He is a murderer,
a liar and a deceiver.
There is no truth in him.
He is an accuser and a slanderer
and deceives the whole world.
And the people marvel at him.
- Jeremiah the prophet tells us (5:30–31) that “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
- This morning’s text tells us that “… the whole earth marveled as they followed … and they worshiped …”
- During a future time on this Earth, an actual period of history, during what theologians call the eschaton, the end days, the last days, this person will set up two powerful leaders who will dominate the political, economic and religious landscape, and the whole earth will marvel, be in wonder, amazed.
- Why? How? How does this villain, this dastardly person, get away with this? How does he pull it off? What is his secret? Are people really that gullible?
- Simple. He works an age-old scheme. Works every time. Just ask your favorite politician. He promises to give people what they want. Two things here. First, he tells people what they want to hear. He nurtures the natural, sinful rebellion found in every human since Adam and Eve. He affirms the “sweet lies” of the human heart. And second, he assures them that he will fight for them against their enemies which in this case is God and the people of God.
REVELATION MESSAGE 22 – the unholy trinity: the demon gods of deceit –
Revelation 13