Beasts of Revelation - Part I

When I was having a chat with one of my cousins, there was a discussion about the revelations chapter 13 in the Bible. He Just sent me a link to a video and after seeing that I was shocked. It was about the beasts mentioned in the chapter 13, 'Identified'. I would like to give a description of what is there in the video and this is not my own description. It was given by members of a website called the World's Last chance. Now coming straight to the topic, the Revelation chapter 13 tells us about two beasts. The First one comes out from the sea and the second from the Land. There are nine points in that chapter which talks about the beast from the sea. I ll give the verses first and then the evidence about the beast.

The Verses

1. Rev. 13:1

The beast rose from the Sea.

Rev 17: 15 explains water as a symbol for people, multitudes, and nations and tongues

so the beast rose from a populated area.

2. Rev. 13:2

The dragon gave the beast his power and his seat and great authority

Rev.12:9 tells us about the dragon as devil. so this means the dragon receives power from the Satan.

3. Rev.13:4

And they Worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, who is able to make war with him

So the beast received its power from the Satan and its also being worshipped, making it a religious figure, combining both religious and political authority

4. Rev. 13:5

power was given to the beast to continue forty two months

If you consider the mosaic calender, 1 year = 360 days with 30 days a month. So 42 months - 1260 days. In bible prophecy 1 day is equal to a year. so the beast remained as a political and religious power for 1260 years. Numbers 14:34, Ezhekiel 4:6.

5. Rev. 13:6

The Beast Blasphemes against God

In Luke 5:21 and John 10:33 it was clearly said that Christ was accused of Blasphemy , which is claiming to be god and claiming to role of forgiving the sins of man. so the beast blasphemes against god and claiming to be god and forgiver of sins.

6.Rev. 13:7

Beast made war with the saints. This means the power of the beast persecuted and killed the saints.

7. Rev. 13:3

The beast receives a deadly wound that heals, and the whole world will wonder after the beast.

The wound seems to have killed the beast, but it heals and the entire world is intrigued by the beast

8. Rev. 13:5

The beast speaks Great things.

9. Rev. 13:8

The beast has a mysterious 666 that identifies his office and its name.

some of the thoughts about the first beast were Nero, Hitler, Islam. But none of the points apply to the aforesaid.

It is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH which supports all the points in Revelation 13.

Now the EVIDENCE. Compare it with the verses mentioned above.

1. The Catholic Church rose from Rome, a densely populated area in Europe.

2. According to Revelation 12:3-5, the dragon is the power that sought to destroy Christ at the time of his birth. It was King Herod of the Pagan Roman Empire who was inspired Satan and ordered the slaying of all the male children in Bethlehem. Mat. 2:13, 16. History reveals how Pagan Rome turned over its power and capital city to the Church of Rome.

"The pope who calls himself 'king' and Pontifex Maximus,' is Caesar's Successor." - Adolph Harnass, what is Christianity?

3. The Church in the Vatican city is the only church which exercises both the religious and political powers, having leaders, ambassadors, political influence.

4. Church defeated its last arian opponent, the Ostrogoth in 538 AD and lost its power to the french in 1798 AD. It is a 1260 years starting with Emperor Justinan in 533 AD recognised the Pope's supremacy as the head of all the churches both the west and the East. But till 538 AD it was not completely freed from the Arian opponent. In 1798 General Berthier entered Rome and abolished the Papal Government. (Enclyclopedia Brittanica 1941 edition)

5. Beast as a persecuting power for the Christians. This can be proved by some of the works of will Durant's ' the story of civilisation'

' the church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed in mankind will be questioned by no protestant who has a complete knowledge of history'.

6. Recovery of the beast.

the Lateran treaty signed in 1929 by Italy and the holy see recognised the Vatican City as a sovereign independent papal state.

7. I was amazed by the explanation given to 666. The official title of the pope is "Vicarius Filii Dei" translated as representative of son of god. Equating values to the alphabets in latin gives

v-5, I-1, c-100, A- 0, R- 0, I-1, U-5, S-0 total of it is 112

F -0, I- 1, L-50, I-1, I-1 total 0f it is 53

D -500, E-0, I-1 total of it is 501

112+53+501 = 666

8. Blasphemy of the beast as God and claiming to forgive sins.

" we hold upon this earth the place of Almighty" - pope Leo VIII in an encyclical letter dated June 20, 1894

"Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Hidden under the Veil of Flesh." - The Catholic National, July 1895

"The Judicial Authroity will even include the power to FORGIVE SIN". - The catholic Encyclopedia Vol.12 , article pope Page 26.

9. The beast speaks great things.

" the priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, converting them from the slaves of Satan to Children of God. And God himslef is Obliged to abide by the Judgement of his priests..The sovereign Master of the Universe only follows the servant by confirming in heaven all that the latter decides upon earth. - Liguori, "Duties and Dignities of the Preist", P. 27,28.

Preists are the saviours of the World - Saint Jerome.

These are the points and evidences that were clearly given in the website. for more information

visit http://www.worldslastchance.com/

video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRQrA5UrRgA

There were times

As the clock ticks goodbye,
Looking back on the days gone by,
cherished were some days with friends a new,
Hard were some, when troubles kept me low,

There were times I was on top of the World,
There were days I was overwhelmed by happiness,
There were moments I felt that I made a right choice,
And there were times I felt that everything is just a dream,

There were times I felt, I can't move on,
There were times I felt, I can't try,
There were times where I had my own doubts,
And there were times I felt I was left alone,

There were times I believed in my own wisdom and strength,
Forgetting the fact that his time is perfect,
There were times I thought I knew his will,
Ended up in struggle and sorrows still,

I took another step,And I took one more.
To be a better person than before,
And my faith emerged true and pure,
Through his saving grace endured,

Another year, Another chance,
To start a life a new,
Winters will be there in my soul,
I will build a fire with the faith in my soul,

As the newyear begins and the old one ends,
There is a time to take a leap of faith,
There is a time to be patient and wait,
There is always a learning from the past,
All I need to have is a hope that lasts

WHO YOU ARE, MAKES A DIFFERENCE

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community.

She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened.

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart.

As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people.

That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says 'Who I Am Makes A Difference' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor.

As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I know you care. This is the happiest day I've known."

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but made sure to let all his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life...one being the bosses son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson.

Who you are DOES make a difference.

Remember that!

Author Unknown

Letter to GOD

Dear LORD,

This is your son writing a letter after a very long time. I am talking to you almost daily. Today I felt that I should write a letter to you and I am here to do that.Thank you for your wonderful presence and guidance all these days. You know that lately these days I was not feeling so good about the things happening around me. Failures in the applications I made, no Job and nothing fruitful is happening, but I still believe and continuing my journey with a hope that You are there with me all the time. Yeah you are there. Listening to me. Before I write this letter, you know what am i going to say? Sometimes your silence kills me father. I want you to talk to me. Yeah talk to me. What are your plans for me? Tell me so that I can join you in that plan. Forgive me for my sins. Even though I am a Spiritual Prostitute you are there waiting for me to be saved by the blood of your son and lord my GOD Jesus Christ. Yeah, I am saved and I am thankful for that blessing. I am really tired LORD. I need some support from your side. I know you are gonna give me that support real soon. Sometimes you give me things which really seem positive, but satan's fiery darts of discouragement, anger, resentment make me feel negative about the promises that you have given me. So grant me wisdom to overcome those with your shield of faith. Let me be the warrior of faith. Reign in me oh LORD. REIGN IN ME. Cover me under the wings and I know that even when i walk in the valley of shadow of death, you are there to guide and rescue me. Let me be your slave and I am happy to be one. Mould me, Guide me and Lead me through this wicked world. Use me as a tool for bringing people in to your kingdom. Let your mighty hands enfold me. That is all for now. I am going to pass this tough time soon by your grace. I know that and I thank you for that blessing. I am waiting to hear from you oh lord. I am still waiting. Talk to me. Like a thirsty soul in a desert longing for water, I long for your presence and without your presence, My life is meaningless. Take control over my life. Let your will be done.

love,

your son,

Vinoj

The Great Divide - Scott Stapp

I have run to the ocean
Through the Horizon
Chased the sun
I've waited for the light to come,
And at times I would give up
You have
Wrapped your loving arms 'round me,
And with your love I'll overcome.
You have
Loved me when I was weak,
You have
Given unselfishly,
Kept me from Falling...Falling
Everywhere but my Knees!

You set me free!
To live my life
You became my reason to survive the great divide
You set me Free!

I've been on Heaven's doorstep,
With the Door open,
One foot inside
I've cried out...God give me answers!
Please hush child I'll tell you why
You have
Loved me when you were weak,
You kept
Giving unselfishly,
Kept you from
Falling...Falling
Everywhere but your Knees!

You set me free!
To live my life
You became my reason to survive the great divide
You set me free!

Oh...our love is beautiful
Oh...oo...oh...Isn't it beautiful?
Times have changed
But you remain
My everything
Our Love is Beautiful
Stood by my side
Helped me survive
My great Divide
Isn't this is beautiful.

You set me free!
To live my life
You became my reason to survive the great divide
You set me free!

Rs of life

I was watching a movie named BEDAZZLED. This was the third time I saw that movie. This time there was a lesson for me from GOD. The story line goes like this. A hopeless, love-starved computer technician (Brendan Fraser) falls prey to the devil (Elizabeth Hurley) when he agrees to sell his soul in exchange for seven wishes. Finally, he realizes that he has been trapped and comes out of it through the mercy and grace of GOD. It is a very funny movie, with some real meaning about whom we give importance in life. To whom we give importance in life? or let me put that question this way. What do we normally do in our day today life? Do we keep GOD in front and do the things that have been assigned to us? OR Do we act based on our instincts, striving to attain things that are worldly, focusing on the economic wellbeing, so on and so forth, forgetting GOD in that process?
Yes, like the person in the movie, we have so many wishes in our life. Let me put myself in this situation. Yes, I was like that. I wanted to be rich, clear off the debts we have at home, wanted to be famous and powerful so that people would come to me. Do you think these ideas would lead to eternity? Yes ofcourse! eternity in hell. You may think that I am a Moron. hahahaha. I was a moron. Because GOD was not the focus. Focus was on money, well being and what not? I Never tried to listen to the soul of the Universe which is GOD who created the heaven and the earth , the alpha and omega. Instead I was like a foolish guy acting totally on things based on the instincts which led my life in a different direction with no focus. Because I had an image in my life which led GOD away from me. Sorry!!! which led me away from GOD. I got some insights about the images I had, in a retreat organized by the international Christian students fellowship named SOLID ROCK( thanks to JAN for the message). The image is in the form of an Asherah pole (a symbol of worship of the Hebrew Goddess Asherah) mentioned in the book of Exodus, Deutronomy, Judges, the Books of Kings, the second book of Chronicles and the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah. GOD instructed so many judges to cut down the pole as it was evil and a goddess with no life. But so many kings and the Jews ignored the commandment of the LORD. We do the same thing as they did . The goals in our lives without GOD are like those poles. It is very prominent that it takes complete focus, beautifully decorated and looks so attractive.
One of those Asherah poles is Lifestyle. whom do we look forward to live our life with? Guys do not look for Girls who are not beautiful. They have some standards. I am not saying they are wrong, but outward appearance does not matter, it is the inner self that matters the most. I was like that, I am not an exception. Later realized that I committed a great blunder and have been leading my life with a focus on an Asherah pole which did not give me any peace. Same with girls. All of them have their own expectations. Girls want their guys to be settled well, earning a lot and so on. Again its not their fault. It is the instinct. This is just an example, but there are so many things like this. The world is focussed on money. Money decides who is cultured, powerful and who is not. Social Darwinism is breeding in each and every individual and nurtured through everything. Where is GOD in this picture? He would not be there. Because he is not the focus there. We have replaced him with these Asherah Poles. Are we giving focus to those instincts and the asherah poles? If yes , then its time to change.
Three ways through which we can overcome the Asherah poles. RECOGNIZE, REJECT and REPLACE (thanks to JAN once again). RECOGNIZE the things in our life. What are we doing? who is the focus in our life? Are we allowing GOD to lead us in our day to day life? How do we make choices? Introspect and you will come to know the answer. Because, you know yourself better than anyone else. Secondly, REJECT the things which takes us away from GOD. I was doing things which made me feel sick about myself. I was not peaceful, could not do my work with total commitment, was in a state where I felt so bad about my existence and that was the result of my focus on those things which are not for the glory of GOD (same thing happened to the guy in the movie also) it started with a pleasure and ended up in a disaster. Thank GOD I am saved. Thirdly, REPLACE those poles with the word of GOD. Good choices will be governed by GOD'S word. No doubt about it. All we have to do is to wait patiently for his will to happen in our life. Another important thing is, we are responsible for our own salvation. The parable of ten virgins told in Matt 25:1-13 is a perfect example. The relationship between GOD and YOU is only between him and you. Sometimes we become so busy not to pray. Being busy is one of the fiery darts thrown by the enemy to keep you away from GOD so that he can make you worship his image, the image of the asherah. Let us keep ourselves awake and watch out for the darts thrown by the enemy and defend them with the shield of faith and the words of GOD, for the word says
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD" Romans 12:2

The Secret of Success

Everybody, including me in this world is worried about the future. It is a human tendency and nothing can stop it. I am not placing my argument that one should not have a focus on the future, it should be there. But, 'is it really positive'? is the question. All the people who were and are successful in their life had and have a positive attitude about achieving their dreams. The Wright Brothers, Edison, Einstein and many other had a positive attitude about their inventions. They knew very well that , there are going to be inventions and therefore a history. They did it. They must had had so many criticisms, as inventing something useful for the humanity is not a piece of cake. But it is the thought they had about the future, the signal they emitted to the Universe that they are going to achieve. The Universe brought the same frequency back to them. Yes! Human Body is the most powerful transmitter in the world. What you give, you get back. The secret of success is with in you and me. I read a wonderful book named secret by Rhonda Byrne. That made me write this post. The Secret is nothing but the secret of law of attraction (the secret, Rhonda Byrne)

Everything that's coming into your life you are attracting into your life
And it's attracted to you by the virtue of the images you're holding in your mind.
It's what you are thinking.
Whatever is going in your mind you are attracting to you .

"Every thought of yours is a real thing - a force."- Prentice Mulford (1834-1891)

When you think a thought, you are attracting like thoughts to you. Here is an example. Have you ever started to think about something you were not happy about, and the more you thought about it the worse it seemed? That is because of the sustenance in thinking of the worst thing happened, which always results in attraction of more negative feeling towards you. Because you are like a magnet and like attracts like.

If you see it in your mind, you are going to hold it in your hand - Bob Proctor

What you are thinking now is creating your future life. I would like to place myself in this example. I am surprised that unknowingly I have used the secret. I had an idea of doing my higher studies abroad. That was so dominant in my thoughts and I told everyone that i am going to study abroad without even applying for the universities in the UK. Then I did apply for some Universities and finally got admitted in the University of Nottingham. Then came the issue of finance. Since that thought was dominant, the Universe brought that into reality. My uncle helped me in getting a loan from an American Bank and I am here. I faced a lot of hurdles but the only thing I kept on thinking is " I ll be there in Notts" and I am here. Since I am a Christian, i would like to quote some words from the Bible which talks of this secret.

"whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, ye shall have them." Mark 11.24

Trust in what you feel to achieve is very important. If there is a single negative thought which is dominating your mission to achieve, that the end of it. so when you encounter a negative thought, tune your frequency of thinking to positive things about that goal and release the negative thought. It works for me. It would definitely work for you.