Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
The Number of a Man
Today’s Audio Devotion:
The Number of a Man
The most famous number in the Bible is in Revelation 13:18: 666—a number associated with the Beast (the Antichrist). Revelation 13:18 suggests that determining the meaning of 666 will require wisdom and understanding. Interpretations through the centuries have fallen into two main categories: One, 666 refers to an individual, or two, 666 refers to fallen humanity as opposed to the perfection of Jesus Christ.
Students of Scripture for the last two thousand years have tried to identify who will be the Antichrist. Suggestions have ranged from individual Roman emperors to the whole Roman Catholic Church and from individual popes to individual national rulers through the centuries. Even a few American political leaders have been nominated as the Antichrist. No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know what kind of ruler he will be: powerful, charismatic, persuasive, deceptive, and diabolical.
Christians should have no fear of the Antichrist and his reign of terror. Be thankful that you belong to Christ and will avoid the coming Tribulation (Revelation 3:10).
Abounding sin is the terror of the world, but abounding grace is the hope of mankind.
A. W. Tozer
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Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.
You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:
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King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
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Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
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Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
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Roman Empire
When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).
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Future European Coalition
This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).