I've read a few verses this morning
from the book of Job, the twelfth chapter of the book of
Job. The ninth verse of the twelfth
chapter of the book of Job. It says, Who knoweth not in all
these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of
every living thing and the breath of all mankind. of the book of Job. Job says, Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him, but I will maintain mine own ways
before him. He also shall be my salvation
for the hypocrite shall not come before Him. Turning back to the thirteenth
chapter of the book of Revelation, picking up where we left off. John having seen the very embodiment
described as a beast with two horns. False religion. This is the way that the flesh
perceives religion. God. This is the way the flesh
perceives. Dual action between God and man. They've got to see something.
Miracles and signs and wonders. You've got to have something.
You've got to have some show on the outside. Whether it's
a collar turned backwards or a fancy robe or a cross or something,
you've got to show something. And verse 14 says of this beast
that doeth great wonders, maketh light fire come down from heaven
on the earth and the sight of men, and actually is accomplishing. Why? Because God sent him strong
delusion. God has given men exactly what
they want. You ask the false religionists,
do you believe those miracles are actually from God? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Completely disregarding
Scripture. Do you believe that Almighty
God is accomplishing these things? Yes. Does Scripture ever bear
out that there were sorcerers and magicians actually doing
something in Egypt? Yes. Yes. What were they doing? Doing exactly what God purposed
that they do. strong delusion. Scripture says in verse 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 earth, that they should make
an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and
did live. Now, what is the effect? of this second beast. What is
the effect of false religion? Let me just get it down where
we'll understand what I'm talking about. Just get it out of your
mind that there's going to be a dragon walking down the road. Get it out of your mind that
there's going to be a dragon that's got ten heads that's going
to show up on the earth somewhere. This ten-headed dragon or beast
And this two-horned beast is setting forth what the new man,
the regenerate, wars against. And Paul the Apostle reveals
it to be the flesh. That's what it is. It's the flesh. And what the flesh loves and
what the flesh worships and what the flesh desires, flesh. That which is flesh is flesh.
The effect of the second beast, false religion, is deception.
That's what it is. And deceiveth them that dwell
on the earth. This flesh set forth as a two-horned
beast and this ten-headed beast is the means by which Satan deceives. Deception. This deception is said to be by miracles, which
he had the power to do again. He had power to do. Same word. Causeth, accomplisheth, exercises. He had power to do. Same word,
I said a while ago, made sin. Same word. it accomplished. The job was done. The effect
of it was done. That he had power to do in the
sight of the beast. Natural man. As I said, he's
got to have something to see because man by nature does not
have faith. You know, I've quoted it. Turn
to 2 Thessalonians. I've quoted that Scripture before,
and every time I quote it, later on I think, you know what, I
should have had a turn to that, because I've made this statement
before and it's Scriptural. 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 2, when
I said this, the world says that everyone has a measure of faith.
Everybody's got it. And you have to exercise your
faith. And Scripture does not bear that
out. 2 Thessalonians 3, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable
and wicked men, for all have not faith. Do all men have faith?
No. Who has faith? All that Almighty God gives faith. And those that God Almighty gives
faith from above, saving faith, true faith from God, they believe. What do they believe? They believe
Christ. Faith has one object. True faith has one object. The Lord Jesus Christ. And it
believes exactly what God Almighty says concerning Him. Here is
what true faith believes. True faith believes that Almighty
God before the foundation of the world elected a people. That's
what true faith believes. False faith believes that all
men are objects of God's mercy if they'll exercise their free
will. True faith believes Ephesians 1-4. That's what they believe.
True faith believes that Christ From His Word, Neil, said, I
lay down my life for the sheep. Who are the sheep? All that God
chose before the foundation of the world. That's what true faith
believes. True faith believes this. All that my Father giveth
me shall come to me. Shall come
to me. What if a man doesn't come to
Christ? The Father didn't give him to the Son. That's just so. What if a man dies in unbelief?
Whose fault is it? His fault! It's his fault. Why? Because he didn't believe.
What was it going to take for him to believe? God was going
to have to give him life. Death doesn't believe anything.
concerning God, believes a lie. Faith. Faith is a gift of God. It's a gift of God. It's given
unto you, Paul says, to believe. Faith. True faith. Well, verse 14 says, "...he deceiveth
them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles."
He had power to do. It tells him that they ought
Build an image of the beast which had the wound by the sword. That
word sword there means judicial punishment. Man believes that
his God, and men do make mention of the Lord Jesus Christ dying
on the cross under the judgment of God. They make that assumption. But the Christ that they are
preaching that is trying to do something is not the Lord Jesus
Christ of this book. What He did, He accomplished.
He said it is finished. It is done. Our Lord was actually
forsaken by His Father and suffered the judicial punishment of His
wrath for His people. Made sin. He did die, and now
he lives. He did. But any Savior, little
s Savior, that is set forth, that is trying to do something,
if you let him, is not the Lord Jesus Christ. He accomplished. This second beast actually imitates
the truth. It says here that he tells them,
make yourself an image to the beast. This is what false religion
says. Make yourself an image to your
God that has died and made salvation possible. Make you an image.
Make an image. Now listen to me. False religion
tells men, make an image in your mind, in your imagination. Make you an image. Create one
in your mind that has made salvation possible to you, one that you
can worship. Now, can I back that statement
up? You turn to Romans 1. Turn to Romans 1. And I'm going
to show you how men's imagination, that's where you get the word
image, something created in my mind, Romans 1.21, because that when they knew God. Now, without me going back over
the previous verses, it's talking about the revelation of God in
nature. God has revealed Himself in nature. That tree right there reveals
the very nature, power, glory of Almighty God. It's in nature.
So it says, when they knew God, they looked at it, they saw it,
but they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful. I've had men say this. You have too. Look at a beautiful
mountain range. Look at the glorious mountain
range. I've had people say this. I had somebody say it to me recently.
They said, how could anybody not believe there's a God? Look
at that gorgeous, look at the Rocky Mountains. How could you
not believe there is a God? They don't. They look at that
and they say that. It sounds good. It sounds religious.
That doesn't mean anything to them. That's a rock. That means
nothing to them. How could someone not look at
all these glorious things and not believe there is God? Easy. They just don't believe it. When
they knew God, They glorified Him not as God, neither were
thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools and changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like corruptible man to birds and four-footed
beasts creeping things. Wherefore, God also gave them
up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonor their own bodies. They changed the truth into a
lie. They created something. Now you
listen. You're looking at somebody who
in false religion, false free will religion, sat there and
heard a man preaching about a God that's trying to do something.
And in my mind, Carl, He was there. He was there. I had an
image. My imagination was darkened. And that God that I had created
in my mind was exactly the way that man was telling me that
He was. I believed that. I believed it. And if I died in that unbelief,
God would justly deal with me in absolute wrath. If I died
in unbelief, I thought just like anybody else thinks. I've got
a God created in my mind, and that God did just exactly the
way that preacher says. Verse 15, He had power to give
life unto 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. The satanic, and you know that
Satan is the author. That's where the power comes.
Satan is the power behind. Why? He's a liar and everything
that he says lies, is a lie. Now that's just so. He's a liar. powered false prophet. The Scripture says, has power,
the ability to convince men that the God that they have created
in their mind is actually alive. They sing to Him. They pray to
Him. They bow to Him. They ask Him
for guidance and help. He, to them, is alive. He's real. He's real. The only thing I can liken this
to, I told you about Becca, my youngest
daughter. My sister did the same thing,
Paula. Becca had an imaginary friend. I told you this. She had an imaginary
friend. Hannah, you remember the time
we were riding down the road and she came and, look, she was
actually talking. I was driving and she told me
that her friend Tabba Dabba, Tabba Dabba, was standing right
there. And I asked her later when she
grew up, I said, Becca, did you really remember? I mean, did
you see? She said, yeah. She said she had created a...
Now don't ask me to explain all this. You know, this is a little
bit over my head here. I asked her, I said, what color
was her hair? She said, blonde. Of course, Becca's hair was blonde,
or still is. Becca, in her mind, had a friend,
had an imaginary friend. And to her, that friend was real. She talked to her, you know.
Sit down, had to have a place for Tabba Dabba. Tabba Dabba
sat next to her. Man by nature. You say, ah, that's
foolish. The Scripture says it so. Man
creates in his mind a God that is based on what he hears someone
telling him. Now, faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God, but a lie. The Scripture says
that this false prophet, false religion, had power to give life
to the image of the beast. He is real! and that the image,
the imagination of that beast could actually speak. They talk to him and they pray
to this God that's trying to do something, that's trying to
save men. And they pray to Him and ask
Him to save the lost. As I said before, if you believe
that He's done all that He can do, don't pray to Him. Pray to
the lost. They are the ones who are going
to make the last decision. They are the ones who have the
last word. Bypass the one that has done all he can do. This image, this God, to them,
actually speaks. They say they have had a word
from the Lord. But the Scripture reveals right
here, that the God that they believe in their heart, their
hearing, is actually the beast of false religion. Speaking, now here's a word that
is going to be very interesting to you. It says, "...and he had
power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image
of the beast should boast." Do you know what that word speak
is? Ventriloquist. Ventriloquist. You ever see a man holding a
puppet? His lips are not moving. He's
just kind of doing like this, you know. Well, I'm having a
good day today. And you're saying, that puppet
is speaking. No, he isn't. The power behind the puppet is
speaking. Here's false religion. God loves you. God has a wonderful
plan for you. You know, smile. God loves you. They had power to make that image
speak. And men say, that's God speaking. No, it's not. That's Satan speaking. That is absolutely a lie. It's not the truth. False religion
tells men the God that you created in your mind, the image, the
imagination, darkened, that that's God speaking. The Scripture says
no. Let me tell you something. God
Almighty never says one thing apart from this Word right here.
Never deviates from this Word. The inspired Word of Almighty
God is so If what you believe is contrary to this Scripture,
you are wrong, and God Almighty is right, and the God that you
have created in your mind that speaks, the power to give life
to the image of the beast, the image of the beast that speaks
and causes as many as would not worship the image of the beast,
should be killed. What does that mean? Well, let
me ask you this. The God that I worshipped, in
my mind before I heard the gospel." This is the way he was set forth.
He wants to do all for you if you'll let him. But if you don't let him, he'll
put you in hell. This beast could speak and cause
that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should
be killed. Man believes that they are worshiping a God of
judgment that can kill if he so desires. But he cannot give
life unless man gives him permission to do it. Permission. And he calls it, verse 16 and
verse 17, 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 he that had
the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Now, if we look back in Revelation 9, verses 3 and 4, they just
like the servants of the Lord God Himself, received a true
seal in their foreheads. That is, a seal that was seen
and known by God Himself. The Scripture reveals how we
have the name of God. God is written, Father. Do you see it? God sees it. God sees that the name of our
God might be written in their foreheads. possesses a true mark in his
mind, in his forehead, in his mind. These right here have also
a mark, the Scripture says, in their right hand or in their
foreheads. And they have received it. He
calls it all, both small and great, rich and poor, all men,
no matter what their classification, all men left to themselves. receive a mark." That means it's
given. Same word in John 10.28, "...and
I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. I give them..."
Here's a mark. Given. Just like the Lord Jesus
Christ gives eternal life, this beast has his mark on all who
worship the beast of this free will religion. They have his
mark, his image, his stamp, his brand. Two places. That word when it says to receive
a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, that word
or can be translated and just as the same word. They have got
one in their right hand. The right hand is always a symbol
of power, ability. Just the right hand. They've
got a symbol, a mark in their right hand, meaning that the
works of their flesh, what they are actually able to accomplish,
and in their foreheads, speaking of their mind. This is what they
do, and this is what they think. How do you know? that the mark
is there, whatever they do. As a man thinketh in his heart,
that's what he does. That's what he possesses. The
believer possesses a mind after Christ. Just look at this now. I'll show you. Look at Romans
7.23. How many times have we read it? Look at it again. Romans
7.23. see another law in my members,
in my being, in my flesh, warring against the law of my mind. Do
you think Paul actually walked around with the words stamped
on his forehead? He said there was actually a
law, a governing principle in my mind, my new mind, bringing
me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my members. How does any man know that that
law of sin is there? What we do. Our natures, and we've got to
act according to those natures. That which is flesh is flesh.
That which is flesh does not believe God, does not love God,
does not bow to God, but the law of my mind. can do nothing
but love Him, because it sinneth not, because the seed of Almighty
God dwells within me. And that no man might or has the ability, that's
what the word might. It doesn't mean that it's a possibility
one or the other. It means ability. No man has
the ability. to buy or sell, save he that
had the mark, or the name, or the character of the beast, or
the number of his name." Now, the effect according to this,
verse 17, no man possesses the ability. Now listen well, and
I know how men have set forth that there is going to come a
time when You know, unless you have that, you know, tattooed
on your head or tattooed, you know, it's like a mark where
they scan it or something. You can't buy or sell or something.
Let me tell you something. It's deeper than that because
I want you to remember this attitude right here. This revelation of
the flesh right here is right here in me. The same attitude
is in me, and I'm going to tell you something that's in you too.
This beast is the revelation of my flesh. So let's don't get
it off over here. Here's where the battle is right
here. What is actually being said? No man has the ability. No man might buy or sell save
he that had the mark. Name of the beast or the number
of the beast. Buy or sell what? A can of beans? A pork roast? No man possesses that attitude
or mind to be able to buy or sell salvation except that one
that has, here's where my power is right there. Here's where
my thinking is right here. This is the way I think. No man
possesses that ability to think that he can buy or sell salvation
except those that have the mind of Satan, the hand of Satan,
the power of Satan. Let me show you that. That blinded
mind, turn to Acts 8. Acts chapter 8. Peter, Acts 8, verse 13. The Scripture says concerning
Simon Magus, Simon himself believed also when he was baptized. I dealt with that a few weeks
ago. Did he truly believe? No. No, he didn't. Why? Because it proved later. You
say, well, it says he believed. The devils believe. Does all
men believe that historically there was a man named Jesus Christ
that came into this world? Yeah, they believe that. Do they
believe that He went to cross, to the crucifixion? Yeah, they
believe that. But do they have a heart for it? I can believe
a lot of things and have no heart for it. As I told you, I believe
this is a communist. And I understand the concepts.
Let's all work together, put all of our money in one pile,
and we'll distribute it out as you need it. Of course, I'll
probably be the one that decides how much you need it. That's
communism. I understand it. I believe that
part of it. But I don't have a heart for
it. Simon believed when he was baptized, he continued with Philip
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs, which were done, where
God was confirming, these men are of God. Now, when the apostles
which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they
were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy
Ghost. For as of yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. They laid their
hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon
saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this
power that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy
Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift
of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part
nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight
of God." Now, what is false religion saying? False religion is saying
God is offering something, and all you have to do is take it.
How do you buy it? Faith. Faith that they say every
man has, and the Scripture says they don't. God is selling something. And you can buy it. If you take
what God has provided for all men to use, nobody possesses
that ability to think that except back in Revelation 13, 17. No
man might buy or sell. Nobody thinks like that except
he that hath the mark. The name of the beast or the
number of his name. Nobody thinks that except those
that have that image in their mind and in their hands. What
do believers have? They've got a new mind. What do they think? They think
it's salvation of the Lord. That's what they think. Nobody
possesses that thought except those left to themselves. That's
what he's saying. No man has the ability. True
believers, thankfully, possess a mind that knows that salvation
is all of grace, all of the Lord. No works of righteousness whatsoever
for salvation. The last part of that verse right
there, I can read it to you like this. Butchered this, no man has the
ability to think that he can buy or sell the gift of the Holy
Spirit, that is, salvation, by his own ability and free will
except those that have the mark, the name, or the number of his
character, Satan's character. Nobody thinks like that except
those that God has left to themselves. Nobody thinks like that. What
do the others think? They know salvation is of the
Lord. That's what they think. But in the last verse, here is
wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast,
for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred,
threescore, and six. Here is the revelation of the
number of that beast. Scripture says it is the number
of a man. Six hundred and sixty-six. The
Scripture says that it's the number of a man, so you don't
have to wonder whether or not 666 means a man. The Scripture says it means a
man. What does it mean? Man, man, man. That's what it means. Where do we that believe look
and behold our salvation? I'll tell you where we do. the
Father who has chosen us in Him, the Son who has redeemed us by
His blood, the Spirit that has called us by His grace. This
beast here says that man is the source, man is the power, and
man is the glory. Let him that understands count
the number of this beast that we're warring against. Here's
what we're warring against. Me, me, me, and it's all about
me. And it's all about my power,
and it's all about my honor, and it's all about my will, and
it's all about me. It's all about me. Paul says,
there's the beast right there. I see in me. There dwells no good thing. Don't look outside for the beast.
The beast is within. The war is within. The battle
is being raged right here. What do I think? I don't mind
being religious, don't get me wrong. This is the way the old
man thinks. I don't mind being religious. But now, let's not
get this thing out of hand. I've got stuff I've got to take
care of. I've got things I've got to do. And when I have time,
I'm going to worship God. But I'll create the God that
I'm going to worship. And I'll worship my God. And
this is going to be the God that I worship. Me, me, me. And I'll tell you this. says
man by nature, I'm not doing too bad. But for the believer,
he beholds Him who has called him out of darkness and revealed
that old man to be totally dead, incapable, dead in trespasses
and sins. And he sees the remnant is still
there, and he hates him. He hates him. He strives against
him. I loathe myself. I am but dust. Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner. That's what the believer says.