Friday, March 21, 2025
Words matter. Words are consequential. Words instruct the present and prepare for the future. Words influence us from childhood to adult. God’s word “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, [in the Holy Bible] whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2) But of course Satan, by whose evil “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19), and is also the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), also knows God’s word, but perverts it for the evil intent to deceive and “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). So, when by the “it is written” word and testimony of God in Christ we read words of truth and consequence for our good, we know those same words can and will be used by Satan and his ministers to deceive people in unrighteousness to blind the spiritually ignorant, unsuspecting and non-discerning. Often, the impact of common words is ignored.
Today, note two word phrases of consequence. First, former President Barack Obama in 2018 first named the presidential state car “The Beast”. That name and title signifies a place of safety for the president when he travels by motorcade. It’s a place of security should someone foment an attack on the POTUS. The Beast is heavily fortified and armored, offering the best of every possible protection from any exterior threat. It’s designed to save life. People all over the world are knowledgeable of The Beast designed for US presidential safety. Yet, God warned us about “the beast” of Rev. 13, which I believe eludes most people; first, people of a professed faith in Christ who disown His warning that we will “see the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15), and secondly, people who are altogether ignorant of him. Discerning believers know that God identifies “the beast” as Satan’s Antichrist “who deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9) for the purpose of destroying humanity made in the image of God. The point is that in the tribulation most people will count “the beast” as a place of safety, Rev. 13:3, and not God’s warning about “the beast” who will eternally destroy those who take “the mark of the beast”, Rev. 13:15.
And recently the world is hearing much about Elon Musk’s Space X Crew-9 “Dragon” which rescued two astronauts stranded on the Space Station for nine months after their initial mission was scheduled for only eight days. That term, “the Dragon”, like “The Beast” is now also being used regarding safety, rescue and security. The “Dragon” is another word to which most people equate as something good, an ordinary phrase, as something that protects and serves humanity. Yet, again, God warned us about “the great dragon” of Rev. 12, which again eludes most people; first, people of a professed faith in Christ who disown God’s warning of “the great dragon” as they’ve been led to believe by deceived pastors and false teachers that they won’t be on earth for the great dragon’s reign of great tribulation terror, and secondly, people who are ignorant of him. Discerning believers know God said “the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan … he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev. 12:9).
Words and their consequences are important. The unbelieving world uses words that promise peace and safety, (1 Thess. 5:3), but their end will lead to sudden and catastrophic destruction.
My new book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” explains in detail how to know Christ and find God’s Bozrah sheepfold of safety and place of provision for the last 1,260 days of great tribulation.
Marlin J. Yoder
