10/15/06 - “Prophecy – The Image to the Beast – Part 1” - 42L - FM
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

This Week: “Prophecy – The Image to the Beast – Part 1”
(Prayer and Pledge)
We live in the age of political correctness. Parents are unable to discipline their children according to God's Word for fear that Social Services will take their children away. One group is super sensitive to the feelings of another and tries so hard not to offend. In most situations, that's a good thing. But when a priest or minister is withholding precious truths from their congregations, and preach smooth things instead, that's another matter altogether. 
Isaiah 30:10 "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: "
This is not a new problem. By now you have realized that we have not tried to soften or withhold the truth of God's Word. You get the straight, and painful truth. God does not change, Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not;”
He demanded the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets to, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression," Isaiah 58:1.

We are commanded by the authority of God's Word to tell it straight. The eternal life of every soul hangs in the balance of exactly how they receive the cutting truth of God's written word, and then what they do with the truth as it relates to their own life. The important thing is what are you going to do with the truths you are learning?

God says through His prophet Elijah, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him:...." 1 Kings 18:21. God says today as Joshua recorded back then, "....choose you this day whom ye will serve;" Joshua 24:15. We can not and will not apologize for what the Holy Spirit has led us to prepare from God's Word, for your learning and spiritual growth in Christ. Time is too short.

And now from God's Word, the study on "The Image to the Beast". 
In Revelation 13:11 John sees another beast. We read as follows, "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." So John saw another beast rise up out of the earth about the time the beast of verse 1 & 2 (Papal Rome) ended it's period of rule in verse 5, (which was in 1798 as we have previously studied), and was due to receive a deadly wound, verse 3, and was taken captive, verse Now who do you think this lamb-like beast is that John saw in verse 11? 

 Well we have learned that a beast coming out of waters is a nation or kingdom arising in an existing nation or populated area. But this beast or nation is arising out of the earth or dry land. Therefore it had to be a country that had a very sparse population and would have been rising to power somewhere in the late 1700's. His beginning would be gentle as he is compared to a lamb with two horns. Jesus was called the Lamb of God. The United States was founded as a Christian nation and it was for the most part, lamblike in its innocent beginning.

No other country but the United States can fit here. It was in 1776 that the United States of America declared her independence. The two horns represent the two principles that formed the basis of government, civil and religious liberty.

What does this Nation end up speaking like? Revelation 13:11 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon."

In a previous study we learned that Satan is the dragon, Revelation 12:8, and he gave power and authority to the first beast, Revelation 13:2. But verse 11 is saying that the USA is going to speak like a dragon.

Now let’s look at the two tragic things that this second beast causes people to do? Revelation 13:12,16 "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 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 Papacy has been urging the government of the United States to tear down this wall of separation between church and state. Three Supreme Court justices are anxious for just that event. Prophecy never fails. God has warned us and the US Government is going to fulfill it. They will pass a National Sunday law and they will enforce it. John says the book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:1. There is a special blessing for reading and keeping those things written in it.

Keeping God's fourth commandment Sabbath will become the focal issue and heaven is watching how we take our stand. Listen, if we are not a commandment keeper, we will receive the mark of the beast and be lost. America will lead out in forcing people to receive the mark of the beast. This magnificent country will soon repudiate religious freedom and will force people into false worship.

You might be thinking, oh that can’t be anytime soon? Friends, Soviet communism seemingly crumbled overnight, when many never thought they would see that in their lifetime. There are many in congress that would gladly vote for a National Sunday law. As of this date, there is no legislation before or pending in congress regarding a National Sunday law. But there are grass root organizations that have formed with that task as their goal. As they continue to swell and their cries become louder and louder, their organizations will become very large, with many prominent religious leaders in the forefront. That coupled with a sudden increase in natural disasters along with disease and judgments falling on our land, the blame will be put on the moral decay, and efforts will be underfoot to right the wrongs. A National Sunday law will get the attention of Congress.

How will the second beast convince people that they should listen to him? Revelation 13:13,14 "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."

Now let’s look at that again. To whom will this second beast make an image? Revelation 13:14 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."
God tells us through Revelation that it is the United States that will make the image to the Papacy.

An image is a copy. The first beast supported false worship by the arm of the state and persecuted and killed those who refused to comply. 50 to 120 million of God’s people were slain by the Papal decrees during the dark ages. The second beast will do the same. We see the uniting of church leaders and government leaders to enforce religious morality to stem the tide of evil in our decaying society. Their motives are very good, but forced worship is always evil. Forced prayer in schools and forced Sunday laws can be dangerous for the same reason. God has never forced worship on anyone. The second beast, the USA, will utilize boycott and death threats to force people into line. Revelation 13:15-17 "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."

Verse 15 shows this law and the violation will ultimately lead to the death penalty. Verse 16 says he will cause all to receive the mark. Verse 17 infers that some will stand opposed and lose their right to buy and sell.

Who could the little group of people be that refuse the Mark of the beast? Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God,"

Now please note - This end time prophecy is talking about God's true church, represented by the woman, and Satan causing persecution to this remnant group of believers. (A remnant is the very end, like a carpet) Only God's people will be all Ten Commandment keepers. All the rest will bear the mark of the beast.
 
 In persecuting God's commandment keepers, they will actually believe that they are doing the Lord's work. Remember Paul, one of the greatest Christians that ever lived? He was once Saul the persecutor. He rounded up the Christians that were eventually fed to the lions. He believed he was doing the Lord's work. It is possible to be sincerely deceived. 

Well the clock says we’re out of time for this week. We will continue this study next week. Remember, you are always welcome to worship with us each seventh day Lord’s Day at the Victory Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 117 W. Danville Street in the center of South Hill, VA.

Next Week: “Prophecy – The Image to the Beast – Part 2”

Until next week, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Come Lord Jesus.