Satan's Counterfeit

One of the most remarkable tours available to visitors to Washington D.C. is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It is fascinating to learn about the process by which paper money is manufactured. One great task of the government is to make counterfeiting difficult. Many agents of the Treasury Department spend their entire careers tracking down fake money. On these tours, the most commonly asked question is, “What’s the best way to avoid receiving counterfeit bills?” The answer is always the same: “Just learn the marks of a true bill. Then you will not have any trouble spotting the fake ones."  

That guideline holds true for Revelation 13. In this chapter, we see the emergence of an Unholy Trinity: The great Dragon (Satan), the Beast (Antichrist), and the False Prophet. This trio of wickedness will be bent on deceiving and destroying the world. Yet, the message of Revelation 13 and the rest of Scripture is: Maintain a close relationship with Jesus, the true One, and those who are cheap imitations of Him will never deceive or destroy you.

One of the most important lessons for the believer to come to grips with is that things are not always what they seem. Whether in the political, intellectual, or religious realm, there is a master deceiver at work in the world with an agenda to sway the masses of humanity away from Christ. We must always be alert, discerning, and wise. Satan has been at work setting up systems that feed into his sinister agenda. Scripture alone should serve as our final authority in all matters of faith and morality. The gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone should be the center of our lives.

Press on!

Pastor Brian Richard