Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts
Richard Vaughn

Today: “Prophecy – The future told in advance – Revelation 13 - Part 3”
Over the last two weeks, we identified 6 of the 9 identifying marks of the beast power of Revelation 13. In review they are Point #1- It arose from the ruins of the Roman Empire; 
Point #2- It received it's power and ruling authority from the dragon (Satan and Pagan Rome).     Point #3- During the Middle Ages the Papacy was a worldwide power.
Point #4- No power on earth, other than the Papacy ever ruled exactly 1,260 years, the period from 538 AD to 1798 AD, as prophesied.     Point #5- Only the Papacy fits the identification of Rev 13:3, receiving a deadly wound that eventually healed. And      Point #6- The Papacy fits the identifying point of Blasphemy. 
Now we will cover the three remaining, identifying marks of the Beast of Revelation 13.
Point #7 we read Revelation 13:18 “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
We are told to count the number of the beast's name and that it is the number of a man. When a person wanted to know the number of their name, a practice quite common in centuries past, they would count all of the letters, which were Roman numerals. The sum of the total was the number of their name. God did not need to add this further point of identification, but in so doing, we read in verse 18 that we are to understand by calculation. If the Papacy is the beast power, then this equation has to apply....and it does. The official Latin title of the Pope is "VICARIUS FILII DEI" Here is wisdom. Count the number of his name. * Note- U's are V's in the Roman Alphabet  
V   I   C   A   R   I   V* S  
5+ 1+100+0+O+1+ 5+ 0 = 112
F   I   L   I   I        
0+1+50+1+1 = 53       
D   E   I            
500+0+1 = 501    112+53+501=666    Point #7- His name adds up to 666.     
Point #8 What will all who dwell on the earth do to the beast? Rev 13:8.
"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." This is a religious power as well as a political force. Notice he is worshiped. The word worship is used four times in Revelation 13, but this chapter is about false worship.  
Point #8 - This is a religious power that is worshipped as well as being a political force.  
Point #9 He would make war with and persecute the saints. Rev. 13:7 "It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them." It is common knowledge that the Papacy did order his armies to persecute and destroy conscientious Christians, especially during the peak of its period of control, during the Middle Ages. Many historians say that more than fifty million people died for their faith, during this period of great tribulation. Estimates range as high as 120 million. For only wanting to read the scriptures for themselves, in their own language, and believing as God's Spirit led them, millions were tortured in dungeons and burned at the stake. The church felt it was doing God a favor in stamping out "heresy", but the fact remains, it did persecute and destroy the real people of God.  Point #9 The Papacy made war with the saints. 
There you have it. No other power on earth outside of the Papacy fits the nine identifying points of Revelation 13, and the nine identifying points of Daniel 7. God has identified him, the beast of Revelation 13, with His Word. No conscientious child of God wants to receive the Mark of the Beast. However multiplied millions of Christians along with the rest of the world, will receive it. 
God says in scripture, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. 
Now that God’s Word has identified who the beast is, we will next study what the mark is, and God’s word clearly identifies it. You need not receive the mark of the beast friend, and to make sure, you need to know what it is. That will be our topic in next weeks study,  "The Mark of the Beast."
Next Week: “Prophecy – The Mark of the Beast – Part 1”