REVELATION LESSON 27

REVELATION

 LESSON 27

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:13-14   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.

This word “wonders” is translated as signs. the same word used by the apostle John in his gospel describing the ministry of Jesus. it’s translated also as miracles. This would lead us to believe that the false prophet will be equipped by Satan and the antichrist with authority and power to do such supernatural signs to deceive the very elect.

Satan can preform what appears to be miraculous signs and wonders, like the apostle Paul tells us, the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan. Coming with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all the unrighteous deception among those who perish.

It is often overlooked that even though Satan has miraculous powers, it is limited and less extensive than that of God. One of the impressive signs the false prophet will preform is that of causing fire to fall from heaven before a great multitude. This in itself will not prove he is from God.

But yet many will believe he is. He will order his followers to honor the antichrist by setting up an image or statue of the first beast. They will gladly do what he commands. When they do emphasis will be placed on the antichrists wound and what appears to be a miraculous healing and resurrection.

Many cult leaders deify themselves and with this they are attempting to humanize God. They raise themselves up as gods and bring Christ down to mere human status. The false christs of the cults are idols and the bible has warned us explicitly that when we bow down to any idol we are worshiping devils.

Revelation 13:15   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.

The false prophet will be given the power to impart breath to the image of the antichrist. When he does the image will appear to come to life. Some how he gives life to this image, the time limit on how long it will manifest life is unknown.

This is a reminder that the antichrist was once dead but is again alive. There is no doubt that it will be an incredible event that will catch the worlds attention. After the image begins breathing it will also speak. Whether it will be done by ventriloquism, demonic possession, computer or something else unsaid we do not know at this time.

Nevertheless, we know that it will be a convincing performance. The image will proclaim that all who refuse to worship it will die. Jesus warned us of this kind of persecution when he said, then will they deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name sake.

Matthew 24:9   ⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Paul warned us about it too when he said, but know this that in the last days perilous times will come. Perilous means dangerous and full of risks.

2 Timothy 3:1   3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

The false prophet doesn’t sound like the lamb he first appeared as is starting to sound more like a demonic inspired roaring lion. This is why he is called the false prophet. He is a religious pretender who will not hesitate to break Gods laws.

In stead of putting the bible into practice the false prophet will make every attempt possible to set it aside.

Revelation 13:16   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:

The false prophet will demand that everyone will be given a mark known as the mark of the beast. People will be allowed to select one of the two places on their bodies for the mark. The right hand or the forehead. No one will be exempt laws will be enacted to identify and punish those who do not support the world government. To have food and medical services or medicine will be a privilege to those who cooperate. Those who refuse will be denied any privilege.

John recorded that he will force everyone both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive this mark so that none could buy or sell unless he had the mark. Which is the name of the beast.

Taking the mark would be like getting a license to start a business you would need the mark to sell the goods and customers would need the mark to buy them.

With this in his grasp the false prophet will force people to worship the image of the beast. In this way he will merge church and state.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word. 

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 26

REVELATION

LESSON 26

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:11   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.

John saw a second beast (the false prophet). The first beast will come out of the earth, the sea is a symbol of the masses of humanity, while the earth is a symbol of the land of Israel.

The first beast will have ten horns, this is the beast that comes out of the sea. The second beast will only have two horns. Lambs do not have horns, so except for his two horns, the second beast will look like a lamb. He will try to imitate the Lamb of God. He will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The first beast will get his power from the dragon. The second beast will speak like a dragon. He will do a lot of talking about loving, accepting, diversity, gender equality and so forth. He will condemn racism, sexism, poverty and all forms of discrimination. Underneath he will be a slithering monster.

In other words, the snake that he is, it is important to remember that the focus of the world will be mainly upon two places during the tribulation. First the revived Roman empire with its one world government. Second will be the land of Israel with its Jewish religion, temple, the 144,000 sealed Jews and the two witnesses.

The antichrist and the false prophet are two separate individuals who will work toward a common deceptive goal. Their roles and relationship will be that which was common in the ancient world between a ruler and a high priest.

Revelation 13:12   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.

The second beast who is the false prophet will hold as much authority as the first beast who is the antichrist. The second beast will be the third member of the satanic trinity. However, he will not use his great authority to exalt himself, he will use it to exalt the antichrist. His whole purpose will be to work toward the complete dominance of the earth by the antichrist which will include a form of religion causing the earth and them that dwell on it to worship the first beast

Instead of loving and accepting everyone he will try to change everyone’s beliefs. He will attempt to merge religion and politics. By promoting a world religion and world government he will order everyone to worship the antichrist and will not hesitate to use force.

Whose deadly wound was healed refers back to revelation 13:3, it reveals that the false prophet will claim to be a healer and a miracle worker he will be what Jesus said in Matthew 24:24.   ²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

The false prophet is the satanic counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. Just as the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to give glory to Christ Jesus and to point people to him in trust and worship, the ministry of the false prophet will be to glorify the antichrist and to lead people to trust and worship him.

None of the false teachers to this time has ever possessed the supernatural powers that will be exhibited by the false prophet on behalf of the antichrist during the tribulation period.

We could ask ourselves why would God permit such power to be in Satan’s hands? It is because even during the tribulation period men will be force to worship God by faith. If all the supernatural power were on one side it would not take faith but common sense to recognize the source of power.

The principal of salvation as a gift of God will still rest on the basis of faith.

Hebrews 11:6   ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Until the next lesson,

Stay in the word,

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 25

REVELATION

LESSON 25

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:7-10   ⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear.

¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The scriptures leave no doubt that this is an actual political government that extends over the whole globe. The tribulation saints will face the most intense persecution the world has ever known. Their future will be bleak, but in the long term their future will be bright.

The antichrist will receive power from Satan to conquer everyone who turns to God. He will go out in a rage to destroy all believers. Many will be slaughtered so a one world satanic religion can be established. No place on earth will be safe for the Christians.

The antichrist will extend his domain to include every tribe, every tongue, and every nation on the Earth. Everyone must submit to him or be killed. It will be a one world government and religion.

Revelation 13:8   ⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

It is difficult to imagine a world filled with Satan worshipers, but that is the way the word reads. The only ones who will not worship the antichrist will be those whose names have been written in the Lambs book of life. Satan can rage but God is still in control. There are some who cannot be separated from the love of Jesus.

People of the bible are opposed to the merging of religions. All who dwell on the earth means one world religion. Satan wants to exclude Jesus so people refuse to accept Satan as Lord and savior, knowing that they will spend eternity in the lake of fire if they do.

The book of life belongs to the Lamb that was slain. He knows who will worship the antichrist and those who will not. He has already entered the name of those who will not fall into his book of life. He planned to die for them before the world was created.

Jeremiah 1:5   ⁵ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

God was saying to Jeremiah that before he created him in his mother’s womb he knew him. The same with us today. That is how he knows who will fall and those who won’t.

What a difference between Christ Jesus and the antichrist. One willing to die for the godly, the other willing to kill the godly.

Revelation 13:9-10   ⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear.

¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

As observed in the letters to the seven churches, invitations are given to the individual. “he who has an ear let him hear” if anyone is going into captivity he will go, if anyone is to be killed with the sword, by the sword he will be killed. This calls for patience, endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

The invitation here is not addressed to the churches as in Revelation 2:3 since the Church has already been raptured, but to individuals. The saints can rest in the fact that God honors sincere faith in coming to him.

Though this may not prevent them from being martyred, it assures them nevertheless eternal blessing in the presence of God. On the other hand, those who are wicked and who deserve punishment will receive it in eternity.

The saints recognize that God is not settling all accounts in this world should have patience and endurance, trusting God who is handling their personal life. No one has to go through the tribulation period. God loves everyone. He is warning everyone, anyone who commits his or her life to Jesus before its too late will leave in the rapture.

At the end of each of the seven letters to the seven churches, John said, anyone that can hear what the spirit says to the churches in this verse is an indication that the churches are not on earth during the tribulation period. The absence of the churches indicates a pre-trib rapture.

If a tribulation saint kills someone, even in self-defense, he will be killed in a similar manner. If an unbeliever kills a tribulation saint, he will be killed in a similar manner. Sin will have its own reward. This is the way it was in the old testament days. It is commonly called an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

In the new testament Galatian 6:7 say it like this. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. If to sow wheat, you get wheat if you sow con you get corn. During the tribulation period if you kill you will be killed.

For the believer this will require patience and faith, it will be the only way to stand up under the terrible persecution of the tribulation period. Believe in God, trust in God and Jesus, look to the time when you will live again, leave revenge to the almighty.

In the old testament when a person killed someone they were put to death. That worked well in Israel for several hundred years. To teach the people to value human life. Things have changed in this century, murderers usually serve less than seven years. This teaches society to disrespect human life. God has his eyes upon this earth. He will see justice done.

Until our next lesson

Stay in the word,

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 24

REVELATION

LESSON 24

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:1-2   13 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

² And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

The united nations want a world constitution, a world currency, a world income tax, and a worlds military that is more powerful than any military on earth. They also want a world identification number and a global ethic. Which is another way of saying a one world religion.

This growing monster is clearly transforming itself into a one world government. Its earthly leader will someday be the antichrist.

This chapter opens with a revelation of the world ruler as the dragon standing on the shore of the sea of wickedness that will reign when the church is gone. The ten horns are the ten rulers who will reign with the antichrist during the tribulation period. The ten crowns are the ten divisions of the last world government. Each division having its own ruler and set of false religions.

Mankind will go through seven heads or seven world governments. Each of the seven heads will have a blasphemous name. because of false religions they will be noted for their wickedness. These blasphemous names indicate that they are opposed to God.

In man’s search for international leadership there has always been the drive to find the one who is destined to hold it all together. The question is, are the people of today really ready to accept someone like the devil as the new leader of World affairs?

The word beast because of symbolic terms in the bible can represent either the antichrist or his world government. It this verse it represents his world government. This government will begin as a mixture of three groups of nations.

The antichrist will have complete control of these groups at the beginning of his reign. He and the group known as the leopard will act as one body on the critical issues like Israel, Jesus and the believers.

The antichrist and the bear group (the false prophet) stand for the same things. While the lion group (the world system) imitates the antichrist. The antichrists final world government will begin as a composite world government. At the start three groups of nations will give the antichrist his strongest support, eventually his control will involve the whole world.

Revelation 13:3-4   ³ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

⁴ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Remember the heads represent seven world governments. The antichrist will be given so much power that “He” will be the world government, and the world government will be the antichrist.

This verse tells us that one of the seven will seem to have a fatal wound, other verses of scripture tell us which head it is and how it will be wounded. The wounded head will be the antichrist, he will appear to be fatally wounded with a sword, but something amazing will happen. His fatal wound will be healed.

It will appear that he has been killed and miraculously raised from the dead. This is just another attempt to copy Jesus and make the world believe the antichrist can do anything that Christ can do.

The whole world will be astonished and follow the beast, and say who is like the beast, who can make war against him. A supernatural element was involved in his rule and supplemented by the supernatural power of Satan they would naturally ask the question of whether anyone was equal to him.

It is out of this background that the world will worship the man and also worship Satan, who is the power behind the world ruler. The result of all of this is that the beast out of the sea is able to become the world leader and rule for the final three and a half years leading up to the second coming of Christ Jesus.

Revelation 13:5-6   ⁵ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

The search for a charismatic world leader will be over. This man will know it all and his heart will be full of pride. He will boast of his great achievements, power and world government, he will make long speeches filled with passion and the vilest of blasphemies.

Like the rulers of the great empires of the past; those who headed up the roman empire, who are described as having blasphemous name will engage in blasphemy against God. John wrote; he opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander Gods name and his dwelling place and those who live in Heaven.

The tribulation period will last seven years. It will be divided into two three and a half year periods. When his miraculous healing occurs the end of the tribulation period will be exactly forty-two months.

The scriptures leave no doubt that this political government will extend over the entire globe. Enforcing his position as leader, he is worshiped as god. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast. All whose names have not been written in the book of life belong to the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

Until next time,

Stay in the word,

Brother Andy