The Abomination of desolation - Part 19 of the prophetic Sequence by Doug Krieger

A Study of the Antichrist-Beast,
False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast

(A Theological Discourse)

Part XIX – The Prophetic Sequence

By

Doug Krieger

The recommendation that Part XVIII be truncated, with the comments of this author on this immediate disclosure isolated to its own, is hereby accepted – but with this prescient superlative included in the expansion.

Our discussions concern the most despicable, indignant, intolerable and vile degradation ever perpetrated upon humankind. No language can articulate this disgrace nor graphic portray the wasted scene that shall climax the malignant design crafted and extinguished by the Prince of Darkness, the Ruler of this World —the Kosmokrater, whose ultimate counterfeit of the Almighty’s efforts express the uttermost antithesis of the universe: The Abomination of Desolation.

No wonder the source of such vile altercation suppressed upon the divine effort finds its twisted reality in the Lawless One—for here, all law, all ultimate truth, sacred purpose and honor are distorted. The Desolator, as he entered into Judas, has wrought twice the child of hell—the Son of Perdition. The Despicable One has crafted the most damnable fabrication of absolute destruction—wholly given over to the Father of Lies where there abides no restraint; all has been taken out of the way. Thus, is the “working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” coupled “with all unrighteous deception” fully enveloping the perishing participants whose distain for the truth can only be equaled to the grand delusion which will allow them the condemnation that accompanies the pleasure of their expansive unrighteousness (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Our only recourse in fathoming the depth to which we shall descend is to contrast this disgusting displeasure with the counter distinction of the divine will. Once we seize upon the unfathomable love of God—utterly selfless, completely void of the wretched descript and scene pending perpetration of the Wicked One—then, and only then, can we comprehend the incomprehensible!

ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)

The spirit of man is the exclusive purview of the Spirit of God—for “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6b). It is the express intention of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to inhabit the spirit of every willing human because of the abundance of His glory through the empowerment of His Spirit . . . not through the externality of wealth and materialism—that which satisfies the flesh—but that which suffices the human spirit, the inner man.

It is the indwelling Christ whose Spirit within the saints constitutes the immeasurable capacity to contain the love of God. Here, within the spirit of man, together in corporate expression as the Body, the Image of Christ, the fullness of Him Who fills all and in all, the immeasurable love of God is apprehended.

The commencement of this exhaustless dimension is the human spirit – the fullness or comprehension of the love of Christ which passes all knowledge is enjoyed or can only be contained—its width and length and depth and height—by ALL saints; for the Body of Christ, wherein all redeemed members are joined by the same Spirit Who strengthens the inner man of each enlivened spirit, is the fulcrum, the vessel and reflection of all that Christ is and has. To contemplate the fullness of God domiciled within this glorious vessel demands from each brother, each sister, an inexpressible longing that is beyond all that we can ask or think, whereby we can perceive and demonstrate to the universe the experiential love Christ. Glorious! We, through living faith can comprehend the incomprehensible; can apprehend that for which we have been apprehended – we “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold” of us (Philippians 3:12-13) – toward this we press, not that we have apprehended already, for this is the exhaustless love of God poured into vessels of clay chosen for the fullness of God!

Can we possibly understand, now, how abhorrent, in light of such divine brilliance, is the pending doom yet to befall humanity? Do we in our regenerated spirit sense the revulsion of the Holy One to the aforementioned desecration once we grasp the Will of God to inhabit the temple of man in his most Holy Place—the inner man whose “inner eyes” are enlightened to see? From this vantage we now probe the depths of the Evil One who seeks to work us woe – his devices are many, but left unrestrained, there can be little doubt that Ephesians 3 is precisely what the Coming Prince of the Covenant, the Willful King, who shall be transfigured from Antichrist to Beast, seeks to destroy; to impose his image upon an unsuspecting and deluded sea of humanity.

That said – let us briefly delve into the “mystery of iniquity” and the major themes within the apocalyptic drama – contrasting and comparing them both in their context and expansive meanings (We will expand upon these themes in more detail in the Prophetic Sequence in later publications.).

We previously have outlined the overarching affirmations of the “mystery of godliness” whereby the Word became flesh and “tabernacled” among us (John 1:4). In this manner, the creative persona of the Godhead; the incarnation and hypostatic union of the two natures (truly God and truly man); His suffering and propitiation for our sins; the Life-Giving Spirit of Christ made universally available to us all through the vindication of His resurrection; the immediate work of the Holy Spirit in the preparation of the Woman, the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb—the Image of the Messiah, the Christ—is perfected through the indwelling and transformation (from glory to glory) of and by the Spirit of Christ in every believer born from above . . . who await the ultimate transfiguration of these mortal bodies on the day of the resurrection of all those justified by His Life.

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Again, we will simply declare our positions on these matters—later in the Prophetic Sequence we’ll develop these themes at length, with ample Scripture and commentary.

Firstly, the list of the heinous and deplorable counterfeits, deceptions – the vile and despicable – their person, work and ultimate judgment:

(1)     The Antichrist

(2)     The Beast

(3)     The Abomination of Desolation

(4)     The Second Beast – False Prophet

(5)     The Image of the Beast

(6)     The Mark of the Beast

(7)     The Worship of the Beast, and Image of the Beast

(8)     The Woman Who Rides the Beast

THE ANTICHRIST BECOMES THE BEAST – THIS IS HE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

It is our conviction that there will be a despicable person, full of lies and deception – the leader of the West – the final hegemon – who must be considered the alleged friend and ultimate protector, even False Messiah of Israel – who is a man presented as the embodiment of peace, but who goes forth conquering and to conquer. He is Gentile – representative of the leadership of the Gentile World Powers – he will be a person – a prince and king – with an order (political system) or kingdom that will epitomize the leadership of the Western World – the inheritor of the fourth beast seen by Daniel (Rome). He and his kingdom and world order are the last global manifestation of Gentile World Powers who will dominate the planet militarily, economically, and even spiritually. He and his kingdom are the revival of ancient Rome—only more sinister, more powerful, more ubiquitous … militarily, economically and religiously. He is the seventh . . .

“There are also seven kings. Five have fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece), one is (ancient Rome, the sixth at the time the Revelation was written by John), and the other has not yet come (the seventh, revived Rome – the latter-day leadership of the West) . . . and when he comes (the seventh), he must continue a short time (compared to ancient Rome) . . . the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition (destruction) (i.e., the “seventh becomes the eighth” – indicating that “something” has happened to the seventh in order to become the eighth) (Revelation 17:10-11).

This one, the Seventh, shall be entitled the Antichrist—who’s identity even to himself shall be undisclosed until the infamous culmination of the Abomination of Desolation. Although he shall counterfeit the Christ, he will initiate the “Treaty of Death and Hell” with Israel, in cooperation with a multitude of many nations – his defense pact will be for the entire full seven years or the futurity of the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy in toto.

Though he dominates most of the political discourse upon the earth—he, nevertheless, must confront his enemies throughout the planet. Subsequent to his defense pact and/or “covenant” with Israel and the many, he will both participate and witness the “end of the war” – i.e., the Syrophoenicia conflict (or “Seventh War” within the Arab-Israeli Conflict) which will in turn solicit his peaceful intervention throughout the region with the “covenant.”

A type of “Sitzkrieg” or phony war/peace will prevail after the “covenant” wherein Israel shall have the allusion of peace and safety and dwell in “unwalled villages.” Notwithstanding this deceptive “peace” – Islamic nations—including Persia, Turkey (to the north) and Egypt, Libya, and Sudan (to the south) will rise up as Gog-Magog and confront both Israel and the forces of Antichrist already pre-positioned in the Middle East (Ezekiel 38:1-23; 39:1-16). These hordes (King of the North – King of the South; Daniel 11:40-45) will be summarily defeated by divine intervention; however, Antichrist will acclaim that it was he who prevailed – and from this point he shall hear of “news from the north and east” that will “trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many” (Daniel 11:44).

Thus, the Willful King shall launch what in essence and point of fact shall be the Campaign of Armageddon, culminating in the actual final Battle of Armageddon between the Kings of the East (Revelation 16:12) and the armies of the Beast on the plains of Megiddo, which battle shall immediately advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat near Jerusalem (Revelation 16:12-16; Joel 3:9-17; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-4). The Beast shall be defeated by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords via the miraculous intervention and judgment of the Messiah (Revelation 14:17-20; 11:13-18; 19:11-21); and, subsequently:

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. ‘These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone’” (Revelation 19:19-20).

We affirm that Antichrist, as leader of the West, is Babylon the Great; the political, economic and religious hegemon of the planet. Likewise, that the nations who, in the main, constituted the ancient Roman Empire shall and have been revived and shall give their authority and power as the Ten Kings/Kingdoms to this False Messiah for “one hour.”

Yes, there absolutely will be the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem and the reinstitution of the sacerdotal rites—this will be one of the major concessions to Israel and the inflammatory abhorrent irritant which will ignite the Islamic World and lead to the Gog-Magog conflagration (Ezekiel 38-39:1-16) prior to the middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

The establishment of the Third Temple—known as “The Tribulation Temple” is preparatory to the coming of the real Messiah Whom we affirm shall come in His Second Coming, but in a vibrant theological sense to Israel, He will come to establish the Davidic Kingdom. Thus, Jews involved and in support of this sanctuary are worthy of divine blessing—being prepared inwardly for the coming of Messiah . . . though some will, no doubt, dispense with spiritual insight and Biblical fulfillment. Suffice it to say, the day will come for Israel to declare: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD . . . And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Matthew 23:38-39; Zechariah 12:10).

A number of immediate physical and spiritual phenomena will take place in the midst of (1,260 days into) the Seventieth Week:

(1)    The Antichrist’s name will change to that of THE BEAST through the Abomination of Desolation; and . . .

(2)    The falsification of the resurrection (Antichrist will receive a “deadly wound” in his head) and then come forth from the      “sea” (a picture of “death” – cf. Revelation 13:1 and 20:13).

(3)    He, the Antichrist, will then be indwelt in his “temple” (i.e., body) by Satan – not just energized – but as “Satan entered into Judas Iscariot” (Luke 22:3; John 13:27) whereby Judas was referred to by Jesus as the “son of perdition” (John 17:12 or “son of destruction”), even so, Satan will incarnate himself into the body of Antichrist, and from henceforth shall be revealed as the man of sin, the lawless one, and son of perdition (II Thessalonians 2:3, 7, 9) – for his incarnation and resurrection is “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish” (II Thessalonians 2:9-10). Even so – the spirit of Satan within the body of Antichrist shall constitute him as THE BEAST. Please compare

          Romans 8:11 regarding the affirmative reality of the resurrection of Christ: “The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

(4)    In all likelihood this “deadly wound” takes place SIMULTANEOUSLY with the events in II Thessalonians 2:4   wherein Antichrist “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” – i.e., the use of Greek words for “temple” (and we shall expand in another tome) allows for a “physical” AND “spiritual” application wherein as Antichrist physically acclaims divinity, he receives his “deadly wound” – whereupon he is “raised from the sea” before all for Satan has entered into his “temple” (i.e., his body – for Jesus “was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19-22))- and all these vile interdictions shall take place in the physical Third Temple where upon his declaration he shall receive the deadly wound. Thence, the declaration of his godhood, deadly wound, and the counterfeit of the resurrection whereby Satan enters into the body of Antichrist is THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION!

At the commencement of his new title, THE BEAST—for a “beast” as in King Nebuchadnezzar’s case (for he was such for seven years until he “came to himself”—i.e., regained his human faculties—Daniel 4:34-37) is void (desolate) of the human spirit; without the divine capacity to commune with the Almighty . . . no, a “beast” is NOT a human—only humans are bequeathed a human spirit, the receptacle of the Almighty, for that which is “born of the Spirit (of God) is spirit (human spirit), John 3:6; without such rebirth we can neither “see the kingdom of God” nor “enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5)—we must have the regeneration of our human spirit by the Spirit of God to commune with the Almighty!

Oh, what ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION is this—to be occupied-possessed by the DESOLATOR (Daniel 9:27b)!

Furthermore, this First Beast, is the product and conglomerate of Democracy and the final manifestation of Gentile World Power as witnessed in his appearance: “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard (first and foremost—a picture of “democratic Greece” – for this “one” is from the sea of the people and produced by “Democratic means”), his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion (again, Medo-Persia, and Babylon; and together all three constitute the evolution of the Roman Empire, past and terribly present) – (cf. Daniel 7:2-8, 11-12, 17, 19-21).

THE SECOND BEAST

We shall not, at this time, broaden our discourse to include the Testimony of the Two Witnesses—who we affirm to be BOTH an established Israel as a witness to Gentile World Powers (the two olive trees), and the two lampstands/candlesticks (i.e., the Church) – nor of the great revivals and the reaping of souls spoken of in Revelation 14:14-16 prior to the Wrath of the Lamb and of Babylon’s deliverance—of resurrection and rapture for those who have died in the Lord naturally or through persecution and of those who have survived, and are alive and are caught up to Him in the cloud . . . but dutifully we shall pursue the nefarious pursuits of the Second Beast, known as the False Prophet . . .

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11 . . . please read Revelation 13:11-18). Of this awful expression it shall be duly noted:

(1)     Without equivocation – this Second Beast is the anti-type of the Holy Spirit who leads in the worship of the First Beast and whose “counterfeit ministry” – along with “great signs” whereby “he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs” akin to counterfeiting the Pentecostal Spirit.

(2)     He is “out from the earth” – and is altogether “earthy” – of the “dust of the earth” – whereof we have spoken of this in our initial summary in this immediate series (cf. I Corinthians 15:47-49).

(3)     He, in that his mission is to lead in both the “worship of the Beast” and in the worship of “the Image of the       Beast,” is dominated by false religion—and, most probably a vast ecumenical cavalcade of apostate      Christendom capable of uniting the disparate religions and philosophies of the globe.

(4)     He is the “third person” of the “Unholy Trinity” – (I) “The Great Dragon . . . that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . The dragon gave him (the first Beast) his power, his throne, and great authority (Revelation 12:9; 13:2); (II) The First Beast (Revelation 13:13 – and Revelation 11:7) (and make no mistake this is the “first mentioning” of the Beast – notwithstanding the glaring oversight by http://topical-bible-studies.org/34-0016.htm); Rev. 13:11-15; 14:6-12; 15:2-4; 16:1-2; 17:11-13, 16-17; 19:19-20; 20:4, 10); and (III) The False Prophet-Second Beast aforementioned (Revelation 13:11-18; 14:9; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4, 10).

(5)     Who “had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon”     (Revelation 13:11) – for “two” is the number of “witness” throughout the Revelation and many places in Scripture – he “attests” or “witnesses” to the person of “a lamb” – and this is the antithesis of the “Lamb upon the Throne” – for this False Prophet attests to the counterfeit of the resurrection and “ascension” (“Lamb upon the throne”) – what OUTRAGE is this – for the “Dragon gave him his throne and great authority” and this counterfeit of the Holy Spirit shall witness to this deceit with lying wonders and great signs for “he was granted to do in the sight of the beast” . . . which leads us to . . .

(6)     This False Prophet undoubtedly subsumes the Woman who affords the Beast his “moral covering” through this admixture of filth – what compatibility they seem to possess, along these frightful religio-political lines will      not last long—ere the Beast and those who give him authority and power shall turn on the Woman—we shall       speak more of this Whore later! Suffice it to say: The picture given of these Two Beasts is precisely what          Desmond Ford concluded: Religion and Politics in their worst amalgamation – indeed, it is an “abomination of desolation” but not “THE” Abomination of Desolation. Whether, so it appears, he is           embodied akin to the Antichrist-Beast, makes no matter—for it is his “ministry” akin to that of the Holy Spirit that affords a more “spiritual” proclivity to his ulterior motives; to wit:

THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

“Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived . . . he was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:14b-15).

Without the understanding of the “mystery of godliness” and of the ministry or work of the Holy Spirit whereby we, the Temple of the Lord, are, as it clearly is spoken:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (II Corinthians 3:17-18).

Here, Paul clearly has in mind and spirit, not a multiplicity of images, but all they who are found “in Christ” (II Corinthians 3:14b). In sum: We are the corporate IMAGE of Christ; even so, the work of the False Prophet is to make an IMAGE to the Beast – an EXPRESSION OF THE BEAST comprised of all those who shall receive the MARK OF THE BEAST (which we shall later address). This IMAGE OF THE BEAST—just as the IMAGE OF CHRIST, His Body, His Expression, His Woman, His Bride and Wife—receives NOT the HOLY BREATH, but the UNHOLY BREATH!

Thus, what we witness here:

(1)    The Work of the Second Beast is the creation of the IMAGE OF THE BEAST through “worship” – and . . .

(2)     Be it clearly known – this False Prophet “telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the     beast” – therefore, these earth dwellers are under the domination of the Second Beast to effect this singular IMAGE of THE BEAST – and, yes, just as Joseph Goebbels as the Minister of Propaganda under Adolph Hitler deceived the masses of Germans, leading them to become the reflection of Hitler, the image of that beast – it was inevitable that . . .

(3)    “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak . . .” – hence, as the Resurrected Christ breathed upon the disciples and said: Receive ye the Holy BREATH (John 20:22) – and, no, this was not “anticipatory” but immediate (“receive right now”) – and bespeaks of the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit, not the “outpouring” and/or “clothing” and enduement for     Pentecostal power from on high) – even so, the imposter shall infuse the counterfeit of the resurrection life into this corporate IMAGE OF THE BEAST so that this THING imitates the Body of the Beast, the counterfeit of the Body of Christ. What we witness is the awful proliferation of the corporate IMAGE OF THE BEAST until it comes to life and speaks! But how did this happen – prior to this vile exhaust?

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

In the Revelation it clearly states that the “ministry” of the Second Beast is as follows: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name . . . here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18).

The MARK OF THE BEAST, the NAME OF THE BEAST, and the NUMBER OF A MAN . . . all three are acceptable.

But we have a glaring counter distinction in the Revelation as well—and throughout the Scripture:

“Write upon him the name of my God . . . and I will write upon him my new name . . . having His Father’s name written on their foreheads . . . his name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 3:12; 14:1; 22:4) . . .

Likewise, the word for “seal” in Greek is sphragizō (Strong’s 4972: to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (lit. or fig.); implication to keep secret, to attest:--(set a, set to)—also 4973: (a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness)) . . . thusly, is it used to express ownership as the ancient world so utilized their rings in wax to seal a communication or to impress their “mark” of ownership on an object.

“Having the seal of the living God . . . the seal of God in their foreheads . . . Who hath also sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee . . . ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise . . . and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Revelation 7:2; 9:4; II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).

The Greek word used as in “mark of the Beast” is charagma (Strong’s 5480: – a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue):--graven, mark) – it is used in Revelation 13:16-17; 14:9, 11: 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4. Never is this word interchanged with sphragizō – clearly, though both connote “ownership” – the one is under the Holy Spirit, the other under the Spirit of the Antichrist-Beast, the MARK of the Beast.

Therefore, we are loathe to conclude that just as the Holy Spirit has “sealed” those who are His own; even so, the False Prophet marks out those who belong to the Beast!

The “form” of this etching, as upon a statue, perfectly fits the IMAGE of Gentile World Powers foreseen in the IMAGE found in the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This IMAGE OF THE BEAST belongs to, is owned by, the Beast himself! The “number of a man” (666) may involve some technological aberration as suggested by Dolphin and many others; however, it clearly is the number of a man. I concur with Helmut Seeger’s considerations in the Last Days Report that this number coincides with the measurements of King Nebuchadnezzar’s IMAGE or STATUE –

“As the reference to the ‘number of a human being’ with the ‘number 666’ unmistakably refers to the golden image that measures ‘60’ ells high and ‘6’ ells wide, according to Daniel’s description” (Last Days Report).

No, I do not extrapolate this to mean the League of Nations or United Nations as Seeger has done – but the measurements of the IMAGE – the fullness of man’s efforts at world dominion – if you receive the mark (and it is NOT Sunday worship) – you wholly identify with the IMAGE of GENTILE WORLD POWER and authority, ownership, obedience, worship and all that goes with it!

Far be it for me to presume that this MARK OF THE BEAST could also conjure up images of demonic possession and obsession within myriads of earth dwellers—however, that certainly is not that far from the prophetic reality! (cf. Revelation 16:13-14). This leads us to . . .

THE WORSHIP OF THE BEAST AND THE WORSHIP OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

Please observe that there are TWO expressions of worship—though they are one in the same: The worship of the Beast; and the worship of the Image of the Beast. Let us repeat: This is the work of the False Prophet – as the Holy Spirit throughout the Revelation leads the saints in worship of the Lamb upon the throne (Revelation 4:1-11; 5:12-14; 7:11; 11:16; 14:7; 19:4), and for that matter, the Four Living Creatures full of illuminating eyes with their six wings (indicative of unveiling the person and work of Christ to humanity – Revelation 4:4-8; 5:6, 8, 14; 6:1, 6; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4) enlighten the saints, revealing Who is to be worshiped (i.e., the Lamb) – even so, the False Prophet’s “ministry” is to lead in the worship of the Beast, as well as in the worship of the IMAGE of the Beast.

Here is where these horrid comparisons take wholly separate expressions from the worship of “God and the Lamb.” We can eminently perceive how the decadence and deception of a people can form around the dictatorship of the Beast to become his image – but just as in Nazi Germany or any of a host of authoritarian regimes the people have become so self-absorbed in the personality, deeds, and declarations of their Fuhrer, that this mesmerized host of obsessed souls cannot help but WORSHIP THEMSELVES – seeing in THEMSELVES the very reflection of the Beast!

“Herein lies the secret of the indestructibility of Adolf Hitler and his work – the guarantee that the road he has taken can not be altered. For it is no longer the man Adolf Hitler, it is no longer his works and no longer the road he has taken that expresses itself in him. It is the German nation itself that expresses itself in him. IN HIM THE NATION LOVES ITSELF, IN HIM IT FOLLOWS ITS MOST SECRET DESIRES, IN HIM ITS MOST DARING THOUGHTS BECOME REALITY. Every single person feels this and because of it Adolf Hitler is a stranger to no one, and no one is a stranger to the Fuhrer. Workers and farmers speak with him; Nobel Prize winners and artists, warriors and dreamers, happy men and despairing men speak with him, and each and every one hears his own language, he understands and is understood in return. Everything is natural and self-evident, and no one is shy before this great man. No one is ordered to follow. No one is courted, but everyone is called, just as one would be called by his own conscience. He has no choice but to follow, should he not want to be guilty and unhappy in his own heart. Thus, what must happen happens voluntarily, and NO NATION ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH HAS MORE FREEDOM THAN THE GERMANS.” (Adolf Hitler, A Chilling Tale of Propaganda, As Packaged by Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Reprinted from the 1936 Edition, Copyright 1999 by Typhoon International, Translated by Courtney Searls-Ridge, Director, German Language Services, Seattle, Washington, Printed in Croatia, p. 20) (My caps).

This extremity of narcissism is the ultimate manifestation of the self, the world, the flesh and the devil himself! Thus, is Jude’s description altogether apropos:

“But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like BRUTE BEASTS, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (Jude 10-11).

The IMAGE OF THE BEAST has become the antithesis of the IMAGE OF CHRIST – whereas, however, the IMAGE OF CHRIST, who is His Expression and Reflection, His Bride – is never found to worship herself (although far too many “churches” prize their beauty beyond the Lover of their souls) – “The Bride eyes not her garments, but her dear Bridegrooms face; we will not gaze at glory, but on our King of Grace!” Ah, that’s the refrain of the saints of the Most High – but not the chorus of them who WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST.

No, their acclamation is the reflection of the Beast himself—and his wretched masterpiece, Babylon the Great, is lost, self-absorbed in who they are and ever hoped to be; though it be a false aspiration.

THE WOMAN WHO RIDES THE BEAST

She mounts herself upon the Ten-Horned Beast from the Abyss who relishes her moral covering to exploit the people of the earth on behalf of the LITTLE HORN (the Eleventh Horn) for “in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words . . . the same horn was making war against the saints, prevailing against them” (Daniel 7:8b, 21; Revelation 11:7; 12:13, 17; 13:7).

To my historicist brethren – do not despair in seeking solace and meaning in the dastardly deeds wrought upon the people of God throughout the ages when State and Church concocted their binary potion, their evil mixture whose cup is full of abominations, dripping with the blood of the saints – these types and shadows, this literalism has persisted to this day – the only difference is the vastness, the expanse, the unadulterated expression of consummate evil that shall be discharged in our final days upon this wretched scene.

The Woman epitomizes all that know not the Lamb – they who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. She is that Woman, Jezebel – who is cast down from her lofty perch, and whose worldly perfumed harlotry is eaten by dogs and consumed in the fire (cf. I Kings 21:23; II Kings 9:10, 30-37; Revelation 17:16-18; 18:2-20).

She is the awful consummation of Satan’s masterpiece – where earth’s Kings and Priests join as State and Church throughout the ages to bring ultimate contempt and sordid judgment upon their houses. No, no, no – she is NOT the Woman of Revelation 12 who gives birth to the Male Child (the Manchild) who is caught up to the heavens in resurrection – she is NOT the Woman whom John saw: “Come, I will show you the WOMAN, the Lamb’s Bride!” (Revelation 21:9) – No, she, the MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH, is prepared for judgment, and she is BURNED WITH FIRE!

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Our journey to the Celestial City is complete – now, BEHOLD:

“Then I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband . . . the Holy City, Jerusalem the WOMAN, the Lamb’s Bride” (Revelation 21:2, 10, 9).