TEXT:  Rev. 13:15-18

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHO IS THE BEAST?

          1.       When does he appear?

          2.       Often connected to the Antichrist (2 John 7;  1 John 4:3;  2:22;  2:18).

          3.       And the Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2)

          4.       The Premillennial Presumption ... Someone present now or yet to come.

                   Hitler, JFK, Nixon, Kissenger, Reagen, etc.

B.      WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?

          1.       Literal tattoo.

          2.       Credit Card, Microchip, Bar Codes.

          3.       The key to commerce (Rev. 13:16).

          4.       Some older manuscripts have 616 instead of 666.

C.      OTHER QUESTIONS RAISED:

          1.       Is the Prellennial model accurate?

          2.       Is there something in the context or other Scripture that helps?

I.      WHAT IS THE TIME OF THE KINGDOM?

A.      OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (Dan. 2:44;  2 Sam. 7:12-13).

B.      THE PREACHING OF JOHN AND JESUS (Matt. 3:1-3;  Mark 1:14-15).

          1.       The promise of Mark 9:1.

                   a.  "no wise taste of death"

                   b.  "till they see the kingdom come"

                   c.  "with power"

          2.       The Disciples’ question ( Acts 1:6-8 ).

                   a.  The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)

                   b.  Ye shall be my witnesses (Acts 2:32)

          C.      JESUS BEGINS HIS REIGN:

          1.       David fulfilled ( Acts 2:29-32 ).

          2.       Daniel 7:13-14;  Eph. 1:20-23.

          3.       When comes the end? (1 Cor. 15:20-26).

II.     WHAT ABOUT CONTEXT? (Rev. 13:15 – 14:1).

A.      THE LAMB ON MOUNT ZION (Psa. 2:6).

          1.       The city of the great king (Psa. 48:2)

          2.       We are come to Mt. Zion (Heb. 12:22-23).

          3.       The faithful take refuge in him who stands on Mt. Zion (Psa. 2:12).

B.      THE KEY TO PSALM 2:

          1.       vs. 7 “Thou art my son, this day ...”(Acts 13:32-33).

          2.       vs. 1-2. “Why do the nations rage ...?: (Acts 4:24-30).

C.      WHO IS WITH JESUS?

          1.       144,000.  Whose name on their foreheads – sealed (2 Tim. 2:19;  Titus 2:11-12)

          2.       vs. 4.  Not defiled with women – spiritual adultery (Jer. 3:9;  Deut. 32:16; 

                   2 Tim. 4:1-2;  2 Cor. 11:1-3)

          3.       Follow the Lamb (John 10:27-28;  John 8:12, 31;  1 Pet. 2:21;  Luke 9:23).

          4.       Purchased to be firstfruits (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19-20;  James 1:17-18).

D.      THE KEY TO REVELATION (Rev. 1:1).

CONCLUSION:

A.      666 IS NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD LITERALLY.

          1.       It symbolizes that which identifies those who serve the beast.

          2.       To not have it is to be subject to persecution in the time of the prophecy.

          3.       In keeping with the time, 666 could have been Nero, Dometian, or any Emperor.

B.      THE FAITHFUL ARE MARKED ON THEIR FOREHEADS, TOO.

          1.       The name of the Father and the Lamb (Rev. 14:1).

          2.       Figure for God’s knowledge, and righteous behavior.

C.      WHOSE MARK IS ON YOUR FOREHEAD?

Christ’s

or

THE BEAST’S?