John
the apostle shared how he, “stood
upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and
upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And
the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the
dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I
saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly
wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And
they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshiped the beast, saying, Who is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was
given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and
two months”,
and in chapter thirteen and verse six of Revelation John shared how
the beast “opened
his mouth in blasphemy against God” where
we read:
And
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in
heaven.
The
verse reads, “And
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, ...”
John
began with the words, “and
he opened”
which means “opened up” “his
mouth”
or “the beast's orifice in the face used for eating, drinking and
speaking” “in
blasphemy”
which means “in slander, detraction, injurious speech and impious
and reproachful speech toward divine majesty” “against”
or “in opposition to and directed with the accusative case, time
and place toward” “God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. John heard
the “beast”
speak “blasphemous”
things against Almighty God.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in
heaven.”
John
continued with the words, “to
blaspheme”
which means “for the purpose of slander, detraction, injurious
speech and impious and reproachful speech toward divine majesty”
“his
name”
or “God's character and all that the name covers, everything the
thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning,
hearing and remembering”, “and
his tabernacle”
which means “and God's habitation or dwelling place which was
resembled by the tent in the wilderness and the temple”, “and
them”
or “and the people whether male or female” “that
dwell in heaven”
which refers to “who abide, occupy and reside within the region
above the sidereal heavens where there is the seat of order of things
eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells as well as other
heavenly beings”. John heard “the
beast”
speak injuriously against “God's name, His dwelling place as well
as the people who live in heaven” with Him.
When
we think through John's words in this verse, we can imagine the
brashness of this “beast or antichrist” which came upon
the world scene. Not only is he worshiped by people on the earth, but
he believes himself great enough to speak against Almighty God. This
“beast or antichrist” is so brazen that he will make declarations
against God's character, His dwelling place and all the beings who
live with God. Pride encompasses him, and his belief of himself is
swallowed within it. God is greater than everyone, and no one is able
to stand against Him. Perhaps the lesson from this “beast”
is that “pride” kept Him from relating and yielding to God, and
pride is a great inhibitor for people receiving God's “salvation”
through His Son Jesus Christ. In other words, a person must humble
themselves, confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ into their
lives as “Savior and Lord”. Otherwise, they might as well be like
unto this “beast” who speaks “blasphemous things”
against the Almighty Creator who made them.
Next
time John shares how it was,
“given
unto” “the beast” “to make war with the saints”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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