Tag: Beast
God’s amazing omnicience!
Scripture reading for December 18th: Revelation 13, Psalm 101, Ecclesiastes 3
Revelation 13: 5-9 “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming His Name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb Who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: . .”
Did you know that there is a book of life in heaven that contained the names of all those who would humbly receive the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ and worship Him? Did you know that this book was composed before the world was created? God is eternal and time is just a part of His creation. He is above all creation and complete in Himself. He reveals these unseen and unknown truths to His people through His Word and Son. He allows His people to undergo testing and trials, building their faith. In this passage the beast out of the sea, is allowed to rule for forty-two months and have authority over all on earth. He makes war on the saints and conquers them. But the beast’s time is short! Saints win!
Psalm 101:7-8 “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.”
Prayer: Father God, Your amazing omniscience causes me to wonder and worship! Your eternal Word and works testify to Your grace and goodness in all Your works. You even use the evil one and those following him for Your purposes and glory. Open my ears each day to hear Your Word and keep me from deception and compromise. I dedicate my body and soul and mind to You alone! Have Your way in me!
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.”
Heaven-dwellers rejoice!
Scripture reading for December 17th: Jonah 1-3, Revelation 13
Key Scriptures: Revelation 13:1, 5-8 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. . . . And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming His Name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. Authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
Earth dwellers don’t know about heaven and live by their flesh under the control of the devil. Those living in heaven, marked on earth by the Holy Spirit are persecuted by the earth dwellers. In the last days, a beast-like ruler will arise and be allowed to make war on the saints and conquer them. The heaven-dwellers (saints) will not worship this beast, but keeping their vows, only worship the Lamb.
Jonah 2:9 “But I with a voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit and Your Word of truth. I chose to worship You alone with thanksgiving! Salvation belongs to the Lord Jesus alone! Amen.
The Beast Rules for 42 Months!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Revelation 13
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 13:1,5-8 “And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. . . .”The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. . .” “And he was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.”
During the tribulation satanic power will be allowed by God to exercise authority. Satan, the dragon, will empower a beast, the Antichrist, to make war against the saints and even to conquer them. During this time of trouble, many of those making the choice to follow Christ will pay for their faith with their lives. But God has promised that not a hair on their heads will perish! This time is limited to forty-two months and the beast will suffer God’s judgment in the Lake of Fire!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers are given vision and understanding about the events of the last days and great tribulation to enable them to stand firm in faith! “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:9-10)
The Lake of Fire!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 20:1-15
Not all are part of the heavenly army of the King of Kings. The first to be dealt with was the dragon, Satan. He was bound by a great chain and thrown into the Abyss to keep him from deceiving the nations. The set time was a thousand years or what we would call a millennium. (Revelation 20:1-3)
Next John witnessed a resurrection of the souls who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus. These souls came to life and were given authority to judge on the earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years. ” (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5-6) This is the fifth ‘blessed’ statement of Revelation. These martyrs are now rewarded with rulership with Christ on the earth for his thousand-year reign.
The ‘second death’ is a term defined in this chapter for John. At the end of the thousand years, the devil is released for a short time. He goes out and deceives the nations again and the gathers them for battle. Fire comes from heaven and devours those who are deceived and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet. This lake of fire and burning sulfur is the ‘second death’. (Revelation 20:14) This lake of fire has been long prepared for the devil and his angels who rebelled against God.
However, there will be multitudes of people who will also go to this horrible place of burning sulfur. John saw a great white throne and Christ as judge. Death and Hades were opened and a second resurrection company of those who had died in their sins were brought before the Judge. Books were opened that held the record of their evil deeds and sins. Another book, the Book of Life, was examined to find their names. “If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) Each person must answer personally to God! Is your name in His Book of Life?
The Great Prostitute!
Scripture reading for December 26th: Revelation 17:1-18
“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”” (Revelation 17:1-2) John was carried away in the Spirit to a desert where he saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. She held a golden cup full of “abominable things and the filth of her adulteries”. This woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and had a name on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:4-5)
This woman and beast were a picture of something God wanted to share with John and the Bride of Christ, the Church. The many waters that the prostitute was sitting on represented peoples and multitudes and nations that would not repent but followed the beast and received his mark. This beast would come up from the Abyss and go to his destruction. He was the one with seven heads and ten horns. The angel told John that the seven heads were seven hills where the woman sat. The ten horns were ten kings who would rule with the beast for a short time: one hour. These ten kings would give their power to the beast to make war against the Lamb. The Lamb would defeat them with His faithful followers! (Revelation 17:8-14)
“The beast and ten horns (kings) you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled. The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” The woman (great prostitute) was the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. The readers of John’s day would have understood Rome as the city of ‘seven hills’. This ‘city’ is a picture of a humanistic world system that hates God and rules the world in the last days. God will fulfill His Word!