"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Sunday, May 31, 2020

The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter THIRTEEN: Part ONE of TWO

 
~ by James Fire 

Introduction: In this chapter (as well as others previous and those forthcoming) we observe many parallel Scriptures, predominantly from the book of Daniel. In fact, one’s understanding of the book of Revelation will be diminished if one doesn’t consult the book of Daniel (and the Old Testament in general). Again, Scripture must interpret Scripture, and where one cannot find corroborative text of Holy Writ to support one’s interpretation of any single passage of Scripture then such an interpretation must be abandoned. We base our beliefs upon the Bible, not vice versa!

We have dealt previously with REVELATION 13 within the context of what has risen out of obscurity and into the public domain (such as the UN’s N.W.O. Organization apparently this site was taken down... hmmm), an objective that’s at the heart of various esoteric and secret societies, the New World Order, which even today many people, among them Christians, who disparage any such notion as ‘conspiracy theory’. Yet if one examines this chapter, it clearly outlines the primary objective of this three-fold order: a one world government, a one world economy, and a one world religion, all spearheaded by a one world leader.  

To review this treatment, go to FROM The MIND Of FIRE and check it out here

What we learn about the beast in this chapter is that he is satanically inspired (vs. 2-4); he is worshiped by the world (vs. 4,8,12-15); his authority is global in nature as is his military might (vs4-7) and he controls the world economy (vs. 16-18). The summation of this man’s influences includes a one world government, a one world economy, and a one world religion – precisely what we see developing in our current day.

REVELATION 13:1
1 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
.

The beast rising up from the sea is often seen as this great empire emerging from the Gentile world, as the sea is sometimes typified as the (heathen) nations (ISAIAH 17:2). The nature of the oceans is a tumultuous one, unstable, unpredictable, often destructive, and so we see this world snared in the power of sin and displaying the same nature.

Corresponding with vs. 1 we see the following in the book of DANIEL:

DANIEL 7:8
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things
.

This fourth beast follows the previous three, which have been determined to be world empires (“kingdoms” and their “kings”; note: the word for king in Hebrew is melek, which can also mean kingdom; either definition is based upon the context). Compare DAN 7:17 where it states that these are four kings with DAN 7:23 where it states that these are four kingdoms.

A closer observation of this fourth beast reveals that it has teeth of iron, and nails of bronze that corresponds with DANIEL 2, where in the vision revealed it shows an empire of bronze (the waist and thighs) and another of iron (legs and feet), these historically implicating the Greek and Roman empires respectively.

That this beast is both a kingdom and a king is revealed in this seventh chapter of DANIEL:

The three beasts or kingdoms prior are kingdoms known in history – Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece (and then comes Rome, but that the last empire seems to be presented in two phases as depicted in DANIEL 2 and the vision of the poly-metallic statue: the former phase being strictly of iron, and the latter being of iron mixed with clay (DAN 2:31-44).) so it’s no great leap to claim this last beast as a kingdom as well as the prior three.

Chuck Missler’s treatment of DANIEL 2 - Part One 


Chuck Missler’s treatment of DANIEL 2 - Part Two


This beast (the “little horn”) is, within the context of the greater beast (or the fourth kingdom), a man, as plainly indicated in the following verses:

DANIEL 7:11
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame
.

The beast is equated with the horn, and we learn in vs. 8 that this horn had “eyes like a man” and he spoke great and boastful blasphemies against GOD (see also vs. 20, 25) ; this “little horn” is a king that arises out of “ten horns” or kings (DAN 7:24; REV 17:12; seen as the ten toes in DAN 2)*. This horn supplants three of the ten horns, perhaps claiming the kingdoms that these three ruled over for himself. It’s no small wonder that these ten kings are ten men, thus the little horn that arises from their midst must also be a man. In DAN 7:20 it states: “whose look was more stout than its fellows”, hence he himself being one in the midst of such “fellows”.

*- “The words ‘horn’ and ‘horns’ in Hebrew is the word qeren,  the Greek is keras; both are used in Scripture both literally and figuratively. In the latter sense at least, three meanings appear (1) strength in general (DEUT 33:7); (2) arrogant pride (PSALM 75:4-5) and political and military power (PSALM 92:10; DAN 8:20-21)”. ~ from Scofield’s notes on DEUT 33:7, foot note (2), pg. 256 of the New Scofield Reference Bible.

Why am I belaboring the point that this “beast” is a kingdom as well as a king, thus a man? Because there are those who would deny that the beast is in fact a man, but a kingdom only. This view is becoming more and more prevalent and so this needs attention.

So, what are we seeing here? We see a fourth beast with ten horns, and in the midst of these ten horns a “a little horn” who is himself a “beast” upon the greater beast, ergo a king that presides over the greater beast or the kingdom which is this forth empire. This empire will not dominate a section of the world only as did the ancient empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, or Rome, but will be different in nature than all the others and will “devour the whole Earth” (DAN 7:23) and “wear out the saints” (vs. 25), which some conclude must be the church.

The church however is promised that they will not go through this time of tribulation or “wrath” (ROM 5:9; 1 THESS 5:9; this wrath is evident in REVELATION as early as REV 6:15 at the opening of the 6th seal); that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church (MATT 16:18), but this beast will prevail against the saints at this time of tribulation (DAN 7:21); that the authority of the church which is based upon Christ Jesus who indwells us and is greater than the spirit of anti-Christ that is in the world (1 JOHN 4:3-4); that this time of the tribulation covers the last of the 70 weeks of prophecy given to Daniel by Gabriel in DAN 9 and involves Israel exclusively just as the prior 69 weeks did, in my mind, proves this out.

Just as the church was not present during any of those 69 weeks, nor will the church be present during the 70th week because it is “the time of Jacob’s Trouble” (JER 30:7) – a time of chastening and rebuke for having rejected her Messiah (MATT 23:37-38; ACTS 2:36; 4:10), and upon the Gentile nations as well (JOHN 1:10; 1 COR 2:8) who are guilty of the same sin (but not so with the bride of Christ which is the body of Christ, the church).

REVELATION 13:2
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
.

Now we are seeing the Beast with even more details than were described in DAN 7; these various beasts/kingdoms there were portrayed as a lion, bear, a leopard but here we see them in reverse order: the leopard is first, the bear (stays in the middle) and the lion is last. It’s almost as if, being presented in this order, this is pointing back to what was prophesied earlier in DANIEL.  The fact that this beast has aspects of the former three strongly suggests that this last global empire will have aspects of Babylon, of Medo-Persia and of the Greek Empire, but still, a stronger resemblance to the Roman Empire (but simply a ‘Phase II’ of that ancient government as already seen in the statues legs of iron and its feet and toes of iron mixed with clay; DAN 2:33).

This beast, being both a kingdom and a man, are given power by the dragon, who is of course Satan. Not only this beast, but also the second beast revealed in this chapter who has come to be known as the False Prophet – a sort of ‘satanic version of John the Baptist’ if you will (In fact, many perceive an ‘unholy trinity’ in the Dragon, the beast and the false prophet).

Up until this point, in the last days, we know not only that false prophets will arise showing signs and wonders to deceive, but that as one of those signs given by the LORD in three of the four Gospel accounts (MATT 24; MARK 13; LUKE 21) would be “false prophets” and that these would occur (as do all the signs listed) with greater frequency and intensity – as a woman in labor pains (MATT 24:8). This build-up of false prophets and “many [who] will come saying, ‘I am Christ’” will reach a crescendo with these two. Deceptions and false signs as never seen previously so that people will believe that this man is truly Christ (Remember, in the Greek the prefix “anti” means “against” but also “in the place of” or a replacement)!

MATTHEW 24:23-25 
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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
.

These miracles are described as being so powerful that if it were possible, they would deceive GOD’s elect (His saints), but being so armed with the truth of the Holy Word as well as the Holy Spirit, saints are able to discern and know the false from the true – one of the reasons why these will be persecuted and martyred by this beast.

While the world over will be extremely religious and have a “form of godliness”, because they deny the “power” of godliness, that is, they deny the Holy Spirit, they’ll be defenseless against this extraordinary deception unparalleled in any time in history (1 TIM 4:1; 2 TIM 3:5; 4:3-4)!

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
.

There will come a time – I believe it will be just prior to the mid-point of this last and 70th week of Daniels prophecy – or three and a half years into this seven year period (3.5 yrs.) that there will be an assassination attempt on this beast. While it could be someone who has understood the required wisdom to identifying the beast (see vs. 18), it is at least someone who opposes his dominance over the world and seeks to end him.

 Zechariah speaks of such an event:

ZECHARIAH 11:16-17
16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened
.

This text follows immediately after the prophecy of Christ’s betrayal by Judas (ZECH 11:13); that this is placed in such proximity to that prophecy, I believe, is not coincidental. Remember that Christ foretold that He would not be received by Israel but that “another” would be (JOHN 5:43). That is, the anti-Christ; just as Christ is the GOD-Man, this beast could potentially be an ungodly hybrid, a nephilim, where the spirit of Satan manifests, impregnates a human female who then literally gives birth to ‘the seed of the serpent’ (GEN 3:15).

It’s in this passage of ZECH 11 that we are given this insight to this ‘idol shepherd’ – a strange phrase: a shepherd is one who leads sheep, but this one leaves the flock, that is, leaves off caring for them as a good shepherd and instead, this idol shepherd will lead people to worship a false god, namely, himself! Yet he received a serious, seemingly mortal would in his head (REV 13:3) that results in a paralyzed (right) arm and a blinded eye. Nevertheless his “deadly wound” is healed and leaves the world in stunned awe so that they follow his idol shepherd.

There is likely a second and applicable interpretation to this verse: this “head” of the beast (in this sense, the kingdom now, rather than the king) would be healed after it’s mortal wounding – that is, that there has been no emperor for centuries to rule over what was the Roman Empire, though all the nations there have tried without success to so reign: the Dutch, the Spanish, England, France and Germany – none of them were able to unify Europe.
Even today with the European Union in disarray, there seems to be a serious lack of cohesion in these days. In this second decade of the 21st century, nations are shifting more towards nationalism than they are globalism (it’s not just the United States). Yet we know what the last days world will look like, and we understand that the younger generations that will enter into government, politics, media, education, etc. in a decade or so, have definitive favor to the ideas of globalism.

From Prophecy News Watch we have the following: The Unhindered March Toward Globalism

When the beast (the man) rises to power, he will reinstitute this office of rulership in Europe (and, or Eastern Europe along with the Middle East) only in this ‘Phase II’ of the revived Roman Empire, it will be a federation of ten kings who in fact may also be given jurisdiction over the globe, divided into ten regions or “magna-regions”. Check out what the World Constitution and Parliament Association has been up these last seventy years to in dividing the globe into these ten magna-regions. See also this diagram.

REVELATION 13:4-5
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? 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
.

The worship of dragons and serpents seem odd to those of us in the West, having connotations of evil (because of, in part, GENESIS 3), but in the East, dragons and serpents are seen as wise, benevolent creatures with god-like knowledge and powers. In the last days spoken of here, there will be outright worship of the devil who is the serpent, the dragon – Satan himself (REV 12:9; 20:2). There is such a thing as Luciferianism that has been promoted by various secret societies and esoteric groups, such as the Theosophical Society, and they believe that Lucifer is wise, benevolent, a god in his own right in his knowledge and powers and wholly worthy of our allegiance and worship:

From the youtube channel, Info Freedom Fighter we have: EXPOSED! Lucis Trust President Speaks ~ Satan, Lucifer, & the UN 

The following quote is from their youtube channel:

Today we learn about the life and times of Alice Bailey and her mentor Madame Helena Blavatsky, then McKechnie helps to clarify the so-called controversial threads of the Lucis Trust, from what inspired Bailey to name the organization after history's most famous fallen angel Lucifer; why they await the world teacher known as the Maitreya

The dragon gives his power to the Beast. The Jewish people rejected their Messiah but will accept this coming One World Leader. Satan offered all the world itself to the LORD Jesus if only He would worship him but He utterly rejected the offer. This other will in fact worship the dragon and to this man, the dragon will give to him what he had offered to the LORD.

Note that there was given to the Beast, “to his mouth” (no doubt given to him by the Dragon – Satan) to speak “great things and blasphemies”, blasphemy is a direct offense aimed at the Eternal GOD, an intentional attempt to desecrate the Holy Name of the LORD. The response of the people is “Who is like him? Who is able to make war with him?” – It’s hardly a stretch that these devil worshipers would include YHWH in that challenge, such is the depraved delusion that they are under! In verse 5, it states that the beast is allowed to continue for forty-two months (three and a half years). This is the period known as “the great tribulation” the latter half of Daniel’s 70th week (of seven years).

The LORD Jesus Christ Himself used such language in MATTHEW’s Gospel account of the last days (MATT 24:21): and in this entire account, we learn the commencement point when this terrible time will occur:

MATTHEW 24:15-22
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened
.

The LORD here is not addressing the church – but national Israel (note words like “…Judea flee into the mountains”, “Sabbath” “Holy Place”). It is when “the man of sin”, “the son of perdition” (2 THESS 2:3) will enter into the Holy Place, in the Temple – the place that only the Levitical priests could enter; and only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, just once a year (Yom Kippur) – and he will demand worship of the Jews! But more of this will be examined in Part Two of this study.

The LORD says that this ‘great tribulation’ will be more intense than any other time previously (including the approximately one million Jews slaughter at the diaspora or the 6 million Jews murdered in Hitler’s concentration camps) or any time after this dreadful day of GOD! It is blessedly good news for Israel that once they endure this time, they will never again face anything like it for all eternity!

During the Nazi reign in Germany and over much of Europe, one third of the world’s entire population of the Jewish people were killed. During the time of Jacob’s Trouble, these numbers will be doubled! Two thirds of the entire global population will be slain (ZECH 13:8-14:4)! Yet those who make it through (“those days shall be shortened … for the elect’s sake), about a third of the Jews, represent the godly and elect remnant that will call upon Y’shua ha Meschiach and be saved! And these shall enter into the glorious, beautiful, blessed, and great reign of the Messiah in His righteous rule from Jerusalem, over all Israel and the Gentile nations! GLORY TO YOU LORD!

REVELATION 13:6-7
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 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
.

This beast has such a BIG MOUTH, doesn’t he? It seems he is compelled to blaspheme GOD and makes every available opportunity to do so (DAN 7:8,11,20,25) – and all the world: its kindreds and tongues and nations that follow after him, it’s a reasonable assumption that they follow his lead and blaspheme GOD themselves! Yet also “His tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven” – this reference to the tabernacle could very well refer – not to the rebuilt Temple that he pollutes in Jerusalem, but that which dwells in the heavens, because in the same breath it states that he blasphemes those that dwell in heaven: the saints of GOD, and most probably the angelic host which the dragon once belonged to himself.

Again, this beast makes war with the saints, and like the two witnesses, he overcomes them (DAN 7:21). It is my personal belief that for this reason (among many and various others) the church of the LORD Jesus Christ will not be here for this time of “great tribulation” nor for that matter, for any part of Daniel’s 70th week for other reasons previously explained. The LORD expressly states that “the gates of hell” will not prevail against the church. In the Greek the word used for ‘prevail’ is katischuo which means, “to be strong to another's detriment, to prevail against; to be superior in strength; to overpower: MATT 16:18 (meaning, 'not even the gates of Hades — than which nothing was supposed to be stronger — shall surpass the church in strength'); absolutely, to prevail (i.e. succeed, accomplish one's desire): because the LORD says, the gates of hell shall not prevail, we can rest assured that these gates are not strong to our detriment and cannot prevail.

Gates in ancient times were places of authority, as most major cities were walled with thick edifices, modeled after Babylon and within these thick walls were offices were official presided over the politics of the city. Speaking of the authority of hades, this can be none other than Satan (HEB 2:14-16; LUKE 1:79) who will not prevail against the church – as he does “overcome” the saints that are in the time of the great tribulation.

The Greek word for “overcome” [these saints] used here in vs. 6  is nikao and this means, “victory) – properly, conquer (overcome); " 'to carry off the victory, come off victorious.' The verb implies a battle" (K. Wuest). Conquer (1), conquering (1), overcame (2), overcome (11), overcomes (10), overpowers (1), prevail (1), victorious (1). The same word used for the beast overcoming the saints is used of the LORD when He arrives in REV 19 and overcomes the beast and the false prophet and all the armies arrayed against Israel. These who refuse the beast, who refuse the mark and allegiance to the rule of the beast will be martyred by beheading (REV 20:4; 6:9-11). Yet in the beast overcoming the saints, all he will accomplish is the death of their bodies and nothing more. In eternity, at the Great White Throne, these faithful martyrs will stand in glorified bodies with the LORD pronouncing judgment upon their executioners (unless they repent of course) and shall enjoy the ultimate overcoming victory over Satan (See MATT 10:27-28; REV 12:11)!

It is the inheritance of the saints, we who believe in Christ Jesus and who stand for truth and righteousness to suffer persecution (PHIL 1:29). However, for every ounce of suffering for Christ’s sake that the saint endures, this will earn for them ten thousand tons of reward (LUKE 6:22-23; 2 COR 4:17)!

REVELATION 13:8-9
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. If any man have an ear, let him hear
.

These ‘Earth dwellers’ are classified as those who worship the beast; the worship of the beast is associated with those people whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. An angel from heaven confirms that those who worship the beast and receives his mark will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb” (REV 14:10).

We creatures that dwell in this space/time continuum who are born of GOD’s Spirit of Truth understand that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David died 2000 years ago on a rough-hewn and blood stained cross erected in Judea, outside of Jerusalem. Yet this verse tells us that the Lamb was slain “from the foundation of the world.” What does this mean? Is this simply speaking of GOD’s foreknowledge and that because this provision for our salvation was so absolutely certain, that it was a “done deal” in the mind of GOD – or was it more than this?

I believe that in the sense that GOD is eternal, and exists outside of this space/time continuum, that from this Divine perspective, the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ likewise had an eternal element to it, so that it affected salvation to the Old Testament saints who looked forward to the coming Messiah, as much as the New Testament saints (post-ascension of Christ) could look back and understand that Christ’s sacrifice is efficacious in every respect. It is because GOD is eternal and thus the truth of His Holy Law is likewise eternal: and so likewise the punishment for sin against the Holy Law must be eternal (which is why there is no terminus date for hell – it likewise is eternal).

Because of this, the sufferings of Christ, Who is Eternal Himself, took on eternal proportions that extended beyond the beginning and ending of creation. I don’t pretend to understand the ramifications of this sacred transaction but then again, I am a finite creature within this space/time continuum, whose mind is not (yet!) wired to comprehend things of an eternal nature.

Suffice it to say, that the sacrifice of Christ is wholly sufficient for all the sins of the world to be erased and forgotten, and for those who by faith will receive Christ, they will not only know the certain and complete forgiveness of sins, but they will also receive the eternal life promised to all who accept Him as LORD and Savior. Eternal life is not something we receive once we die and go to heaven; it is a spiritual condition that happens when a repentant sinner turns to Christ and to Christ alone for salvation and by the grace of GOD, inherits this eternal life which is Christ’s life in us!

JOHN 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

JOHN 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

ROMANS 5:17, 21
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord
.

Finally, this phrase in REVELATION 13:9
If any man have an ear, let him hear
.

We see this phrase twice in the Gospel of Mark:

MARK 4:23; 7:16
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear
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We also see something almost exactly like this in the seven letters to the seven churches, and this phrase likewise occurs seven times: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” REV 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22.

“Hearing” in this sense intimates ‘understanding’ – it’s the same idea in the verse that states:

ROMANS 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
.

He who lives to endure this time of the Beast’s reign and has understanding will perceive the depths of truth of this book of REVELATION as no one else could, for these will require wisdom and understanding!

We will end Part One here and pick up from vs. 9 and conclude this chapter in Part Two.

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