The rise and emergence of the Image to the Beast

[hobie]

We had a interesting set of sermons given on Religious Liberty this past Sabbath and it was a eyeopener. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S8C1Po9LM4&t=2247s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er_3Amcy3lI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B_gse6sYXE

We are seeing the emergence of the Image to the Beast with all the turmoil and much chaos being used as a smokescreen. It is preparing and laying out a path for the rise of the Image as we see the placement of the men in high positions in our government and Administration who are followers of the original Beast. So what does this entail for us as Adventist, well lets go over what Gods Word gives on the "Image of the Beast". Lets start with Revelation 13 to begin. 

Revelation 13:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Revelation 13:11-15 King James Version (KJV)
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.
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 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth 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.
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.

We see this evil entity try to subvert Gods plan in the last days by creating the image of the beast on Earth. The image of the beast is an end time entity, comprised of a community of people who reflect the character of the dragon, and has religious-economic-political power to impose false worship on Earth. We see the corruption it brings which is the end time Babylon the Great of Revelation 17-18, and the image of the beast is best identified with this entity and its corrupt rule.

The image of the beast is basically an institution and procedures which will duplicate the form and behavior of the beast power in Revelation 13. It will convince many that its words and purpose are true despite not being in full harmony with Scripture and will persuade the people of the earth, believers and non-believers, to follow the religious-political power which is the beast. The lamblike beast will also begin speaking like a dragon and exercising the power of the beast, showing that it will become as intolerant especially in setting aside of laws and foundational liberties. This results in people receiving the mark of the beast which is by following it in its false practices of worship, which is really worship of the Beast, and corruption of Gods Holy Day of worship. Lets look at the Revelation 14...

Revelation 14:9-12 King James Version (KJV)
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The rise of the Image of the Beast will in my opinion coincide with the fall of America in the loss of the foundational rights and the laws of America and the emergence of a corrupted power which will them proceed to take away our religious liberties along with many other rights and freedoms, and then pass laws to force worship as prophecy gives us.. 

 

[hobie]

And we see what is being pushed....
"Americans are used to hearing about the tradition of separating church and state, but the two are increasingly fused in President Donald Trump's administration.

The First Amendment, after all, in addition to guaranteeing free speech, says that Congress shall "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

US leaders talk about Jesus Christ at Kirk's funeral
Never in recent memory have Americans seen more top government officials speak so openly about Jesus Christ as they did at Charlie Kirk's memorial, which Trump described as "an old-time revival" rather than a funeral..

Where does religious belief veer into Christian nationalism?
Christian nationalism is the concept "rejected by many scholars" that the US was formed as a Christian nation and that Christianity should imbue its laws....

Many Trump administration actions have blurred the lines between church and state. "..
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-signs-executive-orders-related-to-faith-announcement

"Trump, brushing aside separation of church and state, establishes religious liberty commission
'We're bringing religion back to our country, and it's a big deal,' the president said.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order establishing a presidential commission on religious liberty, openly questioning the separation of church and state in an escalation of the White House?s increasing fervor for Christianity.

'They say separation between church and state.. I said, All right, let's forget about that for one time,' the president said during a Rose Garden event celebrating National Prayer Day.
The Constitution's prohibition of a national religion has long been interpreted as a mandatory separation of church and state. Trump is not a regular church-goer but he sees religious conservatives as the base of his political movement.

'They said, really there's separation. I don't know. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure, but whether there's separation or not, you guys are in the White House where you should be, and you're representing our country, and we're bringing religion back to our country, and it's a big deal.'.... https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/01/trump-religious-commission-church-state-00321814

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/1254614609/1a-church-06-23-2025