Unleashing the Beast

202 / U NLEASHING THE B EAST

The Scripture informs us that one of the main miracles performed by the false prophet will be the supernatural ability to cause an icon of the Antichrist to actually come to life. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image (icon) of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (Revelation 13:15). In various parts of the world it is common to hear of religious statues weeping, or bleeding. While some consider this an amazing sign from God, I personally believe that these things are miracles of deception, since God forbids in his Word the use of any image of man, woman or beast with which to worship Him (see Deuteronomy 4:15-19). It is possible these weeping, bleeding images are a way of preparing the world to accept the moment when the image of the beast will speak and live. To those deceived souls living on earth at that time, it will be a great sign that "God has come down among them." Those who do not worship this image will be killed (Revelation 13:15). This indicates that the struggles and conflicts during the time known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), will be more religious than political in nature. The Antichrist will set himself up as God, and will be worshiped. The false prophet, identified as the "lamb with two horns" (Revelation 13:11), will merge two major world religions together; apostate Christianity and Islam,