The Image to the Beast
(Wm. H. Grotheer – June 2001)
[Excerpt from WWN6(01)]
The call to those "that dwell on the earth"
to make an image to the beast" (Revelation 13:14) is preceded by much
prophetic symbolism. This symbolism must be noted if a correct Biblical
understanding of the "Image" formed is to be achieved. This symbolism
begins with the 12th chapter. In fact, Revelation 12:12-17 is the outline which
is enlarged in Chapters 13 and 14. While chapter 12:1-11 is devoted to the
victory of the "Seed" of the woman over the dragon, the balance of
the chapter covers briefly the conflict between the dragon and the woman till
the revelation of the remnant of her "seed which keep the commandments of
God" (ver. 17). This "seed" is again interjected into the
prophecy (Rev. 14:12), where they are called "holy ones."
Upon the victory of the "Man-child" (12:5),
the dragon came down in "great wrath" for his time had been
circumscribed. John recorded a voice in heaven speaking with finality. This
voice directed its message to three different groups (12:12). To the "heavens, and ye that dwell in them." They were to
rejoice. Why? Because the dragon prevailed not; "neither was there place
found anymore in heaven" for him (12:8). But to the "inhabiters"
of "the earth and of the sea" a woe was given. This division of the
"inhabiters" is significant. It is symbolic and has a bearing on what
follows in the unfolding of the prophetic outline. The first beast of
Revelation 13 "rises up out of the sea" (13:1), while the second
beast comes "up out of the earth" (13:11).
The non-descript beast coming out of the sea combines
the symbolism of Daniel 7 in the reverse order as it was given to Daniel -
leopard, bear, and lion (13:2; cmp. with Dan. 7:12). It is related to the
dragon before it, having "seven heads and ten horns" (12:3; 13:1).
This is papal Rome, and the "sea" is the "Old World"
or Europe in which it arose. (A more restrictive interpretation could
be that "the sea" represents
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the Mediterranean Sea, known as "The Great
Sea" in Bible times. Rome in both of its phases, Pagan and
Papal, arose in the Mediterranean World.) One of the heads of this beast was to
be "slain" (13:3, Gr. margin), and yet it would be resurrected. This becomes a key factor
in the interpretation of the "image to the beast." The worship of,
and the image of, was of the beast after its resurrection. (13:12,14)
The second beast comes up out of the earth as the
first beast goes into captivity and is slain. (13:10) The date for
the captivity of the Papacy is easily determined -1798 - when Berthier,
under orders from Napoleon took the Pope a captive from
Rome to France where he died in exile. The Papacy was extinct.
(See Facts of
Faith, pp.57-60 for documentation) The
nation that was arising away from the turbulence of the European
"sea" was the United States in a "New World,"
symbolized as "the earth."
The description of the beast is of import. It was to
be "lamb-like" with "two" distinct and separate horns of
power. In Daniel, the Papal phase of Rome was a single horn
exercising both religious and political dominion. Further, this second beast is
designated as a "false prophet" (Rev. 19:20), which deceives by the
"miracles" he performs. A descriptive miracle is borrowed from the
Old Testament - the fire which consumed the sacrifice in answer to Elijah's
prayer (13:13). In other words, this is a false Elijah, and not the one
predicted in Malachi 4:5-6, but will have overtones of the first with a special
agenda, restoration of family values.
Often this "false prophet" is interpreted as
"apostate Protestantism." However, we need to keep in mind that the
mainline bodies of Protestantism began in the area of "sea" - Europe,
and not the United States. Coming from the "earth" it must
represent a new form of Protestantism. It is this "false prophet"
that urges those "that dwell on the earth" to make an "image to
the beast" that was resurrected. (13:14). This suggestion is
removed in time from the events in Europe that brought about the
"deadly wound." Further, it is given as a democratic suggestion.
The populace are to make an image. The way the populace speaks is by its voting power. The United States did not begin as a
democracy, but as a republic. It became truly a democracy with the
implementation of the one man, one vote rule.
The healing of the "deadly wound" from a
political point of view began in 1929 when Mussolini signed with the Papal
Secretary of State, Cardinal Gasparri, the historic Roman Pact. The pope once more became a
civil ruler. This was followed by the
attempt of the appointment of an American Ambassador to
the Vatican by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which ended with a
personal representative, Myron C. Taylor, being sent. Under Carter, the Pope
was welcomed to the White House; and under Reagan, there was an exchange of
Ambassadors facilitated in part by Billy Graham. Then came the
revelation of a secret working between the American government and the Papacy
toward the demise of the Communistic government of Russia. Under John Paul
II, the wound of 1798, has been completely healed. We can therefore look for
the formation of the image of the resurrected "head."
During this same period of time when secret workings
were transpiring between the US government and the Vatican, a
new form of Protestantism was making its presence felt. It is covered by the
term, "The Religious Right." The names, FaIwell, Robertson, and
Kennedy, through their TV ministries, loom large. It was Robertson who
"reached across the gulf to grasp the hand" of the late Cardinal
O'Connor of New York. Two other TV Ministries, either now defunct, or greatly
limited, due to moral indiscretions, represented a group who now
have a representative in government in the person of the Attorney General
of theUnited States. Couple with this Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family and his
ability to marshal thousands of voters to bring pressure on either the
executive, or legislative branch of the American government, and you have a
volatile mix.
Regardless of what political persuasion one may be,
this last election in the United States saw the forces of the
Religious Right say to those that dwell on the symbolic "earth" to
elect a certain candidate as President of the United States. Among the
first executive orders issued, Bush set up a Religious Office in the White
House, which President Jimmy Carter told Pope John Paul II upon his visit
there, was the "symbolic home" of all the American people (RNS, Oct.
8, 1979). The establishment of such an office is a first in American history of
Church and State.
Some may wish to question the
meaning of the term, "earth" in Rev. 13:14, and broaden its
application to include the whole world. It is true that the Greek word for
earth, gh, does have that meaning, the literal physical earth.
However, if John had wished to change the symbolic use to a literal word,
meaning all the peoples of the inhabited earth, he would have used the word, oikoumenh. But he didn't, thus it is best to
hold to the symbolic meaning in this text.
*******
The formation of the
image of the beast is truly in existence.
What remains to bring this image to life?
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.
More on this
tomorrow for it is a more lengthy study,
all by the grace and will of God!
There is a lot for
us to learn and learn and learn! God wants us ready and He alone can ready us
through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our King, our Redeemer!
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