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Chariot October 2010 - Norm Wakefield Battling
the Beast of Self, Part 6
Have you ever considered how the devil hates God's Word? It makes sense
that he would want to mislead people as to the true meaning of any
scripture, but especially a passage of scripture that exposes him and his
schemes. I think the book of The
Revelation does exactly that. Satan has successfully duped millions of
Christians that the book of The
Revelation is primarily about a time in history when they won't be
here. Therefore The Revelation is rendered useless. What benefit to our faith is it
to know of an antichrist figure who leads a new world order in the end
times, which by the way, only a few believers will have to worry about (if
you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture)?
In past
articles, we have considered twelve characteristics of the beast of self.
If this installment of the series Battling
the Beast of Self is your first exposure to this thought, then I
recommend that you read the previous parts 1-5 at www.spiritofelijah.com/chariot
Some
of these characteristics might fit the profile of one man who is an evil
leader of a new world order, however, many do not. If one characteristic
does not fit, then we can conclude that John did not have such a man in
mind. Then what was John trying to teach or say in Revelation 13?
I have suggested
that The Revelation is primarily
about the gospel of Jesus Christ from an eternal perspective. One primary
doctrine necessary for the church to grasp is the doctrine of suffering.
The churches of Asia Minor needed to understand the cosmic battle that is
being waged in the heavenlies. What I am endeavoring to do is to show you
how every characteristic of the Beast in Revelation 13 describes self
under the control and power of sin which entered at the fall of man in the
garden of Eden. John also was testifying to the glorious work of the Lamb
of God in delivering His people from the authority of sin. Let's review
the previous twelve characteristics before we continue our study. 1.
The beast
of self rose up before the devil. 2.
The beast
of self rose up out of the sea of man. 3.
The beast
of self is deluded about its power and authority. 4.
The beast
of self is deluded about its knowledge and perfection. 5.
The beast
of self blasphemes God (proclaims himself as God). 6.
The beast
of self acts like wild beasts which pursue their prey. 7.
The beast
of self has its power and authority from Satan. 8.
The beast
of self suffered a fatal head wound at the cross. 9.
The beast
of self continues to live. 10.
The beast
of self is worshipped and followed by the whole earth. 11.
To
worship the beast of self is to worship Satan. 12.
The beast
of self will reign in man until Jesus returns. 13. The beast of self blasphemes the work of God in
Christ.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme
His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Rev. 13:6
What is
blasphemy? Blasphemy means to speak lightly of or to profane something
sacred. Self under the power of sin, otherwise known as flesh, is hostile
to God and the work of God. Why? Because to need the work of the cross is
an admission of weakness. The pride of fallen man hates such a confession!
Self blasphemes, "I don't need help! Who needs Jesus?" The Apostle Paul
taught this truth to the Corinthians when he wrote, "For indeed Jews ask
for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to
Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness" (1 Cor. 1:22-23).
James wrote about non-wisdom which is earthly, natural, and demonic which
is primarily characterized by self-ambition. John wanted his readers to
understand that there is a beast inside of them that wars against the
saints by speaking lightly of what God has done in Jesus Christ at the
cross.
Perhaps you've
heard someone remark, "I'm a pretty good person. Why would anyone need to
pray for me?" Without realizing it, he was blaspheming the work of God in
Christ. Furthermore, many of them feel offended that people would say
Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. People who believe that God is so
exclusive make them mad, which is another characteristic of the beast of
self. 14. The beast of self blasphemes the church of Jesus
Christ.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme
His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Rev. 13:6
The proud beast of self speaks lightly of the church of Jesus Christ, who
are citizens in the new Jerusalem in heaven. The church of Jesus Christ is
also known as the temple of God. Paul wrote, "For we are the temple of the
living God" (2 Cor. 6:16). The writer of Hebrews described the church in
this way. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general
assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to
God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood,
which speaks better than the
blood of Abel" (Heb. 12:22-24).
Self is a
citizen of this world and sees no need for the new covenant or the blood
of Jesus Christ. He feels perfectly safe and secure in his own
self-righteousness in spite of what he knows he's done wrong. A man in the
flesh amazingly feels worthy of heaven, and is incensed by anyone who says
that he must be a member of the body of Christ if he wishes to enter
heaven.
Here's another
way the beast blasphemes the tabernacle of God. Are you surprised when a
judgmental spirit arises in your mind regarding a brother or sister in
Christ? You shouldn't be, there's a beast inside of you that loves to
criticize and expose the weaknesses of others, especially if they claim to
be Christians. Consider the destruction wreaked in marriages by a spouse
who slanders or speaks ill of his or her mate who is a fellow believer.
That is the beast warring against Jesus Christ and blaspheming the
tabernacle of God. 15. The beast of self battles against the saints and
overcomes them.
It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and
nation was given to him. Rev.
13:7
Selfishness overcomes the
saints. Peter was overcome by the beast when he denied Jesus
and later when out of the selfish desire to gain the approval of his
Jewish brethren he slighted the Gentiles and would not eat with them.
James wrote to believers that they had to fight against selfish-ambition
and jealousy within. The Apostle Paul commanded the Philippians to "Do
nothing from selfishness" (Phil. 2:3) because the only way to live is to
live in a manner worthy of the gospel by emptying ourselves as Jesus did
(Phil. 1:27; 2:6). In his first epistle, John warned his readers to beware
the spirit of the antichrist that was already in the world and militant
toward the love of God flowing in their midst.
What was their
point and that of the Apostle John in Revelation 13? The beast of self
inside of believers is still at war with us, in fact, he even overcomes
us. Sin still lives inside us. Who of us can say that we are never proud
or selfish? How often do we respond in life from a selfish perspective?
When we do, we have been overcome by the beast of self who makes war with
us. John wanted believers to recognize their enemy. We should hate and
strive against selfishness as we strive against all sin. It is the primary
expression of sin!
As best I know,
there is no scripture that teaches that an antichrist figure, the head of
a new world order, will overcome the saints. Yes, he might make war
against them, but the saints have always given up their lives rather than
be overcome by evil rulers. In fact, in The
Revelation, John wrote about the number of martyrs being fulfilled by
those who had given up their lives for Christ. This is one characteristic
that undoubtedly eliminates the idea that John was thinking of an evil
ruler of a new world order in Revelation 13. 16. The beast of self has been given universal authority over all of
mankind throughout all of history.
It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and
nation was given to him. Rev.
13:7
No one man has
ever been given universal authority over all mankind throughout history.
It is an impossibility. However, it is not an untrue statement if John was
describing the affect of original sin or the extent of selfishness to rule
over all of mankind. It doesn't matter where you go in the world,
regardless of tribe, tongue, or nation, you'll find selfishness to rule in
the hearts of everyone you meet. Furthermore, the discovery would be the
same at anytime in history after Adam's and Eve's sin. The point is this:
John taught that sin's authority and power are universal. He wasn't
teaching the extent of the authority of an evil leader of a one world
government at the end of time.
The beast of
self has devoured mankind! And it should be personal with you. You have
within you an enemy of selfishness and pride that has great power and
authority. When John wrote of "every tribe, people, and tongue, and nation"
he was teaching about the universality of the fall to ruin mankind. Using
Satan's hatred and animosity toward the Lamb of God, God gave him
permission to tempt Adam and to succeed for the ultimate purpose of
glorifying Jesus Christ. The same is true about your sin and selfishness.
God has allowed selfishness to have authority over you so that He might
glorify Jesus Christ who delivered you through His work on the cross. Only
through Jesus Christ can this authority be broken, and that's where John
is going in this passage. Do you know your enemy and have you been set free?
Why did John
write these things? He wrote them so that the members of the seven
churches would recognize their enemy and understand the spiritual warfare
in which they were engaged. Furthermore, he wrote these things so that he
might write of the glory of Jesus Christ and the gospel through whom and
by which they have been set free? John's purpose in writing was stated in
the first chapter. He was writing the revelation God had given him
regarding Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The interpretation of Revelation
13 I'm explaining fits squarely within the stated purpose of the Apostle.
Instead of a
book that is irrelevant to the church throughout all of history except for
the last seven years, we have a book that is intensely relevant to the
church at the time of its writing as well as to you today. Have you been
set free from the authority of the beast of self-the ultimate antichrist?
Are you at war with self or are you aiding and abetting self?
Here are some suggestions for family discussion. 1.
Review the definition of blasphemy and discuss why it is an
expression of hostility toward Jesus Christ and the cross to think that we
are "good people" and not in need of anything in order to go to heaven? 2.
In what ways does selfishness militate against the body of Christ?
What have you observed in your experience in the church? 3.
How is a critical, judgmental spirit in a Christian marriage the
evidence of the beast of Revelation 13:6? 4.
If you were piling up evidence in a debate to prove that
selfishness overcomes even the saints, what evidence would you have? 5.
What facts suggest that selfishness is universal in mankind and the
ultimate expression of the antichrist? 6.
How does one aid and abet the beast of self?
7.
Make a list of ideas about how you can fight the beast of self. The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team". Has Norm's Chariot or other resources been an encouragement to you? As a nonprofit organization, Elijah Ministries needs support from people like you in order to function. If God has ministered to you through Elijah Ministries and Norm Wakefield, would you consider supporting the work? You can do so here. (Elijah Ministries is a tax-deductible 501c3 and is financially accountable to an overseeing board of 8 non-paid members from around the country.) The Chariot is also available as a podcast. You can automatically receive the Chariot each month in iTunes by subscribing here. (An RSS capable browser such as Internet Explorer 7 or Safari is required.)
If you
haven't visited our website, www.spiritofelijah.com,
please stop by sometime. You'll find: * Resources to equip you and your family * Previous Chariot articles * Norm's speaking schedule *
Free MP3 downloads * Subscribe to the Chariot Podcast here. * Various resources/pages translated and available in Spanish * An online store to purchase resources and make tax-free contributions by credit card
I invite you to be a part of the
moving of the Spirit of Elijah in your church, community, and the world.
How?
1.
Send this article to other men or families that you know would
benefit from it. You might inform them of the previous articles
available on-line at our website.
2.
Share resources from the Spirit of Elijah Ministries with others.
If Equipping Men or Rising to the
Call have been a blessing to you, then you know it will be
beneficial to others. Either share your resources, tell them about the
resources, or purchase a set or two as an investment in their lives. 3. Share with others what you have learned and put into practice in turning your heart to God, your wife, and your children. If God has done this in you, then He wants to affect others through you.
4.
Join the Elijah Ministries email prayer team and make
intercession for others that their hearts would be turned in revival to
the Lord, their wives, and their children. This can be done on-line at www.spiritofelijah.com.
Norm
Wakefield 10.10 To unsubscribe, click here.
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