The time is fast approaching when American Christians will be forced to choose between pledging allegiance to our country or to Christ. Although the two are considered by most Christians in America to be synonymous with one another, they've actually become antonymous to one another, since our country has become antichrist. While most modern-day American evangelicals look for a beast (world leader) to arise and lead the end-time world's final all-out-assault on Christ and His church, they're oblivious to the fact that they're actually living right now in the belly of the emerging and biblically predicted end-time beast (superpower).
The beastly theme runs throughout Scripture, starting with the beastly sin of fallen angels and fallen man; namely, fallen angels attempt to usurp God's throne in Heaven and fallen man's attempt to usurp God's place on earth. It was this beastly sin that got Lucifer thrown out of Heaven and Adam and Eve thrown out of the Garden of Eden.
Soon after the fall of man, the fallen human race made its first attempt at a one world government and a one world religion. It was at the infamous Tower of Babel that man first dreamed of creating his own Heaven on earth and his own way into Heaven. Ever since, fallen humanity has sought to create a paradisiacal planet in the here-and-now, through his own governance, and to secure paradise in the hereafter, through his own religions.
Starting with Babylon, which eventually sprang up from Babel, all the world powers of all time are symbolized in Scripture as beasts. Therefore, the first beast of Revelation 13 simply symbolizes the conglomerate and consummate world power of all time. It is this end-time superpower that will lead an end-time world in its all-out-war against God by attempting to create a one world government and a one world religion that will usher in worldwide utopia.
In its attempt to achieve this Satanically inspired and long sought after aspiration of both fallen men and fallen angels; namely, a new Atlantis (ideal state) apart from God, this beastly end-time superpower will usurp the place of Christ. It will claim to be both our savior and lord, insisting that its promised salvation is contingent upon our total submission. No resistance will be allowed and no religion permitted, apart from state sanctioned ones that bow to the state as supreme.
In history's first beastly world power, Nebuchadnezzar set up an image to himself as king, as well as to his kingdom, Babylon. The image, which was 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide, was to be bowed to by everyone when 6 musical instruments were played. The only ones who dared not to bow to the state and its sovereign were 3 faithful servants of God, who were thrown into a fiery furnace. However, Christ was with them in their fiery trial and they emerged from it without the slightest stench of smoke and with nothing burned off of them but the ropes that bound them when they were thrown in.
As Revelation 13 predicts, a final world power will dictate that everyone bow to it as sovereign. Like Nebuchadnezzar's image, it too will be characterized by 666. According to Revelation, this number, which is the identifying number or mark of the beast, is the number of man (Revelation 13:18). Man's number is 6, since he was created on the 6th day. God's number is 3, since He is triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The number 666, then, represents the beastly sin of fallen man; namely, man's usurping of the place of God.
According to Revelation, the beastly sin of fallen man and fallen angels will finally reach its climax in the world's final superpower, which will, as Nebuchadnezzar did in ancient Babylon, insist upon being bowed to as supreme. Have you noticed how our own country, the world's current superpower, is starting to demand that we all take a knee? Whether it's CDC guidelines for pandemic control or some politically correct narrative, like climate change, all Americans are being told to take a knee. No resistance is allowed and no religion will any longer be tolerated in these United States except one that conforms to the dictated creed of our deified country.
Perhaps, the moment of decision for you, your family, and your church will soon come with the development of a vaccine for a virus, which will come with a digital ID that enables the government to track you for the sake of "public safety." Will your refusal to take the mandated vaccine prevent you from buying and selling, like the book of Revelation predicts (Revelation 13:16-17), since only those with a digital ID will be granted access into public places, like stores and businesses? What will you do, bow at the altar of a deified state, or, like the 3 Hebrews, refuse to bow, trusting Christ, to whom alone you bow, to be with you through the fiery trials ahead? One thing for sure, you better stop looking for a beast to arise elsewhere and wake up to the fact that the beast is rising right now before your very eyes. You’re already in the belly of the beast!