📅 April 7, 2025

📖 DAILY BIBLE READING

✨ Revelation 13 – The Beast from the Sea and the Beast from the Earth
📯 The Global Worship Crisis and the Final Mark of Authority

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📜 Bible Text – Revelation 13 (KJV)

¹ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

² And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

³ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

⁴ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

⁵ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear.

¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

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🔵 Introduction

Revelation 13 is one of the central chapters of the Apocalypse, describing the rise of religious and political powers that oppose God and His people. It portrays two beasts—one from the sea and one from the earth—who together lead the world to worship the beast and reject God. This chapter closely echoes Daniel 7 and represents the climax of the end-time worship crisis.

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🟡 Commentary

1. The Beast from the Sea (vv. 1–10)

• Origin: Rises from the “sea” (a metaphor for a mass of peoples; cf. Rev. 17:15).

• Appearance: A composite of Daniel 7’s beasts—lion (Babylon), bear (Medo-Persia), leopard (Greece).

• Power: Receives authority, throne, and strength from the dragon (Satan).

• Effect: Worldwide worship of the beast; blasphemes God; persecutes the saints.

• Duration: Forty-two months (1,260 prophetic days = years).

• Purpose: Enforces worship and control through a religious-political system.

• Call to Believers: Patience and faith are required.

2. The Beast from the Earth (vv. 11–18)

• Origin: Comes up from the earth (symbolizing a remote or unpopulated region).

• Traits: Two horns like a lamb (appearing Christian) but speaks like a dragon (demonic deception).

• Activity:

  • Compels the earth’s inhabitants to worship the first beast.

  • Performs miraculous signs, including calling down fire from heaven.

  • Builds an image of the first beast—a forced religious system.

  • Institutes the “mark of the beast,” controlling buying and selling and coercing worship.

• Number of the Beast: 666—a symbol of human power in place of divine authority.

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🟢 Summary

Revelation 13 reveals humanity’s final crisis: a global system of false worship demanding allegiance to a power hostile to God. Two beasts—one political, one religious—collaborate to establish this counterfeit worship system. The faithful will face persecution but are called to perseverance and trust in God’s ultimate victory.

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🔴 Message for Today

The decisive issue in the end times is worship. To whom does your heart belong—God or human systems that challenge Him? Revelation 13 calls us to take a clear stand: for God and His commandments or for powers that oppose Him. Even now, our daily decisions reveal where we stand—through our faithfulness and worship. Don’t be deceived by the lamb-like appearance of false powers. Choose Jesus today as Lord of your life—His truth sets you free, even under the greatest pressure.

📯📯📯📯📯📯📯

📆 April 6 – 12, 2025

📆 WEEKLY READING OF THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

📖 Ellen White | Steps to Christ – Chapter 12

✨ What to Do with Doubt

📖 Read here online

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🔵 Introduction

Doubt is one of the subtlest and most dangerous weapons of the enemy in the great battle for the human mind. Especially young believers and seekers are vulnerable to thoughts that aim to shake their trust in God’s Word and character.

Yet this chapter shows clearly:
🔹 God does not demand blind faith,
🔹 but offers abundant evidence,
🔹 while still calling for faith, trust, and spiritual humility.

The truth remains hidden only from those who refuse to seek it—and is continually revealed by the Holy Spirit to honest seekers.

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🟡 Commentary

🔹 1. The Origin of Doubt (Paras. 1–2)
Many experience doubt when encountering difficult Bible passages.
Satan uses these moments to shake our faith.
But: God has given us sufficient foundations for belief—doubt persists only if we choose to cultivate it.

🔹 2. The Limitations of Human Understanding (Paras. 3–6)
We cannot fully comprehend the essence and work of the infinite God.
Passages like Job 11:7–8, Romans 11:33, and Psalm 97:2 demonstrate that God’s greatness surpasses human knowledge.
There are mysteries (e.g., the origin of sin, the incarnation, the resurrection) that do not undermine Scripture’s divine origin but confirm it.

🔹 3. The Divine Origin of the Bible (Paras. 7–10)
Even the simplest truths exceed our research yet are accessible to all.
Scripture speaks to both heart and mind.
Its depth and simplicity together testify to its inspiration by God.

🔹 4. Proper Handling of Difficult Passages (Paras. 11–14)
Peter warns against twisting hard texts (2 Peter 3:16).
Not everything attributed to the Bible actually comes from it.
Pride, impatience, and the desire for total control keep many from understanding.

🔹 5. Faith Grows through Humility (Paras. 15–19)
Those who study Scripture with childlike faith and prayer find even hard passages explained by the Holy Spirit.
Only reverence for God makes the Word come alive and become understandable.

🔹 6. The Root of Unbelief (Paras. 20–22)
Behind many doubts lies a love of sin.
The heart resists God’s claims.
Yet whoever is willing to do God’s will will recognize the truth (John 7:17).

🔹 7. Proof through Experience (Paras. 23–25)
The strongest proof of God’s Word is personal experience:
“Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:9).
Those who test God’s promises will never be disappointed.

🔹 8. Continuing Deepening of Faith (Paras. 26–28)
Spiritual growth brings ever-clearer understanding:
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun” (Proverbs 4:18).
God combines His divine power with our humanity to teach us continuously.

🔹 9. The Unfolding of the Previously Unintelligible (Paras. 29–30)
What once seemed dark becomes clear in His presence.
One day we will know fully, “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

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🟢 Summary

Doubts will come—but they need not remain.
The Bible holds mysteries, not to confuse us, but to inspire faith, wonder, and trust.
Those who approach Scripture in humility, prayer, and obedience will find deep assurance and insight.
The greatest confirmation is the testimony of personal experience with God.

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🔴 Message for Today

In a world of skepticism, critical thinking, and so-called “scientific” doubt, it’s easy to give doubt a foothold.
But God’s Word stands reliable, profound, and true—across time and culture.

📜 “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know” (John 7:17).
📜 “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:9).

👉 What does this mean for you?

• Don’t search first for explanations—search for God Himself.

• Let your pursuit be driven by a desire for truth, not intellectual pride.

• When doubt arises, go to Jesus, not to speculation.

• Read the Bible in prayer with an open heart—and it will come alive to you.

🌿 Doubt fades where trust grows.
God is not distant—His Word is living and powerful for everyone who seeks it with an open heart.