32-The Mark of the Beast - NKJ

1. A Beast Rises Out of the Sea Like a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon.
Revelation 13:1-2 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a _blasphemous_ name. [2] Now the beast which I saw was like a _leopard_, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his _throne_, and great _authority_.

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

3. The Sea Represents Peoples, Nations, Or Language Groups.
Revelation 17:15 Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, _multitudes_, 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 while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. [2] Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were _stirring_ up the Great Sea. [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. [4] The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. [5] And _suddenly_ another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth _between_ its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!' [6] After this I looked, and there was another, like a _leopard_, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had 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_, _exceedingly_ strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was _devouring_, _breaking_ in pieces, and _trampling_ the _residue_ with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. [8] I was _considering_ the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth _speaking_ _pompous_ words. [9] "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the _Ancient_ of Days was seated; His _garment_ was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a _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 Now the beast which I saw was like a _leopard_, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great _authority_.

6. The Beast Power Speaks Blasphemy.
Revelation 13:5 And he was given amouth speaking great things and _blasphemies_, and he was given _authority_ to continue for forty-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 who speaks _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 do not stone You, but for _blasphemy_, and because You, being a Man, make _Yourself_ God."

9. The Beast Power Reigns Supreme 42 Months.
Revelation 13:5 And he was given amouth speaking great things and _blasphemies_, and he was given _authority_ to continue 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 Then the woman fled into the _wilderness_, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one _thousand_ two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, _performing_ signs, which go out to 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 you have _completed_ them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of _Judah_ forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.

12. One Day for a Year.
Numbers 14:34 _According_ to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My _rejection_.

Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the _service_ which you will serve with me still _another_ seven years.

13. The Papal Power Which Changed God's Law Would Reign Supreme for 1260 Prophetic Days Or 1260 Literal Years.
Daniel 7:25 He shall speak _pompous_ words against the Most High, Shall _persecute_ the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and 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 Here is wisdom. Let him who has _understanding_ _calculate_ the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: 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 _Nebuchadnezzar_ the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width 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 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the _counselors_, the _treasurers_, the judges, the _magistrates_, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the _dedication_ of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [4] Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, 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_ spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, _Shadrach_, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold 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 He _performs_ great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. [14] And he _deceives_ those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, _telling_ those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was _wounded_ by the sword and lived. [15] He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not _worship_ the image of the beast to be killed. [16] He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to _receive_ a mark on their right hand or on their _foreheads_, [17] and that no one may buy or sell _except_ one who has 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_ has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and _springs_ of water."

20. We Are Called to Avoid the Counterfeit Sabbath on Sunday.
Revelation 14:9-11 Then a third angel _followed_ them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his _forehead_ or on his hand, [10] he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full _strength_ into the cup of His indignation. 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 ascends _forever_ and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and _whoever_ 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 Here is the _patience_ of the saints; here are those who 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 Do you not know that to whom you present _yourselves_ slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to _righteousness_?

23. The Issue Centers Around Choosing Between the Commandments of Men and the Commandments of God.
Mark 7:9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the _commandment_ of God, that you may keep your _tradition_.

24. Jesus Invites Us to Obey Him Because We Love Him.
John 14:15 "If you love Me, _keep_ My _commandments_.

25. He Promises to Shelter Us in the Time of Trouble.
Psalms 91:1-16 He who dwells 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 I will trust." [3] Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the _perilous_ pestilence. [4] He shall cover you with His _feathers_, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and _buckler_. [5] You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, [6] Nor of the pestilence that walks in _darkness_, Nor of the _destruction_ that lays waste at noonday. [7] A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. [8] Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. [9] Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, [10] No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any _plague_ come near your dwelling; [11] For He shall give His _angels_ _charge_ over you, To keep you in all your ways. [12] In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot _against_ a stone. [13] You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the _serpent_ you shall _trample_ _underfoot_. [14] "Because he has set his love upon Me, _therefore_ I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has 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 honor him. [16] With long life I will _satisfy_ him, And show him My _salvation_."

Next Bible Study: 33-The True Church

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