The Why and the What “The False Prophet” Revelation 13:11-18 FBC Canton, Sunday AM, April 25, 2021 – Bro. Mike Roberson

Introduction: Increasing deception increases as we head towards the Rapture. II Thessalonians 2:5-12 But, by the time of the second half of the 7 year, the deception will be final.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

v. 11 This second beast is out of the earth. He will most likely be a Jew and a Gentile. That is what I think his two horns are. That is so he will have acceptance to remaining earth dwellers. The appearance of his two horns suggest he will appear more lamb-like, more meek. But he will speak with the untamable blasphemous tongue of the first beast, thus they are tied together. Many commentators believe that the dragon, the beast of the sea, and the beast out of the earth make up the unholy trinity of Satan. They want what God has…your worship. Our God and Father seeks worship. The Son of God glorifies the Father. The Holy Spirit of God glorifies the Son through worship. In the unholy trinity;

Satan desires worship, the antichrist magnifies Satan and the false prophet, the false prophet makes earth dwellers worship the antichrist.

That is the function of this beast; to get you to bow down to the antichrist and the dragon.

He will force the world to take a mark of similar identity to the beast before they can buy or sell anything. Let’s stand and read and pray for the Lord to protect us from deception as we live our lives by faith.

I. Six-Fold Job Description of all False prophets. v. 12-18 a. False Authority: Focus on self instead of the Savior. v. 12, II Timothy 3

i. Exercises authority of the antichrist. In the presence of the antichrist. 1. True authority derives from the true word of God.

a. Internally consistent. b. Historically accurate. c. Framework for understanding creation. d. Prophetically perfect.

i. All points us to the designer: Jesus! ii. 2 Timothy 3 But know this, that in the last days

perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

b. False Worship: Acts of devotion belong only to God. v. 12, Matthew 4:8

i. Causes Earth-Dwellers to worship the Antichrist. 1. The supposed deadly wound that was healed causes worship.

ii. We are followers of the one who died and came to life. 1. Matt 4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high

mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him,

"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Three Identifiers of Apostates Ungodly, perverts of grace, denying our Lord and Master. • Cain, ungodliness; • Balaam, perversion of grace; • Korah, denial of God’s appointed leader. “Ungodly” = destitute of reverential awe toward God. • Form, but denies the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5); • Denies the Gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16); • Denies the transforming power, new life (Phil 3:10); • Heart vs. outward appearances is key (1 Sam 16:7; Isa 66:2); • Denies wrath against sin; God’s holiness and God’s acceptance of the finished work of Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners; • Universal Brotherhood of Man vs. Jn 8:44; Jn 1:12; Gal 3:26. “Perverts the grace of God into lasciviousness”: Perversion of Eph 2:8,9 vs. Titus 2:11-13; rejection of the Word of God occurs whenever it is displaced by tradition, custom, creed, loyalty to an organization, etc. “Denies our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 2:1,2): Sovereignty: preexistent Creator of all things. “Lord”: of all true believers (Acts 10:36; Rom 14:9). “Jesus”: Jehovah the Saviour, our martyr-substitute. “Christ”: Messiah, the Anointed One of OT Prophecy. If we deny Him, He will deny us (Mt 10:3; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Jn 2:22,23). Homework: Num 14 (answered prayer); 1 Cor 10, Heb 3,4.

c. False Miracles: We do not focus on miracles, we focus on fulfilled prophecy. v. 13, Luke 8:54-56 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

i. This is why Jesus commanded people to be silent about His miracles. ii. Performs great signs for the antichrist. iii. The signs are false, even calling down fire, if it points to anyone or

anything besides Jesus! The distinction between false and true miracles is who it glorifies!

i. Even Satan has power to do mighty signs. d. False Teaching: We do not worship images, we worship in spirit and

in truth. v. 14 i. Deceives Earth-Dwellers into making an image of the Antichrist.

1. Image making is forbidden in Exodus 20. That passage was written before this one to prevent us from worshipping any image.

2. Never worship the creation, only worship the creator. Goliath: 6 cubits; 6 shekel spear; 6 pieces of armor; etc. Nebuchadnezzar’s image: 60 cubits high, 6 cubits wide; 6 instruments of music.

e. False Living: Never seek life and victory from that which is dead and defeated. v. 15

i. Gives breath to the image of the Antichrist. 1. Will this be a hologram? Will it be transhumanism? Will it be a

real life given? a. No one knows for sure.

f. False Allegiance: This mark on you prevents a mark for you. v. 17-18 i. Causes all to receive the mark of the antichrist. ii. You will not be able to buy or sell anything without the mark.

1. “mark”: ca,ragma charagma: brand, seal. A mark is prohibited: Lev 19: 28; 21:5; Deut 14:1; Isa 49:16; Ezek 9:4; Ex 13:9, 16. 6 = number of man: Sabbath for man, (6 days +1); Solomon as a Type? 666: 1 Kgs 10:14; 2 Chr 9:13; [Ezra 2:13 vs. Neh 7:18]; Queen of Sheba? Goddess of Fortresses? Six steps to throne; founded Commerce, banking, trading in horses (vs. Deut 17:16); “Magen David”= occultic “Seal of Solomon.” 666 Letters in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin have numerical equivalents. Roman numerals add up to 666; Arabic numbers from 1 to 62 (36) add up to 666 (some MSS read 616); It is the number of man, not God! Whose Number? • Insertable chips, RFID, bar codes, etc. for implementation? • Remember: it is His number and name that are the critical identity issues.

Conclusion: Defeating false prophets begins with knowing the true Savior. Then you continue with the Savior’s words.

50 Reasons Why We Are Living in the End Times!

BY DAVID REAGAN/LAMB-LION MINISTRIES APRIL 19, 2021

The Bible says we cannot know the time of the Lord's return (Matthew 25:13). But the Scriptures make it equally clear that we can know the season of the Lord's return (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6):

"You yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night... But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."

This passage asserts that Jesus is coming like "a thief in the night." But then it proceeds to make it clear that this will be true only for the pagan world and not for believers. His return should be no surprise to those who know Him and His Word, for they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to give them understanding of the nature of the times.

Furthermore, the Scriptures give us signs to watch for — signs that will signal that Jesus is ready to return. The writer of the Hebrew letter referred to these signs when he proclaimed that believers should encourage one another when they see the day of judgment drawing near (Hebrews 10:25-27). Jesus also referred to the end time signs in His Olivet Discourse, given during the last week of His life (Matthew 24 and Luke 21). Speaking of a whole series of signs which He had given to His disciples, He said, "When you see all these things, recognize that He [the Son of Man — that is, Jesus] is near, right at the door" (Matthew 24:33). Since the time of the Balfour Declaration, we have witnessed sign after sign pointing to the Lord's soon return. There are so many of these signs today, in fact, that one would have to be either biblically illiterate or spiritually blind not to realize that we are living on borrowed time. I have personally been searching the Bible for years in an effort to identify all the signs, and it has not been an easy task to get a hold on them. That's because there are so many of them, both in the Old and New Testaments.

I have found that the best way to deal with them is to put them in categories, and in doing that, I have come up with six categories of end time signs: the Signs of Nature, the Signs of Society, the Spiritual Signs, the Signs of World Politics, the Signs of Technology, and the Signs of Israel. Each category contains many prophecies concerning the end times, all of which are being fulfilled before our very eyes. Here specifically are listed 50 of those prophecies: Increasing instability of nature. (Matthew 24:7 & Luke 21:11) Increasing lawlessness and violence. (Matthew 24:12) Increasing immorality. (Matthew 24:37) Increasing materialism. (2 Timothy 3:2) Increasing Hedonism. (2 Timothy 3:4) Increasing influence of Humanism. (2 Timothy 3:2) Depraved entertainment. (2 Timothy 3:4) Calling evil good and good evil. (2 Timothy 3:3 & Isaiah 5:20) Increasing use of drugs. (2 Timothy 3:3) Increasing blasphemy. (2 Timothy 3:2) Increasing paganism. (2 Timothy 3:1-4) Increasing despair. (2 Timothy 3:1) Signs in the heavens. (Luke 21:11,25) Increasing knowledge. (Daniel 12:4) Increasing travel. (Daniel 12:4) The explosion of cults. (Matthew 24:11) The proliferation of false christs. (Matthew 24:5) Increasing apostasy in the Church. (2 Timothy 4:3-5) Increasing attacks on Jesus. (Romans 1:18-19) Increasing attacks on the Bible. (Romans 1:18-19) Increasing persecution of Christians. (Matthew 24:9) Increasing occultism. (1 Timothy 4:1) Wars and rumors of wars. (Matthew 24:6) Weapons of mass destruction. (Luke 21:26) Increasing famine. (Luke 21:11) Increasing pestilence. (Luke 21:11) Computer technology. (Revelation 13:7) Impact of Television. (Revelation 11:8-9) Satellite technology. (Revelation 11:8-9) Virtual reality. (Revelation 13:14-15) Unification of Europe. (Daniel 2 & 7) Far Eastern military powers. (Revelation 9:16 & 16:12) Movement toward world government. (Daniel 7:23-26) Regathering of the Jews. (Isaiah 11:10-12) Re-establishment of Israel. (Isaiah 66:7-8) Reclamation of the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 36:34-35) Revival of Biblical Hebrew. (Zephaniah 3:9; Jeremiah 31:23) Re-occupation of Jerusalem. (Luke 21:24)

Resurgence of the Israeli military. (Zechariah 12:6) Re-focusing of world politics on Israel. (Zechariah 12:3) Russian threat to Israel. (Ezekiel 38 and 39) Arab threat to Israel. (Ezekiel 35 and 36) Denial of the Second Coming. (2 Peter 3:3-4) Denial of creation by God. (Romans 1:18-22) Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29) Translation of the Bible into many languages. (Matthew 24:14) Preaching of the Gospel worldwide. (Matthew 24:14) The revival of Messianic Judaism. (Romans 9:27) The revival of Davidic praise worship. (Amos 9:11) The understanding of Bible prophecy. (Daniel 12:8-9) This list could be greatly expanded, but the 50 examples above should be sufficient to show that we are living in the season of the Lord's return. The Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). That's why He has provided so many signs to alert us to the fact that we are living on the threshold of the Tribulation. The Message The bottom line message of the signs is that we are living on borrowed time. And the crucial question for every human being is "Are you ready?" Are you ready for the return of Jesus? While most people no longer believe that Jesus is coming back, researchers in the Middle East have discovered new evidence that proves the prophesied Rapture is not only real, but why it must soon come to pass. Learn more with the powerful docudrama "Before The Wrath" - available from Prophecy News Watch here. Originally published at Lamb & Lion Ministries - reposted with permission.

2 Peter 2 2:1 Destructive Doctrines But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 Doom of False Teachers For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) — 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12 Depravity of False Teachers But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 Deceptions of False Teachers For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the

true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." Chuck Missler: I Timothy 1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; The apostasy of the church had already begun at this time. “Seducing”: wandering, roving, vagabond; pla,noj planos, same word from which we get our word for planets. Satan is an imitator; he has his own ministers and doctrines (2 Cor 11:13-15). This is the only place that “demons” are mentioned in the Pastoral Epistles. Paul warned that these false teachers would arise from within the church (Acts 20:30). The seriousness of idolatry and false worship (Deut 13:12- 18; Cf. Jude and 2 Peter). His visit to Delphi (1 Cor 10:20; Lev 17:7; Deut 32:17; Ps 106:36-37). 2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; “Hypocrisy of liars” (literal translation) seared: “cauterized.” An apostate is not just wrong doctrinally; he is wrong morally. His personal life became wrong before his doctrines were changed. Believing and behaving always go together. 3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Both are contrary to Scripture. Beware of any religious teaching that tampers with God’s institution of marriage. Marriage is the means by which God reveals His most intimate truths. [Adam and Eve; Ruth and Boaz; Christ and His Bride (Eph 5:22ff); et al.] 4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. All foods are clean, says Jesus (Mk 7:14-23), Peter (Acts 10:9-15), and Paul (1 Cor 10:23-33; Rom 14:1-12; Col 2:16-17). Chuck Missler: Jude: 4] For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4: The Threat (contrast with 2 Peter). Why did Jude write this letter? Why must we contend for the faith? • There are Tares among the Wheat (Mt 1:24-30); • False brethren have stolen into the Church (Gal 2:4-5); • Saints are in peril (2 Cor 11:26); • Latter times: doctrines of demons (1 Tim 4:1,6);

• Pre-written warnings: Enoch vv. 14,15 What Is an Apostate? Parable of the sower, the seed, the soils: • Rocky ground: in time of temptation (verb form Apostosia ) “receive”: dekomi (Lk 8:13) vs. • Good ground: “receive”: Paradekomai (Mk 4:20); “welcomed” it into their life. Apostates do not understand the Word; they do not bring forth fruit (Mt 13:23). “Without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by roots” (v.12). They received light, but not life; written Word, but not Living Word. Deliberate rejection is involved—not indifference, error, or involvement in heresy alone: Judas, Cain, Balaam, Korah (v. 11). What manner of men are these? “Crept in privily” = “have settled down alongside.” These are false teachers, privily shall bring in damnable heresies (2 Pet 2:1). Three Identifiers of Apostates Ungodly, perverts of grace, denying our Lord and Master. • Cain, ungodliness; • Balaam, perversion of grace; • Korah, denial of God’s appointed leader. “Ungodly” = destitute of reverential awe toward God. • Form, but denies the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5); • Denies the Gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16); • Denies the transforming power, new life (Phil 3:10); • Heart vs. outward appearances is key (1 Sam 16:7; Isa 66:2); • Denies wrath against sin; God’s holiness and God’s acceptance of the finished work of Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners; • Universal Brotherhood of Man vs. Jn 8:44; Jn 1:12; Gal 3:26. “Perverts the grace of God into lasciviousness”: Perversion of Eph 2:8,9 vs. Titus 2:11-13; rejection of the Word of God occurs whenever it is displaced by tradition, custom, creed, loyalty to an organization, etc. “Denies our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 2:1,2): Sovereignty: preexistent Creator of all things. “Lord”: of all true believers (Acts 10:36; Rom 14:9). “Jesus”: Jehovah the Saviour, our martyr-substitute. “Christ”: Messiah, the Anointed One of OT Prophecy. If we deny Him, He will deny us (Mt 10:3; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Jn 2:22,23). Homework: Num 14 (answered prayer); 1 Cor 10, Heb 3,4. Chuck Missler The Beast out of the Earth 11] 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. The second beast (v.11) is from the earth: eretz (Israel?) Jn 5:43; 3X:

“false prophet.” “Horns” = authority, dominion. “Spake”: Gen 3:1; 49:17; 2 Cor 11:3. This leader may be a Jew: Ezek 21:25-27; Ezek 28:2-10 (of the circumcision); Dan 11:36, 37; John 5:43 (allos, not heteros). He is received by Israel (Ps 55). 12] 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. Spirit possessed: Acts 16:16-18; 19:15, 16. Satan + the 1st and 2nd beasts = Satanic trinity? 13] And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14] 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. Signs, miracles, see Jannes & Jambres: Ex 7:11; 2 Tim 3:8; 2 Thess 2:9- 11 (cf. 2 witnesses). [Note the head wound as his identifier, again.] Prophecy, not “signs and wonders” is Jesus’ primary evidence: Mt 11:1-6. “Image”: 7 passages—13:15; 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4; cf. Dan 2, 3; Ps 73:20 15] 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. 16] 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: 17] 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. “mark”: ca,ragma charagma: brand, seal. A mark is prohibited: Lev 19:28;21:5; Deut 14:1; Isa 49:16; Ezek 9:4; Ex 13:9, 16. 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. 6 = number of man: Sabbath for man, (6 days +1); Goliath: 6 cubits; 6 sheckel spear; 6 pieces of armor; etc. Nebuchadnezzar’s image: 60 cubits high, 6 cubits wide; 6 instruments of music. Solomon as a Type? 666: 1 Kgs 10:14; 2 Chr 9:13; [Ezra 2:13 vs. Neh 7:18]; Queen of Sheba? Goddess of Fortresses? Six steps to throne; founded commerce, banking, trading in horses (vs. Deut 17:16); “Magen David” = occultic “Seal of Solomon.” 666 Letters in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin have numerical equivalents. Roman numerals add up to 666; Arabic numbers from 1 to 62 (36) add up

to 666 (some MSS read 616); It is the number of man, not God! See chart.

B. The beast rising from the land.

1. (Rev 13:11) John’s initial description of this second beast.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

a. Then I saw another beast: This creature represents someone like the beast rising from the sea, because the same word beast is used to describe them both. At the same time, this beast is different.

i. They are different in origin, because one comes out of the sea, the other out of the earth.

ii. They are different in rank, because the second is subordinate to the first (causes the earth... to worship the first beast, Revelation 13:12).

iii. They are different in appearance, because the second has a mild, “lamb-like” appearance.

b. And he had two horns like a lamb: The two horns may express the fact that this beast has authority in two realms, such as religious and political authority. Or, he may have two horns simply because that’s how many horns lambs have (two horns like a lamb).

c. Spoke like a dragon: Despite his lamb-like appearance, the message of the second beast is the same as the message of the first beast.

i. This second beast is called the false prophet (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10), as someone distinct from the first beast (the Antichrist) and the dragon (Satan).

ii. With the dragon, the beast rising from the sea, and the beast rising from the land we have an unholy trinity. The dragon is the anti-Father, the beast rising from the sea is the anti-Christ, and the beast rising from the land is the anti-Holy Spirit.

2. (Rev 13:12-15) The second beast’s “job description.”

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to

do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

a. He exercises all the authority of the first beast: The beast rising from the earth is essentially a Satanic prophet, who leads the world to worship the beast and the dragon.

i. It may seem fantastic to some that the world will be led into worship of a man and of the devil. But by nature, men have an undeniable religious impulse, and they also have an undeniable rebellion against God. What men want most is not the elimination of religion, but their own religion. They say they want the kingdom, but they don’t want God in it.

b. He performs great signs: The beast rising from the sea has the “signs and wonders” to back up his false teaching. A specific miracle of the false prophet is described: he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. It is important that John highlights this miracle. In the eyes of the deceived world, it answers the miracle of the two witnesses, who minister during this period and are persecuted by the Antichrist and his false prophet (Revelation 11:5). To the deceived world, this also puts this false prophet in the class of Elijah (1 Kings 18). We can imagine the false prophet as saying, “Let the true God answer with fire” and then performing his deceptive wonder.

i. “There is a supernatural power which is against God and truth, as well as one for God and truth. A miracle, simply as a work of wonder, is not necessarily of God. There has always been a devilish supernaturalism in the world, running alongside of the supernaturalism of divine grace and salvation.” (Seiss)

ii. In the days of the Exodus, Aaron performed miracles, and up to a point was matched miracle-for-miracle by the magicians of Egypt (Exodus 7-9).

iii. In Deuteronomy 13:1-5, God assumes there will be supernatural works on behalf of false prophets and idols, and He warns His people to judge a worker of miracles by their message, not only by their works.

iv. Jesus said that some who worked miracles – even in His name – were false followers and would perish in hell (Matthew 7:22-23).

v. Jesus said that in the end times, false prophets would emerge and show great signs and wonders to deceive (Matthew 24:24).

vi. Paul said that the Antichrist will come with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

vii. Knowing all this, the emphasis on signs and wonders among some Christians is frightening. Some Christians say or think, “You can really know where God is and where His power is by signs and wonders.” Thinking this way is to leave yourself wide open to deception. Years ago there was a large, multi-denominational conference of people who thought this way, and their slogan – on a huge banner over the conference platform – read “Unity Under Signs and Wonders.” That’s a unity that Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet could all join in. Signs and wonders will be present among Christians, but the real marks of God’s work are love and truth.

c. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed: The beast rising from the earth will use a deceptive, animated image as the focus point of the worship of the beast.

i. It may seem strange to us to have the whole world give this kind of worship to the image of a man, but the personality cults of totalitarian governments in the twentieth century are a good example of this kind of worship. All we have to do is remember totalitarian states like the Soviet Union or Communist China, and their omnipresent pictures of Stalin or Mao and we see a pattern that will be ultimately fulfilled by the Antichrist.

ii. The image of the beast is animated in some way, in that it has breath and can speak. Whether the image is animated supernaturally or technologically, the result will be impressive. The Psalmist mocked idol worshippers because the idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not (Psalm 135:15-16). This image of the Antichrist will be a different kind of idol, because the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

iii. This idolatrous image is what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spoke of as the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). It is an idolatrous image set up in the holy place of a rebuilt temple; it is an abomination in the sense of being supreme idolatry, and it is desolation in the sense that it will bring the judgment described by the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

iv. This is the summation of the power of the Antichrist, whose authority ends after forty-two months (Revelation 13:5). This marks the halfway point of the final seven years of man’s rule of this planet. The Antichrist’s power ends as soon as it peaks.

v. This is not a recent understanding of this passage. The first commentary we have on the Book of Revelation, written by Victorinus in the early church, says of this Revelation 13:15: “He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the apostate angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles.”

3. (Rev 13:16-17) The economic strategy of the first beast and the second beast.

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

a. He causes all... to receive a mark: Under the government of the beast and his associate, all will be given a mark. Without the mark, one will not be able to participate in the economy (no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark of his name).

i. Since the ancient Greek word for mark (charagma) isn’t generally applied to people, some have taken this as a symbolic mark. But a literal mark needed to buy or sell is certainly conceivable and practical.

ii. The technology to give people a mark that enables them to buy and sell in the electronic economy is available. There are many different ways it could happen, and such programs are proposed and tested constantly.

b. A mark on their right hand or on their foreheads: Satan is not a creative being, all he can do is imitate God. We are not surprised to find that this too is a Satanic parody of something God will do; it imitates God’s mark upon his people (Revelation 7:3-4).

c. The number of his name: This was a common concept in the ancient world. In Greek (and Hebrew as well), letters were assigned a numerical value, such as “A” equaling 1, “B” equaling 2, and so forth. For example, graffiti in the ruins of Pompeii reads “I love her whose number is 545.”

4. (Rev 13:18) The number of the beast.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

a. His number is 666: Does this tell us who the beast is, by figuring out the numerical value of a name and seeing if it adds up to 666? Using this method, many candidates for Antichrist have been suggested, such as the Pope or the Papacy, John Knox, Martin Luther, Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini,

Stalin, and so forth. But the schemes for unlocking the number of the beast are as confusing as they are endless.

i. “That as 12, the square root of 144, is God’s number, so 25 is the square root of antichrist’s number 666; and by this enigmatical expression we are taught that antichrist should be a political body, that should as much affect the number 15, as God seemeth to have his church affected the number 12.” (Poole)

ii. “The year of Rome’s ruin is by some held to be 1666. It is plain, saith one, Satan shall be tied up 1000 years; 666 is the number of the beast; Antichrist shall so long reign; these two together make the just number.” (Trapp)

iii. “Here is the solution of this mystery: let him that hath a mind for investigations of this kind, find out a kingdom which contains precisely the number 666, for this must be infallibly the name of the beast. ‘H Latinh basileia, The Latin Kingdom, has exclusively this number.” (Clarke)

iv. Some commentators observe that there are six Roman numerals (I, V, X, L, C, and D). If you add them all up, you get 666. Some take this to say that the Antichrist will be a Roman. Or, they point out that all the numbers from 1 to 36 add up to 666. Beast in the evil sense appears 36 times in the Bible.

b. It is the number of a man: One persistent opinion, especially in the early church, was that this number identified the Antichrist with Caesar Nero. But to make the name “Caesar Nero” fit, one must take a variant spelling of the Greek form of a Latin name, transliterated into Hebrew characters.

c. It is the number of a man: The letters of “Jesus” in Greek add up to 888. 666 may be a Satanic counterpart to the name of Jesus, or 666 may be God’s evaluation of such a Satanic counterpart – it falls short.

i. As compared to the number 888, the number 666 may signify an unholy trinity. It may be a human and demonic imitation of God, inherently falling short of the perfect and true. Seven is the number of completion and totality, and 6 doesn’t quite make it.

d. His number is 666: Or, the number 666 may harken back to Solomon’s wages. 1 Kings 10:14 says that Solomon received yearly six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold. Perhaps this suggests that the Antichrist, like Solomon, is a good man who becomes corrupted.

i. Modern interpretations of the idea of the Antichrist are full of the idea of some demon-child, marked by obvious evil from his birth, such as in the Omen movies. But the Antichrist may be someone whose evil is only seen after his rise to power.

e. His number is 666: Christians need not fear the number 666 in a superstitious way; but it interesting to see the way the world has an attachment to this number – even with things like “666” brand cough syrup.

5. The two beasts are Satanic imitations. We are presented with a false “Christ” and a false “John the Baptist” who promote the false god. Satan can’t create, but he can effectively deceive with imitation.

a. “Imitations have ever formed the gravest perils in the history of the Church and the world, and the devil’s final attempt to gain the government of the race will thus be an appalling attempt to imitate.” (Morgan)

b. Imitations work precisely because they are similar; if they were so obviously different, it would be easy to tell the difference. We must beware and be familiar with the genuine.

c. Instead of obsessing with fear and interest about the imitation – the Antichrist – how much more appropriate is it for Christians to be interested in the genuine: Jesus Christ.

©2013 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission

Chuck Smith:

And I beheld another beast [the false prophet] coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb (Rev 13:11),

In other words, he looked like a lamb.

and he spoke as a dragon (Rev 13:11),

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who will come to you in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15). The one thing about false prophets is they never look like a false prophet. Satan never looks like the characters of Satan. He does not have horns, a forked tail and a pitchfork in his hand and he doesn't wear red leotards. He would like you to think that he did. He would like you to think that he is some grotesque-looking character that would scare the wits out of you, if you saw him. He would like you to think that, because that way he can go around cleverly disguised as an angel of light, beautiful, speaking such soothing words to the flesh. "Why don't you just go ahead and enjoy yourself. Drink of pleasure till it is full." And you would say, "Oh, that can't be Satan. That is so charming, and so enticing. Satan is ugly. I don't see any pitchfork." And that is why he's able to deceive.

So the false prophet has horns like a lamb, but listen to what he says.

And he exercises all the power of the first beast which were before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed (Rev 13:12).

So, several times there is the mention of this deadly wound being healed. And it is really sort of the rallying point by which the false prophet draws the people to worship the beast.

And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of man (Rev 13:13).

Now, you remember the two witnesses were doing this. They were bringing down fire from heaven. Now, he duplicates it.

You remember in the case of Moses going before the Pharaoh how that the magicians in Pharaoh's court were able to duplicate to a point the miraculous things that Moses was doing. Moses threw down his rod on the floor and it became a serpent. They threw down their rods and they became serpents too; that duplication of godly miracles.

Now Satan is able to counterfeit many of the things of God. He can't counterfeit all of them, but he can counterfeit many of the things of God, and does counterfeit many of the things of God. And here is a counterfeit, the two witnesses calling down fire from heaven. Now, this fellow comes along and he calls down fire from heaven in the sight of men.

And deceives 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 of them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live (Rev 13:14).

Now again in second Thessalonians you have parallel-type of passages in chapter two as the antichrist is described, he is called "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause"(2 Thessalonians 2:9). What cause? Because people didn't love the truth, the truth of God. Jesus said I am the truth and the life, but people don't love the truth. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they would believe a lie: that they might be damned to believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness"(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

So, God is going to give them a strong delusion that they might believe. In the Greek it is a definite article, "the lie", the big lie of Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet. So, he deceives them. You don't want to believe the truth. God gives them over to delusion. God allows them to be deceived.

You know I am amazed at the things that people believe who have rejected Jesus Christ. When you reject the knowledge of the truth in Christ, you are a prey to all kinds of stupidity. I am amazed at the foolish things that people do who reject the truth of Jesus Christ. They wear white robes standing on street corners, shaving their heads and working finger symbols, doing their little chantings, doing the mantras, and doing their "ums". Watching the people up in Oregon as they are worshipping their guru, seeing the outlandish things that he is leading them to do, as they have mass hysteria, heavy breathing calisthenics followed by uncontrolled screaming. What a prey man becomes when he rejects the truth. You don't want to be wise and receive the grace of God then be stupid. And people believe and do the most stupid things who have rejected the truth of God.

I am amazed at many of these college professors who pretend towards superior intelligence of some of the weird things that they do of supposedly intelligent men. But because they did not love the truth, God gives them over to a strong delusion. They soon believe a lie.

Several years ago I was invited to come to a meeting of the supposed Intelligencia of Orange County. There were a bunch of college professors and doctors who were supposed to be the cream of the Intelligencia. And I was brought as a specimen of ignorance so they could play games and be amused by the fact that I actually believed in a living God who created the heavens and the earth. So, I was brought in for their amusement that they could eat me up. And as I sat there during their preliminaries, and this one sort of leader of the group of superior intelligence sat on the floor in the lotus position and began to tell me of all of his accomplishments and all of his intelligence and everything else. I felt sorry. He was so wise, yet so deceived and so foolish.

Finally after a period of time, they said, "Well, what do you have to bring to us tonight?"

Because they told me how that they had had LSD sessions, these very intelligent people, they called themselves "seekers". They were seeking truth, and they had had LSD, they had Cocaine and everything. After all of your seekers, you can excuse anything that you want to do seeking truth. The one sitting in the lotus position declared that he was a Buddhist priest. He had studied Buddhism under him.

I said, "Well, you have obviously searched through everything, but the fact that you call yourselves 'seekers', you obviously are still searching." I said, "Maybe in all of your searching you have overlooked something that you have already searched through." I said, "Why don't we start with the basics. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." One of the men interrupted me immediately and said, "Now, when you say God, are you talking about an anthropomorphic concept of God?"

And then some other guy started challenging him and they got in this big rhubarb. And as they were in this big rhubarb, I bowed my head and I started praying. I said, "God if you get me out of this place I promise I will never come again. I have been neglecting my wife. I haven't spent enough evenings at home with her. Lord, forgive me. I am sorry. I should be home tonight with my wife and my family. My kids, they need me, Lord, and here I am in this mess. God, get me out of this mess, or do something." Because I knew that there was no way I was going to get anywhere and I didn't need the hassle.

So finally some lady there said, "Will you guys shut-up. We hear you all the time. Every week we hear you guys going through the same inane arguments. Now, we have invited this fellow to speak to us; the least we can do is listen." So they apologized and said, "Okay, you have the floor." And I looked at them and I said, "My soul and spirit are at complete rest. I am completely satisfied." Hey, they all sat up on the edge of their seats and they started listening extremely attentively, because that is something none of them could say. With all of their arguments, with all of their intelligence, with all of their background, none of them could say, "my soul and spirit are at rest. I am satisfied." And the Lord allowed me to share for about an hour the richness and the fullness that can be experienced in Jesus Christ. And then the Lord got me out of there.

But in the succeeding weeks I had several of them call and come in and receive Jesus Christ. Because there is only one way that a man can find rest and peace, that is in and through Jesus. And you may search the world over and you may have all kinds of bizarre experiences, but you will never have rest until you have Him. But those who refuse the truth are open for deception.

So, he comes with deceiving wonders and they make this image.

And then they have power to give life to the image of the beast (Rev 13:15),

Now, there is a lot of talk lately by some of the far-out physicists of creating a computer that can be biologically connected to certain types of organisms and will have life in itself. And this bio-kind of a computer has had several articles written on it. There is a research group in Canada that is working on such a thing. It is sort of a computer that will be able to think on its own kind of an idea; one that you can't turn off. And they say that this is the next step in the evolutionary process. It will be higher than man and will be able to rule man and give us the answers to life and its problems and so forth, because they can create it with so much more intelligence than man. That's the talk of the far-out physicists.

Interestingly enough, they are going to make an image of the antichrist and put it in the Holy of Holies of the rebuilt temple and then they are going to give life to it. Now, this is the ultimate blasphemy. This is the abomination, which will cause the desolation or the Great Tribulation. This is the final straw. At this point the wrath and the fury of God will be poured out upon the earth. And the earth will go

through a time of great tribulation such as it has never seen before or will ever see again. When the antichrist comes to the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and proclaims himself to be God and stands in the Holy of Holies, the Holy place, and announcing himself as God, that is the ultimate blasphemy. They set up this image in the temple and they give power to it.

that it should both speak and have life, and they caused that as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed (Rev 13:15).

You have sort of a historic kind of a picture when Nebuchadnezzar, you remember, made the golden image and set it in the plains of Dura and caused everyone to bow down and worship it, in order that if anyone should refuse to worship it that they should be cast alive into the burning fiery furnace. Now the image that he made was making a statement.

Nebuchadnezzar had had a troubling dream that Daniel had interpreted. It was a great image. It had a head of gold, chest of silver, stomach of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay with ten toes. This dream interpreted was the image where the nations that would rule the world headed by Babylon, the head of gold, which was to be replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire, the chest of silver, which would be replaced by the Grecian Empire, the stomach of brass, which would be destroyed by the Roman Empire, the legs of iron, and the final world governing empire a relationship to the Roman Empire, ten nations, the ten toes federated together. And during the time of the reign of these ten kings, the Lord of glory would come and establish His kingdom that would never end.

Now, Nebuchadnezzar was making a statement with this image. Why? Because he made it all of gold. "Though, O Nebuchadnezzar, are the head of gold, God has given you a kingdom to reign over the earth and all, but you are going to be replaced"(Daniel 2:38). He is saying I am not going to be replaced. Babylon will last forever. It was a statement. And people were ordered to pay obeisance to that statement, to acknowledge that Babylon would be eternal. It would not be destroyed. It would not be overthrown. It was a statement of contradiction to God's word that declared that Babylon would be overthrown. It was a statement of rebellion against God. And people were commanded to agree to that statement by bowing down and worshipping the image. And you have that same counterpart to this image being set up and everyone being ordered to worship this image and being put to death if they refused to worship the image.

You remember that shortly after that he went insane and spent seven seasons in insanity until what? Until he acknowledged that God did rule over the kingdoms of man and would set on the thrones those who He would. His little statement of blasphemy against God was finally changed.

And he caused everyone, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead (Rev 13:16):

Now, in France they have developed and have already trial-marketed a Smart card. A Smart card looks much like your Visa card or Mastercharge with the exception that the Smart card has implanted in it a little computer chip that keeps track of your account and if you try to use that card and you are above your limit it just won't work. Your card knows just what your limits are. It keeps a constant monitoring of your account and you can't go over your limits with this Smart card.

Now, the Bank of America and Citibank of New York are extremely interested in looking into this Smart card and they are thinking about this same thing for our use in Visa and Mastercard. In fact, there is an article in today's paper on that. It was in the Santa Ana Register on the Smart card. According to the article the banks are extremely interested and encouraging people away from writing checks. They are getting buried in paper and they want you to start using Smart cards.

Now, there is of course already talk about the implanting of computer chips under the skin on a person's hand for a positive identification. It is the same kind of a thing as the Smart card. It would be the same kind of computer chip implanted under the skin of your hand, and it would do the same thing. It would keep track of your account so you could never overdraw. It could replace money completely. The computers could keep the whole accounting. The chip would establish your limits and you would do all your buying and selling with the mark that is in your right hand.

He causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. This technology exists today. These Smart cards are in use and they are going to test market them in several of the cities of the United States. They have already been test-marketed in France and have been successful to a point. There is still a few problems, but it has eliminated a lot of the shenanigans that take place with credit cards.

Do any of you have the new Pacific Security card? The one with the holograph of the dove on it. What are the last three numbers in that Security Card? Take a look. The numbers that appear right over the holograph of the dove. One of our pastors has one with 666. He is afraid to use it. I was curious as to whether all of them had 666, but evidently not. That is interesting. They have the holograph of a dove in the card. It is a very beautiful card. But suffice to say, technology does exist already to establish a monetary system that is based upon buying and selling with cards or identities such as a computer chip. This will be inaugurated by the false prophet.

And no man will be able to buy or sell, unless he has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred and sixty-six (Rev 13:17-18).

Now the number of man in scripture is "six". You're aware with Biblical numerics that each number has a significance. The number seven is the number of completeness. The number six is short of

completeness, incomplete man. The number twelve is the number of human government, and number thirteen is the number for Satan. And in Hebrew and Greek it is more meaningful than in English, because in the Hebrew and Greek they also count with their alphabet. In other words the alpha, beta, gamma, delta is one, two, three, four as well as your A, B, C, D. And aleph, bet, gimel, daleth is the same in Hebrew, the one, two, three, four. It is your A, B, C, D also, but it is also the numeric so that every Greek letter has a numeric equivalent.

So, you can do fun things with Greek words, such as you can total up the numeric equivalence of a Greek word, or you can total up the numerics in it. And interestingly enough, the number eight, being the number for Jesus, it is the number for new beginnings. Seven is the complete number. Seven notes in a scale, seven days in a week, so that the eighth becomes the new beginning.

When you come to the eighth day, you have a new week. You come to the eighth note; you have a new scale. So eight is the number of new beginnings. Significantly, it is the number of Jesus. He is a new beginning. And you total up in Greek the letters that spell Jesus and you have the number 888. And every name for Jesus, if you total up the letters, it is always divisible by eight. If you total up the letters in all of the names for Satan in Greek, they are divisible by thirteen. So, there is a lot of interesting games that they can play with these numerics, because there are the numeric values there.

So, there are a lot of things that you could probably figure out that are spoken cryptically in the Bible if you would follow through on this numbers program. In fact, Chuck Missler is trying to set up his computer to do this, to find what cryptic messages might exist in the Bible by setting his computer to discover these numeric patterns that exist.

Now, here is the mind that has wisdom. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number. It is the number of a man, and the number is 666. It is probably the total numeric value of the man's name, 666.

Now as we get to the seventeenth chapter, I will give you another clue.

John Brown: E. Revelation 13:11-12 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (NKJV)

1. Here is the third member of hell's unholy trinity. A demonic "mime" of the Holy Spirit (who glorifies Christ), this "parrot's" mission is to cause people to worship the beast!

a) As we said earlier, he is three times later in Revelation called the "false prophet"!

2. This second beast is the leader of the world religious system or the great "harlot" spoken of in chapter 17.

a) He will be a pope, or an ayatollah, or a guru, or a televangelist, buy most likely, he will simply be called "the prophet"!

(1) Or maybe I should say, "He will "pompously" be called `the prophet'"

b) Somehow these two satanically empowered men will become the closest of friends.

c) At the same time that the first is gaining world political power, the other will be gaining the world's confidence as the only true prophet of God!

d) Each supports the other and together they establish universal control over the people!

F. Revelation 13:13-14 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (NKJV)

1. You see the 2 witness of the Lord had made fire come down from heaven. The false prophet and the beast must not look inferior to the Lord!

a) Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (NKJV)

b) 2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, (NKJV)

c) 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (NKJV)

d) His deception is very thorough!

e) We must learn from this that miracles are not necessarily of divine origin!!

2. Man seems to have a natural aptitude for worshiping "things". The "false prophet" gets little or no restraint as he commands worship of the beast!

a) It is possible that little images of the beast are made and sold so that every household can perform their daily worship of the beast!

b) For sure there is a large image made for the world to view, and worship publicly, (probably via satellite).

G. Revelation 13:15-17 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (NKJV)

1.Soon after the image is formed, the prophet gives it the ability to talk, probably promoting himself and blaspheming God, and also issuing commands to kill any who do not worship the image of the beast!

2. The prophet immediately sets up "registration" centers to number and identify his worshippers.

a) He classifies them into 3 different group:

(1) Those who have the "logo" (image) of the beast!

(a) This is probably the bulk of the population.

(2) Those who have the name of the beast!

(a) This is probably a little "closer" group that works closely for his plans and purposes.

(3) And those who have his name (or number)!

(a) Perhaps these are the inside circle!

(i) The point is this: without these identifiers, you will die!!!

(ii) Either by refusal of the marks, or by starvation!!

III. CONCLUSION

A. Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (NKJV)

1. The beast is a man!

2. That man has a name!

3. His name has a numerical equivalent!

4. We are expected to count the number of this man's name!

a) In English this seems weird, but in the Hebrew or the Greek language and in some cases Latin, it is not strange at all!

b) You see, each symbol used for the alphabet was also used for a number!

c) For example, in Latin V=five, X=10,L=50, and so on!

d) In Greek, the language of the New Testament, alpha = 1, beta = 2, iota = 10, rho = 100!

e) To "count" the number of the beast one would simply add up the numbers attached to the letters in his name!

5. Who is this man? No one knows!

a) Many people could have names that the letters equal 666, but only one will rule the world!

(1) In Greek the name is Chi Xi Stigma (X = 600, x = 60, V = 6)

(a) During the war, Christians said it was Hitler!

(b) I remember in the 70's, folks said it was Kissinger!

(2) But all this is Greek to me, and I don't plan on being around for all this!!

(3) The point is this! Watch and be aware!

(4) Better yet, make your decision now, and you can watch all this from eternity!