The Rule & Worship of the Beast

Transcript

GR 1545
11/01/09
The Rule and Worship of the Beast
Revelation 13:5-10
Gil Rugh

We are studying the book of Revelation together so I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Revelation 13. For some of you, you've been through this material on a number of occasions, for others of you it is rather new. So as we were talking last week after our study some were saying a little bit confusing and hard to keep track of what is going on. But I trust as we keep going over and over and move through Revelation it becomes clear, the pieces come together and we go over them again and another piece fits in and it becomes a little clearer.

Revelation 13 is a central chapter in dealing with future events because it focuses on the man that will become the greatest man humanly speaking in world empires. He will be the man that will accomplish what others have attempted to do, but never have been successful to the degree that he will be. He will become a world ruler of a world empire, and a world worship system that will focus on him as god in the flesh on earth. He will be the dominant figure during the last 7 years leading up to the return of Christ to earth. But it's during the last 3½ years that he becomes sole world ruler. During the first 3½ years that he shares the reign, we have ten rulers altogether, he is part of that group. But for the last 3½ years he will be the central dominating figure. He's the man we refer to as the Antichrist.

Chapter 13 opened up with I saw beast coming up out of the sea having ten horns and seven heads and on his horns were ten diadems. And on his heads were blasphemous names. Similar description as we saw in chapter 12 verse 3, another sign appeared in heaven. Behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns. Those two things are the same—the seven heads and the ten horns. There were diadems on the seven heads in chapter 12 verse 3. The dragon referring to the devil that we were told down in verse 9 of chapter 12. He is the power behind these earthly empires. It is basically the same picture, although we focus now on the final human earthly ruler empowered and enabled by Satan, as we come into chapter 13. But the ten horns, the seven heads, and there were crowns on the seven heads, diadems, in chapter 12 verse 3 because these are kingdoms. There are crowns on the horns in chapter 13 verse 1 because these represent kings or kingdoms.

Turn over to Revelation 17, where we looked at the interpretation given of these matters, and you have on your sheet that we've looked at a number of times, the unfolding of what these seven heads refer to. They are the seven earthly empires. And the scripture is concerned with the empires that impact Israel and so we begin with Egypt because it was in Egypt that Israel became a nation. And so we go from Egypt to Assyria to Babylon to Persia to Greece to Rome. That's six, and these last three, we've noted, are all part of Rome. The seventh is the first 3½ years of this seven-year period. It's a ten-king or kingdom federation. The United States of Europe, or whatever. It's the Roman Empire revived, so a continuation of Rome, we saw that in Daniel 2 with iron representing Rome and that continues right down into the ten toes. But this final federation has weakness in it, so there was clay mixed with the iron. The same thing in Daniel 7. We saw the fierce beast and it had ten horns. So that's Rome and then the seventh head here is the ten-nation confederacy.

Look at Revelation 17:9, here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. And we won't get into the woman right now, we'll deal with that when we get to chapter 17, first part of the chapter brought this woman into the picture. But the seven heads, same seven heads we've been talking about in chapter 12, in chapter 13, here they are again. We're told they are seven mountains. We noted some connect that with Rome, the city of seven hills, seven mountains. But the connection here is the seven heads are seven mountains. We know the seven heads refer to kings or kingdoms. So the mountains refer to the same thing. In the Old Testament a mountain is used of a kingdom. And we are told in verse 10, they are seven kings or kingdoms. So the heads, the mountains, both represent the same thing—seven kings or kingdoms. Five have fallen. As John wrote this five of these empires had come and gone—Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece. One is—Rome. No problem there. The other has not yet come and when he comes he must remain a little while. This seventh king or kingdom is a short kingdom in that it remains a little while. Then the beast, verse 11, which was and is not is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven and he goes to destruction. So that's how we come to eight. And really Daniel 7, the ten horns, and then a little horn comes up and replaces three of the ten and becomes the dominant figure. That's what is pictured. So he's one of the seven, it is not a separate and distinct kingdom like going from Greece to Rome or from Egypt to Assyria. But these last three, numbers 6, 7, 8, really are all part of Rome as we've seen in Daniel 2, Daniel 7 and here in the book of Revelation as well. The ten horns, verse 12, which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. As John wrote they have not yet come to power. But they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. A short period of time here, this is a brief reign. The whole period we're talking about for numbers 7 and 8 in these forms of the empire, seven years. And the ten have one purpose, verse 13, they give their power and authority to the beast. That's where we are. That will happen in the middle of the seven-year period.

So you come back to Revelation 13, and the beast coming up out of the sea is the final form of the revived Roman Empire. We have come to the middle point, we are halfway through the seven-year tribulation. So we are ready for that eighth kingdom, which is really one of the seven, is part of the seventh, which really came out of the sixth because it's a continuation of the Roman Empire.

So that's the beast coming up in Revelation 13:1. We've already looked at that. Then in verse 3, I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain. His fatal wound was healed and the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast. And of course the head here refers to Rome and some take that to mean that it's the Roman Empire that seems to die out, then comes back to power. But remember you get interchanged here the kingdom and the king. And this last form of the Roman Empire is focused in one person, the Antichrist. So the king and the kingdom become associated and you can interchange them. It seems in light of what is said in the context here as we have looked at it that it is the Antichrist in whom this kingdom is vested and he is the king ruling over it solely and completely receives a death blow. And yet is brought back to life. And that results in the whole world following after him. And you can see that. I mean, a person like that who has power to bring peace to the world, who has been key in bringing peace to the Middle East as Daniel 9 indicates. And now he seems to die and brought back to life. Here is the man we have been looking for. It is Satan's counterfeit christ and he is his ruler, his man.

Okay, now what happens since the world is united under the authority of the Antichrist, what does Satan want? We talked about this. When he tempted Christ, fall down and worship me and I'll give you all the kingdoms. So worship and rule in satan's kingdom go together because when you worship the Antichrist you are worshiping the spiritual power behind the Antichrist which is the devil. Just like when we worship Jesus Christ we are worshiping His Father, right? And He told people that those who honor the Son honor the Father who sent Him. So Satan is establishing a satanic trinity where he usurps the place of God the Father, the Antichrist is here usurping the role of God the Son. And we'll see a second beast, the false prophet, who takes the role of the Holy Spirit in this satanic trinity, directing all the worship of the world to the Antichrist. This is the Holy Spirit. When He would come Jesus said He would testify of Me. So you see the brilliance of Satan's plan, perverted, twisted, an affront to the holy God and yet that is his intention and has been his intention from the beginning.

This will lead to persecution. Verse 4 we're told, they worship the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast. They worship the beast. You see that goes together. They worship the dragon, they worship the dragon's man. You see the comparison here as Satan tries to build a kingdom in opposition to the kingdom that God has said He will establish. They say, who is like the beast, who is able to wage war with him.

We pick up with verse 5, there was given him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies and authority to act for 42 months was given to him. There was given to him, verse 5 starts out; at the end of verse 5, authority to act for 42 months was given to him; verse 7, it was also given to him; the end of verse 7, authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation was given to him. And we get down to verse 14, he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him. Verse 15, and it was given him to give breath to the image and so on.

Now the immediate power behind the Antichrist and then the false prophet that will follow, we read in verses 14-15, which was given to him, is the devil. He is the power. Chapter 13 verse 2, the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. So the immediate spiritual power enabling the Antichrist is the devil. But sovereign over all this process is God Himself. He rules in the realm of mankind. And I take it these references, there was given him, there was given him, is drawing attention to the sovereignty of God over the affairs of men.

Come back to Daniel 4. Familiar verses but reminders, and we'll just limit ourselves to these passages in Daniel and then look into Revelation. Verse 17, this is in the context of Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon. And there in chapter 2 we saw in previous studies that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. And you see there the ruler and the empire become interchangeable. The head of gold represented Babylon, but Daniel said, you, Nebuchadnezzar, are the head of gold because you rule Babylon. So the king and the kingdom can be used interchangeably. And that's what we have going on in Revelation 13 as well. But look at verse 17, this sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones. Now note the purpose. In order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men. God is absolutely sovereign in all the affairs of the world. Nebuchadnezzar with the Babylonians came to power, he came and conquered Israel and carried them away into captivity. Godly people in Israel like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego carried away by him. He was a godless man, a man who tolerated no opposition or resistance. Yet he was in power by the will of God.

Look down in verse 25, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. Verse 26, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is heaven that rules. Nebuchadnezzar is going to lose his throne but it will be given back to him when he learns a lesson—you don't rule, heaven rules. God is sovereign over all.

Come down to verse 32, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. And then Nebuchadnezzar comes to realize it. Down in verse 34, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, my reason returned to me, I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. And no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, what have you done? Now you'll note, Babylon is one of these empires represented by the head. And in Revelation 12 we saw they were all empowered and enabled by the devil, the dragon. Yet we understand that is all under the sovereign rule of God, allowing the devil and sinful men to carry out their acts of rebellion and directing and sovereignly controlling so that even their rebellion is carrying out His plan. So Babylon conquers Israel, Judah the southern kingdom. Well ultimately the explanation is it was God's plan for bringing judgment on Israel. We see His sovereignty.

Come over to Revelation 6. We see this sovereignty of God throughout the book. Verse 4, I saw a red horse, we are in the second seal judgment. A red horse went out, to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, that men would slay one another. You see that, it was granted to them under the sovereign authority of God. Like in the book of Job Satan is given permission and authority to do certain things, bring disaster on Job, take the lives of all his children, remove his health. All under the sovereign control of God. So here it is granted. Down in verse 8, I looked and behold an ashen horse. Authority was given to them, authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, with famine, with pestilence. God's sovereignty in all of this.

Revelation 7:2, and I saw another angel descending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God. He cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea. It's in God's time and in God's plan. They are given permission now to harm the earth and the sea. Revelation 9:5, and they were not permitted to kill anyone but to torment for five months. Just the sovereignty of God over it all. Now in my plan. He doesn't cause the sin but He allows Satan and his followers to carry out their desires, because ultimately it will serve His purposes. Just like He allowed His people, Israel, to be conquered. They were invincible until God determined they were not longer invincible. So this sovereignty of God is crucial.

Come back to Revelation 13. There was given to him, to this beast. So you see now the beast is personified in the man, the kingdom personified in this person, ruling. There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies. A mouth speaking arrogant words, blasphemies.

Come back to Daniel 7. This is the same description given of the little horn in Daniel 7. Verse 7, there was that fourth beast dreadful and terrible, because remember Daniel started where he was with the kingdoms. So Babylon was the kingdom ruling when Daniel wrote. Then Persia, then Greece, then Rome. That would be the fourth beast here. It was terrible, it was dreadful. And then you'll note the end of verse 7, it had ten horns. That's why we say this final phase of the kingdom is part of Rome because the ten horns are on the fourth beast which represents Rome. And the little horn will come out of the ten horns. So he is part of Rome. While I was contemplating the horns, behold another horn, a little one came up among them. Three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it. Now note this, behold this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. So the same thing we said with that mouth speaking blasphemies. A mouth uttering great boasts.

Down in verse 11, then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking, that little horn. The boastful words which the horn was speaking. He is arrogant, he is blasphemous. Down in verse 20, Daniel is desirous of knowing the meaning of the fourth beast and the ten horns and the little horn. These things are a puzzle to him. He wants to know the meaning of the ten horns, verse 20, which are on his head and the other horn which came up, before which three horns fell. Namely that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great things, great boasts. Verse 25, he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One. He'll speak out against the Most High, he's a blasphemous person.

Come back to Revelation 13. There was given him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies. So you see this is the same individual described as the little horn, the same arrogance, the same defiance of God. And this will be carried to the point, as we'll see as we move along, that he declares himself to be deity and God in the flesh, if you will.

Authority was given to him to act for 42 months. You see God sovereignly determines he'll rule in his arrogance and blasphemous ways for 42 months. Not 52, not 49, not 38, but 42 months. That's what God has determined. Same thing as in the book of Daniel 9:27. Remember in the middle of that seven-year period an individual breaks his covenant with the nation Israel. That's where we are here. God has given him 42 months to rule and Satan has great permission here. This will be a time of supernatural power. We saw that with the resurrection of the Antichrist from the dead. As we noted, whether it is a real resurrection from the dead or all the appearance of it, the impacts on the world are the same. They believe and the proof to them is overwhelming. And don't sell the devil short, so to speak. Don't underestimate him. He is a being of awesome power. So the world will be dumbfounded. I mean, how can you say he is not God? We'll see as we move through the rest of Revelation 13 in coming studies, this will be a time of great miracles, supernatural things going on and demonstrations of power that they think that there is no other explanation. Only the elect will remain true.

Verse 6, he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God. Note the emphasis on this blasphemies. A man in all of his actions, all of his words, he opposes the living God. He is the complete, full slave of the devil and he represents him. Just like Jesus said, I always do the will of My Father, here is a man who always does the will of the devil and is empowered by him in greater ways than the devil has had the freedom to empower anyone. Because remember it is now in this period of time in God's plan that He gives Satan a freedom to act in his opposition that Satan has not had up to this point. There have been attempts with earthly kingdoms before, but he has been restricted. Now there is authority and an opportunity given to Satan and to his man.

So he opens his mouth in blasphemies against God to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, those who dwell in heaven. This man hates God and everything associated with God. He hates heaven and everybody who is part of heaven. But remember the devil and his angel no longer have access to heaven. He is totally complete in his commitment to carry out the will of the devil.

Go back to Daniel 11:36. Remember the willful king, another name for the Antichrist. You have the names on your sheet, different names of the Antichrist. One of them is the willful king coming from Daniel 11:36ff. Verse 36, then the king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every God. He will speak monstrous things, extraordinary things against the God of Gods. He will prosper until the indignation is finished, that which is decreed will be done. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god, for he will magnify himself above them all. You see how monstrous it is. He declares himself to be the god of gods. He recognizes no other God that has existed or exists. I mean, he is just not a pagan, this is a man who claims to be the god of the world. He magnifies himself above every God and speaks monstrous, extraordinary things against the God of gods, the true God.

Stop in II Thessalonians 2. Here we have the man of sin or the man of lawlessness, as we have in our translations in verse 3. Let no one deceive you. It will not come until the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Remember the temple is in existence during the first 3½ years of the tribulation. Now here is a man who takes his seat in the temple to declare that God is now present on earth in bodily form. And there is no worship to be allowed of any other being, worship of any other kind but the worship of me. So now the devil can solidify all of his worship systems in the one man, a unified worship. And you see he is trying to develop a kingdom in opposition to the kingdom that God has promised, that will focus in His Son and His rule from Jerusalem. Now you have the Antichrist established in the temple, declaring himself to be God and displaying himself as God, exalting himself above everything called God and so on.

Come back to Revelation 13. It was also given to him. Again remember God's sovereignty in this because note what is going to happen. To make war with the saints and to overcome them. In the plan of God during this period of time people will become believers. We talked a little bit about that when we saw the ministry of the two witnesses in chapter 11. There will be people saved but it will be a terrible time to be a believer, humanly speaking. Because it is just like Job, God gave him permission to inflict great suffering and pain on Job. Here God in His plan gives Satan and his agent, the Antichrist, authority and power to overcome the saints as he battles against them. This is part of his plan and people will give their lives in testimony for Jesus Christ. So we praise the Lord there will be people saved during this time but it will be an awful frightening time. And many martyrs.

Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. I hope you underline all these “was given” in verses 5, 7. A constant reminder God is sovereign in what is going on. Things are not out of control, the devil is not winning. This is all happening. Why would God allow this to happen? We read it now outside the tribulation. There will be people in the tribulation reading this. Lord, don't you love me? Where are you? Are you going to intervene? And they'll read and say, we are at this part in God's plan. We cannot win in the short term. God is sovereign and determined that this man, Satan and his man will have authority like no authority ever before. We've seen powerful empires, but nothing like this. Every tribe, every people, every tongue, every nation is solidified under the authority of the Antichrist. Satan finally gets what he wants in this limited scope—sovereignty over the world, focused in his man. Now he is the god of this world, but it's fragmented, it's broken up. There is no central worship of him. So it doesn't have a true replacement, if I can speak that way, for the kingdom that God has promised, where all the world's worship will focus in the Son. But now I have it. My man on the throne, showing to the world that he is God in the flesh. And all the world and every nation solidified under his authority and worshiping him and me. So a remarkable, remarkable time

Look at verse 8, all who dwell on the earth will worship him. The Spirit of God knows we have a hard time getting around it. Could we really get a kingdom like this in our world today? So he told us that authority is given to them, to Satan and his beast, over every tribe, people, tongue and nation. If you don't understand that, put it another way, all who dwell on the earth will worship him. I mean, this is not only a worldwide kingdom, it's a worldwide worship system. Remember we were back in the early chapters of Genesis where you had after the flood people wanted to be unified so we're not scattered. And we have the Tower of Babel as the center of our worship which will keep us from being diversified and scattered. And God intervened to divide them into languages and then ultimately out of that would come the nations to keep that from happening. Now God removes the restraint and allows it to happen. What God would have liked to have accomplished way back early in the beginning. What Satan would have like to have accomplished. Now it is God's time to allow that to happen.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, with the exception of believers. It's put negatively, whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. As if the book of Revelation is not difficult enough with its prophetic elements, now we're going to bring the doctrine of election in. I mean, let's just stay with the prophetic things and we'll not deal with election. No. We're talking about God's sovereignty over all these things and He brings that in right here. Now some of you may be using a translation that would connect from the foundation of the world to the Lamb. The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. That's a grammatical possibility in translation here, but I think the way the New American Standard has put it is what this verse is saying. The other is true but I think here he is talking about the names in the book of life from the foundation of the world. What solidifies that is Revelation 17:8 where we have the same expression and we're talking about the same kind of context. The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come out of the abyss and go to destruction. Now note this, those who dwell on the earth whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. So you see the only possible connection here is the name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. And the same expression, I take it, would have the same meaning in chapter 13 verse 8.

Revelation 13:8, we'll look at that verse. When he says the name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain, we're basically told there are names that have never been in the book of life. Now discussion comes, were the names in there and then they were erased. In other words if you read some commentators they say, all the names of everyone were placed in the book of life and if you die without believing in Christ your name is erased. The problem is the name hasn't been there from the foundation of the world. You go back before Genesis 1:1. The names is either in the book or it's not in the book. Now people say, God looked ahead and saw and erased the names. Well you end up the same place. The name is either in the book today or it's not. I mean, you're not in a different position. We discussed how the names got there and why some names are not there, but the basic issue today is there are some names not in the book of life. Right? Because the names are in there from the foundation of the world, or not in there. And here we're told, their name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life. It doesn't say it was erased from the book of life before the foundation of the world, it hasn't been there from the beginning. And that's as far back as we can go marking time.

Turn over to Ephesians 1. We're going to get into this as we proceed through the book of Romans and particularly when we get to Romans 9. But look at Ephesians 1:3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ. Note this, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. And this is all done, verse 11, we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. I don't have all the answers and all the explanation. None of us do because God said He counseled with Himself—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Counseled, alone together, God who eternally exists in three persons, counseled with Himself and determined to do this. Why? Verse 12, to the praise of His glory; verse 14, to the praise of His glory. When did it happen? Verse 4, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. When God made that decision from among fallen, sinful human beings to select some, elect some, choose, He put their name in the book of life. That's why Paul would write to Timothy and say, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they might come to the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. You say, it's not fair, He didn't choose the others. He doesn't have to choose anyone. Remember, He is not obligated to save anyone. The angels sinned and He never made a book of life for them, they're just lost forever. Is that fair? Well did they sin? Yes. Then it's fair. He is not obligated to save sinners, otherwise it is not a matter of grace and mercy, it's a matter of fulfilling His obligation. You know I'm opening more doors than we're going to close. But we'll just accept the statement of scripture here. There are names not in the book of life from the foundation of the world.

Now that being said, a lot of the arguments that I read dissolve because anyone who wants to discuss did God not put names in because of His foreknowledge. We'll talk about this in Romans. But the fact is today they are either in there or not. No matter how they got there, they are either in there or not. Today as you and I sit here and our names are not in the book of life, they never will be because they have not been there from the foundation of the world. So in that sense, why would I evangelize if ........ Well that argument dissolves because we all have to agree He says the names were not there from the foundation of the world. He said that in Revelation 13:8, he said it again in Revelation 17:8. So it's not true to sing the song, There is a new name written down in glory, and it's mine. Now I sing I realize that my name has been written down in glory from the foundation of the world. I don't know how to put that in music, Phil could do it, I'm sure. But they are not new names in that sense.

Go to Revelation 3:5. We looked at this book of life. The promise to the overcomer in the church at Sardis, he who overcomes thus will be clothed in white garments. I will not erase his name from the book of life. Some may say, names can be erased. No, there is just the promise here that he won't erase the name. The names who have been in the book of life from the foundation of the world are permanent. So it's a promise here to the overcomer. And the overcomers are those who believe in Christ. And we're not taking away. Salvation does not occur to a person until he believes in Christ. We are all sons of God through faith in Christ. But in God's sovereign plan that has been set down before the foundation of the world.

Come over to Revelation 20:12, we see this book of life. We get to the end here now, the Great White Throne, which is the last judgment. This judgment will occur after the thousand years of Christ's reign, the first phase of the eternal kingdom. I saw the dead, the great and the small standing before the throne. The books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life. The dead were judged from the things which are written in the books according to their deeds. So you have two books here, you have the book of life and you have the book of works. But you'll note verse 15, if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life he was thrown into the lake of fire. I take it the book of works will have to deal with degrees of judgment and suffering. But nobody is going to heaven on the basis of their works, it's whether your name is in the book of life or not. He is not thrown into the lake of fire.

Come down to Revelation 21:27, only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be part of the New Jerusalem as the eternal dwelling place of Christ and of His people.

Come back to Revelation 13. It always interest me how God brings these doctrines that so confound us, it's not even the main part of what He is talking about. The Spirit of God could have directed him just to write all who dwell on the earth will worship Him, everyone who is not a believer in Jesus Christ. And we wouldn't have had to deal with the doctrine of election in the midst of struggling through this great prophetic book. But he doesn't put it that way. He says, whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Because I take it there will be people who have yet to be saved in this 3½ -year period and they are not going to worship the Lamb either because of the sovereign grace of God. They will be preserved from worshiping the Antichrist and receiving his mark, which we'll be looking at in a future study, which forever marks them out as lost and doomed. So those in the book of life who have yet to believe will not worship the beast either during this period of time.

It's the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. These are those who belong to Christ because of His death. And remember the importance of belonging to Christ and if you don't belong to Christ you remain under the wrath of God.

Back up to I Peter 1:18, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile, empty way of life, inherited from your forefathers. You were redeemed with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Incidentally, Peter starts out his letter by addressing it to the elect of God, the chosen of God. They were redeemed with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

So back in Revelation 13:8, it's the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain because the only reason that anyone can have life is because the Lamb was slain. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And any in the world who believe in Him will have life. And the only ones who believe in Him, because of their stubborn sinfulness are those to whom the grace of God works in a special, effective way in calling them to salvation. And they believe.

Back in Revelation 13:9, if anyone has an ear, let him hear. Remember we had a similar expression, but different in the letters to the churches in chapter 2-3. But there it was addressed to the churches. Here it is not addressed to the church because the church isn't part of this now, the church has been removed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes. If anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints. This is a difficult verse, it has some textual issues. It has been taken a couple of ways, let me just tell you how I think it is best taken. I think it's an encouragement here to believers. Verse 9, if anyone has an ear, let him hear. And it's a word to encourage believers that God is sovereign in all this, it's His purposes carried out and it's His sovereign plan. Any going to captivity are going to captivity in the plan of God. Anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. God is working even during this terrible time. And you understand there are believers who are dying horrible deaths. We have yet to see what Satan, given greater freedom, can inflict in suffering upon people. I mean, we've seen terrible things, but you understand now Satan is given a freedom and a liberty to do in his kingdom what he has never been able to do through his man. And he so hates God and hates anyone associated with God that people won't just die, they'll die terribly, believers.

A word of encouragement. This is all under the sovereign plan of God. Anyone destined for captivity, to captivity goes. Anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints. This is what gives endurance during this time. Perseverance, endurance, hupomanae, the ability to persevere under this kind of pressure and trial. I recognize the sovereign hand of God in this. And I take it there will be those who come to know Christ who will be reading Revelation when it is actually going on and they will be strengthened to persevere and be faithful. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints and their trust in God and thus they are being faithful during this time. Recognize the hand of God in this. They are carried off to die. We read books on the martyrs of past generations and some current and you can appreciate the truth of this. They recognize the hand of God and His sovereignty, and things aren't out of control. And they die as a testimony for Christ. So here we see God encouraging them. And they will be faithful in this. Be faithful unto the death. And the promise is they'll receive a crown of life along with other believers.

Let me summarize these points. Sometimes we don't have time, but let me run through them quickly. First and foremost and crucial, God is sovereign, He rules over all. We saw in verses, it was given to him, it was given to him. Terrible time, awful time, godless men. Things aren't out of control. God never loses control and that's true during this period of time. Second thing to remember, blasphemy will characterize the reign of the beast. Remember Satan and the Antichrist are attempting to usurp the place of God the Father and God the Son. We ought not to be surprised at the blasphemy going on in the world, at the depravity of the world, at the shamelessness of the world in their rejection and rebellion against God because we are moving toward a time ......... I mean, this is nothing compared to what will be taking place. A third thing to note, it is a time in the plan of God for the children of God to be overcome by evil people. Verse 7, it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. We don't understand everything. It's enough for us to know that God is in charge and in His plan at this point in time, it's His plan that Satan be victorious in the short term over His people. Just like it was His plan in the days of Job to allow Satan to inflict terrible suffering on Job. He could protect him, He had protected him. Satan acknowledged that. It's not until God removed the hedge that Satan could inflict the kind of suffering that Job had never experienced before. So it will be in the coming tribulation. Fourth, verse 8, only the elect will be spared satanic deception. It will be so bad, if possible even the elect would be deceived. But it's not possible. But it's only that that keeps people from being deceived. Every unbeliever in the world will be swept away. Only the elect, only those that God has chosen will be spared. Fifth, and in this we have to acknowledge God's sovereign work in election in choosing some from among fallen sinful human beings to come to His salvation. We are amazed that He did not choose others, we say it's not fair. The amazing thing according to scripture is that He chose any from among fallen sinful human beings. This is what the angels look into. They never experienced redemption in the angelic realm. The awesome thing as they observe salvation being carried out in the church today is that God is saving sinful people. The Son of God provided salvation for them. Every sinful person deserves to go to hell. I don't want what I deserve, I want mercy, I want grace. Right? We talk about what we deserve. God has sovereignly chosen some before the foundation of the world for salvation. Sixth, verse 10, a reminder that God's purposes for His children will be carried out. And the last point, I have seven for perfection, endurance and faithfulness come from accepting what God has for us. And here is perseverance in the faith or faithfulness of the saints. You accept what God has. If it's suffering, it's suffering. That's why we are not to complain and grumble. I see the hand of God in it. I want to live for Him, I want to serve Him, I don't look forward to suffering, I don't desire it. But when it comes I know His grace will be sufficient. I don't think something has gone wrong in His plan for me. That gives endurance. My heavenly Father has it all under control. Was it out of control when Job was suffering? Was it out of control when Job's children all died in one day? Was it out of control when Job lost his wealth? Was it out of control .......... Nothing was out of control. And so it is in our lives, so it will be in this terrible time to come. And so there is endurance and continued faithfulness on the part of the saints because we recognize the hand of our God in it all.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. We don't understand it all. Lord, to go back before the foundation of the world to what we would call eternity past and to learn something of the purpose and plan you established in your awesome plan to provide salvation for sinful men, to select some from among fallen, rebellious men and women to come to the salvation you have provided in your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, it's amazing and awesome. We praise you for your greatness. Lord, it is good for us to be reminded, you are sovereign over all. We look at the confusion, the turmoil, the world around us, the confusion and turmoil that sometimes comes into our own personal lives. Lord, we need to constantly remind ourselves, our God is sovereign. Nothing is out of control. The greatest difficulties, the most difficult times are all part of your plan and we can rest secure in that, knowing we belong to you because we've placed our faith in your Son. We are part of that group that has their names in the book of life and they've been there from before the foundation of the world. They will be there for all eternity. We praise you for such



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