Revelation Y2K: The False Gospel, Part 1

By Pastor David M. Dennis
[Based on Revelation 12 and 13]

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The story is told of a man and his date who wanted a quick bite to eat and decided to stop at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. They ordered one of the meals where the food came in one of those big red and white buckets with the Colonel’s picture on the outside.

As they got into their car and started to drive they both noticed that the smell of fried chicken was gone was from their nostrils. It seemed that the bucket of chicken ought to be giving off a strong fried food smell. So the woman opened up the bucket to discover that no chicken, nor any food was in the bucket.

What she found were bundles of money! Both the man and the woman were amazed, but both decided to do the right thing. The guy turned the car around and headed back to the fast food restaurant. The man brought the bucket to the counter and asked to see the manager. Soon the manager approached the counter thinking he had to deal with a complaint about the food. The man with the bucket handed it over and said, "I think you want to look in here." The manager looked, and with a combination of shock and relief started to thank the man.

The procedure in the store was to put the daily bank deposit in one of the buckets for safe keeping. The manager realized that some worker had picked up and handed over the wrong bucket to this customer.

As it began to sink in further into the manager he realized what a great thing had just happened. He started to tell the man he was the most honest man in the world! He realized that his job had been saved. And he began to thank the man greater enthusiasm. The manager’s mind was in full gear.

"Sir", he said, "this is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. I am going to call the media down here. . . " "No, No, no", said the man, "I’m going to go now." "Go?", said the manager, "this story needs to be told. People need to hear that honesty exists in this world! We’ll call up the TV station, and the newspapers!"

The man finally had to put his foot down. "Look, you’ve got your money. Let’s leave it like that. I’m going now." Before the man could walk out the manager had to ask why he didn’t want people to hear this story. The man mumbled to manager that the woman he was with was not his wife.

We live in a world and during a time when some things look very good at first, but upon a closer and thorough examination are not very good at all. We live in a time when the scientist, politicians, media, and world leaders hold out great hope for the possibilities of humanity. But we know through a closer and more truthful examination that the times a fraught with danger and deceit.

Today we are going to return to the book of Revelation and we are going to begin to look at Revelation 12 and 13. These two chapters form the center, or we could say, the high point of the book. Here the central message of the hope and the warnings of Revelation can be found. We will look at the message which points out the deceit and the spiritual conspiracy perpetrated against humanity at the end of time.

[At this point it may be helpful to read Revelation 12 and 13]

Here in the middle of Revelation we have another grouping of seven. Thus far we have had:

In Revelation 12 and 13 we have another grouping of seven: seven figures or 7 characters.

When we have looked at the previous groups of seven I have pointed out how they are representative of chronological movements. The same is true of this seven characters. We have a movement covering the same period of time — From the time of Christ to the End-of-time.

Today I want to focus on the two beasts in the chronology. If the seventh character, the Lamb on Mount Zion with the victorious people of God is a picture of Christ with the church in heaven, then the two beasts which precede the Lamb on Mount Zion are two powers or movements to be found at the end of time – the time we are living.

For clarity I simply call the first beast the Land beast because it arises up out of the land. And the Second beast is the Sea Beast because it comes up out of the sea. As we read through the description of these two beasts what impresses me is that they are very ugly. They are ugly in their appearance. And they are ugly in respect to their treatment of God’s people. Also, I hope you noticed while we read (i.e. Rev. 12 & 13) how the Land and Sea Beasts work together as a team.

Historically we have understood the Land and the Sea Beasts to be great, world-wide religious and political powers which co-join themselves to form a powerful alliance to work their will and oppose God’s truth. The principles of this interpretation are sound.

Today I want to examine a bigger picture in regards to these two beasts and witness how enormous and great the deception which will brought upon the people of this planet.

First let us consider some characteristics of the Land beast

Now let us consider the Sea Beast

Since the two beasts are a team let us compile the characteristics of the two:

If I had started this morning by stating – without reading Revelation 13 – that I was going to talk to you about a power which is lamb-like; works great signs from heaven; gives the breath of life; was resurrected; had a three and one-half year ministry, and perfectly represents the One who gave him authority – if I had said this to you, who would you think I was talking about?

Though we may think it when we list these characteristics we are not talking about Jesus. We are not talking about our Lord, Friend, and Savior. When we talk about these characteristics as they come from the combined beasts of Revelation 13 we are looking at a fraud. We are looking at an end-time power which seeks to set itself up in the place of Christ, but not having the power of authority or power or privilege of Christ.

We now see that the end-time power which will try to dominate the earth and all her people is not some crazy, far-out, far-flung sophistry which people can dismiss out of hand. We are looking at an end-time power which tries to parallel and set itself up as a christ-like savior.

As our opening illustration made the point – it looks good at first, but underneath it is bad. We can see the true nature of the false gospel and pack of lies which come from this power. It is a gospel of deception. It tries to deceive people with its own brand of truth. It calls for worship. And it motivates through tyranny instead of love.

This power teaches a gospel which in no different from the gospel taught to Eve by the serpent, or by the builders of the tower of Babel – It doesn’t matter what God has said – do it your own way. And like the serpent in the garden this end-time power is subtle. It comes close to the truth but underneath it is a pack of lies, hatred of God, and tyranny for those who do not buy in to its deception. It is a false pathway to salvation.

The good news today is that we also can know God’s people will be victorious. Though they are hated by the perpetrators of tyranny, God’ people will be victorious with the true Lamb on Mount Zion. Today, make a commitment to God, to know Him better. Know Him better through His word and through relationship. Learn the truth of a committed relationship now. Thus, when the full furry of the Christ-like deception goes forth into this world you know the True, and only Jesus