235 Daily Grace Jan 11 2010 – Worshiping the Dragon, the Beast, and the Image

Daily Grace

In Revelation 13, we are given four personages.  These are all tied to Satan.  Before we get into this devotion remember what the sin of Lucifer was proclaimed to be in Isaiah 14:12 – 15.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Lucifer desired God’s throne.  Lucifer was full of pride and envy.  In Revelation 13, Satan gets a small taste of what he sinfully desired.  Men that will be left upon earth during the Tribulation will turn and begin to worship the dragon, the beast, and the image.  Notice the personalities and what their roles are in this chapter:

1. The Dragon (v. 2) – “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”  The dragon is the Devil or Satan (see 12:9).  According to verse 4 of our chapter the dragon is worshipped.  He is also seen as giving power.
2. A Beast (v. 1) – “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”  When compared to other Scriptures about the Antichrist, this beast appears to be the same person as the Antichrist.  According to II Thessalonians 2, this individual will be revealed after the Holy Spirit is removed (after the catching away of God’s people).  This beast could be alive and well today, but he has not yet been revealed.  This beast is also worshipped in the Tribulation period.
3. Another Beast (v. 11) – “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”  This particular beast is who we would call the “false prophet.”  He too will possess great power.  He causes “the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast.”  While the Antichrist seems to show strength politically, this particular individual has an emphasis religiously.  Notice the word “miracles” in verse 14.
4. Image to the Beast (v. 14) – “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”  This image that is made to the Antichrist is worshipped, and it is given the ability to speak, and anyone that would not worship the image is to be killed.