The Economy of the Beast
Revelation, Part 20, Revelation 13:13-18
Introduction
- The second half of Trib. involves the revelation of a one world religion
-- Humanity will worship Satan in the person of the Antichrist
-- Those that refuse will be killed … bottom line (there is NO escape)
- People will not be able to buy or sell anything unless they submit
-- Submit in life, in worship, in finances, etc. (personal and public)
-- Daniel foretold this nature of the Antichrist over 2500 years ago. He says in Daniel 11:37, “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.”
- 2 Thess 2:11-12 predicted EXACTLY how God will allow this to happen, and why He will do it: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
- Read Revelation 13:13-18
Point 1 – Satanic Signs & Wonders (v13-14)
- He performs great signs
-- The false prophet does the signs as a means of deception
-- Signs are not limited to God’s kingdom alone
-- God allows Satan to also perform signs as a way of testing people
- How amazed would you be if one could call fire down from the Heavens?
-- Admit it … that would be a pretty neat trick
-- This man has power to create signs and wonders to fool all who live
-- APP: We are a people who demand proof (show me); Satan knows it
- When we demand a sign from God to prove, two things happen:
-- The first is that (and most dangerously): We are testing God
-- How dare we (as the creation) be so presumptuous as to demand anything?
-- We are telling God that unless he shows us something we will not believe!
- The second is that the devil knows that we “need” to have proof
-- He knows that we demand “signs” to prove claims are real
-- APP: Think for a moment of the extraordinary efforts that science has put out to discredit God, to discredit creation, and to discredit the things which are considered “holy”.
-- The devil is counting on this doubting on our behalf!
- So, how tough would it be to get people to believe in this false Christ?
-- It wouldn’t, as a matter of fact – it is already being done today
-- Consider the amount of “successful” religions (Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, etc.) that take away the deity of Jesus Christ today
-- The anti-Christ’s power will be given by God to do what he wants to do
-- APP: Fooling us will be his easiest task because we will allow it
- Ref: Exodus 20 (10 commandments)
-- One of the first acts of Satan does is by discrediting God’s commands:
-- 1. There is no god but God
-- 2. Do not make an image
-- 3. Do not worship an image
-- APP: Satan has succeeded in breaking the first three commandments
-- Think of the authority he must have been given by God!
-- Think of the absolute hatred he must have for God to do this so publicly!
Point 2 – The Image of the Beast (v15)
The image created by men of the Beast seemingly comes to life
-- This Satanic miracle is allowed to take place by God
-- Man is being tested by this part of the strong delusion that God allows
-- The “Image” of the Beast comes to life and further validates his identity
-- Those who know the scriptures will have a clear choice today:
-- APP: Accept it or to turn away and go into hiding
- This is why it is SO important for us to spread the Gospel!
-- We must know the truth … we must be involved in sharing the truth
-- IMP: We must NOT sit back and wait for someone else to do it!
-- APP: God has called you to do it; failure is your disobedience
-- People need to be told … This is the duty of the church, period
- A hunt across the entire world ensues to kill all those who fail to worship
-- APP: Just as God knows where you are, the devil is given control also
- If you think today you can hide from God, think for a moment about hiding from a hunter who is specialized and trained in killing and destruction!
-- 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
-- You let a lion out of a cage, he does not need training
-- He is already a TRAINED, EXPERT killer and he’s ready to eat
-- The devil is compared to a lion because all he needs is the permission
-- APP: Be aware and wake up church!!
Point 3 - The Economic System of the Beast (v16-18)
- The False Prophet will implement a system to execute control from all
-- Even the rich and powerful will not be able to escape the requirements
-- Each man, woman, and child will be required to receive a mark
-- This is how they will profess their undying allegiance to him (Satan)
- The mark will be a system that allows control of the individual
-- Without submission to the Beast there will be no ability to participate
-- Food, clothing, shelter will not available to those who have not submitted
- New technologies known as bio-metrics are being developed today
-- IMP: With the increase in terrorism little resistance to such a system can be logically justified today. Fear of terrorism has removed many of our concerns of an intrusive government.
-- Thought: Citizens want to know who is a threat; perhaps accepting this mark Satan will use it to justify that only “he” can protect you
- There will be three ways to accept the beast:
-- Take his mark (worship him in everything)
-- Take the name of the beast (ex., Christians take the name of Jesus)
-- Take the number of his name (allow his number to identify who you are)
-- APP: Failure to do so will result in your death … period!
- Anyone who is alive will be required to understand what is going on
-- Why? To recognize the signs and to stay away from this “man”
-- Compare the signs today to the first 13 chapters that we have studied:
-- There is disobedience to God, famine, plagues, earthquakes, wars
-- Challenge: How much more does this world need to take note?
- The Antichrist is a Man, given authority by Satan (from God) to:
-- 1. Destroy whatever stands opposed to him, and,
-- 2. Demand complete worship from all inhabitants
- Those who choose the mark swear allegiance to Satan
-- By doing this they turn away from God forever: their eternity is in hell
Those who choose to not accept the mark have one of two things happen:
-- Either they are children of God (they have accepted Jesus Christ), or,
-- They are unsaved and when they are killed will go to hell anyway
- How can we be so sure that all will die when the end comes?
-- Turn to and read Revelation 19:11-21
- Satan does not care which one of these you are, that is important to know
-- Again, knowing the battle plan of the enemy HELPS us fight him off
-- If you are saved then you are a threat and need to be removed
-- If you are not saved – then you belong to the devil anyway
-- It does not matter –the choice is, and always has been, yours to make
Ω Big Ideas
- The economic and religious systems of the world will belong to him
-- Signs and wonders must mean things are real, right?
-- APP: Wrong! Think of a magician … it his stuff “real”
- How will the devil be able to control so many?
-- John 8:44, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
- How will those who are thought of as educated be fooled so easily?
- Perhaps an analogy of this question will help you answer it.
-- Think for a moment of the beatitudes that Jesus gave us …
-- What if the devil wrote his own?
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians -- they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy that stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church events -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.
10. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit the Christian lifestyle.
- What will you choose when asked?
-- Will you accept Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation forever or
-- Will you blindly roll the dice and hope that God will let you slide by because you are a “good person”?
- Let me tell you, hell is filled with good people
-- They all had good intentions of doing good things
-- But if you die today without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your eternity is with those who denied Jesus
- What will you choose? Where will you spend eternity?
-- Today I would love to introduce you to Jesus Christ, to get your eternity secured forever … but you have to make the first move.
- Pray
