God's love, and all His words and actions are motivated
by love. It could not be otherwise, for His whole being is love. As we
now enter into what is called the last-day prophecies we will notice that
they too are written because of His love for people. This is why He has
given so many details of the final scenes. He has revealed His care over
His precious people. He has sought at every turn to make promises which
give sweet assurances to His people that He will be with them in the coming
storm. He has given His word that He knows how severe will be the test.
He has given the prophecies in an effort to forewarn us of the fierceness
of the conflict to come.
In lesson one, Daniel chapter two, verses thirty-eight to forty, we notice that from the time of the Babylonian Empire we have four successive universal empires brought to view. These empires were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. We also notice the last of these great empires was that of Rome. Once having introduced the Roman Empire into the prophecy that empire is never succeeded. In other words, it remains on the scene of action until the end of time. Throughout the prophecies we notice that animals or beasts of prey are used to symbolize or describe certain things. It should be remembered that a beast in Bible prophecy always represents a nation or empire. Water or seas represents peoples, multitudes, and tongues. We now draw your attention to the prophecy of Revelation thirteen.
"And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another."
"The first was like a lion..."
"And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear..."
"After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard..."
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly..."
"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. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
NOTE AND ANSWER: Of the beasts seen by Daniel in chapter seven, the first was like a lion, the second like to a bear, the third like to a leopard, with the fourth described as being dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; in other words it was beyond description. These four beasts symbolize the same four universal empires brought to view in Daniel chapter two, and correspond with the four metals of the great image. However, the beast seen by John in Revelation 13:1.2. is said to be a composite beast having characteristics drawn from three of the beasts in Daniel. This doubtless denotes that the power represented by this beast of Revelation possessed characteristics prominent in the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. John alludes to these powers in the reverse order of there appearance in history, as he looks backwards from his day. The empire to rise after that of Greece was Rome, so this leopard like beast obviously represents that nation. Rome was the only universal empire to rise after Greece.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
NOTE AND ANSWER: In revelation 12:9 the power represented is identified as that old serpent called the devil and satan. However, in the context of this verse, it represents the devil as working through the old pagan empire of Rome, the power ruling the world when Jesus was born. The dragon is also represented as being red, because in history it has always been portrayed as persecuting power.
"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."
"and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
NOTE AND ANSWER: This power is represented as having seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads also have crowns upon their heads, symbolizing seven consecutive universal or world empires through which the dragon has worked. These are kingly crowns confirming their identification as political powers. Though primarily representing satan, the dragon in a secondary sense, represents the Roman Empire, for this is the power that the dragon had established and worked through. The power succeeding the Roman Empire, which received from the dragon "his power and his seat, and great authority", is that of Papal Rome. There has always been two phases to the Roman Empire, pagan and papal. Out of the ruins of political Rome arose the great moral empire in the giant form of the Roman church. A.C. Flick "The Rise of the Medieval Church"
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death;"
"and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast."
NOTE AND ANSWER: The prophecy indicates one of the heads of this seven headed ten horned leopard like beast would receive a deadly wound. In other words the power represented by this head would suffer some kind of attack that would in some way seriously affect the way it operated. As the leopard like beast represents the papal phase of the Roman Empire, we must therefore look for some event that occurred to the papacy that would strip her of her power and supremacy in the world. Under Napoleon, General Berthier and the French army marched into Rome, took the Pontiff prisoner and the Papal government was for a time abolished. In 1798, stripped of his power, both civil and ecclesiastical, the captive pope, Pious VI, later died in exile at Valence in France, August 29, 1799 For centuries Rome has used the civil arm of her authority to enforce the traditions and dogmas of the church upon the citizens under her realm.
For more than one thousand years the Christian church was hunted like a wild beast of the mountains and cruelly persecuted for her faith. However, the prophecy states that this deadly wound would be healed. If the taking of the pope prisoner where he died in exile, along with the abolition of the papal government brought about the deadly wound, then to be consistent the healing of that wound would be the restoration of the power and supremacy of the papacy. This began when the papacy was reestablished, though the less of its former authority by the election of a new pope on March 14, 1800. From this point Rome began to grow and develop. Then in 1929 through a concordat with Mussolini, Vatican state was formed and full civil authority and status was restored to the papacy. Today the Roman church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to reestablish persecution and to undo all that protestantism has done.
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
NOTE AND ANSWER: The focus of attention is now on the restoration of her power. All the world wandered after the Roman power or stood astonished as they witnessed her activities. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations. As the world once again begins looks to Rome, great changes will soon take place. These changes that are developing among the nations are occurring in favour of Papal schemes. Every element of power is about to be set at work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life and peril will beset the people on every side. Intensity is taking hold of the human family.
As the pontiff travels the worlds meeting with its leaders, Rome's aim is to reestablish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. She is silently growing in power, steadily and unsuspectingly, and without the whisper of religion she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends. All that she desires is vantage ground. Having gained the ascendancy the world will bow in worship.
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."
NOTE AND ANSWER: This brings to view the third great symbol in the line of prophecy we are examining. We have noticed that the symbol in the preceding verses represents two great systems of religion, paganism and Catholicism. The analogy would seem to require that the remaining symbol , the two horned beast, has a similar application and finds its fulfillment in some nation which is representative of still another great system of religion. The only remaining system that is exercising a controlling influence in the world today is Protestantism. If then, Protestantism is the system to which we are to look, to what nation as the representative of that system does the prophecy have application. The characteristics of this beast give us some indication as to its identification; it has two horns like a lamb. For a lamb is the symbol of Christ, the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The two horns indicate youthfulness, innocence and gentleness, exercising civil and religious liberty. It is said that the two horned beast speaks as a dragon. As the dragon represents the civil powers, then it would be correct to say that this new power becomes the voice of the governments of the world, the voice of persecution. It will be responsible for fully restoring the civil authority back to the papacy.
Having achieved its goal, this power causes, or introduces some form of legislation or international treaty that will require the nations and the inhabitants thereof to give obeisance to Rome. A careful investigation will lead us to conclude that it applies to America. The reason for such an application and evidence by which it is supported is found in the study notes provided.
"And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."
NOTE AND ANSWER: Not only does this nation speak as a dragon or should we say becomes the voice of the dragon, or the governments that it represents, but it is declared that he also exercises all the authority of the first empire mentioned in the prophecy. Looking back a little we find that the first beast before him is like unto a leopard, a symbol of the papacy. We will also notice that the exercise of this power takes the form of causing the people within his jurisdiction to worship the first beast, the symbol of the papacy. Such worship literally means to submit to the authority of the one whom obeisance is made. In order to persuade men and women to worship, great miracles will be seen. Once again we must draw attention to the fact that miracles are in the realm of religion. Fearful signs of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens in token of this miracle working power. By these agencies, governments and citizens alike will be deceived.
Every method possible will be used to cause men to believe that this grand movement will be for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of long awaited millennium of peace. However, the prophecy makes it abundantly clear that this movement is the work of deception.
"saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, 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."
NOTE AND ANSWER: Closely associated with the working of miracles is the erection of an image to the beast, the papacy. The deception accomplished by the working of these miracles prepares the for compliance with the demand. It must be remembered that the papacy was a church clothed with civil power, an ecclesiastical body having control of the state---a Religio Political Power---having the power to punish all dissenters with confiscating of goods, imprisonment, torture and death. An image to the papacy would be a reestablishment of this false system of religion dominating the governments of the world. The prophecy states that the power of the papacy would be restored. We must conclude that in such an event we would see a return to the type of church state alliance that characterized the Medieval Church of the dark ages. In this case it is to be established by the United States of America. (Read study notes on this point.)
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
NOTE AND ANSWER: Please give attention to this point, this mark is a mark associated with worship. From verse four onwards the focus of attention has been on worship and the development of a counterfeit system of religion. Therefore to be consistent the mark must be interpreted in this context. It is not a literal mark such as a tattoo placed on the person. It is a symbol of obeisance, and the receiving of this mark is an act that the two horned beast, the symbol of the United States of America, caused to be done. The inhabitants of the earth will receive this mark only when and if they willingly decide to either become absorbed into this false system of worship, or to acknowledge its authority through the civil powers. In this religio political confederacy, the inhabitants of the earth will receive the mark in either one of two ways.
a) By partaking in its style of worship the mark is received in the forehead, as worship is more an act of the mind than anything else.b) It will be received in the hand by those that are indifferent, or non-religious, but give formal or outward consent by way of civil legislation.
All who refuse to revive this mark will be boycotted, or denied the right and privileges of business and trade as well as the ordinary means of gaining a livelihood through the control of finance. We would do well to remember there are three phases to the restoration of power back to Rome. The first is economic, to lead the nations so far into debt that they will have no opinion but to cooperate. The second phase is to remove the political and ideological differences that exist between the nations. The third phase will be that of religion. Severe trade sanctions will be enforced upon any nation that refuses to cooperate with the programme. Through experiments during the second world war, and many other civil disturbances since then, when people are faced with hunger, with the threat of humanitarian needs of their families being cut off, it has become common knowledge that most of these nations and their people will surrender their peculiar ideologies and philosophy in order to have these necessities restored.
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
NOTE AND ANSWER: It will be noted that this beast
is not a computer or any such thing, as it has a number and it is the number
of a man. The most plausible expression suggested as counting the number
of the beast, is one of the titles applied to the pontiff of Rome. That
title is Vicarious Filli Dei. "Vicegerent of the Son of God." This title
appears in Latin, as Latin was the official language of the church of Rome
and the language of there adopted Bible, the vulgate. As to the practice
of representing names as numbers, we find it was a method practiced among
the ancients to denote names by numbers. The Roman numeral value of his
title when added together is 666.
A fearful conflict is just before us. The issue is becoming
more defined with the passing of time. The United States of America is
beginning to assume her new role as the voice of the "NEW WORLD ORDER".
The dragon is a symbol of the civil governments of the world. Its kings,
rulers and governors, have been drawn together under the title of "THE
UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION", with the U.S.A. fast becoming the voice of
this grand assembly of nations. They have placed upon themselves the brand
of Antichrist. Satanic agencies have been moved from beneath and they have
inspired men to unite in a confederacy of evil. Soon, very soon, they will
call for a spiritual leader of the world and all will be required to give
obeisance to him. Dear student are you ready for such a conflict?
The book of Revelation contains many symbols. As already learned a beast in prophecy represents some great earthly power or kingdom. A head equals a governing power; horns represent a number of kingdoms; crowned heads or crowned horns, political rulership; waters represent peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. The prophecy notes that this beast was seen to be rising up out of the see, indicating it would rise among the peoples and nations of the world then in existence. This would place it among the nations of Europe. This beast, as seen by John is a composite beast, having features drawn from different animals. These physical characteristics or symbols namely the leopard, the bear and the lion, represent the three great empires that had gone before---namely Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece---and indicate this beast to be representing or belonging to the fourth great universal empire. And corresponding to the iron legs of the image of Daniel chapter two is the Iron Monarchy of Rome.
Take the dragon: what does it represent? The undeniable answer is primarily Satan as shown before, and secondly the Roman Empire. But this is not enough. No one would be satisfied with this answer and no more. It must be more definite. The Roman Empire in its pagan form, to which all must agree. However, as soon as we say pagan, we introduce a religious element, for paganism was one of the most gigantic systems of false religion that Satan had ever devised; it was nothing more than "religion in an organized form". So the dragon, paganism, represents an ecclesiastical power controlled by the civil authorities, that the very characteristic by which it is distinguished is a counterfeit system of religion. The Roman Empire existed in two phases, the pagan phase that is represented by the dragon, and the second phase of the empire being that of the papacy, or that represented by the leopard beast. So why does not the same symbol represent it still? Because there has been a change in the religious character of the empire. The leopard represents Rome in its professed Christian form. It is this change in religion and this alone that makes a change in the symbol necessary.
It is to this beast that the dragon gives his power, his seat and great authority, the papacy. It would not be correct, therefore to say that Pagan Rome gave its power and seat to merely a form of civil government having no religious element what ever. No stretch of the imagination can conceive of such a transaction. In the prophecy, Rome is pagan until Rome is Papal. But standing behind both powers and leading them on is satan himself. Regarding the Roman Empire as a whole it should be noted that whatever is said of the dragon applies to Rome only in its pagan form, and whatever is said of this leopard like beast applies only to Rome in its professedly Christian form. John the Revelator said that it was one of the heads of the leopard beast that was wounded to death. So sometime in the history of the papacy it would have inflicted on it a "deadly wound". In other words, she would be stripped of her power and great authority. The papacy has always been an ecclesiastical form of government in which the church controlled the state, whereas pagan Rome was in he form of a government run church. History tells us that the deadly wound to be inflicted upon the papacy took place in 1798, when Rerthier the French general marched into Rome and took the pope prisoner. The papal government for a time was abolished, stripped of her power, both civil and ecclesiastical and the captive pope, Pious VI died in exile at Valence in France, August 29, 1799. However, this deadly wound began to be healed when the papacy was reestablished as an ecclesiastical power only, by the election of a new pope on March 14, 1800. From this point in the prophecy the focus of attention is on the healing of that wound, the restoration of her power. Without a clear grasp of the prophetic symbolism depicting the restoration of the power of the papacy and the consequent furious struggle for life among liberty-loving people, it is impossible to understand the full import of The Revelations portrayal of the final conflict during which all the world wonders after the beast.
Well might any person who sees the activities of human society wonder that kings, statesmen and governors who have known of the terrible state of affairs that existed during the Dark Ages when the papacy controlled the governments of Europe, should be so utterly foolish as to permit this power to ever gain control of the state again; this time in a world wide capacity---to be guided by her principles. It surely is incredible that intelligent men and women that know the history of the vile and cruel days when the papacy dictated to the state, men and women who have experienced the blessings of the period of liberty and democracy which has given freedom from the bitter persecution of the dark ages, should with all this knowledge demonstrated before them permit themselves to be deluded into parting with their blood bought heritage, to part with their democratic forms of government, and allow the state to be controlled by the church again.
For this is surely the underlying message of Revelation thirteen. Worship is the hidden agenda in all the effort to restore the Papacy to its former power and glory. The Roman church is far reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world. All that she desires is vantage ground and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and feel what the purpose of the Roman element is.
Our attention is now drawn to another nation (beast) coming up out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb. We have already noticed that a beast coming up out of the sea, denotes a power arising among the great populated areas of the earth, as water is a symbol of people and multitudes. As land is the opposite to water, we conclude that the analogy would require that this nation is seen coming up in a sparsely populated area of the earth, as a young nation just coming to power. It would also be a Christian country as a lamb is a symbol of Christ. This verse (verse 11), brings to view the great symbol in the line of prophecy we are examining usually known as the two horned beast. We inquire for its application. The dragon, pagan Rome, and the leopard beast, Papal Rome, present before us a powerful organization representing two great systems of religion. Again analogy would seem to require that the remaining symbol, the two horned beast, has a similar application and find its fulfillment in some nation which represents another great system of religion. The only remaining system that is exercising a controlling influence in the world is Protestantism. Protestantism is the religion of the nations that constitute the vanguard of the world, in liberty, enlightenment;, progress and power. We conclude that this lamb like power is none other than the United States of America. On what conditions have other nations found a place of prophetic record? First they have acted a prominent part in the world's history; second, and above all, they have had some influence on the truth or will play a part in the providence of God. These conditions have certainly in the United States.
On what period of the world's history is the rise of this power placed in the prophecy? This is a foundational point. The prophecy has placed the rise of this nation in the time of the leopard like beast (papacy) and more importantly at the time when the papacy receives its deadly wound, and as we have discovered, this took place in 1798. This then gives us the time frame definitely specified when we are to look for the rise of this power. The expression "coming up", must signify that the power to which it apples was but newly organized, and was then just rising to prominence and influence. In 1798 when the papal power received its deadly wound, the government of the United States, located in the Western Continent, was the only g+reat and independent nation coming into prominence in territory not previously occupied. How appropriately the lamblike features represent this youthful nation founded on the great Christian principles of civil and religious freedom. The two horns may well symbolize these two fundamental principles of the United States government.
That this nation could be founded on such noble principles, and yet degenerate to the level where she speaks as a dragon is astonishing. For the voice of the dragon is the voice of intolerance and persecution. This indicates that the nation, which for over a century has stood as a beckon light of liberty to the world, will repudiate its mild and lamblike professions of civic and religious liberty and become a persecuting power. This is what is meant when it says "that he exersiseth all the powers of the first beast before him." In the government of pagan Rome (dragon) we saw that the power of the state could do, for it was its power that ruled when Christ was crucified.
If a New World Order was ever to be achieved, the power behind the scenes---Rome working through the many secret societies---would have to gain control of the United States of America, and use its prestige and economic influence to lead the rest of the nations into the order. Only America with its vast resources and technology, combined with the moral influence of the mighty Roman Catholic Church, can achieve that which the prophecy has indicated. The United States of America and its vast computer companies have designed both the hardware and the software needed for centralized banking, along with its giant telecommunication companies and space programme to design and launch the satellites necessary to control such a style of government. Only the United States of America with its mighty dollar, the closest thing there is to a world currency, has the wealth of infrastructure to make it all happen. Through such policies as privatization many public companies and facilities will become the property of giant multi-national corporations that are aligned to secret societies and the new world order, with paid and cable television networks providing the infrastructure necessary for the control of the basic requirements of society. Many fail to realize that the great media moguls of the world have been commissioned with the task of selling the idea and policies of the new world order to the people of the world.
The gulf war was needed for several reasons. However, the most important reason was to establish the USA as the undisputed super power and the to lead the world into the New World Order, and show the other nations what to expect if they refused to unite with the coming system. As the enforcer of the New World Order it is America's role to ensure the that the nations cooperate. We are just beginning to understand what is meant by the United States of America speaking as a dragon." Kings rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of Antichrist and are represented as the dragon, for satanic agencies have been moved from beneath, and they have inspired men to unite in the confederacy of evil. The only institution on the face of the earth to fit such a description is the United Nations Organization, and according to the prophecy, the USA will become its voice and in that capacity will exercise all the power of the first beast before him.
Looking back a little, we find that the first beast before him is the leopard, a symbol of the papacy. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that a so called Protestant nation, America, will exercise the persecuting power of the papacy. This she does through the nations giving their sanction to the promulgation of erroneous policies and principles per medium of state laws. Let this principle once be established through and in the United States of America, that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by civil laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience; then the triumph of Rome is assured. On only has to observe the power of the United Nations exercised through America in such countries as Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia to mention just a few. All the power and recourses she can muster will be used to coerce or force the world into cooperation. Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens in token of this miracle working power. By these miracles statesmen and citizens alike will be fastened in deception. Having gained their confidence and cooperation, the United States of America will then recommend that the nations make an image to the papacy. The deception accomplished by the working of the events of supernatural character, prepares the way for compliance with this demand for the formation of an image to the papacy (beast).
To understand what would constitute an image of the
papal beast, we must first gain some definite idea what constitutes the
papacy itself. The papacy was a church clothed with civil power---an ecclesiastical
body having authority to punish all dissidents with confiscation of goods,
imprisonment, torture and death. What would be an image of the papacy?
Another ecclesiastical establishment clothed with civil power, in other
words, a union of church and state. Protestants will work upon the rules
of the land to establish laws that will restore the last ascendancy of
the Roman power. Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care
and protection of the state. This activity will be speedily followed by
national ruin. As the prophecy indicates, "WORSHIP" is the hidden agenda.
The inhabitants of the earth will be required to bow in obedience to this
false system of religion. Sever penalties will be placed upon those who
refuse to comply, with death being the ultimate penalty.
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