183 The Woman, the Dragon, and the Beast

Revelation 11:19–14:20, TBC Book Two, Chapter 183
When the seventh trumpet sounded, God’s temple appeared, and inside it was the ark of his covenant. Amid lightning and thunder came an earthquake and a fierce hailstorm, signaling yet another amazing sign. A woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, was adorned with a crown of 12 stars. The woman was about to give birth, and she cried out in pain.

Then a dragon appeared, with seven crowned heads and ten horns. Its tail swept a third of the stars, thrusting them to the earth. It watched the woman, waiting to devour her child. But the child, destined to rule all nations, was snatched up to God’s throne, while the woman fled into the desert, where she would be protected by God for 1,260 days.

Then war broke out in heaven, with Michael and his holy angels finally overpowering the dragon and his angels. The dragon, who is the devil, was hurled to earth with his fallen forces. Rejoicing now poured out in heaven, because Satan was overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of those who did not shrink back in the face of death.

The dragon now turned to pursue the fleeing woman. She was given wings like an eagle to fly to her refuge in the desert, where she would be protected for a time, times, and half a time. Water spewed from the dragon’s mouth, but the earth swallowed the raging river. Enraged, the dragon pursued the rest of her offspring, those who obey God and uphold the testimony of Jesus.

While the dragon stood at the shore, a beast rose from the sea, with 10 crowned horns and seven heads. It resembled a leopard but had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. The beast was given authority and power by the dragon. One head had a fatal wound, but its recovery was so astonishing that the whole world was amazed and worshipped both the beast and the dragon. . . .

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 183, for the rest of the story.)
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Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: Gutcheck . . . Reality on earth: No one can buy or sell anything without “the mark.” Reality within: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
     A promise to cling to: “Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. . . . Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:11,14-17 NIV
     A praise to fill you: I Will Bring You Home  Michael Card     [Can skip ad after first 5 seconds]

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