October 4: POLARIZATION
He [the earth beast] 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
Regarding images and idols, the inability to hear, speak, see, or act is repeatedly noted in the Old Testament.* The power to give breath to the image of the beast brings to mind the creation of man by God. He formed man in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (2:7). John the Revelator is writing the account of his vision in such as way as to expose Satan’s desire to have godlike power (see Isaiah 14:14). Working through deceived people, Satan plants ideas to motivate into action.
There are many positive aspects that accompany the early history of the United States. With lamblike principles, this land helped the woman (Revelation 12:16), as she fled the papacy’s persecution. The appearance of our nation on the world stage at the very time that the sea beast received the mortal wound to one of his heads (13:3) helps to identify the earth beast as an exclusively end-time power. In exercising tolerant authority over its people, it has been admired for both religious and political tolerance and highly respected as a military and financial powerhouse. The United States dominates the world scene in numerous ways. Hardly anyone in any country anywhere in the world would disagree.
How does a nation with lamblike principles shift into speaking like a dragon? In a major way, a nation speaks through its laws. Revelation 13 strongly suggests that the sea beast’s medieval authority will survive its mortal wound and exercise a revival of that same authority through the sheer power and strength of the earth beast which has become like it—an image of it—by combining religious and political power. The power to give breath to itself as the image of the beast (referring to the papacy) means that it will exalt the papacy, counterfeiting the Holy Spirit’s exaltation of Christ. The power of this speaking ability, as it unfolds in the crisis of the latter days, will be worldwide, not localized or nationalized. As stated before, the crisis is over worship. As the crisis looms, the world will be polarized into only two groups, not many (v.8).
The second ally of Satan, known as the earth beast (13:11) and the image of the beast (vv.14,15) will later in Revelation, due to its speaking, be described as the false prophet (16:13).
The third chapter of Daniel portrays the command to worship an image, in direct contrast to the second commandment of God. But Daniel’s three friends, because of their love for God, would not do it. The sixth chapter of Daniel illustrates a command to break the first commandment of God. Because of Daniel’s love for his God, this was not going to happen. Isaiah prophesied that the third commandment would be broken on a massive scale (see Isaiah 4:1). Do you think its possible that the fourth commandment will be widely challenged in the last days?
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
*Psalm 115:4-5; 135:15,17; Isaiah 46:7; Jeremiah 10:5,14; Habakkuk 2:18-19