Revelation 13:5
The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. MSG
Foreshadows of the Beast–the world leader who will deceive millions of people during the Tribulation– are already plentiful in our day and age. What with all these eloquent atheists, pseudo scientists, false prophets and crafty politicians!
Observe that this “Beast” is a brilliant public speaker. He is human and has much to say. Of course it makes sense that language will play a key role in shaping the destiny of end time folks. It’s the same faculty by which God created the world and through which we are saved (Heb 11:3, Rom 10:9-10). The enemy will employ the same powerful medium for his depraved ends.
Beloved, we must neither be impressed nor fooled by the cunning orators of our day. Beware of brilliant speakers whose characters don’t match the light, love and life of Christ. Compare this with Paul’s attitude:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God…And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
I pray that your faith is not inspired by the wisdom of men, but by the true fruit and power of the Spirit of God. No persuasive words of human eloquence, philosophy or promise shall deceive you in Jesus’ mighty name!
Pastor Josh