The Image to the Beast Set Up
[He] deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast. Revelation 13:14.
The image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided….
In Revelation 13 this subject is plainly presented: “I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Then the miracle-working power is revealed: “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast….
While John was shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers, he was also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful…. Looking beyond the smoke and din of the battle, he beheld a company upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having, instead of the mark of the beast, the “Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
Maranatha p. 164
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Prayer Requests
—–My grandson Peter (age 22 months) is having a bad reaction to a different seizure medicine. Please pray that it gets out of his system fast and that he can get on one that will work for him without these terrible side effects. Rose
——I’m pregnant with twins and one of the twin’s brain is not developing. Please pray for a miracle or at least that the other twin survives and is OK. Pray for us as we struggle with this. J
—–I did want to further update you, briefly, on little 3 yr old Abigail. She is still alive, and, miracle of miracles, she has been slowly improving. I spoke with both her Dad and also, later, with her Mother on Jan. 22. Abigail is now eating. Her immune system is, bit by bit, growing stronger. She has been doing a little bit of walking. The fact that she is still alive after all that she has endured is a testimony to the mercy of our Heavenly Father. Prayer has been effectual. Please do continue your prayers for her, as you are impressed to. Continue to pray for her parents, also, that their characters may be purified through this trial. They yet have 4 days of court third week in March. Please pray that the name of our Father in Heaven may be glorified and not dishonoured, that Abigail’s health is even stronger and more improved by then, and that her parents are guided by the Spirit of our Saviour in all that they say and do throughout the days ahead. Thank you for caring. Thank you for your prayers, past and future. Heaven will be sweet enough where there is no more sickness, death, evil or sorrow. Debby
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One summer, when Ronnie Jay was six, we lived in a campground in order to save enough money for a down payment on a mobile home. The owner of the campground babysat her grandson Linden who was a year older than my son. The two boys had many good times together. What one didn’t think of the other one did and some of those things got them into trouble. The campground had a swimming pool and many of the campers enjoyed soaking in the cool water. Those boys decided that the toads that lived everywhere around would enjoy a swim too. They caught some and tossed them into the pool. They were surprised that the toads were not happy with their swim. They also found that those toads made the girls scream. That was all two little boys needed to give them entertainment. After that, they tossed even more toads in just to hear the screams of fright.
Those girls were afraid, too, of the swarms of bats that flew around the pool at night. The bats were not a bit interested in them. They were only interested in getting a nice meal of insects that were attracted to the lights around the pool. However, these girls did not understand that fact, so they were frightened and screamed and ducked under the water whenever a bat swooped down toward them.
How often we react in the same way to a situation that we do not understand. How many times we figuratively fight and kick and scream when things go wrong in our lives, because we think God is unfair in His dealings with us. That is because we do not see the whole picture. We do not see that the very thing that is so distasteful to us, is the very thing we must go through to make us ready for Heaven. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 Just as Job did not understand why all the trouble was happening to him, we do not always understand why things are happening to us or to those we love.
God has not left us to wonder, for His Word reveals what goes on behind the scenes. The story of Job was written to give us comfort and hope when we or someone we love are going through trials. He draws back the curtain that we may see what is going on behind the scenes. Paul also explains that many times trials and troubles are to fit us for Heaven. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
Our Heavenly Father does not leave us without comfort during the times of trial. He showers us with the great promises found in His Holy Word. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God.” Isa 43:1-3 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psa 103:10-14 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Psa 37:3-7
May we continually trust Him no matter what is happening in our life. May we allow Him to work in our lives in the way He knows is best. May we daily look for His blessings in our lives and praise and thank Him for them as Paul urges us when he says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18
Rose