Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
When it comes to the issue of worship on a national level, the same tools that Nebuchadnezzar used in bygone days will again be employed, because that is what God is warning us of in the book of Revelation. The overwhelming majority will erroneously believe that the worship of the image of the beast would be something that is good for the country. But that raises another question: Does God approve the use of force in matters of conscience, pertaining to worship, even if it is true worship that is being enforced?
As a general rule, the answer is a resounding “NO” because the genius of Christianity, is that in matters of worship, persons are granted religious liberty by God to worship in harmony with what they might be convicted of in their consciences, even if they might be dead wrong in their convictions. Such choices do carry natural consequences, but the freedom to choose is to be left untrammeled.
There are instances where God sent prophets, like Nehemiah to do a specific work of reformation in His people, but they were God’s chosen people who had once entered into a covenant relationship with Him, not a universal mandate given to every person living on the planet, as is the case in Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!