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Lesson S-2 - The United States in ProphecyIntroduction: Today's lesson focuses on a dramatic event in the political and religious world. 1. In Lesson 15 we discovered that the Beast power of Revelation 13 represented the Papacy that reigned as a political power for 1260 years, from 538 A.D. until it received a deadly (but not permanent) wound in 1798. What did John see "coming up out of the earth" about the time this deadly wound (in verse 10) was inflicted? Rev. 13:10, 11 (Revelation 13:10-11 NKJV) He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. {11} Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 2. Notice that this is the only prophetic beast arising from "the earth." What does water symbolize? Rev. 17:15 (Revelation 17:15 NKJV) Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. [Note: All the other prophetic powers arose from existing civilizations ("water"). But here was a power arising toward the end of the 1700s in a largely unpopulated area. What country could this be? The Further-study verses are Dan. 7:3; Rev. 13:1] 3. How did this beast evolve? Rev. 13:11 (Revelation 13:11 NKJV) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. [Note: "Coming up" is from the Greek word "anabaino," meaning to "grow or spring up as a plant" (see Matt. 13:7). Could this be the United States? Did this nation come from conquest or from growth (e.g., immigrants and land purchases)?] 4. The beast of Revelation 13:1, representing the nations of Europe, had crowns to represent kingdoms. Did the beast of verse 11 have any crowns? [Now note these clues: This nation was to (1) grow to power, (2) arise from a largely uninhabited territory, (3) toward the end of the 1700s, (4) without a king.] 5. What kind of horns did this beast have? Rev. 13:11 (Revelation 13:11 NKJV) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. [Note: A lamb (versus a ram) depicts a young, new power, as America was in 1798.] 6. The dragon of Revelation 12 was pagan and the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10 was Catholic. Is the Lamblike beast involved with religion too? Rev. 13:12 (Revelation 13:12 NKJV) And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [Note: He would cause to "worship." America became the seat of Protestant strength. Protestants brought separation of church and state. Thus this beast has two harmlessappearing horns, representing religious power and civil power.] 7. Contrary to appearance, what will this beast eventually do? Rev. 13:11b, 12 (Revelation 13:11-12 NKJV) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. {12} And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [Note: Like a false prophet, its appearance is deceiving. The first Beast used civil power to enforce religion. Protestant America, "the land of the free," eventually will do the same! And it will lead the world in following the beast whose "deadly wound was healed." Rev. 13:3, 7, 12; 16:13, 14; 19:20] 8. What religious dogma will America enforce? Rev. 13:16 (Revelation 13:16 NKJV) He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, [As noted in Lesson 16, the mark of the Beast is its lawlessness, specifically its attempt to change the Sabbath, God's holy day, from Saturday to Sunday. America will thus enforce the mark of the papacy. Dan. 7:25; 2 Thess. 2:3, 8; Rev. 12:17] 9. This mark is symbolic. What mark do God's people receive, and how are they identified? Rev. 14:1, 12 (Revelation 14:1 NKJV) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:12 NKJV) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. [They receive their Father's name (i.e.,character) in their foreheads (i.e., minds) by keeping His laws, while the Beast's followers receive his name in their foreheads by keeping his laws. Ex. 13:9; Deut. 11:18; Eze. 20:20; Heb. 8:10; Rom. 6:16] 10. How will America enforce Sunday observance? Rev. 13:15-17 (Revelation 13:15-17 NKJV) 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. {16} He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, {17} and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [Note: As disasters multiply because of the world's wickedness, there will be a great "backtoGod" movement to reclaim His blessings. This will result in stringent Sunday laws and oppressive acts against those who keep God's Sabbath. Rev. 12:17] 11. What kind of agents does Satan often use to deceive people? 2 Cor. 11:13-15 (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. [Ans: Religious leaders. Matt. 7:15] 12. How will religious leaders who have discarded God's law deceive the people of America into enacting Sunday laws? Rev. 13:13, 14 [Rev.16:14; 18:2, 3; 19:20] (Revelation 13:13-14 NKJV) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. {14} And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 13. What "signs" will these religious leaders use to deceive the people? 2 Thess. 2:8-10 [Matt. 24:24] (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 NKJV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, {10} and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 14. The book of Revelation contains many symbols. What is one possible meaning of "fire from heaven" (Rev. 13:13)? Acts 2:3, 4 (Revelation 13:13 NKJV) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. (Acts 2:3-4 NKJV) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Note: In Acts 2, fire from heaven represents the Holy Spirit and symbolizes the gift of tongues (See Lesson S3). However, the apparent gift of the Holy Spirit in Revelation 13 is a counterfeit, for it leads people to worship the Beast rather than to worship God. Matt. 3:11] 15. When Jesus comes again, what will He say to those who have received the counterfeit gifts of the Holy Spirit and the mark of the Beast ("lawlessness")? Matt. 7:21-23. (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 16. How deceptive will these signs be? Matt. 24:24 [Rev. 12:9, 12] (Matthew 24:24 NKJV) "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Commitment: Before Jesus comes, all the world will be forced, on pain of boycott and death, to receive the mark of the Beast by keeping Sunday holy. But those who receive this mark will receive "the wrath of God" (Rev. 14:9,10). The question, then, is, Whom will we obey? Will we say, "The Lord is my light and . . . strength . . . Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear . . . for in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion" (Ps. 27:15)? Will you follow God regardless of any and all human pressure to follow another master?
Further Study VersesQuestion 2 - Further Study (Daniel 7:3 NKJV) "And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. (Revelation 13:1 NKJV) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. -->Back to Study Question 3 - Further Study (Matthew 13:7 NKJV) "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. -->Back to Study Question 7 - Further Study (Revelation 13:3 NKJV) And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:7 NKJV) 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 13:12 NKJV) And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 16:13-14 NKJV) And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. {14} For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 19:20 NKJV) Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. -->Back to Study Question 8 - Further Study (Daniel 7:25 NKJV) He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (Revelation 12:17 NKJV) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. -->Back to Study Question 9 - Further Study (Exodus 13:9 NKJV) "It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 11:18 NKJV) "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Ezekiel 20:20 NKJV) 'hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.' (Hebrews 8:10 NKJV) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Romans 6:16 NKJV) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? -->Back to Study Question 10 - Further Study (Revelation 12:17 NKJV) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. -->Back to Study Question 11 - Further Study (Matthew 7:15 NKJV) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. -->Back to Study Question 12 - Further Study (Revelation 16:14 NKJV) For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 18:2-3 NKJV) And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! {3} "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." (Revelation 19:20 NKJV) Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. -->Back to Study Question 13 - Further Study (Matthew 24:24 NKJV) "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. -->Back to Study Question 14 - Further Study (Matthew 3:11 NKJV) "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. -->Back to Study Question 16 - Further Study (Revelation 12:9 NKJV) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:12 NKJV) "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." -->Back to Study
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