This beast is known by a different name. It says the beast was taken, verse 20, that’s the first beast, and with him the what? False prophet. Jesus said many false prophets will arise in those tribulation days according to Matthew 24. This is the false prophet of all false prophets. one who can really deceive. And he’s got a lot of authority, a lot of power to do so. Apparently, the deception is so real, they’re going to look good to people. This man is going to be well accepted. He’s going to be a religious leader that will claim all the world’s attention.
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You’ve seen the Hollywood movies, you’ve heard the extra-biblical theories, and you’ve read the headlines that try to guess what it all means. But the real story of the Mark of the Beast is far more radical and far more terrifying than anything man could imagine. In Revelation 13, verses 11 through 18, John describes a world swept away by signs and wonders, by deception and control, until all who remain after the rapture are forced to receive a mark that belongs to the enemy of God. Well, stay with us as Bible teacher and author David Hawking begins our study of the mark of the beast right here on Hope for Today. First, though, here’s David with a special word.
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We so appreciate all of you who listen to the broadcast. You can listen to broadcasts that you may have missed, especially in the study of the book of Revelation. Our website, davidhocking.org. But we need your help, folks. We don’t have a church or organization behind us. We need your help right now. Just write out a check to hope for today. Not to me. I’m David Hocking, but I’m just a speaker on the broadcast. And I don’t take any money from all the books that you order either. I want God to be glorified in all things. Can you help us right now? Just stick a little extra in your envelope or contact us by phone at 1-800-75-BIBLE or in Canada, 1-888-75-BIBLE. Let us know that you’re listening and most of all, that you’re praying for us.
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And friends, you can also give by clicking on the red donate button on our website, davidhawking.org, davidhawking.org. I’ll now turn to Revelation chapter 13, verses 11 through 18 for day one of the Mark of the Beast.
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It’s a very, very serious time. All is not well in Israel. There’s rioting. It’s a very interesting problem. Some people ask me, is this the peace that the Bible warns us about, the false peace? The Bible says that the leaders in Israel are going to lead the people astray and have a peace where there is no peace. I read that again this morning, and my devotional time just happened to notice it again. The leaders in Israel are false shepherds, and they’re leading the people of Israel to a false peace. But this is not that full peace spoken of in Daniel 9, but it certainly is a prelude to it. The real interesting things are in the Bible. But I tell you, folks, this is a very fascinating time to be alive. And I would not be surprised if the rapture comes tonight. Chapter 13, beginning at verse 1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I 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 a leopard, and his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power and his seat or throne and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as though it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast, and they worshipped the dragon.” who gave power unto the beast. And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like 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 he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. He that killeth with a sword must be killed with a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation chapter 13 verse 11 warns us of what’s coming. We looked at this beast who came out of the sea. Verse 1, we pointed out the first phrase belongs at the end of chapter 12, and it’s referring to Satan. He stood on the sand of the sea, and then John saw this beast, seven heads and ten horns, and how the whole world’s going to worship him and all of that. Now verse 11, and I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, that one out of the sea, this one out of the earth. And he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them who dwell on it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast that had the wound by a sword and did live. And he hath power to give life under the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, and that no one, no man, might buy or sell anything save or accept he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore, and six. If you want to break this down, I want to look first of all at the characteristics of this second beast in verse 11 and 12. Verse 13 to 15, the counterfeit of miraculous signs that he will do. And third, the control which he will bring through this mark of the beast in verse 16 and 18. So let’s start by looking at the characteristics of the second beast. The word beast, therion in Greek. By the way, I thought it was interesting in the Greek Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament Hebrew, that in the book of Job, when it mentions these two dinosaur-like creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, that the Greek word for Behemoth in the Greek Septuagint was therion, the same word for beast in Revelation. I thought it was also interesting for Leviathan that the Greek word was dragon. Just kind of interesting. I don’t know what the significance of it is. I just thought it was interesting. But 36 times we have the word beast, and this is another beast. Another meaning another of the same kind. In Greek you can have two words, one meaning another of a different kind, one meaning another of the same kind. So this beast is another of the same kind. He’s going to be like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s going to appear to be very acceptable and desirable to start with. but he also has a wicked and vile character like the first beast. And I’d like you to notice five things about him. First, his association with the first beast. The fact that it says another beast coming up out of the earth, and that’s certainly in contrast to heaven. We know this beast by a different name. Turn to chapter 19, please. Chapter 19, and look at verse 20. This beast is known by a different name. It says, the beast was taken, verse 20, that’s the first beast, and with him the what? False prophet. Jesus said many false prophets will arise in those tribulation days, according to Matthew 24. 2 Peter 2, 1 says that many false prophets were existing in Peter’s day, and there’ll be many also in the end time. Well, this is the false prophet of all false prophets. One who can really deceive. But he’s called the false prophet. And notice their destiny. These both, verse 20, were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. So don’t worry about them. God’s going to send them to hell ultimately. The second thing is look at his appearance. In verse 11 again of chapter 13, it says he had two horns like a lamb. How interesting. A beast, Therion, wild, untamed beast, but has two horns like a lamb. Doesn’t say it is a lamb, said like a lamb. Obviously religious symbolism here. Back in chapter 5, verse 6, it was said of Jesus Christ that he was the Lamb of God with seven horns. Here it says two horns. Some have suggested it represents both a political and a religious authority. that this false prophet obviously has tremendous influence to cause the whole world to worship the beast, who we’ve argued is a world empire, in the end time composed of ten divisions, out of which will come the Antichrist, who will be the eighth world empire. But his appearance is definitely deceiving. He’s like a lamb. the false prophet. He’s going to cause certainly religious deception, but perhaps the two horns indicate both his political and religious authority. The third thing I notice is his attitude. It says he spake or spoke like a dragon. Flip back to chapter 12, verse 9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, who deceiveeth the whole world. So we’re talking here, speaking like the devil. Well, what is that? Turn back to 2 Corinthians chapter 11. 2 Corinthians chapter 11. He spoke like a dragon. 2 Corinthians chapter 11. And look at verse 3. But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety or craftiness, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that’s in Christ. Don’t get the idea that he’s going to talk mean and dirty and rotten. No, I think he’s going to talk with great deception. Religious jargon that will convince a lot of people that he’s a wonderful leader and he’s going to bring a lot of blessing. The serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety. And if he speaks like the dragon, he’s going to do the same thing. Look down at verse… in this same chapter. It says, “…such are false apostles,” he’s a false prophet, “…deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it’s no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Apparently, the deception is so real, they’re going to look good to people. This man is going to be well accepted. He’s going to be a religious leader that will claim all the world’s attention. Any ideas about possible personages on the planet now who might fit that category? Let’s go on. Chapter 13 again, look at his authority, his authority. Revelation 13. chapter 13 and verse 12. He exerciseth all the power, that’s a Greek word, the authority of the first beast before him. Notice it’s always in his presence. There’s a blending together or a full cooperation between the political leader and the religious leader. And it says that he exercises all the authority of the first beast before him. And that’s a lot of power. Apparently, there’s going to be a welding together of religion and government that will allow this man to have that kind of authority. He’s going to speak for him. He’s going to encourage people to worship this government, this world order. He’s going to do that. And he’s got a lot of authority, a lot of power to do so. That, to me, brings us to only one person on the face of the globe at the present time. It could be somebody we don’t see or understand, and a few years could come to the surface. But I don’t think there’s any question but that the Pope himself is that leader. All of the Bible commentaries throughout church history until the present century argued that the Pope is the false prophet. It’s interesting to me how… because, I guess, of religious toleration and not wanting to hurt folks, especially Catholic friends, because sometimes they think it’s a Protestant issue alone. But many Catholic writers also lean that way. that there’s going to be such corruption. And it doesn’t mean this pope, but there is going to be a person with that kind of impact, that kind of influence, that kind of authority. And unless something’s coming that we don’t know about, that particular position, not saying the particular person that’s in it, would create that situation described here in Revelation 13. Now his aim is very clear. It says, He causeth the earth. Look at chapter 13, verse 12. He causeth the earth and them who dwell on it. to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. Now we argued that that beast, the seven heads, are empires, world empires. Five had fallen in John’s day. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. One was in existence, Rome. One receives a deadly wound, that would be Rome, and comes back to life as a new world empire with ten divisions. Many Bible teachers up until present time, and I mean real present, like last five years, we have seen people saying it’s a revived Roman Empire. They look to the European Economic Community, which now has 12 and seven more wanting to be a part. And we’ve gotten far away from 10, and they’re saying, well, maybe there’ll be a realignment in Europe. Maybe, but maybe that’s short-sighted, since it is a world empire, and there hasn’t been a world government since Rome. it’s possible the ten divisions will capture the entire world under the banner of that world government and empire. And it’s out of that world empire that the Antichrist will arise and come. So this beast is going to be like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s going to appear to be very acceptable and desirable to start with. But he also has a wicked and vile character like the first beast. So it’s very interesting. He’s going to cause the entire world to worship this empire that came back to life. People said there’ll never be another world order or world government. But look how in our modern day the language has changed. Now our media and politicians are all speaking about the blessings of having a world economy, a world government. What we often hear is called the new world order. It’s amazing, isn’t it, how fast this has happened? Those of you who got a few gray hairs, which is about half the audience. Some of you won’t admit it, but it looks that way and asides to me. But anyway, I mean, if you’re even 35 and over, the fact is that you’ve lived long enough to see one of the most amazing revolutions ever. in thinking in our entire world, and even here in the United States. That we are even flirting with the possibility of a world order and a world government and giving up our sovereignty is amazing when you know the history of the United States. I believe all of this is inspired by Satan, but under the direct supervision of God, who’s going to bring it all to a great and glorious climax. and Jesus will finally rule and reign. But the whole characteristics of this second beast are not difficult at all to picture happening soon, very soon.
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This ministry is about the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. If you want to know how to go to heaven or be born again or to really get saved, you need to go to the Bible. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Wow! Have you put your trust in the only one who can save you from sin, death, and hell? He’s the one, not a church, not an organization, not a bunch of works that you might do to please God. No, it’s the work of God that we believe on His Son. He has paid for our sin with His own precious blood. That’s what the crucifixion was all about. And the grave couldn’t hold him. The third day he rose again. He’s alive. He ascended into heaven, and he’s coming back for those who have put their trust in him. Why not open your heart to him right now? Just say, Lord, I confess my sin to you, and I believe that our Lord Yeshua, Jesus, he died for my sin and paid for it completely. I can’t pay for it. He can. And He will forgive me if I open my heart to Him. So I do that right now. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and thank You for coming. Turning on Hope for Today.
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God bless you. That’s David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. If you’re a new believer, or if you’re still not sure about what it really means to follow Jesus Christ, well, in either case, we’d love to send you two free resources. First, a booklet by David called What is Christianity? We also have a free Bible study by mail to send you, and you can receive those by calling us at 875-BIBLE. That’s in the United States. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible by the Numbers is 24253. And for everyone listening, we also want to mention a special book by David that we’re featuring this month. It’s titled Hope in Difficult Times. And boy, we’re in difficult times, aren’t we? Hope in Difficult Times is just $20 right now. Your purchase is going to encourage your walk with the Lord Jesus, and it will also help hope for today. And you can get your copy on our website, davidhawking.org, or by calling us at 800-75-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE. And if you’d like to support this daily broadcast with a one-time or regular monthly financial gift, a donation, we would be so grateful. Your partnership is what keeps God’s Word going out every day on Hope for Today. And you can send your gift to Hope for Today by mail if you prefer. Our address in the U.S., Box 3927. Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 8P1. And thank you for standing with us to proclaim the truth of Scripture. Oh, and just before David returns, one more quick item. We have David’s original sermon outlines and notes for each message in our Revelation Radio series. These are wonderful for following along through the series and then into the future when you want to review or share it with others.
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Discover and experience Revelation in a deeper, more encouraging fashion with our Revelation radio series and my dad’s message outlines in his notes. The Revelation series sermon notes pack is just $10. You can purchase and download at DavidHawking.org or receive them by PDF CD when you call us.
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And then you can save and store all that you’re hearing in our current series. with a Revelation radio series message pack on MP3.
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Or on DVD, a special price this month, $50. Go to DavidHawking.org or call 1-800-75-BIBLE. In Canada, at 1-888-75-BIBLE.
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And Bible by the Numbers is 242-53.
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And here’s David to bring our study to a close.
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Well, folks, we’ve been dealing with the beast with seven heads, but there’s another one coming. And the whole issue, which a lot of people are fascinated with, the mark of the beast. that’s coming too. So for the next at least three days, we’re going to emphasize the last part of Revelation chapter 13. Thank you for your support, your prayers. We can’t do this without our listeners, so thank you very much for your help. God bless you.
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Well, next time on the program, John sees another beast, this one rising out of the earth. It looks harmless. It looks harmless, almost like a lamb, but it speaks with the voice of a dragon. That’s next time on Hope for Today. Hope for Today.
