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 in chapter thirteen and verse four of Revelation John shared how
people “worshiped
the dragon which gave power unto the beast” where
we read:
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?
The
verse reads, “And
they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: ”
John
began with the words, “and
they worshiped”
which means “and the people who are on the earth who marveled at
the beast fell on their knees and touched the ground with the
forehead as an expression of profound reverence, prostrated
themselves and gave homage to” “the
dragon”
or “the serpent snake-like being which is Satan or the devil”
“which
gave power”
which means “who granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied liberty,
physical and mental power, ability, authority, influence and right
toward” “the
beast”
or “the fierce animal like being which was the antichrist”. John
watched as people from around the world “worshiped”
“the devil” and his “antichrist”.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”
John
continued with the words, “and
they worshiped”
which means “and the people fell on their knees and touched the
ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence,
prostrated themselves and gave homage to” “the
beast”
or “the fierce animal like being which was the antichrist”,
“saying”
which means “uttering, proclaiming and declaring”, “who
is like unto”
or “what person or being is similar to and resembles” “the
beast”
which means “the fierce animal like being which was the
antichrist”? John repeated how people “worshiped”
the
“antichrist” and included their inquiry as to “who compares”
to him?
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we may wonder why in the
world anyone would “worship”
the “devil”
and his “counterfeit christ” known as the “antichrist”, and
yet, people “worship”
Satan today. When the “mortal wound” received by the “antichrist”
is “cured”, people will magnify and exalt him and the one who
gave him his “power”
- Satan. God makes His offer to everyone to receive His Son Jesus
Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and if they reject
Him, they are subject to put their trust, faith and worship in others
including “the devil” himself. Those who are wise shall align
with Jesus, and those who are among the most foolish people upon the
earth shall refuse to receive Him.
Next
time John shares how there was “given” unto the “beast”
“a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”,
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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