How is it that a woman, who symbolically represents the church of God; who symbolically represents God's people, ends up sitting upon the dragon in Rev. 17?
How could she be sitting on the power who is seeking to destroy the Messiah and the pure church?
How is it that, with the exception of the faithful remnant, the woman
ends up sitting on this seven headed red monster in Revelation 17?
How is it that she exchanges the crown of the heavenly Jerusalem upon her head, to having the earthly kingdom of Babylon and it's mysteries upon her forehead? How can this happen when we know that the dragon is defeated by the blood of the Lamb? Why does this woman take on the name of MESSIAH the PRINCE, the name of Christ, (Christian) and then plays the harlot with the dragon prince and his kings of the earth?
These are the issues explained in Revelation 13.
However, scriptures triumphantly point out that not all play the harlot. There is STILL A "PURE WOMAN", a people who are faithful to Christ
Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem still has her citizens!
These are the "remnant" of her seed, the children of the true church of Christ.
14.1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.Revelation 12 makes it clear that the true church is not the popular recognized church. The true church is in the Wilderness during the 1260 years
Some will ask, should we not look to the church which for ages has been the favored of kings and nations to find the true church instead of looking to a people who through those centuries were a despised and obscure people?
No, the true church is not the prominent church. The Bible teaches the true church is a "remnant". The true church is the offspring, not of the church which is prominent with the kings of the earth, but the offspring of the church which was hiding in the wilderness throughout almost thirteen centures: namely, the 1260 year period.
Some bibles omit verse 18, others place it in Rev. 13:1, still others say, it is John, who was standing on the seashore in Rev. 13:1, but the Greek reads "And he stood"--thus refering back to the dragon. The dragon takes his stand on the seashore.
The dragon, the accuser of the brethren has been thrown down, (12:10) he's been "conquered by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, (12:11), but he "yet is" and he is "filled with wrath because he knows his time is short" (12:12). For 1260 years that old serpent sent God's true church into the wilderness (12:14) till the earth beast helps her (12:16) but then the dragon's rage increases, as he makes war against those who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. (12:17) He takes his stand on the sands of the seashore in his effort to control the land and the sea. (12:18)
BUT, before we go into the dragon's activities, as he gathers the people of earth to worship him, let's look back to see that there is ANOTHER, standing upon the earth and the sea, ONE clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head, and his face as the sun and his feet as pillars of fire. This Being stands upon the sea and upon the earth. (Rev. 10:1,5)
THIS ONE is none other than the ONE declared worthy of worship in chapter 5!
He declares the end of Prophetic time, (Rev. 10:6) (1260 years ended in 1798, the 2300 years ended in 1844)
This declaration is made as the seventh trumpet angel prepares to sound and announces the investigative judgment (10:7;11:18,19)
YES, He will judge, righteousness will prevail!
The finishing of the mystery of God is in progress. (10:7)
The rainbow is (Genesis 9:14-17) the token of God's "everlasting covenant" which He established with every creature upon earth. The rainbow is seen around the throne of God as Christ takes the book of the covenant at His inauguration as Priest and executor of the covenant in Revelation 5. So in Revelation 10 we see this mighty angel who is no less a personage than Jesus Christ, setting His right foot on the sea, and His left upon the dry land, showing His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. He will act His part in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. He will fulfill the covenant made with mankind in mercy and justice.
He is standing on the earth and the sea with an open "little scroll" in His hand. Could this be a portion of the covenant that was not yet understood concerning God's endtime dealings with man? The prophecies of Daniel which point to the investigative judgment and endtime events, had been sealed until the time of the end?
The announcement of the end of prophetic time (1260 years ended in 1798, the 2300 years ended in 1844) brought great sweetness to the believers in God, but then bitterness follows, for they thought Christ would come and take them home to heaven, but Christ has not yet come. The great proclaimation that sounded round the world at the close of the prophetic timelines that did not end with Christ's 2nd coming, but announced that HE has entered into judgment and stands upon the sea and earth with authority. Christ began the pre-advent judgment in 1844. When HE comes He will execute the results of that judgment and deliver His followers.
But the dragon ALSO MAKES HIS LAST STAND.
Can we keep the picture of CHRIST in our minds, and not be discouraged as we see the dragon with his two beasts take their stand?
Will we trust that JESUS is implimenting the everlasting covenant.
Revelation 10 is situatated between the 6th and 7th trumpet. Christ is shown IN CONTROL. This is just prior to the seventh trumpet, or "the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."
What does the seventh trumpet announce?
"The time has come for the judgment of the dead, and that you should reward your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple." Rev. 11:18-19
|
MESSIAH THE PRINCE
--He stands upon the land and sea (Rev. 10:1) --Voice like a lion roars (Rev. 10:3) --The Lamb (Rev. 14:1) --Lives, was dead, yet alive evermore (Rev. 1:18) --He is on throne of God (Rev. 14:3, 22:1) --He calls " whosoever will" come! (Rev.22:17) --He will judge the people of earth before the ark of the testament in the sanctuary in heaven. (The ark of the covenant contains the ten commandments)Rev. 11:18-19, 1 Kings 8:9 |
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS
--He takes his stand on the seashore (Rev. 12:18) --His beast has the mouth of a lion (Rev. 13:2) --His 2nd beast has horns like a lamb (Rev. 13:11) --His beast is fatally wounded yet heals (Rev. 13:3) --The dragon's throne (Rev. 13:2) --Forces and deceives people to worship him (Rev. 13:13-15) --He makes war against those who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. 12:17) | |||||||||||
Another thing we see, is the emergence of a false, or counterfeit TRINITY! The dragon pretends to be God the father, and sends one "like unto himself" into the world. Thus we have the "papacy" who claims to be "in the place of" Jesus, upon earth! Later we have the 2nd beast arriving out of the earth, acting the role of the Holy Spirit--bringing people to worship the "anti" (in the place of) Christ.
The Lord of heaven permits the world to choose which ruler they would have over them. Every human being must take sides, either for the true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water, (Rev. 14:7)
or choose the dragon who takes his stand on the seashore and appears as an angel of light, whose ministers are also transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Cor. 11:14-15)
It's heads are:
........................................................................(State/Church seemingly dead
2. Medes and Persian empire ...........................7. Restored State/Church
.................................................................. with Papal Primacy
1. Babylonian Empire ..........................................................................................................
Remember the Beasts in Daniel 7 which came out of the sea? This beast
in Revelation is all four of those beasts wrapped into one. A leopard body (Greece);
bear feet (Media Persia),
a lion's mouth, (Babylon)
the terrible beast (Roman)
These four constitute four of it's heads. The religious ideas and ideologies of these kingdoms are very much in the thinking patterns of this beast from the sea.
Yet there are three heads left, and it is upon these three heads that John's focus is drawn.
It is these three heads that identify this beast from the dragon itself. The MAIN HEAD of this beast is the Roman Papal Power!
This is the 1260 year papal head, who blasphemed (took God's preogatives) and persecuted God's saints.
The next head, is the wounded head, when the papal political power seems dead,
and the last head is the restored head, also described as "Babylon". Thus this is the Papal beast. It is identified as such. For it is the power that continued for forty-two months (read more on the 1260 years) It sits on the same seat as imperial emperor of Rome
In Daniel 7 the last beast is the dreadful beast--Rome, out of which a horn with a "face" emerges. Now we will see that all the rest of these heads is but a continuation of Rome.
As we look back in history we see that the Roman empire was not only Pagan but also Christian.
That is-- the Roman empire, under it’s emperors, itself starts forcing Christianity from 313-538.
Constantine, according to Church History books, was very concerned about the divisions in doctrine found in Christianity and made every effort to secure agreement and make it “a proper religion for the empire.”
Constantine called for church councils and appointed the presiding Bishop (which was not always the bishop of Rome). It was Constantine who, in 321 A.D., legalized Sunday. Albeit, he could not have done so, if Christianity had not already apostasized and thought they could change God's law. Constantine legalized Sunday, thinking he could unify Christians and pagans. This law of 321 was a bait thrown to compromising Christians, and sun worshipping Romans who glorified the day exalted to the sun, as a rallying point of unity and peace. Constantine wanted a religion that would unite his empire. Constantine built magnificent churches adorned with images and pictures, where the pope sat on a lofty throne. Hereafter, this call for Sunday rest was ever confirmed by emperors and other Christian princes, and sanctioned by popes, with ever increased rigor, and abuses.
Socrates, a church historian of the fourth century, wrote: "For although almost all the churches throughtout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this."History reveals that the emperors from Constintine to Justinian had heavy input into the forming of the "Roman Church".
Sozomen writing in the same century: says "The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria."
Justinian never distinguished the Roman state tradition from Christianity. He considered himself the Christian Emperor, and defined his mission as “maintaining the Christian faith in its purity and protecting the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church from any disturbance.” He felt he was the servant of God and executor of his will and the empire was the instrument of God’s plan in the world. He was ruthless in stamping out anything he considered “heresy”.
Just like Revelation points out, the power of the papacy actually traces it's roots back to Roman Emperors, it is NOT a separate identity from Rome at all, that is; it is simply ANOTHER HEAD, literally sitting in the seat of the Roman Emperors. The Papal system has it's roots in CHRISTIAN EMPERIAL ROME, whose whole focus was to merge paganism with Christianity and come up with a "unifying" religion. The papal system is NOT ROOTED in apostolic Christianity. To this day it carries the name of ROME.
The Papacy says it is sitting in the seat of Peter. It claims that it has a direct line to Peter. But history shows that the Papacy, complete with much of it’s doctrines, has it’s direct line to the so called “Christian Emperors” of Rome--to the dreadful beast of Daniel 7,;, not to Peter, or the apostles at all.
The true church flees into the wilderness because of persecution!
Revelation 13 deals with the last three heads. In 538 the Emperor Justinian, by law, gave the Rome Pope his power (see 1260 years) And in the west, the power of the emperor waned as the power of the papacy grew.
What is blasphemy? John 10:33 tells us: blasphemy; that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Blasphemy is ascribing the prerogatives of God to human beings. The accession of the Roman church to power marked the dark ages. Faith in Christ for salvation was transferred to faith in the church and the papacy. People were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator, and stood in the place of God to them, that the priests forgave their sins, and that there was no salvation outside that system. The ultimate blasphemy is their claim to have the power of creation-- the power to create CREATOR!
From the book Dignity and Duties of the Priest by St. Alphonsus De Liguori (Imprimatur 1927)Thus we see the blatant blasphemy! Daniel 8 tells us this power tries to reach into heaven itself where Christ is ministering for HIS people daily, and they cast HIS truth and HIS sanctuary to the ground.
page 27 “The priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, of making them worthy of paradise and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priest, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution.” Page 32-33
“O wonderful dignity of the priests,” cries out St. Augustine; “in their hands, as in the womb of the Blessed virgin, the Son of God becomes incarnate.”…Thus the priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by saying the words of consecration he creates, as it were, Jesus in the sacrament, by giving him a sacramental existence, and produces him as a victim offered to the eternal Father….
The power of the priest,” says St. Bernardine of Sienna, “is the power of the divine person; for the transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world.”
Page 36
St Clement, then had reason to say that the priest is, as it were, a God on earth…Innocent III has written: “Indeed, it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their offices the priests are so many gods.”
Oh, how precious is the knowledge that CHRIST, the ONE who knows the heart, the ONE WHO is eternally righteous, just and merciful, is our judge, not some sinful, fallible, human being!
This beast persecuted the saints -- the true church is in the wilderness during those same 1260 years (Rev. 12:14)
Christians were required, on pain of punishment, torture or even death to avow their faith in this blasphemes heresy. Thousands who refused were killed. This is the beast we are dealing with, as the dragon takes his stand on the seashore to make war with the last remnant of the TRUE CHURCH. This beast is experienced in making war with God's saints.
The deeds of this beast are given more detail in Daniel 11
Here we see Pagan Rome tries to "break" the Prince of the Covenant (Daniel 11:22) upon the wooden cross-- (and you will notice to this day the "bent cross", which is the occultic symbol of the "defeated Christ", is carried by one who claims to be the "earthly representative" of Christ) for Papal Rome obtained it's seat FROM pagan Rome (not from Peter) In (Daniel 11:23) see a deceitful league is made between pagan Rome and Christian Rome.
From here on in Daniel 11 we see the war this Roman Christian power wages upon the covenant of God!
(Dan. 11:28) His heart shall be against the holy covenant
(11:30) He has indignation against the holy covenant
(11:30) He has intelligence with them that forsake theholy covenant
(11:32) He flatters those that do wickedly against the covenant.
This power works against the Lord's covenant and tries to eclipse the Lord's work in the heavenly sanctuary with it's own earthly system!
Isaiah 56 tells us plainly what is included in the "everlasting covenant"
It tells us that "also the sons of the stranger (GENTILES) that join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His, everyone that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of HIS covenant...for the Lord will gather others,(GENTILES) besides those that are gathered unto him ... blessed is the man that keeps the sabbath from polluting it and keeps his hand from doing any evil...and takes hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off."
Yet what has this BEAST POWER DONE? == It has assumed to change the law of God, (Dan. 7:25) and tells the world that a different law is now in place. It has thrown out the everlasting covenant by calling it the "old covenant" and brought in a DIFFERENT covenant that is not the establishment of the everlasting covenant of God, but a different humanistic covenant with different human laws and a different human day, not sanctified nor blessed by God. This day brought in by "those against God's covenant" is the day of the SUN GOD. This is the rival system to true worship from ancient history to this day.
And this SUN WORSHIP DAY WILL BE ENFORCED upon the world on pain of death.
John's focus is on what happens "in the time of the end"---His focus is on the last three heads. Something strange is taking place. The beast receives a terrible wound. One of it's heads is fatally wounded.
In 1798, Napolean made a new set of laws, and the law of Justinian which gave the Papacy primacy and authority, was revoked. The papacy's 1260 years of primacy ended. The power of the papacy was mortally wounded.
Isn’t it marvellous how God shows us that He is the victor! He has shown us in Rev. 12 that the dragon was defeated by the blood of the Lamb! Here in Rev. 13 he shows us that this beast is defeated. History portrays the tyranny of this system and how people gave their lives to be free of it. Even the political forces had enough and turned against this system and the political power of the papacy was destroyed in 1798.
History revealed the truth-- . But people do not learn from history and they will once again “wonder after the beast” and it will all happen again. Revelation tells us that for a season, this beast seems to be out of the way. But the dragon RESURRECTS it.
Revelation structures it's scenes in an interesting way. Future scenes will be presented, then the events leading to that scene, finally the future scene is presented once more. For example; the seventh trumpet first says that the kingdoms of earth have become the kingdoms of Christ. The twenty-four elders give thanks that Christ has begun to reign. Then John goes back and depicts the scenes that lead up to this. --Nations angry, the time for judging the dead, the temple opening and the ark is seen. (The investigative judgment) Then there is thunder and an earthquake, and great hail.
In Revelation 13 John tells us this beast is wounded, but the wound heals. In amazement the whole world wonders after the beast, and worship the beast, and end up worshiping the dragon, for he had given authority to this beast. This is clearly speaking of events from 1798 onward. Then the author goes back discribing events leading up to this time. What emerges is a description of the past as IDENTIFICATION of this beast, who WILL YET, in the future, be worshipped by all the inhabitants of the earth.
But those whose names are in the book of LIFE will not worship him.
So we see this is all about worship! This takes us back to the TWO contenders for our allegiance. Which one do we choose?
- speaking like a lion,
- it will have power over all kindreds, and tongues and people and nations
- It makes war on the saints
- All that dwell on the earth shall worship him
- He will be killed by the sword
A power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Christian religion.. This prophecy received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of France. The spirit of revolution showed itself in it's most hideous colors in France, which was the cradle of revolutionary thought. During the French revolution the papal system and all Christianity was seriously attacked. Through Napoleon’s actions the papacy was not only seriously wounded, but ALSO kept from complete extinction. The spiritualistic demon beast of occultic religious practices (old age) now arises as the (new age). The dragon, seeing that the REFORMATION had seriously messed up his papal beast, now comes on with a new program. The Papacy tried to suppress the Bible. The Reformation brought it back. Then the fury of the French Revolution tried to destroy it. When this didn't work, "Evolution theories" and "Higher Criticism" arose to cast the Bible into the "myth" bin.
NOW WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK, TOO.
He IS in control. He often turns the devil's plans around to advantage. The French Revolution showed the depths of terror Satan would plunge the world if he has control. His control was checked. And God brought in an era of freedom from the chaos of the devil's plans. However, the seeds of the devil's plan were planted and will again lead to a "reign" of terror.
Just previous to 1798 two main divisions against the power of the Vatican emerged. These two divisions were the Protestant Reformation and Humanist Renaissance Era. While one brought religious freedom, the other laid the foundation for the "NEW AGE" or "NEW WORLD ORDER".
Tomas Paine wrote a book called "Common Sense", which helped spark the American Revolution. This same Thomas Pain wrote a book called "The Age of Reason" which helped spark the French Revolution. Paine worked hard to bring in a "new world order". His writings were also instrumental in "sparking" the Russian revolution that ended up being communism.
But it was in AMERICA where the "winning combination" was formed.
THE BEAST WITH THE LAMB-LIKE HORNS
This beast helps the "woman" of Revelation 12. Among the Christian
exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from oppression
and intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon
the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. They established a
Constitution which guaranteed people the right of self-government.
Freedom of religious faith was also granted. Republicanism and
Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation.What made this "revolutionary" nation successful, while France descended into a reign of terror? It was the acceptance of Protestant Christain values, while separating Church from State.
Thus this beast starts out being "lamb-like", yet it grows great!
However, Protestantism represents just one of it's horns. The other horn is rooted in French Revolutionary ideas of a "New World Order".
The Founding Fathers of the United States believed they were engaged in a
great experiment of "building" a New Order for the Ages (or a New World
Order) that, unlike the old, would be based on the twin pillars of
Liberty and Republican DemocracyThe Pyramid being a great symbol was incorporated in the Great Seal of the United States which can be found on the back of a one dollar bill. Below the pyramid is the Latin expression Novus Ordo Seclorum ("New Order for the Ages" or "New World Order").
The secret teaching's of this New World Order are the teachings of Masonic Theology. Masonic Theology has it's roots in Pantheism. In his book; Morals And Dogmas, Albert Pike states
"All truly dogmatic religions have issued from the Kabbalah and return to it. Everything scientific and grand in the religious dreams of all the Illuminati: Jacob, Boehome, Swedenborg, St-Martin, and others; is borrowed from the Kabbalah....the Kabbalah alone consecrates the alliance of the Universal Reason With Faith, Power With Liberty, Science With Mystery; It has the keys of the present, the past and the future....Lucifer, the Light Bearer!....Lucifer, the Son of the Morning!....Is it he who bears the light?....Doubt it not!" (Morals And Dogmas, Albert Pike, pg. 321, 744, 745).
Don't think these teachings do not have a Christian veneer. They do-- they are very "spirit" conscious! But god becomes something "within you", something to develop within yourself, thus making people "gods". NEW AGE theology becomes the religion for a New World Order, which is nothing more than the goddess of Reason and "enlightenment" of the French Revolution. This "religion" goes back to the ancient religions of Babylon.
Thus we see America taking the part of the "Holy Spirit" making what appears to be, fire to come down from heaven-- and all the people will think this "NEW AGE" religion is from God. For it does embrace much of the same names and religious phrases as the Bible, in it's jargon to deceive.
Thus we see America building on SPIRITUALISM.
The Papacy is also building on SPIRITUALISM, "mary" is the guide of the papacy. Pope John Paul has dedicated himself to her, he has consecrated the world to her, and is following the blueprint presented by these apparitions.
The Vatican and America have joined hands in establishing this new world order.
America who emerged as separate from the papal beast, will set up an image of that beast.
We have noted that early Christianity became a beast, when political emperors and church leaders merged to create a "religion for the empire". Differenences in the Christian beliefs had to be squashed, and points of compromise between pagans and Christians were made to bring them into unity. The same will happen again. The New World Order will attempt to bring in a "religion" to unite the world, squash all objections, and attempt to offer a religion "acceptable" to the world's faiths.
But in so doing they no longer worship the God who created heaven and earth-- they are worshiping the wrong prince who appears as an angel of light.
Now
look, there is even an architectural resemblance between the church of
Rome and the capital of the United States. The most striking part is
the OBELISKS planted right in front of them. OBELISKS are ancient
MONUMENTS TO SUN WORSHIP!Does this not reveal the truth of the prophecies? From these two power centers will come the forced mandatory SUNDAY WORSHIP. Sunday, known in history as the "vulnerable day of the sun".
Ezekiel 8, gives a graphic picture of the false worship which the Lord calls an "abomination". It takes place in the house of the Lord, where the elders are secretly worshipping abominable things, yet with censors in their hands. In the inner court of the sanctuary they were standing, facing the east, worshipping the sun, while the woman were paying homage to the "queen of heaven" weeping for Tamuz.
The devil invades THE CHURCH!
Sunday is historically known as the Day of the Sun. Sunworship is the very basis of the pagan worship systems in honor of "the king of babylon, Lucifer, son of the morning". (Is. 14:12)
The issue in the last days will be over true and false worship:
Rev. 13:4 So they WORSHIPED the dragon (Satan) who gave authority to the beast, and they WORSHIPED the beast...
Rev. 13:8 And All who dwell on the earth will WORSHIP him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life...
Rev. 13:12 He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to WORSHIP the first beast,. . .
Rev. 13:15 As many as would not WORSHIP the image of the beast should be killed. . .
The angel cries with a loud voice:
Rev. 14:7 WORSHIP Him who made heaven and earth. . .
Rev. 14:9 If anyone WORSHIPS the beast and his image. . .he shall drink of the wrath of God. .
God says. "REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY, FOR GOD BLESSED AND SANCTIFIED THE SEVENTH DAY" (Ex.20)
The apostate protestants and the papal leaders will say "REMEMBER TO KEEP SUNDAY AS A DAY OF REST AND WORSHIP"
This issue isn't so much the day itself, but the ONE WHO sanctified that day and asked us to remember it. This whole issue is WHO DO YOU WORSHIP? WHO do you obey and follow? WHICH PRINCE?
Sunworship, new age, spiritualism-- it all points to one source. Do we want to partake of that source. Do we want to worship that prince?
Or will we heed the call of the angel in Revelation 14:
"Fear God, and worship HIM WHO MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH" --
Force will be used by the beast powers. This "new world order" will be forced, and a terrible time of trouble will result.
It is interesting that both the NEW WORLD ORDER and the papacy carry the number "666".
The Papacy carries it in the name written in the triple crown, "Vicarius Filii Dei" which means, VICAR OF THE SON OF GOD!
The New World Order has "666" all over the place: The World bank code is "666", Australia’s National bank cards have "666" on them, the new credit cards in the United States are being assigned the prefix "666" on them, Central computers for Sears, Betz, Penney’s and Montgomery Ward have prefixed "666" on their systems. Shoes made in European Common Market have, stamped inside the label, the number "666". The I.R.S. uses the "666" prefix, tanks built by Chrysler Corp. use "666" on the side. 666 is even imprinted in every bar code. It goes on and on, there are too many to list.
The United States is already acting as "police man" of the world. In the September 11 aftermath, the U.S. insinuated that the world had better support the "anti-terrorist" war, or they would themselves be declared terrorists.
And the world said, "OK". The U.S. is the superpower that will give LIFE to the image of the beast and cause everyone to worship the first beast (papacy) on pain of death!
Now don't think this will be a simple thing. Satan's last deceptions are just that DECEPTIONS.
Many theories abound in contemporary Christian circles regarding the coming New World Order and the antichrist-- Many evangelicals think of the pope as the "false prophet" of Revelation. They think the mark of the beast is some economic banking chip or card--
Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
Click here to visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
One crucial point needs to be clarified. The
anti-christ to be feared for HIS DECEPTION is NOT SECULAR oppression
but RELIGIOUS DECEPTION!The appearance of CHRISTIANITY being stamped out by some so called "anti-christ", may very well deceive many. Then the so called "true pope" ---will be embraced as leader of "true christianity" and all the churches will rally behind this "persecuted" pope to defeat the "antichrist"-- and those who oppose this movement will be CLASSIFIED AS PART OF ANTICHRIST. It will be a masterstroke of a double-play deception through the two "sides" or faces of controlling powers, masterminded by the dragon himself.
Reading through the book "Thunder of His Justice" You will be accused of siding with antichrist, and singled out for punishment, if you do any of the following:
- 1. You will be accused of sideing with antichrist if you refuse to acknowledge the popes authority as the representative of Christ, and be accused of thus fighting against Christ's divine and royal dominion
- 2. You will be accused of siding with antichrist if you refuse to accept the traditions (SUNDAY) of the church as God's law which must be obeyed to regain God's favor.
- 3. You will be accused of siding with antichrist if you refuse to accept the unity and christian movement to restore "christianity" with the "true pope" as the "primacy" and guardian of the disposition of faith. Thus you will be accused of being a "propagator of error"
- 4. Those who resist this union to "drive out antichrist" will be declared as acting autonomous and independently of God in ordering own activities-- because of thier belief that people were given reasoning power to decide for themselves what is right and wrong.
- 5. To believe in religious freedom outside of the recognized acceptable religious churches will mean being accused of siding with the antichrist.
- 6. If you believe it is wrong to legislate moral issues ( then you will not only be accused of being with the antichrist, but you will be accused of promoting pornography, homosexuality, abortion and all manner of sinful lifestyles
- 7. If you refuse to support the "christian movement" to restore Christianity, you will be accused of being a victim of hedonism because you make self the center of your actions if you continue to believe and maintain that religion is a matter between the individual self and God rather than submission to the church.
Revelation 14 reveals that God's wrath is poured out upon the beast and those who receive his mark of supposed supremacy over God's law. (Sunday has been held up by the papal church herself as the sign that she has authority OVER the law of God)
Yet who is the "PURE CHURCH" as revealed in Revelation-- who are the saints?
Revelation 14:17 "Here is the patience of the saints that KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS AND HAVE THE FAITH OF JESUS."
The Sabbath will be the sign that we belong to the CREATOR who sanctified the seventh-day Sabbath (Gen :1-3 Ex. 20:8-11, Rev. 14:7).
Sunday is the sign that man thinks he has authority over God's law. It is the sign of "man".
But the redeemed, who are not defiled with "harlot women" (Babylon) but follow the LAMB, and worship the Creator God, will sing His praises on Heavenly Mt. Zion. And stand before the throne the God!
