The Image of The Beast

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Revelation 13:1-4 ESV)

So, who is this beast? Many speculate. Only God knows for certain. From what I have read and watched and been taught of the Lord over the past 20 years, I believe this beast to be, for example, “The World Economic Forum.” Basically it is a conglomerate of the wealthy and powerful of the world, a large number of them Jewish Zionists, who are the ones truly ruling the world and who are taking over nations, one at a time, to bring all nations under the rule of this beast in a One World Totalitarian Order of government.

I believe that the USA serves this beast and that this group of elite are the de facto government of the USA. And so the USA and their military forces have been instrumental in the take down and the conquering of nation after nation across the globe, in order to bring all nations under the rule of this beast. And now America itself is being taken down, one piece and one step at a time, using the same modus operandi that they used to take down many other nations across the globe, perhaps beginning after WW2.

So first they create the problem and then they come in as “saviors” with a preconceived solution to “the problem” they created. And then they appoint a new head of government over what now is regarded as a “unity” and/or as a “transitional” government. So they have to create situations which make the people cry out for a “savior” to deliver them and to bring normalcy back to their lives. That is their hope. But “normalcy” is not what is intended. A totalitarian one world government of the beast is the ultimate goal.

“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

“If anyone is to be taken captive,

    to captivity he goes;

if anyone is to be slain with the sword,

    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:5-10 ESV)

And if we are paying close attention to what is going on in our world and in the USA (if that is where we live), we should be seeing the signs of the times in which we now live, and we should be seeing how this beast is conquering people and nations and Christians (the saints of God). And so much of this is done via psychological warfare and massive deception and indoctrination and cult followings. For us baby boomers in America, we have been trained in government worship from very early on in our lives (1946 to present).

But the indoctrination and mind manipulative tactics that the government uses to enslave us as its followers is also now being incorporated into the gatherings of the institutional market-driven “churches” (businesses) of today. So if you are in the minority and not the majority, because your eyes and ears are attentive to what is going on and you can see the deceptive changes being made, then you may be ostracized and even invited out of these “churches” to go somewhere where you will be “a better fit.”

“Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Revelation 13:11-18 ESV)

A big part of the founding of America had to do with the separation of church and state. Although they may have been separate for many years, they have not been in entirety since sometime in the 1950s when the 501c3 tax exempt status came into being. And it appears that most American “churches” incorporated under the state as not-for-profit incorporations of (mergers with) the state. And this was wholly unnecessary, for the church had always been tax exempt. But now it brought the majority of what are called “churches” in union with the US government, which God warns against.

Then many churches began operating as businesses, and began marketing their “churches” to the people of the world. And in order to attract the world to their gatherings they began to dilute (alter) the gospel message and the character of God/Christ and of his church in order to make “the church” more inviting and acceptable to the ungodly, i.e. to the flesh of humans. And pastors began to become more like cult leaders and anyone who was not on board with their marketing schemes might then be encouraged to leave.

Anyway, I see this second beast as this union of church and state in an unholy union, which God forbids. And from my childhood on up I was taught government worship in the “church.” And an “image” can be many things from something like a national flag to television to the internet to anything or anyone who emulates this beast in character and which has the capability to lead the masses to worship this beast. TV and the internet are images and they are quite capable of leading the masses to worship this beast.

And with regard to the mark of the beast, although it may end up as a physical mark of some kind, the greater danger is its mark (influence, character, evidence) in our lives – in our thinking, believing, speaking, behaving, attitudes and actions. We are not to take on the character of the world as followers of Christ. We are to be separate (unlike, different) from the world, for we should now be being conformed to the likeness of character of Jesus Christ. So pray for spiritual discernment in this matter.

[Matt 21:12-13; Jn 2:13-17; Ac 5:27-32; 2 Co 6:14-18; Php 3:18-19; Rev 13:5-8; Rev 18:1-5; Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg 

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