September 25: RIVAL GOSPEL
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:7
Let us clarify: It was granted to him [the sea beast] to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority [from the dragon] was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
For the third time in this chapter, we are told that the sea beast was granted his power, which comes from the dragon (see vv. 2&4). The sea beast operates under the dragon’s authority to make war with the saints and to overcome them. For the faithful remnant, the extent of harm by the sea beast is limited. Saints, be fortified by Christ’s words: “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them… And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:25,26a,28) Only those whose faith is overcome by the devil’s falsehoods fear the world’s opinions more than the Lord’s facts. Ironically, they are unlikely to be accused by the world of being of the house of Beelzebub, for they are accepted in the world.
We have already seen that the Savior empowers His own—The Lord knows those who are His (2 Timothy 2:19)—with the confidence and assurance necessary to stand when the enemy does his worst to them: And they overcame him [the dragon] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11).
The authority given to the beast by the dragon is over every tribe, tongue, and nation. This is the very same territory over which God’s people are to spread the everlasting gospel (14:6, see also 10:11). Thus, we see that the sea beast offers a rival gospel. Serious students of God’s word know that the adversary made an early entrance into the church, promoting teachings that conflict with sound Biblical doctrine. Paul wrote:
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4
There are at least two problems present when professed believers are misled by a different gospel: a lack of spiritual discernment and a misunderstanding of God’s grace. For millennia, our adversary has been honing his craftiness in order to interfere in these two areas. You may begin by asking God for discernment (see James 1:5) and seeing grace as God’s empowerment to obey what He commands (not as a license to disobey!) In mercy, He extends grace to cover past errors. In abundant love, He supplies grace for every future test, trial, and challenge. His mercy is extended to the humble, confessing sinner, giving him or her a clean slate and a new start. And His grace fuels such a one to go forward in newness of life (Romans 6:4) each day. This is the daily that Daniel practiced from his youth; he wrote about the little horn attacking it (see Daniel 8:11-13). Beloved, the rival gospel need not lead you astray!
You know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12