Called Not Compelled; Revelation 11-13

May the mumbling commence!

Don’t be deceived.  Satan and his allies often use the mask of being a messenger of life.  Though they may imitate godliness, they cannot duplicate it.  Read from Revelation chapter thirteen:

Then I saw another animal rising out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb but it spoke in the voice of a dragon. It uses the full authority of the first animal in its presence. It compels the earth and all its inhabitants to worship the first animal – the one with the mortal wound which had healed.

It performs great signs: before men's eyes it makes fire fall down from heaven to earth. It deceives the inhabitants of the earth by the signs which it is allowed to perform in the presence of the animal, and it tells them to make a statue in honor of the animal which received the sword-thrust and yet survived. Further, it was allowed to give the breath of life to the statue of the animal so that the statue could speak and condemn to death all those who do not worship its statue.

Then it compels all, small and great, rich and poor, free men and slaves, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads. The purpose of this is that no one should be able to buy or sell unless he bears the mark of the name of the animal or the number of its name. (Verses 1-17)

How does this imitate godliness?  Fire comes down from heaven at their command.  Resurrection of their leader from a mortal wound also imitates Christ.  They are also able to give life to their creations.

On their own, these can be convincing proofs of divinity. 

But there are red flags everywhere.

God does not compel anyone to worship, yet these beings do.  No one is told to worship or die.  And no one is compelled to do anything in order to be allowed to participate in society. 

Commerce and trade are available to all.  Worship is open to all people.  But there is no coercion.

Food and drink are given freely.  All that we need, God provides – for both the good and the evil.

So, beware of coercion.  Beware of being railroaded by anger or hate to think, say or do things.  Beware of people who insist on their own way. 

These actions strongly contrast with the way of the meek and the humble.  The meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5), and the humble will be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Let us never insist on our own way.  Instead, let us seek together the perfect and pleasing will of God.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out