Revelation Part 19 Unholy Signs

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

Who is the dragon? (Satan - Rev 12:9)

Revelation 12:9 NLT

This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Who is the baby boy? (Jesus - Gen 3:15, Psalm 2:7-9)

Genesis 3:15 NLT

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Psalm 2:7–9 NLT

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’ ”

And now there are 4 other signs, completing the pregnant pause of heaven’s revelation of the history of humanity’s love relationship with our Creator. Still in chapter 12, we see the heavenly battle.

Who is Michael? (Mighty angel, Rev 12:7; Jude 9)

Revelation 12:7 NLT

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

Jude 9 NLT

But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.)

Who is the remnant? (Rev 12:17)

Revelation 12:17 NLT

And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.

Note: this is a historical, symbolic vision of God’s love relationship with humanity. If this holds true, the remnant is really the universal Church, followers of Christ BC and AD, every tribe, and nation - Jew and Gentile combined - through the ages. However, some believe it is only representative of those who come to faith during the 7-year great tribulation.

The Unholy Trinity Formed

Satan - Antichrist - False Prophet

SEE’S CANDY: established in 1921 in LA, CA by a widow named Mary and her chocolate candy salesman son, Charles, who had a dream to own his own candy company*. Original recipes, just like the Colonel’s, See’s candies today are extravagant, so good people order it at a high price to send it to their loved ones for gifts.*

In 1942, when WW2 rations of butter, milk and other quality candy ingredients put a strain on the business. See’s did not give in to the temptation to use alternative ingredients. Instead, they simply shut down stores that ran out of product. Customers appreciated the commitment to only using the real natural ingredients that made the confections so desirable. Mary’s ideology that there is no room for shortcuts to making confections still guides the company today.

See’s was the first candy manufacturer to deliver liquid chocolate in a tanker truck to the factory. Other manufacturers have copied the method of production with their specific mix of melted chocolate.

In 1995 Sees developed their online store, once again leading the industry in mass marketing of their product.

Again, like the Colonel, there are people that try to find the secret recipe, make it at home and save some money. But, all of those internet, pintrest recipes fail to achieve the final fanciful flavor of the real Sea’s delicacies.

*sees.com, accessed 11/3/2020, https://www.sees.com/timeline

the sea’s beast: Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-10)

Revelation 13:1–10 NLT

Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

More important than discovering who he is, what does he do? And why does Jesus reveal his character and tactics to us in His final revelation of God’s plan for humanity?

What he does:

1. blasphemes God, lies about who he is & who Jesus is. V1,6

2. Forces, manipulates, deceives people into worship of Satan V4-6

2. wars against Christ followers V7

Daniel 7:8;

Daniel 7:8 NLT

As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

Rev 13:5;

Revelation 13:5 NLT

Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months.

Rev 17:15 “the great whore who on many waters” is explained. this beast could come out of the general mass of peoples of the earth, not from a specific national group.

Revelation 17:15 NLT

Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language.

Isaiah 57:20 the wicked compared to the sea

Isaiah 57:20 NLT

“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.

We will answer “Why does Jesus reveal his character and tactics to us in His final revelation,” in just a moment. Let’s take a look at the 2nd witness, the final character in the Unholy Trinity.

the earth’s beast: False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-14)

Revelation 13:11–14 NLT

Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.

false prophet: Deceives (Rev 19:20)

Revelation 19:20 NLT

And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

counterfeit Messiah Rev 13:11

Revelation 13:11 NLT

Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.

The spirit of antichrist will appear as an angel of light. He will appear to be self-sacrificing and generous and caring and LOVING. But, as we have already heard. We followers of Christ must learn to listen to what the HOLY SPIRIT is saying to the Church - even if we don’t want to hear what His Truth is revealing to us. (Rev 1:3)

Revelation 1:3 NLT

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

Things like true sacrifice and true love DOES the dirty job that few will accomplish. The true Lamb of God gave His life so that we can be restored to a right relationship with our Creator. John 15:13

John 15:13 NLT

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

counterfeit resurrection Rev 13:3

Revelation 13:3 NLT

I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.

Demands worship Rev 13:12

Revelation 13:12 NLT

He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.

counterfeit miracles Rev 13:13-14

Revelation 13:13–14 NLT

He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.

counterfeits God’s seal of followers Rev 13:18

Revelation 13:18 NLT

Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.

God’s seal leads to eternal life and deliverance from sin. Satan’s seal leads to judgment and death.

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