Worshiping the Beast

Rev. 13:5-10 (ESV)
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. [6] It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [7] Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, [8] and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. [9] If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

[10] If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

“All who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.”
There is a lot to chew on in these verses. People worship power. No, it may not be the kind of worship that is set up with cultic rights etc. But to worship at its core means to believe in, to love and trust and fear. False gods are anything that one fears more than God, Loves more than God, trusts in more than God. To do any of those three in greater degree to something other than God is to worship that other entity wether it be the state, family, money, sex, drugs, the list can go on, and as long as that list is so the list of our false gods are. All worship this beast, if they are not written in the book of Life. All worship him. The state, it doesn’t have to be tryrannical to be worshiped. In some cases it is easier to worship a state that is not tyrannical than it is a state that is. So easy to put your trust in the state, as tangible as it is. There is no questioning the existence of the state, government doesn’t allow you to question its existence as it collects your taxes. And it holds out such great promise to keep you secure and safe.
Christian’s though, they will respect the state, they will not worship it. Psalm 118:8-9 (ESV)
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
[9] It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

Of course taking refuge in the Lord will not spare you earthly torment.
[10] If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.
And that is the call for the endurance and faith of the saints. We would not need that if we were not going to be taken captive, or slain with the sword. Yet we pray to be spared those torments, even as we face them with no fear, knowing that this world has nothing to offer us in comparison with glory of God.