July 1, 2012

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

The Apostles’ Creed

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell.

The Apostles’ Creed

The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in the Holy Spirit;the one holy church;the communion of saints;the forgiveness of sins;the resurrection of the body;and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Chp. 1 Chp. 2-3 Chps. 4-22

“Things

which

you have

seen”

“Things

which

are”

“Things which will take place”

Vision of Christ Vision of Consummation

Theophany Talks Tribulations Triumph Together!

Revelation 12

Revelation 13

As Satan ramps up his attack against God’s people, he brings

two key players onto his team . . .

Isaiah 14:13-14You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Beast #1 – vv. 1-8Beast #2 – vv. 11-18

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is summoned by Satan

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 12:17And he (the dragon) stood on the sand of the sea.

Revelation 13:1And 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.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 13:2And 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.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan3. Is raised from the dead

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 13:3aOne of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed.

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan3. Is raised from the dead4. Is worshipped by the world

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 13:3b-4. . . 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?”

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan3. Is raised from the dead4. Is worshipped by the world5. Is opposed to God

- via words (vv. 5-6)

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 13:5-6And 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.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan3. Is raised from the dead4. Is worshipped by the world5. Is opposed to God

- via words (vv. 5-6)- via war (vv. 7-8)

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

Revelation 13:7-8Also 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.

The Unholy Trinity

Revelation 13:9-10If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

The Unholy Trinity

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.

1. Is summoned by Satan2. Is empowered by Satan3. Is raised from the dead4. Is worshipped by the world5. Is opposed to God

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1)

1 John 2:18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming . . .

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 –the Antichrist!)

2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 –the Antichrist!)

2 Thessalonians 2:4who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 –the Antichrist!)

In Satan’s unholy trinity … the antichristtakes the place of God the Son.

“anti” = “opposite of” or “instead of”

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 –the Antichrist!)

1. Is also summoned by Satan

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #2)

Revelation 13:11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is also summoned by Satan2. Is also empowered by Satan

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #2)

Revelation 13:12-13It 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,

The Unholy Trinity

Revelation 13:14and 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.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Is also summoned by Satan2. Is also empowered by Satan3. Is tasked to bring glory to the first

beast (the Antichrist)

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #2)

Revelation 13:15-16And 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,

The Unholy Trinity

Revelation 13:17-18so 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.

The Unholy Trinity

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.

“Perhaps no detail in Revelation has intrigued people more than this number. There has been no end to the speculation as to its significance and how to calculate it. “ (John MacArthur)

The number seven is the number of perfection … completion.

The number six falls one short. Therefore many understand this number to be the

number of man.

The Unholy Trinity“666”

1. Is also summoned by Satan2. Is also empowered by Satan3. Is tasked to bring glory to the first

beast (the Antichrist)

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #2)

Revelation 16:13And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beastand out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.

The Unholy Trinity

1. Even when Satan is at the pinnacle of his power on earth, he is still under God’s sovereign control!

Revelation 13:5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 – the Antichrist)

Revelation 13:7Also 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.

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #1 – the Antichrist)

Revelation 13:15And 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.

The Unholy Trinity (Beast #2 – the False Prophet)

1. Even when Satan is at the pinnacle of his power on earth, he is still under God’s sovereign control!

John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2. Be aware of Satan’s schemes!

Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

What man sees as mighty and powerful leaders to be followed,

applauded and even worshipped . . .

God sees as BEASTS!

2. Be aware of Satan’s schemes!

We must pray that God will help us to see this life, the people in this life, the

things and activities in this life … as HE sees them.

Only then will we be equipped to stand against the schemes of the Enemy!