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Readings in the Book of
The Revelation
John’s vision changes now to give us an update on the behaviour of the seven-headed beast, but instead of showing it through one of the heads, the Spirit gives us a glimpse of it as another “beast”. Now it looks as though we have two aspects of the “dragon” operating at the same time! But what He is really doing is giving us the details of the origin of the seventh head, while the sixth head is still in charge. Each “head” of the dragon has its own way of working, and only one is in control at any one time. (See Daniel 7:12.) This simply means that since the revealing of Satan’s kingdom began in Daniel’s time, he has (and will) manifested himself in seven different ways, showing a perfect demonstration of his character. There’s an eighth head also, but we’ll come across more about that later.
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Revelation 13:
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth [a second animal]; and he had two horns like a lamb, and [yet] he spoke as a dragon.
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John saw this part of Satan’s kingdom rising from a sparsely populated portion of the world, looking like a peaceful nation at first, but then developing into a reflection of its “father”, the devil, for all nations are an invention of Satan through Nimrod. See Genesis 10:8-12.
Jesus had applied the same principle to the Jews of His day.
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John 8:
25 Then said they [the unbelieving Jews] to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Even the same that I said to you from the beginning” . . . 28 Then said Jesus to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of man [on the cross], then shall you know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught me, I speak these things” . . . 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, “If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free [from sin]”.
33 They [the unbelievers] answered Him, “We be Abraham's seed [we were born in the church], and were never in bondage to any man: how say You, ‘You shall be made free?’ . . . 37 [Jesus said] “I know that you are Abraham's seed [physically]; but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you . . . 41 You do the deeds of your [spiritual] father”.
Then said they to Him, “We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God”. 42 Jesus said to them . . . 44 “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father [originator] of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not”.
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The two stubs of horns help us to identify this new animal/nation. Round about the time of the apparent demise of the Roman Catholic system in Europe [the 5th head], the new world of North America was coming into existence as a place of haven for religious dissidents. The Declaration of Independence in 1776 by those who wished to have a society in which there was no pope and no king (the two GREAT “horns” of prophecy) was the foundation of the United States of America, and this fulfils the specification of the “lamb-like” horns admirably. Although NOT claiming to be a “Christian nation” (in fact, its founders carefully separated all religion from its government by the first amendment to its constitution), the new country’s way of life was at first based on the principles of life which are those of any fair-minded man. It was the boast of some Americans for many years that it had fought no wars of aggression, only those of defence, but I am not sure whether that is correct.
However, that changed when it became involved in the second world war during 1941-45, and since then the role of the United States has been increasingly that of an “international policeman” and “moral guardian” of the world. Now it is “speaking” more and more in a fighting mood, and thus preparing for its task as described in the next few verses. See also:
http://www.mltoday.com/Pages/Imperialism/Blum-USWars.html
(I have noticed that sometimes you have to click away the resulting screen to be able to see the article.)
This is what will happen while the crowns are still on the heads:
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Revelation 13:
12 And he [the second beast, the seventh head] exercises all the power of the first beast [the fifth head] before [in front of] him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed [by imitating it, v14].
13 And he [the second beast] does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 and deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the [first] beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth [the nations], that they should make an image [a copy] to the [5th head of the] beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live [this action creates an eighth head].
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John was being shown that after the “deadly” wound was healed and the Papacy back in favour again with those who were once Protest-ants (which is where we are today), some of the religious people of the United States would desire to do what it had done by setting up a copy of that forceful system, the antichrist in place of. They want to “conquer the world for Christ”! They do not want the original back again, but desire a new worldwide copy run by their rules, which they imagine are different from Roman Catholicism. To enable this to happen the “dragon” will supply great signs and miracles to persuade any throughout the world who might be reluctant. Couple these with great “natural” disasters as the planet suddenly shows its misuse, and there will be great incentives for all the world to follow the American lead. It is written: “And, You, LORD, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Your hands: they shall perish . . . they all shall wax old as does a garment”. Hebrews 1:10-11. The church leaders will blame these “acts of God” (as they call them), on an offended Deity and claim that He wants all the world to worship Him their way, with the threat of punishment for disobedience.
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Revelation 13:
15 And he [the second beast] had power to give life to the IMAGE of the beast [a third animal, aka the 8th head], that the IMAGE of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the IMAGE of the beast should be killed [a religious death decree].
16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand [pragmatically], or in their foreheads [believingly]: 17 and [gets a law passed] that no man might buy or sell [civil actions], save he that had the mark, or the name of the [IMAGE] beast, or the number of his name [his character, which believes in the use of force in religion].
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The response the former Protest-ants will receive will enable them to set up this new/old system through the laws of the United States Federal government, eventually ending with a death decree for those who object and resist. For this to happen there would have to be a sign or standard which can be easily seen as an identifier of those who obey and those who refuse. Because the IMAGE is a “copy” of the Roman Catholic system, it should not be too hard to find out what that will be by looking into history. Here’s a good place to start.
http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/BibleReadings/revelation/sunday_laws.html
Here are some excerpts from that book, emphasis supplied;
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1.) page 476 paragraph 2
Accordingly, one of the first, if not the very first, of the laws secured by the bishops in behalf of the church, was enacted, as it is supposed, about A. D. 314, ordering that on Friday and on Sunday “there should be a suspension of business at the courts and in other civil offices, so that the day might be devoted with less interruption to the purposes of devotion.” -- Neander.3 . . .
2.) page 477 paragraph 2
Accordingly, March 7, A. D. 321, Constantine issued his famous Sunday edict, which, both in matter and in intent, is the original and the model of all the Sunday laws that have ever been made. It runs as follows: --
page 477 paragraph 3
“Constantine, Emperor Augustus, to Helpidius: On the venerable day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations, the bounty of heaven should be lost. (Given the 7th day of March, Crispus and Constantine being consuls each of them for the second time.)”4 . . .
3.) page 485 paragraph 3
Against this Church-and-State intrigue throughout, there had been also, as against every other step in the course of the apostasy, earnest protest by all real Christians . . . But when, in addition to these considerations, the exemption was so broad, and when those who observed the Sabbath positively refused to obey the Sunday law, its effect was virtually nullified . .
page 486 paragraph 1
In order, therefore, to the accomplishment of her original purpose, it now became necessary for the church to secure legislation extinguishing all exemption, and prohibiting the observance of the Sabbath so as to quench that powerful protest . . .
4.) page 489 paragraph 1
And the church was now in a condition in which she could not bear competition. She must have a monopoly. Therefore, the next step to be taken, the logical one, too, was to have the circuses and theaters closed on Sundays and other special church days, so that the churches and the theaters should not be open at the same time . . .
page 490 paragraph 3
In the logic of this theory, there was one more step to be taken. To see how logically it came about, let us glance at the steps taken from the first one up to this point: First, the church had all work on Sunday forbidden, in order that the people might attend to things divine; work was forbidden, that the people might worship. But the people would not worship; they went to the circus and the theater instead of to church. Then the church had laws enacted closing the circuses and the theaters, in order that the people might attend church. But even then the people would not be devoted, nor attend church; for they had no real religion. The next step to be taken, therefore, in the logic of the situation, was to compel them to be devoted -- to compel them to attend to things divine . . .
[My note here: Once the decision to use force is taken, then the ultimate end has to be a death decree, for what else can you do to a person who persistently refuses to obey the law?]
5.) page 491 paragraph 1
“It is, indeed, better that men should be brought to serve God by instruction than by fear of punishment or by pain. But because the former means are better, the latter must not therefore be neglected. . . . Many must often be brought back to their Lord, like wicked servants, by the rod of temporal suffering, before they attain the highest grade of religious development.” -- Augustine.27 . . .
page 491 paragraph 3
The history of the Inquisition is only the history of this infamous theory of Augustine's. But this theory is only the logical sequence of the theory upon which the whole series of Sunday laws was founded. In closing his history of this particular subject, the same author says: “In this way the church received help from the State for the furtherance of her ends.” -- Neander.29
page 491 paragraph 4
This statement is correct. Constantine did many things to favor the bishops. He gave them money and political preference. He made their decisions in disputed cases final, as the decision of Jesus Christ. But in nothing that he did for them did he give them power over those who did not belong to the church, to compel them to act as though they did, except in the one thing of the Sunday law. In the Sunday law, power was given to the church to compel those who did not belong to the church, and who were not subject to the jurisdiction of the church, to obey the commands of the church. In the Sunday law there was given to the church control of the civil power, so that by it she could compel those who did not belong to the church to act as though they did . . .
page 492 paragraph 2
She started out with the determination to do it; she did it; and “in this way” she did it. And when she had secured control of the power of the State, she used it for the furtherance of her own aims, and that in her own despotic way, as announced in the inquisitorial theory of Augustine. The first step logically led to the last. And the theocratical leaders in the movement had the cruel courage to follow the first step unto the last, as framed in the words of Augustine and illustrated in the horrors of the Inquisition during the fearful record of the dreary ages in which the bishopric of Rome was supreme over kings and nations.
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See this URL for some of the horrifying story.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Inquisition.html
Lateral thought:
We should see that in all these future laws it will not be the FIRST beast (the 5th head) which is being worshipped (except in shadow), but the NEW beast (the 7th head), the so-called Protestant churches of the United States! From there it will spread until “all the world wondered after the [seven-headed] beast”. Verse 3. Satan’s surprise for the world in the last days is not a resurgence of the Roman Catholic Church, but a stealthy approach through what many people consider to be the true church of God! Even now, and for the last three and a half centuries, certain enthusiastic American churches and individuals (especially in the south of the country) have been enforcing Sunday laws of varying intensities within the individual states, even though this is against the policy of the Federal United States. See Note 1.
Moreover, for the fifty-year period from 1900-1950 there were about 100 attempts to obtain a national Sunday law! (I don’t have any more up-to-date data.) Only once have they succeeded in a United States of America-wide law regarding the day, and that was when the Federal Post Service was officially told by Congress not to deliver mail on Sunday anymore. That was in 1912! See Note 2. However, the failure to get more laws has only increased their desire to control and we may be sure that many more attempts will be made until they are successful. What’s holding them up? The four angels of Revelation 7:1. How are they doing this? Through the activities of some who are led by the Spirit to oppose such legislation. Why are they preventing it? Because God’s people as a whole are not ready yet. So what is needed? Real Christians who will listen to the Spirit, take the power of God and stop sinning and confessing, and allow the Son of God to finish the work through them. Then the national Sunday laws (note the plural) will come thick and fast. I recommend you read the whole book;
http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/dateline_sunday_usa/contents.html
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Revelation 13:
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the [image] beast: for it is the number of . . . man [the “a’ is not in the original text]; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six [666].
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In the light of what we have just read we may have to revise the common understanding of “666” being the number/name of the pope! That interpretation of the symbol is well out of fashion, and in view of the fact that Latin was not part of God’s Bible it never should have been considered.
I don’t claim to have the right answer to this problem, but here’s a thought.
Six is the number used in the Scriptures as a symbol of sin, and three is the number of the Holy Spirit who makes things real, so I tend to go along with the idea that this number (three 6’s) refers to the ultimate aspect of sin as revealed by the rejection of the Spirit. The first “6” was actioned at the time of the Flood, the second added when Christ was crucified, and the third is picturing the worldwide rejection in the final days of history as the beast changes to the rule of the eighth head.
Bye for now,
Ron
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 http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/BibleReadings/books_index.html
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Though Christianity flourished in the minds of the citizens and leaders of the new nation, neutrality in matters of religion had become official government doctrine. This philosophy appeared in the “Treaty of Peace and Friendship” with Tripoli, executed November 4, 1796 during the administration of George Washington. This document declared that “the government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”2
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United States Statutes at Large, Vol. 8, p. 155. Quoted on page 21 of Dateline Sunday, U.S.A., by Warren L. Johns, published 1967. Back
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Dateline Sunday U.S.A. by Warren L. Johns, page 23
[James] Madison, however, had powerful opponents who pushed for Sunday legislation on the Federal level. The matter boiled to the surface April 26, 1810, when Congress acted to require postmasters to provide service every day of the week, including the first day.
A deluge of petitions from clergymen and others demanded that Congress rescind the law and endorse “the strict observance of the first day of the week, as set apart by the command of God for His more immediate service.”3 No effort was made to conceal the religious motivation . . .
[Just over one hundred years later . . . ]
page 52
In 1912, the Federal Government did agree to eliminate Sunday delivery of all but special‑delivery mail in “post offices of the first and second classes”; but it has yet to capitulate to demands for a national Sunday law.
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[and here we are, nearly one hundred years on from then ….] Back
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