LEST YOU FORGET: (The Dragon, The Beast, and The Worship)
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REVELATION 13:1-4
REVELATION 13:1-4
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Brethren the text before us today, is rather unpopular yet purpociful. A text full of bitter realities for they who glory in darkness, yet full of better hope for they whose eyes are stayed on the Lord.
I make a disclaimer here, that this message may make sombody itchy and so if you feel alittle uncomfortable pleade with the Holy spirit for comfort.
I note here that the Bible prophecy especially of the book of Daniel and Revelation appears in symbols and that all bible prophecy symbols have a meaning:
Numbers 14:34, one day represents one year
Daniel 7:23, the beast represents kingdom.
Revelation 12, The Dragon represent Satan
Revelation 12;17 the woman represents the church.
Revelation 17:15, the Water represent people.
In our text today, John says he saw the “Dragon give the beast His power, his seat, ad great auhority (v.2)”. specifically here the dragon is the pagan Rome which gave Pope or papacy power to persecutive the christian church.
Let me pause here with a disclaimer that this message is not in any way an attack to Pope or the roman catholic church, but a matter of prophecy and history, and you got to sympathize with the preacher for where i stand i cannot do anything against the truth but for the truth!
The world history has it in black and white that papacy grew out of the Pagan roman empire . In other words, this Pagan Roman Empire empowered by Satan, gave its power, seat, and great authority to the Papacy.
To become more specific on the character and persona of papacy, we read v.1&5 together, Revelation 13:1
Revelation 13:1 (NKJV)
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Rev. 13:5 “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.”
so then weknow that the beast- papacy, will speak great things, great to mean not the ordinary things. not normal things that most churches will concern themelves with. his speaking will be of things out of the normal teaching of the bible. He will speak to atract and move people to become subjects of its very ideas and influence.
He will speak Blasphemy. Bible difines Blasphamey in two ways, 1. Being a man and make yourself God in John 10:33 “33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
2. Declaring to have power to forgive sin Luke 5:21 “ “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The papacy does both, it claims to be God on earth, and to have power to forgive sin. But my bible protest this with all its power and force for it declares:
Philippians 2:9-11 “9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Rom. 14:11 “For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Oh Allelluia! The bible is clear on this that there is ONLY ONE NAME in which every knee should bow, that name has been exalted above every other name, that name is the name of JESUS CHRIST, but every tongue should confess to God!
We bow in the name of Jesus and confess to God. we are to bow beofore God, in the name of Jesus. while we are bowing to God we confess to Him/God. we bow to pray to God in the name of Jesus. we bow to confess to God in Jesus name.
To bow is to worship. to confess is to worship. the only audience in your prayer chamber is God. the only audience in your confession room is God. he is the recipient of our worship.
in refuse to bow before a man behind a mirror not what name they gave him. I refuse to direct my prayer through any other name whether of a thing in heaven, or thing on earth, or under, but only by the name of Jesus Christ, for this is the only way it can be to the glory of God the Father!
Friends let me pause here and say the prophecy of Revelation chapter 13, is all about WORSHIP! All the dragon is seeking to achieve through the beast is worship! He want to be worshipped. he gives out His Power, Seat, and great Authority to te beast that the beast may lead people to worship him.
And in Rev.13:4 “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Allow me to say this on behalf of heaven; The great Controversy is not about what we eat, and what we dress on.Tthe Great contrversy is not about the political party idealogies you subscribe to, neither is it the economic situtations of our time. The great controversy is All about WORSHIP!
Taking you back to Revelation 12, John is shown for rhe first time what exactly caused sin. Rev.12:7-9
“7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Isaiah 14:12-14 -“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground,... 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;... I will be like the Most High.’”
God makes it clear to the church through John in Patmos that the reason for birth of sin is Lucifier’s conventiousnes of the seat of God. He sought to sit where God seats when recieving glory from they who worship Him.
That Satan’s agenda was, is, and shall ever be to be worshipped, is clear from the scripture.
Upon appearing before Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, satan targetted worship. you we were created as worshipping beings. we were created for worship. That we may worship God. Adam and Eve before sin had only one duty, to commune with God. to worship God. they perfect daily communioin with God.
This he coveted turn the worship to himself, and to do so, he made God a liar. he convinced them that he was better, and had had better plan and thoghts for them than God. when they circummed to this deception, immediately the worshipp was scattered. They even ran away from God.
Luke 4:7-8 “7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
let me pause here and say, the devil is not interested in causing conflict in your marraige for the sake of mere conflict. He is after worship. He knows when you are fightng you will not worship. when your children are rebellious and into the world, they will not worship. He keeps you barren for the longest, that you may doubt God. He brings on your path afflictions and tribulations of every kind, he drags you through turns and twists, bruise you and fillstions that you may doubt the power of God. that you may seperate yourself from the love of God. that you may not worship God!
Revelation 13:3 “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And the world woud wonder after the beast.”
so the bible is tyeaching that the beast would recieve a deadly woynd. the papacy woud recieve a fatal injury but this injury woud heal. the papacy power would come back again, and then the world would wonder at it and follow it.
In 1789, 10th February, the Frernch general Berthier seized Rome, demanded Pope Pius VI denaunce his powers andupon his refusal he was taken a prisoner transported to the city of Valence where he died six weeks after his arrival, on 29 August 1799.
Peope thought that this was the end of papacy but the bible prophecy must come to pass. the deadly wound would heal and the world would wonder at the beast.
In 1929, the Prime minister of Itally, Benito Mosollini signed atreaty that, recognized Vatican City as an independent state under the sovereignty of the Holy See and ratified by the Italian parliament on 7th June, 1929.
since then papacy has tremendously positioned herself as the moral voice of the world. We all know today that the pope is the most influencial leader in the world. the whole word is following him.
One of the most recent influences the 2015 Encyclical on Environment which recieved a unurnimous endorsement by the 195 governments in their december meeting in Paris 2015. all the nations today are implimentaing the climate change recommedations from the holy see.
His intentional humble yet charismatic move to call for the unity not only of the christian church but of all religions has recieved a unmatched embrace and serious movements begun to unify the church.
Of these is the John 17 Movement founded in 2013 that sweeping across Europe and America and other parts of the world and evident religious circles in the African continent. This movement based on John 17:21 “21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You.”
May 2014, declaration by the late Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer, that the Martin Luther Protest is Over!
Is the protest over? i say no the protest is on for Jesus said in John 4:23 “23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
IN Spirit and In Truth
Rev.14:6-7 “6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.””
Revelation 18:4 “4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”
Revelation 22:17 “17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
come to me who are heave1
The Spirit says come out of her, the come let be united.
John 16:8 “8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
The Sufficiency of the scripture- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus