32-The Mark of the Beast - NIV

1. A Beast Rises Out of the Sea Like a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon.
Revelation 13:1-2 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a _blasphemous_ name. [2] The beast I saw _resembled_ a _leopard_, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great _authority_.

2. A Beast Represents a King Or Kingdom-A Civil, Or Religious, Ruling Power.
Daniel 7:17 'The four great _beasts_ are four _kingdoms_ that will rise from the earth.

3. The Sea Represents Peoples, Nations, Or Language Groups.
Revelation 17:15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the _prostitute_ sits, are peoples, _multitudes_, nations and languages.

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 passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the _substance_ of his dream. [2] Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven _churning_ up the great sea. [3] Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. [4] "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it. [5] "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth _between_ its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!' [6] "After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a _leopard_. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given _authority_ to rule. [7] "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and _frightening_ and very _powerful_. It had large iron teeth; it _crushed_ and _devoured_ its _victims_ and _trampled_ _underfoot_ _whatever_ was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. [8] "While Iwas _thinking_ about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were _uprooted_ before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke _boastfully_. [9] "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the _Ancient_ of Days took his seat. His _clothing_ was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was _flaming_ with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

5. The Dragon Or Pagan Rome Gives This New Power Its Authority. Papal Rome Receives Its Authority From Pagan Rome.
Revelation 13:2 The beast I saw _resembled_ a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great _authority_.

6. The Beast Power Speaks Blasphemy.
Revelation 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and _blasphemies_ and to exercise his _authority_ for forty-two months.

7. If Any Human Being Claims He Has the Power to Forgive Sins, He Commits Blasphemy.
Luke 5:21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to _themselves_, "Who is this fellow who speaks _blasphemy_? 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 "We are not stoning you for any of these," _replied_ the Jews, "but for _blasphemy_, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

9. The Beast Power Reigns Supreme 42 Months.
Revelation 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and _blasphemies_ and to exercise his _authority_ for forty-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 The woman fled into the _desert_ to a place _prepared_ for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Revelation 16:14 They are spirits of demons _performing_ _miraculous_ signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

11. I Have Appointed Thee Each Day for a Year.
Ezekiel 4:6 "After you have _finished_ this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have _assigned_ you 40 days, a day for each year.

12. One Day for a Year.
Numbers 14:34 For forty years--one year for each of the forty days you _explored_ the land--you will _suffer_ for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'

Genesis 29:27 Finish this _daughter's_ bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for _another_ seven years of work."

13. The Papal Power Which Changed God's Law Would Reign Supreme for 1260 Prophetic Days Or 1260 Literal Years.
Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and _oppress_ his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be _handed_ over to him for a time, times and half a 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 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has _insight_, let him _calculate_ the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

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 King _Nebuchadnezzar_ made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the _province_ of Babylon.

16. The Entire Kingdom Is Summoned to Accept This Counterfeit Worship.
Daniel 3:3-4 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, _magistrates_ and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King _Nebuchadnezzar_ had set up, and they stood before it. [4] Then the herald loudly _proclaimed_, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:

17. The Central Issue in This Time of Trouble for God's Faithful Followers Is True and False Worship.
Daniel 3:14 And _Nebuchadnezzar_ said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and _Abednego_, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold 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 _performed_ great and _miraculous_ signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. [14] Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he _deceived_ the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was _wounded_ by the sword and yet lived. [15] He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who _refused_ to _worship_ the image to be killed. [16] He also forced _everyone_, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to _receive_ a mark on his right hand or on his _forehead_, [17] so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is 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 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his _judgment_ has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the _springs_ of water."

20. We Are Called to Avoid the Counterfeit Sabbath on Sunday.
Revelation 14:9-11 A third angel _followed_ them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, [10] he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full _strength_ into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with _burning_ _sulfur_ in the _presence_ of the holy _angels_ and of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

21. We Are Called to Keep God's Commandments As a Sign of Loyalty to Him.
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient _endurance_ on the part of the saints who obey God's _commandments_ and remain faithful to Jesus.

22. The Issue Is More Than a Matter of Days. It Is a Matter of Masters. Where Is Our Loyalty?
Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer _yourselves_ to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to _righteousness_?

23. The Issue Centers Around Choosing Between the Commandments of Men and the Commandments of God.
Mark 7:9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the _commands_ of God in order to observe your own _traditions_!

24. Jesus Invites Us to Obey Him Because We Love Him.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey _what_ I _command_.

25. He Promises to Shelter Us in the Time of Trouble.
Psalms 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." [3] Surely he will save you from the _fowler's_ snare and from the deadly pestilence. [4] He will cover you with his _feathers_, and under his wings you will find refuge; his _faithfulness_ will be your shield and rampart. [5] You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, [6] nor the pestilence that stalks in the _darkness_, nor the plague that _destroys_ at midday. [7] A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. [8] You will only _observe_ with your eyes and see the _punishment_ of the wicked. [9] If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- [10] then no harm will befall you, no _disaster_ will come near your tent. [11] For he will _command_ his angels _concerning_ you to guard you in all your ways; [12] they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. [13] You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will _trample_ the great lion and the _serpent_. [14] "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will _protect_ him, for he acknowledges my name. [15] He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in _trouble_, I will _deliver_ him and honor him. [16] With long life will I _satisfy_ him and show him my _salvation_."

Next Bible Study: 33-The True Church

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