THE BEAST

I'm sure you have heard of "the beast" in Bible prophecy, and that it has to do with that mysterious number, 666. This is in the Book of Revelation, chapter 13.  But did you know there are two beasts? The most prominent beast - the one I would call "THE beast" - is verses one through ten. A 'big' beast. And verses eleven through eighteen are a 'little' beast.

Beast one is a world beast, or that is a world empire or world body, which rises to much power. Beast two is a prominent office of man. Yes, he's the famous 666 one, but it's - an office - which is pinpointed, here, in Revelation chapter 13. And dig this, the verse which pinpoints the office? Verse 13:13.

So picture this, verse 13 says, "he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." For the life of me I can't imagine why this doesn't ring more bells! Like man's splitting of the atom isn't in Bible prophecy! (Maybe hints at it in Ezekiel.)

Revelation 13:13 - "he.. makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men" - 1945, fire, upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Earth's final antiChrist (it's a person, for we have his number, and yes there's been others) will be associated with that same office which brought down that fire. Likely associated with the office, previously to being in the main seat of the world beast (of verses one through ten).

The world beast here, and also in the book of (in the writings of) the prophet Daniel, is described as having ten horns. (Leading us to believe there are clues and information about it in both Revelation and Daniel.) Daniel is second only to the Book of Revelation when it comes to latter day Bible prophecy. Revelation (about 90 a.d.) says he "has seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns" (from Revelation 13:1-3). And Daniel (about 550 b.c.) says he has "ten horns in his head.. with iron teeth and bronze claws" (from Daniel 7:19 and 20).

In the next lesson, we will discuss how we know the "iron" is Roman (based) and the "bronze" is Greek (based). The last days world beast will be something which sprang up upon Roman and Greek (Roman/Graeco) foundations, what is called "the classical world". And what was built upon it? Western civilization. Think Roman politics, courts, senates, architecture; along with Greek drama, arts, philosophy, universities, etc. A world body rises to power, having iron teeth (columns!) and with bronze claws "breaks apart" or "scatters". [This is not to say nations of the Middle and Far East are not also players in the Book of Revelation vision.]

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God Is Very Geo-Political

Over and over in the scriptures of the Bible, God makes mention of "the nations".

"The nations will trust in Him" is prophesied and written, perhaps by every Biblical prophet.

When Jesus was born, it was prophesied "the nations have seen a great light". And it's prophesied when Jesus returns "He will judge between many nations" (it goes on to say "they will beat their swords into pruning hooks and plowshares, neither shall they learn war anymore, but each one will dwell under their own vine and fruit tree, and no one will bother them"). (Micah 4:3,4)

I get the sense after mankind's history, God will be fully vindicated, good totally triumphant. "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD" - capitalized to refer to the Father - "and all families will rejoice before Him" - Psalm 22:27.

O Beasts Of The Earth

If outside your village where you live with your family and tribe, there was a beast which demanded a human sacrifice as a meal.. then later two for a meal, and on and on until it demanded twenty, thirty people for a meal, would we just keep feeding it? I can understand why the Bible prophecy calls human governments, beasts!