Because
we've been discussing end time events and mentioning the Mark of the Beast and
such, right now we're going to study a little bit more on this subject.
Once
again, as greater minds than mine prevail, we are going to use the work of a
Biblical scholar- someone who has spent their life in a thorough exegesis of
the Word of God. The work of someone who welcomed a challenging mind and was
more than willing to open His Bible with prayer for guidance and seek only
truth. This man had to give up cherished beliefs when truth demanded, as many
people have to do. When we aren't willing to accept truth, but holdfast to
fallacies we are comfortable with for whatever reasons, then we are willfully
blinding ourselves and while we may keep a visage of being Christ's, Satan is
the one pulling the strings and tightening the blindfold- content to allow you
to believe whatever you desire, so long as it is not all the truth. We shut
ourselves off from Christ truly knowing us when we block His truth because HE
is the way, the truth, and the life.
Joh_14:6 Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Truth isn't easy to
follow, to accept. If you say it is, then maybe for you it has been and is.
Satan makes it as hard has he can for us to follow the truth, making lies so
close to the truth people are deceived. Satan mixes in just enough lie to keep
people from believing, all the while reassuring them that they are Christ
followers and Christ knows them.
Having said all that
may God help us, bless us, opening our spiritual understanding to HIS truth as
we study end time events. Prayerfully these events are just around the corner
ready to unfold. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!
*******
'MARK OF
THE BEAST
QUOTATIONS
FROM WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?
From WWN6(95) - Exegesis of Revelation, Part 2, The
Beast and the False Prophet, pp. 2-4:
The
section of the prophecy of Revelation 13 which describes the first beast, can
be divided in two parts: 1) A symbolic description of the beast
itself and a brief overview of its history (vs. 1-4); and 2) What it
was to do in the time period allotted (vs. 5-7). . . .
As
the description and comment on the first beast is concluded, there is
found a clause that will be repeated several times in the ensuing revelation
- them "that dwell on the
earth." (13:8, 12, 14-2x; 14:6; 17:2) Since the warning in Chapter 12, was to the
"inhabiters" (v. 12) of the earth, and since the second beast comes
"up out of the earth" (13:11), is this phraseology to be restricted
to the area prophetically designated the earth? Or is to be given the concept
which we give to earth - the whole planet? The answer to this question will
even affect the understanding of Revelation 14:6. Should the text read as
in the KJV - "unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people." Or, should the conjunctive, kai, be given its alternate meaning with the text
reading, "unto them that dwell on the earth, also to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people." In other words, was "the
everlasting gospel" to be first proclaimed to the dwellers of the
prophetic "earth" and then to every nation worldwide. This is
historically what happened. Does this fact, therefore, help us to read aright
as prophetic language - "them that dwell on the earth."
In the Greek New Testament text of the United Bible
Societies different Greek words are used in the various verses in Revelation
12, 13, 14, and 17 for the word, "dwell" in the clause, "that
dwell on the earth." Only in Chapter 13, is the Greek word the same for
"dwell" in verses 8 and 14. However, in the Received Text (Textus
Receptus), the same word for "dwell" (katoikeo)
is used consistently in Rev. 12:12; 13:8, 14; 14:6; and 17:2. If this is then
to be interpreted prophetically, it adds a different dimension to the
understanding of where the final events will be focused. Those "that dwell
on the earth" will "worship him (the beast)" (13:8). They will
be deceived into making an image to the beast (13:14). They will become
intoxicated with the wine of the harlot (17:2). (Italicized
emphasis added.)
It
would also appear when the "whole" earth is meant rather than its use
as a prophetic symbol, the word, "dwell" is not used, but
rather holos, meaning
entire, is associated with the word, "earth." See 13:3.
In the connecting verses between the two
"beasts" of Revelation 13, there is both warning and admonition.
"All that dwell on the earth shall worship the first
beast" with but one exception, those whose names are "written in the
book of life of the Lamb" do not do so (13:8).
Recognizing that the first beast represents the
Papacy, then one criterion which determines where our names are placed is our
attitude toward Roman Catholicism. This includes much more than mere Sunday observance. The
doctrine of the Trinity - basic in Romanism, the Eucharist, and other issues
enter the picture. Little wonder then that the admonition follows - "If
any man have an ear, let him hear." (13:9) (Italicized emphasis
added.)
In
Rev. 13:10 an unique comment is made - "Here is the patience and faith of
the saints." It is found again in Revelation 14:12, and only in these two
texts in Revelation. Do these serve as "brackets" for the revelation
that is given between? If so, then this call to observe the steadfastness of
"the saints" is associated with the activities of the second beast of
chapter 13 and the giving of the Three Angels' Messages.
The second beast came "up out of the earth; and
he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." (13:11) Two
things of importance need to be noted. The prophetic symbolism does not connect
this beast with the other beasts - there is no common denominator, the multiple
heads or horns which mark the other beast symbols are missing. Only two horns
are noted. No prophetic or literal time factors are associated with this second
beast. He doesn't speak as "the dragon,"
but simply "as a dragon."" His two horns are like the
horns of a lamb." The symbolism combines the two representations which in
Chapter 12 are pictured as in deadly conflict, the dragon and the Lamb.
This beast "exerciseth all the power (authority
- exousia) of the first beast." Is this saying that its
authority is derived from the same source as the first beast, or is it stating
that its controlling influence is as extensive as was that of the first beast,
or both? The evident time of prophetic emphasis for the second beast is after
the deadly wound of the first beast "was healed." (v. 12) Is it then,
that we are to consider the exercise of, and source for its authority? If so,
the activities of this beast, as described in Chapter 13, would not find
fulfillment until after 1929, when the deadly wound began to be healed. But when
was it "healed"?
One
of the wonders which this beast performs is to make "fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men." (v. 13) This beast is defined as
"the false prophet." (19:20) The allusion to fire coming down from
heaven, being done by a prophet, calls to mind, Elijah who is to come
before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Mal. 4:5) This is
telling us two things: 1) In the final confrontation, there will be a
reversal of evidence. The false and deceptive will produce what will appear to
be genuine evidence of Divine manifestation. And 2) This second beast
is a religious power seeking to fulfill the role of Elijah.
In determining the identity of this "beast
power," we have given it two identifications, the United
States and Apostate Protestantism. In the transitional verses from
the first beast to the second, is found the dictum - "He that leadeth into
captivity shall go into captivity." This is interpreted as having been
fulfilled in taking the Pope captive, and by declaring the government of the
Papacy at an end in 1798, thus concluding the 1260 prophetic days. It was at
this time, as the Papacy ceased its domination over "the kings of the
earth," that the United States came into existence as a nation -
"coming up out of the earth." However, to so interpret, excludes the
identification as Protestantism, because Protestantism arose in the area
prophetically identified as "the sea," and over two hundreds years
before the downfall of the Pope. We can
respond that it is Apostate Protestantism that is being identified since the
symbol is termed, "the false prophet." If
this be so, then one must ask, "When did Protestantism become
apostate?" To this, we have responded that this state resulted from the
rejection of the First Angel's Message. And textually the First Angel's Message
is placed in the setting of this prophetic revelation to John, with the Second
Angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon, of which the "false
prophet" is one part. (Rev. 16:13, 19)
In recognizing this "beast" as a religious
power we must also recognize two other factors of prophecy. 1) As
noted above, the prophetic emphasis in Revelation 13 is on the activities of
the "false prophet" after the
"deadly wound was healed." This extends the time element for the main
thrust of "apostate" Protestantism well over 100 years from the above
date (1844) set for its inception. 2) This religious force causes the
"image" to be formed. (13:14) The "image" to the first
beast would be religio-political even as the Papacy was and is. It must also be
understood, that this "religious" power says to those "that
dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the
beast." This clearly indicates that the political power through which the
"image" will be formed is democratic, the electorate is asked to
grant the authority. But the "life" of this image is given to it by
the "false prophet." (13:15)
Penalties
for failure to come into line are twofold: 1) The "false
prophet" initiates economic sanctions (13:16-17). 2) The created
"image" of the union of church and state - issues the death decree
(13:15).
The final verse of Revelation 13 - verse 18 - demands
careful exegesis. It can be noted as both a literal fact, and it can convey
spiritual import. Use of this verse has been made by Adventist
evangelists by identifying the Pope with title - VICARIVS FILI DEI - which in
the Latin equals - 666. A publication recently came to this desk which claimed
that this title "has long been a forgery of Adventist publishing and is
thoroughly fraudulent." Documentation was given for this charge from a
work by Gilbert M. Valentine, The
Shaping of Adventism, published by Andrews University.
Evidently someone has not done their homework, and this would include George R.
Knight, who chaired Valentine's original research. It is the Catholic Church
itself which admits that "the title of the Pope of Rome is Vicarious Filii Dei. This is inscribed
on his mitre; and if you take the letters of his title which represent Latin
numerals (printed large) and add them together they come to 666."
A spiritual truth is also hidden in this number and
"wisdom." The Greek text reads - "For a number of man, it
is" - no article, and the word for man is anthropos. Six is one shy of seven, which is a Biblical
perfect number, but it is a combination of three sixes, three being another
perfect number. Thus the number 666 could be interpreted as perfected
imperfection. This even carries overtones of "six days shalt thou labor
and do all thy work." Man in the worship of the works of his hands - Cain
worship - and self glorification, cannot "Fear God and give glory to Him
... and worship Him who made ..." providing for man, the seventh day of
rest, which is the essence of the First Angel's Message. (14:6-7) The Third
Angel's Message also addresses this issue. "If any man worship the
beast," but the "beast" is man in the height of his imperfection
and rebellion against God.
This
full picture justifies Thayer's definition of "the Wicked" one,
"the man of sin," as "he in whom all iniquity has as it were
fixed its abode" (II Thess. 2:8.) (See Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 48,
art. anomos) This is the
one which the "false prophet" leads those who dwell on the earth to
worship. (Italicized emphasis added.)
From WWN7(95) - Exegesis of Revelation, Part 3, The
144,000 and the Three Angels, pp. 3-4:
The
third angel joins the other two. However, in John's recording of this message,
he places it in the present tense - "If
any man is worshiping (proskunei) the beast and his
image, and is receiving (lambanei) a mark ...."
(14:9) This message, therefore, except in a warning of what
will be, cannot be "present truth" until the "mark" is in
place, and the proclamation to worship is made. It needs to be kept in mind
that the cause to worship this beast is contingent on the fact that "the
deadly wound was healed." (13:12)
When we consider the "wisdom" and
"understanding" given to John in the previous chapter (13:18), we
discover that the basic element in this warning is against the worship of man
for the "beast" is a man! The third angel joins his voice in warning
that the rejection of the everlasting gospel's imperatives - "Fear God,
and give glory to Him ... and worship Him who made" - and in its place,
worshiping man in whatever form that may take, brings "the wine of the wrath
of God, which is poured out without mixture." (14:10)
In the final confrontation when all that dwell on the
face of the earth bow in worship to the beast that had a deadly wound and
"was healed," there will be a "remnant of Israel" who, as
the Three Worthies before them, refuse to bow to the image - they will keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (14:12) It will be a trying
ordeal for it will reveal the "endurance" (patience - KJV) of the
saints. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved." (Matt. 24:13) (Bold emphasis added.)
From WWN1(87) - :
The
first "beast" of Revelation 13 is likewise both political and
ecclesiastical. It is given a "seat," "power," and
"great authority" by the dragon - the Devil and Satan. (13:2; 12:9)
The Devil boasted to Christ that the kingdoms (governments) of this world
belonged to him, and "to whomsoever he would give them." (Luke
4:6) But this beast is also ecclesiastical
- worship is involved. (13:4)
The second "beast" of Revelation 13 is
likewise both political and ecclesiastical. It exercises all the power
of the first beast whose power was derived from the dragon. (13:12, 2) It has ecclesiastical overtones - it "causeth
the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast., whose deadly
wound was healed." (13:12) But its horns of power are
separated - "two horns like a lamb." This power arising out of
"the earth" rather than "the sea" has been accurately
identified with the American nation. From the United States is to come the
suggestion of the formation of the "image to the beast." (13:14)
In the formation of this image which will demand
obeisance to the beast through a
mark, name, or number is a vital principle interlocked
with the Third Angel's Message. The message is - "If any man worship the beast
and his image,
and receive his mark ..." (14:9) This is clearly defined by the
"wisdom" of God. Those who accept God's wisdom have
"understanding." The text says - "Here is wisdom. Let him that
hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a
man." (13:18) The worship of the beast in principle is the worship of man. The image to the beast in principle is the setting up of an organization in which man appropriates to
himself that which belongs to God alone,
and causes the adherents to that organization to give their allegiance under
threat of excommunication. (Bold emphasis added.)
From WWN4(87) - The
Jewish Equation -- Part I:
A Look at Revelation
The book of
Revelation naturally divides itself into two sections: Chapters 1-11 &
12-22. The final section contains two predominant symbols - two women and two
cities - with the other symbols either as war with, or in alliance with these
two women or cities.
As the final section
of the prophecy opens, the power operating behind the symbols of the book of
Daniel is revealed - the dragon, that old serpent, the devil or Satan. However,
because of the victory of the Cross, he is pictured as defeated, and a time limit
set upon his activities. He is "cast down" (12:10) and he knows he
has "but a short time." (12:12)
Satan is also pictured as operating behind a facade.
He gives "his power, and his seat, and great authority" to the beast,
one of whose heads is "wounded to death." (13:2-3) He has his
prophet, "a false Elijah," who though lamb-like speaks as a
"dragon." (Comp. 13:14 with 19:20; note 13:11,13) It is this false
prophet who suggests "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should
make an image to the beast, which had a wound by a sword and did live." (13:14)
God's response to all "of this behind-the scenes
activity of Satan is a message of warning that if- anyone worships .the beast
and his image shall suffer the wrath of God which is poured out in the Seven
Last Plagues (14: 9-10, 15:1
During the portrayal
of the Seven Last Plagues to John, he is shown the second woman - "the
great whore that sitteth upon many waters." (17: 1) The woman, Babylon,
(17:5,18) had been seen sitting on the River Euphrates which was dried up under
the sixth plague (16:12) But when one of the angels of the plagues reveals in
symbolic detail this whore, she is riding upon a scarlet colored beast. (17:3)
This beast is defined as one that "was, and is
not, and yet is," and though being "the eighth" is "of the
seven." (17:8,11) He is the source of the seven heads. In John's day, five
had fallen - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. One was - Rome.
Daniel noted it consistently as being in two phases - pagan and papal. One was yet to come - the 2nd beast
of Rev. 13, or the false prophet. (See 17:10)
The
beast of Rev. 17 carrying the whore is the "yet is" phase of Satan.
And it is in this connection that Revelation 17 touches Daniel 11:45. (Bold and italicized emphasis added.)
From WWN5(87) - The Jewish Equation -- Part 2:
The Seven Last
Plagues
There is a principle
to the interpretation of the revelations given in the Seven Last Plagues
chapter which is frequently overlooked. All the plagues, save one, constitutes
God's response to what man has done in probationary time. (The one exception is
the third plague which is a repeat of, "blood" due to the death
decree against the "saints". See comment, Great Controversy, p. 628) This principle of
understanding Revelation 16 is easily seen by noting the first plague. (16:2)
The "grievous sore" falls on those who "had the mark of the
beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." When was this mark received, and when was this
worship begun? Before or after the close of probation? The answer is simple -
prior to the close of probation. Using this same principle for the sixth
plague, we find the plague itself falls "upon the great river
Euphrates." (16:12) Its results carry over into the seventh plague
"great Babylon comes into remembrance before God." (16:19) But what causes God to pour out this plague? The
answer is that the triumvirate of evil - the dragon, beast (Rev. 13), and the false prophet (2nd beast of
Rev.13) - gather the rulers of earth
to Har-Magedon.
Lest there be a
misunderstanding, let it be clearly understood that all the Seven Last Plagues
come after the close
of human probation. However, the explanation as to why the plague is
poured out is distinctly separate from the plague itself. This needs to be
understood and distinguished in the study of Revelation 16. Thus Revelation 16:13-16
will be fulfilled prior to the close of probation. (See use made of Rev.
16:13-14 in Great Controversy, pp.
561-562)
While
the sixth plague is poured out on what is termed "the great river
Euphrates," the "spirits of devils" had gathered the leadership
of earth with their forces to a place with a Hebrew designation. Herein is a
factor of the Jewish equation. God's wrath reveals how He views this
development. To Him it is what He has always revealed it to be - Babylon, the
epitome of rebellion. Thus the symbolism of "the great river
Euphrates," and the fact that the "whore" is carried by the
beast that "was, and is not, and yet is" who makes war with the Lamb.
(Rev.17:14) But the spirits of devils do not gather their devotees to the river
Euphrates, but rather to a place called in the Hebrew, Har-Magedon. . . .
Har-Magedon
In the
Hebrew language - har - means,
mountain. This rules out "Megiddo" for it is a valley. (Zech. 12:11)
However, there is a mountain named in the Old Testament which meets linguistic
requirements. It is called, har-mo'ed -
Mount of the Congregation. It is described as being "in the sides of the
north" or Mt. Zion "the city of the great King." (See Isa.
14:13; Ps. 48:2) By noting the objectives of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-14, it is
he who plans to "sit upon the mount of the congregation" - har-mo'ed. To this end, the spirits of devils gather the
nations of the earth. Daniel simply states - "He shall plant the tabernacles of his
palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain." (11:45) To John it
revealed that "the spirits of devils" coming from the dragon,
beast and false prophet gather
the nations to the mount of the congregation. But the prophetic message behind
this symbolism is that literal Jerusalem is to be made "an holy city"
from man's view-point, while God's view-point the deception is in reality,
Babylon the Great. The significance to us is that when this occurs, the
prophecy states - "And at that time shall Michael stand up." (Dan.
12:1) "But the true leader of all of this rebellion is Satan clothed as an
angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God,
and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate
churches that unite in exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth,
'Therefore shall her plagues come in one day...'" (TM, p. 62) How near are we to the fulfillment of this
Divine edict? (Bold and italicized emphasis added.)
*******
By the grace of God,
by His will, we will study this all more in-depth tomorrow. Please, is you are
offended by any of this, just pray and study. For those who are reading this
and they haven't done any in-depth study into the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation,
it might seem preposterous. I ask that if you have found this study then you
should be able to find all my studies and in them I've gone into great detail
on Daniel and Revelation- go back find them, read, study, pray, pray, pray only
for truth! I'm NOT asking you to believe me, or the writer of the above, or any
human being. I want you to go to the Word of God and study deeply. Take
everything to the Word of God. It is my prayer that eyes are opened, that the
scale on blind eyes fall off, that the light of truth shine brightly and that
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior knows you when He returns to take us with
Him! This is my prayer as well, that I
am known by Him in truth His truth.
All in the love of
Jesus Christ our LORD, now and forever!!!!!!!
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