The inhabitants of the earth refuse to follow the Lamb. Instead, they choose to give allegiance to the Beast and the Dragon.
There are no geographic restrictions on the
reign of the “Beast.” ALL the “inhabitants of the earth”
take its “mark” and give allegiance to it. Not a single government resists
the final incarnation of this ancient entity, for it is granted “authority
over every tribe, people, tongue and nation.”
Nowhere
does the book make mention of any exception to this rule. No political ideology
or form of government resists the authority of the “Beast.” Only the
followers of the “Lamb” do not submit to its demand for total allegiance
from one and all.
The book does describe the attempts by the “Dragon”
and its earthly vassals to destroy the “saints,” those who have the “testimony
of Jesus.” This animosity is not driven by doctrinal and theological
disputes, but by the Beast’s demand for absolute loyalty.
This is an old story. Whenever the State is absolutized,
it cannot tolerate any competing claims of loyalty to its subjects. Since
Jesus demands absolute loyalty and obedience from his disciples, clashes with
the State are inevitable.
NO NEUTRALITY
In Revelation, humanity falls into two and only
two groups - Those who follow the Lamb and those
who render homage to the Beast. Nowhere is any third category or
neutral ground described.
When one of the “seven heads” of the “beast”
is mortally wounded and healed, the “whole earth marvels
after the beast and renders homage to the Dragon.” In contrast, the “Lamb”
redeems men and women “out of” every nation and ethnic group.
Both “Lamb” and “Dragon” compete for the
loyalty of every man and woman, though they use very different methods for doing
so. Christ “shepherds” the nations
to lead them to “living waters.” Satan’s earthly agents impoverish anyone
who does not render homage to the “Beast” and its “image.”
Satan’s final attempt to destroy the church extends over
all humanity. If the language in Revelation is limited geographically or
ethnically when applied to the “Beast,” the same holds true for the
extent of the “Lamb’s” authority. Just as Christ’s redeeming activities
extend over the entire earth, so Satan’s efforts to persecute the church reach
every corner of the planet - (Revelation 7:9).
Not only do “all the
inhabitants of the earth render homage” to the “Beast,” the same group
is identified further as “those whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb.” Therefore, all men whose names are
not written in the book will “render homage to the beast.”
INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH
Whether one’s name is excluded from the “Book of Life”
is determined by how one responds to the “Lamb” AND to the
“Beast,” and not by geography, nationality, or political affiliation. The
statement regarding the Beast’s reign - “all who dwell upon the earth will
render it homage” - cannot be limited by geography or nationality.
Whether one “follows the Lamb wherever he goes” AND refuses to give allegiance to the “Beast” determines if the person's name is “written in the Book of Life.”
In chapter 13, another “beast” ascends “from
the earth,” the “false prophet.” He uses deception and economic control
to “cause the inhabitants of the earth to render
homage to the first beast.” Elsewhere in the book, the term, “inhabitants
of the earth,” refers to all humanity in rebellion against the “Lamb”
- (Revelation 3:10, 13:11-15).
Similarly, after the fourth trumpet sounds, an angel cries
out, “Woe, woe, woe, for the inhabitants of the earth.”
The judgments unleashed by the “seven trumpets” target the “inhabitants
of the earth,” for they refuse to repent and worship the “Dragon” in
his incarnation as the imperial “Beast from the Sea.”
CRYSTAL CLEAR CHOICE
The “false prophet” deceives the “inhabitants
of the earth.” All, whether “small or great, rich or poor, free or slave,”
take the “mark of the beast.” In contrast, those who “follow the Lamb
wherever he goes” have his Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads, the
“seal of God.” Everyone either is branded with the “mark of the Beast”
or is inscribed with the Father’s name.
Once again, two and only two groups are in view. There is
no “third way,” no holdout nation, no middle ground on
which to stand. One must declare for the “Lamb” or the “Beast,”
and the choice is up to every man and woman on the earth.
In chapter 14, the angel announces the “everlasting
gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, even to every nation and
tribe and tongue and people.” If anyone renders homage to the “beast,
he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”
This warning anticipates the final judgment of the whole
earth, the time when the angel will “gather the vine of the earth and cast
it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.” Described here is the judgment
of all men whose “names are not written in the Lamb’s book” - (Revelation 14:9-10).
At the final “battle,” Satan will gather all the “kings
of the earth” and the “nations from the four corners of the earth” to
destroy the “camp of the saints.” The reference to the “four corners
of the earth” stresses the global scope of this final assault against the
church – (Revelation 19:17-21, 20:7-10).
LAMB OR DRAGON
Nowhere does Revelation describe or even suggest the
possibility of any nation or government opting out of or resisting the authority
of the “Beast.” In the book, “all” means exactly that - “ALL
nations.”
Again, the only men who do not submit and give allegiance
to the “Beast” are those who “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.”
They refuse the beast’s “mark” and suffer the consequences. Their loyalty
is to the “Lamb,” and it is absolute, and there is no room for
compromise.
In the end, there will be no neutral ground, no room for
compromise with Satan and his earthly agents. Every man and woman must choose
whom they will serve - The “Dragon” or the “Lamb.”
History repeats itself because the “Dragon,” that “Ancient
Serpent,” has been pushing the same agenda ever since Adam’s disobedience
in the Garden when he succumbed to the alluring lies of the Serpent. And that
is why whenever it has the opportunity to do so the State demands absolute
allegiance from its subjects. And each time this occurs, once again the “Beast”
begins to ascend from the sea.