The Beast
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Revelation 13:1
I have always struggled with disturbing images in movies or pictures. Once I see something, my brain or mind or whatever takes hold of the image and doesn’t let me forget about it. For that reason, I am very careful about what I look at and the programs that I watch. Especially right before bedtime. If I see something that is intense or scary, I will almost certainly dream about it or even worse, not be able to sleep at all. Over time, it feels like I can hit a delete button in my head, but when I try to do that right after first seeing something, it just doesn’t seem to work.
In today’s reading, the apostle John, now back on earth in his vision, sees quite a disturbing image. He describes a beast rising up out of the sea that has seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns on those ten horns. This beast has blasphemous names on its heads. John describes the beast that he saw like a leopard having feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion. He identifies the source of this beast’s power coming from the dragon, which we already established is Satan, and the beast is given great authority in the world. The next part is even more chilling. One of the beasts heads had been mortally wounded with a deadly wound, but was healed, which make the entire world marvel and follow the beast. Not only follow it, but even worship the dragon who gave the beast it’s authority.
Through this entire description, John never expresses any personal feelings. He doesn’t talk about how the image made him feel like he did when he ate the little book. He simply related what he saw with no sign of fear or terror in his report. Certainly, this was an unsettling thing to witness, even if John didn’t feel the threat of it at the time. He didn’t ask any questions and he wasn’t asked any questions as in other parts of the experience he was writing about.
As I read this passage again, it occurred to me that John’s reaction should be exactly the way we view these passages and every disturbing image that we encounter. When we know who we have become in our salvation in Christ Jesus and we understand that with Him, He will work all things together for our good as we love Him, we don’t need to be afraid, or even phased by treacherous times or current events in the world around us. John’s account sounds like something that plays out in a horror movie, but even on the daily news in our current surrounding, we hear about wars, famine and pestilence that can cause panic and strike fear in to the hearts of those who don’t have hope beyond the earthly circumstances. So when you sense that fear, anxiety and distress is trying to plague your thoughts, remember instead Who you belong to and Who is watching out for you. The One who died the death of separation so that you don’t have to and the One who carried away your griefs, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities, and put peace and healing in their place. He has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. You have no reason to fear any evil because He is with you and comforts you.
Today I want to encourage you while reading through this passage to remember that your Father in heaven is with you and guiding you through all of life’s disturbing and fretful ways. You don’t have to be anxious or afraid because He is your Shepherd and the One who is looking out for you and providing everything you need during treacherous times. No matter what you see on television or social media, His overriding truth is your comfort and your peace. Trust that He has your best interests in His heart and He is leading you step by step through the dark valleys to get you to your green pastures and still waters. Lastly, remember that your name has been written in the book of life and no beast can take that away.
If you have never received God’s great gift of salvation and His peace and comfort that comes with it, pray this prayer today and invite the Lord Jesus in to be your Savior and Lord over all. He will come in and lead you on paths of rightness.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:1-10
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The Daily Dose 