Beastly Worship - Revelation 13 & 14 2 Purposes of Apocalyptic Literature ● First, it seeks to set the PRESENT in light of the unseen realities of the ● And second, it seeks to set the PRESENT in light of the unseen realities of the 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 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. Revelation 13:11-14 ESV Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:1-3 ESV Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Revelation 14: 6-12 ESV A tale of SEA BEAST = dragon manipulated EARTH BEAST = dragon manipulated Everything about the 2 beasts is The Mark of the Beast 666: vs https://www.bibleref.com/ “The purpose of the number is not to identify the beast but to ‘characterize’ the beast.” ~Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge ➥THE TURN: is the Battleground ➥THE LEVER: the The Trio of Temptation - , , Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:1-3 Decide who you will Ruthlessly eliminate of our beastly worship Questions for Discipleship group and/or personal study: Opener: How would you define “worship”? Go to the Source: Read Revelation 13:1-4, 11-13, and 16-18. What are your impressions of the two beasts? What are some of the signs of “dragon manipulated political power” or “dragon manipulated religious power”? What does it mean to you to be sealed by the mark of God rather than branded by the mark of the beast? What do you think of Darrell Johnson’s assertion, “the purpose of the number (666) is not to identify the beast, but to ‘characterise’ the beast”? Read Revelation 14:1-3 What do you find most striking about the worship in heaven after reading Revelation 13? Live it out: Can you identify anything that might be an idol in your life right now? Will you repent and ask God’s help to redirect your worship? How can your group help you with accountability?