THE MARK OF THE BEAST

PROCLAMATION

“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea.  And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.  It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” … “Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.  It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” …  “It also forced all people … to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads …”  Revelation 13:1-18 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this eleventh chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, 9:1, 10:1, and 12:1-3)  After the dragon had harassed the woman, he stood on the shore of the sea.  Then John saw a seven-headed beast with ten horns coming out of the sea. (Revelation 13:1-2)  The beast could speak and it uttered blasphemies against God.  It slandered the name of God, His dwelling place, and all those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)  The beast was given the power to wage war against God’s holy people.  All of the people whose name was not written in The Lamb’s book of life worshipped the beast. (Revelation 13:7-8)  Then John saw a second beast, this one coming out of the earth.  It made people worship the first beast.  It had the power to perform signs and it deceived the people. (Revelation 13:11-15)  It forced the people to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead in order to buy or sell goods. (Revelation 13:16-18)  The number of the beast is 666.

 

APPLICATION

A lot has been said about the advances in technology with microchips containing information turning up in some unusual places.  Credit cards with microchips are used almost everywhere.  Some businesses now require credit card transactions exclusively.  Not only are microchips  being placed in pets, some employers require their employees to have microchips placed under their skin rather than using time-cards and identification badges.  It sounds like the world is being preconditioned to receiving the mark of the beast in order to transact business.  People used to brand cattle, horses, and other animals to denote ownership.  This mark of the beast, or the microchip, could also denote ownership.  Those whose name is written in The Lamb’s book of life will not worship the dragon or the beast, and we will not wear his mark or microchip.

 

THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON

PROCLAMATION

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.  She was pregnant and … was about to give birth.  Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads … The dragon stood in front of the woman … so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.”  Revelation 12:1-5 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this eleventh chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, 9:1, and 10:1)  Shortly after the seventh trumpet was sounded, there appeared two signs in heaven: one was a pregnant woman, who was about to give birth, dressed in the sun, and the other was a large red dragon with seven heads. (Revelation 12:1-3)  As the woman gave birth, her child was snatched up unto God before the dragon could get it.  The woman is symbolic for Israel and the child is symbolic for Christ.  The dragon is symbolic for Satan.  A war broke out in heaven and the dragon and his angels were defeated, kicked out of heaven, and hurled to the earth. (Revelation 12:7-9)  Enraged, the dragon pursued the woman and waged war against the rest of her offspring. (Revelation 12:13-17)

 

APPLICATION

The way I see this, the devil is mad because he was not able to stop Christianity at the very beginning and he is attacking everything that has grown out of it.  He is attacking the woman, Israel, and all of her other offspring, all Christians.  That is why we need God’s protection.  Satan is roaming about the earth seeking whom he may devour. (Job 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:8)  We need to put on the whole armor of God in order to withstand his attacks. (Ephesians 6:10-18)  He will not attack Christ; he has already lost that fight.

THE TWO WITNESSES

PROCLAMATION

“And I will appoint My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth … If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies …”  Revelation 11:3-5 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION 

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this eleventh chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, 9:1, and 10:1)  After he ate the little scroll, John was given a measuring rod type of reed and told to go measure the temple of God and the altar. (Revelation 11:1)  Then the voice of God told him that He would appoint two witnesses to prophesy to the people.  The witnesses, names not specified, would have the power to breathe fire out of their mouths and devour anyone who tried to harm them.  They would also have the power to stop the rain, to turn water to blood, and to strike the earth with plagues. (Revelation 11:3-6)  When they had finished their testimony the beast from the Abyss would attack them, overpower them, and kill them.  Their bodies will lie in the public square for three and a half days.  Then the breath of life would return to them and they would rise to their feet, striking terror in all who saw them.  They would ascend to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched. (Revelation 11:7-12)  After this there would be a severe earthquake which will destroy a tenth of the city and kill seven thousand people.  The survivors would be terrified and give glory to God.  This is the end of the second woe.  Then the seventh angel would sound his trumpet, and the Millennial reign of Christ begins. (Revelation 11:15-19)

 

APPLICATION

It is very reassuring to know that no matter what happens, as the witnesses for The Lord God that we will be kept, preserved, and protected until we have done all that He has assigned for us to do before we are called home.  The “great commission” to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations …” (Matthew 28:19) was given to the apostles.  While all of us cannot preach, teach, or baptize people, all of us can be witnesses and tell our personal story.   Here the witnesses are killed, and then they are brought back to life.  It is not over until The Lord God says that it is over.  If bad things happen to us while we are witnessing for The Lord, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great will be our reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)

THE ANGEL AND THE LITTLE SCROLL

PROCLAMATION

“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven.  He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.  He was holding a little scroll which lay open in his hand.  He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion.  When he shouted, the voices of seven thunders spoke.”  Revelation 10:1-3 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this tenth chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, and 9:1)  After the smoke John saw a mighty angel coming down from heaven holding a little scroll in his hand. (Revelation 10:1-2)  When this angel spoke, the voices of seven thunders spoke and John was told not to write what was said. (Revelation 10:3-4)  John was told to take the little scroll from the angel’s hand and eat it.  After he had eaten it, he was told to go and prophesy again. (Revelations 10:8-11)

 

APPLICATION

When we ingest The Word of God, it is sweet and good. (Psalm 34:8 and Revelation 10:9-10)  After we digest it and internalize it, The Word of God should burn at our insides, like “…  fire shut up in my bones …” (Jeremiah 20:9) and we are to share it with others.  This experience was given to the Apostle John, a preacher of the gospel, and he was told to prophesy and share it. (Revelation 10:11)  All believers are not preachers, but all believers know something about the gospel, and all of us have had a unique set of experiences that The Lord has brought us through which can be shared with others.  We all have kingdom building work to do before it is too late.  Tell someone about Jesus, The Christ, the gospel, the crucifixion, the resurrection, or the things that He brought you through.  Your story may make the difference in someone’s life.

 

TORTURE OUT OF THE ABYSS AND THE SIXTH TRUMPET

PROCLAMATION

“Out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.  They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.  They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months …”  Revelation 9:3-5 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this ninth chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, and 8:1-2)  After the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, John saw a star, an agent of the devil, that had fallen from the sky.  The star was given the key to the Abyss, the bottomless pit.  When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it and darkened the sun and sky.  Out of the smoke came locusts like scorpions of the earth.  These locusts were ordered not harm the plants; they were to torture the people who had not been sealed earlier. (Revelation 9:1-5)  It was so bad that the people wished that they could die but they were not allowed to die to end their suffering. (Revelation 9:6)  This was the first of the three woes mentioned previously. (Revelation 8:13)  When the sixth angel sounded the trumpet, John heard a voice saying: ‘Release the four angels …’ and a mounted army of twice ten thousand times ten thousand was released and killed one third of the remaining people. (Revelation 9:13-19)  The rest of mankind who were not killed still did not repent.  They continued to worship idols and perform sexual immorality and murder. (Revelation 9:20-21)

 

APPLICATION

Throughout The Bible we have been told many times to repent.  From John, The Baptizer, (Matthew 3:1-2) to the early sermons of Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 4:17)  Unfortunately, most of mankind is hardhearted and is in love with their sinful ways.  Some of them have repented and then shortly afterwards returned to their previous sinful ways.  However, there are some people who are so committed to their sinful ways that even all of the death and destruction of the Great Tribulation period cannot change their minds or their hearts. (Revelation 9:20-21)  These hardhearted men would not change or accept Christ.  Please do not associate with these individuals.  Hell is real, and eternity is a very long time.  Repent people, while there is time.  The torment and torture is coming.

THE SEVENTH SEAL AND THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

PROCLAMATION

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.”  Revelation 8:1-2 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this eighth chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1 and 6:1-17)  After seeing the 144,000, the martyrs, the Jews, and the Gentiles in heaven, John saw The Lamb of God open the seventh seal and then he saw seven angels who were given seven trumpets. (Revelation 8:1-2)  The first angel sounded the trumpet and there came hail and fire and blood down upon the earth.  One third of the grass and trees on earth were burned. (Revelation 8:7)  The second angel sounded the trumpet, and a huge burning mountain was thrown into the sea.  The sea turned to blood and one third of the creatures in the sea died. (Revelation 8:8-9)  The third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great burning star fell from heaven and landed on one third of the rivers and springs causing them to turn bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)  The fourth angel sounded the trumpet and one third of the sun, the moon, and the stars went dark. (Revelation 8:12)

 

APPLICATION

After the wrath of God has begun in the Great Tribulation period and one fourth of the people on earth have been killed, there is more death and destruction coming.  Initially only people were killed, but after the trumpets sound, plants, and animals along with more people will be destroyed. (Revelation 8:7-11)  These are things which have yet to happen but must take place. (Revelation 4:1)  The good news for the church is that the rapture will have already occurred before these things begin.  Do not be alarmed by the destruction of the earth.  The Lord has promised us a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13) and the Apostle John was given a glimpse of this in his vision. (Revelation 21:1)  This new earth is something which only believers will see.

 

THE 144,000 SAINTS

PROCLAMATION

“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”  Revelation 7:4 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this seventh chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1 and 6:1-17)  After this John saw four angels holding back the four winds to prevent them from harming the earth. (Revelation 7:1)  Then another angel appeared and told the four angels not to release the winds until seals had been placed on the foreheads of the servants of God. (Revelation 7:2-3)  These are the 144,000 Jewish male servants of God who were sealed and preserved during the Tribulation.  After this John saw a great multitude of believers, too many to count, from every nation and tribe and language wearing white robes standing before the throne.  These are the Gentile believers, the elect of God, the saints from the Great Tribulation. (Revelation 7:9-10)

 

APPLICATION

The 144,000 saints are virgin Jewish men (Revelation 14:4) who are the remnants of Israel who are sealed to preserve them as they witness for Christ during the Great Tribulation.  There are 12,000 from twelve of the thirteen tribes of Israel.  The tribes of Dan and Ephraim were omitted from the list.  These are not the only Jews in heaven.  The Old Testament saints will be there as well as the martyrs who died prior to the Tribulation, the souls that John saw under the alter. (Revelation 6:9-11)  The church will have been raptured before the wrath of God is unleased on the earth.  There are some Bible scholars who believe that these 144,000 saints will translated without dying because they were sealed and protected during the Great Tribulation.  While we may not be in that 144,000, we need to make sure that we are in the number with their name recorded in The Lamb’s Book of Life.