March 6 - The Land Monster

March 6 – The Land Monster
Revelation 13:11-18

The third member of the unholy trinity is now introduced. While the first beast was the political leader and given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation, the second beast is the religious authority.

This is the false prophet and he will point to the first beast as the object of man’s worship. He will perform signs and wonders and will give power to an idol.

He has two horns like a lamb, symbolizing gentleness, but he speaks like a dragon. Gentle, slimy, soothing words that are lies. He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf. Not only does the false prophet use the words of the dragon, or Satan to entrap people, but he has the authority of the antichrist. He will be able to woo nations to their doom by causing them to worship the first beast.

Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit in John 16:14 when He says, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” The Holy Spirit brought glory to Jesus Christ. The false prophet glorifies the antichrist.

Rev. 13:13-14a, “And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.”

We’ve been warned over and over to beware of false prophets. Moses did so in Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Jesus did so in Mark 13:22 and Paul did in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. We’ve been warned, but the beast’s signs caused men to worship the first beast. We were deceived!

Rev. 13:14b-17, “He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 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, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

He makes an image of the antichrist, gives breath to it, it receives power to speak and power to kill anyone who refuses to worship. A couple of things. The beast gives it power to breathe, but the Greek word here is ‘pneuma’ – breath, not ‘zoe’ – life. And recognize that though it has the power to kill, it doesn’t say the image actually does kill.

This is the abomination of desolation prophesied in Daniel and by Jesus. (Daniel 9:24, 11:31, 12:11; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).

We will not be taken by surprise! We may worry about the mark of the beast coming to us in the guise of credit cards or medical chip implants, but this tells us that we will know what is coming.

The first beast will set up a world government – he is a political leader. Then, a charismatic religious leader will show up. His job will be to cause people to worship the political leader. He will perform signs and wonders and then will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

These are obvious signs.

Mark 13:22 says, “They will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard. I have told you everything ahead of time.” He has told us everything. Don’t worry, just be on your guard.