32-The Mark of the Beast - KJV

1. A Beast Rises Out of the Sea Like a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon.
Revelation 13:1-2 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten _crowns_, and upon his heads the name of _blasphemy_. [2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a _leopard_, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the _dragon_ gave him his power, and his seat, and great _authority_.

2. A Beast Represents a King Or Kingdom-A Civil, Or Religious, Ruling Power.
Daniel 7:17 These great _beasts_, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the _earth_.

3. The Sea Represents Peoples, Nations, Or Language Groups.
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and _multitudes_, and nations, and _tongues_.

4. The Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon Represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
Daniel 7:1-9 In the first year of _Belshazzar_ king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the _matters_. [2] Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [4] The first was like a lion, and had eagles wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a mans heart was given to it. [5] And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it _between_ the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. [6] After this I beheld, and lo another, like a _leopard_, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and _dominion_ was given to it. [7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, _dreadful_ and _terrible_, and strong _exceedingly_; and it had great iron teeth: it _devoured_ and brake in _pieces_, and _stamped_ the _residue_ with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. [8] I _considered_ the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another _little_ horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth _speaking_ great _things_. [9] I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the _Ancient_ of days did sit, whose _garment_ was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his _wheels_ as _burning_ fire.

5. The Dragon Or Pagan Rome Gives This New Power Its Authority. Papal Rome Receives Its Authority From Pagan Rome.
Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a _leopard_, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great _authority_.

6. The Beast Power Speaks Blasphemy.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and _blasphemies_; and power was given unto him to _continue_ forty and two months.

7. If Any Human Being Claims He Has the Power to Forgive Sins, He Commits Blasphemy.
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the _Pharisees_ began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh _blasphemies_? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

8. The Bible Defines Blasphemy As Man Making Himself Equal to God. The Pope Has Claimed to Be God on Earth.
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for _blasphemy_; and because that thou, being a man, makest _thyself_ God.

9. The Beast Power Reigns Supreme 42 Months.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and _blasphemies_; and power was given unto him to _continue_ forty and two months.

10. The Time, Times, and a Half a Time Equal 1260 Days Or 42 Months. During This Period, God's People Are in the Wilderness of Hiding.
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the _wilderness_, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and _threescore_ days.

Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working _miracles_, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God _Almighty_.

11. I Have Appointed Thee Each Day for a Year.
Ezekiel 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of _Judah_ forty days: I have _appointed_ thee each day for a year.

12. One Day for a Year.
Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye _searched_ the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your _iniquities_, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

Genesis 29:27 _Fulfil_ her week, and we will give thee this also for the _service_ which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

13. The Papal Power Which Changed God's Law Would Reign Supreme for 1260 Prophetic Days Or 1260 Literal Years.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the _saints_ of the most High, and think to _change_ times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the _dividing_ of time.

In 538 AD the pagan Roman empire granted the pope of Rome civil and religious authority over the empire. Exactly 1260 years later, in 1798 AD, Berthier, a French general following the orders of Napoleon, took the pope captive.

 14. The Number of the Beast Is the Number of a Man. His Number Is 666.
Revelation 13:18 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.

In Bible prophecy 6 equals an error or imperfection where 7 equals perfection or completeness. A triple of sixes equals the great trinity of error: the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet. Here is Satan's false trinity. The number 666 is closely associated with the most exalted title of the papacy.

 15. Nebuchadnezzar Establishes a Counterfeit Image with Dimensions of 60 and 6.
Daniel 3:1 _Nebuchadnezzar_ the king made an image of gold, whose height was _threescore_ cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

16. The Entire Kingdom Is Summoned to Accept This Counterfeit Worship.
Daniel 3:3-4 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the _treasurers_, the _counsellors_, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the _dedication_ of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [4] Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and _languages_,

17. The Central Issue in This Time of Trouble for God's Faithful Followers Is True and False Worship.
Daniel 3:14 _Nebuchadnezzar_ spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and _Abednego_, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

18. A Counterfeit Image Will Be Established Again, a False Standard of Truth Will Be Exalted. The Central Issue Will Be Obedience to God Versus False Worship. An Economic Boycott, Then a Death Decree Will Be Passed.
Revelation 13:13-17 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.

19. Here We Are Called to Worship the Creator of the Sabbath.
Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his _judgment_ is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the _fountains_ of waters.

20. We Are Called to Avoid the Counterfeit Sabbath on Sunday.
Revelation 14:9-11 And the third angel _followed_ them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and _receive_ his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without _mixture_ into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and _brimstone_ in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment _ascendeth_ up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and _whosoever_ _receive_th the mark of his name.

21. We Are Called to Keep God's Commandments As a Sign of Loyalty to Him.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the _patience_ of the saints: here are they that keep the _commandments_ of God, and the faith of Jesus.

22. The Issue Is More Than a Matter of Days. It Is a Matter of Masters. Where Is Our Loyalty?
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield _yourselves_ servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto _righteousness_?

23. The Issue Centers Around Choosing Between the Commandments of Men and the Commandments of God.
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the _commandment_ of God, that ye may keep your own _tradition_.

24. Jesus Invites Us to Obey Him Because We Love Him.
John 14:15 If ye love me, _keep_ my _commandments_.

25. He Promises to Shelter Us in the Time of Trouble.
Psalms 91:1-16 He that _dwelleth_ in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the _Almighty_. [2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. [3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. [4] He shall cover thee with his _feathers_, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and _buckler_. [5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; [6] Nor for the pestilence that _walketh_ in _darkness_; nor for the _destruction_ that _wasteth_ at _noonday_. [7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. [8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. [9] Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy _habitation_; [10] There shall no evil befall thee, _neither_ shall any plague come nigh thy _dwelling_. [11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot _against_ a stone. [13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou _trample_ under feet. [14] Because he hath set his love upon me, _therefore_ will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. [15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in _trouble_; I will deliver him, and honour him. [16] With long life will I _satisfy_ him, and shew him my _salvation_.

Next Bible Study: 33-The True Church

c:\a-\bibsty\_redo_st\updatefi\k_32_kj.htm