The Eighth Beast

Introduction

PREFACE

I have written this message as a way of collecting and preserving the thoughts that the Lord has given me about the times we are living in today. Most theologians and Bible teachers are preaching about things that are to happen in the future and they cannot see what is happening in this present time.

In this article there are four messages, they are

Satan is Bound by the Gospel
The Pit has been Opened – 5th Trumpet
An Army has Come Upon the Church – 6th Trumpet
The Heavens are Being Shaken

We do not ignore the fact that there are judgments upon the wicked of this world; we do not ignore the fact that there are judgments against the powers of Satan when he is cast into the earth. But if you don’t see what is happening to you and the Church today, then when the judgment begins on the world, it will be too late for you to prepare your garment. There is another message of the first four trumpets in the “Last Days of the Church” that was written before this article.

It is sad to say, but some will not understand the following messages. Is it because they do not have the Spirit of Christ teaching them or is it because they will not pray about something, that doesn’t fit with their theology. May God bless you with ears to hear what the Spirit has to say to the Church.

This article was written by Gary Hyde, any questions please contact me at garyhyde@tds.net.

Chapter 1

Satan Was Bound by the Gospel

All my life I have heard that Satan was to be bound sometime in the future, during the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.

First, I would like to take the time to show how the scriptures teach that Satan is already bound by chains in a pit of darkness and is to be loosed during these last days.

Secondly, a review of a few scriptures allows us to see that Jesus is now, at this current time, reigning on the Throne of David over the Heavenly Jerusalem. We are now living in the Day of the Lord or the Thousand Year Reign of Christ within this world. That does not take away from any future fulfilling of these verses, but if you can not see the spiritual fulfilling, you will not be prepared for the battle that is ahead for the church during the last days.

Thirdly, those who have received Christ’s Spirit, are also currently reigning with him through the operation of the Holy Ghost within their lives by becoming partakers of the first resurrection of the Spirit. Those who have gone on and we which are alive are both waiting for the next resurrection of the body unto eternal immortality with Christ forever.

Fourthly, the books have already been opened and judgment has already been set.

Lastly, Satan is being loosed to deceive the nations and believers in such a manner that he has not had the power to do since the time of Christ.

In Revelation it says….

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Satan Was Bound 2000 Years Ago

Isaiah prophesied of this in…

Isa 24:21,22 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

That is what happened to Satan when Jesus said in…

Luk 10:17-19 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Jh 12:31 …now shall the prince of this world be cast out, and if I be lifted up…

Peter and Jude both agree that this event has already happened and that it is not something that is to happen in the future.

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

When we look at these scriptures, we have to acknowledge that Satan is bound today and does not have free course like he did before Calvary. You might say that if Satan is bound, then what about all the powers of darkness that are making our world more sinful and corrupt each day?

The best way to explain this is to imagine a large, dangerous animal on a chain. This chained animal has authority over only the territory within the reach of his chain. Beyond the reach of that chain, he has no dominion and no authority. But, though limited, can still induce fear, attract, invite and entice his prey to approach closer to within his grasp.

Paul says the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the power of God in Rom 1:16. This gospel power has the ability and authority to cast Satan down and bind Satan from that person. Any individual who has believed in the power of Christ’s gospel is delivered from the power of darkness… Col 1:13. Also in 1 Cor 1:18 the preaching of the Cross is the power of God, it can break every chain Satan can put on our life. He no longer has the ability to lead people astray or deceive the believer; as long as that believer stays out of the Satan’s reach and is not seduced into his arena.

Jesus and the Apostles warned us how to stay out of his grasp. Our deliverance is through: …obedience to God …loving your enemies …not yielding our members to unrighteousness …walking after the spirit and many other teachings.

Before the time of Christ, man had no power or ability to stop the work of Satan. Now thru Jesus Christ, believers in Christ cast out devils and keep their body from being a tabernacle for Satan to work in.

The world and the unbelievers have no power over the devil. As people live in the darkness of sin and the pit of corruption, the devil is having his way, as his will drives and motivates their lives. Before the good news of Jesus was preached, the devil was able to deceive the world and religion into believing that their religious practices were alright and pleasing God. But now through the Word of God and the witness of the Spirit, Satan can no longer deceive people who have a love for the truth. When it becomes the case that people love not the truth, at that point, they slip into the devil’s territory and are overcome.

Judgment Has Been Set In This World

Dan 7:10 …the judgment was set, and the books were opened

This is not reference to the book of life, but rather a reference to Jesus’ preaching which opened the scriptures, from Genesis to Malachi, to a people who sat in darkness. Just like he did when he walked with some disciples on the road to Emmaus, burning their hearts within, expounded unto them about himself within the scriptures of Moses and the Prophets. Luke 24:27

Jesus said in…

John 9:39 …For judgment I come into this world, that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind.

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world…

John 16:7-10 ..the Comforter will reprove or convince the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment…. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

There should not be a question within the hearts of a believer that Jesus came and exposed sin and revealed righteousness in a way that the law could not do. Since that time, over the past 2,000 years, the world has been judged or reproved of sin in their lives, all because they do not believe on Jesus Christ. If people truly did believe, they would leave the works of darkness and follow after the light of Jesus Christ.

Thrones Established

Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever….

Isa 16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

I hope you see from the scriptures, that the Throne which Jesus is sitting on was established during the preaching of Jesus Christ. It was later confirmed by the Apostles and witnessed through the Holy Spirit within the early church. Jesus’ sceptre or rod that he rules with was set forth by his doctrine of righteousness, which revealed the works of unrighteousness.

Today, Jesus is sitting on the Throne of David with all power in heaven and earth and has brought judgment to both mankind and judgment to the powers of darkness. Some are only looking for the Throne of David to be a natural throne in the natural Israel in the Middle East. Now we may not fully understand all God will do, but if Jesus sits on a throne in natural Israel, then being a natural Israelites will not give one a right to enter the city of Jerusalem. Why, because no unclean thing will be able to enter in and all mankind is unclean in heart and spirit until they have become clean through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, making it necessary to be born again into the Spiritual Kingdom, so one can enter the City of God where Jesus now sits upon the Throne of David.

Please remember that this Day of Salvation or dispensation of the Gospel is Jesus ruling with a rod of mercy. The time will come for the Day of Vengeance, when Christ will rule with a rod of iron.

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel

Jesus told the Apostles that they would also sit upon thrones during the time of regeneration. I would like for you to see that we have been in this time of regeneration for 2,000 years. The teachings of the Apostles have become our written guide and reference of how we will be judged in that day according to their gospel which has been preached to us.

Yes, there will be some that will say this is only for natural Israel, but they are blind. The teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles gives us only one Shepherd and one fold, which is neither Jew nor Gentile, ….just one nation of God’s people.

How Long is a Thousand Years?

This “thousand years” passage is another look at the saints overcoming and reigning in Christ and thru Christ spiritually within their lives during this Day of the Lord. Search the scriptures and you will see that when God speaks of a thousand generations or a thousand hills, he is not referencing to a specific number, but rather he is speaking of an unlimited number that may have an end sometime. Similarly, when the scriptures point to the Day of the Lord, it does not mean literal 24 hours period. No, it refers to a period of time, which God has chosen to not define exactly by putting upon it a limited number of days or years.

Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Deu 7:9 … which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

1Ch 16:15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

I Saw Persecuted Souls Who Overcame

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The New Testament saints were persecuted and their faith tested in many ways. In Revelation through the church ages, the Lord brings out battles, tests, trials, etc that he wants his saints to overcome. This above passage is describing a people of God that have stood for the testimony of the Gospel and the Spirit of Jesus Christ in their life. During their walk with God, they overcome the devil, religion, the beast system, false doctrine etc. It is not a check list that ever individual has met, but rather it shows a group of people who have remained true to the calling of Christ during their lifetime’s walk with him. This is about an overcoming people who lived during this Days of Salvation and not about a people living for the whole thousand year’s span of time. There are no scriptures or types in the Word pointing to saints living a thousand years and not yet immortal.

Reigning with Christ

Paul said it this way,

Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each believer should understand that while we lived in sin, we once reigned or ruled with unrighteousness in our life unto our own destruction. But now thru Jesus Christ we reign in righteousness unto eternal life. Look at it this way. Jesus came unto us having all authority given unto him of things in heaven and earth. He not only fulfilled the call of God in his life, but he also reigned in his natural life. In like manner, believers filled with the Spirit of Christ also are given earthly and heavenly authority over their life, home, family, spiritual enemies, Satan, and etc. I will not take the time to show and explain how Christ has given us power and authority over devils, things in our life, and even our bodies. Enough probably has been said so you can understand.

We've Been Made Priests

He says in this passage in Revelation not only that we will reign with him, but also how we will reign.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years

If we take a moment and review the Old Testament, we will recall that God set up a priesthood from the family of Levites to take care of all the natural care of the tabernacle and the temple. They took care of receiving the people’s offerings, and instructing the people in the laws given to them thru Moses. In Mal. 3:1-3, there is a prophecy of John the Baptist (the messenger to prepare the way), and of Jesus (the messenger of the covenant). It says that Jesus would refine and purify the sons of Levi so they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

This passage in Malachi was not fulfilled in the natural priesthood, but in a spiritual priesthood as Peter said in…

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

We have a high priest called Jesus Christ and we are his priesthood, helping people bring their spiritual offerings to the altar. This New Testament priesthood is very similar to the Old Testament priesthood. We now offer up offerings and sacrifices unto God for our own lives and for those of others. There are different responsibilities and positions, some in the holy place, some work in the altars and some are the congregation who support all of this work, so that God’s people can fulfill his spiritual purposes.

We Have Been Made Kings

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Apostle John stated very clearly that Jesus as the King of Kings has also made us Kings and Priest unto God, not we shall be, but has made us already. Christ has not given us this authority of dominion and power for the world to see, but rather it is for his kingdom.

You might recall in the Old Testament after the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Israelites were given a land to conquer and take dominion over it. They drove most of the inhabiters out of the land as they were instructed, but a few remained to tempt God’s people. We often sing songs about Canaan the promise land, as a place where we fight battles, get hurt, where we overcome, where we worship and serve God. Along with this land of promise came a warning to Israel to keep God’s laws and walk upright. God dI'd not want his people to walk and live as those nations which they conquered. Who all polluted the land with their idolatrous life-styles before Canaan was conquered by Israel. This analogy relates to the natural land of Israel as to the spiritual land of the believer.

Before we gave our life to God, our body and soul, along with our mind, will and emotions all combined to form a spiritually polluted land from which each sinner served other Gods. Now thru the leadership of Jesus Christ we have the ability, authority and power to drive out all the inhabitants, so we the believer, can serve the Lord all our days. It should be understood that within the believers, there continues to remain a certain amount of fleshly, natural life which continually opposes Christ’s Spirit in us. These temptations of the flesh and trials of the wicked one are to test and try us. If we will walk as Kings with dominion over our life, and continue to be willing and obedient to God as we resist the enemy, we will receive and live in this promise, that we will eat the good of the land, Is 1:19.

Partakers of the First Resurrection

If you will recall, Jesus said in…

Joh 3:5 … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Paul speaks in his epistles that the believers…

Are to be crucified with Jesus, be buried with him in baptism and be resurrected unto a newness of life.
Have become new creatures in Christ Jesus and our life is now hid with Christ in God.
We now have his Spirit dwelling in us and it is thru this Spirit of Christ that we are joined unto his body and made a joint heir with Christ.

Paul tells us that this newness of life in Jesus Christ, which we call, being born again or being filled with the Holy Ghost, is a resurrection from being dead in sin. Also, this first resurrection does not mean that the resurrection of the dead is past, it is still to come when the last trumpet sounds.

Second Death Has No Power

The scriptures tell us the second death, known as the lake of fire, has no power over those who are part of the first resurrection. This second death is mentioned again in the Smyrna church age when the saints are being tested, tried, and put to death.

Rev 2:11 ….He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Jesus gave this promise to those believers who would believe and live in him. They would become partakers of his resurrection and his life thru their relationship with Jesus. They were given a promise that they would never die.

Joh 11:25, 26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Hosea spoke of it in another way…

Hos 6:2, 3 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Each believer must experience death, burial and resurrection with Christ or they will not be able to receive these promises. This passage in Hosea does not represent a thousand years per day as some ministers teach. The scripture says …if they continue on to follow and know the Lord. We have been doing that since we first came unto Jesus and received his rain in our life. If we will die with him and be buried with him, he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight. Then if we continue to follow the Lord he will send to us the times of refreshing.

To further illustrate that there is a spiritual resurrection thru faith in Christ and there is a natural resurrection of the physical body. Let’s look at the promise in the Old Testament of the resurrection of the dead that Martha was referring to in John.

Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

You should see that this scripture in Daniel was not fulfilled when Jesus came forth from the grave, for Matthew says that only the saints came out of the grave with him and not the wicked.

Mat 27:52, 53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

But we do see a fulfilling of the passage in Hosea when he said some would rise with him on the third day and that if they continued with him, they would receive refreshing rains upon their life.

We do not see this on the saints that literally came out of the graves with Jesus, for there were no comments that the resurrected saints remained on the earth. Nor would it have been practical for them to choose to continue with him, since they were already raised from the dead. But it is mentioned in the scriptures, that the believers of Jesus Christ, who fulfill the gospel, are resurrected in a spiritual sense unto a new life, a new creation, and by continuing on with him, will receive rains of refreshing from the Lord.

We may conclude by saying, if we will obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ and walk on to further know him in this life, we will:

Die with him thru faith in the work of the cross.
Be buried with Jesus in the water grave of baptism.
Live or be resurrected with Christ through a born again experience.
Become Kings unto God, ruling a spiritual land.
Reign with Christ, having authority over all the enemy.
Be priest unto God, making spiritual sacrifices.
Shall never die or taste the second death of the lake of fire.

Summary

Let us summarize our thoughts on this subject. Isaiah prophesied that Satan would be cast down from heaven and put in a pit as a prisoner until the latter days, when he would be loosed. Peter and Jude both confirm that Satan is now bound in chains of darkness until the Day of Judgment. Jesus put this all together in Revelation, when he showed how Satan was cast into a bottomless pit with a great chain until the latter days, when he would be loosed for a short season and judged.

The binding of Satan did not necessarily happen to all people in the world. But we see when the disciples came back from preaching in Luke, they proclaimed how the devil was subject unto them. It was at this time, Jesus stated, behold I see Satan fall from heaven as lightening. Satan had become bound in chains by the power of the Gospel, from all those that live and believe in Jesus Christ. We see that Jesus gave his believer’s power to bind Satan from our life and cast him out of others. This power of Christ on his preachers also limited the power of Satan in this world, so that the Gospel could be spread throughout the world. Thus, fulfilling the scriptures that Jesus would reach out to the Gentiles and bring them into the family of God.

One day Daniel saw a vision that judgment was set and the books were opened. The New Testament testifies of this happening thru the preaching of Jesus and the Apostles. As Jesus also stated that now, judgment is come into this world. Jesus’ coming opened our understanding of the Old Testament books, concerning himself, the Kingdom of God and the Mystery of Iniquity. Today, there is no excuse for any people to not know, the will of God for their life and how to recognize the works of flesh and the workings of the power of Satan. This fulfills the scripture when Jesus said to the Apostles

Matt 19:28 …that when I sit on my throne of glory, that they also shall be giving twelve thrones to judge Israel.

Now we should be without any doubt that Jesus Christ created a new spiritual Israel of God where he sits on the Throne of David in this Heavenly Jerusalem. As the King, High Priest and Prophet he leads and governs his holy nation. This spiritual nation is made up of both Jews and Gentile believers who by faith believe and follow Jesus Christ as the only door to God and salvation. Peter described us as a royal priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices unto God. Paul called this body of believers the Israel of God in Romans and Ephesians.

Jesus said that each person must be born again from above as the only way into this Spiritual Kingdom of God. Peter described this process as repentance, baptism in water and being filled with the Holy Ghost. Paul described it as dying with Christ, be buried with him, and rising into a newness of life by the resurrection power of his Spirit living in us. Thereby, we become new creatures or a new creation in Christ. Only then does Jesus fulfill his words …and I will come and make my abode in you and you in me.

Since, Jesus ascended to heaven; the church has been living in what is known as the Day of the Lord, the Reign of Christ for a thousand years. It is a time when the body of Christ is being tried, persecuted and some killed for the Word of God and the testimony of Christ which they have. Each believer, by the power of God, is now fighting spiritual powers and principalities in an effort to possess a spiritual land in heavenly places in Jesus Christ.

Articles by Gary Hyde