Living in an Earthly Kingdom

Revelation 13

2 Timothy 3

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be LOVERS OF SELF,

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2 Timothy 4:3

3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires,

I’m concerned

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“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Heb 13:17

I’m concerned

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What comes from the flesh and focus on self: hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

(Galatians 5)

A little reality reminder

for us all.

Revelation 12

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We live in the Present darkness

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For now we see in a mirror dimly,

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John 8 “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

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This is where we find ourselves. In the midst of a dark world which is under the control of the evil one. Who wants to devour and destroy us. The Spirit of God is the only one who can illuminate what the darkness is hiding from us. In any moment that you’re not following Jesus, your vision and understanding at best is blurry, unclear and confused. Ultimately, those who are not following God are blind and are being led by other blind people.

1 John 2:18

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

The spirit at work then is at work now and will be at work in the future.

Ephesians 2:1-2

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

Revelation 13 -

First Beast - Kingdoms of

Religious and Political Powers

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,

Revelation 13

8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,�    to captivity he goes;�if anyone is to be slain with the sword,�    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Revelation 13

1st Beast- Earthly Kingdoms self elevated above God’s Kingdom.

• Utter words/messages that minimize or go against God.
• Disregard him and make little of his will and power. Or deny him altogether.
• Kingdom is given rule over people, even Christians
• It’s rule allows it to persecute and harm all people even the Christians.
• Those who are not putting their faith in Christ will get caught up putting their faith in these Kingdoms.

Revelation 13

Listen this is what will happen in those Kingdoms.

Remember: When this happens, God will not be surprised. This must happen for God’s plan to be carried out.

If anyone is to be taken captive,�    to captivity he goes;�if anyone is to be slain with the sword,�    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Revelation 13 - 2nd Beast - The Antichrist

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth.

12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Revelation 13

The many antichrists who have come:

• Exercise authority over kingdoms
• Lead people to worship those Kingdoms
• Perform great signs to gain peoples trust
• Make Idols, symbols, things to stir false hope in order to draw attention to these kingdoms.

Throughout History we have seen the same spirits that will drive the 1st and 2nd beasts from Revelation 13 at work in false teachers, leaders and prophets. As well as Beast like Kingdoms and systems in power around the world and throughout time.

Do you see the same spirits at work around us building up beast like earthly Kingdoms?

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What about those false teachers, prophets or “spiritual” leaders who glorify and draw people’s attention to those kingdoms?

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What about those people leading those Kingdoms politically?

American

&

Christian

If anyone is to be taken captive,�    to captivity he goes;�if anyone is to be slain with the sword,�    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.