RECOGNIZING THE HIDDEN AGENDA.  Sometimes people and organizations hide the truth to push their own plans or hidden agendas. In a society with deceptions and fabrications, it is critical that we know how to identify the real agenda.

We continue our study of the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14; within this context, as we seek to navigate the cosmic battle between good and evil, we look at the importance of actively seeking truth and moving with caution to guard against being misled by those who seek to suppress the truth to pursue their own hidden agenda.

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Let Us Invite God’s Presence:

Holy Father, open our eyes that we may see. Help us regard your words as the only standard for truth. In Jesus’ Name Amen

Today, we have access to lots of information, but this does not mean we should put our guard down. We still need to be careful because sometimes, people try to control us using a hidden agenda. This can happen in relationships, business transactions, the political arena, social media, organizations, and even in churches. This is why it is necessary to ask questions and not just believe everything we read, see, or hear.

 Sometimes people in authority put their own interests above that which is fair and just. The church is no exception. Hence, some church leaders make their own rules to accomplish their selfish agendas and ignore the commands God has established for His people.

This practice stems from selfishness. The root of selfishness is Satan.

Recall that the book of Revelation is filled with symbols. Revelation 13 talks about two animals. These animals are symbols of kingdoms, nations, and powers on the earth. In Revelation, we find that these kingdoms, nations, and powers have a hidden agenda. Notice in Revelation 13:1, 2 where the first beast in Revelation 13 comes from and who gives him his power and authority.

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2)

So, the first animal in Revelation 13 obtains his kingdom and gains his power and authority from the dragon.

Who is the dragon?  Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2 identifies the dragon as Satan.

Revelation 12:9

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)

Revelation 20:2

2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; (Revelation 20:2)

So sneaky, So deceptive. Satan uses kingdoms, nations, and leaders on Earth to do his dirty work. They fulfill his ultimate hidden Agenda.

Revelation 12:3–5 tells us that this “dragon” (Satan, the devil) will try to destroy the “male Child” as soon as He is born. However, this “male Child” (NKJV) is later saved by God and taken to heaven and ushered onto God’s throne.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. (Revelation 12:3-5) (Split)

Who is this “male child” Jesus is the “male Child.” Wanting to destroy the Christ Child, Satan worked through King Herod and the kingdom of Rome to try to destroy Jesus.

What’s more, at the end of Jesus’ life, a Roman governor, Pilate, condemned Jesus to die on the cross. A Roman soldier nailed Jesus to the cross. Then, Another Roman soldier stabbed Jesus with a spear. Roman soldiers guarded Jesus’ grave.

And according to Revelation 13:2, the dragon, Satan, working through pagan Rome, will give the seat of its government to this beast power rising out of the sea.

Here is what The SDA Bible Commentary says about the dragon. (Split)

“Though primarily representing Satan, the dragon, in a secondary sense, represents the Roman Empire. . . . The power succeeding the Roman Empire, which received from the dragon ‘his power, and his seat, and great authority,’ is clearly papal Rome.” (The SDA Bible Commentary, volume 7, page 817)

Great troubles are ahead for us. Satan will attempt to deceive us with his hidden agenda to get us to worship him. We must stay alert and not fall for his tricks and hidden agendas. Therefore, we must not only be aware of hidden agendas in our personal interactions with people, but we must also stay alert and be aware of hidden religious and political agendas.

Our awareness comes from knowing the word of God and making sure that our choices align with His word as written in the Bible.

Notice the contrast between those in Revelation 13:3 and those in Revelation 14:4.

Revelation 13:3

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:3)

Revelation 14:4

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4)

In Revelation 13:3, almost everyone on earth follows the beast that rose up out of the sea. But in Revelation 14:4, we read that God’s people follow the Lamb, Jesus.

We must always remember that there are only two sides to this cosmic battle between good and evil. There is Jesus’ side. And Satan’s side. There is no middle ground, no neutral position. We must choose one side or the other. If we don’t consciously choose Jesus, then we choose the side of Satan. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus tells us the outcome of choosing him. Initially, it is not a pretty picture.

22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

Although he warns us that we will be hated, purposely choosing Jesus’ side comes with the reward of living eternally with Him.

Remember, Satan’s hidden agenda is to get us to worship him. He does this by using humans to do his bidding.

How do we avoid falling into his trap? View Part 6: Jesus: Our Only Mediator

Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church

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Houston, TX 77088

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