Before we begin this morning,
let's have a word of prayer. Our Father, we know that it is
a blessed honor and privilege to be able to be here. Lord,
we ask your blessing upon the services this morning. We pray,
Lord, for us, God, and pray you bless him and his family. Lord,
we ask you to teach us concerning the things of Christ. Bless the
word to our hearts, we ask, that, Lord, that you might be
honored to and it might be to our good. For we pray in Christ's
name, Amen. This morning I would like for
us to look in both services today and Lord willing next Sunday
also. I have been going through looking
at Revelation, then Romans, but I'd like to deal with this 13th
chapter. When we looked at this chapter
previously, I looked and considered this chapter with these two beasts
in light of the traditional way in which this beast, the beast
with seven heads and the beast with two horns, is traditionally
considered, that is, being kingdoms like Egypt, Babylonia, kingdoms
that have been used by God, raised up, that has been in opposition
to God's people, seven-headed beast. I know that those countries
were used by God. I know that they were so. I know
that this was a war that was going on, that has been going
on, and how the church has been at war with this world and how
the world hates and strives against. I know that that's so, but I
believe that the Lord has given me something else in conjunction
with that that truth and I don't doubt for a second that is true
but I'd like to consider something that is going on right now I
want you to understand before I began speaking out of this
chapter this is something that every man woman in this world
is dealing with right now the two beasts. I would like to show
from the Scriptures, as I've said before, when you're dealing
with a book like the book of Revelation, if you're giving
your opinion, well, I think that this is so. And you don't back
it up with the Word of God. It's nothing more than your opinion. It means nothing. What does the
Scriptures say? Therefore, I would like to look
at this scripture, this passage, this chapter, in light of the
scriptures and show where these two beasts set forth the flesh,
the old nature, the old man, where the real battle that's
going on is actually shown to be in these two beasts. that
old nature that Paul refers to in chapter 7 when he says, I
see in me. That is, in my flesh there dwells
no good thing. Now, let's begin. First of all, we've got to understand
that there actually is a war going on. we know that there
is a battle we know that there's two parties involved in this
war now this war is described in what i'm going to try to do
is when i make a statement and i asked you to turn to a passage
of scripture if you've got a bible please do so i want you to look
at it i want to see it i mean to hear scripture quoted is one
thing look at it in your bible and see what the Word of God
says. Turn to Galatians 5, 17. Galatians
chapter 5 and verse 17. This is the description of the
war. There is a battle. The dragon
was wroth, the Scripture says, the last verse of the twelfth
chapter, with the woman, and went to make war with her. Here
is the war described in Galatians 5, 17. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these
are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things
that ye would. Now, here is the battle. The flesh, that is, the human
nature that is opposed to God, the flesh That's what he's talking
about. Not this meat right here. Not
this. There's a nature. The flesh. That nature which is opposed
to God. The flesh lusteth, that is, sets
the heart to turn upon a thing. It lusteth against. It sets its
heart against. The flesh lusteth against the
Spirit. That is, the Spirit, the Holy
Spirit. principle of grace, that new
man, that new nature, that new heart, that new will that is
born of God. God Almighty says, I will give
you a new heart, a new will. It's a new man. It's a rebirth,
born from above. There's a new nature that's imparted. Now, before that new nature is
imparted, there's one nature in man born in Adam, the flesh. That's what it is. He's born. That which is flesh is flesh.
That's what the Lord told Nicodemus. That which is spirit is spirit.
And they don't mix. There's two natures there. One
of them hates the other. And this one hates this one.
They lust against each other, strive against each other. Now, in Romans 7, 18, turn there
with me, Romans chapter 7, the apostle Paul realized that this
battle was going on. Now remember, Satan is angry. He's wroth with the church. He hates God's people. And here
is the battle that Paul actually saw going on, Romans 7, 18. For
I know that in me, that is, in my flesh... Now Paul is saying,
listen, don't get it in your mind that this battle is out
there in the world. This is out in the world somewhere,
man, I'll tell you. I'm glad you're not. This battle
is going on right now inside every believer right now sitting
in this room and lord willing in this chapter i'm going to
try to get through half the chapter before these two services are
over and show you what's really going on paul says in me that
is in my place that well it no good thing for to will is present
with me there's a new man that has a wheel and it's present
with folks to willis but but look at the word how It's in
italics, it's just omitted. But to perform that which is
good, I can't find it. How to continually do that which
is good without the presence of the flesh? Paul said, I can't
find that. For the good that I would, I
do not. But the evil which I would not,
that I do. Now, if I do, That I would not. It's no more I that do it, but
sin that dwelleth in me." Paul is saying, I see something going
on. And there's a battle that's going
on. He says there's a battle that
is being waged between two natures. I see it, Paul said, I see in
me. He says, verse 24, I find then
a loss. that when I would do good, evil
is present with me, for I delight in the law of God after the inward
man." There's a nature in me that delights after the law of
God, loves it, hungers for it. But he says, I see another law,
verse 23, in my members, that is, in that old flesh, warring
against the law of my mind. Paul said, I see a battle going
on. And it's bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin, which is in my members. I'm going to deal
with that, bringing me into captivity, Lord willing, whenever we get
to a verse or two down in Revelation. So Paul actually saw the battle
going on. So we realize now, here's two
parties at war, the flesh and the spirit, the old nature the
new nature there's a battle that's going on and it's going on right
now turn back now to revelation chapter thirteen you see as you're
turning back there you see that last verse seventeen of chapter
twelve the dragon was wrought with the woman went to make war
with the remnant her seed that keep the commandments of god
and have the testimony of jesus christ listen i understand that
egypt egypt was a nation that was a you know, that despise
the people of God. Rome, I know that. I know the
Babylonian kingdom, I know that. But let me tell you something,
the greatest battle, the battle that's raged right now is right
here. Two parties, two natures, the
flesh and the spirit. So now we see how this war is
being raged. Two beasts, that we're going
to look at in this chapter, symbolic beast that still resides in every
believer. Paul says, I see in me. I see it. It's there. These beasts
that we're going to look at tell us how the flesh thinks, what
the flesh loves, and what the flesh demands. All right, let's
look at verse 1. Revelation 13, verse 1, And I
stood, John said, 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. The sea is symbolic. I've quoted it before, but turn
to Matthew 13 again. Here again, I want you to see
this thing. I want your eyes to look upon
the Word of Almighty God. Matthew 13. The sea is symbolic
of this world in general. All right, Matthew 13, verse
47 to 49. The Lord speaking, and he says,
Matthew 13, 47, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that
was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it
was full they drew to shore, and set down, and gathered the
good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the
end of the world, the angel shall come forth and sever the wicked,
from among the just. Now this world, John said, I
saw a beast and he was coming out of the sea. He was out of
this world and this world's thinking, this world's government, this
world, the sea. John said, I stood. I stood upon
the sand of the sea. I stood, there the word means
appointed. John was appointed by Almighty
God to be able to see something. He said, I saw. That word there
means with understanding. John said, I saw something, and
I understood what I was seeing. I saw this beast coming out. Here he was, coming out of this
world, and the Scripture says, when I saw a beast rise out of
the sea, Seven heads, that's the first thing that he saw.
You know, whenever I see in pictures, I see in color, I see, I look
at things and I read something like this and I immediately draw
a picture of it in my mind. Dabbling around, you know, in
artwork, stuff like that, I kind of create things in my mind.
Well, my initial creation of this beast right here, was wrong. I kind of pictured because and
I know why I pictured it like this is because I've seen these
fellows that will take and they'll get this big backdrop you know
and they'll paint this you know and it's like dispensations or
something or the book of Revelation and the first thing they do is
they draw a little picture Gary of this dragon looking thing
and it's got seven necks and seven heads sitting on top of
it you know so in my mind I think That's what's being described
here. Because I've seen that before. Seen it in my mind. Seen
it in pictures. I recreate it, you know, in my
mind. But it says, John saw this beast rise out of the sea having
seven heads. Well, the word having there actually
means clutching, to hold with the hand. That's what it means,
having. You walked up and you brought
me some stuff, you know. I got two bags of groceries right
here. I have two bags of groceries. The word having there means clutching
with the hand, but it means more than that. It means that which
is my pleasure, that which is my desire. Here's what John saw. He said, I saw a beast coming
out of the sea. He said, I stood appointed by
God to stand. And I saw something with understanding. And this beast had seven heads. These are mine. And don't you
try to take them away from me either. This is my stuff. And if you try to get this away
from me, I'll get you. These are mine. That's what he
said. Having seven heads. Seven prominent supreme areas
of the heart. That's what it means. Having
seven. Areas of importance. Stuff that
is important to me. And he had ten horns. Horn, always
symbolic of power, strength. That's what it means. This is
what this beast says, the beast of this flesh. I've got stuff. I've got areas. These are seven
areas of importance to me. Seven is a symbolic number. It
doesn't mean there's just seven. It means multiple. These are
mine. These are my areas. This is my
prominence. This is my supreme. This is my
heart. He's got ten horns. Strength. And this is what he's
saying. I'm strong in everything I do.
I can get the job done. Ten crowns upon every area of
his supposed strength. He's saying, I'm victorious. I can get the crowns right there,
the wreath. It's like when you'd see back
in the old time, they'd have the little wreath right here.
That was the victor's wreath, not a crown like you'd think
of a king. a wreath that was victorious. This is how the flesh
thinks. I've got multiple areas and these
are mine. And don't you try to get them.
I'm telling you, I'm strong and I'm victorious in all that I
do. And upon His heads, it's seven
heads, it says, the name of blasphemy upon every area of prominence. These are mine. Don't you touch
them. Don't you try to get this away
from me. The name of blasphemy, that is
the character, the slanderous language against God. Blasphemy. The Lord says, I am the Lord,
your God, and you shall have no other gods before Me. Now, you remember something.
this nature is in right here this is right here i tell you
what why don't i just preach to me and then won't you just
listen for you but i'm telling you this ain't me thinking i
hope so and so hears this boy i hope so and so hears this one
buddy this is me this is right here that i shall have no other
gods before me and this flesh says oh yes i will i'm not going
to have that man rule over me This is mine. This belongs to
me. This beast describes the flesh
and its blasphemous thinking concerning the multiple areas
of importance and strength and victory. I can handle this. That's what the flesh says. I
want you to turn to Philippians 3. And let me show you old Paul
talking about himself now. you know, areas. Philippians
3, verse 4, Paul says, Though I
might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that
he hath whereof, he might trust in the flesh, I more. Paul says, You think You think
you can trust in the flesh? You think you can trust in that
old man? You think you can? He said, let him taste it. He
said, if you think you've got some confidence, if you think
you're victorious, you think you're strong? He said, I'll
tell you this, I had more confidence in you, God. Let me tell you
how victorious I was. Let me tell you how strong I
was in my thinking. He said, I'll circumcise the
eighth day. He said, that's what God said to do. For all of you? He said, I was of the stock of
Israel and I came from good, good blood. Right there. Tribe
of Benjamin. Hebrew of the Hebrew. My mama
was a Hebrew and my daddy was a Hebrew. Lord willing, we'll
look at Thursday, Timothy. Timothy had a mama that was a
Jew and a daddy that was a Greek. God showed mercy to him. Paul
says right here, he said, you think you come from good blood?
You think you've got good stock? You think you've got some good
rearing? I was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. As touching the law,
I was a Pharisee. I was a teacher of the law. You
think you know something? You're going to tell me something?
You mean to tell me you want to go heads up with me on the
Scriptures? You want to take me on? That's what Paul said. Concerning zeal, you think you're
zealous? I persecuted the church. I persecuted
those that stood and said that the Lord Jesus Christ was God.
I wasn't standing for that. Touching righteousness, which
is of the law? You couldn't find anything wrong
with me. Pride. Pride. John said, I looked
and I saw a beast, seven heads, areas of prominence, victorious,
proud, arrogant, all these things. Paul says, you want to have something
to glory in? He said, I'll tell you how to
glory. He said, you've never seen anybody that has stuff to
glory in like me. Verse 2, And the beast which
I saw was likened to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet
of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon
which gave him his power and his seat and great authority,
the beast, like unto a leopard." Stealth. Deception. The scripture says, now listen
to this, when it says the heart in Jeremiah 17, verse 9, the
heart is deceitful. That's the flesh, that old nature. When the Lord said, I'll give
you a new heart, that means you already had one. He already had
one. This flesh, that which is flesh,
the heart, the flesh, the old man, is deceitful above all things
and desperately wicked. Who can know it? This beast that
John saw, likened to a leopard, stealth, deceptive, hiding, feet
like a bear, The feet describes the walk, the walk of this flesh. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4,
2, we have renounced, that is, now here is the new man speaking,
the new heart, the new will, the regenerated man. We have
renounced, we've disowned the hidden things, the secret things
of dishonesty, of shame, not walking, not living far, not
walking in craftiness, trickery, not handling the Word of God
deceitfully with corruption, speaking that which is lies,
but manifesting or exhibiting of the truth, commending or introducing
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. God's people
are honest and they walk respectfully before Almighty God, that is,
they believe God. This flesh, this beast, he walked
like a bear. His feet was as a bear. That's
how the old man walks. He walks disrespectfully before
God. And his mouth like a lion. You know, the Scripture says
that Satan is as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may desire, speaking
loud, roaring, blasphemous things. That's how this flesh speaks. He roars just like a lion. His mouth, his language is as
the mouth of a lion because the dragon gave him his power. When the Lord told some Pharisees,
He said, You're of your father the devil. He was a liar before,
and you talk just like him. A man stands up and says, God
is not sovereign. Man has a free will. Man is capable. That's a lie. The Scripture says
that in John 1. John 1, 17, which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of man, nor of the will of the
flesh. Man says man's got a will. No, he doesn't. God's true and
man's a liar. That bottom line. He speaks,
got a mouth like a lion. He speaks like a dragon because
the flesh is Satan's agent. energized, empowered. And the Scripture says, in his
seat given by Satan, that place that the flesh thinks is a throne
of victory. I'm victorious. I see it. And great authority gave him
his power and his seat had great authority. You know, one that's
in great authority does what he wants to do. Great authority. Whoever's in authority, he makes
the final decision. He has the last word. Man, by
nature, the flesh thinks he has the last word concerning everything. Everything. Especially salvation. That's what the flesh thinks.
God's made it possible But God can't save me unless I let Him.
That's blasphemous. That's blasphemous. You dare
to stand in the face of Almighty God and say, you can't do anything
unless I tell you you can. Someone said, and I'll stop for
the morning message right now, but someone once, Ralph Barnard,
I heard, came and asked man in the town. He said, why don't
you come hear me preach? That's what Roth told him. And
the guy said, no, I don't think so. And the fellow that was around
said, well, you know what? If you don't come, the Lord's
going to put you in hell. This fellow said, well, I've
heard all this time that I can keep him from saving me by just
not accepting him. That's what I've heard. he said
if i can keep him from saving me i can keep him from putting
me in hell well if you could keep him from saving you yeah
you could keep him from putting you in hell but let me tell you
something almighty god is god and he does as he will this beast
right here this old flesh right here this beast that i saw was
likened to a leopard a stealthy liar feet he walked like a bear
and his mouth he spoke like the lion He spoke deceptively, and
the dragon gave him power and his seat and great authority
that he thought he had." Well, we'll stop right there. Lord willing, let's take about
a five-minute break, and we'll come back and pick up right there.