2/27/18 – Eph 6:11, The Angelic Conflict, Pt. 22, The Enemy, Pt. 19,

The Antichrist & False Prophet Conclusion. Lesson #18-023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcZKbh0fIy8 

Grace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.org

Stand in Warfare – Eph 6:10-20.

Outline of Eph 6 :10-24
1. The Empowerment, vs. 10.
2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12.
3. The Equipment, vs. 13-17.
4. The Energy, vs. 18-20.
5. The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12 - The Beast and The False Prophet, Rev 13, (continued).

The Second Beast, the False Prophet, Rev 13:11-18.

Eph 6:11-12; Rev 13:11-18; 19:17-21; Deut 31:6, 8; 1 Peter 5:7

Below are several various views to what the “Mark of the Beast” represents.

Preterist View:

Preterist’s believe that some or all prophecy in Revelation are events that have already happened. They wrongly believe that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Roman Catholicism has been a main proponent of this view, and some Protestants also accept this view.

A common preterist view of the Mark of the Beast (focusing on the past) is the stamped image of the emperor’s head on every coin of the Roman Empire: the stamp on the hand or in the mind of all, without which no one could buy or sell. NT scholar Craig C. Hill says, “It is far more probable that the mark symbolizes the all-embracing economic power of Rome, whose very coinage bore the emperor’s image and conveyed his claims to divinity (e.g., by including the sun’s rays in the ruler’s portrait). It had become increasingly difficult for Christians to function in a world in which public life, including the economic life of the trade guilds, required participation in idolatry." (In God’s Time; The Bible and the Future.)

Adela Yarbro Collins further denotes that, “The refusal to use Roman coins resulted in the condition where ‘no man might buy or sell’,” Rev13:17. (Cosmology and Eschatology in Jewish and Christian Apocalypticism.)

A similar view is offered by Craig R. Koester, “As sales were made, people used coins that bore the images of Rome’s gods and emperors. Thus each transaction that used such coins was a reminder that people were advancing themselves economically by relying on political powers that did not recognize the true God.” (Revelation and the End of All Things.)

This is held up by the fact that in 66 A.D., when Nero was emperor, shortly before Revelation was written, the Jews revolted against Rome and coined their own money.

The passage is also seen as an antithetical parallelism to the Jewish institution of Tefillin, (phylacteries), where Hebrew Bible texts worn bound to the arm and the forehead during daily prayer. Instead of binding their allegiance to God to their arm and head, the place is instead taken with people’s allegiance to the Beast.

Idealist View:

Idealism, also known as the allegorical or symbolic approach, is an interpretation of the book of Revelation that sees the imagery of the book as non-literal symbols.

This perspective on the number of the beast rejects GEMATRIA, seeing the number not as a code to be broken, but a symbol to be understood. Idealists would contend that because there are so many names that can come to 666 and that most systems require converting names to other languages or adding titles when convenient, it has been impossible to come to a consensus. Given that numbers are used figuratively throughout the book of Revelation, idealists interpret this number figuratively as well. They think that because seven is a number of completeness and is associated with the Divine that six is incomplete. Therefore, the three sixes are “inherently incomplete.” As such, the number only suggests that the Dragon and his beasts are completely inadequate. Another suggestion is that this number represents an individual’s incomplete or immature spiritual state.

Historicist View:

Historicism is a method of interpretation of Biblical prophecies that associates symbols with historical persons, nations, or events. It can result in a view of progressive and continuous fulfillment of prophecy covering the period from Biblical times to the Second Coming. Historicists believe Revelation articulates a full range of the history of the Christian church, from John’s day to the Second Coming of Christ. They believe John alludes to Dan 2:28; 45, Daniel’s vision chapter 2, to use symbols giving a sequence of future events in history, from the Babylonian empire, through Medo-Persian period, Greece, and Rome, continuing until the end of the current civilization. This apocalyptic volume builds on Daniel’s approach focusing on major points of Christian history:

• The cross of Christ, Rev 5:6, 9, 12.
• The Second Coming, Rev 14:14-16; 19:11-16.
• The 1,000 years in heaven, Rev 20:4-6.
• The third advent of Christ to earth along with His loyal followers and the destruction of Satan and those who refused Christ, Rev 20:7-15.
• The creation of a new heavens and a new earth where death, sorrow, and sin cease and God dwells with His people, Rev 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1-5.

For them, the book of Daniel is divided into two parts:

1. The historical narrative of the captivity of Judah.

2. The prophecies pointing to both the promised Messiah and the events of the end of the world. Attention to the text of Revelation aids the student of Bible prophecy by showing how the Apostle John and Jesus intended us to interpret Bible apocalyptic literature as found in Daniel.

The typical historicist view of the Church of Christ spans several periods of church history, each similar to the original church, as follows:

• The age of Ephesus is the apostolic age.
• The age of Smyrna is the persecution of the Church through AD 313.
• The age of Pergamus is the compromised Church lasting until AD 500.
• The age of Thyatira is the rise of the papacy to the Reformation.
• The age of Sardis is the age of the Reformation.
• The age of Philadelphia is the age of evangelism.
• The age of Laodicea represents liberal churches in a "present day" context.

The historicist views of Rev 12-13 concern prophecies about the forces of evil viewed to have occurred in the middle ages. The first beast of Revelation 13 (from the sea) is considered to be the pagan Rome and the Papacy or more exclusively the latter. They have tried to pin the number 666 on the title given to the Pope, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” (“Viceregent of the Son of God”), using GEMATRIA. As such, rather than expecting a single Antichrist to rule the earth during a future Tribulation period, Luther, John Calvin, and other Protestant reformers saw the Antichrist as a present feature in the world of their time, fulfilled in the papacy. Those who continue to hold this position today continue to see the current and future Rome Papacy as the Antichrist.

Historical View, Seventh-day Adventists:

The Seventh-day Adventists also take an historical view and believe that the Mark of the Beast, but not the number 666, refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-sacredness. “Those who reject God's memorial of creatorship—the Bible Sabbath—choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God's appointed day of worship, will receive the ‘mark of the beast’.” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe. Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 2005. p. 196).

“The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast.” (Advent Review, Vol. I, No. 2, August, 1850).

Historical View, Jehovah’s Witnesses:

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the beast identified by the number 666 represents the world’s unified governments in opposition to God. The beast is said to have “a human number” in that the represented governments are of a human origin rather than spirit entities. The number 666 is said to identify “gross shortcoming and failure in the eyes of Jehovah,” in contrast to the number 7, which is seen as symbolizing perfection.

Futurist View, (of which we believe):

Futurists, (i.e., focused on the future), believe that Revelation addresses primarily the Second Coming of Christ and similar events at the end times, Rev 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:11-12, except for Rev 2-5; 12:1-5. A futurist view of the Mark of the Beast is that the rise of a supranational currency, (e.g., the Euro or other non-material credit), could be a hallmark of the End Times and that the mark of the beast will be a sign or symbol, on the forehead or right hand, of the actual Antichrist.

According to the Futurist view, to overcome the world wide chaos of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will use forced religious syncretism, (i.e. in the name of counterterrorism and world economic stability), to enable the creation of a new currency. The mark will be a requirement for all commerce and it might actually be an object with the function of a credit card, such as RFID microchip implants, or some other form of coded tattoo.

Muslim View, from a Christian’s perspective: 

For an alternative view of the Antichrist, False Prophet, and Mark of the Beast from a Christian perspective in regard to the Muslim world, see: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riL_HSVzGlc . 

These are some current day views of which I do not entirely endorse, especially since it is clear from Daniel and Revelation that the Antichrist comes out of the Revived Roman Empire verses the Revived Ottoman Empire.

And finally, some avoid the number 666 out of superstition. Irrational fear of the number is called hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. This word is derived from Ancient Greek roots HEXAKÓSIOI, ἑξακόσιοι, “six hundred,” HEXÉKONTA, ἑξήκοντα, “sixty,” and HÉX, ἕξ, “six,” literally meaning, “fear of six hundred sixty-six.” But as you know, we should never have any fears other than the “fear of the Lord,” as we faith-rest in Him by casting all our cares upon Him, Deut 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Psa 55:22; Mat 6:25; Heb 13:5; 1 Peter 5:7.

Deut 31:6, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Deut 31:8, “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

Summary of the Career of the False Prophet:

1. He is influential in religious affairs, “two horns like a lamb,” Rev 13:11.

2. He is motivated by Satan as the first beast is, Rev 13:11.

3. He has a delegated authority, “the power of the first beast,” Rev 13:12.

4. He promotes the worship of the first beast and compels the earth to worship the first beast as God, Rev 13:12.

5. His ministry is authenticated by the signs and miracles which he does, counterfeiting Elijah that is to come, Rev 13:13-14.

6. He is successful in deceiving the un­believing world, Rev 13:14.

7. The worship promoted is an idola­trous worship, Rev 13:14-15.

8. He has the power of death to compel men to worship the beast, Rev 13:15.

9. He has authority in the economic realm to control all commerce, Rev 13:16-17.

10. He has a mark that will establish allegiance to the Antichrist for those who live in that day, Rev 13:18.

Conclusion, Chapter 13.

Taken as a whole, Rev 13, is one of the great prophetic chapters of Scripture and is the only passage which presents in any detail the two principal evil characters of the Tribulation, (the last seven years of the Age of Israel), who form with Satan an unholy, evil trinity. During the coming days of the Great Tribulation, Satan will deceive the nations through the False Prophet into receiving the Antichrist as their savior. Satan, the dragon, will give Antichrist and the False Prophet his power, and the world will give allegiance to the Antichrist. Here we see that the head of the revived Roman Empire, the first beast, the Antichrist, will ultimately become the ruler of the entire world. Empowered and led by Satan, he is Satan’s masterpiece and great counterfeit substitute for Jesus Christ. It also tells us of the career of his primary aide, the one world religious leader, the second beast, called the False Prophet, who supports the Antichrist and establishes a one world religion to worship the Antichrist.

The general character of the great Tribulation, however, is graphically portrayed in this chapter. It will be a time of absolute rule, and Satan will have his way. The ultimate in false religion will sweep the entire world in a manifestation of evil never before seen on the earth. The fact will be demonstrated beyond question that man is not able to solve his own problems, and only God can bring righteousness and peace to the earth. The present attempts at unification of ecclesiastical and political power seem to be the forerunner and preparation for this end-time situation.

In the consummation of the Tribulation, Satan and his demons will influence the armies of the nations to march to their doom at the war of Armageddon, Rev 16:13-16. Then, Jesus Christ will throw both beasts into the Lake of Fire as part of the eradication of evil from the world at that time, along with Satan into the Abyss, which will also usher in the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, Rev 19:20-21; 20:1-3. During the Millennial kingdom, Satan will be bound, but at the close of that period he will be released and will attempt to lead the world in a final revolt against Christ’s kingdom. This is the Gog - Magog war. After this unsuccessful attempt, Satan will be cast forever into the lake of fire, Rev 20:7-10.

2/25/18 – Eph 6:11, The Angelic Conflict, Pt. 21, The Enemy, Pt. 18, The False Prophet, Pt. 5. Lesson # 18-022 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCYLqxYlhI&t=2884s

Grace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.org

Stand in Warfare – Eph 6:10-20.

Outline of Eph 6 :10-24

1. The Empowerment, vs. 10.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12. 

3. The Equipment, vs. 13-17. 

4. The Energy, vs. 18-20. 

5. The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12 - The Beast and The False Prophet, Rev 13, (continued).

The Second Beast, the False Prophet, Rev 13:11-18.

From vs. 15, we see that a countless multitude will be martyred for not worshipping the Antichrist, Rev 7:9-17. Thus, in the name of liberty and security, comes an absolute dictatorship and imperialism. In the name of freedom, comes complete and universal enslavement. In the name of the higher reasoning that tramples on religion and revelation, comes a great consolidated system of gross idolatry. In the name of a charitable liberalism that disdains allegiance to any creed, comes a bloody despotism that leads men to worship the wicked image of a lawless man, or die. There is always a price to pay for believers who do not worship the idols of this world. Life is not and will not be easy in this world when you fight the idolatry of this world.

4. All are Required to Receive the Mark of the Beast, Rev 13:16-17.

Rev 13:16, “And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freeman and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

This regulation is issued by the False Prophet in that all classes of people who worship the beast are to receive some form of a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads.

By the series of three contrasting pairs, the Bible emphasizes that all classes of people are included:

1. The small and the great, referring to political status.

2. The rich and the poor, alluding to possessions and referring to economic status.

3. The free and slave, re­ferring to their societal status.

Therefore, regardless of socio-economic status, including the other world leaders under the Antichrist, all are required to receive the first beast’s mark. Everyone, no matter what his wealth or social position, will be forced to submit. 

It is interesting that in this list we have three grouping of six categories. Three being the number of Divine completeness, and six being the number of man, tells us that this list completely encompasses all of mankind as being required to receive the mark.

With this identifying mark, people will be able to participate in the commerce and trade of that day, i.e., “buy or sell, AGORAZO E POLEO.” Interestingly, POLEO is sometimes used in the NT for being “redeemed,” i.e., purchased from the slave market of sin, Rev 5:9; 14:3. Therefore, we see a counterfeit redemption. People will choose to have their sins purchased by God and Jesus Christ for salvation and not receive the mark of the beast, or they will choose to buy the things of this world and receive the mark of the beast. Which is more important to you?

As we noted in vs. 15, from the Greek for “worship,” PROSKUNEO, this mark is not going to be a subliminal marking, but an overt action and marking that demonstrates and proves allegiance and worship of the Antichrist.

There will be no exceptions to this law, as the penalty for refusing to receive it will be death. Therefore, while we do not know exactly what the mark is, which we will discuss below, we know that its design marks people as belonging to the Antichrist, so that they might be able to do the things necessary to live here on earth.

Not content to control people through religious deceit, the False Prophet will institute strong economic measures as well. Everybody, except believers, Rev 14:9; 20:4, will receive a special mark in order to buy or sell; but the only way to get that mark is to submit to “the beast” and worship him. The mark is simply a token that they are beast worshipers, and it serves as an identification necessary to conduct business and to purchase the necessities of life. It is another device to force all people to worship the beast.

Given that the Caesars placed their image on the currency of their day, and no one could buy or sell without using that currency gives us a strong allusion in John’s writing to the Caesar worship in the Roman Empire, but this same policy has been used by political leaders throughout history. Therefore, it is something more than coins or currency, cf. Mat 22:21; Mark 12:7; Luke 20:25.

From a religious standpoint, the mark of the beast is a counterfeit to the seal of the Holy Spirit on the true believers during the Tribulation, the 144,000 sealed to identify them as belonging to the Lord. The beast counterfeits the mark, the seal, of God in Rev 7:3; 14:1; 22:4.

Rev 14:1, “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”

The mark itself seems to vary according to vs. 17, as in some cases being the name of the beast and in others the number of his name.

The word “mark” is the Greek Noun CHARAGMA, χάραγμα that means, “mark or impression.” This term does not occur in the Septuagint, and its use by the early church fathers is insignificant. Other than one instance in the book of Acts 17:29, for the “graven image” of an idol, it is used only for the “mark of the beast” in the book of Revelation, Rev 13:16-17; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4.

In Greek literature, it was used of a mark or stamp, which could be engraved, etched, branded, cut, or imprinted. In the broadest sense, it refers to a stamp, an impression, an engraving, a mark, or a symbol. It was used of brands on camels and stamped marks on documents, as well as impressions on coins. Interestingly, in ancient Greek, it originally denoted the bite mark of a snake, as the mark of the beast is surely the serpent’s venomous piercing. But as its use developed historically, it came to mean an inscription, (i.e., on wood, stone, brass, casting dies, minting coins), a writing of any nature, or a stamp of personal identity, (e.g., a brand to mark camels). Eventually, it denoted an official seal of attestation, validity, and authority.

CHARAGMA is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the first and second centuries. Yet, in regard to the worship of the Caesars, no such mark of loyalty was placed on those who submitted to the worship of any of the emperors of Rome.

A more common term for “mark or brand,” is STIGMA in its noun and verb forms. Branding was practiced in the ancient world, and even in relation to religious concerns. Religious tattooing was observed. 3 Maccabees 2:29, records an incident in which Jews were branded by Ptolemy Philopator I, 217 B.C., with the Greek religious Dionysian (Bacchus) ivy-leaf symbol. The “mark” on Cain in Gen 4:15, is rendered by SHEMEION in the Septuagint, the term for “sign.”

The nature of the mark of the beast or the method by which it will be applied is not described. However, once it is applied it is permanent and cannot be removed. Those who accept it will do so because they have rejected Christ and His righteousness and are wholly and willfully deceived by the Antichrist and his False Prophet, Rev 14:9-11. No one will receive it unknowingly. All will know exactly what they are doing. Believers will face economic boycott and social alienation in that day. Unbelievers will be able to live in society but forfeit their true eternal life.

Rev 14:9-11, “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Therefore, taking the mark will symbolize submission to both the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and thus to both the government and world religion of the Antichrist. And as noted from vs. 15, if anyone refuses to take the mark of the beast, he will be sought out, potentially discovered, and martyred. The result will be complete control of the entire world by the Antichrist.

“To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be baptized into His name, for the washing away of sin, and the securement of eternal life, is too much for some people. It is to them a humiliating nonsense, to which their superior dignity cannot stoop. But when the Devil-Messiah comes, in him they will believe and trust; to him they will sell themselves, and to his branding-irons they will submit as helpless slaves and cattle, with no choice but to yield or die; and yielding, to perish everlastingly.” (Joseph A. Seiss, The Apocalypse: A Series of Special Lectures on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.)

5. The Number of the Beast, Rev 13:18.

Rev 13:18, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

Special attention is given in vs. 18 to the number of the beast, 666. This will be the sign of the Antichrist. The number is introduced by the phrase “Here is wisdom,” SOPHIE, with an appeal to those “who have understanding,” NOUS, “to calculate, count, or figure” PSEPHIZO, “the number” ARITHMOS, “of the beast,” THERION, “for the number is that of a man,” ARITHMOS GAR ANTHROPOS EIMI. Throughout the Bible, the number of man is 6. This secret characteristic will be a means of identifying who the Antichrist is during the Tribulation for everyone who has wisdom, i.e., Bible doctrine in their soul, Rev 13:18.

“Calculate or count” is the Verb PSEPHIZO, ψηφίζω in the Aorist, Active, Imperative. It is only used here and in Luke 14:28. In Luke 14:28, Jesus challenged His disciples to consider the implications of following Him. Any decision to follow Jesus that does not consider the costs associated with it, may result in the humiliating discovery that the cost is too great to continue, e.g., the rich young ruler. This humiliation will come not only in this life, but in the judgment to come. During the Tribulation, the cost will be the life of the individual to truly follow Jesus Christ.

In our verse, John gives a clue to discover the identity of the beast by “calculating” the number of the beast. This would be made possible by following the common practice of assigning numbers in Greek/Hebrew to the letters, (e.g., a=1, b=2, c=3, etc.). Before the invention of Arabic numbers, (1, 2, 3, etc.), the Jews and Greeks often used letters of the alphabet for numbers. The first 10 letters were used for the numbers 1 through 10, the next letter, 20, the next, 30, and so on.

The ancient Hebrew game called GEMATRIA recognized that letters could stand for numbers. Hence a series of letters could form a word and at the same time indicate a number. Hence the 666 of vs. 18, has given us various identifications of the antichrist.

This verse indicates that God-given wisdom is necessary for understanding the meaning of the mark, and the “name” of the beast. In the Bible, the number of man is six. Since man was created on the sixth day, he is to work for six days, a Hebrew slave was to serve six years, for six years the land was to be sown, there are 24 hours to a day, (4 x 6) and 12 months to a year, (2 x 6), etc., six is the number of man.

Irenaeus notes that the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar was 60 cubits high by 6 cubits wide. The number 666 could well personify the imperfection of man, even implying in the triple number the unholy trinity of the Dragon, Antichrist, and the False Prophet, although the Dragon is Satan, who is not a man but an angel.

In contrast, seven is the number of spiritual perfection and fullness, but six is the “human number,” of incompleteness, just short of perfection.

John then tells us what this number is, “his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” 666 is made up from the Greek CHXS, χξς. It is only used here in Scripture.

The CH (chi) standing for 600, the X (xi) standing for 60, and the S (sigma) standing for 6. In fact, the “sigma” was originally what was called a “stigma” that was shaped like a cross and used for numbers that became obsolete. It came between the 5^th and 6^th letters of the Greek alphabet. The spelling looked like this χξϝ ᾿

Therefore, it is 666. An alternate translation has it written in full, HEXAKOSIOI HEXEKONTA HEX, ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἐξ. In addition, some ancient texts even have it as 616. Many think it was change to reflect the name of Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD, or Caligula (Gaius Caesar), 37-41 AD, as the Antichrist, the notorious or hated emperors.

Many ancient languages utilized the letters of the alphabet for their numerical systems. The letter and number ratio was known by all. This existing process was used in enigmatic statements to conceal the identity of the person under consideration. An often quoted graffito from Pompeii, (about A.D. 79) reads, “I love her whose number is 545.” Only those who knew the name or the pool of candidates could work out the riddle. The apocalyptic Sibylline Oracles used “888,” the numerical equivalent of IESOUS, Greek letters for Jesus, as an indirect reference to Jesus as the incarnate God. Therefore, John could have expected his audience to solve the riddle, but only if there was a shared pool of understanding concerning the enigmatic nature of the reference.

There has been endless speculation concerning the meaning of this number. In attempting to solve the riddle of this verse, some have considered the phrase to represent Caesar, others Nero, 54-68 AD, or Caligula, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin, and even in our day that of Bill Gates, various past presidents, the Pope, or other world leaders. Yet, there is nothing in the Book of Revelation that specifically tells us to add up the numbers in the name of the beast. The key, however, seems to be the phrase that says “it is the number of a man or mankind.” With the number 6 being the number standing for mankind, and 3 the number of the Trinity, the threefold repetition, 666, could simply mean the Antichrist is a man who believes he is a god or who declares himself to be a god, cf. Rev 13:8; 2 Thes 2:4.

The beast is the greatest man but still a man. He is a six, not a seven. He, along with Satan and the False Prophet, is a 666, a trinity of imperfection. Not now or ever will they be a 777. As such, this triple six is the fullest, highest development of man under direct satanic control. It is the combination of civil, religious, and political power satanically inspired. It is, so far as man can do it, the complete setting aside of God as the Supreme Ruler. The Antichrist is the best man can produce, but he is still just a man. He is “the completeness of sinful incompleteness,” the ultimate in “coming up short.” He is good enough to deceive many, but he is nowhere close to good enough to displace Jesus.

As such, it has been a popular pastime to add up the letters in names to try to come out with a total of 666. Those who have taken Nero Caesar, put it into Hebrew letters, (Neron Kaisar, which is not the normal way of spelling it), and have obtained a total of 666. However, the Book of Revelation is Greek in the original, so this system is incorrect. Thus, there are no real grounds for applying it to Nero. The funny thing is, if you work at it hard enough, almost any name will fit.

“The endless guesses and experiments with which expositors have occupied themselves and their readers on this point can be of very little practical worth to us. When the monster comes, "the righteous shall understand." Our business is rather to reckon up the number of the Beast as to his moral identification.” (The Apocalypse: A Series of Special Lectures on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.)

This much is sure: In recent years, we have seen a worldwide increase in the use of numbers for identification. In the United States, a person’s Social Security number is indispensable. In fact, numbers are more important to computers than names. Perhaps this is an advance warning of what will happen on earth when “the beast” is in control.

Below are some images as to what some of the current thinking is in regard to what the “mark” might be, from a tattoo of a bar code, to a microchip placed in the hand or forehead, to the scanning of the retina, etc. have been hypothesized. Yet, the real mark is not going to be a subliminal marking, but an overt mark that demonstrates and proves allegiance and worship of the Antichrist. So, retina or facial scans don’t quite cut it, nor does the chip.

Interestingly, the following are “seals” of both the United States Transportation Department, as well as several of the state’s Transportation Departments. Notice, that in all you see the revolving number 6 6 6.

    

In addition, the University I attended, Southeastern Massachusetts University, before it was combined with the University of Massachusetts, had a similar symbol.

 

Yet, despite all of man’s imaginative calculations and suppositions, we must confess that no one knows the meaning of this number and name. No doubt believers on earth at that time will understand it clearly. The “satanic trinity” cannot claim the number seven; it must settle for 666.

Our faith and confidence should be put in the kingdom of God, a bloody cross, and an empty tomb. We should put our trust in King Jesus and His gospel. Tragically, the world would rather believe a lie than the truth. They would rather align with antichrist than Jesus Christ. They are quicker to follow a false prophet than a true prophet of God. Do not be deceived! Follow Him who is the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:6.

2/20/18 – Eph 6:11, 

The Angelic Conflict, Pt. 20,

 The Enemy, Pt. 17, 

The False Prophet, Pt. 4. 

Lesson #18-021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plHcu3mDLE

Grace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.org

Stand in Warfare – Eph 6:10-20.

Outline of Eph 6 :10-24

1. The Empowerment, vs. 10.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12. 

3. The Equipment, vs. 13-17. 

4. The Energy, vs. 18-20. 

5. The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.

The Enemy, vs. 11-12 - The Beast and The False Prophet, Rev 13, (continued).

Eph 6:11-12; Rev 13:11-18; Psa 135:15-18; Hab 2:19; Acts 16:16; 2 Thes 2:10-11

The Second Beast, the False Prophet, Rev 13:11-18.

3. The False Prophet gives breath to the image of the beast and all are required to worship the Antichrist through the image, Rev13:15.

Rev 13:15, “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

No great movements or revolutions in history have ever come without preparative conditions and causes, some preliminary plantings which gradually mature until they ripen into the great ultimate results. When gigantic changes come, they typically have had their roots in something which has gone before, subtlety but surely, where the nature of the times has served to favor and develop its final fruits. In Germany under Hitler, it took months to vilify and condemn the Jews, so that eventually the population would ultimately join wholeheartedly to the point of exterminating them. So will be the way of the False Prophet in the Tribulation. So will be the case of the false worship of the Antichrist.

Being a prophet, the False Prophet must have a doctrine, a system which he puts forth, an economy which he seeks to sustain, and the ability to convince his followers to cooperate with him. Having the name “prophet,” it has to do with the religious element; and the coming of this “beast out of the earth” may refer to the evolution of his system out of the religions that have been placed among men throughout history, and the progress of human society with reference to beliefs and spiritual things.

As noted above, having the two horns may represent the ultimate convergence of the world’s two greats, the thinking of man and the thinking of God, or the gods. Here is the convergence of science and religion. We could call this the convergence of naturalism and supernaturalism; that is, the conclusions of natural conscience and reason, deemed sacredly obligatory, because it is believed to be good and true, with the presence of revelations, or what are accepted as revelations, from the superior powers, and held to be Divine and binding.

Therefore, the False Prophet will be at once a naturalist and a supernaturalism, a scientist and a spiritualist, a rationalist, yet asserting power above ordinary nature and in command of nature.

In other words, he claims to be the bearer of the sum total of the universal wisdom, in which all reason and all revelation are fused into one great system, claiming to have and be the ultimate of all truth. Professing to have everything natural and supernatural solved and crystallized, as the one eternal and perfect wisdom, he will present himself as the one absolute apostle and teacher of all, that should command the thoughts, faith, and obedience of man.

Yet, having the two horns like a lamb, he speaks like a Dragon. He is lamblike in that he proposes to occupy only the meek, mild, and inoffensive position of spiritual adviser; gentle and innocent in counselling people how to live and act, for the securement of their happiness! But, his words are like the Dragon, in that forthcoming edicts are in fact the assumption of absolute dominion over the minds, souls, consciences, and hearts of men, to bind them irrevocably, and to compel them to think and act only as he prescribes and dictates.

Thus, the False Prophet imposes on the world, wins credence to his professions and claims, and sways the public sentiment to the acknowledgment of a new divinity, demanding a new religion, whose vulgar abominations are thought to be right and reasonable.

“And it was given to him,” the Aorist, Passive, Indicative of DIDOMI that means, “to give, bestow, or delegate,” tells us that the ensuing empowerment of the image was not of his own but bestowed on him by both Satan and the Antichrist. He is performing as their puppet prophet to deceive the entire world.

“To give breath to the image of the beast,” is the Aorist, Active, Infinitive of DIDOMI with the Nouns PNEUMA, EIKON, and HO THERION.

PNEUMA, commonly translated “spirit, soul, or breath,” also can mean, “a spirit, (angelic or demonic),” and is used for the Holy Spirit. It is quite different from ZOE, which means “life.” Expositors usually hold that the extraordinary powers given by Satan to the false prophet do not extend to giving life to that which does not possess life, because this is a prerogative of God alone.

The intent of the passage seems to be that the image has the appearance of life manifested in breathing, but actually it may be no more than a hologram or robot that may be possessed by an evil or demonic spirit. This may be a ventriloquist type demon who controls the vocal cords of unbelievers when they are demon possessed, as we will see below in Acts 16:16.

The ventriloquist demon could work in two ways, according to the OT scriptures. The voice could be thrown from out of the ground as though the dead were speaking from their burial place, or the voice could be thrown from the mouth of some individual who was demon-possessed. The Greeks had a word for it and this same demon is called “engasthrimuthos.” So the ventriloquist demon is designated PNEUMA or spirit. The noun PNEUMA does not always refer to demons but it does in, Mat 8:16; Mark 1:27; 6:7; 3:11; 5:13; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 1 Tim 4:1. We see this ventriloquist demonic influence further in Rev 16:13-14.

The image is further described as “would even speak,” HINA KAI and the Aorist, Active, Subjunctive of LALEO, to “speak, proclaim, say, or utter.” Therefore, by an indwelling breath or spirit the image will speak. 

This is a faculty easily accomplished by mechanical means. In fact, in ancient times, religious ventriloquism was sometimes used to give the impression of supernatural speech, a practice confirmed by archaeological excavations in Corinth.

In Acts 16:16, the slave girl possessed of a demon was able to bring gain to her masters by soothsaying. She also supernaturally recognized Paul and his companions as, “servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation,” Acts 16:17.

Her power of speech was under demonic control, as will be the mouth of the image of the beast. Whether completely natural in its explanation, or whether some supernatural power is used to create the impression of life and speech, the image apparently is quite convincing to the mass of humanity and helps to turn them to a worship of the first beast as their god. So this is going to have to be something that was not seen or done before, and well beyond what people may expect in order to impress them enough to gain their allegiance and worship.

This will be a counterfeit to the power of God Who restores breath and life to the Two Witnesses, Rev 11. Therefore the False Prophet, as the arch magician, will have power to give animation and speech to this dead statue. Therefore the image, though made by man, likewise takes on of the supernatural, so as to refute God’s Word regarding idols.

Psa 135:15-18, “The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, the work of man's hands. ¹⁶They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; ¹⁷they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. ¹⁸Those who make them will be like them, Yes, everyone who trusts in them.”

Hab 2:19, “Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ‘Awake!’ To a dumb stone, ‘Arise!’ and that is your teacher? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all inside it.”

Therefore, we see that this idol is very different. The powers of falsehood have by this time become mightier than of old, because this image will have a perception of breath / life and speech. As a result, men will be carried away by it, because of their previous unbelief of the possibility of anything of the sort.

“Old Pagan and Christian writers have recorded instances in which the idols spoke, and gave forth oracles. The papists affirm the same veritable truth concerning some of their images. The Hindus to this day hold and maintain that a degree of life and supernatural power takes possession of their images when solemnly consecrated according to the prescribed ceremonies.” (The Apocalypse: A Series of Special Lectures on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.)

With the Antichrist systematically deified, an image set up and consecrated to his adoration, and the testimony, argument, and eloquence of a great miracle-working Prophet ringing through the world in his behalf, the Image speaks and issues edicts “causing as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

By doing this, the False Prophet will be able to claim divine power for himself and for the first beast, the Antichrist. This will be his greatest deception, as the gullible people will consider him deity. Then the prophecy of 2 Thes 2:10-11, will be complete.

2 Thes 2:10-11, “And with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false.”

This verse gives us the negative scenario of not worshiping the Antichrist, but we first must realize from this phrase that because of the “fatal wound” and now the “animation of the image,” many will worship the Antichrist as God.

In the ancient writing of Homer, we see that the heroes of old we considered the “sons of gods,” and Alexander though a young man when he died was claimed to be more than a natural man and received honors as a god. He thought himself to be the son of Jupiter, and so announced to the priests, who gave oracles proclaiming him such, and exhorted all inquirers to render to their victorious king the honors of a deity. We have also noted above the similar story of Antiochus Epiphanes. Likewise, Herod, with all his corruptness and crimes, was hailed as a god, and took it as his due, Acts 12:21-23. Julius Caesar was honored as a god, and after his death many temples were raised and frequented for his worship. Statues, temples, altars, and trophies were consecrated to Augustus Caesar, as were to the Caesars Tiberius, Nerva, Trajan, Caligula. The King of Parthia, kneeling before Nero, said to him: “You are my God, and I am come to adore you as I adore the sun. My destiny is to be determined by your supreme Will;” to which Nero replied: “I make you King of Armenia, that the whole universe may know it belongs to me to give or to take away crowns." Domitian filled the world with his statues, to which sacrifices were continually offered, and required that all letters written or published in his name should always begin, “Our Lord and God commands.”

The chief reason for the martyrdom of the Christians of their day was that they would not sacrifice to the emperor as God.

We could say that these were ancient, pagan, and unenlightened times, and that such abominations can never again be willed upon mankind. But they were the times which produced our classics. The same has also occurred in later days, with characters such as Hitler, with far less reason or apology, and among those who claimed to be the most advanced and enlightened of people.

“At this very time, there resides a man in the city of Rome, whom one-half of Christendom itself hails, honors, and adores as the Vicar of Jesus Christ, the Vicegerent of God upon earth, Infallible, and sole possessor of the Keys of heaven,—a man whom the greater festivals exhibit as a Divinity, borne along in solemn procession on the shoulders of consecrated priests, whilst sacred incense fumes before him, and blest peacocks’ feathers full of eyes wave beside his moving throne, and every mortal on the street where he passes, uncovers, kneels, and silently adores;—a man who, once a year, takes his seat upon the high altar of the sublimest church in Christendom, in the broad light of this favored century, and there receives the adoration of the whole college of his most exalted subjects, who reverently bow amid chants, music, and burning lights to kiss the toe of ‘His Holiness!’” (The Apocalypse: A Series of Special Lectures on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.)

So, there will come a man from among the enlightened of both reason and revelation, by signs and wonders, with invincible power and whatever else marks the glory of the mighty; a great prophet to exercise all this in one direction of a new universal religion, advising and urging with meekness, eloquence and miracle, in the name of absolute wisdom, the worship and adoration of that man, the Antichrist, as the only right worship in the universe.

And as such, there will be a new religion for the world, as scientists and reformers already claim and proclaim. It will be a powerful and universal religion. It will ground itself in pretensions to the profoundest wisdom, intelligence, reason, truth, and progress. It will deceive the earth, and carry with it all who are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. It will be the final coronation of the progressivism of human perfectibility. But it will be a religion whose god is Antichrist, and whose seal of damnation is inevitable and eternal.

And as our verse tells us, the absolute authority of both the first and second beasts is such that those who will not worship the image of the beast are sentenced to be killed.

As we have noted, there will be some in those days who do not accept the new worship. These are the elect ones, whose names God has written in the Lamb’s book of life, who will not be deceived. There will be believing Jews, (beginning with the 144,000 and the two witness who evangelize), who are ingrained never to accept the worship of an idol, along with Gentile believers, who cannot be moved to an abomination so foul and blasphemous.

And as this verse tells us, for those who “do not worship the image of the beast,” they are “to be killed.” Here, the Greek negative ME is used with the Aorist, Active, Subjunctive of the Verb PROSKUNEO, προσκυνέω that means to, “fall down and worship, bow down to, show reverence to, welcome respectfully, etc.” It comes from PROS – “face to face” and KUNEO – “to kiss.”

“The origin of this term probably lies in the ancient custom of putting one’s hand on one’s mouth in a kissing gesture and then extending the hand toward a person of higher status, especially a deity. Among other things, ancient Egyptian reliefs show how worshipers with outstretched hands offered kisses to the deity (Schönweiss and Brown, “Prayer,” Colin Brown, 2:876). Or it may stem from the custom of kissing the feet of a superior (or idol).” (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) This reminds us of both the “hiel Hitler” hand arm and hand gesture and the kissing of a spiritual leader’s hand / ring.

This is used with the Aorist, Passive, Subjunctive of the Verb APOKTEINO, ἀποκτείνω that means, “to kill or deprive of spiritual life.” The image will give a decree demanding that all who refuse to worship the image of the first beast, the Antichrist, are to be killed. This further reinforces the demand of the false prophet and shows that those who resist the Antichrist and continue to worship the Lord Jesus Christ will be martyred for their faith, Cf. Rev 6:9; 14:12, 13; 17:9-17. Thus, it is clear that Antichrist will not follow a secular, humanistic, atheistic philosophy. He will want religion, but he will use religion to exalt himself as a god, as did the ancient kings of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Rome.

Principle:

Frustrated religion always resorts to violence to get its way. The use of violence to coerce volition reveals the Satanic nature of volition both now and in that future day.

Therefore, No one, of any class or race, is allowed to live under the dominion of these Beasts, if unwilling to conform to the worship they set up. And as we see from the Greek, this is a very visible gesture of worship. If someone does not demonstrate this worship visibly, they will be put to death, as we will see in the next verse regarding the “mark of the beast.”