32-The Mark of the Beast - RSV

1. A Beast Rises Out of the Sea Like a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon.
Revelation 13:1-2 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten _diadems_ upon its horns and a _blasphemous_ name upon its heads. [2] And the beast that I saw was like a _leopard_, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave 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 'These four great _beasts_ are four kings who shall arise out of the _earth_.

3. The Sea Represents Peoples, Nations, Or Language Groups.
Revelation 17:15 And he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the harlot is seated, 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 Belshaz'zar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter. [2] Daniel said, "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 out of the sea, different from one another. [4] The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to it. [5] And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth _between_ its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.' [6] After this I looked, and lo, another, like a _leopard_, with four wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and _dominion_ was given to it. [7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, _terrible_ and _dreadful_ and _exceedingly_ strong; and it had great iron teeth; it _devoured_ and broke in pieces, and _stamped_ the _residue_ with its feet. It was different 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 horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth _speaking_ great things. [9] As I looked, thrones were _placed_ and one that was _ancient_ of days took his seat; his _raiment_ was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery _flames_, its _wheels_ were _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 that I saw was like a _leopard_, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great _authority_.

6. The Beast Power Speaks Blasphemy.
Revelation 13:5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and _blasphemous_ words, and it was allowed to exercise _authority_ 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 question, saying, "Who is this that speaks _blasphemies_? Who can forgive sins but God only?"

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, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for _blasphemy_; because you, being a man, make _yourself_ God."

9. The Beast Power Reigns Supreme 42 Months.
Revelation 13:5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and _blasphemous_ words, and it was allowed to exercise _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 And the woman fled into the _wilderness_, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be _nourished_ for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 16:14 For they are demonic spirits, _performing_ signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the _Almighty_.

11. I Have Appointed Thee Each Day for a Year.
Ezekiel 4:6 And when you have _completed_ these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the _punishment_ of the house of Judah; forty days I assign 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 every day a year, you shall bear your _iniquity_, forty years, and you shall know my _displeasure_.'

Genesis 29:27 _Complete_ the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me _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 words against the Most High, and shall wear out the _saints_ of the Most High, and shall think to _change_ the times and the law; and they shall be _given_ into his hand for a time, two 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: let him who has _understanding_ reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six _hundred_ and sixty-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 King Nebuchadnez'zar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He 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 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the _treasurers_, the justices, the _magistrates_, and all the officials of the provinces, were assembled for the _dedication_ of the image that King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnez'zar had set up. [4] And the herald _proclaimed_ aloud, "You are 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 Nebuchadnez'zar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, that you do not serve my gods or 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 It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; [14] and by the signs which it is allowed to work in the _presence_ of the beast, it _deceives_ those who dwell on earth, _bidding_ them make an image for the beast which was _wounded_ by the sword and yet lived; [15] and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not _worship_ the image of the beast to be slain. [16] Also it _causes_ all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the _forehead_, [17] so that no one can buy or sell _unless_ he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the _number_ of its name.

19. Here We Are Called to Worship the Creator of the Sabbath.
Revelation 14:7 And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his _judgment_ has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the _fountains_ of water."

20. We Are Called to Avoid the Counterfeit Sabbath on Sunday.
Revelation 14:9-11 And another angel, a third, _followed_ them, saying with a loud voice, "If any one _worships_ the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] he also shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured _unmixed_ into the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and _sulphur_ in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these _worshipers_ of the beast and its image, and _whoever_ receives the mark of its name."

21. We Are Called to Keep God's Commandments As a Sign of Loyalty to Him.
Revelation 14:12 Here is a call for the _endurance_ of the saints, 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 if you yield _yourselves_ to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of 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 rejecting the _commandment_ of God, in order to keep your _tradition_!

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

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, who abides in the shadow of the _Almighty_, [2] will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." [3] For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; [4] he will cover you with his _pinions_, and under his wings you will find refuge; his _faithfulness_ is a shield and _buckler_. [5] You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, [6] nor the pestilence that stalks in _darkness_, nor the _destruction_ that wastes at noonday. [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 look with your eyes and see the _recompense_ of the wicked. [9] Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your _habitation_, [10] no evil shall befall you, no _scourge_ come near your tent. [11] For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. [12] On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot _against_ a stone. [13] You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the _serpent_ you will _trample_ under foot. [14] Because he _cleaves_ to me in love, I will deliver him; I will _protect_ him, because he knows my name. [15] When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in _trouble_, I will rescue 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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