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RCCG Miracle Land Dundalk
Friday, July 27 2012

Introduction:

Last week, we had the opportunity to "watch" an "imaginary" movie titled "The Woman, Her Son, and the Dragon" filled with breadthtaking events. It is a must-get "DVD"! We saw how John saw a sign (or wonder) of a Woman travailing in birth and about to deliver a man Child while a red Dragon was waiting to devour the Child. The Woman might be seen as the Nation of Israel (Physical or Spiritual), the Child is Christ while the Dragon is Satan. She gave birth to the Child; the Dragon couldn't devour the Child, lost the battle in heaven and was unsuccessful in his attempt to destroy the Woman. Being therefore, as what one can term, a serial loser, the Dragon directed his wrath towards the rest of the Woman's children. Included amongst these children are true children of God, Jews or Gentiles. On a very bright side, we have a recipe for success namely three weapons: the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and the refusal to love one's life. This week, we will consider a wild wounded (injured) beast rising from the sea to whom the Dragon gave power. It is well known that one of the most brutal (wild) animals are those that are wounded: Snakes, cats, even humans. What can we then learn from this John vision?

Description of the beast [Verse 1-3a]

   And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:

This beast has similar description with the Dragon in Rev. 12:3 "and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." The description also bear resemblance with the vision Daniel had in Daniel 7:1-27. This has made many bible scholars to interpret the head of the beast as different world empires including EU, etc, it will suffice for us to know that the beast came up after the trouble that took place in the preceding Chapter and having a tyrannical and persecuting power whose obvious target will be mainly the Church (true believers). We also note that his power was derived from the Dragon and he has a brutally wounded head Gen 3:15. The ?healing' of the wound might have been a deception.

Same "old story" from Satan [Verse 3b-6]

3b and all the world wondered after the beast.And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

 

Satan's ?tactic' has not changed since the beginning. Recall from last week in Ezek. 28:15-19 and also in Isaiah 14:12-15 that he was cast down because of his pride. He used similar trick on Eve in the garden of Eden in Gen 3:5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." He is always seeking attention and wanting to take ?centre stage'. Our attitude as Christians must be different from this as succinctly admonished by Paul in Philippians 2:1-18 which we will read and reflectively meditate on. It is also note worthy that the beast is only allowed to do what he did for an appointed time and when his time is over, he will be thrown to where he is destined to be.

Read this again from last week's lesson: "Satan has perpetuated the lie that he is God's opposite. He is not God's opposite. He is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. He is only a created being. In our times of discouragement and seeming defeat, we must remember that the powers of good will overcome the powers of evil. Satan and his demonic forces may win some battles along the way but they will ultimately lose the war!"

Persecuting the saints and the inhabitants of the earth [Verse 7-10]

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.If any man have an ear, let him hear.10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

As believers, we must understand that we are the first target of Satan and his allies. Since he lost his place in heaven and he is fully aware that we are joint heirs with Christ, he does everything to frustrate the reality of this hence we must patiently endure and faithfully hold fast to Christ.

Are you certain that your name is written in the book of life? Is your name still in this book of life? Are you still running the Christian race as expected from you by Christ Jesus? Are you still standing firm in the faith? Will you go with the first flight?

Let us all examine ourselves tonight as the scripture admonishes us in 2 Cor. 13:5 "Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere?"

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us reflect on these verses of the scripture:

Hebrews 12:1-3: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Matt. 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

 

Contributor: Akin Akande

 

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