A Faux Jesus

Day 356: Revelation 13:1-18

“…and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” - Revelation 13:8 ESV

This chapter in John's Revelation has run wild with various interpretations. Not only that, but each generation of Christians seems to be ready to identify someone in their context as the beasts pictured here. To make matters more confusing, John takes the four beasts of Daniel 7 and he melds them into one with the first beast he describes.

It is good to remember that this was originally written to first-century Christians in Asia Minor (Turkey). They were finding it harder and harder to hold to their faith in Jesus and survive. 

Roman taxation and the vanity of the current Caesar, Domitian, made life difficult if you followed Jesus. Domitian insisted on being called "lord," "savior," or "son of the gods." Sound familiar?

The biggest tactic of the Devil is to produce a faux Jesus for us to follow, but we know that the imitation never holds a candle to the original.

If it hasn't already, following Jesus will cost you dearly. You will lose friends, financial gain, and perhaps your own life.

Even so, we know our place is secure. Verse 8 declares that before God said, "Let there be light," He knew you would turn to Him in complete faith. Soak this in. He even wrote your name down. Before you had a name, He knew it.

So no matter what following Jesus will cost us, we know it will be completely worth it.

"John wants his little handful of persecuted Christians to see that the thing that matters is the sovereignty of God, not the power of evil. When a man’s name is written in the book of life he will not be forgotten. His place is secure." - Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 20, p. 164)