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The UnHoly Trinity of Revelation 13
The UnHoly Trinity of Revelation 13
I don’t recall where I first read this description of the enemies of God’s people in Revelation, but it stuck. We were given an overview of the spiritual war that has been going on since the beginning. The war is centered on US, God’s people – Satan attempting to turn our hearts away from God. Now we get a closer view of our adversary. As Sports used to caption their segments: ‘UP Close and Personal”.
Of Course, there is behind all opposition to God’s people, Satan – the dragon. (Read chapter 12 again).
Satan uses two main ‘means’ – the beast from the sea and the beast of the earth. The sea beast I understand to be the worldly aspect of the Roman empire. He appears to be slain and yet lives. Who can win against such a powerful enemy? This always reminds me of the silly song “Cow Patty” – where to kill the ‘bad guy’ only makes him made. Same here, only this enemy is real. He shows himself to be eternal and omnipotent and thus, people of the earth worship him (instead of God). AND because of what he makes himself out to be, people of the world worship him.
The beast of the earth has a definite religious look. This religion is to get people to worship the sea beast. His goal: “make the whole world worship the sea beast”. There are counterfeit signs, deception, persecution, and hardship.
Together, this unholy trinity makes the struggle of David and Goliath appear truly miniscule! How can God’s people survive this onslaught? Simple: faithfulness to God. You know the end already – God wins. But that doesn’t make the struggle any easier while we are going through such.
The greater struggle is not just the physical persecution and fear of martyrdom, but the whole ungodly world view that comes with the worship of the beast! In the first century it was Empirical Rome and the committee that presented and enforced allegiance to the Empire and its earthly rulers. Note some of the aspects of such a world view. The empire is all powerful. The empire will last forever. The empire provides (or denies) the essentials of life (as well as the joys and luxuries of life under the rule of the empire. The empire and its rulers are worthy of worship.
We face the same danger today when we begin to look to worldly rulers, powers, and worldviews as the basis of our lives. Looking to the world for the answers of life only leads one away from God and eternal life. There remains the constant pressure of conformity to such a worldview. Such pressure is not just persecution, but the whole pressure of life: family, politics, economics, and even false religious views. The ANSWER also remains the same: we will overcome by our faithful witness even as our Lord overcame by His faithful witness!
Be not deceived! Be not conformed to ‘the world’ (whether it is the Roman world of the 1st century OR whatever ‘world’ / government / life situation we may live in). Be faithful unto God and His Christ. Worship GOD.
Hugh DeLong
