Psuedo Human - Rumor notes 115

Revelation 13

14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. 15 It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed.

He deceives [my own] people who dwell on the earth

The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

because of the signs he was granted to do

We have explored this in depth previously, and the last verse quoted above includes a similar message.

in front of the beast

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. (Revelation 13:12-13)

saying to those who dwell on the earth

We have explored this extensively a number of times beginning with Revelation 3:10.

they should make an image to the beast

This is worth paying close attention to here. Notice in particular who is being instructed to form this image to the beast. It is the people who dwell on the earth, not the powers seeking domination. That resonates with what we call democracy or making collective decisions that in turn are bound upon everyone through majority vote. In essence the beast strongly urges the masses to formulate something that closely resembles or emulates the beast. What might that look like in our day?

It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:15)

Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9-11)

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:1-2)

The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2)

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. (Genesis 5:3)

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:1)

who had the sword wound and lived

Again we defer to the extended study we had on this back in verse 3.

It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast

It was given to him has been a recurring theme we have discussed, especially in this chapter.

The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:5)

It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:7)

He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. (Revelation 13:14)

He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; (Revelation 13:16)

And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2)

Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)

And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him. (Revelation 6:8)

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (Revelation 9:1)

Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3)

They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. (Revelation 9:5)

Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)

The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8)

Jesus answered, "You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin." (John 19:11)

give breath to it, to the image

Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they don't speak. They have eyes, but they don't see. They have ears, but they don't hear. They have noses, but they don't smell. They have hands, but they don't feel. They have feet, but they don't walk, neither do they speak through their throat. Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. (Psalms 115:4-8)

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see. They have ears, but they can't hear; neither is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. (Psalms 135:15-18)

They don't know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can't see; and their hearts, that they can't understand. No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?" He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't deliver his soul, nor say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:18-20)

Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. (Jeremiah 10:14)

What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols? Woe to him who says to the wood, 'Awake!' or to the mute stone, 'Arise!' Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. (Habakkuk 2:18-19)

Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. (1 Corinthians 12:1-2)

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:26)

What comes next seems to be in direct contradiction to nearly everything God says about images and idols. Satan is determined to refute the truth, so in these last days he arranges to have an image breathed into with his own diabolical spirit so that he can prove God wrong, bringing to life an image that can speak and act with apparent understanding and intelligence.

that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause

The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:5)

It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:7)

Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Has God really said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'" (Genesis 3:1)

This was Satan's declaration of war on the first saints who ever lived on this planet. The war involved making God out as the problem, their obstruction to peace and happiness and fulfillment, the one whose words should not be trusted. By taking on the form of a created physical being, Satan could speak through a physical serpent so as to make it appear that miraculous possibilities were available to all who would accept his assertions about God and join him in his pursuit of happiness independent of God. He began by psychological manipulation of how our mind is designed to function, because whatever we hear, our subconscious expects it to be true.

We were not designed to live in a confused atmosphere of truth and lies bringing chaos in our lives. We were created to live in the rarified atmosphere of simple vulnerability free of exploitation that would make us afraid, free of doubt about God's passionate love for us, free of all fear, for mature love expels all fear. Yet by starting out with an emphatic and obvious contradiction to what God had said without trying to even hide the discrepancy, the very idea that God's disposition might be opposite to that of selfless love was slipped into the vulnerable soil of her heart, and the war was initiated as the devil manipulated the mind of Eve encouraging her to depend more on her own understanding rather than choose to lean solely on God as her primary source of truth.

The war primarily transpires in the realm of words. Physical wars are merely outgrowths of verbal wars spun out of control. This follows the same sequence as the fall of Satan in heaven, and is the same sequence he uses to incite people to commit violence against others, even in the name of God. Thus we can be ascertain that the speaking of this image at the behest of the beast whose power and authority originated from the dragon, that ancient serpent seen in Eden who initiated the takeover with Eve, involves lies intended to seduce all who dwell on the earth to conform to the agenda of the dragon accompanied by the two beasts and now an animated and apparently living image mimicking and enforcing that agenda.

You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?' He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.' Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you." (2 Chronicles 18:20-22)

This story by Micaiah to Ahab was designed to fit the way Ahab saw God as both good and evil.

The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 NRSV)

Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face." Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life." (Job 2:4-6)

This backstory transpiring in the book of Job exposes the true nature of the war being played out we are studying here in Revelation 13. Satan insists that obedience is always motivated by profit and loss, not on loyalty out of a heart appreciation of God's nature of compassion and unconditional love. Satan and all who reflect his sentiments such as this image, are inspired with the very spirit of Satan. They insist that given enough fear, threats and intimidation, everyone has a price at which they will sell out their integrity in order to preserve their own life. Skin for skin is short-hand for the system of trading, the alternate operating system that was installed into humanity at the fall. All who choose to remain under the spell of Satan's view of how reality operates will have their break-point, when the cost of integrity reaches a point where they will capitulate to intimidation. From the very outset of the rebellion in heaven all the way to the very end of the rebellion at the day of full revelation, the war rages over what motivates people to follow the direction set by the leader they choose to believe. There are only two options: the dragon's system or the vulnerable Lamb who uses only love.

Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, drew near. The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve. He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. They were glad, and agreed to give him money. He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:1-6)

Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks." He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus therefore answered, "It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, "Buy what things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. (John 13:24-32)

Note that Satan gained access to enter into Judas at least twice. What might this imply?

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" (Acts 5:3)

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

cause as many as wouldn't worship the image

12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.

14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

16 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads;

Make/exercise/cause: from poieo in the Greek. This is the same word translated as exercises at the start of verse 12 as well as makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. This is an key thread running through these verses. It means to cause, avenge, band together, execute, lay wait, ordain, secure, transgress the law, work. Verses 13-17 list some of the methods of how this is done.

The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. (Revelation 12:15)

Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality." (Revelation 14:8)

that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up; and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:5-6)

as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed

What is clear here is the war between the clear commands of God and the commands of the dragon and his accomplices. God consistently warns against making and worshiping idols and images, but here image worship becomes compulsory by penalty of death for any non-compliance.

You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, (Exodus 20:4-5)

You shall make for yourselves no idols, neither shall you raise up an engraved image or a pillar, neither shall you place any figured stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am Yahweh your God. (Leviticus 26:1)

Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? (Daniel 3:15)

Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9-11)

I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!" The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:1-2)

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:19-23)

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O king. He answered, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire. The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. (Daniel 3:24-27)

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

The parallels here must not be overlooked. The disposition of these three Hebrews will be found in the lives of all who refuse in the last days to worship anyone or anything other than their Creator, the Lamb that they follow wherever He goes. Regardless of whether they are physically rescued from death or not, that is almost irrelevant just as it was to the three Hebrews loyal to God regardless of the outcome of their encounter with a super-heated smelting kiln. What is important to note is the connection with Christ. The three Hebrews surrendered their bodies to be burned alive and did not resist an evil person just as Jesus teaches us to do. The result was that they were thrown alive into the fire. The same thing happens to the beast and the false prophet who have served the agenda of the dragon to deceive and compel everyone to worship them.

So what might we take away from comparing these two stories? Evidently everyone may likely end up in fire, meaning that we need to come to view fire outside our natural reaction of fear that can cause us to make tragic choices if we try to avoid the pain and suffering it threatens to bring to us. The three Hebrews chose the fire rather than compliance to the laws of kings and rulers of this world. They had no assurance they would survive that fire, but they had confidence in God's heart that He was good, so that whatever the outcome might be, His name would be glorified if they would remain entirely loyal to Him alone. In their case they ended up enjoying a time of fellowship with Christ in the fire, for in a sense they reigned with Christ (maybe for a thousand minutes?) and experienced joy and freedom from fear. They had chosen to renounce fear of suffering and death and to trust the heart of the loving God they served, and as a result they experienced the presence and fellowship that Christ promises to all who receive Him.

While God did not save them from the fire, He joined them in the fire. And the power of His superior fire overcame the power of the evil super-heated fire that was meant to destroy them. This is the amazing power of God that is available to all who choose to serve and remain loyal to Him, not assurance of escape from pain or death, but the power of trust and praise and gratitude to defeat all the power of the enemy brought against us. In this story the result was a breakthrough for a king who started out in tune with the counterfeit system of Satan that relies on force, compulsion and intimidation to induce allegiance and worship. What was meant to reinforce the dictates of Satan's evil empire was transformed to become a confession of God's faithfulness and superiority and eventually after some years and further encounters accomplished the full conversion of this heathen king

Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. (Daniel 3:28)

We witness the progression of perceptions about how God relates to evil even through the flow of Revelation itself. Those loyal to God need to have their perspective transformed from the old patterns of supposed justice until full maturity finally exposes a generation willing to fully follow the Lamb.

They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course. (Revelation 6:10-11)

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:6)

The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth." (Revelation 18:23-24)

The dragon and all who subscribe to his motives and methods, rely on fear of death and threats of pain and deprivation to compel worship and allegiance to themselves. The Lamb in sharp contrast, leaves all free to embrace His revelation of God's heart, or give preference to the lies of the enemy about God leaving their heart vacant of love and ready to do any wickedness in the name of God. This war is over identity and what kind of character will be formed around what we believe about God, which directly affects what reflection we give and dictates whose likeness we absorb. This part of Revelation exposes both the tactics of the enemies of God as well as contrast with the truth about God increasingly intensifying as we move closer to the end of the book.

The compulsion used by the beasts and then the image formed in the likeness of the first beast, betrays their likeness to the dragon who is the originator of all violence and evil. His intent has long been to defeat the government of God that he claims is too weak to withstand chaos and will collapse in the face of raw power and violence and fear. This is where we find ourselves right now, for the influence of the subtle deceptions circulating in our thinking have to be fully exposed and replaced with the pure milk of the word of God so that our reflection of God's heart containing only light with no darkness at all in Him becomes pure and free of all contamination. This is the work of the Spirit of God whom Jesus sends to all who surrender fully to heaven's agenda for our salvation.

These chapters portray how this plays out, even as we see these things taking shape all around us in the world. The principles outlined here are witnessed in the methods and motives of rulers and religious leaders alike everywhere we look and cannot be ignored easily. Deception is increasing exponentially, but so too is the light of the glorious truth being perceived by millions as the Holy Spirit moves to bring the glory of the angel in Revelation 18 to every person on earth in order to make a decision as to which side they will align with for this last showdown.

Will we allow fear and demands for compliance to dictates by sinister powers of darkness to manipulate our will, or do we choose to trust the heart of our loving Father regardless of the cost to ourselves and even our lives? We are facing a time of polarization where every person on earth will have to choose one side or the other, for pressure is quickly increasing to compel everyone to worship (receive their identity from) the beast or worship his image, yet in so doing they end up ultimately worshiping the dragon, for they all are simply variations of the same thing.

Keep in mind that whether we choose to be faithful and loyal to the Lamb and leave the outcome entirely in God's hands, or whether we succumb to threats that increasingly impinge on our conscience and allow ourselves to be squeezed into the world's mold, everyone will sooner or later find themselves in the fire. So it would be better to soberly seek the truth of God's heart earnestly now while it is called Today, so that if our time comes to be displayed in a super-heated situation, we may be found trustworthy as faithful reflectors of the Lamb and enjoy His presence in the fire with us.

In the next chapter we will find that the idea of presence is tightly connected to the fires that everyone is destined to encounter. All through this chapter we are reminded that these satanic reflectors operate in the presence of the hierarchy of demonic influence. In the next chapter we find those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes and do not love their lives unto the death. We also learn that those who reject the Lamb as their model and origin of identity and choose instead to be molded into conformity with the image of the beast and dragon, experience the presence of the Lamb and the holy loyal angels with Him to be nothing but torture from them. It is now that we have time to choose which fire we will align ourselves with. We can allow fear to drive us to become more and more like the enemy of love and truth until we are transformed into the demonic likeness of the beast who makes war on saints of God, or we can allow the Spirit of Truth and freedom to transform us so completely that the presence of the Lamb and holy angels only produces joy without torment.

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." (1 Kings 18:21)

If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh. (Joshua 24:15)

Fire Proof - Rumor notes 114

 

Revelation 13

13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. 14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people

There are two places in Revelation that talk about fire coming down from heaven, this passage and another near the end. What we have been learning is that Satan's kingdom counterfeits everything in God's kingdom, so it would be no surprise to learn that this fire is a counterfeit of the true fire from God. We need to be aware of the differences between the authentic fire of God and what Scripture calls strange fire which is not of heavenly origin. There are similarities of course, but that is to be expected of a counterfeit. We need to understand this subject of fire and how each side uses it. A powerful experience is realized when one is baptized in the fire of God's passionate Spirit of love. But there is a false version of fiery passion that is devoid of love and truth, and is relied on to deceive people into imagining it provides proof of God's authority.

And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7-9)

Throughout Scripture God's fire is referred to as devouring. But it is vital that we understand why.

Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people. There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them. And fire came forth from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh. Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'"

Aaron held his peace. Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp." So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. (Leviticus 9:23 – 10:5)

This was one of the first passages God brought to my attention years ago as He took me on a two year intense study through the Bible to open my mind to the real truth that would set me free from the suffocating fear I had lived under all my life. When I came to this passage and ignored the chapter break, allowing the passage to remain connected and cohesive, I suddenly saw with new clarity how these two events helped explain the truth about the nature of God's devouring fire and exposed fallacies in traditional views of God that block people from being able to trust and love Him fully.

Notice how the exact same phrasing is used in both instances. But there is one key difference that is noticeable in the Hebrew. In the first instance the fire happened in the face of Yahweh while that word is missing when Nadab and Abihu died. This is not clear in many translations, but I find it highly significant to appreciate the truth about God's disposition in such stories. In essence, because the word for face is absent when the fire of Yahweh consumed them, they were experiencing the passion of His presence without the favor of His countenance on them as was seen in the first instance where fire consumed the sacrifice.

This also highlights something we mentioned in our previous study but did not emphasize enough. In the story of Simon the sorcerer, we noted how he was addicted to amazement while other believers were experiencing great joy. I now see this as a key element in how we are designed to live in relation to God's fire. Amazement can be a counterfeit for joy, but with deadly consequences. Unless true joy is the motivation and comes from a heart overflowing with love and respect for God, we are susceptible to amazement motivating us as a substitute for joy. But this means our heart is not right before God, for only authentic joy can synchronize us with the will of God and connect us safely to His heart from where flow rivers of passionate fiery love. When true joy and respect for God's design for our lives does not define the condition of our heart, we are in danger of fatal consequences when we come into the presence of God's power, as that which is meant to bring only life, happiness and joy is turned into terror, torment and death for us.

This contrast between joy and amazement is the war raging around us and is centered in how we choose to relate in the heart level to the true message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus made it plain that the reason He gave us the words of life was for the purpose of amplifying our joy.

If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. (John 15:7-12)

What does this have to do with fire coming down from heaven used as a sign to deceive people? The closer we come to appreciating and embracing the truth about God's heart and the real reason He sent us Son into the world, the more all this makes sense. We must learn to distinguish between the true fire of heaven and the misrepresentations of God's fire that appear so similar.

I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! (Luke 12:49-50)

The fire that Jesus came from heaven to throw on this earth was a revelation of the fire of passionate love God has for each one of us. That is the original Fire, the Source by which everything and everyone exists, a fire of passion that continuously circulates within the Godhead. Yet this very fire Lucifer once walked in was counterfeited by that same being who turned himself into the archenemy of God, the dragon, the ancient serpent bent on deceiving the whole earth about the true nature of God's fire and its purpose. Sadly not only enemies of God but also many of His appointed leaders have misunderstood the nature and true power of agape love and have misrepresented God by employing their gifts received from Him in ways that contradict love.

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under. You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God who answers by fire, let him be God." All the people answered, "It is well said." (1 Kings 18:21-24)

It happened at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again. Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is God; Yahweh, he is God. and Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; don't let one of them escape. They took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there. (1 Kings 18:36-40)

How does this story relate to this fire coming down out of heaven to deceive people? For one thing, reliance on supernatural signs and manifestations of spectacular displays of power is not all that effective to induce genuine, long-lasting faith in God's love. The shock and awe approach certainly grabs attention, and though it has been tried repeatedly throughout history, it has proven to be very weak in winning the kind of respect and admiration and allegiance that is needed to hold together the body of Christ. The problem is that external displays of power are what the enemy relies on to rivet attention and gain control of the world through manipulation of emotions. But when it comes to real heart transformation, such manifestations fall short and only lead to short-term reforms with little long-term tenacity.

Elijah apparently received the gift of fireworks and used it in ways he felt would benefit God's cause and him personally. The story of his impressive confrontation against the rampant idolatry of his day has gone down in history as a favorite Bible story, especially on the part of those who prefer the shock and awe effect version of God to jolt people into repentance. Yet here in Revelation 13 we see that such an approach is used as a way for the enemy to deceive people into believing that God is supportive of the beast and dragon version of justice. This counterfeit copies Elijah's example as well as pouring out a powerful spirit mimicking the Holy Spirit while reinforcing the deception that our hierarchy, commerce and law-enforcement mentality is ordained of God!

Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, man of God, thus has the king said, Come down quickly. Elijah answered them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. (2 Kings 1:10-12)

Keep in mind that a counterfeit must rely on a genuine original that is true and valid and beneficial. We must receive discernment from the true Spirit of God to know the difference, and that is only found in testing every spirit by measuring it to the standard of the true Son of God and how He related to people. This alone is where we can find truth and safety to know how God views each situation. This takes us back to one of our key standards of interpretation in our current study, the very first words of this book. The revelation of Jesus Christ is simultaneously the revelation of God's disposition as well, and Jesus Christ is God's true witness who alone reveals the full truth about how God overcomes evil.

When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?" But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are. For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)

What was the problem with Elijah's use of fire to destroy those sent to arrest him? He used firepower to protect himself against deadly force. He used violence to defend his life in sharp contrast to the Son of God who willingly laid down His life in love for His enemies. Jesus had full access to the same firepower that Elijah used, and He made that very clear when the violent mob came to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet Jesus came to demonstrate the true Spirit of God's heart which had been misrepresented throughout history by His people. That is why Jesus Christ alone is the only true and full revelation and express image of God that is to be trusted and emulated.

Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)

God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance,... (Hebrews 1:1-3)

There is another compelling story that is often overlooked but is very relevant to this issue of accessing fire from heaven to use on earth. Elijah, I believe, misrepresented the methods of heaven by using fire to defend himself which is not the spirit that Jesus brought to light as we have seen. But the prophet who succeeded Elijah was actually much closer in disposition and similarity to the life of Christ and had the same access to power as did Elijah. What many don't realize is that Elisha faced a similar situation as did Elijah and could have made a similar choice to protect himself from arrest by an exponentially bigger army if he had chosen to do so. But instead Elisha modeled much more closely the disposition of Jesus in the way he utilized the power offered to him, much as did Jesus in the garden.

The background for this fascinating story is that the king of Syria was extremely upset at being thwarted by Elisha's repeated alerts to the king of Israel exposing the secret strategies of Syria to capture him. Upon investigation the king of Syria learned that Elisha was the one telling the king of Israel all his secrets because God was the real informant. Amazingly the king of Syria imagined he could capture Elisha by sending a large army to arrest him when he was the very one informing the king of Israel of similar plans. Somehow this escaped his logic, so we pick up the story here.

Therefore sent he there horses, and chariots, and a great army: and they came by night, and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an army with horses and chariots was round about the city. His servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

He answered, Don't be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, Please smite this people with blindness. He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. (2 Kings 6:14-18)

Elisha found himself is far greater danger that had Elijah when facing 50 soldiers sent to arrest him. He knew that he had access to the same kind of fire that Elijah had accessed and he could have chosen to call down fire to consume this much larger army just as easily as had Elijah. But Elisha had asked for a double portion of the Spirit of God than Elijah had, and I believe it showed in the way he related to situations such as this. Rather than relying on violence to defend himself, he chose to turn this into a teaching opportunity to help his servant see a better way to relate to one's enemies. He began the lesson by instructing his servant to not be afraid and to keep in mind the much larger perspective. This is an extremely important lesson for us as well.

Elisha asked God to allow his servant to visually see the far greater resources awaiting instructions from Elisha. This certainly brought encouragement to the servant, but what we often miss in this story is the enormous temptation Elisha faced as a result. Whether or not Elisha visibly saw this supernatural army at his disposal or not is unknown. Yet clearly he knew it was there and the servant was enabled by God to see it clearly. But the key point in this story is this: how did Elisha choose to relate to this overwhelming firepower?

Elisha could have easily called upon this heavenly army of angels to incinerate his enemies with their fiery power as his predecessor had chosen to do previously. Yet that would have only perpetuated confusion about God's disposition and methods as Elijah had already done. On the other hand, Elisha might have viewed this as an opportunity to simply escape. After all, Elijah had been whisked up into heaven by a single chariot of fire, while here many chariots of fire awaited instruction from God's man on earth as to what they should do next. Maybe Elisha could have arranged to be raptured up himself along with his servant and anyone else he might have chosen to bring along in order to escape this situation. But that is not what he chose to do, for Elisha displayed a spirit more in line with that of Jesus, so instead of defending himself through violence or choosing escape from imminent danger, he chose to demonstrate the far superior power of love for his enemies and how doing so could result in a far better outcome in the long term.

Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. He led them to Samaria. It happened, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I strike them? shall I strike them? He answered, You shall not strike them: would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

He prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. (2 Kings 6:19-23)

Notice how many of these phrases resonate with the words of Jesus.

This is not the way

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. (John 14:6)

Follow me

If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:26)

I will bring you to the man whom you seek.

These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus. (John 12:21-22)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:1-3)

Open the eyes of these men.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind." Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. (John 9:39-41)

Shall I strike them?

When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" (Luke 22:49)

You shall not strike them. Set bread and water before them.

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45)

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink: for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:20)

He sent them away.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way." ...Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala. (Matthew 15:32,39)

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

Let's look at some instances of authentic fire coming down from heaven so we may see what this counterfeit is imitating and the far superior purpose that the true fire can produce.

David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on Yahweh; and he answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering. (1 Chronicles 21:26)

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh filled Yahweh's house. All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Yahweh was on the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying, For he is good; for his loving kindness endures for ever. (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)

True adoration, worship and heart response is what God desires, not merely compliance. Jesus came as God's light to our world, and He longed for us to experience His fire in line with its true purpose.

I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! (Luke 12:49-50)

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. (Acts 2:1-4)

The nature of a counterfeit is that it looks compellingly like the authentic. The master of deception knows how to deceive all those who dwell on the earth as trading, hierarchy and law-enforcement are embraced as being God's will for how things are to be organized and controlled. Spirits of demons can readily put on displays of power to sway emotions so that people feel compelled to think the beast system is the great power of God. Sorcery involves both demonic influence as well as mind-altering substances that numb the conscience and stimulate lower passions. The last deceptions will be overwhelming ones as the dragon and all his accomplices determine to stop at nothing to achieve their objective of a comprehensive world takeover with no exemptions. They often operate under the guise of religion and social justice relying on law and order through enforcement of manipulative laws that compel people to surrender their will and conscience for the sake of the common good to save the planet from imminent demise.

Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 NAS95)

What did Jesus have to say in response to disciple's questions about the end of the world?

Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5)

Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake. (Matthew 24:9)

Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)

I have little doubt that these words of Jesus apply particularly to the times we are investigating here in Revelation 13. Deception and intimidation is the main focus of the dragon and all who participate in his campaign to subvert and defeat the Lamb's followers. The name of Jesus will be used by religion to justify pogroms carried out against true Lamb reflectors, insisting they are misrepresenting God as too weak and unjust, that such notions are dangerous for maintaining order. Those who dwell on the earth will be deceived because like the Jews of Christ's day, they want a messiah who will be willing to use force to defeat rampant evil and to enforce laws based on earthly versions of justice. Anything less than this will be viewed as blasphemy and ultimately be worthy of death.

False Christs refers to anyone claiming to have the answers needed to rescue people from the overwhelming problems threatening to disintegrate order and threaten uniformity on this planet. A Christ literally means a champion, a rescuer, one who attracts attention as having the best viability to save the planet and restore peace to a world ravished by violence and corruption. This may especially apply to the first beast symbol who is referred to repeatedly as the hero who recovered from a mortal wound. This resonates with the authentic Christ who also suffered an apparently deadly wound on the cross but recovered through His resurrection in power and glory. Thus the beast from the sea will masquerade as having the ultimate answers to the world's intractable problems so long as everyone is willing to get on board fully with its agenda without any exceptions allowed.

False prophets specialize in achieving unity by means of emotional manipulation of the populace using miracles, signs and wonders all designed to overwhelm the senses and keep the mind distracted so it has no time to think clearly or objectively. Prophets are those claiming to speak on behalf of God's honor and claim authority to protect His reputation. We see a progression in this current chapter of hierarchal authority handed down through each succeeding entity identified here while channeling all worship back up to focus on the dragon. Thus the entire network is designed to accomplish the agenda of the dragon while relying on the name and under the guise of representing God and enforcing His dictates for justice.

These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. (John 16:1-2)

Today we see a growing emphasis on law and order and defending God's reputation forcibly. The pressure is in reaction to rampant corruption and abuse of power along with blatant immorality everywhere. Proposals to resolve the moral demise of the world appear like the ultimate solution as people yearn to see order and peace restored through forceful intervention. In reality it will involve an even more subtle tactic of the enemy that is so deceptive only the pure in heart, diligent students of Scripture and followers of the Lamb can discern the telltale nuances of the dragon's spirit.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)

Sign Wars pt. 2 - Rumor notes 113

 

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Revelation 13

13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. 14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.

Let's review how signs function in the true work of God for spreading the good news of God's love and light with no darkness at all in Him. Keep in mind that God never sends a spirit of fear, for fear is a fatal virus that will subvert and hijack any victory achieved if allowed to remain.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 BBE)

This cannot be over-emphasized. If we harbor a spirit of fear to motivate us or others to obey the truth, we are playing with dangerous fire, a strange fire that will prove fatal in the end. Fear is not of God, for it is opposite the motive of all true obedience – love.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18 NAS95)

What does this have to do with signs and wonders? We need to discern what the intended effect is for any display of supernatural signs. Are signs exercised to provide incentive to persuade people's beliefs about the veracity of what is promoted by those utilizing signs and wonders to draw attention? Or are signs the natural outcomes of experiencing the true power of God's love in the heart? True signs will be aligned with the core principles of truth – selfless love and respect for freedom for all.

He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)

The sequence here is significant and parallels the story involving Simon the sorcerer. Let's look at that story and see how it might apply to our own lives. Here is the backdrop of that story.

Saul was consenting to his [Stephen's] death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. (Acts 8:1-5)

This Philip is not the same person and the disciple Philip but was one of the fresh new deacons chosen along with Stephen who had just been murdered for testifying the truth about Jesus. I would imagine that these deacons may have been younger than most of the disciples, and likely they had not spent near as much time if any, being around Jesus personally like the apostles had done. This can help explain some of what happened when Philip arrived in the region of Samaria.

The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. There was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God." They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed. (Acts 8:6-13)

Notice that Philip first presented the good news before any signs are mentioned. Also note that Simon both believed and was baptized just like everyone else. We might want to insist that Simon was a fake and the Scriptures are not accurate when it says he believed. But he believed and was baptized.

Note some key words in this story. Sorcery is another word for magic. Magic involves suspension of reason from cause to effect, bypassing reason by manipulation of our emotions to embrace conclusions outside principles of truth. Magic is about inducing wonder, amazement, electrifying feelings and emotions that blind us to thinking rationally, carefully, thoughtfully and in reference to conscience. This is what spiritualism relies on to deceive people without their realizing that trusting feelings can easily lead to tragic consequences.

This is how demonic spirits effectively enslave and exploit humans. Amazement in reaction to supernatural signs lead us to believe things without checking with God first before making important decisions. Ask Eve about that problem. What we must be alert to is our need of total dependence on God as our only fact-checker for truth in every situation, especially when it comes to the supernatural. Amazement, wonder and intense emotions tempt us to make snap decisions that are almost guaranteed to get us into trouble rather quickly and result in serious regrets. Intense emotions can blind us to what otherwise might be obvious.

I am starting to sense this story may be one of the most important reference passages to bring proper understanding to this passage here in Revelation 13. This story highlights the subtle nature of how sin can infect us without our realizing it. While God does not judge us based on how we lived in darkness previously, He bring us to a knowledge of His heart where His light exposes everything out of harmony with love that needs to be replaced with His truth to restore His image in us.

Simon had long made himself out to be a great person that everyone should listen to and follow. Compare this with much of what we see all around us today in the media. Thousands and even millions are clamoring to attract our attention to listen to them by using any number of enticing means to rivet our attention so they can control our imagination. We are so accustomed to this we hardly give it a thought and we allow endless videos to manipulate our feelings, not realizing there are sinister forces involved intent on exploiting us to subtly gain access to our spirit through our imagination in order to prep us for even more overt control over our lives.

The people in Samaria came to believe that Simon's display of signs and emotional manipulation was the power of God. How can this happen? Because the world has been conditioned to believe God manipulates us like those others who amaze us do. The fact is that signs that are normally impossible or beyond explanation induce a presumption they must be of God. This grabs attention, admiration and lead many to allow miracles to guide their decisions and about whom they will trust.

Notice the difference in the effect of the true gospel when it was brought to people by Philip. It says they believed it and were baptized, but it also says that Simon too believed and joined everyone else by being baptized. Now we have a problem in our reaction to this statement, for immediately we question how it could be true that Simon believed given what we see later in the story when Peter exposed the real motives of Simon. We need to allow the Spirit to show us how easy it is to be seduced by our own emotions rather than rush to minimize the authenticity of Simon's 'conversion' experience. If we judge him we may be found to be condemning ourselves.

Simon's motives may well have been authentic to the limit of his capacity at the time. Every one of us can make decisions to follow God, yet there can be many hidden residual issues buried deep inside us that emerge later to lead us to question our previous choices. Yet this is a natural part of growth as we mature in truth. We should not be so quick to judge either others or ourselves, for the problem may not be a hypocritical profession of faith but whether or not one is willing to be further confronted as truth exposes our heart increasingly in its light. Simon made a right decision to believe in the good news, and just because evil motives were exposed later is no reason to judge him as evil or a sinister hypocrite. Rather his story is a reality check as to how deep the infection of selfishness can be and how blinding sin can be as over time it comes into the open. Our heart and motives need continual cleansing, so let us not judge Simon harshly, for in doing so it may be discovered we are not all that different. We need to be willing to continue to repent as increasingly issues hidden deep inside ourselves are exposed that hold us in bondage.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."

But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me." (Acts 8:14-24)

The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, (Acts 17:30)

What can we learn from this story that might unmask our own blind spots to help us avoid getting stuck in a similar condition as Simon? Notice where Simon's attention was focused. He thrived on sensationalism and amazement. He had spent years in the limelight of having people admire his abilities as he manipulated their feelings and emotions. He was also trapped in the mindset of trading as his way to navigate the system. His popularity depended on attracting attention by inducing amazement to grab public attention, and with attention comes ability to leverage income. Yet when Philip worked signs and wonders, Simon failed to discern the difference between what was behind those miracles and the ones he had long relied on for his means of livelihood. In other words, simply believing the gospel was not enough to expose the motives and methods he had lived by all his life, so he assumed this new power was merely a superior version of what he had been doing all along so he could gain even more attention and enhance his income even more.

 

Simon was most amazed by the outpouring of the Spirit upon at least some of the believers there. Yet what might this have to do with making fire come down out of heaven on the earth to deceive people? Think about it from this perspective and in conjunction with this story about Philip and Simon.

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. (Acts 2:1-4)

Simon wanted to purchase what he saw in Peter and John. He wanted to be able to manipulate the Holy Spirit. Simon was so entrenched in the mindset of trading that he had no clue what an affront this was to the gospel. While he had been baptized along with everyone else in the name of Jesus and 'believed in Jesus,' yet his heart was terribly out of sync with heaven. Peter saw this clearly and called him out, urging him to seek God for repentance if that was at all possible.

I sense it may not be a coincidence that Peter's original name was also Simon. I believe Peter saw this Simon's problem instantly because he had been there and had had a similar problem himself. Peter knew the extreme danger of Simon's disposition and was thus uniquely qualified to warn Simon more effectively than anyone else.

Peter had long been addicted to amazement along with the other disciples. Peter had been impulsive, given to outbursts of passion and outspoken. Jesus worked with Peter and all the disciples for years, seeking to get them to perceive that the Kingdom of heaven was entirely different than what they imagined. Yet Peter's desire to be in control and be seen as more important than others fueled many arguments amongst the disciples as they all jostled for the highest position in competition to be awarded power and prestige when Jesus would presumably assert His place as King of the world.

Throughout His ministry Jesus had sought to downplay the amazement factor. Jesus came to salvage human hearts, not manipulate people with miracles to amaze. Yet in demonstrating the humility, kindness, gentleness and compassion of the Father's heart, He was at odds with the priorities of those around Him who wanted to use His power for their own agenda. This largely persisted until after His death and resurrection and ascension to heaven, when the remaining disciples finally began to realize what Jesus had come to reveal and what He wanted them to do.

The gospel is about returning humans back to total dependence on God as our sole source to reflect His glory alone. Jesus lived that kind of life as a human so that all could see that anyone can reflect that same glory by keeping their focus on Christ as their example. This was in sharp contrast to the mindset of pride and lust for power that thrives on the spirit of amazement. We have seen already in this chapter how one of the main ways the beast is able to manipulate all those who dwell on the earth is by means of amazement at displays of power and supernatural signs.

Sadly in Simon's response to Peter, it became clear that he was in denial about his danger and determined to cling to his old patterns of thinking and living. Instead of crying out to God as Peter had challenged him to do, Simon wanted Peter and John to use their connection with God to acquire him a dispensation so he could avoid the tragic consequences they had warned him would result if he continued in his unremedied condition.

Deacon Philip (and Peter)	Sorcerer Simon
proclaimed to them the Christ	making himself out to be some great one
multitudes listened with one accord	they all listened, from the least to the greatest
they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ	This man is that great power of God
when they heard and saw the signs which he did	he had amazed them with his sorceries
There was great joy in that city	practice sorcery in the city
There was great joy in that city	Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed
you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money	he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power"
they received the Holy Spirit	your heart isn't right before God
There was great joy in that city preached the Good News to many villages	you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity

I find the response of Peter and John along with God's instructions to Philip highly relevant to this situation. There was nothing more anyone could do for Simon, for he had made it clear what his disposition was and he showed no interest in letting go of the bitterness and iniquity that dominated his thinking. His heart was not right, but he had no interest in having it set right, so he was left alone.

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert." (Acts 8:25-26)

Some key points in this story is the need to realize that something was still missing in the lives of new believers. The preaching of Philip had led many to turn over their lives in commitment to Christ and believe the gospel to the extent they perceived it. Yet none of them experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Maybe this became a concern for those back in Jerusalem to the point where they sent Peter and John to mature the experience of these believers. It says that Peter and John prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

My question is this: does this apply just as much to us today? It should make us squirm at least a bit when we read this. If we rationalize this away, maybe we are in the same dilemma as those believers who had witnessed signs and even experienced miraculous healing. Are we willing to admit that the true power of the Spirit is not clearly seen and experienced in our own lives? When it comes there will be a sharp contrast between our old way of thinking and an entirely new perception of reality. Are we living as baptized believers devoid of the fuller power that can only experienced through a very real immersion in the Spirit of the Lamb? What do we think that even means?

In Mark Jesus instructs His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. He did not say to start by working signs and wonders to get people's attention, but to spread God's Good News. Then He declares that signs will accompany those who believe, meaning that signs are not to lead us to believe or become the basis of our faith but are only meant to confirm, affirm and provide evidence that there is liberating power in believing the truth. But that power is not to be the focus of attention but rather the truth inherent in the gospel Jesus brought to us which is the actual truth about God's heart of passionate love for everyone.

The Jews therefore answered him, "What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews therefore said, "Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. (John 2:18-23)

They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do? (John 6:28-30)

Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1-2)

Do we see the difference in how signs function? Our faith is not to be rooted in signs but in using our will to believe the Good News. Signs merely intended to help firm up our faith.

You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here." (Matthew 12:34-41)

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times! An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:1-4)

Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others. He can't save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him." Those who were crucified with him insulted him. (Mark 15:29-32)

This clearly reveals the nature of the signs humans are addicted to looking for as their basis of belief. Jesus had already told them the only sign they would be given was His death and resurrection, which they would reject just like all the other signs they had witnessed. The kind of signs they lusted for (but would still not have led them to receive the truth Jesus brought to them) were spectacular displays of power over enemies. They were demanding that Jesus use His access to supernatural power to rescue Himself from their sinister power to bring Him pain, torture and humiliation. That was the kind of power they craved and was the only kind of Messiah they wanted. Jesus would not comply with their demands to use God's power for their agendas, so He was rejected as the kind of God they wanted to worship. The Good News brought to them so freely was spurned in favor of the gods of this world who promise power, riches and exaltation as the definitions of success and victory.

Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him." (John 6:26-27)

Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29-30)

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. (Acts 5:12)

These signs were not intended to attract more followers but were evidence affirming the oneness of heart the believers were experiencing. Keep in mind that this verse immediately follows the story of the sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira who were likely baptized and in good standing in the community of believers. The following verse says None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. If their agenda was to increase their numbers, their use of signs and wonders would have been very different. But their focus was not on advancing their popularity but was entirely focused on drawing attention to the goodness of God in the name of Jesus.

It happened in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:1-3)

For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation. (Romans 15:18-20)

For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:2-5)

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation--which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard; God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4)