The Christian life is a spiritual warfare.

The Triumph of God

www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPJq1xRY-0

Revelation 13:16~18

The Christian life is a spiritual warfare.

 

16  It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,

17  so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18  This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. [NIV]

 

I want to share a message in this morning, about a spiritual warfare!

 

The Christian life is a spiritual warfare. We can face a lot of spiritual challenges every day. And also we are tempted to do many things.

 

Nevertheless, the Bible tells us a message that under any circumstances God is with us! And if we are with God, we can win a spiritual warfare.

 

The Book of Revelation was written about A.D. 90. That time Roman Empire ruled the world, and the Jerusalem temple was destroyed. All Christians were persecuted.

 

The book of Revelation is a gospel! The purpose of the Revelation is that encourages believers to keep their faith until the end.

 

Before I begin the sermon, I want to review what the whole book of Revelation is saying. So there are three themes in the Revelation.

 

OK, First thing, let’s read together. “The Christian life is a spiritual warfare.”

 

In Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 11 and 12, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

Second theme of the Revelation, Let’s read together. “We believers have to win this spiritual warfare.”

 

Look at Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus was also tempted by Satan. In Matthew chapter 4 and verse 3, The tempter came to Jesus and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” and verse 6, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” and verse 9, “If you will bow down and worship me, all this I will give you.” We know that all these are Satan’s lie.

 

And finally, third theme of the Revelation, let’s read together. “If we are with God to the end, we can win.”

 

I truly want to say, hold unto God to the end. Follow Jesus Christ to the end. Then our God rules for us, fights for us, saves for us!

 

OK. So now let’s focus on today’s message.

 

First message: Let’s read together. “Satan try to deceive all people.”

 

In chapter 12 and verse 3, “Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon...”

 

Who is the dragon? The dragon symbolizes satan.

 

And chapter 13 and verse 1, “And I saw a beast coming out of the sea...”

 

The first beast from the sea is the tyrannical ruler like a Roman emperor Nero.

 

In Revelation, same chapter and verse 11, we can see the beast from the earth. This second beast indicates false prophets.

 

There are the dragon, sea beast, and earth beast. We can call their name, satanic trinity.

 

First beast is an individual or a nation that Satan controlled. The beast persecutes and confuses the believers. The second beast out of the earth seduces the believers and makes them worship the visible power.

 

The important thing is in verse 16. Let’s read together. “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads.”

 

In here, “The beast forced all people to receive a mark.” That means there is no exception to the temptation of Satan.

 

This beast from the earth is an evil force that falsely performs miracles and seduces all people. This beast are trying to give the mark to everyone. Rich or poor, high position or low position, regardless of these. Anyone can be the target of Satan.

 

Remember Apostle Peter’s exhortation. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8)

 

OK. Let’s read together the second message. “Beware of satan’s temptation”

 

In verse 16, the second beast requires all people to receive the mark on their right hand or forehead.

 

In Greek word mark is χαραγμα, that comes from χαρασσω. χαρασσω is engrave or carve in English. This means that satan imprinted his territory.

 

To put it simply, satan wants to make us and say: you are mine, you are my henchman. So obey me. Come on, do as I tell you guys.

 

And verse 17, “so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark.”

 

The words ‘buy or sell’ symbolizes the way of satanic living.

 

Satan’s tricks are like that If you do business honestly, you cannot make a money. The method does not matter but only result. These are satan’s tricks. These are lies.

 

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

Finally message, Let’s read together, “We have to win a spiritual warfare.”

 

We must win a spiritual warfare. So how can we win? Answer is in verse 18.

 

OK. Let’s read verse 18 together.

“This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.”

 

God already gave the wisdom to the believers. That wisdom is to remember the triumph of God.

 

Then what is the number 666?

 

In ancient times, letters of alphabet served as numbers. This points Nero Caesar(37~68). It’s not a riddle. It is not a bar-code or veri-chip.

 

Nero died at A.D. 68 and the book of Revelation was written in about A.D. 90. There is no Nero at that time.

 

In chapter 18, Babylon is fallen! That time also there is no Babylon on the earth. In this book, Babylon symbolizes the Roman Empire.

 

“Calculate the number of the beast.” That means, Think about the history of God, Babylon disappeared, Nero died!

 

Now no matter how the Roman Empire is powerful and terrifying beast, but it is over when God judges. We should know this wisdom.

 

We believers have to discern the Satan’s activities and keep the faith in God. God wins all the time.

 

Let us pray. Almighty God. We want to win our spiritual warfare, please help us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.