Lamblike Power

Revelation chapter 13 continued

Lesson 16 of Revelation studies for children and teen

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

America used to have many buffalo which roamed the wide open plains.

Coins have been made with a buffalo on them. It has been used as a national symbol of the United States.

There is a gentleness yet a power and strength in this lamb like beast.

He came up out of the earth. This is a symbol that this power developed in an area not heavily populated. The United States fits that description. When the people fled here for religious safety from persecution, they found only a few Indians. There were wide open plains and mountains. This lamblike beast came out of the ground around the time of 1798. The nation had foundation stones of civil and religious liberty.

Tomas Jefferson expressed his fears that rulers would become corrupt. He said the time to fix every essential right on a legal basis was while our rulers were honest and united.

He predicted that our rights would be eventually disregarded. He stated that his concern was people would just think of money. He stated that whatever rights were not clearly stated at the making of the national laws, would never be. (Notes on Virginia, Query 17, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. VIII p. 402)

Two hundred years had not erased the horror of the massacre in France. Other like massacres had also occurred. These memories came to America in the hearts of our great leaders. They were determined to establish a government with liberty and freedom.

President George Washington had a Huguenot ancestor, as did at least 5 other Presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, James Garfield, and Theodore Roosevelt. They knew about the horror of the St. Bartholomew massacre (1572) and wanted to make sure the United States avoided any repeat of history. (read about this massacre in Revelation chapter 11)

A Huguenot refugee named Apollos de Revoire settled in Boston, and had a son who signed his name Paul Revere! Remember his famous midnight ride? Three members of Continental Congress - Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Elias Boudinot were Huguenots.

Other great names of Huguenots in America include Francis Marrion, General George Patton, Clair Chennault, Admiral Dewey, Du Ponts, Henry Thoreau, Longfellow, etc. A Huguenot colony was founded in Florida in 1572 many years before the English group landed in America. The Florida Huguenot colony was later demolished by Spanish raiders.

The two horns are a symbol of power. Church and state were separate in their activities. One did not dictate the other. The previous power (Leopard) did have the two united. The United States kept them separate. This is the secret of the power of our nation.

Still in the future is the rest of this prophecy.

It says the lamblike beast talked just like the dragon. Some big change happened in the government. Tomas Jefferson predicted that the nation could come to ruin. The Bible speaks of dragon words and powers being used in the future.

The United States will begin talking just like the dragon.

13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the

first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
13:14 And deceived them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

This is a sketch of an engraving or relief that is displayed in the courtroom of the Supreme Court of justices in Washington D.C. It shows the important place that the law of Moses has in our government. (Exodus 20) The first half of the 10 commandments has the man's knee over it.

This suggests that a person's relationship to God is personal. The rest of the commandments are to be enforced by the state. The US courts do not look favorably on lying, stealing, adultery, and killing. There are punishments for each of these.

Abraham Lincoln is one of our favorite presidents (1860-1865). He was called "honest Abe". He came from a humble home and was self educated. He always thought of others, not himself. He was chosen to be president in 1860. He brought the country through the greatest crisis in its history. The southern states wanted to keep slaves. This was against the country's beliefs that all are created equal. All have the right to life, health, and the pursuit of happiness.

The slaves could not even chose who to marry. They were beaten up and made to live in little shacks while their owners lived in nice homes.

War broke out in America between the North and the South. Pope Pious IX had many conversations with President Abe Lincoln over the slave issues. The Pope supported the South. Records of this part of history can be found in the book called Fifty Years in the Church of Rome by Father Charles Chiniquy. President Lincoln knew that Rome was involved in the war.

The North won but many Americans were killed. Later Honest Abe was shot (1865). He was shot by Roman Catholics. The man who shot him was also shot. He was running away from a burning barn. Four of those planning Lincoln's death were hanged for their crime in 1865. John Surrat who did the most of the planning to kill Abe Lincoln, fled to Canada. There he was sheltered by Catholic priests. From Canada he fled to London where he was sheltered by Catholic priests. From London he went to Rome. When he was finally caught, he was found in the Pope's private army. He was sent back to the US for punishment.

At the time of Lincoln, the Chapter 13 of Revelation was not yet fulfilled. The United States was not obeying Rome.

13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 13:16 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:

666 Mystery Number

13:17 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.
13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six. The mystery number is the number of a man.

In an article by the Catholic Church they admit to the title and its association with the number 666 but state other names of other people also add up to 666.April 18, 1915 issue of Our Sunday Visitor, states: 'the letters inscribed in the Pope's miter are these: "VICARIUS FILII DEI", which in the language of Latin means Vicar or representative of the Son of God.

In Roman Numerals:

V=5

I=1

C=100

A=0

R=0

I=1

U=5 same as V

S=0

total for the word vicarius is 112

F=0

I=1

L=50

I=1

53 is the total for the word filii

D=500

E=0

I=1

Total for Dei is 501. Now add up all 3 words and you get 666.

The United States was founded by protestants. There was a great desire by our founding fathers to have religious liberty. The nation was set up so that the church was not run by the government. Also the government was not run by the church.

Protestants are people who protested the cruelties in the old Roman Catholic faith. Something happened and they began to forget their differences.

The Bible says the day will come when the United States will command everyone to worship the image to the leopard power beast (Roman Catholic church) or be killed. If people obey and worship as told, they will receive a mark which allows them to buy and sell.

If they refuse, they cannot even buy food or clothing. This method of force for obedience shows that the new nation changes its foundation blocks of separation of church and state. They boycot those who refuse to worship on Sunday.

That raises the question, what is the image to the beast that the US causes people to worship?

"image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas. . . . {FLB 286.4}

Just as France had terrible trouble when it burned up Bibles and killed God's people starting at midnight, the lamblike nation will have trouble. When the United States takes away the foundations stones, our liberty will fall. The foundation stones of our nation were set by noble men who knew how dearly freedom was purchased. They warned against taking out the foundation stones.

What happens when foundations stones are taken from a building? The building crumbles.

These are basic foundation stones: 1. All have the right to live. 2. We believe and practice religious liberty and civil liberty. 3. All have the right to pursue happiness. All are created equal.

Quiz will follow this section on more information.

More information on the Mark of the Beast

What happens if we get this mark? Are we sure which side we want to be on?

The Mark of the Beast happens after a law enforcement issue.

The Mark of the Beast.--When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome, and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome,--"the mark of the beast." And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive "the mark of the beast."--The Great Controversy, p. 449. (1888) {Ev 233.4} by Ellen White

Does anyone have this mark yet? How about those who are keeping Sunday and do not know it is against God's law?

Reception of Mark of the Beast Future.--The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish church. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false Sabbath in the place of the true, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded. The mark of the beast is the papal Sabbath, which has been accepted by the world in the place of the day of God's appointment. {Ev 234.1} Evangelism by Ellen White
No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.

What is the Image to the Beast?

The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas. . . . {FLB 286.4}
As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, papist writers cite "the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday." . . . What then is the change of the Sabbath, but the sign, or mark, of the authority of the Roman Church--"the mark of the beast"? {FLB 286.5}
Sunday keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol sabbath. {FLB 286.6}
And it is not until the issue is . . . plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive "the mark of the beast." {FLB 286.7}

When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, He requires every person endowed with reasoning powers to heed the message.
287
{FLB 286.8}

Who can be protected under God's seal?

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:2, 3. {FLB 287.1}
The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character. {FLB 287.2}
As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ. {FLB 287.3}
It is obedience to the principles of the commandments of God, that molds the character after the divine similitude. {FLB 287.4}
The seal of God's law is found in the fourth commandment. This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. Faith I Live By, Ellen White

Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, . . . that we may know what is coming.
288
{FLB 287.7}

I will lay me down and sleep in safety. Psalms 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace, an sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalms 4:8

Is the United States the only power which will enforce the Catholic teachings?

The United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and . . . this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy. But in this homage to Papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion, is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Rev. 13:3. {FLB 329.3}

Quiz:

1. What is the image to the beast?

2. Who is the lamb like beast?

3. What do the horns of the lamb like beast represent?

4. What did the beast coming out of the earth mean?

5. Who fled to Florida in 1572?

6. What did the knee over the first 4 commandments in the Supreme Court suggest?

7. Which of the presidents predicted corruption in government leadership?

8. What did he do to try and make sure laws were carefully worded and written into our laws?

9. Can you name the 5 presidents with Huguenot heritage?

10. Did these people remember the St. Bartholomew massacre?

11. What year was the massacre?

12. What year did president Lincoln get shot?

13. The prominent people in planning his murder were of what faith and who sheltered the leader as he fled to Canada, London and then to Rome?

14. What does the Bible say the United States (lamb like beast) will force?

15. What is the punishment for refusing to keep Sunday in the future in the United States?

16. What happens to a building of the basement foundation is taken out?

17. What happens to a country that has been firmly founded on religious liberty when leaders take out the liberty and kill those who refuse to disobey the Bible?

18. What is God's punishment for those who destroy God's people? (Revelation 16)

19. Will anyone survive the plagues? Who only is shielded from them?

20. What did the leopard like beast represent?