It Is Finished Audio

Friday, March 27, 2026

Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 27MAR26 (Revelation 13:11-14)

 

                                                        The Second Beast

 

“Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it was speaking like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence. It also makes the earth and those who live in it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. It does great signs so that it even makes fire come down from heaven to earth in the presence of the people. It deceives those who live on earth by the signs that it was allowed to do in the presence of the beast. It told those who live on earth to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and yet came to life again” (Revelation 13:11-14).

 

           

            President Donald J. Trump announced that on May 17, 2026, our nation’s history would be celebrated with an event titled Rededicate 250, a national jubilee of prayer and thanksgiving. This would be a day to rededicate America as one nation under God as part of America's 250th anniversary, and to restore America’s foundation of authority, freedom, and purpose.[1] While on the surface this looks admirable, there is also a fundraising agenda led by Freedom 250 (a national, nonpartisan organization) that would allow donors to receive incentives, such as taking photos with the President, in exchange for significant monetary contributions. Critics of the celebration describe it as an attempt to promote Christian nationalism. Despite what many evangelicals would hold this event to be an attempt to turn the nation’s view back towards God, one must be careful not to be deceived by appearances.

Recently, Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI director and special counsel to the alleged 2016 Russia hoax scandal tied to President Trump, died on March 20, 2026, at age 81 in Charlottesville, Virginia. When questioned by reporters regarding his thoughts on Mueller’s death, President Trump stated that he was glad that he was dead. While this was an unpresidential and inhumane statement, there are other ungodly comments and rhetoric Trump has spoken, such as the use of f-bombs and other 4-letter vulgar words on camera and in public, breaking traditional presidential communication norms. The Word of God warns against such individuals who would declare His name with their mouth, and yet their hearts are far from Him. The Bible says: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (James 1:26). This means that a person who claims to be religious but has no control over their tongue is considered to be of no use. The Word of God also says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:8-10). In these verses, the Bible lets us know that anger and such qualities, including profanity, are not of God. Therefore, one cannot profess to come in God’s name but fail to have self-control.

.           John saw a second beast come out of the earth. Coming from the earth means that it came from the land of the people, nation, or kingdom. It had two horns like a lamb but it spoke like a dragon. This represents a religious figure who will be very deceptive. The leader will look like a servant of God, but will actually be taking orders from the devil himself. While the first beast that came from the sea is political power, this second beast, which comes from the earth, represents a religious power that deceives the world.  He imitates Jesus and commands worship to be given to the first beast. The Bible says: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus instructed us to be aware of those who call themselves servants and leaders of God but are deceivers, for they will lead many astray. Keep an eye on the Pope and any other false entity who speaks against and/or remixes the Word of God.

This second beast made the people worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had healed. The first beast was the political leader also known as the antichrist and the second beast is its false prophet. They will work together to lead the world astray. Christians must be very careful when the church aligns with political leaders. This is not to be taken lightly. We are currently seeing how easy this will be done by looking at the Trump administration. He speaks of God, caters to the people of God, and sometimes have the appearance of worshiping God, but be careful to follow hm as God. A prime example of who started out right but went astray was King Solomon.

God had chosen Solomon to lead his people and even gave him wisdom to do so. Unfortunately, he allowed his heart to become prideful and worship the gods of his foreign wives. The Bible says: “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done” (1 Kings 11:4-6). This caused the Lord to rip the kingdom away from his heirs and leave his son, Rehoboam, with only two tribes to rule instead of twelve. This was the reason for the split of Israel into the northern and southern kingdoms. It will do great signs and wonders, which will fool most of the world and cause them to worship the first beast. Many may think that they would never worship the antichrist, but many are already worshipping antichrist spirits right now. The Bible says: Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really part of us. If they had been part of us, they would have stayed with us. But by going out from us, they showed they all are not part of us. But you have an anointing from the holy one, and all of you know the truth” (1 John 2:18-20).  This text shows that some people had been part of the church at that time but were actually heretics. The same is taking place today. There are many leaders in the church who are preaching another Gospel unauthorized by God, which is no gospel at all. 

These leaders are deceiving the masses and leading many astray. They are false prophets full of greed and are spiritually compromised. The Bible says: “His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down,  loving to slumber.  The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.” (Isaiah 56:10-11). It is easy to see how the second beast (false prophet) will be able to deceive the people into worshipping the first beast (antichrist, political ruler) because people will trust the man instead of trusting God, as many already do today. 

            In John’s vision, the second beast (false prophet) told the people to worship the image of the first beast (antichrist, political leader). The false prophet will tell the world that they must obey the ungodly laws of the antichrist because they have a spiritual obligation to do so. He may use the very Word of God to have people break God’s law. There are pastors who have already been trained by FEMA to teach their congregation to obey authority by misusing Romans 13.

Yes, some 26,000 pastors and more have taken this training to indoctrinate the people to already be conditioned for this. Nevertheless, are you supposed to obey the law? Yes!  However, if at any time the law of the land goes against the laws of God, you must NEVER compromise by obeying them. Paul, the writer of Romans did say to obey authority, but even he had to defy that authority when they wanted him to stop preaching the gospel, which eventually led to him becoming a martyr. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:27-29).

            There are laws right now challenging the rights of Christians regarding catering to the homosexual agenda. Despite the challenges, many Christians are standing firm in their beliefs, even at the risk of losing their jobs, homes, and encountering fines, while at the same time, many churches have chosen to apostatize and follow after a demonic beast system. God will reward those who stand firm to the end.

            In the state of Georgia, counselors, under Georgia licensing board rules and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, are generally prohibited from refusing to counsel gay couples solely based on personal values, as this constitutes discrimination and violates the duty to provide competent care to all clients. Therefore, those who are Christian counselors must decide if they will follow the Word of God or bow to man’s ungodly laws. It is always best to follow the Lord because He rewards His faithful in the end.

 

So, let’s go over some signs of a false prophet.

Based on biblical and theological perspectives, here are key signs of a false prophet:

 

  • False Doctrine and Core Beliefs: They may deny that Jesus is the Son of God or misrepresent His place as God’s son, distort the message of the cross, or promote other gods. Their teachings are often unbalanced, focusing on "easy" messages rather than the "narrow way" of holiness. Recently, Ted Cruz stated that it is antisemitism the way Christians proclaim that Jesus is King. This is absolutely false. The Bible says: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings...” (Revelation 17:14). Anyone who attempts to take away from who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross is of the devil.

 

  • Corrupt Character and Lifestyle: Their personal lives often reveal immorality, greed, and lack of integrity. They are the ones caught up in scandal after scandal, and their lives fail to reflect a living sermon. The Bible says: “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach…” (1 Timothy 3:2-12).

 

  • Narcissistic: Instead of serving God, they serve their own appetites and egos, often using their position to gain wealth, power, or fame. They do not see the people of God as those in need of care, but rather as a bridge to their desired destination. The Bible says: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

 

  • Unfulfilled or Manipulative Prophecy: They may declare that God has spoken a word to them when He hasn’t. They may use fear, manipulation, or misuse Scripture to keep people dependent on them. The Bible says: “And the Lord said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds’ ” (Jeremiah 14:14).

 

 

  • Lack of Spiritual Fruit: Their ministry does not result in spiritual maturity, but rather confusion, division, and the deception of followers. The Bible says: “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:17-20).

 

  • Flock/Crowd-Pleasers and Entertainers: They act as crowd-pleasers who focus on emotional, positive messages that make people feel comfortable in their sins, rather than calling for repentance. They would rather entertain the crowd then help them be saved. The Bible says: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).


[1] The White House Editorial Staff, "Year of Celebration."

Friday, March 13, 2026

Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 13MAR26 (Revelation 13:7-10)

 

The Beast Rages War

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:7-10).

 

 

            John saw that the beast was given the power to wage war against God’s people and conquer them. This war was worldwide. Currently, we have seen war waged against Christians in many Middle Eastern countries by members of the Islamic State, called ISIS, Boko Haram, and other demonic organizations. They are killing Christians and attempting to make many converts to Islam. They desire for Islam to take over the entire world. Even in New York City, the elected Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani has been videoed having Islamic prayer rugs within city hall, praying to their false god, Allah. Islamists wish to take over the world, including the United States, because they do not assimilate; they attempt to take over wherever they reside. Therefore, anyone who does not bow down to this demonic religion is considered an infidel and, therefore, killed. This is also taking place in parts of Africa, such as Nigeria. Their Quran says: “But once the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists ˹who violated their treaties˺ (those who helped aided Muslim’s enemies)wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way. But if they repent, perform prayers, and pay alms-tax, then set them free. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Sura 9:5). This is not a religion of peace, but of war for those who do not comply or agree with its doctrine.  

The terrorist organization, Boko Haram, kills Christians by the thousands in Nigeria. Christian churches and businesses have been bombed due to the group’s hatred of Christianity. In many ways, other countries outside of the US and Europe are already experiencing their antichrist in the form of Islamic Jihadists, and their “beast” is the executioner who is bringing down the sword, knife, gun, and/or torch. However, this will one day hit the whole world.

            Who will this beast be for the whole world? It will definitely include a government system with its antichrist leader. Those who are currently dying at the hands of Islamic Jihadists are doing so for both political and religious reasons, just as described in this chapter. This will spread all throughout the world because the devil will make sure of it. The Bible says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  One of the important things to remember is that whoever is written in the book of Life will not worship this beast. They will remain true to God. Therefore, they will not try to hold on to their earthly lives because they know that they will receive new ones in Heaven. The Bible says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

 

The devil attempts to wear out the saints through direct and indirect mental, physical, financial, and spiritual attacks designed to erode their faith, cause weariness, and initiate compromise. The devil’s strategies also include creating extreme fatigue, relationship stress, financial pressure, temptations, and discouragement, leading to a loss of focus on God's love and purpose. The Bible says: “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).

 

Main methods of wearing out the saints:

 

  • Physical Exhaustion & Illness: Satan often targets the physical bodies of believers, causing weariness through lack of sleep or prolonged, draining, and sometimes sudden illness. One example is the hunchback woman whom Jesus healed. The Bible says: “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God” (Luke 13:10-13).
  • Financial and Economic Pressure: By limiting access to resources, the enemy creates anxiety, which distracts believers from spiritual growth and service. Satan did this exact thing to Job. The Bible says: “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:9-11).
  • Mental and Emotional Discouragement: Using deception, distraction, and discouragement, the enemy causes saints to lose focus on God and feel that their efforts are futile. Elijah dealt with depression after having a great win against the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. The Bible says: “So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”  Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:2-4).
  • Subtle & Gradual Erosion: Attacks are often slow, reducing spiritual strength and commitment to God little by little, making it harder to notice the decline. An example of this is when the Lord warned Cain that sin was lingering around him before he killed his brother, Abel, but Cain failed to heed the warning. The Bible says: Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Genesis 4:6-8).
  • "Changing Times and Laws": The enemy works to alter societal norms, laws, and religious practices to oppose Christian values and wear down their resolve. The devil offers compromise and enjoys it when believers fail to uphold the Lord’s standards of holiness and righteousness. The Bible says: “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).

 

            John was told that those who can listen must do so, for there will be persecution and martyrs, but patience and endurance must be maintained on the part of the Saints. We must hold out to the end, so that we can receive our eternal reward. Many have already become martyrs, and more will come. The Bible says: “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

            Remember that all whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will worship the beast and his image. They will easily do so because they have rejected the Lord. Only those who have committed themselves to the Lord will be faithful to His word, and their names will be found in the book of Life, where salvation is promised for those recorded within. “The Bible says: “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).