More from the thought papers of Elder Grotheer on the study of Revelation. May God help us to find all the truth we need to find, not being deceived by Satan. Protect us Lord as we study others interpretations, help us to glean the wisdom from what we read and only further our understanding of Your truth. Bless us Lord, we ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ and thank you because we know you are able to do all things. In Your love!
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Recognizing that the first beast represents the Papacy, then one criterion which determines where our names are placed is our attitude toward Roman Catholicism.
This includes much more than mere Sunday observance. The doctrine of the Trinity - basic in Romanism, the Eucharist, and other issues enter the picture. Little wonder then that the admonition follows -
"If any man have an ear, let him hear." (13:9)
In Rev. 13:10 an unique comment is made - "Here is the patience and faith of the saints." It is found again in Revelation 14:12, and only in these two texts in Revelation.
Do these serve as "brackets" for the revelation that is given between? If so, then this call to observe the steadfastness of "the saints" is associated with the activities of the second beast of chapter 13 and the giving of the Three Angels' Messages.
The second beast came "up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." (13:11)
Two things of importance need to be noted.
The prophetic symbolism does not connect this beast with the other beasts - there is no common denominator, the multiple heads or horns which mark the other beast symbols are missing.
Only two horns are noted.
No prophetic, or literal time factors are associated with this second beast.
He doesn't speak as "THE dragon," but simply "as A dragon."
"His two horns are like the horns of a lamb." The symbolism combines the two representations which in Chapter 12 are pictured as in deadly conflict, the dragon and the Lamb.
This beast "exerciseth all the power (authority - exousia) of the first beast."
Is this saying that its authority is derived from the same source as the first beast, or is it stating that its controlling influence is as extensive as was that of the first beast, or both?
The evident time of prophetic emphasis for the second beast is after the deadly wound of the first beast "was healed." (v. 12)
Is it then, that we are to consider the exercise of, and source for its authority?
If so, the activities of this beast, as described in Chapter 13, would not find fulfillment until AFTER 1929, when the deadly wound began to be healed. But when was it "healed"?
One of the wonders which this beast performs is to make "fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." (v. 13)
This beast is defined as "the false prophet." (19:20)
The allusion to fire coming down from heaven, being done by a prophet, calls to mind, Elijah who is to come before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Mal. 4:5)
This is telling us two things:
1) In the final confrontation, there will be a reversal of evidence. The false and deceptive will produce what will appear to be genuine evidence of Divine manifestation. And
2) This second beast is a religious power seeking to fulfill the role of Elijah.
In determining the identify of this "beast power," we have given it two identifications, the United States and Apostate Protestantism.
In the transitional verses from the first beast to the second, is found the dictum - "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity."
This is interpreted as having been fulfilled in taking the Pope captive, and by declaring the government of the Papacy at an end in 1798, thus concluding the 1260 prophetic days.
It was at this time, as the Papacy ceased its domination over "the kings of the earth," that the United States came into existence as a nation - "coming up out of the earth."
However, to so interpret, excludes the identification as Protestantism, because Protestantism arose in the area prophetically identified as "the sea," and over two hundreds years before the downfall of the Pope.
We can respond that it is Apostate Protestantism that is being identified since the symbol is termed, "the false prophet." If this be so, then one must ask, "When did Protestantism become apostate?" To this, we have responded that this state resulted from the rejection of the First Angel's Message. And textually the First Angel's Message is placed in the setting of this prophetic revelation to John, with the Second Angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon, of which the "false prophet" is one part. (Rev. 16:13, 19)
In recognizing this "beast" as a religious power we must also recognize two other factors of prophecy.
1) As noted above, the prophetic emphasis in Revelation 13 is on the activities of the "false prophet" after the "deadly wound was healed." This extends the time element for the main thrust of "apostate" Protestantism well over 100 years from the above date (1844) set for its inception.
2) This religious force causes the "image" to be formed. (13:14) The "image" to the first beast would be religio-political even as the Papacy was and is. It must also be understood, that this "religious" power says to those "that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." This clearly indicates that the political power through which the "image" will be formed is democratic, the electorate is asked to grant the authority. But the "life" of this image is given to it by the "false prophet." (13:15)
Penalties for failure to come into line are twofold:
1) The "false prophet" initiates economic sanctions (13:16-17).
2) The created "image" of the union of church and state - issues the death decree (13:15).
The final verse of Revelation 13 - verse 18 - demands careful exegesis. It can be noted as both a literal fact, and it can convey spiritual import.
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.
A spiritual truth is also hidden in this number and "wisdom." The Greek text reads - "For a number of man, it is" - no article, and the word for man is anthropos. Six is one shy of seven, which is a Biblical perfect number, but it is a combination of three sixes, three being another perfect number. Thus the number 666 could be interpreted as perfected imperfection. This even carries overtones of "six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work." Man in the worship of the works of his hands - Cain worship - and self glorification, cannot "Fear God and give glory to Him ... and worship Him who made ..." providing for man, the seventh day of rest, which is the essence of the First Angel's Message. (14:6-7) The Third Angel's Message also addresses this issue. "If any man worship the beast," but the "beast" is man in the height of his imperfection and rebellion against God.
This full picture justifies Thayer's definition of "the Wicked" one, "the man of sin," as "he in whom all iniquity has as it were fixed its abode" (II Thess. 2:8.) (See Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 48, art. anomos) This is the one which the "false prophet" leads those who dwell on the earth to worship.
In contrast to this, comes the next vision given to John.
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More tomorrow… so much to study! So much to contemplate. Please Lord help us, give us the wisdom we need.
By Your Grace!
By Your Love!
In You Lord always!!!
Amen.
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