In our last lesson, we studied the beast out of the sea.  It was my conclusion that “out of the sea” gave us the idea that he came from a multitude of people. 

(Rev 13:1 NKJV)  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 17:15 NKJV)  Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

My conclusion:  The beast rises from the midst of people.  Not from the spiritual realm directly, but from among us.

Our lesson tonight begins with another beast:

(Rev 13:11 NKJV)  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

(Dan 7:17 NKJV)  'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

“and he had two horns like a lamb” – I take this to mean that He was pretending to be a representative of Jesus the Lamb.

But his speech betrays him: He spoke like a dragon – He is evil!  Very evil!

(Rev 13:12)  And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence,  He is now identified as a supporter of the beast we studied in last time.

[He] causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, --

(2 Th 2:1-4 NKJV)  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, {2} not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. {3} Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, {4} who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

“whose deadly wound was healed.”

Daniel 7:6 "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

And we suggested:

The leopard is the symbol of Germany.

“which had on its back four wings of a bird.” – Some say this represents the 4^th Reich of Germany.  We’ve had three.  Will there be a rise of Germany one more times?  Only God knows.

(Rev 13:13 NKJV)  He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

(Mat 24:24-25 NKJV)  "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. {25} "See, I have told you beforehand. (Purpose)

(Rev 13:14 NKJV)  And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

(2 Th 2:9-10 NKJV)  {9} The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, {10} and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Note the warning:  [the] “deception [will be] among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,”

(Rev 13:15 NKJV)  He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

“to give breath [or spirit. Old King James: life]  to the image of the beast,”  That is pretty awesome.

(Rev 13:16 NKJV)  He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

(Rev 13:17 NKJV)  and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Obviously, we would be out of Business because we could neither buy material to build homes, nor could we sell them,

But it gets much more serious than that for all of us:  How can you buy the necessities of life:  food, clothing, your utilities, gasoline, and the list goes on.

(Rev 14:9-10 NKJV)  Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,

Rev. 14:10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

(Rev 13:18 NKJV)  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

I like the New American Standard Better:

(Rev 13:18 NASB) and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

In the original language, it is three different words, it is not just 3 6’s as might appear to be the case.

The words of Daniel are very fitting:

(Dan 12:8-10 NKJV)  Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" {9} And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. {10} "Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

The message:  Be ready!

Tough times are coming for many.

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