Light In The Evening Time Series... THE MARK OF THE BEAST (Part 1 Contd.) Revelation 2:20 says, “…thou sufferest that woman Jezebel which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols…” It all begins with some teachings, some knowledge ministered to men’s mind. So was it at the Garden of Eden. The seed of evil entered into the human race through some knowledge, “…hath God said…, …ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil…” And that seed, that knowledge began to work upon the mind, the thoughts, the emotions, desires and will until it found expression in physical act of disobedience. When evil, erroneous principles are established in a believer’s mind, he has the mark of the beast upon his forehead. It will not be long before it is revealed in the works of his hands. The hands stand for services whether religious, social or economic. The Bible says, “…God shall bless the labour of our hands…”. So, whatever we do in the day-to-day living in our homes, in our offices, in our businesses, in the midst of God’s people, among unbelievers etc., reveal what is ruling over us in the inside. To receive the mark of the beast in the hands is to express in moral conduct and services that sin is a master over one’s soul. It is to be found in sinful living or to be involved in promoting a system of things that does not represent God’s interest, that does not glorify God. In Romans 6:6 that we read earlier, we are told we should no longer serve sin. And again in John 8:34, Jesus said to the people, “…he that committeth sin is a servant, a minister of sin…”. So, dishonest dealing in business is a proof that the mark of the beast is already being formed in somebody’s hands. Putting away God’s rule in His church and the imposition of carnal mindedness, promoting the rule of man over the assembly of God’s people is a clear sign that this obnoxious thing is come upon the right hand. Again, being a Christian employer and not paying those who work under you their wages when due, and allowing that evil to be a growing feature in your life, you may get away with it, but it is a sign you are taking on the mark of the beast. Now, in order to strengthen your confidence in the factualness of the observations, we will draw attention to two things. First, Exodus 13:9 read and considered side by side with Deuteronomy 1:18, shows that when the word of God comes to us, and we live in obedience to Christ preached, we are taking on a mark upon our foreheads and upon our hands. Again, in Ezekiel 9:1-4, and Revelation 7:1-4, this is made all the more manifest. In Revelation 7:1-4, we are shown how a people, said to be true servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. We are later to learn in Revelation 14:1 that what is sealed into their foreheads is the name of the Father. Truth received and lived by brings into and upon us the name of the Father. In the same way, error, false and evil thinking, moral failures are elements in the mark of the beast. Truth ultimately produces life, and, what we are shown in Revelation 7:1-4 is the ministration of God’s word empowered empowered by the Holy Spirit producing the life of Christ in a body of people. While throughout the church age, the greater majority of professed Christians have not allowed the nature of Christ to be formed in them sufficiently, there are those who had chosen to follow the Lamb whither-soever He goeth, choosing a closer walk with Him and submitting to Him in all things. And at this time of the end, the nature of evil in man will be brought into full expression through satanic incursion. In like manner, the righteousness of God will be fully revealed in a people. Just as there is going to be the manifestation of the sons of Satan, the fullness of the mystery of iniquity revealed in and among a people at this end time, so also there is going to be the manifestation of the sons of God and the fullness of the life and power of God revealed in a people. May God grant you understanding, in Jesus name. In Revelation 14:6-8, are shown an angel flying in the midst of heaven and announcing something. And, what was said is quite important in understanding the symbolism of the beast from the sea, the false lamb and the true Lamb treated in the preceding verses beginning from Revelation 13:1. Please note that the angel in question is not a spirit being. Revelation 1 set a precedence that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and from a proper consideration of that verse, we noted that the angels of the churches are the ministries which God has set over the various assemblies of His people. Now, the word ‘angel’ simply means a servant, a messenger, and whereas the spirit beings under the service and administration of God are generally referred to as angels (as we find in Hebrew 1). The word can be enlarged to include the human servants (messengers) of God. In the book of Revelation, the angels referred to in almost all instances are human persons within the church of Jesus Christ. This should be clear because spirit angels cannot preach the gospel of Christ. In I Peter 1:12, we learn that the angels desired to look into the details of the matter of redemption, but it was not appointed unto them but to us. Anyhow, we are told that this angel was flying in the midst of heaven and says, “…Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgement is come: and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water…”. And we are told that another angel followed saying, “…If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God…”. So, worship is in view. The claim of God to rulership over His creation is the focus. Worshiping self, setting one self or something else as lord over one’s life, over one’s home, over the church of the living God, setting aside the principles of God’s word and enthroning one’s ways and practices represents a rejection of God’s rulership. This must be taken to heart very seriously, and must lead to a true examination of oneself. Now, we move a bit further. What is the image of the beast? Recall that the beast here referred to is the first beast, the beast that came out of the sea. But the activities of the second beast (the beast from the earth) made possible for an image to be raised to the first beast. All that the first beast stands for we would read from verse 3 through 10 of Revelation 13. Particularly, we find that it blasphemes the name of God, wars against the saints and take on dominion over the earth, ruling it as sovereign and asking “…where is God if there is any God…”. To make an image to this beast is to raise up something that is an exact resemblance to what that beast is said to be doing. But, in order to sponsor a proper consideration of what we are saying, we will illustrate from every day life what raising an image means. Consider that musician, Bob Marley, he is now dead. Also consider musicians like Fela Ransome (Anikulapo) Kuti. Now, they were musicians that made great waves in the time they were physically alive. But now, they are dead and gone. But there is seen in the land efforts of music stars to create again the days of these departed musicians. What they are simply doing is raising an image to them. If you are to go to some musical concert, you will not know that Bob Marley is dead. Musicians will be giving you the impression that he is alive. That is image making, casting an image that is a resemblance of that which was. Consider Mike Tyson, when he was a boxing star, there is an hair style he was always making and when men began to make the same hairstyle, people began to call it Mike Tyson. So these persons are making an image, some kind of image of Mike Tyson. But the image here in Revelation 13 is not anyone of these things. Rather, it is taking on the character of the first beast. Now recall that this beast from the earth is shaped like a lamb. Ordinarily, nobody gets frightened when he sees a lamb. The lamb is the young of a sheep. So, one does not get frightened. But when the lamb begins to speak, we are told it speaks like a dragon. His speech, character, betray its outward appearance. The scriptures reveal clearly that this second beast is Christendom. The term Christendom is not synonymous with Christian world. It is rather an expression that signifies the counterfeit system that results from habitual deviation from the principles of Christ, the new testament revelation of Him and the institutionalization of human ideals, unholy living and other acts of unfaithfulness to God in what was once the church of Jesus Christ. Dead orthodoxy and the varying degree of confusing abominable signals of almost all of the visible church system of our day answer to Christendom. It is an alternative kingdom much more opposed to the plans and purposes of God in Jesus Christ than it appears to be. Thus, apostate Pentecostalism can be said to be of this second beast. The beast is said to be a prophet, capable of performing miracles, but a false prophet. That the Pentecostal movement has, in most of her denominational churches deviated from God’s purpose is clear. This body is moving gradually and developing more and more of that pattern of things that existed in that “kingdom of this world” and in the Roman Catholic system. The things which men in the past stood and preached against, they are gradually going back to. This beast from the earth is already making an image to the first beast. It will amaze you that men and women in Christendom, in the Pentecostal movement that have been great instruments in God’s hand in speaking against the errors and evils of the orthodox churches would be found at this time of the end hands in gloves with them even becoming more determined, more daring, in undermining the spiritual and moral glory of Christ. We have already seen that moral failure and carnal mindedness pave the way for the installation of man as god over the Lord’s house. Now, if you will come with me to II Thessalonians 2, read in the light of what is shown in Revelation 13, your understanding will be more fruitful. “…Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God…”. (II Thessalonians 2:3-4) Of course, the general understanding we have of Revelation 13, is that the man of sin is one individual. So, we are looking for the Antichrist to emerge from somewhere. But, John wrote the three epistles (the first, second and third books of John) after his encounter with the Lord on the Island of Patmos. His encounters are given to us in the book of Revelation. And drawing his understanding from those visions, he wrote, “…Little children, it is the last time: as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists…” (I John 2:18) So, antichrist is a spirit and whoever crystallizes in his life the very effect of antichrist, a situation in which a man sets himself in opposition to God, in opposition to His word, that person is allowing the spirit of antichrist to rule through him or her. Antichrist is lording it over men, men conducting themselves as gods. Now, you will recall that we said right from the beginning that the seven letters contained elements that God must flush out of the church. And, two of the things shown there are moral failure and idolatry. Bowing to a graven image may be evil, but we know that the same considerations that make men bow down to graven images are present when men bow down to worship their fellow men. Lordly control over persons is something that is coming in the image of a beast. It may have the shape of a lamb but when it speaks, it speaks as a dragon. It is a subtle working, and may the Lord deliver His church from such sovereign control and manipulation of men. I want to draw your attention in this closing part to Genesis. You will recall that which Satan told the first parents was that, “…look, if you set aside God’s word and eat that which He says you should not eat, you will be as gods knowing good and evil…”. And, this issue of men carrying themselves as gods and others submitting to such influences, has been an on-going issue throughout the church age. The last verse of I John 5 says, “…little children, keep yourselves from idols…” . The LORD bless you, the LORD cause His face to shine upon you. We know that enough has been said to start you thinking. When the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord over your life, and you allow Him to take over the reins of your life so that the works of the flesh are taken out of your life, and you receive Jesus as your Head and allow His indwelling Spirit to have the rule over you, crystallizing the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, you are already delivering yourself from the mark of the beast and ye shall stand acceptable in the sight of God. May the LORD bless you in Jesus’ name. ...to be contd... kingdomword.net
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 04:00:43 +0000
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