The Revelation 13a:

Reading #443   The beast!

In this section of The Revelation we are looking at the big picture, the greater background behind the workings of the last-day events.  That mysterious and shadowy “beast” that everyone talks about but few understand completely, should become plain to our eyes.  It is not one individual, nation or church, for it has many heads and horns, not all active at once, but it can be discerned with a spiritual eye.

Let’s see what John was shown regarding it.

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Revelation 13:

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea [between the water and the earth], and saw a beast [aka the red dragon, 12:3] rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his [fore]heads the name [character] of blasphemy [opposition].

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While John stood in the position occupied by Christians, between the people of the world and the antichrist which is in the place of the true, he was shown another visualization of the enemy of God.  (Satan, and his agents are usually depicted as wolves in sheep’s clothing. See note 1.)

We should note that in this vision the crowns have moved on to the horns, thus showing us this “beast” in another time frame.  When John saw the animal in the wilderness (Revelation 17:3), which is the equivalent of today, it was without crowns at first, but then his angel guide said,  “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings [crowned systems], which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast [at the end]”.  Revelation 17:12.  That “hour” had come and Satan’s kingdom was no longer in the wilderness, because John saw it emerging from the “sea” of peoples.  Therefore it will rise again amongst a heavily populated part of the world.  Thus in a very subtle way we are being told of a FUTURE demonstration of Satan’s dominion.  Will we recognise it when it comes?  Only if we take very prayerful consideration of God’s word from now on.

This is its description:

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Revelation 13:

2 And the beast [Satan’s kingdom] which I saw was like to a leopard [in his body], and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth [which one?] as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon [Satan personally] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority [the Roman lifestyle].

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We have seen the lion, the bear, and the leopard back in Daniel chapters seven and eight, so we know their identities.  They were; Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece, all used in their turn by Satan as rulers of his world.  Here the philosophy of the leopard (Greece), the ruthlessness of the bear (the Medes and Persians), and the cunning of the lion (the Babylonians) are combined to give us a glimpse of the scheming of the devil.  It is from the “mouth” of one of the heads of Satan’s kingdom that his last thrust will come, as it has in the past.  (See note 2.)   The Roman way of life and their laws are what we should expect to see prevailing in the last battles of “the” war.  In other words, the Protestant western world which lives today very much as the early Romans did (as people of a republic, or democracy), will become the focal point of the controversy as it shifts from Europe to the United States of America. (We’ll see more of this later in the chapter.)

A development:

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Revelation 13:

3 And I saw one of his [seven] heads [it was #5] as it were wounded to death; and [yet] his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered [in religious admiration] after the beast. 4 And [in this] they [unknowingly] worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast [Satan’s way of doing things], saying, “Who is like to the beast?  Who is able to make war with him? [Who would dare to, for he is on God’s side? (so they think)]”

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As John watched he saw the wounding of the Roman Catholic “head” by the sword of truth, and the life of the “beast” faltered.  However, by virtue of the power of the devil that head has now been repaired, ready to do its part in the last day events, for many now look on it with great favour, especially after the late Pope John Paul II’s reign. WE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT ROMAN CATHOLICISM IS NOT THE LEADING HEAD ANY MORE.  THAT POSITION BELONGS TO THE SIXTH HEAD NOW, AND WILL SOON MOVE TO THE SEVENTH! We make a great mistake if we look to the Roman Catholic Church and its popes as prime movers of oppression in the near future.  It will arise in another part of the world altogether, a place most people of the world do not suspect.  (It is true that the fifth head will join in the persecutions, but only AFTER the initial confrontation by the seventh.)  Satan will even appear to have the words of the Bible on his side because of the rash of new translations which favour his ways, but the old truths are still there if we want to know.

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Revelation 13:

5 And there was given to him [the beast’s seventh head] a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty-two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy [opposition] against God, to blaspheme [oppose] His name [character], and His [heavenly] tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven [the angelic host].

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints [on earth], and to overcome [overwhelm] them [for a time]: and power was given him over ALL kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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Another translation makes this very clear:

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^“5 The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and insulting things. It was given authority [freedom] to act for 42 months. ⁶ It opened its mouth to insult God, to insult his name and his tent—those who are living in heaven. ⁷ It was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation”.  Revelation 13:5-7. (God’s Word translation)

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Here we see the 42 months (three and one half years) again.  During that period Satan’s latest “head” (his seventh) will speak openly against God and His tabernacle and His heavenly people, yet will have the respect of the entire world! 

How can this be?

One way would be for it to be accepted wholeheartedly by the nations and religions as being the spokesperson of the god they want, and for it to claim that the real people of God on earth are Satan’s representatives.

It has happened before.  “Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that You have a devil [by what You teach]”. John 8:52. What a switch!  But what a great idea!  The people of the nations would be very happy to get what they desire and could vent their anger as “righteous and holy indignation” thinking they are doing God a service!  Those who love to fight would have a religious reason to do so.  We would then see the fulfilment of these words; “they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth”, even while they hold up their translations as God’s word. Revelation 11:10.  

They won’t completely conquer the saints, of course, any more than Jesus was conquered when He was nailed to the cross.  Many professed Christians will die as martyrs or give up under the pressure, but as we have seen in other places, there will be the remnant who will “endure to the end”.  Matthew 24:13.  They will eventually stop talking the word of God as Jesus did when He was on trial after His three and one half years, but that is only because they do not wish to impose where it will not be received.  It is written of Him, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth”.  Isaiah 53:7.

The result will be:

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Revelation 13:

8 And ALL that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [Satan via the beast], whose names are NOT written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

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We have quoted this verse often in the past and now see it in its context.  It tells us of the time when ALL will have made up their minds and chosen one side or the other. 

The last great part of the controversy will revolve around the everlasting gospel and its application, among other things.  The truth is that the Son of God has “died” (exchanged lives) for individual after individual, time after time, since sin first entered the world, but the false gospel maintains that it was His death as the Son of man on the cross at Calvary that has done the deed for everyone at once.  A universal salvation appeals to “Christendom” (the title means a universal church), but the kingdom of God is made up of single persons, following Him because they have chosen deliberately to do so.  That’s what Jesus told us.  “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God comes not with observation: neither shall they say, “Lo here!” or, “lo there!” for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you’.”  Luke 17:20-21.  “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned”.  Mark 16:16.

It will be a simple demonstration:

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Revelation 13:

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

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Although the rebels will appear to triumph we have been given a principle by which to live.  It is that those who use force against others will one day have force used against them.  We have the word of God on that, and can be very confident that it will be so in that day.  In the past it has not always been apparent, which is why Jeremiah was impelled to say;  

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The condition of Jeremiah’s world was so bad that he could not even find one Jewish woman he could marry with God’s blessing!  Yet the nation professed great faith in the LORD right up to the end.  Jeremiah 16:1-4.

To accept this state of affairs will take long patience and great faith. 

We have these promises to live by:  “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls;” [when all seems hopeless spiritually as well as physically] yet shall they that fear Him ‘rejoice in the LORD’ and joy in the God of their salvation”.  Habakkuk 3:17-18.

“The LORD is your keeper: the LORD is your shade upon your right hand.  The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD shall preserve you from all evil: He shall preserve your soul”.  Psalm 121:5-7.

The Son of man tells us, “He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [the trapper], and from the noisome [painful] pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler.  You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.  A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come nigh you.  Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward [wages] of the wicked.  Because you have made the LORD, which is My refuge, even the Most High, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling”.  Psalm 91:3-10.  

From my library:

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Yet to human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their blood as did the martyrs before them.  They themselves begin to fear that the LORD has left them to fall by the hand of their enemies. 

It is a time of fearful agony.  (See note 3.)

Day and night they cry to God for deliverance.  The wicked exult, and the jeering cry is heard: “Where now is your faith? Why does not God deliver you out of our hands if you are indeed His people?” But the waiting ones remember Jesus dying upon Calvary's cross and the chief priests and rulers shouting in mockery: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.  If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him”.  Matthew 27:42. 

Like Jacob, all are wrestling with God.  Their countenances express their internal struggle.  Paleness sits upon every face.  Yet they cease not their earnest intercession [that God’s will will be done in their lives.  Like Jesus, they will say “Father, if You be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but Yours, be done”. Luke 22:42.]    

Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ's patience.  With sympathizing tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers.  They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril.  But they must wait yet a little longer. 

The people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism. 

The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions.  As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the LORD to work they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been too little exercised during their religious experience.  Yet for the elect's sake the time of trouble will be shortened.  “Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night to Him? .  .  .  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily”.  Luke 18:7-8.  The end will come more quickly than men expect.  The wheat will be gathered and bound in sheaves for the garner of God; the tares will be bound as fagots for the fires of destruction. [Matthew 13:30.] 

The heavenly sentinels, faithful to their trust, continue their watch.  Though a general decree has fixed the time when commandment keepers may be put to death, their enemies will in some cases anticipate the decree, and before the time specified, will endeavor to take their lives.  But none can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul.  Some are assailed in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords [weapons] raised against them break and fall powerless as a straw. 

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Bye for now,

Ron

P.  S.  It is not the plan of God to compel us to yield our wicked unbelief.  Before us are light and darkness, truth and error.  It is for us to decide which to accept.  The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong.   God designs that none of us shall decide from impulse or emotion alone, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture.

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.  No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.  Some of these readings are available at READINGS 

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Note 1.

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Matthew 7:

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 You shall know them by their fruits.  Back

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Note 2.

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Daniel 7:8

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots [never to grow again]: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.   Back

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Note 3.

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“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is, being interpreted, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”  Mark 15:34.   Back

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