A Prophetic People (Part 2): The Remnant of the Saints - Revelation 13 and 14

Rehash from previous talks

Before we begin this talk, it is important for us to see what we’ve talked about in this series of ‘A Prophetic People’. The first three talks were based on the book of Daniel where we looked at Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12.

In the book of Daniel, the focus was on God’s people, more specifically on the Israelites as they were given a set time to make things right with God. Sadly they failed, in becoming the people that God wanted them to be.

The great thing is that we saw the fulfilment of prophecy from the predicted rise and fall of kingdoms and powers, to the coming of the Messiah and His death and we look forward especially to the fulfilment of prophecy when Jesus returns.

The book of Daniel then concludes with God asking Daniel to seal the vision for the time of the end, and we understood that the the prophecies of Daniel written 2300 years ago were meant for His people, how do we know?

Revelation of God’s people

Well the last talk I had took us to the book of Revelation 10, and 12.

In these two chapters we saw that John was asked in Revelation 10 to take the little scroll that was opened from the angel that stood on the water and on the land. He was asked to eat it which was to be sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach, we understood this prophecy to point to the Great Disappointment and the little scroll that was opened is the book of Daniel that was sealed for the end of time.

We know that this is true because the instruction from the angel was that we needed to go and prophecy again unto many people, nation, tongues and tribes.

In Revelation 12, we saw a war in heaven between Michael and Satan, and praise the Lord good triumphed and defeated the deceiver who deceives the whole world, but the sad part is that the deceiver won the hearts of the people of this world and the plan of salvation came into effect to save those that want to follow their Creator.

This chapter reveals to us the characteristics of God’s remnant people for they are a people that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.

If there was anything in this sermon that I wanted to make clear it would be this, Jesus has won friends, and He is coming again to win again, do you believe that? if you do believe that are you reflecting the characteristics of a remnant people? Are you making the right choices in life that put you on the winning side? It’s a matter of life and death and what you choose now will decide your fate; Jesus or Satan, there will only be one winner.

So let’s get being as we go further into the book of Revelation focusing on chapter 13 and 14.

Revelation 13

Now there is a lot to go through when it comes to Revelation 13, but to give a brief summary we are shown two beasts, one beast rises out of the sea whereas one beast rises out of the earth.

Now, if you have forgotten what this all means, first things first we need to remember that when it comes to Bible prophecy in relation Daniel and Revelation the pattern is always repeat and enlarged, repeat and enlarged.

Another thing to note is that Bible prophecy uses a lot of symbols and the great news is that the Bible is its own interpretation.

Beasts according to Daniel 7:17 are kings/kingdoms, so it goes without saying that the beasts in Revelation 13 represent two kingdoms.

Let’s focus our attention to the second beast in Revelation 13.

The rise of the second beast

Now this beast is definitely different to the other beast, because the other beasts in Daniel 7 and the first beast in Revelation 13 all come out of the sea. Now, what does the sea symbolise? In Revelation 17:15 we’re told:

Revelation 17:15 NKJV

15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

So, those beasts that rise up out of the sea come from a land filled with peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues, so a very populated land where these kingdoms would rise from.

However, this second beast rises up out from the earth, if we know that sea repreents multitudes, peoples, nations and tongues, then we can safely assume that earth would represent something opposite this sea and thus a land with very few peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. So, there is our first clue we have a kingdom rising up from a land of a few people.

What other clues can we learn from this second beast?

Revelation 13:11–12 NKJV

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. 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.

Alright, now we have another clue about this second beast, it has two horns like a lamb yet it spoke like a dragon, we know that a horn in Bible prophecy represents a king, we can see this in Daniel 7:24, now what does a king do? A king rules and guides its people, it enforces the law that it sets and governs its territory. I want you to keep this in mind as we progress.

Another clue that we have is that this second beast speaks like a dragon, so it’s governance seems innocent like a lamb yet its authority as it speaks is like a dragon.

If you read verse 13-17 you will find that this second beast not only has lamb like horns and speaks like a dragon, but performs before all the world these great signs making fire come down from heaven and in the sight of men.

This beasts also deceives those who live on the earth to follow after the first beast and to create an image to the first beast. We also find that this second beast forces people to worship the image of the first beast or be killed or be restricted in commerce.

So, it appears that this beast eventually will become a religious political power forcing people to worship the image of the first beast.

First beast - the religious political power

As much as I want to talk about the first beast, we just don’t have the time however, let me make it simple, if we take the position of repeat and enlarge, and we look at it from the perspective of Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, and 11, and understanding that this is regarding the end times as well as a beast rising up out of the sea. Then the first beast should be considered the Roman Papacy, which was a religious political power.

But, wait a minute verse 14 tells us that this first beast was wounded by the sword and lived, in verse 3 it says that the first beast was mortally wounded, yet its deadly wound was healed. When was it wounded and then healed?

There was a time when the Roman Papacy lost its political authority, on the 10 February 1798 the pope was taken captive by the French General Louis-Alexandre Berthier, on the 7 March French continue on their conquest as they invade the Papal states and establish Rome as a republic.

So, as this beast is slain, the Bible says that its wound would be healed, it was on the 11 February 1929 the kingdom of Italy and the Roman Papacy signed the Lateran Treay making the Vatican City a sovereign state, thus returning political power which would later influnce the second beast.

However, because this second beast rises up out of the earth which is a different location to the first one that rose from the sea, meaning that this second beast did not conquer the first beast. So, what world power rose up after the fall of the Roman Papacy in 1798? A nation that is to have two horns like a lamb and speak as a dragon? Not to mention a nation that is to have global influence?

The USA as the second beast

This second beast is none other than the United States of America, and I know what you’re thinking, how could it be the USA when it had two horns, shouldn’t that represent two kings or something like that?

Well, yes, the United States of America is a republic and thus there are no kings, however, the nation does pride itself as having in its constitution religious liberty and civil liberty, these are the two things that govern the US and its people.

Remember a king is someone that rules their people by enforcing the law that it sets and governs its territory. The constitution of US does just that, a lamb like horn that gives authority over her people.

However, does the USA speak like a dragon? Does it bring fire from the sky? We all know the answer to that, however, there will come a time when this beast will make an image to the first beast and will force many to worship the image of the first beast. Soon enough the USA will become a religious political power.

The three angels message

However, there is a message that God’s people will need to declare far and wide to warn people of what is to come to the world and a message to set people apart from this dark world.

In Revelation 14:6-11 we are shown three angels coming from the midst of heaven with an important message from heaven.

“Fear God and give glroy to Him, for the hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, they will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. They shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb and etc.

It’s not a pretty picture but it is not meant to be a message to scare, it is a message to encourage people to do the right thing and return to the Lord.

I would like to think of this message this way:

Return to the Lord and obey Him.

The city of confusion is falling upon itself as there is no truth to hold it up.

We have the freedom to choose life or death.

Because of time we cannot discuss this in detail, all I can say is that this is an urgent message for Jesus is coming soon and it is our duty and God’s choen people to declare this message far and wide.

I want you to think and reflect what I am saying, what does all that has been shared say about God?

Most importantly, what does it say about those who choose to follow God?

Are we truly reflecting the character that shows that we are a followers of the God we described?

Are we truly a prophetic people described in the book of Revelation and how are you declaring the three angels message?