July 14: PROPHETIC PARALLEL #5

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Revelation 13:15

We continue in comparing the end of the prophetic book of Daniel with Chapter 13 of Revelation. As a reminder, The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given in vision to the apostle John, the only disciple of the original twelve still alive at the end of the first century. John wrote: Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).

Both Daniel and Revelation describe a threat of death to those who oppose the worldwide alliance of power that forms during the time of the end. This threat of death is parallel #5.

Daniel wrote: But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. (Daniel 11:44)

It is troubling to know that the threat of death is on the horizon for faithful Christians. But history reveals that this is not new. Throughout the Dark Ages, the Catholic church consistently exhibited hostility toward Christians who honored God’s word over man’s tradition. Threats of severe penalties, including death, against Sabbath-keepers were issued whenever pockets of Bible Christians were discovered. But the threat of death did not prevent them—as Satan had hoped—from living up to the light of God’s word (see Revelation 2:10; 12:11). Daniel 3 is a history of man’s law challenging the second commandment and Daniel 6 challenges the first and third commandments; marvelous reminders of God’s divine protection.

The last-day one-world alliance will be quite troubled over news from the east and the north (see ‘THE ONLY REAL HOPE’ entries on June 28 &29). Satan works diligently to undermine the truth of God’s word—especially the blessings that come through obedience from the heart that springs from love for the Savior (see John 14:15 & Revelation 12:17). The second beast of Revelation 13 was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast. This breath is a reference to how a nation speaks: it speaks through its laws. The great American experiment has proven that separation of church and state supports liberty of conscience and the freedom to pursue dreams as well as the freedom to worship according to one’s conscience. But this separation is soon to be dissolved. There will be civil legislation to support a religious teaching – and a false one at that! Many will support it with the intention of “getting this nation back to God.” It should be noted: The last six commandments should certainly be upheld by civil governments. But the first four commandments are between an individual and God. It is not the place of any worldly government to legislate the practice of religion. Once the USA abandons its lamblike foundational principles, it will have rendered itself as the image of the [first] beast, speaking like a dragon (v.11). The idea of man’s law changing anyone’s character from within is a delusion. God’s word is our only true safeguard, for its plain utterances expose Satan’s deceptions.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12