16 Identification Marks to Identify the Beast
by Edwin M. Cotto
A lot of well intended Christians actually believe that it is not all that important to study the books of Daniel and Revelation because they are either too hard to understand or because they think the books are “locked.” However, Jesus Christ tells us in Revelation 1:3:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
“Seal not the saying of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:10
The very word “Revelation” means revealed. We see that if we study bible prophecy we are pronounced as a blessed people. We also see how Jesus said “for the time is at hand.” In the book of Daniel, Daniel was told that the prophecies of Daniel were to be “sealed” up until the “time of the end” Daniel 12:9. Now when we return to Revelation 1:3, Jesus said, “for the time is at hand.” Therefore, the time to read and understand the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation is now! These two books go hand and hand, as you will notice while we begin to study them in this booklet. Peter and Paul in their wisdom said:
“We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.
Friends, be not as the people spoken of in Isaiah 29:11: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed." Let us not be as the one mentioned in proverbs, which says:
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly (silliness) and shame (disgrace) unto him. -Proverbs 18:13.
Will there be an ultimate antichrist that will stand up against Jesus and his kingdom, and war with the saints of God? John spoke of many antichrists who have already crept into the churches, but notice how he also warns of an antichrist whom they have heard will soon come (1 John 2:18). Paul warns of this mega antichrist:
“Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day (the 2nd coming of Christ –verses 1 and 2) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” -2 Thessalonians 2:3-5
This “son of perdition” exalts himself, and makes himself God, he is opposite of God and puts himself “in place” or “instead” of God: which is what the very word “anti” means. In this booklet, we will expose who this antichrist is through the books of Daniel and Revelation.
Brethren, my prayer is that you are blessed with the study of Daniel and the Revelation. May God richly bless you in your study of God’s word. Amen.
-Isaiah 1:18
Continue to chapter 1: Finding the Identification Marks.