast and Finances Looking at Chapter 13 of Revelation, the mark in the right hand and the forehead could be literal as well as spiritual. Modern technology is set up to do that with the new laser tattoo. However, true believers are going to be marked by God long before there will be any marking system. But if we are compromising and denying God now, later we will not have the faith to resist the mark of the beast. We have to get our faith strong now, so we can resist the devil should a literal mark come. "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17). That could refer to a computerized system, but let us look at it in a spiritual vein. The buying and selling system is becoming more and more wicked. As Christians, we cannot partake of the spirit of mammon and the ways of the world. Incidentally, if the marking system becomes manifest in the natural realm, logically a card system would not be used. A card showing our entire financial worth would be a powerful instrument that could too easily be stolen. If we do go to a marking system, it will have to be through implantation in the human body as that cannot be stolen. "No man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast" (Revelation 13:17). Note that his mark, or his name, or the number of his name is required. That is why I do not feel this is a literal mark, but rather is a spiritual picture. What is the name of the beast? Satan, of course, for he is behind it all. Well, the world is not going to run around with "S-A-T-A-N" printed on their bodies. I doubt that people would be that foolish. Instead, Satan has to deceive the world into hell. People are going to hell because they are deceived into it. They do not realize that is where they are heading. They think somehow they are going to escape that. They do not really believe a literal hell exists. If people could see the reality of Satan and hell, they would not follow the devil. They're following him because they are blinded. When they follow him long enough, they become like him. They become marked with "six, six, six." The Corporate Body of Satan (The Meaning of the Number 666) "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: For it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six" (Revelation 13:18). Remember, "six" is man's number. Men have always looked for that "man" (the Antichrist) throughout history. Some have thought this man was a religious leader or a political figure such as Nero, Hitler or Mussolini. While some named other world figures such as Mikhail Gorbachov, a former Russian president because of the birth mark on his head. Yes, all ungodly world leaders are part of the system, but they are not "the man." Rather, it is a corporate structure with Satan using many avenues. That word "man" in Greek is "anthropos," which can mean "mankind," a corporate body of men. It's not talking about a particular individual. "Anthropos" is the word used in 2 Timothy 3:17: "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." "Man of God" is not referring to a man or one man, but rather to every man of God. Likewise, the number of the beast is not referring to one man; rather it is referring to every man under the devil's influence and part of the beast's system. The beast is not just one man, it is the corporate body of Satan, a corporate "man." We find the "beast system" is in our medicine, our politics, our schools, our music -- the beast system is everywhere. Satan is using many avenues to put his mark on people. Whether he can get them through music or entertainment or politics or money, it does not matter. He will mark them anyway he can. It is a spiritual mark. The number 666 is that of man. This man is every man in the satanic world system. The man who has deceived these men is Satan, the son of perdition. He is represented by the number 666 and all who follow him get his number. So I do not believe we are going to see a world leader running around with three sixes on his head. I do believe, though, that Satan will use a very wicked leader in the last days. Satan has to enter into some human body to do his work. So he will use one extremely evil man. The devil has entered into men throughout history to do his dirty work, such as Judas Iscariot. It would not surprise me if he had entered into Hitler and some other wicked rulers in times past. As an invisible spirit he does not have to stay in one man's body. He will pick out the person he can get the most benefit from at a particular time. He can enter into a religious leader, or he can enter into a political leader. Satan can not accomplish all of his evil by himself. He has leagues of demonic powers in all areas already doing his work. So while people are waiting for one man to rise on the scene, Satan is already busy trapping unaware men on a daily basis. They do not realize they are being marked. Satan, the Ultimate Beast All in all, Satan is the one behind the beast system. The name of the beast is Satan. He is the true or ultimate beast. What happens to those who take his mark? Revelation 14: 9-11 answers that: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." 041117 ... grendel Turn off the Jck Van Impe already, damn 041118 what's it to you? who go blather from