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9. If any man have an ear, let him hear.Revelation 13:9 John warns that you can hear God in His word and avoid what is coming. You must understand that the church has been raised to heaven. A third of the earth, sea, and population has been destroyed. The 144,000 have been preaching Christ to a doomed world, and some have been converted, but most of the world remains reprobate. This word refers to a sinner, not one of the elect and predestined to damnation. John sees a beast rise out of the sea. It represents a powerful empire that persecutes believers. It is given power by Satan, showing its authority is evil. Unbelievers begin to worship this beast, who wages war against the faithful. A second beast comes from the earth. This is the false prophet. It promotes worship of the first beast and enforces an economic system of control, requiring people to bear the mark to buy or sell anything. You will see in the beast how evil can appear strong and appealing, leading people away from God and leading to the persecution of the converted, even to death. This chapter is for the converted, to remain faithful and receive the reward of Christ. Don't let anything take you away from Christ. Amen.