THE BEAST
Updated: Sep 3, 2022
COMING CHRISTIAN TYRANNY
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ"
REVELATION 13: TWO BEASTS - ONE RELIGION, PROFESSED CHRISTIANITY THE MOST POWERFUL COALITION IN THE WORLD
MANY see Islamic extremism as the greatest threat to the Western world and religious liberty but Bible prophecy reveals a more sinister and dangerous foe in that the final religio-political oppressor, shocking as this will be to many, will be clothed in the garb of professed Christianity, symbolised by the two beasts of Revelation chapter 13: the Beast with seven heads & ten horns and the beast with two lamb-like horns. Progressively oppressive laws impacting on freedom of speech and religious liberty will gradually find their way into the governments of nations and the immovable rock of God's faithful will finally come up against the seemingly irresistible force of religious oppression and bigotry.
The prophecy has already predicted the outcome for these two beasts and for the people of God engaged in the final crisis when the laws of the land come in direct conflict with the law of God.
The type was played out on the Plains of Dura in Daniel chapter 3. The antitype will see the culmination of thousands of years of disobedience and rebellion against the God of heaven in the passage of a religious law, the Mark of the Beast, and the deliverance of God's faithful people from the hands of the oppressor.
As those who obey the Beast and his image will receive its Mark and be forever lost, it is important that we identify the Beast and his image so that we can identify and avoid the MARK.
The prophecy in Revelation chapter 13 is written using symbols, which can only be correctly decoded by other Bible verses. The books of Daniel & Revelation are like a hand in glove and must be studied together in order to understand Bible prophecy. Revelation expands on what is in Daniel.
REVELATION 13
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.
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.
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.
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 make war with him?
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.
13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
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.
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.
13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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.
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.
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.
13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.
TWO BEASTS - ONE WORLD ORDER RESTORED
BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS
1. This beast rose up out of the sea
2. It has seven heads and ten horns
3. Upon his horns ten crowns
4. Upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
5. It was like a leopard
6. It's feet were as [the feet] of a bear
7. It's mouth as the mouth of a lion:
8. The dragon gave it its power, seat, and great authority.
9. One of it's heads was as it were wounded to death
10. The deadly wound was healed:
11. All the world wondered after the beast.
12. It has a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. 13. Speaks blasphemy against God
14. Power was given unto him to continue forty two months.
15. Beast makes war with the saints of God.
16. Beast has power over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
17. All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.
18. Beast killeth with the sword & itself receives a deadly wound.
19. The number of the beast's name is 666.
BEAST WITH TWO LAMB-LIKE HORNS
1. This beast arises out of the earth
2. It has two horns like a lamb
3. This beast spake as a dragon.
4. It exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him
5. This beast forces all to worship the first beast
6. It doeth great wonders - maketh fire come down from heaven
7. It deceiveth people by those miracles.
8. Says to all to make an image to the first beast with the wound.
9. This beast has power to give life unto the image of the beast.
10. The beast should both speak, and cause - legislate & enforce
11. Cause those who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
12. It causeth all to receive mark of the beast.
13 It will cause those without the mark, name or beast's number to not buy or sell.
14. 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.
SEVEN HEADS IS SEVEN BEASTS IS SEVEN KINGDOMS OF BIBLE PROPHECY
The first beast of Revelation 13:1-10 is a composite beast
It is made up of parts of the four beasts of Daniel 7.
It has the mouth of a lion
It has the body of a leopard,
It has the feet of a bear
It has ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel 7.
It is described as having seven heads and tens horns for a good reason. Each head on a body would suggest that there are seven different beasts in all (see Revelation 17 study) in the books of Daniel & Revelation representing seven different powers, nations, kingdoms. This is exactly what we find.
There are four beasts in the book of Daniel - the lion, bear, leopard and the "terrible" fourth beast.
There are three beasts in Revelation, the beast from the bottomless pit of Revelation 11, the first beast of Revelation 13:1-10 and the beast with lamb-like horns of Rev 13:11-18.
THE SEVEN BEASTS OF DANIEL & REVELATION
DANIEL
1. Lion - Babylon
2. Bear - Medo-Persia
3. Leopard - Grecia
4. "Terrible Beast" - Rome
(Note: Beasts are symbolic of Kingdoms, power & nations. The Ram and He-goat of Daniel 8 represent the same powers as the Bear & Leopard)
REVELATION
5. Beast with seven heads & ten horns of Rev 13:1-10 - Papal Rome
6. Beast from the Bottomless Pit (Rev 11) - see study of Rev 11&17
7. Beast with two lamb-like horns (Rev 13:11-18) - see study of Rev 13
The first beast of Revelation 13:1-10 with seven heads and ten horns is virtually a mirror of the red Dragon beast of Revelation 12 which also has seven heads and ten horns with ten crowns on those horns. The dragon gives this first beast its power, seat and great authority.
The two horned beast of Rev 13:11-18 also speaks as a dragon. Hence these beasts are actuated by and under the control of the dragon of Revelation 12. The dragon is identified in Rev 12:9 as "... 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."
What a masterclass of deception (Rev 12:9) the devil has perpetrated on the human race - the religion that is supposed to save the world (John 3:16) he cunningly uses to bring about its destruction. Jesus said this about the Jewish nation and the devil in John 8:44 "Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
The devil is a deceiver or liar and a murderer. He uses individuals and powers or nations under his control to achieve his purposes and this is displayed ever so keenly in Revelation chapter 13. - deception in the form of miracles & murder in the form of a death decree.
OVERVIEW
Many Christians today think that the beast represents a man whom they expect to come to power in the future and persecute Christians for 3 1/2 literal years. Few realize that this view was actually invented by the Roman Catholic Jesuit, Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) in an effort to counter the almost unanimous Protestant interpretation that the beast symbolizes the Roman Papacy - PAPAL ROME.
“Ribera thrust the Antichrist into the future, confined to 3 1/2 literal years; Alcazar pushed Antichrist back into the early centuries - Both of them outside the Middle Ages and the Reformation period, designated by all Protestants for Antichrist’s reign of 1260 literal YEARS.” L. Froom, Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. II, p508.
“The Futuristic School, FOUNDED by the Jesuit Ribera in 1591, looks for Antichrist, Babylon, and a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, at the end of the Christian Dispensation.” G.S. Hitchcock, (Roman Catholic), The Beast and the Little Horn, p7.
Ribera’ counter Reformation theory, though rejected by Protestants in his day, reappeared and developed in the works of various 19th century commentators. No longer does Roman Catholicism have to counter the ‘Protestant’ interpretation of prophecy because today virtually all ‘Protestants’ hold what is essentially the Catholic interpretation!
Revelation 13 presents the world’s MOST POWERFUL RELIGION, the Roman Papacy symbolised by the beast with 7 heads & 10 horns and the world’s MOST POWERFUL STATE, the second beast. Both are to play a major part in end-time events...
This prophecy foretells the formation of an “image” of the Roman Catholic system when the leading Protestant churches, unite upon common points of doctrine, and influence the State to enforce their doctrine. This “image of the beast,” a union of church & State just like Papal Rome, will cause all men to receive the mark of the beast - the mark of Roman Catholicism...
DANIEL CHAPTERS 7 & 8 - THE CLUES TO THE IDENTITY OF THE BEAST WITH 7 HEADS AND TEN HORNS
DANIEL 7 - THE LITTLE HORN POWER
1. Little horn grew out of the beast which rose up out of the sea. vs 3
2. Beast from which little horn grew has ten horns. vs 7
3. 10 horns are ten kingdoms (kings) - must have ten crowns. vs 24
4. Little horn spoke great words against God. vs 8,11,20,25
5. Reigned for 1260 yrs & by implication wounded after 1260yrs. vs 25
6. Wound healed - it continues until destroyed - vs 26. 7. Little horn made war with the saints of God. vs 25
8. Tries (think) to change God's law. vs 25
9. Little horn reigns for a time, times and the dividing of time (1260yrs)
10 Little horn has Mouth & eyes of a man
REVELATION 13 - THE BEAST POWER
1. This beast rose up out of the sea
2. The beast has ten horns
3. Beast has ten crowns upon its horns
4. Upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
5. One of it's heads was as it were wounded to death
6. The deadly wound was healed
7. Beast makes war with the saints of God.
8. Has the Mark of the beast
9. Beast has power for forty two months (1260yrs).
10. Beast has the number of a man's name - 666.
Daniel 7:23 "Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,..."
We saw in Daniel 7 that the 4th beast was the 4th kingdom. First mention interpretation dictates that when Daniel speaks of the 4th kingdom in Daniel chapter 7 he is referring back to the 4th kingdom of the Daniel 2 image which was Rome. Daniel 7, however, states that out of this fourth kingdom (Rome) emerges another kingdom in the form of the little horn. This symbol which is religious in some of it's identifying points is equivalent to the feet of IRON & CLAY of Daniel 2 which we saw was the union of church & state in the form of Papal Rome. The little horn is, therefore, Papal Rome and the first beast of Revelation 13 when considering its characteristics is Papal Rome. That is, the head or beast which is being discussed in Revelation 13 is the Papal head which receives the deadly wound, wars against God's saints, speaks blasphemies against God, reigns for 1260yrs etc.
IDENTIFYING THE BEAST FROM THE SEA - REVELATION 13: 1-10
v 1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea...
No detail is without significance. The sea symbolizes the wicked, “But the WICKED [are] like the troubled SEA, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isa 57:20.
The sand of the sea shore fittingly symbolizes the church rejected of the world. To Abraham God promised, “I will multiply thy seed as...the SAND which [is] upon the sea SHORE...” Gen 22:17. John’s location on the sand shows him to be representative of the church.
Some manuscripts say, “and he [the dragon] stood...” on the sand awaiting the beast to which he would give his seat, power and authority (v 2). Standing on the sand may also be seen as oppressing God’s people which are as the sand of the sea.
v 1 ...and saw a Beast rise up...
The Bible states that a beast symbolizes a KINGDOM or nation NOT an individual man. (see Daniel 7:23; 8:21-22). The beast is made up of the powers seen in Daniel 7 where they are said to symbolize political KINGDOMS - Lion (Babylon), Bear (Medo-Persia), Leopard (Greece), Dragon (Rome) with ten horns. The beast is a kingdom made up of these earlier kingdoms. John looking back in time describes the earlier kingdoms in reverse order.
v 1 ...out of the sea...
Waters symbolize many peoples (Rev 17:15; Isa 57:20, 21). This beast (kingdom) arose from a populated area. It is made up of the beasts (kingdoms) of Daniel 7 which also arose from the sea (populated areas).
v 1 ...having seven heads...
Heads symbolize political kingdoms. The four heads of the leopards (Daniel 7) parallel the four horns of the goat in Daniel 7 which are said to represent "kingdoms." (See Dan 8:22).
The beast’s seven heads symbolize seven successive political kingdoms through which Satan has worked (See on Revelation 17).
The head that is ‘alive’ at any particular time is said to be the beast (kingdom) reigning at that time (cf. Rev 13:3 & 13:12). The head (kingdom), which this chapter focuses on, is the Papal head, the Papal State. The Papacy is a kingdom united with a church:
“Sovereignty over Vatican City is exercised by the pope in his function as supreme head of the Catholic church...The 50 or so countries maintaining permanent diplomatic relations with it implicitly recognize its sovereign status.” New Catholic Encyclopedia, p557-558.
v 1 ...and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns...
Like the leopard, bear, lion and dragon the ten horns are drawn from the prophecy of Daniel 7 where they are said to be “ten kings [kingdoms].” Daniel 7:24. Horns represent "kingdoms" (See Dan 8:8, 22).
v 1 ...and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
The Bible says that blasphemy is when a man, who is not God, claims to forgive sins against God. (See Mark 2:7). When the Pope and all Catholic Priests claim to forgive sins in the confessional they thus speak blasphemies. The only confessional which heaven approves is that which goes direct to Jesus, “For [there is]...ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1Tim 2:5.
v 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...
This KINGDOM is an amalgamation of the political KINGDOMS symbolized as beasts in Daniel 7. Conquered kingdoms were absorbed into the conquerors kingdom. The kingdoms are mentioned in reverse order as John was looking back from the time of the ROMAN Empire.
Leopard (GREECE), bear (MEDO-PERSIA), Lion (BABYLON).
v 2 ...and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The dragon primarily symbolizes Satan (Rev 12: 9). Secondarily it symbolizes the Roman Empire through which Satan tried to kill Jesus at His birth depicted in Rev 12:4. cf. Matt 2:16). Herod was a Roman appointed ruler who tried to kill baby Jesus. So also was Pilate who delivered up Jesus to death. Incidentally the Roman Empire even used the red dragon as their symbol. Pagan Rome gave Papal Rome its power, seat (place of government - i.e. the city of Rome), and great authority.
v 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death...
The wounding of the head is said to be the wounding of the beast. Compare v 3 with v 13.
In the 1790s atheism became the official policy of the French Republic as a reaction to the apostate & oppressive Christianity. of Roman Catholicism. In 1798 the French army under Napoleon abolished the Papal State which it considered an enemy of the Republic. The Pope was led into captivity where he died. As Rome had done to thousands in the Dark Ages so it was done to her.
“[General] Berthier entered Rome on 10th February 1798, and proclaimed a Republic. The aged Pontiff...was hurried from prison to prison into France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died...No wonder that half Europe thought Napoleon’s veto would be obeyed, and that with the Pope THE PAPACY WAS DEAD.” Joseph Rickaby, The Modern Papacy, [lecture 24, p. 1] (London: Catholic Truth Society, 1910).
“The ultimate humiliation of the Church came when Pius VI was driven from Rome by the French armies in 1798.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1989, Vol. 26, p938.
“The Papacy WAS EXTINCT; not a vestige of its existence remained; and among all the Roman Catholic powers not a finger was stirred in its defense. The Eternal city had neither prince nor pontiff; its bishop was dying captive in foreign lands; and the decree was already announced that no successor would be allowed in its place.” George Trevor, Rome: From the Fall of the Western Empire, p439-440.
“Multitudes imagined that the papacy was at the point of DEATH and asked, would Pius VI be the last Pontiff, and if the close of the eighteenth century would be signalized by THE FALL OF THE PAPAL DYNASTY.” T.H. Gill, The Papal Drama, Book 10.
Note: The issue is not the death of the Pope but the abolition of the Papacy. The fact that the Papacy soon began to reform is as prophecy foretold, its deadly wound will heal. Daniel 11:40 & Revelation 11 revealed that a new Satanic power was to rise at the time of the end. The atheistic State gave the Papacy a deadly wound but the prophecy foretold that the wound would heal. The two great forces that are helping to heal the wound are Protestant America (See on Rev 13:11-17) and the nations of Western Europe (see on Rev 17:8-13).
v 3 ...and his deadly wound was healed...
Soon after the humiliation of 1798 the Papacy began to re-organize. A new Pope was elected in 1801 and the restoration to power began. The Papacy suffered a new setback in 1870 when the Papal States were taken from it. In 1929 Italy helped the healing process by returning to the Papacy, the Papal States:
“A crowd, tense with excitement, is here to witness the passage of these two men [Mussolini and Cardinal Gaspari] whose pens will HEAL A WOUND of fifty nine years.” Catholic Advocate, 1929.
Headline - “HEALING THE WOUND” The San Francisco Chronicle. Feb. 12, 1929.
The healing will be complete when the Papacy once again has the power of the State to enforce its decrees and persecute any dissenters.
v 3 ...and all the world wondered after the beast.
The Pope is without doubt the most prominent religious figure in the world. The Papal power is known worldwide. All the world will wonder after the Papacy as the world’s leading religion.
v 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast...
The dragon is primarily Satan (Rev 12:9). Those who KNOWINGLY obey the beast when it commands things contrary to God’s Word have made the beast their God. In this way many do worship the Papacy (many are presently unaware that they are following things contrary to the Bible) and many will worship the Papacy.
v 4 ...saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him.
The Papacy “made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.”
The saints war against evil with the sword of the spirit (Eph 6:12). Tragically the Papacy slew them with the sword of the State.
v 5 And there was given him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies...
The man of the Papacy is the “Papa” - the pope, the one Catholics call the holy father. Jesus said we should call no man our spiritual “Father.” (Matt 23:9). Blasphemy is when a man who is not God, claims to forgive sins against God. (Mark 2:7). When the Pope and all Catholic Priests claim to forgive sins in the confessional they thus speak blasphemies. The only confessional which heaven approves is that which goes direct to Jesus, “For [there is]...ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1Tim 2:5. Blasphemy is also when a deity is attributed to a man as in John 10:33 - "The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
BLASPHEMOUS STATEMENTS MADE BY PAPAL ROME
“Seek where you will, through heaven and earth, and you will find but one created being who can forgive the sinner, who can free him from the chains of hell. That extraordinary being is the priest, the (Roman) Catholic Priest. Yes, beloved brethren, the priest not only declares that the sinner is forgiven, but he really forgives him. The priest raises his hand, he pronounces the word of absolution, and in an instant, quick as a flash of light the chains of hell are burst asunder, and the sinner becomes a child of God. So great is the power of the priest that the judgments of heaven itself are subject to his decision.” – The Catholic Priest, by Fr. Michael Mueller C.SS.R., Baltimore, Maryland: 1876, Kreuzer Brothers, pp. 78, 79.
“God Himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of His priest, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution... The sentence of the priest precedes, and God subscribes to it.” – Dignity and Duties of the Priest, St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Vol. 12, p. 2.
“"The priest holds the place of the Saviour Himself, when, by saying, 'Ego te absolvo' [I thee absolve], he absolves from sin . . .To pardon a single sin requires all the omnipotence of God. . . . But what only God can do by His omnipotence, the priest can also do by saying 'Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis.'. . . Innocent III has written: 'Indeed, it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their offices the priests are so many gods” St. Alphonsus De Liguori, The Dignity of the Priesthood, p 33. Made a saint in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Catholic Church in 1871. One of the most widely read Catholic authors.
“...the power of the priest is the power of the divine person; for the transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world....thus the priest may be called the creator of the Creator...” Ibid, p 33.
“The Pope is supreme judge of the law of the land...He is the vicegerent of Christ, and is not only a priest forever, but is King of kings and Lord of lords.” La Civilta Cattolica, March 18, 1871.
Don’t Catholic Priests forgive sins against God in the Confessional?
“QUESTION: Does the priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted?
ANSWER: The priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given him by Jesus Christ.”
Joseph DeHarbe, Catechism of the Catholic Religion, 1924, p. 279.
“To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he has decreed, is to be deemed heretical.”
The Gloss “Extravagantes" of Pope John XXII. "Cum inter," Tit. xiv, cap. iv., ad Callem. Sexti Decretalium, Paris 1685.
v 5 ...and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
This period is expressed as: “3 1/2 times.” (Dan 7:25; 12:7; Rev 12:4). “42 months.” (Rev 11:2; 13:5). “1260 days.” (Rev 11:3; 12:6).
However the natural expression - “Three years and six months,” that is used to describe a literal period of this duration (e.g. Luke 4:25; James 5:17), is not used once. Evidently the 3 1/2 times that the beast reigned is symbolic, fitting its symbolic context, and representing a greater length of actual time that is in keeping with the context of the rise and fall of nations.
3 1/2 times = 1260 days
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness...for 3 1/2 times.” Rev 12:14
“And the woman fled into the wilderness... 1260 days.” Rev 12:6.
A day = a year.
“I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Ezekiel 4:6 “... each day for a year.” Numbers 14:34. Therefore the 3 1/2 times = 1260 symbolic days = 1260 literal years.
This period for the Papacy began in 538AD.
In 533 the Eastern Roman Emperor made the Pope head of all the churches: “...head of all the holy churches” and “head of all the holy priests of God." Code of Justinian, book 1, title. 1. This decree could not go into effect until the last of the anti-Catholic Arian powers were overthrown. This occurred in 538AD with the calamitous defeat that plucked up the third Arian horn - the Ostrogoths. Referring to the defeat of the Goths in 538 the historian write, “Some of them [the retreating Goths] must have suspected the melancholy truth that they had dug one grave deeper and wider than all, the grave of the Gothic monarchy in Italy.” Thomas Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, book 5, chap. 9, last par. [Vol. 4, p. 285.]
As the Roman Catholic State came to full power in AD58 and reigned 1260 years, it would come to its end in 1798. 538 + 1260 years = 1798.
In that very year France, who perceived the Papacy as an enemy, abolished the Papal State.
“The ULTIMATE HUMILIATION of the Church came when Pius VI was driven from Rome by the French armies in 1798.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1989, Vol. 26, p938.
“In 1798 he [Berthier, Napoleon's general]…made his entrance into Rome, ABOLISHED the PAPAL GOVERNMENT and established a secular one.” The Encyclopaedia Americana, 1941 ed.
verse 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Roman Catholic quotes:
“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself, hidden under veil of the flesh.” The Catholic National, July, 1895.
“What only God can do by his omnipotence, the priest can also do...Indeed it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their office the priests are so many Gods.” Dignity and Duties of the Priest, Alphonsus De Liguori, p35.
“The Pope is supreme judge of the law of the land...He is the viceregent of Christ, and is not only a priest forever, but is King of kings and Lord of lords.” La Civilta Cattolica, March 18, 1871.
“All names which in Scripture are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that he is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope.” Cardinal Bellarmine, On the Authority of the Councils, Vol. 2, p. 266.
“The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even Divine laws...THE POPE CAN MODIFY DIVINE LAW, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts in the place of God upon earth.” Lucius Ferraris, “Papa,” art. 2, in Prompta Bibliotheca.
“The pope has power to change times, to abrogate [change] laws, and to dispense [do away] with all things, even the precepts of Christ.” Decretal, De Translantic Episcop.
BLASPHEMES GOD'S NAME
The Papacy blasphemes His name by misrepresenting God’s character. Name stands for character (Ecc 7:1).
Blasphemes God’s Tabernacle (temple).
The Papacy blasphemes God’s tabernacle by setting up an earthly priesthood and a human system of mediation in place of Christ, our only Mediator (1Tim 2:5) and His ministry in the heavenly tabernacle.
BLASPHEMES THEM THAT DWELL (TABERNACLE) IN HEAVEN
The Papacy blasphemes (speaks reproachfully) God’s people who dwell by faith in heaven.CVPeople can be blasphemed. The Greek word Blasphemo may mean “to speak reproachfully of.” e.g. “Being defamed [slandered; blaspheme in Greek], we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring [“scum” NIV] of all things unto this day.” 1Cor 4:13.
TRUE CHRISTIANS dwell in heavenly places.
PAPAL ROME BLASPHEMES THEM THAT DWELL IN HEAVEN BY CLAIMING TO BE GREATER THAN EVEN THE ANGELS
“Indeed, the excellence and power of the Roman Pontiff is not only in the sphere of heavenly things, and earthly things, and those of the lower regions, but even ABOVE THE ANGELS, than whom he himself is greater.” Lucius Ferraris, “Papa II” Prompta Bibliotheca, Vol. VI, p27. Official Roman Catholic Publication.
verse 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.
In the past the Papacy had countless Christians martyred in the Inquisition etc. for believing doctrines which the Catholic Church called heresy. See on Daniel 7. The healing of the deadly wound will result in another terrible persecution of those who keep the commandments of God rather than the commandments of the Papacy.
Pagan Rome killed an estimated three million Christians, while historians estimate that the Papacy has killed no less than 50 million! This Great Tribulation covered the period called the Dark Ages (See on Matt 24:21-22). Augustine laid the foundation for the church to persecute heretics when he wrote:
“Originally my opinion was that no one should be coerced into the unity of Christ, that we must act only by words, fight only by arguments, and prevail by force of reason, lest we should have those whom we knew as avowed heretics feigning themselves to be Catholics. But this opinion of mine was overcome...” St. Augustine, Letter 93 (to Vincentius), chap. 5, sec. 17, trans. in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, first series, Vol. I, p388.
“The Catholic church has persecuted...We have always defended the persecution of the Hugenots, and the Spanish Inquisition...When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.” A Roman Catholic publication, The Western Watchman, of St Louis, Dec. 24, 1908.
“Torture was little used from the 9th to 12th centuries, but with the revival of Roman law the process was re-established in the 12th century...In 1252 [Pope] Innocent IV sanctioned the infliction of torture by the civil authorities upon heretics, and torture came to have a recognized place in the procedures of the inquisitorial courts.” New Catholic Encyclopaedia, art. Torture.
“The civil authorities, therefore, were enjoined by the popes, under pain of excommunication to execute the legal sentences that condemned impenitent heretics to the stake.” Joseph Blotzer, article, ‘Inquisition’, Catholic Encyclopaedia, Vol. VIII, p34.
“Cursed be they who assert liberty of conscience and of worship, and such as maintain the church should not employ force. The State has not the right to leave every man free to embrace whatever religion he shall deem true.” Pope Pius IX’s Encyclical and Syllabus (Dec. 8, 1864).
verse 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.
All the world knows this power. “Catholic” actually means “universal.” This verse foretells a worldwide religious movement. The last issue will be over worship.
verse 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Those who are willing to do Christ’s will and accept truth (John 7:17) even if it cuts across cherished practices or ideas, will understand.
verse 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity...
As the Papacy had led people into captivity so it was led into captivity. In 1798 the Pope, the head of the Papacy, was taken captive by the armies of France.
“The ULTIMATE HUMILIATION of the Church came when Pius VI was driven from Rome by the French armies in 1798.” Enc’ Britannica, 1989, Vol. 26, p938.
“In 1798 he [Berthier]...made his entrance into Rome, ABOLISHED the PAPAL GOVERNMENT and established a secular one.” The Enc’ Americana, 1941 ed.
verse 10 ...he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The sword can refer to God’s word, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph 6:17. The sword can also symbolize the power of the State (Rom 13:3-4). As the beast had killed Christians with the SWORD OF THE STATE, so it was killed by the SWORD OF THE STATE. In 1798 the French State abolished the Papacy. See on v 3.
The church wields the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God. The church must not use the sword of the State to further its ends. Persecuting and threatening people into the truth only makes hypocrites not Christians. Jesus said, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt 26:52.
verse 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding...
WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING is found in keeping God’s statues and judgments (Deut 4:5-6).
Those who keep God’s judgments and statutes will understand.
verse 18 ...count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.
The Greek is six hundred and sixty six, not simply three sixes. The number of the beast is the number of a specific "man.”
The word “man “ is from the Greek anthropos, which is translated “man” 552 times out of 559 occurrences, in the KJV Bible.
Daniel 2 described the image OF A MAN.
Daniel 7 spoke of the little horn (parallels the beast), having the eyes OF A MAN.
Revelation 13 speaks of the number OF A MAN.
Paul spoke of the MAN of sin (2Thess 2).
As this man’s number is another clue to help us identify this power, a specific man with a specific number must be intended. As we have identified the beast as the Roman Papacy the man is easily identified. The man of the Papacy is the one Catholics call the “papa” or Pope.
The Roman Catholic paper, Our Sunday Visitor stated:
“The title of the Pope of Rome is Vicarius Filii Dei. This is inscribed on his mitre; and if you take the letters of his title which represent Latin numerals (printed large) and add them together they come to 666.”
“Answers to Reader’s Questions,,” Our Sunday Visitor [Catholic], Nov 15, 1914.
Note: Vicarius Filii Dei is one of the Pope’s titles. Whether it is on his mitre (hat) or not is of no consequence.
As we are told to “count the number...the number of a man,” we should choose a language in which letters have numerical value. As the Beast is the ROMAN Catholic Papacy, and as the Pope’s title is in Latin (ROMAN), and as Roman, unlike English, gives certain letters numerical value, it is obvious that we should use Latin, or ROMAN numerals.
It is significant that the first 6 letters with numerical values total 666
I=1 V=5 X=10 L=50 C=100 D=500 = 666.
When the letters of the Pope’s Roman title are taken as Roman numerals they total 666. See 666 study.
666 is also associated with SUN WORSHIP which helps confirm that 666 is associated with the Papacy because the Papacy openly claims to have changed the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week, SUNDAY, the day named after the so-called SUN GOD. See on Dan 7:25.
DANIEL 2
