Seeing is deceiving
Some people come claiming to be great but substantiate it with very little. Beast Two substantiated his authority with very much. John said he “even called down fire from heaven” and that this was done in the presence of people. Many will say seeing is believing. Even the Apostle Thomas said that. Well sometimes the seeing can be deceiving and that is on the agenda of Satan’s end-game.
Calling down fire from heaven was one of the power demonstrations of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. That day on Mount Carmel was about allegiance. Who will you follow? Who will you worship? These were questions that Elijah had posed. In Revelation it is similar. Who will humanity worship as God? What will be the answer: the one who sits on the throne and Jesus Christ his son OR Beast One and the Dragon?
Well the fire fell at the hands of Satan’s allies in Revelation 13 and the people were deceived. It was a choosing, but an ill-informed one. The people bought a bill of goods…or if you prefer a play on words “a bill of bads.”
“Build an image!”
Long ago Nebuchadnezzar had an image built. It was erected on the plain of Dura near Babylon. There were a number of God’s faithful in the kingdom at that time. Maybe you remember their names? Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. No? Well try these: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Add to those Daniel who was also called Belteshazzar. These histories are relayed in the book of Daniel chapters 1 and 3.
What happened in this story? Well this big image was built and all were to worship it. Daniel’s friends refused…twice…and under threat of their lives. Into the fiery furnace they went but no harm came to them.
Note this plan of worshiping something other than God. It is pervasive and Satan envies, even lusts for, the worship due God the Father. In order to taste that forbidden fruit he deceives humanity by giving them a tweaking of their amazement. In Revelation 13 he has a statue of a representation of himself raised, animated even. Worship of that statue is demanded.
Let the executions begin!
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused Nebuchadnezzar’s demand something in Nebuchadnezzar changed. Daniel 3 says the way that Nebuchadnezzar looked at them was altered. Previous respect for these highly performing young men of Israel was dashed into something much more dark, much more furious. Daniel records the reaction by saying that Nebuchadnezzar was “filled with fury.” There was a furnace nearby and it was heated beyond its regular capacity its heat and the king’s fury boiling over.
Daniel’s friends were saved that day, but in Revelation 13:15 a similar thing does not happen. Those who did not worship the image of Beast One were killed. Among those on earth Satan will be known as great. He will be worshiped even if he has to evoke it.
God the Father also will execute those who do not follow him, but he does not do that willingly. See Jesus offers a rescue. “Take my yoke upon you…for my burden is easy and my yoke light,” was the manner Jesus offered this. To refuse this comes at a great cost. Jesus, though, would have willing followers, willing servants. Satan will take them at any cost. Of course he will never obtain a global community of true devotees. Willing allegiance is very different than its evoked counterpart.
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