PROPHECY HEADLINES: Obama sends 250 more U.S. troops to Syria | U.S. boosts military support of NATO as tensions increase | N. Korea says it will halt nuclear tests if U.S., S. Korea end military exercises

PROPHECY BOOTCAMP: Our topic for today is titled "The Rise of Antichrist (Part 7)" from Dr. Ed Hindson's book "Revelation: Unlocking the Future."

--- The Beast of the Earth: the False Prophet

This creature is distinct from the beast of the sea in that he calls attention to the first beast and persuades the world to worship the Antichrist. He even sets up an "image" of the first beast and "deceives those who dwell on the earth". He is pictured as having power to make fire "come down out of heaven". He also gives "breath" to the image of the beast and uses his power to pervert true religion.

The second beast looks like a lamb (a possible parody of The Lamb—Jesus Christ), but he talks like a dragon (with the power and authority of Satan). He also exercises all the authority of the first beast. This second beast is later called the "false prophet". Thus, he is pictured as a false religious leader, in contrast to the more political nature of the first beast.

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OCCUPY TILL I COME: We are continuing our journey through the book, "Coming Events and Present Duties," by J.C. Ryle. This section is titled, "Occupy Until I Come!" (Part 2) based on the parable of the nobleman who went away and left talents for his servants to use in his absence in Luke 19:11-13. J.C. Ryle writes:

[The disciples’ first mistake was that] they did not realize that before all these prophecies could be fulfilled, "it behooved Christ to suffer." Their optimistic expectations overleaped the crucifixion and the long parenthesis of time to follow, and bounded onward to the final glory. They did not see that there was to be a first advent of Messiah "to be cut off," before the second advent of Messiah to reign. They did not perceive that the sacrifices and ceremonies of the law of Moses were first to receive their fulfillment in a better sacrifice and a better high priest, and the shedding of blood more precious than that of bulls and goats. They did not comprehend that before the glory — Christ must be crucified, and an elect people gathered out from among the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel.

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