666

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Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 3:51pm

By disfranchisement, allowing none to enjoy natural, civil, or municipal rights, who will not worship that papal beast, that is, the image of the pagan beast. It is made a qualification for buying and selling the rights of nature, as well as for places of profit and trust, that they have the mark of the beast in their forehead and in their right hand, and that they have the name of the beast and the number of his name. It is probable that the mark, the name, and the number of the beast, may all signify the same thing—that they make an open profession of their subjection and obedience to the papacy, which is receiving the mark in their forehead, and that they oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavour, to promote the papal authority, which is receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that pope Martin V. in his bull, added to the council of Constance, prohibits Roman catholics from suffering any heretics to dwell in their countries, or to make any bargains, use any trades, or bear any civil offices, which is a very clear interpretation of this prophecy.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 3:53pm

The methods by which this second beast carried on his interests and designs; they are of three sorts: Lying wonders, pretended miracles, by which they should be deceived, and prevailed with to worship the former beast in this new image or shape that was now made for him; they would pretend to bring down fire from heaven, as Elias did, and God sometimes permits his enemies, as he did the magicians of Egypt, to do things that seem very wonderful, and by which unwary persons may be deluded. It is well known that the papal kingdom has been long supported by pretended miracles. Excommunications, anathemas, severe censures, by which they pretend to cut men off from Christ, and cast them into the power of the devil, but do indeed deliver them over to the secular power, that they may be put to death; and thus, notwithstanding their vile hypocrisy, they are justly charged with killing those whom they cannot corrupt.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:02pm

We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:05pm

Whence this beast came—out of the sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem it would be to set forth the mystery of iniquity and tyranny. 3. What was the form and shape of this beast. It was for the most part like a leopard, but its feet were like the feet of a bear and its mouth as the mouth of a lion; it had seven heads, and ten horns, and upon its heads the name of blasphemy: the most horrid and hideous monster! In some part of this description here seems to be an allusion to Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which represented the four monarchies, Dan. 7:1-3, etc. One of these beasts was like a lion, another like a bear, and another like a leopard; this beast was a sort of composition of those three, with the fierceness, strength, and swiftness, of them all;

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:09pm

the seven heads and the ten horns seem to design its several powers; the ten crowns, its tributary princes; the word blasphemy on its forehead proclaims its direct enmity and opposition to the glory of God, by promoting idolatry. 4. The source and spring of his authority—the dragon; he gave him his power, and seat, and great authority.

He was set up by the devil, and supported by him to do his work and promote his interest; and the devil lent him all the assistance he could. 5. A dangerous wound given him, and yet unexpectedly healed, v. 3. Some think that by this wounded head we are to understand the abolishing of pagan idolatry; and by the healing of the wound the introducing of the popish idolatry, the same in substance with the former, only in a new dress, and which as effectually answers the devil’s design as that did. 6. The honour and worship paid to this infernal monster: All the world wondered after the beast; they all admired his power, and policy, and success, and they worshipped the dragon that gave power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast; they paid honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments, and thought there was no power able to withstand them: so great were the darkness, degeneracy, and madness of the world!

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:12pm

How he exercised his infernal power and policy: He had a mouth, speaking great things, and blasphemies; he blasphemed God, the name of God, the tabernacle of God, and all those that dwell in heaven; and he made war with the saints, and overcame them, and gained a sort of universal empire in the world. His malice was principally levelled at the God of heaven, and his heavenly attendants—at God, in making images of him that is invisible, and in worshipping them;—at the tabernacle of God, that is, say some, at the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which God dwells as in a tabernacle; this is dishonoured by their doctrine of transubstantiation, which will not suffer his body to be a true body, and will put it into the power of every priest to prepare a body for Christ;—and against those that dwell in heaven, the glorified saints, by putting them into the place of the pagan demons, and praying to them, which they are so far from being pleased with that they truly judge themselves wronged and dishonoured by it.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:14pm

Thus the malice of the devil shows itself against heaven and the blessed inhabitants of heaven. These are above the reach of his power. All he can do is to blaspheme them; but the saints on earth are more exposed to his cruelty, and he sometimes is permitted to triumph over them and trample upon them. 8. The limitation of the devil’s power and success, and that both as to time and persons. He is limited in point of time; his reign is to continue forty-and-two months (v. 5), suitable to the other prophetical characters of the reign of antichrist. He is also limited as to the persons and people that he shall entirely subject his will and power;

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:16pm

it will be only those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. Christ had a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist might overcome their bodily strength, and take away their natural life, they could never conquer their souls, nor prevail with them to forsake their Saviour and revolt to his enemies.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:20pm

Here is a demand of attention to what is here discovered of the great sufferings and troubles of the church, and an assurance given that when God has accomplished his work on mount Zion, his refining work, then he will turn his hand against the enemies of his people, and those who have killed with the sword shall themselves fall by the sword (v. 10), and those who led the people of God into captivity shall themselves be made captives. Here now is that which will be proper exercise for the patience and faith of the saints—patience under the prospect of such great sufferings, and faith in the prospect of so glorious a deliverance.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:21pm

Rev 13:11-18

Those who think the first beast signifies Rome pagan by this second beast would understand Rome papal, which promotes idolatry and tyranny, but in a more soft and lamb-like manner: those that understand the first beast of the secular power of the papacy take the second to intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers, which act under the disguise of religion and charity to the souls of men. Here observe,

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:34pm

The form and shape of this second beast: He had two horns like a lamb, but a mouth that spoke like the dragon. All agree that this must be some great impostor, who, under a pretence of religion, shall deceive the souls of men. The papists would have it to be Apollonius Tyranaeus; but Dr. More has rejected that opinion, and fixes it upon the ecclesiastical powers of the papacy. The pope shows the horns of a lamb, pretends to be the vicar of Christ upon earth, and so to be vested with his power and authority; but his speech betrays him, for he gives forth those false doctrines and cruel decrees which show him to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on November 25, 2008 at 4:36pm

The power which he exercises: All the power of the former beast (v. 12); he promotes the same interest, pursues the same design in substance, which is, to draw men off from worshipping the true God to worshipping those who by nature are no gods, and subject the souls and consciences of men to the will and authority of men, in opposition to the will of God. This design is promoted by the popery as well as by paganism, and by the crafty arts of popery as well as by the secular arm, both serving the interests of the devil, though in a different manner.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 3, 2008 at 10:55pm

The apostle John in Revelation 13 has a vision of a beast rising up out of the sea.

Revelation 13:1 And he [the dragon] stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.



The aspect of this beast is similar to a leopard.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like 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 throne, and great authority.

The interpretation of the symbols in the vision, if we follow the example of the visions given to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:17), is that the beast is a government; the sea represents multitudes of peoples (a nation); and the dragon represents Satan (Revelation 12:9).

If we look at the characteristics of a leopard, we find that leopards are solitary hunters who like to ambush their prey by pouncing on them from a tree at night, in difference to a lion who actively pursues its prey in the daylight. This is why lions are traditionally thought of as courageous, something that our leopard-like government is lacking. Leopards utilize the element of surprise in order to kill their prey, not so much strength or speed.

This government, according to the aforementioned characteristics, prefers secrecy and anonymity. Therefore, it will function through subterfuge; it will not come out in the open and state the truth to its citizens.

The beast has the paws of a bear. Bear paws are plantigrade; they lie flat on the ground like a human foot; a bear walks with the entire lower surface of the foot touching the ground. A leopard, in contrast, walks on its toes. The bear paw implies a government that is "down to earth" with its feet on the ground, not as a leopard who only walks on its toes. We think it would therefore be a government "of the people," not a monarchy or one with an aristocracy.

Another difference is that leopards have claws that are retractable; bear claws are not retractable; bears always have their claws out. The nonretractable bear claws implies a government that never plays nice. Therefore, he will not be merciful with those that disobey him.

The rule of this beastly government will be worldwide (over ALL nations).

The apostle John states that the dragon gave the beast "his power, and his throne, and great authority Revelation 13:2. Therefore, this beast is determined to do the will of Satan and to oppose the will of God.

Revelation 13:5-6 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

There is another beast Revelation 13:11 and I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

This beast might have a milder appearance with two horns like a lamb, but he is no lamb, he speaks as the dragon (Satan).http://www.rapturechrist.com/satan.htm


Revelation 13:12 And he

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 3, 2008 at 10:58pm

Revelation 13:12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

It deceives humanity by doing wonders. Revelation 13:13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

This 2nd beast that looks similar to a lamb commands the nations into "making an image" of the leopard-like beast.

Revelation 13:14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by means of the signs 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 lived.

This second beast tricks people by the "signs" that it is capable of doing. We believe the signs have to do with the advanced technology that this government has -- advanced military technology in the form of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons (brings fire down from heaven), and advanced medical technology (revives the leopard-like beast).

The second beast is a repressive entity which not only deceives the multitudes by the "wonders" which he is able to do, but kills those which oppose the orders given by the first beast.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give spirit [life] to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

What could the apostle John have meant when he stated "to give life " to the image of the beast so that the image should "speak?" The apostle John saw something that looked like the leopard-like beast which was able to speak, but he realized that it was not the real beast. We believe that it is possible for an image to speak with the advent of movies, TV, and videos. With this technology we can see images of things that are occurring, images of things that have occurred in the past, and visions of the future.

This 2nd beast, therefore, is working in unison with the 1st beast.

He also makes everybody to get a mark that is used, among other things, to buy or sell.

Revelation 13:16-17 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save him that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

There are three components

Mark
Name of the beast
Number of his name
1. The mark is an implantable microchip. The mark identifies who you are, similar to the photograph in your driver's license.
2. The number is a security code similar to your credit card number. It identifies you. Only you have that number.
3. The name is like a password or PIN number. You need it to take out money, or to authorize transactions.

The word used for "MARK" is the Greek word "c a r a g m a" "charagma" which means engraving. It will be a real engraved microchip insert that is placed in the human hand. Microchips have a crystal structure and are etched (engraved) with chemicals when they are fabricated. These etched canals serve as boundaries for the flow of information inside the microchip.

Revelation 13:16-17 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save him that had the MARK, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Many speculations exist as to the identity of the two beasts. With the advance of technology, many religious groups worry that the technology already exists today to create an implantable device, that will be used as an identifier and "credit card." This is believed to be the "mark" of the beast, and it will be necessary to buy or sell.

The following current events are in motion to ease the public's acceptance of the Mark of the Beast:

1. Steadi

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 3, 2008 at 11:02pm

. Steadily, over the years, a one-world government is becoming a reality.

2. The unification of Europe is one step in the direction of a one-world government.
3. A common currency (the euro) is already established in most European nations.

4. English is the unifying language for the world -- the language of the internet.

5. The credit/debit card is making a cashless society a reality.

6. The debit card is used most everywhere and is accepted more easily than money.

7. Money in paper form is no longer accepted in many establishments, especially denominations of $50 and $100.

8. The implantation of foreign objects or organs into humans is already accepted by the public as "normal."

We believe that it will not take long for an identity/credit/debit/social security card to be "implanted" into human beings. It will serve many purposes. Not only will it be used to identify the person, due to the fact that it cannot be lost or stolen, it will also be used as a credit/debit card. It could contain important information that could "save" the person's life such as: allergies, medications being taken, and medical history.

The "implant" could be used as a locator device in case the person or child became lost or kidnapped. It could also be used as a phone device and portable PC.

The technology for this device already exists. See Mark Tech. http://www.rapturechrist.com/666.htm

The leopard-like beast is identified by a number that we are supposed to count.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty six.

There are many possibilities in which to take the number and count it and arrive to the 666 total. It could be the social security number which is divided into three sections and the addition of the three sections would come up to 666. For example, 600-60-0006.
But it will be his own personal number.

If this is the case, there are several possible combinations that could give this total.

There could be other possibilities. New developments in technology may open our eyes to realize new meanings to these prophecies. As Christ advised us, keep up the watch!

The side effects of having this mark may be numerous, one of them is a malignant ulcer. Revelation 16:2 And a hurtful and malignant ulcer came to be upon the men who had the mark of the wild beast.

One thing is certain, we are not supposed to accept the mark -- no matter what. The bible gives us a clear warning about this.

Revelation 14:9-10 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud 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 mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."

Revelation 14:11-12 And 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. Here is the endurance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

May God save us from this hour of trial by taking us in His rapture/rescue before these events start to happen.

Revelation 3:10 Because you did keep the word of my endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of the trial that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the earth.