THE MARK OF THE BEAST
TEXT: Revelation 13:11-18
Revelation 13:11-18 (KJV) 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. [12] 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. [13] And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [14] 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. [15] 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. [16] 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: [17] 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. [18] 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.
I. INTRODUCTION—ANOTHER BEAST RISING
A. Looking Back to Look Forward
-Over the last several weeks we have traveled through some very weighty and provoking Scriptural matters. We have walked through the Olivet Discourse from the area of Mark 13. The particular words of Mark 13 are echoed in two other Gospels—Matthew 24 and Luke 21.
-There have been times that we have seen that Matthew 24 is concerned with the overall landscape of the world and the destruction in Luke 21 is more focused on Jerusalem. We have also visited the various judgments that the book of Revelation brings to bear through the seals, the trumpets, and finally the bowl judgments.
• The wars
• The famines
• The death
• The martyrs
• The earthquakes
• The darkness
• The hail and fire mingled with blood
• The poisoned waters
• The demonic spirits creating horror
• The sores like boils on the bodies of the population of the earth
-There has been a sobriety, a seriousness, a somber spirit, an earnestness, and a sincerity that has visited all of us as we beheld from the accuracy and authority of Scripture what is to take place on this earth. There has been an awareness from all of us that it would appear that we are drawing closer and closer to the final plans the Lord has in mind for the earth and for the church.
-Instead of fear, worry, dread, and apprehension gaining a foothold in our minds, I believe the prophecy preaching should inspire a closer walk with the Lord instead of handwringing.
-We visit one more area of the Scriptures before moving on to other matters. We have seen the impact of the anti-Christ and what he desires to do in the earth. This abomination of desolation will literally blaspheme God in all that he does until the Lord finally descends on the day of the Lord for a final battle with him.
B. A Wild Beast—The False Prophet—Who He Is—Revelation 13:11
Revelation 13:11 (KJV) 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.
-There is a dragon and a first beast that appears early in Revelation 13. We can see the devil working with and through three distinct characters in the end time:
• The Beast—The nations that are under the system of the Antichrist
• The Anti-Christ (The Dragon)—The literal incarnation of the devil
• The False Prophet—The one who promotes the power and worship of the Antichrist.
-Suffice it to say that this description is terribly over-simplified and many more details can be understood about the final players of the end time.
-But the second beast arises from the earth. The word for beast is θηρίον
(thērion) and literally gives the idea of a venomous beast, a monster, or a vicious, killing animal. It is the very same word that is used to describe the beast in Revelation 13:1. For all of those who think that the plan of the devil and the work of the world is good for them, it is nothing more than a killing beast that is bent on the eternal destruction of every person.
-But he is even more than that. . . He has two horns that are like a lamb. He is nothing in comparison to the Antichrist who is like a leopard, or a bear, or a lion (Rev. 13:2). The false prophet is displayed as a lamb with two small horns meaning that it has the characteristics of a lamb that is not even mature yet. He is like a playful young male lamb that a shepherd might bring home to his children as a pet. But this lamb is deadly!
-Harmless seemingly until John describes his speech. He speaks like a dragon! But his words again are distinctly different from the blasphemies that pour from the Antichrist. The words of the false prophet are subtle, smooth, and he will win over the world as he speaks and urges them to worship the Antichrist.
-He will offer up promises that he will never be able to uphold but that is exactly the work of all false prophets. To speak smoothly and give words of comfort and encouragement when in actuality nothing could be further from the truth.
C. A Wild Beast—The False Prophet—How He Works—Revelation 13:12-15
Revelation 13:12-15 (KJV) 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. [13] And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [14] 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. [15] 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.
-This portion of Scripture is where we can see the false prophet in the most deadly effect that he will have on this world. He will blind men with deception.
-He will show signs from the heavens.
• Just as Jesus was able to control the waves of the sea. . . the false prophet will as well.
• Just as Elijah prayed fire from heaven. . . the false prophet will as well.
• Jesus refused to show the skeptics a sign from the heavens. . . the false prophet will show signs all over the heavens.
-But he will show signs from hell as well. . . this comes in the form of deception. [14]. . . 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. . .
-The Jerusalem Temple will have been rebuilt at this time and the false prophet will endorse the Antichrist. The Antichrist will set up an image in that Temple and he will demand worship and this is what is referred to as the “abomination of desolation.”
-Just as Nebuchadnezzar set up an image for men to worship in the plains of Shinar, the Antichrist will have his own image as well. You can be certain as well that just as Nebuchadnezzar threatened those who did not bow with death, the Antichrist will do the same. Those who do not worship the image will be killed.
-The world will take part in the most blatant and blasphemous idolatry that has ever been seen. The times will run with the blood of the martyrs:
Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 7:13-14 (KJV) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? [14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 20:4 (KJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
-The image that is set up in the Temple is referred to seven times in the book of Revelation (13:15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). To worship this image is literally going to cast those who do into the greatest sin of all: blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. There is no forgiveness for that sin in this life or the one to come.
-One of the most remarkable feats of deception will take place when the image that has been set up in the Temple will seem to have a life of its own. This will be an unexplained miracle of Satan. The false prophet who is controlled by the beast (10 horns with seven headed nations) and the Antichrist will throw his support behind every bit of this activity.
-He will be in full support of the deception and the violence against those who do not take part in the worship of the Antichrist.
D. A Wild Beast—The False Prophet—What He Does—Revelation 13:16
Revelation 13:16 (KJV) 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:
-Here is the outline of this passage:
• The False Prophet—Who He Is—Revelation 13:11
• The False Prophet—How He Works—Revelation 13:12-15
• The False Prophet—What He Does—Revelation 13:16
-But this last verse is ever so chilling to every one who can read or hear this prophecy of John. . . the false prophet is going to cause everyone to receive the mark. There will be the masses who are convinced that this man can bring the world into a single federation. . . a one-world global government.
-That one-world government will generate its own financial system, its own religious system, and its own political system.
-The false prophet will cause all of these people to receive this “mark” in their right hand or their forehead. The word is χάραγμα (charagma) which means an engraving or a tattoo or even a branding.
-In the ancient world both slaves and soldiers were sometimes marked by their owners or leaders. There were even some of the devotees of religious cults who also were given this mark as a sign of ownership and identification. It was permanent and could not be removed.
-Everyone will take that mark. Over the years I have heard many people say that if they get left the in rapture they will just refuse the mark and make to heaven as a martyr. My general response to that is what the old prophet Jeremiah wrote:
Jeremiah 12:5 (KJV) If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
-How can you stand up to the mark of the beast if you cannot even run with the footmen?
II. THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THE POWER OF THE MARK
Revelation 13:17-18 (KJV) 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. [18] 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.
-The mark of the beast will have great power in our world. No one will literally be able to buy or sell without that mark. What will be required is for our society to have moved toward an entirely cashless way of operating. Normal currency will no longer even be necessary any longer.
-Already in our world there is the existence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Both of these entities have large office complexes in Washington, D.C. although neither are American institutions.
-For the mark of the beast to have complete power, there will have to be a complete global financial crisis that collapses the entire world economy, not just national economies. If you even remotely pay attention to the national debt of the United States you have to realize that it is only a matter of time before we have to pay the piper. Today (12/13/15) our national deficit is more than $18 trillion. Each American citizen has a debt of more than $58,000. The debt per taxpayer is more than $157,000.00.
-Common sense tells us that we cannot continue on this track for an indefinite period of time.
-Then when you add into the account of the biochip technology that is available to us during our times, it becomes even clearer that a system is already in place. Think of the advancements that has come with the internet in the last ten years, think of the streamlining that has taken place with smart phones and suddenly you can see it literally played out in front of your eyes.
-These biochips:
• Can help locate children and the elderly who wander off or are kidnapped.
• Can monitor your health and store your medical records.
• Can be convenient to pay for merchandise at various scanning devices.
• Can be used to store information such as a passport and expedite air travel.
• Can prevent financial fraud and no one can use your account.
• Can be used to keep track of prisoners.
-The world under the threat and fear of terrorism will buy into this idea with hardly the blinking of an eye.
III. CONCLUSION—BE READY!
-What is our response to be? The answer to that comes from John. . . Here is wisdom. . . Let him that has understanding. . . Be aware. . .
-Just as Daniel and his brethren were when they were confronted by the Babylonians. . . The same thing has to come to bear in our generation!
Philip Harrelson
December 13, 2015
