We are surrounded by beasts.
00:00:31.33\00:00:33.80
That's true.
00:00:33.83\00:00:35.16
We are surrounded by beasts.
00:00:35.20\00:00:36.53
That's true.
00:00:36.56\00:00:37.90
We got the dragon on the table,
00:00:37.93\00:00:39.27
we got the sea
beast on the table,
00:00:39.30\00:00:40.94
and we got this new
one from the land, right,
00:00:40.97\00:00:45.37
so, that's where we are
in the book of Revelation.
00:00:45.41\00:00:48.38
In the book of Revelation,
we are surrounded by the beasts
00:00:48.41\00:00:50.95
and this is a place
where people fear to tread.
00:00:50.98\00:00:54.48
It is a challenging place
to be, in fact, a lot of times,
00:00:54.52\00:00:58.05
when people read
the book of Revelation,
00:00:58.09\00:01:00.02
this is all
they're really focusing on,
00:01:00.06\00:01:02.32
we have learned that
the book of Revelation
00:01:02.36\00:01:04.59
is much larger than the beasts.
00:01:04.63\00:01:06.43
In fact, the whole
book is focused on the Lamb
00:01:06.46\00:01:10.03
rather than the beasts,
00:01:10.07\00:01:11.40
but the beasts are there
and they need to be dealt with,
00:01:11.43\00:01:14.30
they need to be identified,
00:01:14.34\00:01:15.67
we need to understand
why God put them here,
00:01:15.70\00:01:18.17
what is this prophetic scenario
that He's outlining for us
00:01:18.21\00:01:22.51
so, we're going
to be talking today
00:01:22.54\00:01:24.28
a little bit more
about one of those beasts
00:01:24.31\00:01:27.15
that we touched on
in the last Program
00:01:27.18\00:01:28.88
but we want to
really nail it down,
00:01:28.92\00:01:30.75
it's going to be the land beast.
00:01:30.79\00:01:32.55
We're going to be talking
about America in prophecy,
00:01:32.59\00:01:34.82
we're going to be
looking at the characteristics
00:01:34.86\00:01:36.86
that we identified and go
a little further with them
00:01:36.93\00:01:39.43
and understand how the
rest of this prophecy fills out.
00:01:39.46\00:01:41.93
That's what we want to do.
00:01:41.96\00:01:43.30
Of course, we want to
start with a word of prayer,
00:01:43.33\00:01:45.20
we're not going to be looking
at any questions in this program
00:01:45.23\00:01:47.44
because we just want to
get right into this prophecy,
00:01:47.47\00:01:49.77
and then we'll jump right in
00:01:49.80\00:01:51.44
so, Yvonne, would
you like to pray for us?
00:01:51.47\00:01:53.58
Sure, "Father, we
just thank you so very much
00:01:53.61\00:01:55.98
for the privilege
of opening and studying
00:01:56.01\00:01:58.35
and learning
from your Word, Lord,
00:01:58.38\00:02:00.18
we're just so grateful
that you've given us your Word
00:02:00.22\00:02:02.65
so that we know how
this is going to play out,
00:02:02.68\00:02:05.59
thank you Lord,
00:02:05.62\00:02:06.96
and now be with us, let
your Spirit rule and reign,
00:02:06.99\00:02:09.96
we pray in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:02:09.99\00:02:11.59
All: "Amen. "
00:02:11.63\00:02:12.96
So, Revelation chapter 13...
00:02:12.99\00:02:15.26
the first half of the
chapter verses 1 through 10
00:02:15.30\00:02:18.23
basically are a
summary of history,
00:02:18.27\00:02:20.47
now, as part of that
history, as we look back...
00:02:20.50\00:02:23.20
part of that history
is going to be repeated
00:02:23.24\00:02:24.71
so we see some predictions
about how the world is going to
00:02:24.74\00:02:28.21
"wonder after this beast. "
00:02:28.24\00:02:29.58
We've identified
this Power as the Papacy
00:02:29.61\00:02:32.11
and the reason we did that
00:02:32.15\00:02:33.48
was because it
connects with Daniel chapter 7
00:02:33.52\00:02:36.12
and we looked at
all the characteristics
00:02:36.15\00:02:38.02
of those powers
that went before...
00:02:38.05\00:02:39.95
Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome...
00:02:39.99\00:02:41.79
the characteristics of the
lion, the bear, the leopard
00:02:41.82\00:02:45.73
and then the dragon
and the terrible beast,
00:02:45.76\00:02:47.43
and how they all succeeded or
gave their power to the Papacy,
00:02:47.46\00:02:53.77
the Papacy
succeeded all of these powers
00:02:53.80\00:02:55.24
and then we
identified the Papacy
00:02:55.30\00:02:57.81
as receiving this deadly wound
in verse 3 of Revelation 13,
00:02:57.84\00:03:00.88
and then, it was
specifically identified
00:03:00.91\00:03:04.41
as "going into captivity"
00:03:04.45\00:03:06.28
so God was very specific
in the historic description
00:03:06.31\00:03:09.25
of how this Papacy
would receive the deadly wound
00:03:09.28\00:03:12.22
and we looked at history,
00:03:12.25\00:03:13.59
and we found out that Berthier
indeed took the Pope captive
00:03:13.62\00:03:16.93
in 1798 and he died in prison.
00:03:16.96\00:03:18.99
In this timeframe of
this captivity... 1798...
00:03:19.03\00:03:23.10
we see in Revelation chapter
13 verse 11 another power
00:03:23.13\00:03:27.07
identified as a beast...
00:03:27.14\00:03:30.04
coming up out of the earth...
00:03:30.07\00:03:31.74
and this Power...
this worldly Power...
00:03:31.77\00:03:34.98
this earthly kingdom
is identified as a beast
00:03:35.01\00:03:38.95
in symbol... it actually means
an earthly kingdom of power
00:03:38.98\00:03:42.78
according to Daniel 7:17 and 23.
00:03:42.82\00:03:45.05
The beast that
you saw are kings,
00:03:45.09\00:03:47.26
the beast that you saw
are kingdoms of the earth.
00:03:47.29\00:03:49.12
So this earthly kingdom is
rising up about the same time
00:03:49.16\00:03:53.63
the Papacy is
going into captivity
00:03:53.66\00:03:55.93
so, 1776... America
was rising in prophecy
00:03:55.96\00:03:59.93
that was one of the identifying
marks that we already looked at.
00:03:59.97\00:04:02.40
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:04:02.44\00:04:03.77
We looked at America
rising up in the 18th century
00:04:03.81\00:04:06.27
while the Papacy was
going down into captivity.
00:04:06.31\00:04:08.88
"So I saw another beast... "
00:04:08.91\00:04:11.35
and we identified
this as a new kingdom.
00:04:11.38\00:04:12.88
The Papacy succeeded
all these other kingdoms...
00:04:12.91\00:04:15.22
but this is a new kingdom.
00:04:15.25\00:04:16.58
Didn't have a... didn't
come from a line of succession
00:04:16.62\00:04:19.42
and because it
came up in the earth,
00:04:19.45\00:04:21.46
it came up in an
area of the earth
00:04:21.49\00:04:23.46
that was sparsely populated.
00:04:23.49\00:04:25.03
The seas represent peoples,
nations, multitudes and tongues,
00:04:25.09\00:04:28.83
the earth... a
sparsely populated region
00:04:28.86\00:04:31.70
and so, another
beast, a new power coming up
00:04:31.73\00:04:34.50
at a time the
Papacy is going down
00:04:34.54\00:04:36.20
and coming up in a sparsely
populated region of the earth.
00:04:36.24\00:04:38.97
That's what
Revelation 13:11 is telling us
00:04:39.01\00:04:41.38
and then it goes on to
say, "And I beheld another beast
00:04:41.41\00:04:44.85
coming up out of the earth;
00:04:44.88\00:04:46.21
and he had two
horns like a lamb... "
00:04:46.25\00:04:48.65
this is a lamb-like power,
00:04:48.68\00:04:50.52
and we identified the
lamb-like principles of Christ.
00:04:50.55\00:04:54.12
A Christian nation... a nation
based on Christian principles...
00:04:54.16\00:04:58.36
two horns...
00:04:58.39\00:04:59.73
so the two horns that represent
two aspects of this nation,
00:04:59.76\00:05:03.40
religious freedom...
00:05:03.43\00:05:05.17
religious liberty
and political freedom...
00:05:05.20\00:05:08.10
civil liberties...
00:05:08.14\00:05:09.90
so we see the two
horns representing
00:05:09.94\00:05:12.41
the two aspects of
this Christian nation
00:05:12.44\00:05:15.38
that are incorporated
into its Constitution
00:05:15.41\00:05:18.31
and into its governing powers,
00:05:18.35\00:05:22.62
and we see it also
as a Christian nation
00:05:22.65\00:05:25.12
in the way that it conducts
itself in relation to religion.
00:05:25.15\00:05:29.99
It allows for
freedom of religion,
00:05:30.03\00:05:32.29
it allows for civil
freedoms, it's not a monarchy,
00:05:32.33\00:05:35.86
it's not reigned
by a king or queen.
00:05:35.90\00:05:38.27
So, five characteristics so far,
00:05:38.30\00:05:40.60
did you catch them all?
00:05:40.64\00:05:41.97
Hmmm...
00:05:42.00\00:05:43.37
Five characteristics so far,
00:05:43.41\00:05:44.97
it's a power that rises
when the Papacy is going down,
00:05:45.01\00:05:47.41
it's a new power, it's
a power that comes from
00:05:47.44\00:05:50.08
a sparsely
populated place in the earth,
00:05:50.11\00:05:51.95
it's a Christian nation
00:05:51.98\00:05:53.38
and it has these
lamb-like principles
00:05:53.42\00:05:55.18
in its civil government as
well as in its Christianity,
00:05:55.22\00:05:58.59
so it's five so far.
00:05:58.65\00:06:00.06
Can you say that one more time?
00:06:00.09\00:06:01.42
Okay, it's a new nation,
00:06:01.46\00:06:03.22
it comes in a sparsely-populated
place of the earth,
00:06:03.29\00:06:06.80
it comes up around the
time the Papacy is going down,
00:06:06.83\00:06:10.33
it's a Christian
nation... lamb-like...
00:06:10.37\00:06:14.24
lamb-like horns...
00:06:14.27\00:06:15.64
and the
principles of Christianity
00:06:15.67\00:06:17.44
are incorporated
into its civil power
00:06:17.47\00:06:19.21
as well as its religious power.
00:06:19.24\00:06:22.04
So, it offers religious freedom
00:06:22.08\00:06:24.88
and civil
freedoms... civil liberties...
00:06:24.91\00:06:27.48
and then... go ahead.
00:06:27.52\00:06:28.85
We remember as well that
this nation was basically...
00:06:28.88\00:06:33.29
as we look back in
Revelation chapter 12
00:06:33.32\00:06:36.16
that when the earth
opened up her mouth,
00:06:36.19\00:06:38.99
the nation was a place
00:06:39.03\00:06:43.67
where Christians who
were being persecuted,
00:06:43.70\00:06:45.30
could flee for
religious freedom.
00:06:45.33\00:06:47.70
Hmmm... Hmmm.
00:06:47.74\00:06:49.07
So, that again points to
00:06:49.10\00:06:52.07
this beast having
the horns like a lamb.
00:06:52.11\00:06:55.04
A Christian nation... a
place where people could come
00:06:55.08\00:06:58.55
and exercise
their religion freely
00:06:58.58\00:07:01.18
but again, we see
that... as it follows up...
00:07:01.22\00:07:03.85
it spake as a dragon...
it's another identifying mark
00:07:03.89\00:07:08.22
in that, you look at
the principles espoused
00:07:08.26\00:07:11.26
but the reality of what
00:07:11.29\00:07:14.10
is taking place in
America at that time,
00:07:14.13\00:07:17.73
so, while they were
giving freedom of religion,
00:07:17.77\00:07:20.90
you were also seeing
religious persecution
00:07:20.94\00:07:23.94
by some of the very
people who were like,
00:07:23.97\00:07:26.54
"Yeah, we want
religious freedom. "
00:07:26.57\00:07:27.91
Yvonne: Hmmm hmmm...
00:07:27.94\00:07:29.28
Ivor: So you got these
underlying principles...
00:07:29.31\00:07:31.95
looks like a
lamb... but speaks...
00:07:31.98\00:07:36.95
"Oh Man! is that really
00:07:36.99\00:07:38.65
following the
principles that it espoused?"
00:07:38.69\00:07:42.52
So, anyway.
00:07:42.59\00:07:44.06
James: And I think
that's a really good point Ivor,
00:07:44.09\00:07:46.16
because... for our listeners...
00:07:46.19\00:07:48.23
sometimes when you look
at the history of America,
00:07:48.26\00:07:50.80
you think, "Well, how can you
say that's a Christian nation,
00:07:50.83\00:07:52.73
how can you say they
have all those freedoms?
00:07:52.77\00:07:54.34
Well, here, the identifying
characteristic here is
00:07:54.37\00:07:57.37
also, that it
speaks like a dragon.
00:07:57.41\00:07:58.74
Hmmm... hmmm... Hmmm...
00:07:58.77\00:08:00.11
And so you have this
mixture of the two that...
00:08:00.14\00:08:02.28
that I think is going to tilt
toward the dragon more and more
00:08:02.31\00:08:05.41
as time goes on and
we're seeing that...
00:08:05.45\00:08:07.68
we're seeing that.
00:08:07.72\00:08:09.05
So, that's why it says,
00:08:09.08\00:08:10.42
"first of all,
it looks like a lamb
00:08:10.45\00:08:11.79
and then second of all,
it speaks like a dragon...
00:08:11.82\00:08:13.15
so we're moving
in that direction
00:08:13.19\00:08:15.99
and then it says, in verse 12,
00:08:16.02\00:08:18.96
Jason, can you read that
for us, Revelation 13:12?
00:08:18.99\00:08:21.33
Sure. "And he exerciseth
00:08:21.36\00:08:23.40
all the power of the
first beast before him,
00:08:23.43\00:08:25.83
and causeth the earth
and them which dwell therein
00:08:25.87\00:08:28.54
to worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed. "
00:08:28.57\00:08:31.54
Okay, now, this
is a characteristic
00:08:31.57\00:08:34.41
that we didn't
really look at yesterday
00:08:34.44\00:08:37.18
and that's why I really
thought it would be good for us
00:08:37.21\00:08:39.11
during our last program
00:08:39.15\00:08:40.48
and that's why I really
thought it would be good for us
00:08:40.52\00:08:41.88
to follow up with
this and that is...
00:08:41.92\00:08:45.35
is that... this
power now is identified
00:08:45.39\00:08:48.42
as being able to
cause the earth...
00:08:48.46\00:08:51.39
it says here, "it causes
them that dwell on the earth
00:08:51.46\00:08:56.13
to worship the first beast. "
00:08:56.16\00:08:57.67
You know what that means?
00:08:57.70\00:08:59.13
That means, this
power has to have
00:08:59.17\00:09:01.84
world-wide dominion...
00:09:01.87\00:09:04.01
Hmmm... Hmmm.
00:09:04.04\00:09:05.37
It has to be a
power that you might say
00:09:05.41\00:09:07.31
what we would call today, it
has to be a "super power... "
00:09:07.34\00:09:10.51
a super power.
00:09:10.55\00:09:11.88
Now, what's really interesting
to me about Bible prophecy...
00:09:11.91\00:09:14.92
and I want to pause
here for just a second,
00:09:14.95\00:09:16.48
this book of
Revelation was written,
00:09:16.55\00:09:19.52
2,000 years ago...
00:09:19.55\00:09:21.52
Daniel's prophecy is even longer
00:09:21.56\00:09:25.13
and yet it is laying
out for us point by point
00:09:25.16\00:09:30.20
the very characteristics
of the "powers that be" today.
00:09:30.23\00:09:33.67
The major players...
00:09:33.70\00:09:35.87
the end-time
players of Bible Prophecy
00:09:35.90\00:09:38.27
are being identified
in Revelation chapter 13,
00:09:38.31\00:09:40.48
the Papacy and the United States
00:09:40.54\00:09:43.24
and when you look
at the world today,
00:09:43.28\00:09:45.15
even though we're confused,
perhaps, about Islam...
00:09:45.18\00:09:47.52
or confused,
perhaps, about Russia,
00:09:47.55\00:09:50.59
former USSR or China,
00:09:50.62\00:09:52.22
when you look
at the world today,
00:09:52.25\00:09:54.66
these powers are
coming to the top,
00:09:54.69\00:09:57.06
they are coming to the top,
00:09:57.09\00:09:58.79
and it's not a surprise to us.
00:09:58.83\00:10:01.86
In 1984 when I accepted
Christ as my personal Savior,
00:10:01.90\00:10:07.30
I was raised Catholic,
00:10:07.34\00:10:09.10
I was raised believing in God...
going to church every Sunday
00:10:09.14\00:10:12.87
I was raised in
that kind of environment
00:10:12.91\00:10:15.71
but I didn't really
understand the Bible...
00:10:15.74\00:10:18.41
of Christ as my personal Savior
00:10:18.45\00:10:19.78
and when I started
studying the Bible,
00:10:19.81\00:10:22.28
studying Bible
prophecy with these Adventists,
00:10:22.32\00:10:24.75
and they started
telling me about this idea
00:10:24.79\00:10:27.19
that, the Papacy... the
Papacy and the United States
00:10:27.22\00:10:30.53
in 1984... the
dominant power in the world
00:10:30.59\00:10:34.66
was not the United States,
00:10:34.70\00:10:36.43
there was a Cold War going on
00:10:36.46\00:10:38.10
and the dominant
power in the world...
00:10:38.13\00:10:40.14
the power that seemed
to be encircling the globe
00:10:40.17\00:10:42.70
was the USSR... do
you remember the USSR?
00:10:42.74\00:10:45.31
Jason, you remember the
USSR, do you remember the USSR?
00:10:45.34\00:10:48.18
Jason: I remember
it... I remember it.
00:10:48.21\00:10:50.45
James: And so, for
me, it was a test of faith
00:10:50.48\00:10:54.05
I had to accept by faith
00:10:54.08\00:10:55.58
the
interpretation of Revelation 13
00:10:55.62\00:10:57.35
that these
Adventists were throwing at me,
00:10:57.39\00:10:58.75
and the reason why
I did it was because
00:10:58.82\00:11:00.16
Daniel was so clear...
00:11:00.19\00:11:02.62
the outline of prophecy
preceding this was so clear,
00:11:02.66\00:11:05.63
it was like, "Well,
if all this was right,
00:11:05.66\00:11:07.76
the rest must be right too. "
00:11:07.80\00:11:09.60
But it was still
an exercise of faith,
00:11:09.63\00:11:11.20
"the substance
of things hoped for,
00:11:11.23\00:11:12.57
the evidence of things not seen"
00:11:12.60\00:11:13.94
because when I
looked at the world,
00:11:13.97\00:11:15.30
it just wasn't happening.
00:11:15.34\00:11:16.67
But now, now... today...
the USSR goes down in 1989
00:11:16.71\00:11:23.04
and all of a
sudden, one power looms...
00:11:23.08\00:11:25.55
now that power is still
at odds, you understand,
00:11:25.58\00:11:27.92
back then, it was still
at odds with the Papacy,
00:11:27.95\00:11:30.25
they weren't really connecting,
00:11:30.29\00:11:31.62
you know, when
Ronald Reagan was President,
00:11:31.65\00:11:33.25
it was... he wanted an
ambassador to the Vatican,
00:11:33.29\00:11:36.76
it was illegal,
00:11:36.79\00:11:38.26
the United States had never
had an ambassador to the Vatican
00:11:38.29\00:11:41.00
they never
recognized them as a country...
00:11:41.03\00:11:43.16
as a state... it was illegal...
00:11:43.20\00:11:44.53
they had to change the laws
00:11:44.57\00:11:46.00
to get an
ambassador to the Vatican,
00:11:46.03\00:11:48.47
that's how...
that's how... separated
00:11:48.50\00:11:50.84
the United States and
the Papacy were back then
00:11:50.87\00:11:53.71
because in the early history,
00:11:53.74\00:11:55.74
Protestant America was
very much against Catholics,
00:11:55.78\00:12:00.22
very much against Catholics.
00:12:00.25\00:12:01.58
So now you've got
this unity taking place,
00:12:01.62\00:12:03.52
the Pope comes and
he addresses Congress...
00:12:03.59\00:12:05.49
three Presidents go to the
funeral of John Paul the 2nd.
00:12:05.52\00:12:08.86
This is what we're talking
about in the book of Revelation,
00:12:08.89\00:12:12.16
Revelation 13 is showing
us the development of a union
00:12:12.19\00:12:15.93
because this Power...
in Revelation 13 verse 12,
00:12:15.96\00:12:18.40
it says, "this power...
" let's read it again...
00:12:18.43\00:12:20.80
"And he exercises all the
power of the first beast... "
00:12:20.84\00:12:22.77
that's the Papacy...
00:12:22.80\00:12:24.14
"and causes the earth
and them that dwell therein
00:12:24.17\00:12:25.51
to worship the first beast. "
00:12:25.54\00:12:26.88
Whoa... so now you have a
unity that's taking place,
00:12:26.91\00:12:30.28
you have one power...
earthly power... America...
00:12:30.31\00:12:33.72
actually causing the world...
00:12:33.75\00:12:36.08
the entire world to
worship the first beast
00:12:36.12\00:12:37.95
and then we get into this
00:12:38.02\00:12:40.06
development of
the Mark of the Beast
00:12:40.09\00:12:41.42
but the first I
want us to look at is
00:12:41.46\00:12:42.82
first of all, there has to
be a worldwide dominant power,
00:12:42.89\00:12:45.49
right, what else
does it have to have?
00:12:45.53\00:12:48.03
It has to have worldwide
dominance on a military level,
00:12:48.06\00:12:52.93
but it also...
it also has to have
00:12:52.97\00:12:55.04
another kind of
worldwide dominance
00:12:55.07\00:12:56.97
let's continue
reading these verses,
00:12:57.01\00:12:59.07
Yvonne, would you read for us...
00:12:59.11\00:13:01.14
Ivor: I was going to say,
00:13:01.18\00:13:02.98
I think that this
worldwide dominance
00:13:03.01\00:13:06.55
is also going to
include religious dominance
00:13:06.61\00:13:09.28
because it forces the
whole world to do what?
00:13:09.32\00:13:11.99
to worship...
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.36
so, even though, again,
00:13:13.39\00:13:16.19
we're looking at this
different religious conflicts
00:13:16.22\00:13:19.39
in the world
today and it looks like,
00:13:19.43\00:13:21.76
"Wow! this really is
boiling down to a religion
00:13:21.80\00:13:24.27
in a lot of different
ways but, the Bible prophecies
00:13:24.30\00:13:28.74
that, in the end, the
religion of this Country
00:13:28.77\00:13:33.34
is going to
basically flood the whole world
00:13:33.38\00:13:37.91
which is not a good thing.
00:13:37.95\00:13:39.71
as we will see... as we
go into prophecy because
00:13:39.75\00:13:42.88
the religion
that they're pushing
00:13:42.92\00:13:44.69
is leading to the
worship of the first beast...
00:13:44.72\00:13:50.36
okay, which is different
from the worship of the Lamb.
00:13:50.39\00:13:53.80
So, just an important
point to keep in mind.
00:13:53.83\00:13:57.77
James: All right,
let's pick up with verse 13
00:13:57.80\00:14:01.70
Yvonne, would you like to
read 13 and onward for us?
00:14:01.74\00:14:05.34
Yvonne: Sure, "He
performs great signs,
00:14:05.37\00:14:07.81
so that he even makes fire come
down from heaven on the earth
00:14:07.84\00:14:11.15
in the sight of men,
00:14:11.18\00:14:12.51
And he deceives those who dwell
on the earth by those signs
00:14:12.55\00:14:15.88
which he was granted to
do in the sight of the beast;
00:14:15.92\00:14:18.79
telling those who
dwell on the earth,
00:14:18.82\00:14:20.89
to make an image to the beast
00:14:20.92\00:14:22.39
who was wounded by
the sword, and lived.
00:14:22.42\00:14:25.06
He was granted power
00:14:25.09\00:14:26.56
to give breath to
the image of the beast,
00:14:26.59\00:14:28.50
that the image of the
beast should both speak
00:14:28.53\00:14:30.57
and cause as many as would not
worship the image of the beast
00:14:30.60\00:14:34.37
to be killed,
00:14:34.40\00:14:35.74
he causes all,
both small and great,
00:14:35.77\00:14:38.57
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:14:38.61\00:14:40.21
to receive a mark
on their right hand,
00:14:40.24\00:14:42.61
or on their foreheads:
00:14:42.64\00:14:44.31
And that no one may buy or sell,
except one who has the mark,
00:14:44.35\00:14:48.52
or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.
00:14:48.55\00:14:51.45
Here is wisdom,
00:14:51.49\00:14:52.85
Let him who has understanding
00:14:52.89\00:14:54.59
calculate the
number of the beast:
00:14:54.62\00:14:56.46
for it is the number of
a man; his number is 666."
00:14:56.49\00:15:00.66
James: Hmmm... I remember.
Yvonne: It's deep isn't it?
00:15:00.70\00:15:04.53
James: Yeah, I remember when
I was a kid... I mean, younger,
00:15:04.57\00:15:07.50
"Let's go... let's
study Revelation 13...
00:15:07.54\00:15:10.07
666... what is it?"
00:15:10.11\00:15:11.81
You know, curiosity...
00:15:11.84\00:15:13.51
and I think God draws
us to this for that purpose
00:15:13.54\00:15:16.81
through that means
to awaken our minds...
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.88
to understand some
of these principles.
00:15:18.91\00:15:21.82
One of the
characteristics that we see here
00:15:21.85\00:15:24.02
and I don't know
if you caught it is...
00:15:24.05\00:15:26.22
"no man can buy or sell. "
00:15:26.25\00:15:28.02
Yvonne: Yeah.
00:15:28.06\00:15:29.39
James: It doesn't
matter if you're rich or poor.
00:15:29.42\00:15:31.43
Yvonne: That's right,
years ago, I used to think,
00:15:31.46\00:15:33.93
"How could that happen, because
how could you stop someone
00:15:33.96\00:15:38.80
from buying or selling?"
Ah ha... yellow card...
00:15:38.83\00:15:42.70
if they shut that card down,
you can't... you can't function.
00:15:42.74\00:15:48.68
You know, your debit
card that accesses your bank
00:15:48.71\00:15:52.88
and we are moving
to a cashless society
00:15:52.91\00:15:56.25
because I never... ask Jason,
I never have cash on me, ever...
00:15:56.28\00:16:00.32
because we don't
carry cash anymore
00:16:00.36\00:16:04.23
and so,
whereas... like you James,
00:16:04.29\00:16:08.10
years ago, even though
I'm much older than you...
00:16:08.13\00:16:11.40
but years ago, I used to
wonder "You know how...?"
00:16:11.43\00:16:14.60
James: You don't look like it.
00:16:14.64\00:16:15.97
Yvonne: Awww... see that's why
I love you guys, see... I know
00:16:16.00\00:16:19.54
no points... but
no... but seriously...
00:16:19.57\00:16:23.68
I wondered how could
we get to a place where...
00:16:23.71\00:16:27.08
where that could be
enforced? James: I did too.
00:16:27.12\00:16:30.92
Yvonne: And now I see
it's... it's coming...
00:16:30.95\00:16:33.79
Yvonne: It is... it's
coming before our very eyes.
00:16:33.86\00:16:36.29
James: My son recently
got his car broken into,
00:16:36.32\00:16:38.76
he came home
hungry, just off work...
00:16:38.79\00:16:41.63
all day long, went
into the house to eat
00:16:41.66\00:16:44.50
locked his car
up, went back out...
00:16:44.53\00:16:46.94
a friend drove by... he said,
"Hey, your trunk's open... "
00:16:46.97\00:16:49.40
went back out...
someone had broken into the car,
00:16:49.47\00:16:51.37
stole his wallet, his
wallet was stolen there,
00:16:51.41\00:16:53.34
all his
identification, his bank card,
00:16:53.38\00:16:55.48
his social security
card, driver's license...
00:16:55.51\00:16:58.18
so what's the
situation right now...
00:16:58.21\00:17:00.12
well, they started
accessing his accounts,
00:17:00.15\00:17:02.78
they started setting
up false credit cards
00:17:02.82\00:17:05.42
moving money
out... all kinds of...
00:17:05.45\00:17:06.99
so we had to
shut everything down
00:17:07.02\00:17:08.52
but he has no
money... he has no way of...
00:17:08.56\00:17:11.83
so I have to work
with him to get him cash
00:17:11.86\00:17:15.80
because he has no way
of accessing any of that
00:17:15.83\00:17:19.37
because all his ID is gone,
00:17:19.40\00:17:21.00
I mean, these
guys were so on this,
00:17:21.07\00:17:23.20
they went to
Target with his card
00:17:23.24\00:17:25.31
bought $300 worth of stuff
and then they would deny it
00:17:25.37\00:17:29.44
because his card was shut down,
00:17:29.48\00:17:30.81
they went back...
they called the bank,
00:17:30.85\00:17:33.31
they said, "I found my card"
00:17:33.35\00:17:34.68
went back to
Target the next day...
00:17:34.72\00:17:36.92
put 400 bucks on the card
and it went right through.
00:17:36.95\00:17:38.95
Yvonne: Wow!
00:17:38.99\00:17:40.46
James: That's what...
how they're working it...
00:17:40.52\00:17:41.86
so we had to
shut down everything
00:17:41.89\00:17:43.22
so, he doesn't have any cash,
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.09
he goes to the bank,
he doesn't have any ID
00:17:45.13\00:17:48.46
no way of doing
anything... or proving anything
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.87
he lost his
identity and so he's stuck.
00:17:51.90\00:17:56.37
He can't put gas in his
car, he can't do anything,
00:17:56.40\00:17:58.41
so you're right, it's just...
00:17:58.44\00:18:00.98
and here's the
deal... the characteristic is
00:18:01.01\00:18:03.88
this power has to have
worldwide economic control
00:18:03.95\00:18:09.55
so, what is the
power in the world today
00:18:09.58\00:18:12.62
that has economic
dominance... economic...
00:18:12.65\00:18:14.89
see that's what
we're looking at right here
00:18:14.92\00:18:17.09
so these are two
added characteristics
00:18:17.13\00:18:19.33
that tell us
00:18:19.36\00:18:20.80
that this has got to be
the United States of America.
00:18:20.83\00:18:23.16
You've got all of the history
there that fits perfectly
00:18:23.20\00:18:25.10
but then you've got a power
00:18:25.13\00:18:26.47
that's coming to
the top economically
00:18:26.50\00:18:27.84
and you've got another
power that's coming to the top
00:18:27.87\00:18:29.37
that's connected with the
Papacy that's coming to the top
00:18:29.40\00:18:32.04
and has the military
might to enforce this...
00:18:32.07\00:18:36.71
they've got to
have military might
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.21
and they've got to
have economic might
00:18:38.25\00:18:39.65
and so, yeah, we can
get confused and we think,
00:18:39.71\00:18:42.48
"Well no... what about China?
What about... you know... "
00:18:42.52\00:18:44.92
that's true... these
guys... but in the long run
00:18:44.95\00:18:48.16
stick to the Bible,
00:18:48.19\00:18:49.52
stick to what Bible
Prophecy tells us...
00:18:49.56\00:18:51.16
because when you
look at the United States,
00:18:51.19\00:18:53.29
the United States
has done a major...
00:18:53.33\00:18:56.16
an incredible job of
holding on to its resources...
00:18:56.20\00:19:00.10
depleting the
resources of other nations
00:19:00.14\00:19:02.90
and allowing
"self" to have reserves
00:19:02.94\00:19:05.24
that far
surpass any other nation
00:19:05.27\00:19:07.58
and that's what is going to
take it...  right on through
00:19:07.61\00:19:09.81
I think when you
look at this prophecy,
00:19:09.84\00:19:11.31
right on
through to the very end.
00:19:11.35\00:19:12.88
We're going to
see those hold it out.
00:19:12.91\00:19:14.38
Ivor: I think there's
another important thing
00:19:14.42\00:19:17.35
for us to focus on as
we look at this description
00:19:17.39\00:19:20.46
because... and we mentioned
this in the previous program
00:19:20.49\00:19:23.53
but the lamb-like beast...
00:19:23.56\00:19:27.60
horns of a
lamb... speaks as a dragon
00:19:27.63\00:19:29.26
it represents... it
represents America as a nation
00:19:29.30\00:19:33.57
but it even gets more specific
00:19:33.60\00:19:35.57
and it actually
represents Protestantism
00:19:35.60\00:19:38.64
okay, in other words, it
is... it is Protestantism
00:19:38.67\00:19:44.11
what we call
"Apostate Protestantism"
00:19:44.15\00:19:47.52
that actually speaks like a lamb
00:19:47.55\00:19:50.69
but does what?
Acts like a dragon
00:19:50.72\00:19:53.76
and so, we look at what's
going on today in America, right
00:19:53.79\00:19:57.56
you've got the Religious
Right and you've got...
00:19:57.59\00:20:00.76
the... what they
call the Liberal Left...
00:20:00.80\00:20:04.03
and it seems like
there's this war of culture
00:20:04.07\00:20:08.07
right, you know,
abortion, same-sex marriage...
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.77
it seems like they are
just pushing... as it were
00:20:11.81\00:20:15.41
against Christianity...
00:20:15.44\00:20:16.81
and "we don't want
Christianity" but this is so key
00:20:16.85\00:20:20.08
because, you see,
part of the reason,
00:20:20.12\00:20:24.02
in fact this... I'm going
to say that the "Left" exists
00:20:24.05\00:20:28.82
I should say this, "the
anti-Christian sentiment
00:20:28.86\00:20:34.46
in America exists
00:20:34.50\00:20:35.83
because of the
Christian element in America. "
00:20:35.86\00:20:38.30
Yvonne: Hmmm...
explain it... unpack it.
00:20:38.33\00:20:40.17
Ivor: Okay, let me unpack it,
00:20:40.20\00:20:41.54
so, when the
world looks at Christ,
00:20:41.57\00:20:44.67
they want to see
something that looks like a lamb
00:20:44.71\00:20:48.21
and acts like a lamb.
00:20:48.24\00:20:51.35
James: Speaks like a
lamb. Ivor: Speaks like a lamb
00:20:51.38\00:20:53.01
but when they look
at today's Christianity,
00:20:53.05\00:20:57.85
and they see hypocrisy,
what do they usually say?
00:20:57.89\00:21:02.16
"Well, if that's
what a Christian is,
00:21:02.22\00:21:03.66
then I don't want
anything to do with it"
00:21:03.69\00:21:05.09
right, and that's the
biggest... biggest argument...
00:21:05.13\00:21:08.10
Christians that just...
they act like worldlings...
00:21:08.13\00:21:11.07
whatever...
they're against abortion
00:21:11.13\00:21:14.24
but they don't mind doing a
whole bunch of other things,
00:21:14.27\00:21:17.54
do you see what I'm saying?
00:21:17.57\00:21:18.91
They don't mind not helping...
we don't want to help, you know,
00:21:18.94\00:21:20.88
"pull yourself up by
your own bootstraps... "
00:21:20.91\00:21:23.04
all that whole philosophy
00:21:23.08\00:21:24.81
so, we have this
culture war going on,
00:21:24.88\00:21:27.85
we see the
liberal element in America
00:21:27.88\00:21:31.39
looking like it's
gaining the ascendency
00:21:31.42\00:21:33.89
but the Bible
tells us... and I mean,
00:21:33.96\00:21:36.39
this is just so amazing
00:21:36.42\00:21:37.79
because I know in the
last five... six years,
00:21:37.83\00:21:41.03
I've looked at the
anti-Christian element
00:21:41.06\00:21:44.13
in this Nation and I'm going,
00:21:44.17\00:21:45.73
"Man! I know
what the prophecy says
00:21:45.77\00:21:48.67
but it just looks like
we're getting swallowed up, Man!
00:21:48.70\00:21:53.17
This is... and... and... "
00:21:53.21\00:21:54.54
so you have this thought that
00:21:54.58\00:21:57.61
"Man! Christianity
is just going down,
00:21:57.65\00:21:59.91
people are leaving the
church, blah, blah, blah... "
00:21:59.95\00:22:01.72
but guess what? As you
look at what's going on,
00:22:01.75\00:22:05.15
as you look at societies,
00:22:05.19\00:22:06.52
you look at
this backlash against
00:22:06.55\00:22:09.29
the liberal element in America,
00:22:09.32\00:22:12.16
like, I'm just
blown away like...
00:22:12.19\00:22:14.10
"What, where
did this come from?"
00:22:14.13\00:22:15.96
"Oh yeah, it came
from the Bible... "
00:22:16.03\00:22:17.37
right, so, when you see this
00:22:17.40\00:22:19.50
"horns of a lamb...
speak as a dragon... "
00:22:19.53\00:22:21.60
and you realize, this is
speaking about a Christianity
00:22:21.64\00:22:25.41
that professes to serve Christ
but it's acting like a dragon
00:22:25.47\00:22:30.05
it's speaking like a
dragon and here's the thing,
00:22:30.08\00:22:33.28
and it talks about
making an image to the beast,
00:22:33.31\00:22:36.48
okay, the beast... the
first beast... what was it?
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.69
It was a Church
and a State together...
00:22:39.72\00:22:42.76
it was an entity that
believed in Church-State...
00:22:42.79\00:22:46.33
the Church and
State should be united
00:22:46.36\00:22:48.73
and those who do not
agree with the church,
00:22:48.76\00:22:51.70
should have civil penalties...
00:22:51.73\00:22:54.14
they should not have
the same civil rights.
00:22:54.17\00:22:57.04
So, what do you
see happening today?
00:22:57.11\00:22:59.44
You see the
Christian element in America
00:22:59.47\00:23:03.21
seeking to turn
this nation back to God
00:23:03.24\00:23:06.98
through civil authority
00:23:07.02\00:23:09.65
so "we got to get
our own judges in...
00:23:09.68\00:23:11.92
we've got to get our
own people into office
00:23:11.95\00:23:15.32
so, that way... we
can legislate morality"
00:23:15.36\00:23:18.69
and this is what you find
going on in Revelation 13,
00:23:18.73\00:23:22.53
you see this trend of...
00:23:22.56\00:23:24.47
"No, no, no... "
you hear people arguing,
00:23:24.50\00:23:25.93
"there is no such thing as
separation of Church and State,
00:23:25.97\00:23:27.70
I mean... no, no, no...
00:23:27.74\00:23:29.07
if we want this Nation
to be a righteous Nation
00:23:29.10\00:23:30.97
we've got to turn this
Nation back to God... "
00:23:31.01\00:23:33.04
and, in a sense, yes,
00:23:33.07\00:23:35.28
we do want to turn the nation
back to God... but guess what?
00:23:35.31\00:23:37.55
The way to turn
this Nation back to God
00:23:37.58\00:23:39.91
is through the Word of
God, not through legislative...
00:23:39.95\00:23:43.49
not through forcing...
not through dictating...
00:23:43.52\00:23:46.72
"this is what righteousness is"
00:23:46.76\00:23:48.39
but God has commissioned
us to preach the gospel
00:23:48.42\00:23:51.29
right, and so, when
you see this element...
00:23:51.33\00:23:54.10
because the dragon uses force,
00:23:54.13\00:23:56.30
the dragon is
always about force,
00:23:56.33\00:23:58.73
so when you see
this lamb-like beast
00:23:58.77\00:24:01.10
wanting to use the Government,
00:24:01.17\00:24:04.34
wanting to use force
to back up its claims,
00:24:04.37\00:24:09.98
this is what you see
happening in Revelation 13.
00:24:10.01\00:24:12.68
So, Revelation 13 is actually...
00:24:12.71\00:24:15.08
if you read
Revelation 13 and the Right...
00:24:15.12\00:24:16.69
you can look at what's going on
the in the world today and go,
00:24:16.72\00:24:18.82
"Whoa, this is Revelation
13 being fulfilled... "
00:24:18.85\00:24:21.59
and just in case you thought
00:24:21.62\00:24:23.32
the Liberal element was
going to overtake this Country,
00:24:23.36\00:24:29.23
no... you know... both are being
deceived by the enemy of God.
00:24:29.26\00:24:33.27
Yvonne: That's what I see too.
00:24:33.30\00:24:35.10
Ivor: Both are being
deceived by the enemy of God
00:24:35.14\00:24:38.17
but one is... it's like...
the devil has two masks...
00:24:38.21\00:24:41.18
and both masks... he puts on...
00:24:41.21\00:24:44.81
in order to really, in essence,
00:24:44.85\00:24:47.02
draw people away from God.
00:24:47.08\00:24:48.42
Yvonne: That's right.
00:24:48.45\00:24:49.78
Ivor: So either, "Hey, Man!
if that's what a Christian is...
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.15
I don't want
anything to do with it"
00:24:51.19\00:24:52.52
or, "You guys! You
don't believe in God...
00:24:52.55\00:24:55.99
you don't believe in the
Bible and because of that,
00:24:56.02\00:24:58.06
God's going to burn you
up forever and ever and ever
00:24:58.09\00:25:00.06
and ever and ever
because He loves you... "
00:25:00.10\00:25:01.46
Yvonne: You go... "What?"
00:25:01.50\00:25:03.47
Ivor: "Wait a minute...
wait a minute... wait a minute,
00:25:03.53\00:25:05.60
this is a God of love who
burns people forever and ever
00:25:05.63\00:25:07.54
and ever and ever so... "
00:25:07.57\00:25:08.90
you know... and so
you have this confusion,
00:25:08.94\00:25:11.24
you have this confusion
and this is what's going on,
00:25:11.27\00:25:14.84
people are being polarized
and you see that polarization
00:25:14.88\00:25:18.38
happening... they're
either going for one deception
00:25:18.41\00:25:21.32
or the other... or they're like,
00:25:21.38\00:25:23.18
"I like this deception
better than that deception"
00:25:23.22\00:25:25.49
but it's both deception...
00:25:25.52\00:25:26.99
Yvonne: And as Danny said,
00:25:27.02\00:25:28.39
"The devil doesn't care which
side of the boat you fall out on
00:25:28.42\00:25:30.63
as long as you fall out. "
00:25:30.66\00:25:32.03
Ivor: Exactly.
00:25:32.09\00:25:33.43
Yvonne: And I think that
it... it's what we see...
00:25:33.46\00:25:36.23
it's what we see
in the news every day.
00:25:36.26\00:25:38.37
Ivor: Yeah.
00:25:38.40\00:25:39.73
Yvonne: This polarization...
00:25:39.77\00:25:41.10
this thing where you're
on this side or this side...
00:25:41.14\00:25:44.21
Ivor: And so, we're told that
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.54
this side will
win out in the end,
00:25:46.57\00:25:48.68
right, and when it wins
out in the end, guess what?
00:25:48.71\00:25:51.98
I mean, you know,
"It looks Christian...
00:25:52.01\00:25:56.08
but in fact it
speaks as a dragon. "
00:25:56.12\00:26:00.16
Jason: People want to
pull God out of everything
00:26:00.19\00:26:03.73
and then wonder why we
have so many problems today.
00:26:03.76\00:26:07.30
James: This is a good point
00:26:07.33\00:26:09.16
and I really want
us to look at this,
00:26:09.20\00:26:11.13
Revelation 13 is where we are,
Romans 13 is another chapter
00:26:11.17\00:26:14.90
that would really help us with
00:26:14.94\00:26:16.27
the discussion
we're having right now,
00:26:16.30\00:26:17.64
Romans 13 tells us the balance
with Government and Civil Law
00:26:17.67\00:26:24.05
in relation to religion
00:26:24.08\00:26:25.41
now, Romans 13 is written
by Paul when Nero is ruling
00:26:25.45\00:26:30.95
he's the "President" in office
00:26:30.99\00:26:35.02
and he outlines for us here,
00:26:35.09\00:26:39.09
and I'm just going to give a
quick overview of this chapter,
00:26:39.13\00:26:41.66
the outline is for us here...
a good balance in relation to
00:26:41.70\00:26:44.23
laws that should be followed
in relation to Government
00:26:44.27\00:26:49.37
that don't
contradict religious freedom
00:26:49.40\00:26:53.07
and the laws that have
to be enacted are summarized
00:26:53.11\00:26:56.31
in Romans chapter
13 and verses 9 and 10.
00:26:56.34\00:27:01.38
Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:27:01.42\00:27:03.28
James: Jason... I'll
read it because I'm there...
00:27:03.32\00:27:05.02
you're not there yet,
okay, "For this... " Romans 13:9
00:27:05.05\00:27:08.82
"that thou shalt
not commit adultery,
00:27:08.86\00:27:11.03
Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not steal,
00:27:11.09\00:27:12.89
Thou shalt not
bear false witness,
00:27:12.93\00:27:14.26
and thou shalt not covet;
00:27:14.30\00:27:15.63
and if there be
any other commandment,
00:27:15.66\00:27:17.00
it is briefly comprehended
in this saying, namely,
00:27:17.03\00:27:18.63
Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself. "
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.44
Now we only have
a few seconds left
00:27:20.50\00:27:22.44
so I just want to
just make this point
00:27:22.47\00:27:24.37
and we can build on it
in our next time together,
00:27:24.41\00:27:26.81
Paul here is talking about
00:27:26.84\00:27:29.51
how we should relate
to Government and its laws
00:27:29.54\00:27:32.11
and he quotes from
the commandments of God
00:27:32.18\00:27:34.42
but he never
quotes from the first four
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.65
and then he says, "If
there's any other commandment,
00:27:36.69\00:27:41.49
it is briefly
comprehended in this...
00:27:41.52\00:27:43.12
'thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself... '"
00:27:43.16\00:27:44.49
which again, only allows
us to relate to the last six
00:27:44.53\00:27:48.53
but not the first four.
00:27:48.56\00:27:49.90
We're going to stop right
there because we're out of time
00:27:49.93\00:27:51.53
but we're going to pick this up
because this is a gem... gem...
00:27:51.57\00:27:55.80
that we need to look at
in relation to Revelation 13.
00:27:55.84\00:27:57.87
All right, so we'll pick up
right here when we come back.
00:27:57.91\00:27:59.64
Yvonne: Great.
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.01