THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Part 30
The Beast Out of the Earth
~ ~ ~
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the Earth; and he
had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him,
and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down
from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them
that dwell on the Earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had
the wound by a sword, and did live.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that
the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not
worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free
and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
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.
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.
Rev 13:11-18 KJV
The time of the reign of the beast (the Antichrist)
on the Earth means captivity, it means death; it means sword.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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 (vv.9 and10 KJV).
New International Version says:
If
anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be
killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed (v.10).
"'Those
destined for death, to death;
those
for the sword, to the sword;
those
for starvation, to starvation;
those
for captivity, to captivity' (See Jer.15:2).
In such a time, “patience” and “faith” would be
required on the part of ‘the tribulation saints.’ So, he who has an ear let him
hear (verse 9).
Chapter 14 verse 12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments
of God, and the Faith of Jesus” (KJV).
And 17:9 states: “And
here is the mind which hath wisdom…” (KJV).
The beast that came up out of the Earth with two
horns like a lamb, and speaks as a dragon is “the false prophet of the
Antichrist.” "The Beast Out of the Earth" speaks of the false prophet
of the Antichrist.
“The beast out of the Earth” exercises the power,
and authority of “the beast out of the sea.”
In other words, the false prophet of the Antichrist
exercises the power and authority of “the Antichrist.”
Note that ‘the beast out of the sea” (the
Antichrist) received the power, and throne (seat) and authority of the dragon (satan)
in chapter 13 verse 2.
‘The first beast’ had a mouth like that of a lion—
it ‘was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies’. And ‘the second beast’ which had horns like a
lamb, speaks like “the dragon” (satan). It speaks blasphemy.
The doctrine of “the false prophet” is that of the
first beast—“the Antichrist.” The false prophet executes all the authority of
the first beast. It means “the false prophet” has the power to speak and act
for “the Antichrist.” Through the miracles “the false prophet” has the power to
work, the world is deceived into worshipping “the Antichrist.”
In other words, “the false prophet” will use miracles
to validate his ministry. He appears to the world as ‘a religionist’ even so,
his doctrine is anti-Christian. His ministry is backed up by tremendous
miracles—but they are lying wonders.
In verse 12, the false prophet of the Antichrist exercised
all the authority of “the beast” on his behalf, and made the Earth and its
inhabitants worship “the beast” (the first beast), whose fatal wound had been
healed. What this means is that, the false prophet of the Antichrist will setup
a one-world-religion; and this he will do on behalf of the beast.
“The mystery of iniquity” is already at work in the
world.
The false prophet of the Antichrist will persecute
the saints that are left behind. He will wear them down
and oppress [exhaust] them in perilous times by war, massacres, inquisitions,
and persecutions of all kinds. He will
oppress those who refuse to submit to the idolatrous worship of the beast [the
Antichrist], and all who rejects his diabolical mark.
The Antichrist will issue a decree to his false
prophet to kill all “the tribulation saints” and people everywhere who refuse
“the mark of the beast” and who refuse to worship “the image of the beast.”
The only way to not take “the mark of the beast” is
to receive “the mark of Christ” which is the seal of the Holy Spirit.
The mark or the name of the beast or the number of
his name, are one and the same.
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 (13:17 KJV).
Very important note: the "buying and
selling" is not just to those that have “the mark,” but also those that
have “the name” of the beast, or “the number” of his name.
Revelation 13:17 clearly reveals three ways people
can "buy or sell":
And that no man might buy or sell, save he:
1.) that had the mark,
2.) or the name of the beast,
3.) or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:18 says, “This calls for wisdom ...”
And, 17:9 states: "This calls for a mind with wisdom ..."
This is where “Wisdom” is needed—the Wisdom that is
from above.
Only the divine Wisdom of GOD can understand,
interpret, and decode this code: “666.”
The mark of the beast” is the number of a certain
man who is the Antichrist—the final human-world ruler.
The mark of the beast is the number of the Antichrist's
own name, which consists of both the number of his name (666) and his name
combined in a single mark. Some type of "esoteric" mark forming a
"666" while also symbolic of his name.
"The 'mark' itself is at once a number and a
name associated or represented somehow, to his name and his number (666).
The main reason the false prophet of the Antichrist
will give people the mark of the beast is worship and allegiance to the Antichrist.
Not just the right to "buying and selling!"
The mark is a proof of worship and allegiance to the
beast, and that is why GOD will punish all who worship and receive “the mark of
the beast.”
What is it about the mark of the beast, that so
"grieves" and “provokes” a just and Holy GOD, that He would justly
"torment someone in fire and brimstone for all eternity" for
receiving the mark?
The purpose of the mark of the beast is a
"mark" of allegiance and worship of the Antichrist. And it is a
rejection of a Holy GOD.
Take note, those who worship “the beast” and his
image, receive “the mark of the beast.” Look at the following verses:
"If
any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark . . . "Rev.
14:9
".
. . who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark. . .
"Rev. 14:11
"
. . .which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his
image." Rev. 16:2
"
. . . them that had received the mark of the beast, and them
that
worshipped his image. . ." Rev. 19:20
"
. . . which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither
had received his . . ." Rev. 20:4
Only one verse connects "buying and
selling" with the mark. But there are many verses that connect the mark to
worship. Satan desires what belongs only to GOD ALMIGHTY — worship.
Second Thessalonians 2:9 prophesies that the
emergence of the Antichrist on the world scene will be after the working of Satan's
diabolical power, signs and lying wonders.
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders.
2 Thess 2:9 KJV
“The Beast Out of the Earth” [the false prophet of
the Antichrist] is the figure by whom this diabolical power, and signs and
lying wonders will be performed.
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.
Rev 13:14 KJV