Revelation 13:1–10

Don’t Be Duped, by the Devil’s Deception!

As a child, I marveled at the idea of having my own camera. I could take pictures, capture my adventures, have them developed, and display them to my friends and family. A camera seemed like a good idea, lots of other folks had them and seemed to enjoy the process.

I can’t remember the particular magazine. It was probably the TV guide, because I was a big reader. I saw an ad for a Camera. The ad promised to do all the enjoyable things associated with photography . Take pictures, have them developed, and show you friends.

But when the camera arrived, I had been duped. Deceived, disillusioned, and disappointed, I examined my new purchase. A cardboard box, about the size of a crackerjack box, with a lens, a button, and a roll of film. I had been duped.

I never ever had the film developed, because I did not want anyone at the drug store to know i had been duped. I would be laughed out of Pittsboro, if anyone knew how gullible had been.

How about you? Do you like to be duped? Nobody gets up in the morning and thinks “Today I hope I get duped; I am looking forward to being deceived today.” Now I know there may be an exception to the rule, and If you are one of those who likes to be tricked out of your money, taken advantage of by someone, who thinks they are smarted than you, I will talk with you after church. It will take longer than 40 minutes to get you on the right path to recovery.

Today Revelation 13:1–10 warns us Not to be duped, by the devil’’s deception. Turn to Revelation 13:1 (read and Pray). We will discuss Satan’s scheme, How we can avoid being duped by the devil, why satan’s schemes to deceive us, who are the gullible, and how we lived un-duped by the devil.

Satan Uses Political Powers and Powerful Personalities to Deceive People (1).

Names Claimed by emperors: “Lord, Savior, Our Lord, and God.”

Leopard: is Greece, found in Daniel 7.

Bear: Medo-Persa

Lion: Babylon

The fourth image is a dreadful and powerful total of all the world empires.

We can avoid being be duped, because God has already given us Satan’s play book (2–3).

Verse 4 gives us the reason Satan desires to dupe un-expecting participates.

Satan deceives, so he can receive God’s worship (4).

The devil’s attach dogs are on a leash (5–7).

Everyone, whose name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will be duped! (13:9)

If your name is in the book, understand and listen, whether you are put in jail or put to death, keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (13:10; 12:17).

Hear means to heed, the warning and obey the instructions. He who has an ear is the person whom God has granted understanding. If you have been given understanding of Satan’s schemes of deception, then you have a mandate to obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The gift of new life in Christ obligates us to honor worship God, by honoring Christ. God is worshiped, when we worship Jesus. We worship Jesus by being faithful to Him, His teaching, and HIs commission to make disciples.

John Stott provides us with a theological principle to live by: We are to be submit to the authority of the government right up to the point where obedience would cause us to disobey to God. If the state forbids what God commands or the ruling authorities command what God forbids, it is our duty to resist and obey God.

Now times are growing more and more in favor of the ruling authorities to reject God’s will and His ways. But for today, let’s not focus on the government. Let’s focus on 3 areas of everyday life: Work, School, and Church.

We must keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Our words and actions should reflect the life Jesus gave for our forgiveness.

Colossians 3:23 NASB95

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,