The Mark of the Beast

10/14/06

1. Rev. 13:17 – A time of testing is coming upon all people.

A. Rev. 13:15 – A death decree will be declared.

· Those who refuse the mark will be hated & persecuted.

· Rev. 14:9-10 – Thos who receive the mark will receive the wrath of God.

B. Dan 7:17 – Who is the Beast – six identifying points.

1. Rev. 13:1-2 – Occupies same territory as former kings.
Consider Dan. 2 & Dan. 7.

2. Rev. 13:2 – The dragon gave him his power. Rev. 12: 9 identifies the dragon as Satan who worked through the Roman Empire to persecute Jesus.

3. Rev. 13:4-8 – Both a religious and political power.

4. Rev. 13:5-6 – Blasphemy. Blasphemy is defined as claiming the power and prerogatives of God, and claiming power to forgive sin (2 Thess. 2:4, John 10:33 & Luke 5:21). Only one Mediator – Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).

5. Rev. 13:5 – The beast reigned for 1,260 years. Eze. 4:6 says a day in prophecy equals one year of actual time. The beginning of the papacy is 538 A.D. The papacy continued until 1798 (Rev. 13:3), when Napoleon’s general, Berthier, took the Pope captive to Paris (Rev. 13:9-10). Encarta Reference Library.

6. Rev. 13:7 – Christians were persecuted.

· Patrick Hamilton in St. Andrews, Scotland.

C. Rev. 13:11-18 – Another beast assists the first beast.

· The papacy under Pope John Paul II

· Rev. 13:11-18 – Another beast assists the first beast.

· The Pilgrims landed in 1620.

· Declaration of Independence – 1776

· Constitution – 1788

· Bill of Rights – 1791.

· Rev. 13:11 – Two horns like a lamb – John 1:29.

· Rev. 13:14-15 – Power to cause global conformity.

· Dan. 7:25, Ps. 33:9 & Eze. 36:27 – To speak means legislation & cause means enforcement.

· The “Holy Alliance” of the 1980’s.

· Rev. 13:3 – With the help of the U.S. the papacy has become a global force in politics.

· Pope Benedict XBI and Islam.

D. Rev. 13:16-17 – The mark of the beast, the name of the beast and the number of the beast are the same.

· Rev. 13:18 – The number is 666.

· Vicarius filii Dei is not reliable for 666.

· Roman numerals appear as IVXLCD, and 666 is written DCLXVI – Just opposite.

· Dan. 7:25 – Trying to change God’s laws.

· Our freedoms will be lost.

· Heb. 13:8 – Jesus will be with us.

· My father’s hand.