The men of Issachar were special. I Chronicles 12:32 says "...men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do."

It is not pleasant to understand the times, and to know what to do. Such knowledge can be depressing, but it is helpful for survival. As we continue through Revelation, we come to this chapter, which really is very clear about the times and seasons; and which tells us that after the Kingdom grows throughout the whole world, there will come the Great Apostasy, the Falling Away, the Great Tribulation. It's not here yet. It may be a long way off. But some day it will come. This chapter describes it.

Three weeks ago we studied the description of Satan in Revelation 12. He is the great red dragon, with ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns on his horns.

"Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads" (Rev. 12:3).

Seven is the number of completion and fulfillment. Ten is a number similar to seven. It also symbolizes completion. For example, there are 10 commandments. That's all. You have ten fingers and ten toes. The Tabernacle was covered with 10 curtains. When Boaz arranged to marry Ruth he sat down with ten elders in the town gate to officiate over the matter. In the synagogues of today the Jews need ten men to make a minyan. Daniel 7:10 says that ten thousand times ten thousand stand in worship before God.

Heads, horns and crowns all refer to power and authority. Satan is the great pretender to the throne of the world. His greatest desire is to kill God and take God's place.

Revelation is saying to us that Satan has his finger in every nation's pie, as far as power and authority in this world is concerned. He is the prince of the power of the air. He is influential in all the high places of governance in this world.

Now in Revelation 13 the Lord repeats what He has taught us in Daniel chapter seven about the secular world empires.

• 1 ¶ And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
• 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

The word "beast" clues us into the fact that the Book of Revelation is refering to what has already been said in the Bible about the empires of this world in Daniel chapter seven. Here Daniel receives a vision which describes the history of the nations from his own time all the way to the end of the age.

• 1 ¶ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
• 2 Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.
• 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
• 4 "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
• 5 "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
• 6 "After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
• 7 "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
• 8 "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
• 9 ¶ "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
• 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
• 11 "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
• 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
• 13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
• 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
• 15 ¶ "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
• 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
• 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.
• 18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever—yes, for ever and ever.’
• 19 "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
• 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
• 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,
• 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
• 23 "He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
• 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
• 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
• 26 "‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed for ever.
• 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
• 28 "This is the end of the matter.

The lion, bear and leopard are again brought to our attention in Revelation 13. The lion represented the empire of Babylon (present day Iraq and surrounding nations from Egypt to India). The bear represented the empire of the Medes and the Persians (Iran and the same territory). The leopard represented the empire of Greece and Alexander the Great, which was larger than the previous two, and stretched from Italy to India.

Finally there is a fourth empire, represented by a fourth beast with ten horns and blasphemous speech, which was able to wage war against God's people, and defeat them. This fourth beast is the Roman Empire. Two thousand years ago it stretched from the borders of India in the East to Spain and Great Britain in the West, and also encompassed all of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

Since that time it has continued to grow and conquer the world, and become a truly world-wide empire. The growth of the Roman Empire has had ups and downs. There have been times when it seemed to pass away, but it comes back stronger than before.

• 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

You may think that the Roman Empire no longer exists today, but you are wrong. Just think for a moment. What characterized the Roman Empire? Chiefly what we call "Democracy" and "Republicanism (representative government)." Democracy, the rule of the people, is a Greek word, and was introduced by the Greeks after Alexander's time. Republicanism was developed in the Roman Senate. Previous to the Roman Empire, all the other empires were ruled by individual kings. Since the time of the Roman Empire, all the kingdoms of the world that fall under the power of the Fourth Beast become ruled by Parliaments, Senates, Congresses, People's parties, etc. After the Rennaisance all the princes and kings of Europe lost their thrones to the Roman Empire. China and India were once ruled by Emperors and Maharajahs, but have now been absorbed into Western Civilization, and are ruled by Senates, Representatives, parliaments and Congresses.

The USA is a great example of embodying the Roman Empire way of doing things, and may actually represent the healing of the deadly wound. The Roman Empire was re-established "big time" in the creation of the United States of America. It may be that the reason the North was willing to wage war against the South in our Civil War has to do with Satan exerting all his power to revive the Fourth Beast. The Roman Empire is all about uniting the nations under the rule of man. Secession is not allowed!

The United States of America is the most powerful single nation on the face of the earth, and it shows the Roman Empire at every turn. We have no king. We have "democracy" and "Republicanism." The architecture of the capital of our nation overflows with buildings that imitate the ancient Roman buildings. The symbols of America are the symbols of Rome, the eagle and the bundle of sticks called a "facis," (Oxford English Dictionary: (in ancient Rome) a bundle of rods with a projecting ax blade, as a symbol of a magistrate's power, used as emblems of authority.) You can see the facis on the reverse of a Mercury dime, and sculpted in high relief at the front of the chamber of the House of Representatives in Washington. You can see the eagle on American money, and on stamps, at the top of the flag pole, etc.

The language used by the USA government on money and monuments is always Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. For example, on your money we read "E pluribus unum," from many, one. And on the Great Seal (look at a one dollar bill) we read "Annuit Coeptis - Novus ordo seclorum." Which means: "He approves our undertaking-the new order of the ages." We use Roman Numerals on official buildings, documents and money, too, as they still do in Europe. The USA was not completely new. The kings and princes of Europe were rapidly being replaced by parliaments and senates. The Roman way of doing things is now firmly entrenched even in Asia, and is making inroads in the Middle East.

• 4 Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

Those who admire the rule of man will also end up worshipping Satan, who energizes the secular kingdoms. This verse reminds us that there is a close working relationship between the Devil and the leaders of the nations. This was clear in Daniel also, as we read of the so-called "Prince/King of Persia" in Daniel 10:12-13...

• 12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
• 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Satan claimed to Jesus that all the nations of the earth were his. The Apostle John wrote that "the whole world lies in darkness." Jesus said that Satan was the "prince of this world."

• 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
• 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling-place and those who live in heaven.

How can we discern the hand of Satan in the world's governments? His work is characterized by words that are proud and insulting and slanderous to God. This sort of talk is quite common, but we have become so used to the ways of the world that we don't even notice it. That's not really surprising, because Satan is a deceiver; and he appears as an angel of light. His words sound reasonable and good. In reality they are blasphemy, and we don't even notice.

In the sphere of government, consider what our President has said about Islam:

"Islam is a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. It's a faith that has made brothers and sisters of every race. It's a faith based upon love, not hate." President George W. Bush Holds Roundtable with Arab and Muslim-American Leaders Afghanistan Embassy, Washington, D.C. September 10, 2002

"Each year, the end of Ramadan means celebration and thanksgiving for millions of Americans...it's a good time for people of these great faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, to remember how much we have in common: devotion to family, a commitment to care for those in need, a belief in God and His justice, and the hope for peace on earth." Remarks by the President in Honor of Eid Al-Fitr The Diplomatic Reception Room December 17, 2001

"Well, first of all, I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace." October 7, 2007 interview with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi.

I quote this man, not to single him out (he is no worse than any other world leader), but because his words are easily available to look up and quote. What he says is being said by governments all around the world. His words sound very nice, but they are anti-Christian words. Governments are not interested in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are not interested in bowing the knee to King Jesus and the Bible. They are interested in consolidating and extending their power. Satan was at work in Persia 2500 years ago, and he is still at work in the governments of the world today.

The influence of Satan in the present form of the Fourth world empire is also evident in education, in literature, in music, in dance, in education, and in every other area of life. His purpose is to supplant God. His purpose is to deceive the nations into thinking good is evil, and evil is good. He is walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

• 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

Generally speaking, with a few exceptions and bright spots, the history of human government has been the history of the persecution of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Babylon tried to burn Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego. Persia tried to have Daniel eaten by lions. The Greeks killed thousands of Jews, occupied the temple, and sacrificed a pig on the altar, leading to the story of Judas Maccabeus and the origin of Hannukah. The Romans ruled the Jews and eventually destroyed Herod's temple, and killed hundreds of thousands of Jews. The Roman empire launched several great persecutions against the church during the first three centuries of Christianity, until the Roman Catholic Church took over. The RC Church degenerated into the combination Church/State Papacy, which ruled Europe and which persecuted and killed hundreds of thousands of Christians who wouldn't recognize the authority of the Pope, and gave us the Spanish Inquisition and the St. Bartholemew's Day Massacre of the Hugenots in France.

When the Muslims broke out of Arabia in the seventh century they slaughtered Christians in the Holy Land and across North Africa, and very nearly invaded and conquered Europe, until turned back at the Battle of Tours, France, by Charles Martel (the Hammer) in 732.

In modern times Christians have been murdered by the millions by Communist governments in China, the Soviet Union, and in N. Korea, Viet Nam, Cambodia and other countries.

America has been a bright spot for religions freedom for 200 years. Let's pray that it will continue that way! However, the Book of Revelation indicates that there will come a day when the Kingdom of the 4th Beast will be worldwide, and that he will conquer the Saints, and have authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. So someday this will happen in the USA, too.

• 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Is your name written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb? He was slain from the creation of the world. He was slain for you, to pay for your sins, to be your Savior. Now, and in the end times, the most important question will be: whose side are you on? Do you choose to worship the beast? Or do you choose to worship Jesus?

The beast symbolizes the fourth world empire, the extended and revived Roman Empire. According to the Book Revelation this empire will not only be worldwide and powerful, but it will actually be worshipped by everyone but Christians.

There are many gods in the world, but in the end there are really only two choices: Either we will bow the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ; or we will bow the knee to a one-world-government. Either we will believe that Jesus has all the solutions; or we will believe that Government with a capital "G" has all the solutions. We will believe that world peace can only be brought to us by Jesus; or we will believe that world peace can only be brought to us as we all surrender to the United Nations. We will believe that our children must be educated to know the Lord; or we will believe that our children must be educated to believe in Evolution. We will believe that Socialism and Communism are evil and destructive; or we will believe that Socialism, Communism and Big Government is the path to Heaven on earth.

According to the Book of Revelation, a day is coming when the whole world will worship the 4th Beast of Daniel, the one world government of Satan. It will be an evil thing, but the people of the world will be fooled, and will perceive it as good instead of evil.

• 9 He who has an ear, let him hear.
• 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. God is Sovereign. He has planned it out. Like Doris Day sang "Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be." So what must Christians have:

1. We must have patient endurance. Hang in there. Keep on evangelizing and Kingdom building.

2. We must have faithful hearts. Don't give up. Don't stray away. Stay close to the Lord.

Amen