“I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’
“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 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…
“‘If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes…’
“Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints…”
“Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists… singing a new song before the throne…
“’Fear God and give him glory,.. and worship him who made heaven and earth.’” Revelation 13:1-10; 14:1-3a,7
When transient man comes up against authority, it is a natural response to fear. In the flesh, we are drawn to power, and so fear it in a sense that we worship what it affords us: control, the making of our own life choices, even favor from the one who bestows it. Those who know not Christ are attracted to power with warped understanding, marveling with trembling because of distorted priorities and ultimate accountability to what they fear. Who can fight against it? In Christ, we learn a proper fear of the only true and benevolent Authority, not a lust for power but fear bridled with power that is actually imparted spiritually to us. Everything hinges on who we believe to reign.
Without a divine plumb line, our hankering for earthly power draws us to enticements of the world. “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” We choose false worship, settling for false promises over discernment and power-giving surrender to the Holy Spirit. We succumb to the wiles of the enemy, misguided crowd-think disguised as the majority’s flash and fancy. True wisdom comes only from fearing the Lord. (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10; Matthew 4:8-10; Acts 1:8)
What and whom do I worship? What fear and greed need I surrender to bow before the Holy One and yield reverently to His authority?
Lord, teach me to fear You alone, and so live in the power that exalts Your grace and glory.
As the rain and snow 