In the past few years we've seen a remarkable fulfillment of several apoca-lyptic prophecies. It has been exciting, thrilling, and faith-building to witness. But it also is sobering, for fulfilled prophecies indicate that the remaining last-day proph-ecies are soon to follow.
Unfortunately, some Christians do not want to face the coming reality of the prophecy of Revelation chapter 13. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy, ... and all the world wondered after the beast. ... as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:1-3, 15-17.
This is a frightening prophecy indeed. It predicts that a coalition of religious and political powers will align under the leadership of the Antichrist beast to cast the world into a boiling caldron of affliction. There will be a great time of trouble unlike the earth has ever seen before (Daniel 12:1). Some students of Bible prophecy have even suggested this tribulation will be worse than we can imagine.
With the future so bleak, we can easily appreciate why some have chosen to remain ignorant about last-day events. Many of those who have sought to learn about it are so fearful of living during the beast's reign of terror that they have become easy prey for false doctrine. The prevalent false teaching that promises a pre-tribulation rapture appears attractive against the backdrop of Armageddon and the mark of the beast. But ignorance and false doctrine will leave their victims destitute and lost as these fig-leaf garments dry and crumble under the withering blast of the final tribulation.
The desire to live in peace and security is understandable. Few of us, in our introspective moments, feel capable to stand for God and His truth when demons will overrun the earth. But despite these natural fears and aversions, we must not chase after promises of peace and safety that are not founded upon the sure Word of God. While we should focus on the love of God for sinners and the true security that comes from making Him Lord and Saviour of our life, we should also give attention to the warnings of the Spirit concerning the last days.
The Scripture injunction we should heed most is that which warns us against worshipping the beast. Consider these sobering facts. All who worship the beast will forfeit the precious experience of eternal life with Jesus in a glorious new world (Revelation 13:8). They will be inflicted with the extremely painful and fearsome seven last plagues (Revelation 16:2). And finally, they will suffer utter destruction in the fires of hell (Revelation 14:9-11). Without question, we do not want to be found worshipping the beast in the days to come.
But what assures us we will not be in this group? Mind you, it is no small group. Revelation 13:3 says that "all the world wondered after the beast."
Although helpful, mere knowledge of the beast's identity will not guarantee escape. Judas knew Jesus was the Messiah, yet he betrayed Him. Likewise, many of those who understand last-day prophecies will ultimately find themselves on the side of the beast. Knowledge definitely isn't enough. So how can we be on the winning side when all the dust settles? Who will worship the beast? And what can we do now to keep from being part of that group?
The Final Conflict
First, we must understand that the final conflict will be over worship. All inhab-itants of earth will be divided into one of two camps before the end-those who worship the beast and those who worship the Creator. Creature worship versus Creator worship will be the issue to divide the world. Everyone will have to make a choice regarding whom they will worship.
How will the whole earth be brought to make this choice between the creature and the Creator? The Bible predicts a time when the beast will gain immense political influence. From this position of authority, he will force people to worship him. Those who refuse will be economically boycotted and eventually sentenced to death. "And he had power to ... cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all ... to receive a mark ... that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:15-17.
As the beast seeks to enforce worship through force, God mercifully warns people against the beast and urges them to worship Him as Creator. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. ... And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." Revelation 14:6-10.
The scenario is clear. In the last days, the entire world will be squeezed between the two cosmic forces. There will be no neutral ground, no demilitarized zone. Everyone will have to make a decision whom they will serve and worship.
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The Battle Over Worship
This last conflict over worship is actually the grand finale to a long drama that began in heaven before man was even created. The author of rebellion inaug-urated this "creature versus Creator" war when he coveted the Creator's throne. Lucifer, a created angel, decided his superior beauty and intelligence qualified him to better rule the universe than his Creator. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, ... For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:12-14. Working with stealthful deceit, he launched his campaign for the affections of the angels and was successful in attracting one-third of them (Revelation 12:4-9). Demanding the adoration due only the Creator, these created angels tried to bully their way onto God's throne. This forced God to take drastic measures. Revelation 12:7 records, "There was war in heaven." To protect the existence of the universe, God forcibly removed Satan and his angels from heaven.
But this was only the beginning of Satan's campaign for worship that would last thousands of years and cost millions of lives. Cast to earth, Satan next solicited Adam and Eve's worship and service. And it is by understanding our first parents' test over worship that we learn how to keep from worshipping the beast in the last days.
Why did Eve eat the fruit of the forbidden tree? Simply because she lacked trust in God. She trusted the serpent's word more than her Creator's. Adam also distrusted God, but unlike Eve, he was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam's de-cision to eat the forbidden fruit was a conscious, deliberate choice. He couldn't dream of life without Eve. Worse yet, He didn't trust God to come up with an acceptable solution to deal with Eve's disobedience that would leave him happy throughout eternity.
Our first parents' distrust led them to disobey. And their disobedience became an act of worship of the serpent. You see, worship and obedience are synonymous. "To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey." Romans 6:16. When tempted by the devil to bow down and worship him, Jesus revealed that the act of worship is married to service and obedience. "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:10.
When Adam and Eve trusted the lies of the serpent above the command of God, they entered into creature worship. They truly worshiped the beast. The last conflict in the world merely brings man full circle to retake Adam and Eve's first test. Will we obey and worship the beast or obey and worship the Creator? Both the first and last tests of this world's history contain the same elements: the serpent and his lies, worship, obedience versus disobedience, and the penalty of expulsion from the kingdom of God. Mankind's path back to the tree of life ultimately retraces the steps of our first parents and passes through the corridor of the same test: will we trust God enough to obey Him? Only those who trustingly obey God will enter the pearly gates. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.
Adam and Eve's worship of the beast laid the foundation for all false worship. Examine any false religion and you will find it is based upon distrust and dis-obedience of God. Paul makes this point in Romans 1:21-25, NKJV: "Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but ... ex-changed the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator." Whenever we know a Bible truth and refuse to obey it out of thankful hearts, we worship the creature instead of the Creator. We have put our own opinion and feelings above the revealed will of our Creator God.
False worship is the Mark of the Beast