The Beast Performs Great Signs

This second beast, the beast coming up out of the earth, it says here, performs great signs. It is these signs, which supposedly authenticate the false ministry of the Antichrist, and so this is what we need to look at this afternoon. There are many signs mentioned here in a general sense, but only one is really described in detail. That is the sign of Antichrist’s being able to make fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. We want to understand this sign and see that it is not the sign of one who is true and right, but it is the sign of one who has, himself, been deceived of the Devil to excommunicate and kill the true saints of God. Let us pray as we hear about this sign, that we would not be taken captive in our hearts and minds by any deceiving sign or wonder, but rather that we would be led by the truth of God’s word, and be able to teach others the difference between the true and the false religion.