The First Beast Part II

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. 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. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:1-10.

by Brother Emerson A. Wilson
Part II

Truth--A Deadly Weapon
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Revelation 13:3. When The Church rose up to a certain degree, she brought forth a deadly blow against Pagan Rome, but when the persecution let up, The Church became complacent and the wound was healed.

Truth will put a wound on this beast. That is why they fight you so when you put the truth out. This is why they took it out of the history books, and this is why they discourage it being taught in the churches. Truth wounds them. Truth stops their efforts. Truth EXPOSES them!

In the very beginning of the reigning of papalism, when the truth was laid on it, they wounded the one power that it was living under in the early days. The Church wounded one of its heads and brought it down. They could have kept right on, got the rest of the heads and brought them down, but Brothers and Sisters, they began to compromise and the wound they put against it was healed.

We are seeing a living expression of it today. In the next message, we will be studying about The Second Beast: Protestantism. The word "protestant" means that you protest against Roman Catholicism. Saints, they put the heat on them. Martin Luther himself about wounded it to death by putting the truth on it. The Wesleys, and others also, put the truth on it. They wounded her and ALMOST killed her, but what are "protestants" doing today? Putting the salve on, healing the wound that was made!!! The very reformation movement, in too great a degree, is healing those wounds.

Many good brothers and sisters in Christ laid the Word of God on "Catholicism" and let the chips fall where they might. Roman Catholicism was greatly wounded, but protestantism was also wounded. Men and women living in sin and hypocrisy were hurt under the Sound of the Gospel. But what has happened today? The successors of that same movement, the reformation movement, are trying to HEAL the wounds that were made by the truth. If God wounds someone with The Truth, HE will heal them when they repent! If they won't repent, all the patting on them you can do won't help them a bit. So, papalism received a great wound, but thanks to the efforts of "professed, so-called" Christians, we have diluted the truth of God now (for THIS day and age) and have set about to heal the wounds that were made against the sin and degradation of papalism.

The Truth Of The Matter
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Revelation 13:4. Roman Catholicism worshipped the dragon by adopting the same rites, rituals, and ceremonies that old paganists had. They worship the dragon! The high priest of the pagan religion back there was Pontifex Maximus. He claimed spiritual and civil authority over the affairs of men. The Pope of Rome possesses the same title, Pontifex Maximus, and he claims the same power over the spiritual and temporal affairs of men. He not only possesses the same title and makes the same claims, he is clad in the same attire. The pagans wore scapulars and metal images to shield them from the ills and dangers of life, and Roman Catholicism does the same.

How else do they worship the dragon? They have the process of canonization. The pagans had it: deification is what it was called then, but Roman Catholicism calls it canonization. The pagans burned incense and worshipped their great men as gods after their death. Today, Roman Catholicism canonizes those they consider (name) to be "saints" and offers prayers to them and sets special days of homage to them, the departed souls of the "righteous". They killed Paul and Peter, and now they name their churches after them and pray to them. Papalism is the worship of the Pope, Virgin Mary, and the "saints". Roman Catholicism does not worship God! She does not even profess to worship God. Again, we want to make it clear that in exposing the evils of this "system of religion", we are not pointing towards particular people, but the doctrines of their offices and religion.

Now, may it be made plain that Mary is NOT the mother of God? Let me go a step further, and I want you to seriously consider this: Just as Joseph was not the Son of God's earthly dad, Mary was NOT His mother! There is NO way you can think such a thing if you recall your own studies of the Word of God: The Son of God lived from eternity! He was alive BEFORE He took on the likeness of sinful flesh, Amen? Come on now, think about it, think about it, think about it! Now Mary did give birth and was the mother to the physical part of Jesus Christ. However, this does not in any way make her the "mother of God" NOR even the "mother of Jesus Christ", EXCEPT for the very small amount of time that He was manifested in the flesh.

This will make clear to you why Jesus said what He did here: Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:47-50.

Mary fulfilled her part by bearing the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ when He was "born" (came to earth) as a baby. And, it was the fleshly (physical) part of Him that died on the cross. God did not die on the cross. Let me make that VERY clear to you: God DID NOT DIE on the cross. No, the REAL Son of God, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself on the altar. That inner part could not die, just the same as the soul in you cannot die.

I am very much opposed to any teaching that hell is just extinction--that after the judgment you just go to hell and you are dead and over with--you do not know anything. No sir, your soul will live for ever and ever and ever--all eternity--either in Heaven or in the place of the lost to be tormented forever and ever.

Mary is NOT the mother of God. She is NO ONE to pray to. I'm so glad for THE TRUTH that lets me know there is ONLY ONE person between God and me, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY mediator! For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. I Timothy 2:5,6. That leaves the woman, Mary, out. There is no need to try and get Mary to do anything for you--she is DEAD. As far as her body is concerned, and her spirit is resting in Paradise with the other saints. It is ONLY THE LIVING that can do anything--and Jesus Christ lives and reigns forevermore! You can pray to Mary for the next sixty-five years, but she will never hear you.

The Man Of Sin
Someone might ask, "How can you know that the Pope is the man of sin?" Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:18.

My friends, the Pope has on his helmet, his mitre, and the locket he wears around his neck, the words Vicarious Filiidei (in Latin) which mean "I am vicar of the son of God." In other words, "I'm head of 'THE church'. I can forgive sin just like the son of God. I can send you to heaven or send you to hell." Now, let's take Vicarious Filiidei and break it down, shall we?

V    5
I    1
C  100
A    0
R    0
I    1
U    5
S    0
____
112

  F    0
  I    1
  L   50
  I    1
  I    1
  D  500
  E    0
  I    1
    ____
     554

This number equals 666

This is the number of a man. What man? Not one particular Pope, but the office of the Pope. It is the man in the office who says he's vicar of the Son of God. So, his number is 666, the number of a man.

Marcus Agrippa built a large building in Rome called the Pantheon, dedicated to the gods of the Roman Empire. When you came up to Rome, you did not have to bring your god(s) with you--that Pantheon had every god in it which was worshipped in the Roman Empire. You could go down to the Pantheon, find your god, do obeisance to him, and go your way.

In AD 610, Pope Pontifex Maximus IV reconstructed it and took the name off of it. It was then called The House of the Blessed Virgin and All Saints. It STILL has that name. Now, the idols that Agrippa had in there are STILL there yet today. The ONLY difference is that he changed the names. One of the gods was Jupiter--they reconstructed it and named it "Paul". One of the gods had "Venus" on it--now it's called "Mary".

Now the Catholic priests go into that place, bow before the same statues that the old heathen priests bowed before, and prostrate themselves before idols and images. This is why the Revelation said the beast worshipped the dragon, and he is still doing it today! Right in your own city, Roman Catholic priests are doing ovation before stone images, just as the pagans did. Papalism was just given a new name, a "Christian" name, but Roman Catholicism is just as corrupt and just as dark as paganism ever was. It is the same pagan worship. There's no God in it, and there is no true worship in it.

Somebody might say, "Well, I know some good people who are in that system." I do too, but the Word of God STILL says, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ, Himself, said so:
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:1-5.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, there is NO OTHER WAY! You can wear yourself out, go to Rome, kiss Peter's toe, hold a million-dollar mass, do all the good works you (or anyone else can think of for you to do) can do, and you still MUST BE BORN AGAIN !! If you are not, you are hell bound. No exceptions. Jesus Christ made it very plain and very simple.

Countless millions are deceived under this thing. Many Roman Catholics stand aghast when you try to tell them some of these things, because The Church of today has glossed it over. They are "selling" (persuading) people now that they are "Christian", when in TRUTH, all they are is just paganism under cover. Well, why do they still bow down to graven images? Mark it down, when honest hearts hear the truth, they will accept it.

Someone may contend, "Well, Brother Wilson, don't you think that a Roman Catholic, since he lives in America, has a right to have freedom of choice?" Certainly, he (she) has a right to have freedom. If he (she) chooses to believe there are several saints (and Mary) between him (her) and God, that is his (her) right, but he (she) ALSO has the right to hear the TRUTH. What that person does with The Truth is up to him or her, but it ought to be his (her) right to hear it.

Darkness And Deception
Now let's come from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Let's come out of darkness into light. What was the smoking incense back in the Old Testament? It was a "type" of the prayers of the saints. What were the seven lamps in the old temple? A "type" of the light that the children of God manifest through their lives. But in the darkness of Catholicism, they still light the candles. In darkness, they still burn incense. In darkness, they still carry golden censors. In darkness, the altar boys, just as they "worked" in the pagan temples, are still working.

At Rome, my friends, in the temple of Vesta, where they worshipped the gods of hearth and home, families gave their children (little girls) as young as three years old; by the time they were ten, the priests were using them, immorally.

The same things follow today: families give their children to the Roman Catholic Church. Time after time, it is revealed, through the testimony of priests and nuns who have been delivered out of that system through salvation in Christ, that which has long gone on under the "cover" (guise) of Christianity. Even now, more and more and more and more, we are hearing of vile abuses against children who were "given" to serve the priests. It is rank! It stinks! It is corrupt! It is foul! There is no God in it! We ALL need to cry out against such a system and terrible deception that the devil is using to hold people in. Oh, how the truth needs to shine forth! This is just the old dragon in "Christian" garb.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Revelation 13:7. This shows the awful persecuting power of papalism. It is still there! As we read in Daniel, they have the power to change laws and they are changing them. They do it so slyly that the average American doesn't even know what's going on. They are sitting back and laughing at us as fools. Why? We "say" they are wrong, but through our laziness, lack of spiritual wisdom and knowledge, we support their cause(s). More and more the "modern" church is snuggling right back up to Catholicism.

Not only the Bible, but history also tells us that the armies moved at the church's command. This is war against the saints. In the early days, to claim REAL salvation and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone meant death, torturous death.

Folks, I'm going to make a statement here and I want each of you to CAREFULLY, more carefully than ever before, consider it: the televangelists and Who's Who of "Theology Today" who are talking about all this being in the future, at some future date, are lying to you and misleading you moreso than you have ever been misled. These things are not all out in the future! Many of the prophecies of Revelation (and Daniel) have already come to pass! Why do people keep putting it off? For 2 main reasons: they are operating under a STRONG delusion (the work of the devil, of course) and they want to keep putting off getting their hearts right with God. There's more "living" for them to do before they "get right with God". We are so close to the fulfillment of all that has been foretold in the Word of God that if those who profess to be CHRISTians (followers of Christ) were to really study their Bibles, and have their eyes opened to the truth, they would be astounded to find out how much has already taken place and how little is left to be fulfilled!

Just as we so lightly and nonchalantly put faith in Christ, many of the early Christians had to sign their faith with their own blood, but they were true. God used those people to hold the seed of The TRUE Church right down through those days of darkness.

During those 1,260 years of dark ages, there was NO Gospel preached! Rome confiscated and burned the Bibles. The Bibles they did have were kept in Latin so the "average Joe" could neither understand it or afford it. You had to be an educated person to understand it, and education was extremely limited by class designation. This is just another of their deceptions--until recently, Catholics were told not to even read the Bible. If they wanted to know anything about the Bible, they were instructed to go to "their" priest and have it explained to them.

What was the idea behind this? To keep them in darkness. It was considered a hideous sin for a Roman Catholic to attend a "protestant" service or even listen to a "protestant" preacher on the radio. Why? The Catholics claimed all "protestants" were "heretics"--yet they still feared someone might hear The Truth and be delivered from sin's darkness.

Someone may question, "So why have they now loosened such restraints?" By this time in our day and age, the devil has already done such a work of deception on the protestant churches that he knows a Roman Catholic can go in and sit down in a protestant service and never hear one word against their system of religion! Brothers and Sisters, the devil has things so well fixed that he has some folks afraid to say anything!

We Have ONLY ONE Holy Father
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. Revelation 13:6. How does he open his mouth in blasphemy? By claiming God's authrity, by claiming the names that BELONG TO GOD. What kind of name does he take that belongs to God alone? Holy Father. Jesus said, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. John 17:11. Oh yes, the Pope claims the name of Holy Father; he claims the name Lord God the Pope; he claims the name King of the World. Even though he is not able to reign that way, he believes he is, anyway.

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity... Revelation 13:10. The Pontifex Maximus ruled the then-known world, but God got hold of Martin Luther, John Huss, John Wycliffe. They took the gatling guns of Truth and drove that fellow clear back into captivity. The Pope still says he is "king of the world", but he is bound to the Vatican. He keeps trying to rule the world through this dictate and that directive, this "revised" ruling or that "updated" opinion, but all he rules is the Vatican. Still, he is growing in power because more and more people are turning from The TRUTH. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32. What is "The Truth"? Come on now, what is TRUTH? Yes, that's right: Jesus Christ! Just as Jesus told Thomas in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Not by Mary, not by Paul, not by Patrick, not by Mother Teresa, not by John, not by the Pope, not by any of his priests, not by a pastor, not by a psychic, but by Jesus Christ ONLY!

If you want to read a book that will stir your blood, read Martin Luther, The Lionhearted Reformer. Luther took hold of a certain truth: the just shall live by faith. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16,17. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:38,39.

Of a certainty, oh what a TRUTH it was and STILL IS TODAY: The just shall live by faith. Not by bribing some sinful man to pray "for" you--that's not "just" and it's sure not faith in God! When Luther took hold of The just shall live by faith, when he took a stand against the Roman Catholic church, they tried to kill him, but they had a man on their hands they could not kill! Just that one bit of truth, The just shall live by faith, cut them down and almost wrecked the Roman Empire.

What should we be able to do today, if we ride with the full measure of truth, declare it, and set it forth? Don't be afraid, Saints, TRUTH will win the battle! There is nothing that can stand up against truth. The gates of hell cannot prevail against the truth that The Church is built upon and stands for.

Those Who Worship The Beast
Revelation 13:6,8 tell us, And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The heaven referred to in verse 6 there is not over in God's heaven, but the heavenly place that Christians live in. From here on, we will be dealing with two kinds of people: some dwell on the earth--they are building on the sand that Jesus talked about. We either build our experience on The Rock or on the sand. Then there are those who dwell in heaven: those that have been lifted up, by the power of God, into heavenly places. The devil is against you when you dwell up there and he has gone out until all dwell on the earth, all who do not have a real experience with God, all whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life3, are worshipping him.

Thank God, I am not worshipping him, friends. I'm not only NOT worshipping him, I'm not going to give him any credit, either! By the Grace of God, I am going to expose him every time I get a chance. My name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. Thank God, I know what it is to come in old-time repentance, confess my sin and have the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse me from all sin.

My friends, through salvation, the life of the blood through the eternal Spirit of God comes within you and makes you able to live and reign with Christ, right here on the earth. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32. It will not only MAKE you free, it will also KEEP you free!

Brother, the devil does not quit; he is a clothes-changing artist. AS soon as he got uncovered here, he changed his clothes and came up some other way. He is not going to quit until the world comes to an end. If you will take the truth, obey the truth, and live by the truth, it will keep you free from everything that the devil can come up with.

Know, Love, And Live The Truth
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness... Revelation 16:10. When the vial of judgment was poured out on it, the Bible says that his kingdom was full of darkness. There is NO light in it! It is all a work of darkness. When you begin to understand the Word of God, the devil's only power over you is darkness and deception. If he can keep you in darkness, you are not going to be saved. After you get saved, if he can deceive you through the power of deception, he will bring you down. But if you can reign over darkness and deception, you have it made. And how is it that we can overcome such darkness and deception? We are overcomers through Jesus Christ! We CAN live CONSISTENTLY FOR GOD.

Someone might argue, "That was 'way back when papalism sprouted forth and reigned as a world power. Why should you even be troubled about it NOW?" Because the 16th Chapter of Revelation says the spirit of the beast has gone out to the whole world. He's gone out to the Church of God. My friend, he is knocking on every one of our heart's doors, the doors of our minds. What does he want to do? He wants to bring a work of darkness, making you think that he is bringing you light, in order to bring you down and bring you under. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, your power with God is where you stand in truth.

Jesus warned us, Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:23,24. Not only the spirit of the beast, but also the spirit of Protestantism and of the dragon have been turned loose. When He said that if it were possible, they would deceive the "very elect" of God, that statement lets us know that everybody but "the elect" is going to be deceived.

...If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. How can the "very elect" not be deceived? Know the truth, love the truth, and live the truth. If you don't know the truth, a false prophet will lead you astray. If you know the truth and don't love the truth, you can be deceived. If you know the truth, say you love the truth, but don't live the truth, you will deceive your own self! If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. James 1:6-10. So know the truth, love the truth, and live the truth.