Revelation 13:1-14:5
The Four Beast of Revelation
#1. The Great Red Dragon
#2. The Composite Beast (Continued)

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The Bible also predicts the devil will eliminate the governments of Earth.

 

He will do this to gain absolute control over mankind.

 

Consider this scenario:

When the devil first appears, masquerading as God, he will lead the world to believe that he is (as God) has come to establish a thousand years of peace on Earth and all of the destruction caused by the first four trumpets must be rebuilt or repaired.

 

Like Pharaoh of old, everyone will be forced to work hard to speed Earth’s recovery. (Of course, the devil knows there will be no recovery from God’s destruction, he just uses false hope to “wear out” and torment the people of Earth.)

 

The devil will divide Earth into ten sectors and he will set up ten kings as “task masters” to oversee Earth’s reconstruction. Make no mistake. Lucifer will not be a benevolent king. All who stand in opposition to the devil’s heavy and harsh demands will be targeted for elimination.

 

On the other hand, everyone who believes the devil is God will be treated as a slave. By the time the seventh-trumpet sounds, the great red dragon, eighth king, will reign over Earth as “King of kings (politics), and Lord of lords (religion).” The government of Earth will be upon his shoulders and Lucifer will “sit in the heart of the seas” an ancient phrase that means “ruler of all nations.” (Ezekiel 28:2)

 

The devil will demand death for everyone who refuses to participate in his one-world religion and this decree will force everyone into one of two camps: worship the devil and live or worship Jesus and be killed. This will be the ultimate test of faith.

 

“He (the devil) was given power (and authority from God) to give breath (life) to the image (the one-world religion) of the first beast (composite beast), so that it could speak (make laws) and cause all who refused to worship (according to the demands of) the image to be killed.” (Revelation 13:15)

 

It was mentioned earlier that the Bible predicts the devil will divide the world into ten sectors and he will place ten “taskmasters” kings over these sectors. This may sound strange at first, but I need to show you three texts:  

 

Look at this verse describing the Second Coming:

Revelation 6:15   “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.”

 

Now, look at this text:

Revelation 13:16   He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

 

Now, look at this third text:

Revelation 19:17   And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

 

Revelation 19:18   so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”

 

Here’s my point:

Slavery will exist at the second coming. The Bible distinguishes between free and slaves three times! What will cause slavery during the Great Tribulation?

 

1.   Bankruptcy / poverty
2.   Demonic opportunity

 

1.   In ancient times, there was no such thing as bankruptcy because there was slavery. If you could not pay your debts, your property was seized and you were arrested and delivered to your creditor as “his property.” There was a formula depending on the amount borrowed as to the number of years you belonged to your creditor.

 

I believe this same system will be implemented during the Great Tribulation. My advice is that you get out of debt as fast as you can. If you need help and information on this topic, you can listen to people like Clark Howard, Suzie Orman and Dave Ramsey.  Again, I think it is important that we get out of debt for nonessential things ASAP.

 

Second, when Lucifer arrives, he is going to require everyone to work and participate in the establishment of the kingdom of God. Hitler was able to extend his control over a large portion of Europe because he put everyone to work, and made slaves of everyone he captured.

 

I believe the devil will do the same. Hitler was demon-possessed man and we well knew his actions. The point here is a surprising one. Resting on God’s holy day will be impossible without suffering a penalty. Thus, the conflict over God’s holy day will come down to survival for everyone who obeys God’s law (worships God).

 

During the sixth trumpet war, Lucifer will kill 1/3 of mankind.

 

Revelation 9:14   It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

 

Revelation 9:15   And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

 

This killing includes millions of saints and prophets.

 

Revelation 6:9   When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” The end result is simple. The saints will be conquered. A few will not be captured, but most will be.

 

The 2/3 that survive will take the mark of the beast which is the number, 666.

 

666 = 2/3 of 1,000.

 

Since the Bible doesn’t reveal the geographical boundaries of these ten sectors, they may conform to general geographical and cultural boundaries. For example, the ten sectors could be (1) North America   (2) Central and South America (3) Africa (4) Europe (5) China (6) India (7) Russia (8) Asia and the Middle East (9) Australia and (10) The Pacific Nations. Of course, time will tell how the world is divided.

 

The bottom line is that the composite beast and the devil will appear to succeed. Those who love lies will submit to their demands. Those who love the truth will be despised. It’s ironic that the world will end just like sin began: Believing the devil’s lies. The ten horns you saw are the ten kings (these kings are also represented by the toes of the metal man in Daniel 2) who have not received a kingdom, but for one hour [Greek syntax: for one hour does not mean 60 minutes, but at an appointed hour, they] will receive authority as kings along with the [great red dragon] beast. [As the taskmasters of mankind] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the [great red dragon] beast. [At the Second Coming] they [the ten kings] will make war against the Lamb [as did Lucifer and his angels thousands of years ago], but the Lamb will overcome them because he is [the true] Lord of lords and King of kings and [rejoicing] with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”  (Revelation 17:12-14, insertions mine)   

 

Revelation 14:1   Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

 

Revelation 14:2   And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard like that of harpists playing their harps.

 

Revelation 14:3   And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

 

Revelation 14:4   These are those who did not defile themselves with woman, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. 

 

Revelation 14:5   No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

 

End Text:  

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