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TITLE: Mark of the Beast
TEXT: Revelation 13:16-18
PROPOSITION: The church is at war against Satan.
QUESTION: Who?
KEY WORD: Participants
SCRIPTURE READING:
INTRODUCTION:
- Revelation was written to a persecuted church – to encourage them.
- Any interpretation must focus on things "at hand" (1:3; James 5:8)
- I am not getting into methods of interpretation, date for the book.
- I will deal with two things –
Confusing explanations of 666.
What is involved?
Confusing Explanations of 666. Who is the beast?
- Nero Caesar – Hebrew letters = Nron Ksr – Roman numerals = 666
- Historical view – Latenios (Greek for Latin – Roman Empire) – Greek values=666
- Vicar of God (Vicarus Fili De) – Roman numerals - 666
- Hitler – A=100, B=101 – Total=666
- Cute Purple Dinosaur – (Barney) = 666
- Reduced to an absurdity = Not correct.
- The NUMBER is important – Not the NAME.
Revelation 12-20 = War between God (church) and Satan (forces of evil).
Evil Forces at War
- Dragon, Satan, Devil – 12:3-4, 7-17
- First beast – 13:1-10 – civil government, great power
- Second beast – 13:11-17 – Committee in alliance with the great power
- Babylon, Mother of Harlots = immorality
The Forces of Righteousness
- Led by God – 14:1-20
- The Lamb standing on Mount Zion – 14:1-13
- Faithful Christians (14:1-6)
- Their weapon – the sickle of divine judgment – 14:14-20
The Conclusion:
- Satan loses; God wins.
- Satan, beast, false prophet, Babylon (immoral) cast in lake of fire.
- Servants of God win – heaven, eternal life, no fear of second death
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