CALVARYMAC HAPPENINGS
- New to CalvaryMac? Join us for Free Taco’s DNA Lunch // TODAY! // 12:30P - Are you new to CalvaryMac? Join us for a free catered lunch from Jose’s Taqueria to discover what makes CalvaryMac unique and what we’re all about. Childcare is provided with a Pizza Party in the kids wing. Let us know you are coming so we know how many taco’s to get! Register at CalvaryMac.com/dna-lunch.
- STORY NIGHT featuring sisters Beka Carlson & Melissa Garner // Jan 19, 2023 // 7P - Join us for our upcoming Story Night event, featuring food, fellowship, live music, and a chance to hear TWO stories and how they intertwine. Invite all the ladies in your life for this very special free event where sisters Beka and Melissa share their stories. Beka and Melissa are sisters. They are wives, mothers, and teachers. At young ages, they were deeply rooted in God’s love. As they grew, those roots were tested through some painful pruning and harsh weather. Through illness, trials, and grief, Beka and Melissa had each other… and the loving Gardener of their hearts. Their stories are ones of healing, new beginnings, and most of all, hope. Register at CalvaryMac.com/Women.
- Calvary Youth Winter Camp ‘23 // January 27-29 // Trout Creek Bible Camp - We are heading to Trout Creek Bible Camp for Winter Camp this year! We will be leaving CalvaryMac on Friday, January 27th at 5pm in a big yellow bus and will be returning on Sunday, January 29th (roughly 2pm) in the same big yellow bus. Winter cabin camping and time in the Word is on the docket, as well as loads of other fun things! Don’t miss it! Register at CalvaryMac.com/Youth.
- Financial Peace University // Begins January 26 - Join the millions who never have to worry about money again. With Financial Peace University, you’ll learn the proven plan to pay off debt fast and save more money for your future. Financial Peace University is a nine-lesson course that teaches you how to save for emergencies, pay off debt fast, spend wisely, and invest for your future. And no complicated financial blah blah blah over here. For over 25 years, Dave Ramsey’s been teaching commonsense, biblical money principles that work. Every time. Register at CalvaryMac.com.
- Ladies Retreat // April 21-23, 2023 // Silver Falls CRC - Ladies, join us for our April 21-23 retreat in Silverton. Spots are limited and you don’t want to miss this time of fellowship and teaching from Christa Jackson. Register at CalvaryMac.com/Women.
- Annual Vision/Operations Meeting // January 22 // 6P - Join us as our staff, ministry leaders, and church board share what is happening at CalvaryMac, our current ministry resources, and what is next for CalvaryMac.
- HUMBLE: the Week of Prayer and Fasting // February 19-25 - SAVE THE DATE! The Week of Prayer and Fasting is coming up February 19-25, 2023. This will be one of the most powerful weeks CalvaryMac has ever experienced. Plan on being a part of it as we come together as a church family to seek the Lord.
- Rita Manzella Celebration of Life Service // January 20 // 3P - On Christmas Eve Rita Manzella went home to be with Jesus. We will gather Friday afternoon January 20th at 3pm to celebrate Rita’s life with family, friends, and church family.
- CHRISTIAN WRITING GROUP–AND BOOK FAIR! - The Wednesday morning writing group is meeting at 9:30 am in the CalvaryMac prayer room next week January 18th. Come to be encouraged, hone your writing skills, and support other writers. Also, come learn details about a possible book fair opportunity.
- Help us Set Up for Story Night // Right after 2nd Service - If you’re not attending DNA, we’d love to have your help setting up for Story night after service. We need to move all the chairs to the outside of the auditorium and bring tables up from the NGC downstairs. Any help is appreciated!
SERMON NOTES: REVELATION 13:1-4
The Antichrist will be an inverse imitation of Jesus.
REVELATION 13:1 // REVIEW: WHO IS THE BEAST COMING OUT OF THE SEA?
Because we took the time to allow Scripture to explain who the beast out of the sea symbolizes, we can have confidence, as we study and interpret the rest of the book of Revelation, that this beast represents the man of lawlessness, or who we most commonly refer to as The
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. —Revelation 13:1
3 Key Insights from Last Week:
1. In the vision God displays for John He makes it clear that this beast, while a unique and a separate person, is a reflection of Satan himself—a wicked imitation of Jesus’ relationship with His Father.
2. This man will not be what he appears to be. Thus, God wants John, and those who read Revelation, to view this person with a biblical lens. While to the world he will appear Christlike, in reality he will be a terrifying monster.
3. This beast out of the sea, who will be the very reflection of Satan in the flesh, is so antithetical to the name, character, work, and attributes of Jesus Christ that each of his seven heads epitomizes lies that are actually the opposite of who God Almighty truly is.
REVELATION 13:2 // THIS BEAST HAS BEEN SEEN BEFORE
The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. —Revelation 13:2a
#2 key principle of interpreting the book of Revelation:
Finite human language is insufficient in its ability to describe infinite spiritual reality.
Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. —Daniel 7:2
4 - “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5 - “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6- “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 - “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. —Daniel 7:4-7
God is intentionally connecting prophetic symbols in the vision He is revealing to John with prophetic visions God showed Daniel 600 years earlier of world empires. However, in John’s vision the four beasts of Daniel are combined into
“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully. —Daniel 7:8
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. —Daniel 7:21-23
Daniel was seeing the both the first prophetic wave of the European empire who would rule at the time the Messiah would come (the Romans), but also a European power, of the same spirit of the first, ruling the entire earth with this demoniacally empowered “king” at the
The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. —Daniel 7:24-25
Time (1 year ) + Times = (2 years) + half a time (6 months) = 3.5 years
1,260 days = 42 months = 3.5 years = time, times and half a time
While God allowed Daniel to see the first prophetic wave revealing the four empires leading up to the Messiah’s first coming, he also showed Daniel the second
The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. —Revelation 13:2b
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” —Luke 4:5-8
Satan boasted of his authority over and power he held over the world and his ability to give power and authority to Jesus if He’d worship him. Where Jesus refused, the Antichrist will do the opposite and literally make a deal with the Devil to be empowered by Satan. Through this man, Satan will express his own desire and authority. In this, the beast takes the offer that Jesus
REVELATION 13:3 // SIGNS, WONDERS, MIRACLES, AND RESURRECTION?
One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. —Revelation 13:3
It would the ruler symbolized by this beast out of the sea will appear to die by a lethal wound. However, he will then appear to come back to life. As a result, people of the world will be filled with wonder and follow the leadership of this man of lawlessness. He will truly an Antichrist, who even imitates Jesus in His death and
Make no mistake, this should be a sober warning to all people who call themselves a “Christian” today, but whose faith is merely based upon
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. —Matthew 24:22-25
REVELATION 13:4 // THE AIM OF THE WHOLE SCHEME: STEALING WORSHIP
People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast… —Revelation 13:4a
You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” —Isaiah 14:13-14
The Antichrist will be the ultimate tool to fulfill what Satan has always lusted after; this Man of Lawlessness will be a
In today’s society, most people worship (praise, follow, obey, live their lives for) Satan subconsciously (completely unaware he truly exists). When the Antichrist rules, people will make a
People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” —Revelation 13:4
When the Antichrist comes to power there will be a societal paradigm shift. The scientific community will be helpless to save the planet after just the first 3.5 years of the tribulation. But in the second half, the Antichrist will prove the supernatural not only exists, but is far superior to the current modern world-view our society holds. He will leverage these signs and wonders to appear
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE END TIMES?
Bring your toughest questions to The Gathering // Tuesdays // 7P - You may have questions or feel the need to process the book of Revelation. Join us on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in the auditorium to discuss how end times prophecy relates to current events. Wondering about the End Times? Join us Tuesdays at 7P in the Auditorium.
If you want to take the next step in your relationship with Jesus take Planted, our online Christianity 101 course that is also our baptism class. Just go to CalvarMac.com/baptism to get started.