Overview and big picture of Revelation 13.

• There is a repeat and enlarge in it.
• Verses 1-4 is the big picture.
• From verse 5 to the end of the chapter it repeats itself.
• The USA is the ultimate false prophet.
  • It is a dragon in sheep’s clothing.
  • It begins to speak like a dragon.
  • It has the heart of the dragon.
  • Even though it appears to be a lamb, it really isn’t at all.
• Remember, every time we see the dragon, it is related to persecution.
• And we saw at the beginning of the chapter that it is the dragon that gives the first beast its power, seat and great authority.

Revelation 13:12
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.

So USA exercises all the power of the first beast before him.

• What power is that that he exercises?
• It is the power to persecute.
• The seat and authority is being established again.

He causes the earth and those that dwell in it to worship the first beast.

• The word cause there means to force.
• He will force people to worship.
• How does a country force people in their country to worship contrary to their own beliefs or their own free will? There has to be a law that will be instituted.
• This law will be made and not changed – the characteristics of the bear (Medo-Persia).
• This law will be based on heathen philosophy, the commandments of man – the characteristics of the leopard (Greece).
• This law will be connected with idol worship – the characteristics of the lion (Babylon).

Only the dragon can force people to worship. It has all the power.

• It will be a repeat of the dark ages that we saw earlier in the chapter. It was the dragon that caused the people back then to be persecuted, and to run into the wilderness, to escape for their lives.

Look at what it says here at the end of the verse – verse 12.

• It says that its deadly wound would be healed.
• So the healing of the deadly wound coincides with the United States of America speaking like a dragon.
• This event is fulfilling what is written earlier back in verse 3.
• Revelation 13:3
  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.
• If the healing of the deadly wound is an entity speaking like a dragon, then what would have caused the deadly wound would be the removing the entity of the dragon.
• So when one of its heads was wounded to death and it received the mortal wound, the head of the dragon was the one that was wounded.
• It was the power, the authority, that was taken away from the Catholic church back in 1798 that caused that deadly wound. It had no power to persecute anymore. It had no more power to force people to worship a certain way that they desired and calling everyone else that differed to them heretics.

Is United States of America forcing anyone to worship today? Is it speaking like a dragon today?

• Not yet. That day has not come yet. So the healing of the deadly wound in verse 3 and also verse 12 of Revelation 13 has not taken place yet. It is in the future.
• We are looking at prophecy now.
• Let’s continue.

Revelation 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

What event do you think about in the Bible when it talks about fire coming down from heaven to the earth?

• It is Elijah on Mount Carmel when God’s name is about to be
• Remember, this beast is the ultimate false prophet. And he is doing prophet activities. He is working miracles. He is calling fire from heaven.
• Look at what the purpose of the fire coming down from heaven was back in Elijah’s day.
• 1 Kings 18:24
  Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
• The God that would answer by fire – He is the One that is the true God.
• So when this beast brings fire down from heaven, everyone is thinking that this is the true God. This is false fire. Fire that deceives.

Let’s also have a look at a prophecy about Elijah as well that the Bible talks about in relation to the last days.

• Malachi 4:5-6
  5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
• The Bible tells us that shortly before the coming of the Lord, Elijah will come again.
• John the Baptist was a partial fulfillment of that. Why? Because when he was preaching, that day was not a great and dreadful day. The first coming of Jesus was a great and glorious day!
• Luke 1:13
  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
• Luke 1:17
  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
• Here’s one more text to show that John the Baptist represented Elijah coming.
• Matthew 11:11-14
  11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
• So John was a partial fulfillment because he didn’t come in the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
• But this beast that comes up from the earth that looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon, he will work this miracle of bringing fire down from heaven on to the earth.
• He will seemingly do the work of Elijah.
• People will think that this is a true prophet.
• They will think that the god that he is pointing to is the true God.

But what is the actual result?

Revelation 13:14
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.

These miracles deceive all those that dwell on the earth.

• They are totally and utterly deceived.
• This is a fulfillment of the words of Christ in Matthew 24.

Matthew 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.

This text is fulfilled in Revelation 13.

• False Christ – the first beast of Revelation 13.
• False prophet – the second beast of Revelation 13.
• Signs and wonders – fire coming down from heaven.
• The very elect – we see them in Revelation 7, the 144,000.

We also see this word deception used back in the seven churches.

• Revelation 2:20
  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
• The word deceived that is the same in the Greek is the word
• The woman Jezebel is the one who seduces or deceives. And it’s interesting that she is the one that is alive during the time of Elijah.

Why will people be so easily deceived at the end of time?

• Yes, the miracle will be so compelling that people will really think that this is the true prophet. Or they will really think that what this nation is doing is correct and approved by God.
• Even Jesus Himself warned us of that time.
• John 16:2
  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
• How can they come to this point? We’re sitting here wondering how can people be so blind right? Why are they so easily deceived? What’s the reason?
• Well, we are told in the very next text why.
• John 16:3
  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
• It’s because they really don’t know the Father or Jesus. And why is that? Because they really haven’t been spending time in the scriptures which testify of Jesus.
• The reason why people will be swept off their feet at the end of time with all these miracles, is because they are living by sight and not by faith. They are deceived because they don’t have faith.
  • They haven’t grounded themselves in the word of God.

So deception will run rampant. Remember, that is the face of the serpent, not the dragon.

But in verse 11 and 12 we saw the dragon. The lamb spoke like a dragon. And then he forced people to worship.

But coming back to Revelation 13:14. What happens when the fire comes down and everyone is deceived? What was the purpose for this beast to deceive everyone?

• He commands everyone that dwells on the earth to make an image to the beast.
• Remember that the earth is not the whole world. The earth in its context is referring to the location from where the lamb-like beast came up from. That is representing United States of America.
• All those in USA will make an image to the beast.

What is the image to the beast?

• Well, the beast that it is referring to is not the second beast of Revelation 13 but the first beast of Revelation 13. It is the one that received the wound by a sword, and it lived. It is referring to the Papacy, the Catholic Church.

What is the image though?

• The word “image” means likeness, resemblance.
• Something will be established that resembles the first beast, the Papacy.
• What characteristic have we seen of this first beast especially here in Revelation 13?
  • Revelation 13:7
    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.
  • It persecutes God’s people. So it must combine church and state. It is a religious and political power.
  • This is the main characteristic that is brought up in relation to this beast here in Revelation 13.
• Who is in control? The church or the state?
  • It is the church that is in control.
• During the dark ages, the church was in control of the state. They were able to make the state burn heretics at the stake. The church was able to bend the state to persecute the saints and make them flee for their lives.
• So something about the image of the beast has to do with the church and state coming together. It has something to do with persecution that will arise. Something very similar to that which took place in the dark ages.
• We’re going to see that in a minute.

So far what we see: Outline of Revelation 13.

1. There is the first beast of Revelation 13. The beast with seven heads and 10 horns.
2. Then there is the second beast of Revelation 13. The lamb like beast which speaks like a dragon.
3. He makes fire come down from heaven.
4. As a result it deceives those that dwell on the earth.
5. And those that are deceived, they make an image to the beast.

What happens next?

Revelation 13:15
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.

So the lamb-like beast, it has power to give life to the image of the beast.

• Remember what sort of power did it have? It was persecuting power.

The image of the beast comes to life, and it begins to speak.

• The only other beast that we have seen speak so far is the lamb-like beast.
• And when it spoke, it spoke like a dragon.

Does this image of the beast have the characteristics of the dragon? Absolutely it does.

• When it speaks, what happens?
• It causes (forces) everyone to worship the image of the beast. And if you don’t worship, you will be killed.
• That’s the church and state coming together.
  • Force – state.
  • Church – worship.
• And when church and state come together, what’s the result? Persecution. You will be killed if you don’t worship!

I want you to notice that the strength and power of the dragon is in the image of the beast.

• However, the image of the beast is doing all the persecuting this time. It is not the actual beast.
• The first beast of Revelation 13 is actually in the background all this time. An image is made of him, but he himself remains silent.
• This image is set up in USA.
• The dragon gives life to it.
• It begins to speak and force everyone to worship.
• That means a law must be instituted in relation to worship, because there is also a death decree.
• The state must entirely back this all up.

And then we read in the next verse:

• Revelation 13:16-17
  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.
• The mark of the beast is a result of those that actually worship this image.
• If you don’t, you will be killed.
• There are only 2 sides at the end of time. You either have the mark of the beast or you will be persecuted and killed.

We’re going to come back to the image of the beast. We don’t know who it is yet. It has the characteristics of the Papacy, the first beast. But who is that? We’ll find out in a minute. In order to determine that we need to first look at the mark of the beast.

What is the mark of the beast?

• We saw back in Revelation 7 that the seal of God goes in the forehead of God’s people at the end of time.
  • Revelation 7:3
    Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
• We read in Revelation 14:1 as well:
  • Revelation 14:1
    And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
  • God’s people, the 144,000 have the Father’s name in their foreheads. They have the characteristics of the Father in their lives just like how the image of the beast bears resemblance to the beast.
• There’s only 2 sides. The beast or the Father.

What was the seal of God?

• The seal of God was the seal of the Sabbath that would go in the forehead of God’s people at the end of time.
• The Sabbath is a very prominent topic in Revelation. It is the one commandment that the devil totally hates because it points out who the true God is. The true God is Creator, which obviously is not Satan.
• So the mark of the beast is opposite to the seal of God. It is in competition to the seal of God.
• And there is one day that is honored above any other day when it comes to the worship of God today. That is Sunday. It is very clearly Sunday. No other day comes close when it comes to Christianity.
• Remember the lamb-like beast. It has Christian principles – at least it appears to have Christ-like principles. But it is actually totally against Christ.
• Sunday is honored very much today in the Christian world in commemoration of the Lord’s resurrection.
• We can say what we might with the utmost sincerity and try to point it back to Christ, but that will never change the true Sabbath – God’s holy day.

So what is the mark of the beast?

• It isn’t just Sunday worship.
• What is the other important characteristic?
• It is FORCED worship.
• So then the mark of the beast is forced Sunday worship. Or what we call the national Sunday law.
• At the end of time, people will be forced to worship on the Sunday and if they don’t, they will be killed.

If Sunday worship is the prominent characteristic outlined here, then who is the image to the beast?

• Who are those that are in the United States of America that are so prominent to push Sunday worship?
• It is the protestants. They are the ones that will push Sunday
• And one day, the lamb-like beast is going to give them power. Power to force people to worship on that day. Power to institute a law enforcing such an act. And if you don’t, you will be killed.

So let’s go through this diagram and put in the names and words that we know what applies to us today.

• The first beast of Revelation 13 is the Catholic Church.
  • And it seems like they are in the background the whole time. Interesting.
  • The spirit that inspired the dark ages will rise again, but in a different place and entity but with the same results.
• The second beast of Revelation 13 is the United States of America as a government. The kingdom. The political entity.
• The fire coming down from heaven is miracles that deceive those that live in the US.
• The earth is the people of the USA.
• The image to the beast are the protestants in America who really have fallen away from the truth because they begin to speak like a dragon.
  • The political arm of the US gives them that platform to be able to speak like a dragon.
  • So we call them the apostate protestants.
• So how does the US give the apostate protestants life? By giving it the political power.
• And the result is it beings to speak like a dragon by forcing everyone to worship.
  • That’s the national Sunday law.
  • That’s when the mark of the beast will become relevant.

I want us to look at that verse again about the mark of the beast:

• Revelation 13:16-17
  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.
• If you have the mark of the beast, you cannot buy or sell at the end of time.
• That is going to take an entire trust and dependence on God for Him to provide.
• Just like Elijah, who had to hide by the brook and was fed by ravens, we will be entirely at the mercy of God for our provision.
• No country living or gardening is going to help us at that time. We will be running for our lives.
• Elijah was instructed NOT to go home. The king knew where he lived. He had to hide. And that will be the same for us as well.

Our preparation is learning to live by faith today and not by sight.

• We need to economize.
• We need to make sure that money does not control us.
• We need to make sure that we don’t have this great love for money.
• And we need to make sure that mammon, or money, is our god.

Many times we make decisions based on finance don’t we?

• It’s normal. Nothing abnormal about that.
• But that’s actually quite dangerous.
• We need to be praying that God would guide us irrespective of the finance.
• The mark of the beast is going to weigh heavily financially on people. And if we have not practiced trusting God before that time, we are going to come short of receiving the seal of God.
• Think about it. The seal of God is the Sabbath.
• We don’t work on that day.
• We don’t do our own pleasure on that day.
• It makes no financial sense to people why we don’t work on that day or do any sort of business.
• We don’t put our houses up for auction on that day even though it’s the best day to have an auction.
• Financially, the Sabbath is teaching us to put God first instead of money. And that takes a lot of faith to some people.

This helps us to understand why the mark of the beast goes in the forehead OR the right hand?

• FOREHEAD – there are some who will be sincerely deceived.
  • They believed a lie.
  • They really believed that killing some people, that they were really doing God service.
  • What was the reason why they will be condemned at the end of time?
  • It’s because they didn’t know the Father or Jesus.
  • And why didn’t they know Him? Because they chose sports, or leisure, or shopping, or work, or studies over taking time to spend time in the Bible.
  • Their priorities were not for God but rather for the world.
• Don’t misunderstand me. These people who receive the MOB on the foreheads are not bad people.
  • They are probably morally very good people.
  • They are nice. They are kind.
  • But God is just not their priority.
  • And when the fire comes down from heaven, they will think they are doing the right thing.
  • And when they raise their hand to kill God’s people at the end of time they will also be thinking that they are doing the right thing.
  • Do you see that? They aren’t bad people, but they aren’t God’s people either.
  • They are sincerely and utterly deceived because they have received the love of the truth.
• RIGHT HAND – how about the right hand?
  • Right hand represents action.
  • These people are not deceived. They know what the true Sabbath is. They go to church.
  • But Sabbath is not their priority is. Their own life is their priority. Their comfort.
  • Money is their god. But the know the Sabbath.
  • They know that when the MOB comes in that Sunday is not the right day.
  • But in fear of having their assets frozen, and having no money to buy food, they decide to go and worship on the Sunday, the day that God never blessed and they receive the mark of the beast.
• Having a knowledge of the truth is not enough. We must be sanctified by it. Set apart by it.
  • Today we must put in practice the things that we know is right. We need to practice the truth.
  • It must become practical to us.
  • We must be praying that God would help us to apply the things that we know is right.
  • The truth must take hold of our lives and be the overarching influence in it today.
• That’s the reason why the MOB can go in either the forehead or the right hand.

And then finally the last verse of this chapter. It is the icing on the cake. It is simply another identifying mark of the first beast of Revelation 13.

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.

What is the number of the beast? It is the number of a man. And we know who sits at the head of this beast power, it is the pope.

• The title – Vicarius Filii Dei.
• That adds up to 666.

Verse 18 is just the icing on the cake. Another identifying mark.

So where are we today?

• Apostate Protestantism is very well formed already.
• The churches are coming together.
• They have been for a long time already.
• They have put aside the truth a long time ago with their insistence on worshipping on the Sunday.
• They are just waiting to receive that political power.
• A reason is needed for the state to give them that political power.
• We’re just one step away from the national Sunday law.

We need to ask God to sanctify us fully by His truth. Anything less than that is not a thorough preparation and we’re just fooling ourselves. May God help us today.