The Book of Revelation
In
Words of Understanding
Part 16
This is, as I set forth in Sermon 109, the 5th Series of Revelations. In this Series, comprised of Chapters 13 through 19, the enemies of God are set forth, those being false religious systems established by Satan. We will learn how Christianity, God’s church, will overcome them.
Revelation 13: 1 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.
The sea represents a horde of people while the dragon represents the numerous religions claiming to preach God’s Word that, in truth, do not.
The “ten horns and seven heads” represent, again, the ten kingdoms that rose from the fallen Pagan Roman Empire and the seven governments that reigned over men. What has now changed is the addition of ten crowns as before only seven were in existence. These ten crowns represent blasphemy against God.
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.
A reading of Daniel 8:20-21 will allow you to learn of the kingdoms, in part. What is of great importance is the fact that the RCC is now the “beast” given power.
3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
The fatal wound represents Martin Luther and his reformation. The fatal wound being healed is the followers of Luther falling back to their RCC preaching after his death.
4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
Both Caesars’, and later the RCC, held sway over most of the known world. First of the Caesars inflicted great power over Christians inflicted great harms to them. The RCC took up the Caesars’ madness as the years of the Inquisition ensued.
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
The proud words used to blaspheme God as well as God’s chosen are set forth in documents set forth by Emperor Constantine which gave the RCC control over man. Not only were Christians subjected to torture, but the Apostle Peter was defamed. This defamation was solely to establish the supremacy of Papal control.
The documents given basically set forth the power of any Pope as greater than the power of God and included the phrase, ”We decree that this RCC shall be honored with veneration, and that more than our empire and earthly throne, and the most sacred seat the blessed Peter shall be gloriously exalted, we giving it the power, and dignity of glory, and vigor, and honor imperial.”
The RCC uses this to justify a Pope being a direct link to the Apostle Peter! What must be realized is that God’s Word never names Peter as a Pope and that the RCC in claiming this, referencing Matthew 16:18 , is reflective of error in interpretation!
“Peter, as an apostle, had no successor in his office; nor was he bishop of Rome; nor has the pope of Rome either his office, or his doctrine: but here, by the rock, is meant, either the confession of faith made by Peter; not the act, nor form, but the matter of it, it containing the prime articles of Christianity, and which are as immovable as a rock; or rather Christ himself, who points, as it were, with his finger to himself,” Is a study of this wrongful RCC claim.
6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
Wouldn’t anyone see it as a mockery to claim earthly power over a man’s soul? In doing just that the RCC blasphemes God and slanders God’s throne!
7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
The RCC had total control over religious matters and wielded that control with satanic power. True Christian were burned alive, racked and skinned alive for their refusal to bow to the RCC way of prayer. Even possessing a Bible or refusing to have a child baptized as a Catholic was grounds for extreme punishment.
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
“All,” may be interpreted as ‘any.’ Those that bowed down to Rome and accepted the RCC doctrines as their religion worshipped “the beast.’ Those whose names were written in the Book of Life were saved by the Blood of Jesus, not by accepting false doctrines.
9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity he will go If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
into captivity he will go If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
Jeremiah 22:29 sets forth the Word, written by God’s Prophet saying, “O land, O land, hear the Word of the Lord,” clarifying “he who has an ear.” If any willingly go into a religion not of the Lord, “captivity,” he will be killed by the “sword.” What is a sword? Recall, a sword is God’s truth as spoken by Jesus Christ! Those who remained faithful are saved.
11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
Another “beast,” Protestantism, coming out of the earth, man made religion, came to be. The sea, much more vast than land, represents the RCC and the land is Protestantism. “Two horns,” represents the two countries that gave protection to Protestantism, England and Germany ! Why a lamb? Because, it resembles true Christianity.
12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
As you may recall, Martin Luther split from the RCC, ergo the “wound.” After his death his followers returned to many of the RCC practices thereby creating a healing situation.
13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
Although great things have happened in the RCC and they preach of Jesus Christ,”causing fire to come down,” their doctrines reveal the true thought of their hierarchy.
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.
The “image” to be set up is to force men to emulate a religious system alien to their chosen religion. Can it be that Islam, the RCC or other systems of ‘worship’ are to precede the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
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.
Again, in this day and age there is but one ‘religion’ that calls for death of any that will not convert. That ‘religion’ is Islam! However, we are seeing the RCC giving thoughts to the Protestants creating the image of Christianity. The killing is the loss of eternal life to those accepting false religion.
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.
The “mark’ forced upon men are the changes set upon us by the RCC. The Sabbath changed to a Sunday. Setting statues in places of worship directly defies God’s Commandment of “No strange gods before me.” Kneeling to a statue is IDOLATRY! The enforcing of any such power over God’s Word is seen as a “mark” against His Word.
18This 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.
Know this and think on it with an open mind.
The Pope of the RCC wears a mitre (hat) with an age old inscription on it. That inscription is VICARIOVS FILLI DEI. These words, in Latin, are interpreted as, ‘Vicar of the Son of God.’
First, the number 666, is arrived at by assignation of a Roman numeral for each letter.
V=5 I=1 C=100 A=0 R=0 I=1
F=0 I=1 L=500 I=1 I=1 D=
By adding 112 and 534 you arrive at the number 666.
Now consider the meaning that is assigned to the phrase ‘Vicar of the Son of God.”
Vicar is interpreted to mean, ‘one who acts in the place of another.’ How can any man, regardless of his position, claim to replace Jesus Christ as the Head of His church?
In doing just that a blasphemy has occurred. 666 is indeed representative of evil.
I ask that you pray on this Word of God and know that He is there for the repentant soul.
(Closing prayer)
Heavenly Father, Lord of all, we come to You with praise and worship. You are our God and we hold no gods before You. There is only You.
Lord, assist us in our efforts to truly walk by Your Word and live within Your desires for Your children. It is Your will to be done and Lord, please know that we are doing our all to live in accordance of Your every Word and thought.
Father, we come to You seeking forgiveness for our earthly weaknesses and beg Your merciful forgiveness. As El Shaddai we thank You for all You give us and for all that You will give us in the days ahead. Elohim, Father, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, we bow before You as we say, Holy, Holy, Holy are You Lord.
In Jesus Name we pray, who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen, amen and amen.
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