REV 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.
REV 13:2 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.
REV 13:3 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.
REV 13:4 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
REV 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.
REV 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
REV 13:7 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.
REV 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.
REV 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
REV 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
REV 13:11 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.
REV 13:12 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.
REV 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
REV 13:14 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.
REV 13:15 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.
REV 13:16 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:
REV 13:17 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.
REV 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number
of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his his number is Six hundred
threescore and six.
Chapter 13 explains in a greater detail two organizations, or systems, that Satan will especially use in his final attempt to destroy God's remnant and thus frustrate His eternal purpose.
As John stood on the beach of the island of Patmos, he saw a startling sight. Rising up before him out of the sea came a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The beast had the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. These symbols are based on Daniel 7, which depicted the future in terms of four great powers that were to dominate the history. In his vision Daniel saw first a lion (symbolizing Babylon), then a leopard (Greece) and finally a "dreadful and terrible beast (Rome). According to his vision, the fourth empire, Rome would come to be dominated in its final stage by a "little horn," a terrible power that would persecute God's people for "a time, two times, and a half time".
John's prophecy is nearly identical with the description of the little horn in Daniel 7, and it unquestionably points to the time when the apostate papal church system of the Middle Ages began to dominate the state. Paul, looking forward to the time when this "falling away" from the truth would arise, referred to this power as the "man of sin" the "mystery of iniquity" ( see Daniel 7:8, 25; 8:23-25; 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4).
The Book of Revelation elsewhere shows that there are many sincere individuals in the Roman Catholic organization (see Revelation 14:7; 18:4). God does not condemn such ones. Rather, it is the system to which God objects - the mingling of church and state.
Notice how these verses describe four phases though which the leopardlike beast must go. First, it would emerge from the sea (a symbol of heavily populated areas - see Revelation 17:1, 15 cf Daniel 7:3) and receive from the dragon Satan, (1) his power, (2) his seat, or throne, and (3) great authority (verse 2).
Second, it would rule for forty-two prophetic months, or 1260 years, a period that began, as the (verses 2, 5). During this 1260 years, the beast would blaspheme God; His name, or character; His tabernacle, or temple, in heaven; and those who "dwell in heaven." Just as both Daniel and John predicted, the papal church-state system effectively "cast down the truth" of Jesus continual intercession for His people by focusing the attention of the people on human priests and their mediation (see Daniel 8:11,12; 11:31). It exalted man, sinful man, in the place of Jesus.
Third, after forty-two months, one of its heads would receive a "deadly wound." In 1798, exactly 1260 years after the pope became free to exercise his supremacy over the state, the French general Berthier brought to a climax the blow that the reformation had given to the Papacy, by entering Rome and taking the pope captive. As John so clearly prophesied, "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity."
Deadly Wound Healed
Fourth, according to verses 3 and 4, the beast will be resurrected shortly before Jesus' second coming (cf Revelation 17:12-14). For a short period it will repeat its past history by prostituting itself to the kings of the earth and persecuting God's people. Then those who have accepted the ministry of Jesus for them in the heavenly sanctuary will escape its bewitching influence (see verses 15,16).
Following his vision of the beast from the sea, John saw another animal, this one "coming up out of the earth" Later passages in the Book of Revelation describe this beast as a "false prophet," a highly successful impostor (see Revelation 16:13, 14; 19:20). At least four points identify this beast.
1. Time of rise. The beast from the earth must arise at the end of the 1260-year rule of the beast from the sea (verse 12). In addition, in its final dragon like stage it is contemporary with the resurrected phase of the sea beast (verse 14). Thus, it must begin about 1798 and rule until Jesus' second coming (see Revelation 19:20)
2. Place of rise. The first beast of Revelation 13 and all the beasts mentioned in Daniel 7 arose from the "sea", which according to Revelation 17:15, represents "peoples" and "nations". In obvious contrast, the second beast mentioned in Revelation 13 comes up out of the earth - a term used in chapter 12 to indicate a sparsely populated, wilderness region, (verse 11; cf Revelation 12:16). The original Greek word used in verse 11 and translated "coming up" indicates that John saw this power springing up like a plant.
Only one nation, or power, fits these first two specifications; the United States of America. It alone, of all the major powers, emerged in the late 1700's in a wilderness area.
3. Influence. The animal from the earth exercises a world wide influence. The whole world follows its example (see verses 12, 16, 17). Again the specifications fit the United States.
4. Apparent nature. Throughout the Book of Revelation the figure of the a lamb represents Jesus Christ. The lamb is an innocent, peaceful animal - a sharp contrast to the beasts that represent the powers used by Satan. The animal from the earth, strangely, has two horns like a lamb" - it appears on first sight to be lamblike, innocent, even Christian in appearance. Those who founded the United States based the nation's Constitution on two great principles, civil and religious liberty. These two principles are inseparably connected with the republican form of government, which allows the people to rule through their chosen representatives, and the Protestant understanding of the principles of religious liberty.
According to John's prophecy, the United States is to play a central role in Satan's final attempt to destroy God's people and so thwart His eternal purpose. To do this it must undergo a change, a remarkable change. Notice what happens to the United States:
1. It will speak as a dragon (verse 11). A country "speaks," or expresses itself, through legislative processes. This prophecy predicts that America will enact some law which will support the resurrected first beast, the Papacy, and in so doing it will manifest the very spirit of Satan, the dragon.
2. Through actual persecution it will require all men in some manner to worship or pay homage to the Roman Catholic church-state (verse 12; cf verses 2, 5).
3. It will deceive the inhabitants of the earth through miracles, as it tries to get them to make an "image to the beast" (verses 13, 14; cf Revelation 16: 13, 14; Matthew 24:24; 1 Timothy 4:1). Thus, America will become the focal point of a great counterfeit religious revival in which spiritualism is to play a prominent role.
4. It will create an image of the beast (verse 15). Two powers combined to form the original beast; the republic of Rome and the apostate early Christian church. The first beast arose as a union of church and state. In like manner, when the religious bodies of America join forces to secure the government support to enforce their beliefs, the republic of the United Sates will thereby create an "image" of the original beast.
5. It will create this image through legislation, causing all men to worship the beast through homage to its religious teachings (verses 15). ultimately this oppressive legislation will involve a death penalty for dissenters.
6. It will use economic pressures to force men to identify themselves with the "mark" of the beast, either by their actions ("in their hand") or by actual mental assent ("in their foreheads').
The Book of Revelation presents several points that identify this important mark and its nature. First, it will involve worship. Those who receive it worship the beast (verse 8; cf Revelation 14:9). Second, it is something upon which nearly all professed Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike, will agree. Third, those who receive it are contrasted in Revelation 14:9-12 with those who keep the commandments of God. Thus, the mark involves an attempt to disregard God's law.
Long ago the prophet Daniel declared that a "little horn" (the same power as the beast from the sea described in Revelation 13:1-10) would "think to change times and laws" ( Daniel 7:25). In particular the apostate Roman Papacy has "thought" to change the fourth commandment of god's law by substituting worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, for God's appointed day of worship, the seventh-day Sabbath. Moreover it presents this change as a mark of its ecclesiastical authority.
Numerous Catholic catechisms recognize this fact. For instance, Peter Geiermann's , The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine ( 1957 ed)) says,
"Question: Which is the Sabbath day?
"Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day.
"Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."
The only religion that leads to God is that which comes from God. He alone is the source of truth and light and righteousness. That religion which springs forth from the mind of fallen men is sin. It is the very essence of man of sin to place himself above God, to exalt the creature over the Creator, to attempt to "improve" the law of self-sacrificing love that represents the character of God. And so the mark of the beast is a creation of man - the man of sin. When Sunday observance is enforced by law, then the issues will be clearly drawn between the religion of God and that which comes from man. Only then, with the issues clearly drawn, will Sunday observance become the mark of the beast. Those who then accept this mark will also accept the "name," or character, of the beast and the "number of the man." This number, 666, is eminently man's number. Six falls short of seven, the number of completeness and perfection. While the seventh-day Sabbath is God's own sign of His completed work, the number six represents that which falls short.
Only those who accept God's mark, the Sabbath - the sign of His authority as Creator and rightful Sovereign of earth - and who trust fully in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ will escape the great delusion connected with the mark of the beast.
Revelation 12 and 13 present Satan on the offensive, deceiving all mankind and gathering his forces for the great final battle between himself and Christ. Through the false lamb ( Revelation 13:11-18), Satan will bring about his supreme deception as he exalts the religion arising from the creature over that which comes from God.
Revelation 14 presents a decided contrast, for it describes the True Lamb, Jesus Christ, and His followers, the 144,000, the "remnant" against whom Satan will war (see Revelation 12:17).
This chapter brings together three great Old Testament themes connected with God's covenant: the final judgment, or antitypical Day of Atonement; the gathering of Israel and the nations to the final eschatological war; and the promises of a bounteous harvest following the latter rain, which ripens the seed to perfection. These themes also converge in the book of Joel, upon which much of Revelation 14 is based.
The "two horns like a lamb" (verses 11) may be understood as the two notable features of the United States system of government, civil and religious liberty. These two unique rights are guaranteed to all residents of America in the constitution of the United States.
This 1260-day time prophecy is referred to seven times in the books of Daniel and Revelation. It appears as 1260 days in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6; as 42 months in Revelation 11:2 and 13:5; and as three and a half times (or years) in Daniel 7:25; 12:7, and Revelation 12:14 (see Revised Standard Version).
1260 days = 1260 days
42 months x 30 days = 1260 days
3-1/2 years = 42 months = 1260 days
AD 538 Rome freed from Arian control. Bishop of Rome begins his reign.
THEN
1260 days*
42 months
3-1/2 years
THEN
AD 1798 Rome captured by French army. Pope taken prisoner.
*Based on the year-day principle, as illustrated in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, a day in prophecy stands for a literal year in earth time. Hence this 1260-day prophecy refers to a 1260-year period of time that began in AD 538 and stretched to 1798, when the French general Berthier, at the command of Napoleon, marched his army into Rome, took the pope prisoner, and proclaimed the 1260-year rule of the Papacy finished. (This over-throw of the Papacy is referred to again as a "deadly wound" in chapter 13:3.)
"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result," --The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, page. 443
Return to creating this image though legisation
When the Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution; when the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church -- then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy, and there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White comments, page 976, 1957 edition.
Return to "when Sunday observance is enforced"
"If any MAN WORSHIP the BEAST and HIS IMAGE and receives HIS MARK in his forehead, ( affections) or in his hand" (revelation 14:9, refraining from labor on THAT DAY). (See Ecclesiastes 9:10; Romans 7:25.)
"The OBSERVANCE of SUNDAY by protestants is an HOMAGE THEY PAY in spite of themselves to the AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH." Plain talk for Protestants, page 213.
"Question- How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?
"Answer- by the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of, and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other Feasts commanded by the same church."
Quesion- How prove you that?
Answer- Because by keeping SUNDAY they ACKNOWLEDGE the CHURCH'S POWER to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin." Douay Catachism, page 59.
"If the Bible is the only Guide for the Christian then the Seventh-day Adventist is RIGHT, in observing the Saturday with the jew..... it not STRANGE, that those who make the Bible their ONLY TEACHER, should inconsistantly follow this matter the TRADITION of the Catholic Church?" Question Box, ed., 1915, page 179.
" The Catholic Church claims that the change was her act... And the act is a MARK of her eccesiastical authority in religious things." H. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbins.
"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." Revelation 13:17.
"The number
indicated by the letters of HIS NAME." 20th Century New Testament.
"Verse 18,
Six Hundred Sixty Six. The number letters of HIS NAME shall make
up this number." Douay (Catholic) Bible. Note on revelation
13:18.
"The method
of reading generally adopted is that known as the GHEMATRIA of
the rabbins, which assigns each letter of a name its usual numerical
value, and gives the sum of such numbers as the equivalent of
the NAME ." Word Studies in the N. T., Marvin R. Vincent,
D.D.., notes on Revelation 13:18.
"The Pope is
of such lofty and supreme dignity that, properly speaking, he
has not been established in any rank of dignity, but rather has
been placed upon the very summit of all ranks of dignities..."
"He is likewise the divine monarch and supreme emperor and king of kings."
"HENCE THE POPE IS CROWNED WITH A TRIPLE CROWN, AS KING OF HEAVEN, AND OF EARTH AND OF THE LOWER REGIONS." Ferraris' Eccl. Dictionary (Catholic) Article, Pope.
"What are the
letters supposed to be in the Pope's crown, and what do they signify,
if anything?"
" The letters inscribed in the Pope's miter are these: VICARIUS FILII DEI, which is the Latin for 'VICAR OF THE SON OF GOD.' Catholics hold that the church, which is a visible society, must have a visible head. Christ, before His ascension into heaven, appointed St. Peter to act as His representative....Hence to the Bishop of Rome, as head of the church, was given the title, 'VICAR OF CHRIST'."
Our Sunday Visitor, (Catholic Weekly) "Bureau of Information,: Huntington, Ind, April 18, 1915
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