Yesterday we began to study the Image of the Beast. Why is it important to do this? Seriously, why should we bother with studying the image of the beast, shouldn't we just leave all that confusing prophecy stuff to Bible scholars? We could but then what about this--
Rev_16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
Read that again, please, indulge me.
The seven last plagues are beginning to fall in this verse and who receives the plagues? Who experiences the plagues effects? Those who have the MARK of the BEAST and…. did you get that…. AND … yep, I'm emphasizing the AND… those who worship the IMAGE of the BEAST!
Of course if you want to believe you'd never a worship a beast, that you're safe because you refuse to worship monsters, well it's that sort of understanding that will lead you to do just that because this image, and this beast are NOT vile creatures that have come up from some underground fire pit with horns dripping blood, with razor sharp claws, and a serpentine tail capable of cutting a man in two. That is the stuff of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Just a cursory glance at the book of Revelation can leave someone mystified and very confused, but I'm here to tell you that all those SYMBOLIC beasts can be explained, they can and guess what? The Bible itself explains them right along with undisputed history. I'm not lying! I'm not trying to deceive anyone! I have no reason to do that, none whatsoever.
You can remain stubborn and stuck with believing it's impossible to understand all that gobblygook symbolic prophetic stuff but ask yourself this… why would God give us these books of prophecy if there weren't a message for us.
Did you know the same book of Revelation which talks about the image of the beast also says this--
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And this--
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
No more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain- these are things most Christians have NO trouble at all believing, that one day God is going to destroy this sin-filled earth and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
So while people love to hear all the pleasant things to come from the book of Revelation they just want to brush aside all the hard, seemingly incomprehensible beast and mark stuff. Leave it to the scholars, the pastors, they'll learn and then teach us what we need to know, that way we don't have to trouble our pretty little heads with stuff that is just too darn confusing.
Maybe that sounds harsh, it probably does. I don't understand everything, but by the grace of God I'm going to study and pray, hoping that He will reveal His truth to me. We can't hide from the truth. We are responsible for rejecting knowledge.
Joh_5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Rom_15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rev_1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev_22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Those are NOT my words! Those are GOD'S words!
I'm not trying to convince you to study, or maybe I am, but only because when we read the words- 'Blessed is he that reads and hear the words of THIS prophecy and keeps the things in that prophecy' - we have to comprehend that those who do not will not be blessed!
If we are to keep the sayings in the book of Revelation we have to know them, don't we? How can you keep something you don't have?
By the GRACE of God alone, through His mercies and the ever loving guidance of the Holy Spirit, may we study, may we hear, may we understand and keep all that we need to so that we may be among those blessed.
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If you didn't read yesterday's study yet, please go do so, I don't want to repeat all the cautions and suggestions, but I will say, if you don't have a background already in prophecy please go back in my blogs to June 11, 2011 and on from there and read all the blogs on prophecy you can- it will give you the basics that are used here for those who know the basics already. Thanks!
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I'm taking excerpts from yesterday's study so that I can expound on them a bit- my expounding will be between parentheses such as these -- ((( ))))
Rev_19:20 And the BEAST was taken, and with him the FALSE PROPHET that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(((Miracles are wrought to what end? To deceive those who already HAVE the mark of the beast and worship his image. It states- 'which he deceived them that HAD received' So, these miracles aren't there to convince people to take the mark of the beast or worship his image. It's easy to believe that the miracles are done to CONVINCE people to choose the beast and his ways. It's easy for us to say when we see those miracles foretold then we'll make sure we don't believe them. But according to the Word of God which we just read, if we wait till then it will be too late. The sign of this miracle is surely given at a point just like the seven last plagues, announcing that the time of trouble such as never was (Dan 12:1) has begun and we know at that point everything has been decided, probation for all of mankind is over. ))))
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Let us read on. Twelfth verse: "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
Now, has this beast that was seen coming up out of the earth been exercising as yet all the power that the first beast before him did? [Congregation: "No."]
Has he compelled them that dwell on the earth to worship the first beast? [congregation: "No."]
Is that verse, then, the 12th verse, fulfilled until the time of the 15th verse? [Congregation: "No."]
Until the time after the image is made? [Congregation: "Yes."]
Then those two verses of the prophecy are manifestly NOT FULFILLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE STATEMENTS ARE SET DOWN. Is that so? [Congregation: "Yes."]
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The thirteenth verse: "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." Is that fulfilled before the image of the beast is made? [Congregation: "No."]
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And what then? -- Fire comes.
"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."
Men will see it; and it is done to decide this question-- to decide that they are the people of God; that they are men of God. And when the true people of God say that that is not the test -- that that does not prove anything, then you see, they will say: "Well, you go back on your own evidences. You say you believe the Bible, you say that is your foundation, and you agree that that decided this question once." "Yes, sir." But now, when we do the same thing, you deny that that is any decision at all. What is the use of reasoning any more with such men as that? They all go back on the plainest evidence, that they themselves say that they stand upon. What more should be done but to kill such a people as that? You can't reason with them anymore, and the fate of the world, the plagues, and pestilences and all these things are coming upon the people on account of your craze, because you will not surrender or yield; you are stubborn, you will have it your own way anyway. Now, in order to save people whose lives are precious, the only thing we can do is to put you out of the way."
So, we say, and you will see by reading, that that is NOT DONE BEFORE the image of the beast is made; it is AFTER that, that it comes.
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SO THEN THE THREE VERSES WHICH WE HAVE READ, YOU YOURSELVES SEE, THEY ARE NOT FULFILLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE STATEMENTS ARE SET DOWN.
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But do men receive the mark of the beast before the image is made?
Under the message, and the responsibility which the message brings, are men held responsible for receiving the mark of the beast and worshipping the beast before the image comes on and undertakes to compel them to do it? -- NO; because we found in our lessons here that UNTIL THE IMAGE WAS MADE THERE WAS A WAY OF ESCAPE FROM THE WORSHIP OF THE BEAST.
The way was open for a man to refuse; but AFTER the image is made, there is NO WAY open for a man to refuse to worship the beast, because there is no place on the earth where the power comes, there is no escape any more, and then it is that men become responsible for worshiping either the beast or his image. There is no other way of escape. The only way is to turn to God, then. Then the time comes that the decision is clear cut, and must be made between God and the powers of the earth alone.
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Now then, these spirits, they are the spirits of devils. The next verse (Rev. 16:14) says: "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
But these spirits of devils working miracles come from where? -- They come from certain places to do these miracles.
That is the truth, isn't it? And they come from those places, to gather the people to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. These spirits of devils come at that time with this miracle-working power, in this miracle-working power, in this miracle-working way, to do a certain thing.
Where do they come from? -- The beast and the false prophet (or the image of the beast). Then, from those testimonies, and from those two verses, isn't it plain that the deceiving miracles-- the great miracles that are wrought to deceive men, come AFTER THE IMAGE IS MADE, AND NOT TO MAKE THE IMAGE [Congregation: "Yes."]
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Then you can see again that up to the fifteenth verse, NOT ONE of the verses is fulfilled in the order in which its statements are set down.
"Well, then," says one, "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT THAT WAY FOR? HOW ARE WE TO KNOW, THEN, WHEN IT DOES COME?"
"Vol. 4" tells you that, too. It says this, page 443:--
"TO LEARN WHAT THE IMAGE IS LIKE, AND HOW IT IS TO BE FORMED, WE MUST STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEAST ITSELF,-- THE PAPACY."
We are to learn of the fulfillment of the prophecy, and be able to detect that, from our knowledge of the things of which it is an image.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE NOT TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY FROM THE PROPHECY ITSELF ALONE; BUT WE ARE TO DETECT, AND TO LEARN OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY FROM THE RECORD OF THE NATURE, THE WORKING, AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE BEAST OF WHICH THIS IS ONLY AN IMAGE.
So you see, in order to see when these passages are fulfilled, in order to see when they are met, we must be ACQUAINTED WITH THE ORIGINAL, we must be ACQUAINTED WITH THE BEAST, and well acquainted with it, that when any ONE of these points appear, we can see where that belongs, because we know where it belonged in the original; and then, knowing where it belongs, we can avoid that thing.
There is a peculiarity about this prophecy that is not about many others: There are some prophecies, like the prophecy of Daniel seventh chapter, the passing away of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and so on, -- those prophecies, men could see the fulfillment of them in the event, and they could be perfectly safe in it. In other words, was it safe for men acquainted with the Scriptures to look for another kingdom to succeed Babylon, and to look for it as Medo-Persia, and know when that thing was fulfilled from the event itself? -- Yes; and they could see it fulfilled and the event itself. But mark you, here is this prophecy that comes at the END OF THE WORLD, AND IN THE WHIRL OF EVENTS THAT BRING THE END OF THE WORLD, AND THE MAN WHO WAITS TO SEE THIS FULFILLED IN ORDER TO ACT, HE WILL BE TOO LATE.
Therefore this is a prophecy with which God wants us to be SO WELL ACQUAINTED BEFOREHAND THAT WE WILL LOOK AT IT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, AND NOT BE BEHIND IT WHEN IT DOES COME. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU SEE THE LORD GIVES US A PICTURE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WROUGHT OUT IN HISTORY; HE GIVES THE COURSE OF EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CARRIED OUT, FULFILLED BEFORE THE EYES OF MEN, IN A SLOW PROCESS; SO THAT IN STUDYING IT AS IT OCCURRED SLOWLY IN THAT, WE CAN BECOME THOROUGHLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED, AND THEIR GROWTH, AND THE RESULT OF THEM. AND HE DOES THAT IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE SO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THOSE THINGS IN ALL THEIR BEARINGS, THAT WHEN THE FIRST HINT OF THOSE THINGS IS TOUCHED HERE, WE MAY KNOW THE OUTCOME OF IT LONG BEFOREHAN, AND THEREFORE, HAVE AMPLE TIME TO TAKE WARNING, AND NEVER GET CAUGHT.
This is why the Lord does not want us to look for the fulfillment of this prophecy in the prophecy itself; because IF WE WAIT FOR THAT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY WILL BE THOSE THINGS UPON WHICH DEPEND OUR SALVATION AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT THAT THING IS FULFILLED; AND IF WE ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE, IF WE ARE LATE, WE ARE SIMPLY LEFT. THEREFORE HE FIXED IT, SO AS TO SHOW UP THE BEAST IN ITS FULNESS, IN ALL HIS WORKING, IN ORDER THAT BY STUDYING THAT, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DETECT THE IMAGE, IN EVERY PHASE AND ON EVERY SIDE. THE FIRST HINT OF ANYTHING OF THE KIND IS ENOUGH; BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE THING IS; EVERYTHING IS IN IT; AND THEREFORE JUST AS SOON AS THAT THING IS TOUCHED, WE CAN SAY, "THAT MEANS THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST; THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IS IN THAT THING, AND I MUST AVOID EVERY CONNECTION OF IT OR WITH IT FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD." WATCHING THE GROWTH OF THAT THING WHICH HAS BEEN STARTED, WHICH I KNOW WAS THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE OF THE PAPACY WHEN IT WAS STARTED, WHICH I KNOW WAS THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE OF THE PAPACY WHEN IT WAS STARTED, WHEN I SEE THAT AND AVOID ALL OF IT AT EVERY STEP, I AM ON SAFE GROUND, AND UNLESS I DO THAT I AM ON DANGEROUS GROUND.
Therefore the Spirit of Prophecy has told us that if we would know about the image, we MUST STUDY THE ORIGINAL -- THE BEAST. And those who are watching it in this way will be able to detect the evil thing in every one of its phases; no difference how it comes up, or where it comes up, even if it be only the merest glimmer. AND GOD WANTS US TO BE SO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE ORIGINAL THAT WE CAN DETECT THE IMAGE EVEN THOUGH IT BE ONLY A GLIMMER.
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My thoughts--
(((Truly this makes perfect sense, does it not? We are given prophecy straight on to the very end of the world. We are given prophecies concerning our Savior's second coming, we are given prophecies about that second coming that tell us that those who are HIS at His second coming will go with Him to heaven (obviously they're not there already) even the dead that are His will be called from their graves, and those who are alive that are His will go with Him without ever tasting death's sleep. We are told this! This is prophesied. We are told what the end times will be like. We are given prophecies like the one we've been discussing in Rev. 13 and we are told there is going to be an evil power that does miracles, and many are going to belong to that evil power. We are told what that power will be like- another power described in great detail so as to make no mistakes. We are told that we must KNOW what is coming, because in the very end when we are living in that prophetic moment as prophecy meets reality there will be no time to sit down and study history, it will be history in the making and WE will be in that history in the making prophecy. There will be many, in fact, NO ONE alive when Jesus Christ returns will escape being a part of prophecy unfolding in that very moment.
Jesus tells us to watch and pray... watch and pray...watch and pray.
Jesus tells us we are blessed if we read and understand.
Jesus tells us to be ready, to have extra oil by our sides.
Jesus tells us to have on the marriage clothes.
Jesus does not lack in the warning department. None will be able to say they didn't have a chance to know, not a single person.
So, if we are given warnings shouldn't we take heed to them!?
We need to be Christ's, wholly Christ's first and foremost. But every single apostle and disciple that lived when Jesus walked the earth before His death and right after His resurrection before His final ascent to heaven, had to go on and live their lives in Jesus. They spent their lives living the truth of Salvation in Christ, and we too must live that truth with a very active belief in our Savior. Studying, praying, watching, waiting, living, loving all for HIM.
Knowing all this prophecy means NOTHING if we do not have the LOVE of Christ in our hearts, in our very lives. Christ must be in us teaching us, guiding us, blessing us, loving us.
Christ did NOT want us to be ignorant to the signs of His return. He gave whole discourses on it. He didn't want a single person to be ignorant of salvation in HIM and our need to love Him more than anything else, and in loving Him, obeying Him in all things.
Our studying this prophecy isn't over yet, by the grace of God we will continue to feast at the meat laden table of Scripture, praying always for guidance and understanding that will only ever bring us closer and closer to HIM and all HIS TRUTH, in HIS LOVE!
Rev_16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
Read that again, please, indulge me.
The seven last plagues are beginning to fall in this verse and who receives the plagues? Who experiences the plagues effects? Those who have the MARK of the BEAST and…. did you get that…. AND … yep, I'm emphasizing the AND… those who worship the IMAGE of the BEAST!
Of course if you want to believe you'd never a worship a beast, that you're safe because you refuse to worship monsters, well it's that sort of understanding that will lead you to do just that because this image, and this beast are NOT vile creatures that have come up from some underground fire pit with horns dripping blood, with razor sharp claws, and a serpentine tail capable of cutting a man in two. That is the stuff of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Just a cursory glance at the book of Revelation can leave someone mystified and very confused, but I'm here to tell you that all those SYMBOLIC beasts can be explained, they can and guess what? The Bible itself explains them right along with undisputed history. I'm not lying! I'm not trying to deceive anyone! I have no reason to do that, none whatsoever.
You can remain stubborn and stuck with believing it's impossible to understand all that gobblygook symbolic prophetic stuff but ask yourself this… why would God give us these books of prophecy if there weren't a message for us.
Did you know the same book of Revelation which talks about the image of the beast also says this--
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And this--
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
No more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain- these are things most Christians have NO trouble at all believing, that one day God is going to destroy this sin-filled earth and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
So while people love to hear all the pleasant things to come from the book of Revelation they just want to brush aside all the hard, seemingly incomprehensible beast and mark stuff. Leave it to the scholars, the pastors, they'll learn and then teach us what we need to know, that way we don't have to trouble our pretty little heads with stuff that is just too darn confusing.
Maybe that sounds harsh, it probably does. I don't understand everything, but by the grace of God I'm going to study and pray, hoping that He will reveal His truth to me. We can't hide from the truth. We are responsible for rejecting knowledge.
Joh_5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Rom_15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rev_1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev_22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Those are NOT my words! Those are GOD'S words!
I'm not trying to convince you to study, or maybe I am, but only because when we read the words- 'Blessed is he that reads and hear the words of THIS prophecy and keeps the things in that prophecy' - we have to comprehend that those who do not will not be blessed!
If we are to keep the sayings in the book of Revelation we have to know them, don't we? How can you keep something you don't have?
By the GRACE of God alone, through His mercies and the ever loving guidance of the Holy Spirit, may we study, may we hear, may we understand and keep all that we need to so that we may be among those blessed.
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If you didn't read yesterday's study yet, please go do so, I don't want to repeat all the cautions and suggestions, but I will say, if you don't have a background already in prophecy please go back in my blogs to June 11, 2011 and on from there and read all the blogs on prophecy you can- it will give you the basics that are used here for those who know the basics already. Thanks!
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I'm taking excerpts from yesterday's study so that I can expound on them a bit- my expounding will be between parentheses such as these -- ((( ))))
Rev_19:20 And the BEAST was taken, and with him the FALSE PROPHET that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(((Miracles are wrought to what end? To deceive those who already HAVE the mark of the beast and worship his image. It states- 'which he deceived them that HAD received' So, these miracles aren't there to convince people to take the mark of the beast or worship his image. It's easy to believe that the miracles are done to CONVINCE people to choose the beast and his ways. It's easy for us to say when we see those miracles foretold then we'll make sure we don't believe them. But according to the Word of God which we just read, if we wait till then it will be too late. The sign of this miracle is surely given at a point just like the seven last plagues, announcing that the time of trouble such as never was (Dan 12:1) has begun and we know at that point everything has been decided, probation for all of mankind is over. ))))
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Let us read on. Twelfth verse: "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
Now, has this beast that was seen coming up out of the earth been exercising as yet all the power that the first beast before him did? [Congregation: "No."]
Has he compelled them that dwell on the earth to worship the first beast? [congregation: "No."]
Is that verse, then, the 12th verse, fulfilled until the time of the 15th verse? [Congregation: "No."]
Until the time after the image is made? [Congregation: "Yes."]
Then those two verses of the prophecy are manifestly NOT FULFILLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE STATEMENTS ARE SET DOWN. Is that so? [Congregation: "Yes."]
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The thirteenth verse: "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." Is that fulfilled before the image of the beast is made? [Congregation: "No."]
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And what then? -- Fire comes.
"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."
Men will see it; and it is done to decide this question-- to decide that they are the people of God; that they are men of God. And when the true people of God say that that is not the test -- that that does not prove anything, then you see, they will say: "Well, you go back on your own evidences. You say you believe the Bible, you say that is your foundation, and you agree that that decided this question once." "Yes, sir." But now, when we do the same thing, you deny that that is any decision at all. What is the use of reasoning any more with such men as that? They all go back on the plainest evidence, that they themselves say that they stand upon. What more should be done but to kill such a people as that? You can't reason with them anymore, and the fate of the world, the plagues, and pestilences and all these things are coming upon the people on account of your craze, because you will not surrender or yield; you are stubborn, you will have it your own way anyway. Now, in order to save people whose lives are precious, the only thing we can do is to put you out of the way."
So, we say, and you will see by reading, that that is NOT DONE BEFORE the image of the beast is made; it is AFTER that, that it comes.
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SO THEN THE THREE VERSES WHICH WE HAVE READ, YOU YOURSELVES SEE, THEY ARE NOT FULFILLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE STATEMENTS ARE SET DOWN.
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But do men receive the mark of the beast before the image is made?
Under the message, and the responsibility which the message brings, are men held responsible for receiving the mark of the beast and worshipping the beast before the image comes on and undertakes to compel them to do it? -- NO; because we found in our lessons here that UNTIL THE IMAGE WAS MADE THERE WAS A WAY OF ESCAPE FROM THE WORSHIP OF THE BEAST.
The way was open for a man to refuse; but AFTER the image is made, there is NO WAY open for a man to refuse to worship the beast, because there is no place on the earth where the power comes, there is no escape any more, and then it is that men become responsible for worshiping either the beast or his image. There is no other way of escape. The only way is to turn to God, then. Then the time comes that the decision is clear cut, and must be made between God and the powers of the earth alone.
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Now then, these spirits, they are the spirits of devils. The next verse (Rev. 16:14) says: "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
But these spirits of devils working miracles come from where? -- They come from certain places to do these miracles.
That is the truth, isn't it? And they come from those places, to gather the people to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. These spirits of devils come at that time with this miracle-working power, in this miracle-working power, in this miracle-working way, to do a certain thing.
Where do they come from? -- The beast and the false prophet (or the image of the beast). Then, from those testimonies, and from those two verses, isn't it plain that the deceiving miracles-- the great miracles that are wrought to deceive men, come AFTER THE IMAGE IS MADE, AND NOT TO MAKE THE IMAGE [Congregation: "Yes."]
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Then you can see again that up to the fifteenth verse, NOT ONE of the verses is fulfilled in the order in which its statements are set down.
"Well, then," says one, "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT THAT WAY FOR? HOW ARE WE TO KNOW, THEN, WHEN IT DOES COME?"
"Vol. 4" tells you that, too. It says this, page 443:--
"TO LEARN WHAT THE IMAGE IS LIKE, AND HOW IT IS TO BE FORMED, WE MUST STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEAST ITSELF,-- THE PAPACY."
We are to learn of the fulfillment of the prophecy, and be able to detect that, from our knowledge of the things of which it is an image.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE NOT TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY FROM THE PROPHECY ITSELF ALONE; BUT WE ARE TO DETECT, AND TO LEARN OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY FROM THE RECORD OF THE NATURE, THE WORKING, AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE BEAST OF WHICH THIS IS ONLY AN IMAGE.
So you see, in order to see when these passages are fulfilled, in order to see when they are met, we must be ACQUAINTED WITH THE ORIGINAL, we must be ACQUAINTED WITH THE BEAST, and well acquainted with it, that when any ONE of these points appear, we can see where that belongs, because we know where it belonged in the original; and then, knowing where it belongs, we can avoid that thing.
There is a peculiarity about this prophecy that is not about many others: There are some prophecies, like the prophecy of Daniel seventh chapter, the passing away of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and so on, -- those prophecies, men could see the fulfillment of them in the event, and they could be perfectly safe in it. In other words, was it safe for men acquainted with the Scriptures to look for another kingdom to succeed Babylon, and to look for it as Medo-Persia, and know when that thing was fulfilled from the event itself? -- Yes; and they could see it fulfilled and the event itself. But mark you, here is this prophecy that comes at the END OF THE WORLD, AND IN THE WHIRL OF EVENTS THAT BRING THE END OF THE WORLD, AND THE MAN WHO WAITS TO SEE THIS FULFILLED IN ORDER TO ACT, HE WILL BE TOO LATE.
Therefore this is a prophecy with which God wants us to be SO WELL ACQUAINTED BEFOREHAND THAT WE WILL LOOK AT IT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, AND NOT BE BEHIND IT WHEN IT DOES COME. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU SEE THE LORD GIVES US A PICTURE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WROUGHT OUT IN HISTORY; HE GIVES THE COURSE OF EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CARRIED OUT, FULFILLED BEFORE THE EYES OF MEN, IN A SLOW PROCESS; SO THAT IN STUDYING IT AS IT OCCURRED SLOWLY IN THAT, WE CAN BECOME THOROUGHLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED, AND THEIR GROWTH, AND THE RESULT OF THEM. AND HE DOES THAT IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE SO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THOSE THINGS IN ALL THEIR BEARINGS, THAT WHEN THE FIRST HINT OF THOSE THINGS IS TOUCHED HERE, WE MAY KNOW THE OUTCOME OF IT LONG BEFOREHAN, AND THEREFORE, HAVE AMPLE TIME TO TAKE WARNING, AND NEVER GET CAUGHT.
This is why the Lord does not want us to look for the fulfillment of this prophecy in the prophecy itself; because IF WE WAIT FOR THAT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY WILL BE THOSE THINGS UPON WHICH DEPEND OUR SALVATION AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT THAT THING IS FULFILLED; AND IF WE ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE, IF WE ARE LATE, WE ARE SIMPLY LEFT. THEREFORE HE FIXED IT, SO AS TO SHOW UP THE BEAST IN ITS FULNESS, IN ALL HIS WORKING, IN ORDER THAT BY STUDYING THAT, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DETECT THE IMAGE, IN EVERY PHASE AND ON EVERY SIDE. THE FIRST HINT OF ANYTHING OF THE KIND IS ENOUGH; BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE THING IS; EVERYTHING IS IN IT; AND THEREFORE JUST AS SOON AS THAT THING IS TOUCHED, WE CAN SAY, "THAT MEANS THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST; THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IS IN THAT THING, AND I MUST AVOID EVERY CONNECTION OF IT OR WITH IT FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD." WATCHING THE GROWTH OF THAT THING WHICH HAS BEEN STARTED, WHICH I KNOW WAS THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE OF THE PAPACY WHEN IT WAS STARTED, WHICH I KNOW WAS THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE OF THE PAPACY WHEN IT WAS STARTED, WHEN I SEE THAT AND AVOID ALL OF IT AT EVERY STEP, I AM ON SAFE GROUND, AND UNLESS I DO THAT I AM ON DANGEROUS GROUND.
Therefore the Spirit of Prophecy has told us that if we would know about the image, we MUST STUDY THE ORIGINAL -- THE BEAST. And those who are watching it in this way will be able to detect the evil thing in every one of its phases; no difference how it comes up, or where it comes up, even if it be only the merest glimmer. AND GOD WANTS US TO BE SO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE ORIGINAL THAT WE CAN DETECT THE IMAGE EVEN THOUGH IT BE ONLY A GLIMMER.
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My thoughts--
(((Truly this makes perfect sense, does it not? We are given prophecy straight on to the very end of the world. We are given prophecies concerning our Savior's second coming, we are given prophecies about that second coming that tell us that those who are HIS at His second coming will go with Him to heaven (obviously they're not there already) even the dead that are His will be called from their graves, and those who are alive that are His will go with Him without ever tasting death's sleep. We are told this! This is prophesied. We are told what the end times will be like. We are given prophecies like the one we've been discussing in Rev. 13 and we are told there is going to be an evil power that does miracles, and many are going to belong to that evil power. We are told what that power will be like- another power described in great detail so as to make no mistakes. We are told that we must KNOW what is coming, because in the very end when we are living in that prophetic moment as prophecy meets reality there will be no time to sit down and study history, it will be history in the making and WE will be in that history in the making prophecy. There will be many, in fact, NO ONE alive when Jesus Christ returns will escape being a part of prophecy unfolding in that very moment.
Jesus tells us to watch and pray... watch and pray...watch and pray.
Jesus tells us we are blessed if we read and understand.
Jesus tells us to be ready, to have extra oil by our sides.
Jesus tells us to have on the marriage clothes.
Jesus does not lack in the warning department. None will be able to say they didn't have a chance to know, not a single person.
So, if we are given warnings shouldn't we take heed to them!?
We need to be Christ's, wholly Christ's first and foremost. But every single apostle and disciple that lived when Jesus walked the earth before His death and right after His resurrection before His final ascent to heaven, had to go on and live their lives in Jesus. They spent their lives living the truth of Salvation in Christ, and we too must live that truth with a very active belief in our Savior. Studying, praying, watching, waiting, living, loving all for HIM.
Knowing all this prophecy means NOTHING if we do not have the LOVE of Christ in our hearts, in our very lives. Christ must be in us teaching us, guiding us, blessing us, loving us.
Christ did NOT want us to be ignorant to the signs of His return. He gave whole discourses on it. He didn't want a single person to be ignorant of salvation in HIM and our need to love Him more than anything else, and in loving Him, obeying Him in all things.
Our studying this prophecy isn't over yet, by the grace of God we will continue to feast at the meat laden table of Scripture, praying always for guidance and understanding that will only ever bring us closer and closer to HIM and all HIS TRUTH, in HIS LOVE!
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