November 2 Unholy Trinity

Revelation 13:11-15 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
 
IN chapters 12 & 13, we have seen Satan as a dragon given permission by God to rule on earth. As the Father raised up a Son, Satan has raised up a “son” opposing Christ - an antichrist. Now he forms a third force of this unholy trinity. This new beast acts as a false prophet. Some say this is as an unholy spirit, causing the world to worship the antichrist.
    This third beast is false in appearance and words. He had two horns like a lamb is a disguise as the Lamb of God. But evil spewed from his mouth as he spoke like a dragon.
    As the Spirit now represents Jesus on the earth, the third beast exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf. His purpose was to cause the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first beast. This unholy demon mirrored the Holy Spirit’s power as he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
    In essence, the devil is copying God’s work. Recall the work of the two witnesses in Revelation 9. These godly witnesses represent God’s word and true prophets as Elijah and Moses. Here the false spirit does similar miracles to confuse the world. The result is he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. Remember, all is done under the sovereign Lord’s permission and purpose. We can see a number of Bible passages that tell us God permits evil as a means of judgment on a world eager to worship the devil.
    Then came the abomination of false worship. The Bible also has many accounts of idols. It is evident in our world today. Countless statues, some even within churches, are worshiped as if they are alive. People believe manmade stone and wooden statues can hear, speak and influence their lives! This is of the devil. This is idolatry. This is a direct violation of the commandments: Exodus 20:1-4 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
    Then comes the great persecution of Christ’s church: and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. Beginning with the first century Jewish rulers, countless leaders under Satan’s power have attempted to literally kill the church. But faithful witnesses have put their lives into Jesus’ firm salvation. Martyrdom is faith’s ultimate cost. Martyrdom is a gift of faith. Satanic rulers can kill the body, but they cannot touch the saved, sealed soul. Thank God the holy Trinity protects you from the devil’s unholy threesome.
 
Prayer: Lord God, we do not fully understand this great persecution over your church and the world. We yield our minds and hearts to you, thanking you for your eternal life against this false trinity of evil. Amen.