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"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the
uncorruptable God into an image made like to corruptible man..." (Romans 1:22 &23)
The image of the beast is a great mystery. To understand the truth regarding this mystery,
it is necessary to answer the following two questions:
Who is the beast?
What is the image?
The first question is important because the image of the beast can only be identified
if we know who the beast is. As is written in the 49th Psalm, man "...is like the beasts that perish. This their way
is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings" (12 & 13). Also, in Revelation God tells us, "Here
is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man..." (13:18).
Purveyors of the false image would have you believe that the beast is "a" man, as in a singular person like Damon
in the movie "The Exorcist". However, the beast is not a single man, but mankind in general. The beast
(man) has created an image I refer to as the Santa Claus image.
What I am calling the Santa Claus image is the god that man created in his own
image and according to his own understanding. For man has "...changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever" (Romans 1:25). Rather than seek the truth of
God with diligence, men, in their impatience, created an image and worship it in God's stead. This point is made when the
children of Israel became impatient when Moses went into the mount to receive the commandments of the Lord. This is sin, and
therefore is the wrath of the Almighty kindled against us. This is why God says. "Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7).
But why do I call it the Santa Claus image? Think about it for a moment. The god
that man has created sits in the sky somewhere and Santa Claus sits at the North Pole. Man's god spys on everyone, much like
Santa Claus, and he knows who has been naughty and nice. Santa Claus gives a reward to those who have been nice and gives
the naughty a lump of coal. Man's god also rewards those who have been nice by taking them to a place that resembles "The
Big Rock Candy Mountain" and punishes the naughty with fire and brimstone. Hence, it is easy to identify those who worship
the beast and his image, because their thoughts (foreheads) and actions (right hands) are consistent with this great image.
However, as is written in the book of Daniel concerning Nebuchadnezzar's image, "...as the toes of the feet were part
of iron, and part of clay, the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken" (Daniel 2:42), Man's Santa Claus image
is shared to some extent among all religions, which is its strength. But, as has often been said, "the Devil is in the
details." Hence, although men are able to exchange ideas based on this common understanding, they are divided on the
details and will never become perfectly united, which is its weakness.
Questions or comments? Contact Pastor Paul: