A BEAST COMES OUT OF THE SEA & THE EARTH
Revelation 13
See Note Pages 1341_1, 1341_2, 1341_3;
Note pages 1342_1, 1342_2, 1342_3, 1343_1
Introduction:
When we left off our study in Revelation Chapter 12, we were exploring the "Victory Of The Martyrs," and "God's Miraculous Protection For Israel." Scripture is replete with examples and statements offering rewards to those nations that have aided Israel. God's blessings upon the United States of America is a standing example of this fulfillment of prophecy.
Previously we examined several great "actors" in this saga to determine what they meant. One such being had this surly red dragon of unusual size. We found out that he was a killer and, worse, he has moved into our neighborhood! In this chapter we find that he has friends - that are just as undesirable.
THE DRAGON HAS A BEASTLY BROTHER
Revelation 13:1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (KJB)
The three animals, leopard, bear, and lion, are found in Daniel 7:4-6 – as symbols of the empires which preceded Rome, and whose characteristics are entered into tenacity of purpose, Babylonish voracity. Have you ever noticed how brothers or sisters sometimes look very much alike? Who does this beast look like? Compare Revelation 12:3. You would recognize these two anywhere! The Beast has seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns just like the dragon. This similarity is pretty hard to miss.
Even the casual Bible student will conclude that the number seven many times in Scripture is used to indicate perfection or completeness. In this occasion we are to conclude that the appearance of these Beast implies that they are "perfectly evil" in every respect. The Beast here is a sea-creature. One is left then to analyze the significance of him "coming out of the sea?" In Daniel 7:2-3 all these beasts are coming out of the sea. It is my understanding here that this symbolizes people or political agitation or upheaval in population centers such as written about in Jeremiah 46:7-8 and Isaiah 8:7. Some teach that it is implied here as the Mediterranean or the "Great Sea" of the area as in Joshua 1:4.
Notice the Beast is a sea-creature. Is there any significance to him "coming out of the sea?" In Daniel 7:2-3 we have all of these beasts coming out of the sea. Some believe this symbolizes people or political agitation in population centers (Jeremiah 46:7-8; Isaiah 8:7). Others believe this means the Mediterranean, the "Great Sea" of the area (Joshua 1:4).
In Revelation 13:2 we see how the Dragon and Beast are related. The Dragon, who (Rev. 12:9) is Satan, and he confers power and authority on the Beast. Satan (the Dragon) sponsors the Beast. There is nothing pleasant that we can say about this Dragon and we have to wonder as to why he (Satan) would depose himself in any way and surrender his throne to someone else. After all is considered we can only assume the Dragon makes this Beast his agent. To understand it in any other fashion would lack sense.
One must ponder - why would the Dragon, who is not a nice guy, give up his throne to someone else? This must be the Dragon's agent. Otherwise, this would make no sense. In some respects as we study this unusual relationship we see that there are differences in these two. They do not really look alike. The Beast looks more like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. Quite unattractive in every respect. If we were hunting dear in the woods and came across something that looked like this animal it would be highly we would confront it in any way and more unlikely that we would make a pet of it or bring it home. In second thought, in today's world anything is possible. Recently in the news we read of a guy that kept a huge gorilla (or was it a tiger?) in his apartment and had a five foot alligator as well. We assume that the intention was to use the alligator as a meal for the tiger. But the unlikely scenario that we would consider this creature as a pet. Bear claws are a very dangerous part of the bear. The lion's mouth is a very dangerous part of the lion. A leopard is very fast. The complete picture we are presented with is a fast, dangerous animal – quite defiantly one we would like to stay far away from or avoid at any cost.
The similarity brings us back to the comparison of these two critters. Often we find amazing resemblances in families: daughter or son resembles in striking ways the mother or father in looks, mannerisms and even some unique similarities of speech patterns. Again, the question – Does this odd-looking beast remind you of something you have seen somewhere else in the Bible? Look at Daniel 7:3-6 and see if you have met him before.
Simply put, if you saw an animal like that in the lost animal pound, would you take it home? What would you conclude? Would this be a suitable pet? Bear claws are a very dangerous part of the bear. The lion's mouth is a very dangerous part of the lion. A leopard is very fast. The total picture we get is a fast, dangerous animal – definitely one to be clear of.
In that God's Word is consistent, and some have even concluded that Scripture is repetitive in some respects, we have to conclude here that after a review of Daniel 7:15-17, they represent the three "world" kingdoms. I am persuaded that we can comfortably conclude that Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece are seen in this revealing imagery. If we are correct in this assumption we can only glean that this Beast of Revelation 13:2 represents a world power.
A remarkable thing about these two different selections of Scripture from two different times in history bring to life the inspired written Words of God. Notice that these "beast parts" as recorded in Revelation are spoken of in reverse order from that of Daniel. One can only understand from this that at the time the book of Revelation was written it was looking back through history. I wonder if we are missing a beast from Daniel 7? If one considers world powers of history we have to wonder about the Roman Empire. Therefore as we retrace our thoughts concerning the resemblance of the Beast to the Dragon – the same horns, heads and crowns and offers up a complete committee of the beast parts from Daniel Chapter 7, we are left with the conclusion that we have a awesome symbolic photograph of this beast. Obviously evil, like Satan in every description, and then the implication of a wold power. Complete here with all the attributes of several world kingdoms now recorded in history. He operates with the power, might and authority of all we know of Satan.
IDENTIFYING THE BEAST'S BROTHER
Revelation 13:3-4; See Note Page 1342_1
Let's review. The beast has a family resemblance to the Dragon – same horns, heads and crowns and he also looks like a committee of beast parts from Daniel 7. What do you think this means? This paints a symbolic picture of this beast. He is evil, like Satan, and he is apparently a world power because he has the attributes of several of the world kingdoms of the past, and he operates with the authority of Satan.
We understand that the beast is evil and as well, a world power. One or two other characteristics help us identify him. It is quite obvious that the beast is resilient. The "fatal" wound is miraculously healed. And in a sense the beast is religious. We read that in some sense the beast is worshiped.
As we read Revelation 13:5-7 it is noticed that there is another similarity to these two. They both have identical occupations. In Revelation 12:17 we see the dragon going after the righteous. In Revelation 13:7 the beast is employed in identical ways – making war on the saints. Then, in Daniel 7:7-8, 20-21, it is clear that a there is a parallel between the activities of this "little horn" and the "Beast." Now , as a successful detective might do, we now can list some clues that will reveal the true identity of this Beast. Earlier, in the prophecies of Daniel, we find the sequence of world kingdoms as having been Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. The obvious implication of these clues of Revelation 13:2 is that this beast arises after the Greek Empire. And as history reveals following the Greek Empire was Rome. The "ten horns" of Daniel 7:7-8, 23-25 identifies the "ten horns" for the beast as presented by Rome and opens up to our understanding of the "horn" power that follows Rome and the oppressing of the saints. If one is still not convinced by these clues laid out so clearly before us we can look at the geography of the area. Consider the "sea" of Revelation 13:1, the Mediterranean. Both, if you notice, the Roman Empire and the Papal Rome persecuted believers. Many commentators point to Papal Rome as filling this description both as a matter of time in history as well as the historical record of the persecution of the saints by the Church. Now, let us ask the question: If "papal Rome" fits as discussed here, is this just another dusty old prophecy that is of no use to us other than a whipping post providing us with a convenient way to defame the Catholic Church?
To find a answer to this mystifying question we need to take a closer look at Revelation 13:7-8. Is there any suggestion here that would lead one to a different understanding of the beast? One would have to conclude that Papal Rome never had authority over the entire world. Some will dispute this, such as saying, ". . . all the known world at that time." As well we can look at what is called the "Middle Ages" and wonder if that would satisfy the question. It would seem to indicate that our Verse 8 here seems to point to the future and more specifically, our "end time." Also, one has to admit that all present day inhabitants of the world do not worship Papal Rome. There is the phoneme of religion and the organized groups are at present drifting toward increased cooperation between the Catholics and Protestants. However this writer would point out that any impulse by the Catholic hierarchy to lend cooperation with Protestants lean more toward the lesser power of the Catholic Church and they no longer possess the power to require anyone in worship or leadership. Oh, yes, the Pope seems to issue verbal commands to the world but no one seems to be listening. The Pope is the most traveled of all time (2003), and people are happy that he came but no changes are realized to the basic tenet of the church. The Catholic church is one that has seen its power over the people diminish dramatically in recent years.
WHY COOPERATE WHEN YOU CAN SIMPLY COMMAND?
In the United States, there is a obvious strong anti-Catholic bias in the media and politic. It would require an unprecedented change in public opinion for ANY church, much less the Catholic Church, to compel people to worship it. If one would search out a belief system that seems to hold this power we could simply bo back to the "locusts with no king" and consider Islam and its influence over those that lean to their understanding of the world and religion. There are those so caught up in the religious aspect of Islam that more people then they really need are willing to lay down their lives to kill the unbelievers or "Infidels."
So, the question: "How does Revelation 13:5 fit into this section of Scripture? Verse 5 indicates that this Beast has limited authority for a very brief period of time. How can those caught in the "end-time" be forced to worship this ugly creature? Have we covered all the bases as to implicate or identify all the powers that might be covered or represented by this Beast? These are the difficult questions we must understand in order to generate expertise that would satisfy the student of Scripture and Revelation 13. I am persuaded that the Beast certainly is reflected in the Roman Empire. History records the murder of Jesus, the Son of God, and the ferocious persecution of the saints. The Catholic church cannot escape the recorded history of its terrible role in persecuting and the killing of "unbelievers" over the centuries. History certainly reflects the "Beast" characteristics of the Catholic church. However, again, is this it? Is this the end of the Beast activities? Or, is their more to come? Is the Beast finished showing hate to those who love the Lord? It is obvious today that we are seeing a renewal of the Beast activities in every visible respect in our country and the world in general. As Christians, it is important for us to be aware of the common characteristics between the Dragon and the Beast. Both, as we have observed, oppose God and attack His people. Observe that any group that opposes God and attacks His people in the end times take on the characteristic of the Beast. He that has an ear to hear, listen to what God has said to his people. Be ready, watching and working. Your redemption draweth nigh.
WE HAVE A BEAST PROBLEM!
It is such a marvelous thing that there is never a problem but what God has an answer. The answer may at times not come as we would hope, but in the end, when all is said and done, it is always best to be in the will of God. In Revelation 13:9 the Saints are given some advice. "Pay attention!" "If any man have an ear, let him hear." The danger that I see is the same danger that the Jews faced when Jesus came. There were plenty of prophecies about Jesus coming, but the Jews had fixed ideas that caused them to be unwilling to examine any alternative explanation of the Scriptures. Those who were not constantly studying the Bible to match it with current events rejected Jesus. Just because someone else has told you a certain interpretation of prophecy, you are not safe in just taking their word for it. God requires every one of us to carefully study His Word so our (verse 9) ears will be open and therefore we can hear (understand, comprehend, envision). It is not unlike the saying that those that do not learn from history are likely to repeat it. It is so sad about humanity. It seems that even the very elect are unwilling to see history and realize that by pondering upon it so many difficulties could be avoided. Is this the reason the Scriptures refer or liken humanity to sheep?
Revelation 13:10 "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."
When the ugly red Dragon and his equally as ugly friend, the Beast come calling on Christians, we are simply called upon to faithfully endure. Never, never, never give up. God is not mocked. We shall prevail. It is readily apparent that God wants us to know what is ahead. He has gone to great lengths (including giving His Son, Jesus Christ, up to the cross) to supply the saints with a vision to the future. We are called here in verse 10 to pay attention to these troubling warnings. All it calls upon us to do is commit to studying His Word and keep your eyes and ears wide open.
Jesus was fond of using the phrase, "Verily, verily . . ." It usually meant something specific and important was coming!
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