Realization of Prophetic Visions
By Philip Mark Ames
Names of Blasphemy
Another thing noticed by
John was that the heads of the beast bore names of blasphemy. This is a correct
view of the seven isms that guide the course of man's thinking.
When Jesus was on earth, he
was wrongly accused of blasphemy. For example, when he forgave a man's sins and
healed him, Jewish leaders said, "Who is this who is speaking blasphemies?
Who is able to be forgiving sins except God alone?" (Luke 5:21) Also, when
he explained that he was the Son of God, some of the Jews tried to stone him,
saying, "We are stoning you... for blasphemy, because you, a man, make
yourself a God." (John 10:33) in each case, had Jesus not been who he
claimed to be and really had the authority he claimed to have, the accusations
of blasphemy would have been justified. In that case, the religion he established
would have been blasphemously false.
But, what justification do
the religions of Catholicism, Mohammedanism, and Protestantism have for their
assumed authorities? Do their names glorify God, or man? Their histories of
ungodly bloodshed belie their claims of holiness. And any false claim to
holiness is outright blasphemy. They are thus covered with names of blasphemy.
Besides falsely claiming the
attributes or prerogatives of God, or ascribing these to others, blasphemy may
also take the form of denying God's power or speaking against Him in other
ways. (Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 12:31, 32) Communism has been very outspoken
against God. None can deny the blasphemous aspect of that religion.
None
of the seven ‘isms’ which guide democracy is guiltless. Each assumes for man
certain honors and rights which belong only to God. All seven dominating mountains
teach their subjects to blasphemously worship the accomplishments or potentials
of man's mind. All the beast's heads display blasphemies.
Written by: Philip Mark
Ames - - - © 1975 Philip Mark Ames. All rights reserved.