- And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Revelation 13:15 – Listen to what Habakkuk 2:19 says, “Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.” Everything this first and second beast is doing seems to imitate something of God or to seek to counter something He said to be true. Like here breath is given to their idol to make it seem alive and deceive people. As we move forward know our enemy is going to do everything he can to deceive us and stop us. He’ll take scripture out of context to confuse us, he’ll imitate the power of God as much as he can, he’ll even seek to disprove God by his actions like we see done here. Be aware of this and be watchful. This is not meant to instill fear in your hearts, this is just to bring to light what the enemy is trying to keep hidden. Know he is moving and has plans to move more. Know as well God is moving and has bigger plans to more even more. There’s a reason why the enemy would want to imitate the power of God. For why would you seek to imitate the power of something if it held less power than you? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1581
- Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:7-8 – In our chapter we are introduced to two beasts, the first which is the Antichrist, and the second which is the False Prophet. During the space of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will rise to power in the world for seven years. The False Prophet will also be present in this time to promote the worship of the Antichrist. During this time horrible things will be said of God, the believers of God will be persecuted and executed, and the sign and wonders will be done to point all people to the worship of Satan. They will have control of the world’s economy and all powers, and all who do not submit to the Antichrist’s rule will be unable to survive on earth. These are crazy and intense times that are ahead for our world. Let us though remind ourselves of what scripture has to say about the future of these two beasts. Revelation 19:20 says, “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” While their power will seem grand, and the world will believe no one is like this beast and none can fight against it, when Jesus steps onto the scene, everything changes. Hold fast then to the hope you have in Jesus. Whether it’s the persecution we are reading about in our chapter, or the trials you are facing today as a believer, remember our God is mightier than our enemy. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2797
Daily DEVO 