Of all the images found in Scripture one of the most recognized is that of the Beast, found in the Apocalyptic book of Revelation chapter 13 written by the Apostle John just about 90-95-AD.
Even non Christian have at some time heard this ominous prophecy spoken or have read it for them selves.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven
heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous
name.
The
beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a
mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his
throne and great authority.One
of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the
fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed
the beast.
Men
worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and
they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can
make war against him?” Revelation:13:1-5Many, not all, but many Christian see this image as the final manifestation of the world system in the years just before our lord Jesus Christ descends from the Heavens to bring the rule of the Great God over all things, and to be sure it speaks to that, but I wanted to look at this a bit different than most of us have ever looked at it before, a way which shows us the depth of the word of the great God.
Who Will You Worship?
At the time John was inspired and wrote the Book of Revelation what was happening in the world, in-particular the Roman Empire? Well, Cesar Domitian had declared himself to be the earthly embodiment of the sun god Apollo and was demanding worship and veneration, not just as the embodiment of the empire , but as being a god himself. Worship was compulsory and many Christian, and Jews were facing the prospect of either worshiping Cesar or forfeiting their well being. So the historical back drop of the Book of Revelation is the one great question that all of us must answer, "who will you worship?" Christ Jesus, the King of the Kingdom of God or Cesar the Emperor of the world system?...Who will you worship?who will I worship? Who will we call Lord, Cesar the head of the "World System" or Christ the Head of the Kingdom of God, that is the question put to all humanity. This is the question that the Book of Revelation asks all of us.
Rome
At the time John wrote ,the world system found manifestation in Rome; now what was Rome? It was an empire building entity that amassed territory for the purpose of gaining control over the lives of people under the pretense of being a benefactor to those whom it ruled. It claimed it had the answers, as the world system always does regardless as to where or when it appeasers. In short, it claims Messianic status.This is what the Holy Spirit of God is telling us:
"One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast." Revelation:13:3
The fatal wound is a parody of the resurrection, that is only the Messiah Jesus, has ever been truly been resurrected showing all that He is the Messiah. He alone has the right to claim this place, but we see here the Beast claiming it for its self. Now we see here the world system in the form, of Rome as presenting it's self as a benefactor to those they wished to rule. One of the means by which Rome gained control was through the promises of economic gain and through this gain they would have "Peace and Safety" ...This was a motto inscribed on some Roman coinage.
"For when they will say, Peace and Safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1Thessalonians:5:3
"For when they will say, Peace and Safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1Thessalonians:5:3
This is a warning not to buy into the promise of any that claimed to be able to bring fulfillment that which only our Lord can give us,no matter how sure it appears.
Out of the Sea
It has long been interpreted that the sea is a reference to Roman being a Mediterranean power, which it was, and used the sea as it's life blood for commerce and transportation which gave it control over lives and expansion of its power, but look again at it this way, in Hebrew cosmology , that is, the way the Hebrew cultural mind viewed the order of things , there were two places that demonic powers could be encountered, either on bodies of water, like that of the sea and in the wilderness, like the desert. So is John telling us that the world system is of demonic origin?...That is, anything that climes the title of Messiah for its self is demonic and its real goal is control and power over your life.
. "And I saw a beast coming out of the sea."
"The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority."Revelation:13:1, 2
This tells us that when we we worship anything other then the God of the Bible we are worshiping Satan by proxy. It also shows us that a nation, a people or a person will resemble the "god" that they worship. The world system looks like Satan.
It is also viewed that the Beast will be a political power that arises at the close of human civilization that will control and regulate much of the society in years to come that will, like Roman ,present its self as a benefactor, and those who go along will get along. Revelation:13:7-8 tells us that it will influence many.
The charagma was also a type of brand. In Roman times, slaves were often branded with marks of ownership, much like cattle are today. Religious tattooing was also widespread. Soldiers had a custom of branding themselves with the name of a favorite general. Devotees of a "god" labeled themselves with tattoos to designate their loyal devotion. In short, Rome left its "mark" upon those within it, those whom it ruled.
Whatever this Mark maybe in the years to come Revelation cites that it is on the hand and forehead that it is seen. It show how they "buy and sell", conduct business.
Its Mark
As part of the control mechanism the Beast will Mark those who worship it, now, in the Roman empire slaves were branded with the mark of Rome, that is the seal of the empire.
The Greek word used for "mark" is charagma. It was the technical term for the Roman imperial stamp that appeared on various documents. The charagma
was a seal stamped with the name and date of the emperor and attached
to commercial documents. Apparently, it also stood for the emperor’s
head stamped on coins. Thus, the charagma represented the likeness or name of the emperor.The charagma was also a type of brand. In Roman times, slaves were often branded with marks of ownership, much like cattle are today. Religious tattooing was also widespread. Soldiers had a custom of branding themselves with the name of a favorite general. Devotees of a "god" labeled themselves with tattoos to designate their loyal devotion. In short, Rome left its "mark" upon those within it, those whom it ruled.
Whatever this Mark maybe in the years to come Revelation cites that it is on the hand and forehead that it is seen. It show how they "buy and sell", conduct business.
Second Beast
In Revelation:13:11-17, we are introduced to a second beast, this one emerges out of the "earth" . This second beast compels people of the earth to worship the first beast. Some Historians see this beast as to be a reference to the Imperial Cult of Rome that oversaw the worship of the Empire in the person of Cesar, others have speculated that this my be an apostate religious voice that compels humanity to give their worship to the beast, the world system in the years to come at the close of human civilization, and it may speak to that.
This second beast compels followers of the world system to receive the "mark". This beast looks like a Lamb but speaks as a dragon, out of the "abundance heart the mouth speaks" . No matter how good it looks, the outward is only cosmetic.
This second beast compels followers of the world system to receive the "mark". This beast looks like a Lamb but speaks as a dragon, out of the "abundance heart the mouth speaks" . No matter how good it looks, the outward is only cosmetic.
In Our Daily Lives
Recall that the historical question that the Book of Revaluation is asking all of us."Who Will You Worship?"
I would like to ask you to consider what may be an important question about these verses. What do they say to us now, not historically or prophetically, but now today? It maybe that these verses speak to each of us now. Is there a "beast" ruling our lives, anything is that building an empire over the territory of our lives? Is a something that claims to offer us what only Jesus truly can bring to us ? If we are looking to anything other than Jesus as our Messiah, it will , like Rome, build an empire in our lives that is gain greater control over our lives territories all under the pretense of being a benefactor promising us "peace and safety" it will "mark" us as its slaves and will dictate how we handle our personal economies, that is ,how we "buy and sell", that is, how we spend our time energies and resources. It will be upon our foreheads that is control of thinking which controls our actions and will be upon our hands, our thoughts and actions show whom we worship, remember a nation or a person looks like the "god" they worship, the world system resembles the dragon. When we look to the flesh or the world system, we are accepting its "mark", its "charagama" .We become its slaves branded by the Beast's "mark".
The second beast emerges out of the earth , that is speaks out of the earthly, our carnal nature.
"But the natural man receive not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Corinthians:2:14
This voice, out of the earth of our lives, tells us to look to the natural, to the material, to the gratification of the flesh, that makes great promises of fulfillment, but as always those things fall short, which is what the beast is, the collective expression of the world attempting to look to something other than Jesus. It is this giving ear to that voice out of the earth which prophesies to the human hart which causes conflict in our lives as individuals and the world collectively.
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
You
want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot
have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you
do not ask God." James:4:1-2
To Us Always
Who will we worship? That is the great question we are being asked. Will it be Jesus the Christ King of the Kingdom of God or Cesar Emperor of Rome, the World System?
This is not just for those in ages past or times yet to come, but for us now and every day. I pray that we all we answer Revelation's eternal question as to "who will we worship?" , that the voice our lives will proclaim loudly, Jesus, now and forever. Amen
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
Washington, Pa
Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP
Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville ,
Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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