We are living in this prophecy.

Revelation 13 verse 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.   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.  

From all we've studied, and there has been a lot of studying if you've truly kept up with this over the last few months or so, we know that this 'another beast coming up out of the earth' identifies as a rulership, a power that rises from the United States.  This power holds all the power of the FIRST beast- the first beast being identified as the Papacy.  What sort of power does the Papacy have- religious and political combined.  As much as we know the constitution states this--

"Separation of church and state" is a phrase used by Thomas Jefferson and others expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

The intent of this clause was to limit the power of the Federal Government in regard to religion thus ensuring freedom of religion in the United States of America.

The phrase "separation of church and state" is generally traced to a January 1, 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, addressed to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut, and published in a Massachusetts newspaper. Jefferson wrote,

“        "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."[1]        ”

Jefferson was echoing the language of the founder of the first Baptist church in America, Roger Williams who had written in 1644 of "[A] hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world."Article Six of the United States Constitution also specifies that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Jefferson's metaphor of a wall of separation has been cited repeatedly by the U.S. Supreme Court. In Reynolds v. United States (1879) the Court wrote that Jefferson's comments "may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the [First] Amendment." In Everson v. Board of Education (1947), Justice Hugo Black wrote: "In the words of Thomas Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state."[2]

However, the Court has not always interpreted the constitutional principle as absolute, and the proper extent of separation between government and religion in the U.S. remains an ongoing subject of impassioned debate.[3][4][5][6]

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Politics and religion in the United States

Robert N. Bellah has in his writings that although the separation of church and state is grounded firmly in the constitution of the United States, this does not mean that there is no religious dimension in the political society of the United States. He used the term "Civil Religion" to describe the specific relation between politics and religion in the United States. His 1967 article analyzes the inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy: "Considering the separation of church and state, how is a president justified in using the word 'God' at all? The answer is that the separation of church and state has not denied the political realm a religious dimension."[60]

Robert S. Wood has argued that the United States is a model for the world in terms of how a separation of church and state—no state-run or state-established church—is good for both the church and the state, allowing a variety of religions to flourish.[61] Speaking at the Toronto-based Center for New Religions, Wood said that the freedom of conscience and assembly allowed under such a system has led to a "remarkable religiosity" in the United States that isn't present in other industrialized nations.[61] Wood believes that the U.S. operates on "a sort of civic religion," which includes a generally-shared belief in a creator who "expects better of us." Beyond that, individuals are free to decide how they want to believe and fill in their own creeds and express their conscience. He calls this approach the "genius of religious sentiment in the United States."[61]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States

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Still today there are many court related discussions on religion and politics, this is NOT a said and done thing.  They didn't state there is a separation between religion and politics and from that time forward the two were completely exclusive. What makes that impossible is people having a religion and needing to live their lives as that religion dictates and being unable to do so if it must be abandoned at the door to their workplace or secular life.  When politics began to say you have to stop practicing(living) what you believe when you enter various places, that's when things get heated up. To say those calling the United States a place with a 'civil/civic religion' would be very, very true. We have NOT and can never completely separate religion and politics without doing away with one or the other, otherwise it's impossible.

The second beast here in the book of Revelation, chapter 13, is this BEAST power that has the power of mingled religion and politics, and the two horns- 

Let's read an excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith-

' 6.  Character of the Government Symbolized by the Two-horned Beast. - Under this division of the subject we find still further evidence that the symbol represents the United States government. In describing this power, John says that it had "two horns like a lamb." The horns of a lamb indicate, first, youthfulness, and secondly, innocence and gentleness. As a power which has but recently arisen, the United States answers to the symbol admirably in respect to age; while no other power, as has already been proved, can be found to do this. And considered as an index of power and character, it can be decided what constitutes the two horns of the government, if it can be ascertained what is the secret of its strength and power, and

p 578 --

(picture omitted)

p 579 -- what reveals its apparent character, or constitutes its outward profession. The Hon. J. A. Bingham gives us the clue to the whole matter when he states that the object of those who first sought these shores was to found "what the world had not seen for ages; viz., a church without a pope, and a state without a king." Expressed in other words, this would be a government in which the ecclesiastical should be separate from the civil power, and civil and religious liberty reign supreme.

It needs no argument to show, and even the statement is unnecessary, that this is precisely the profession of the American government. Article IV., sec. 4 of the Constitution of the United States, reads:    "The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government."    Article VI:     "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."    The first amendment of the Constitution (Art. 1) begins as follows:    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."    These articles profess the amplest guarantee of civil and religious liberty, the entire and perpetual separation of church and state; and what better symbols of them could be given than "two horns like a lamb"? In what other country can be found a condition of things which would meet so completely this feature of the symbol?

   7.  A Republican Government. - The two-horned beast symbolizes a nation with a republican form of government. This is shown by the absence of crowns both upon its head and its horns. A crown is an appropriate symbol of a kingly or monarchical form of government; and the absence of crowns, as in this case, would suggest a government in which the power is not vested in any such ruling member, but is, per consequence, lodged in the hands of the people.

But this is not the most conclusive proof that the nation here symbolized is republican in its form of government. From verse 14 we learn that appeal is made to the people when any national action is to be performed:    "Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast," etc.

p 580 -- Were the government a monarchy, national questions would hardly be submitted in this unqualified manner to the people; and the fact that appeal is here made to the people shows that the form of the government is such that the power is vested in their hands; and this is emphatically the case in the United States government, but not in any other government to which any one could reasonably think of applying this symbol. This is another strong link in the chain of evidence that this symbol must apply to the United States of America. 

   8.    A Protestant Nation. - The two-horned beast also symbolizes a government which is Protestant in religion, or which, at least, is a non-Catholic power. It has been shown that the preceding beast symbolized the papacy; and of the two-horned beast we read that he causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast. But in all Catholic countries, the people voluntarily worship the beast, or obey the dictates of Catholicism, without being "caused," or compelled, to do so by the government. The fact that the people of this government do not render this worship till caused to do so by the civil power, shows,that the religion they entertain is not Catholicism. As an almost inevitable consequence, it follows that it is Protestantism! for these are the only two religions of any consequence in Christendom. The United States is a Protestant nation, and meets the requirements of the prophecy admirably in this respect. Thus again the prophecy points directly to this government.

   9.   The Dragon Voice. - After contemplating all the good features presented in this symbol, it is with pain we read that. "he spake as a dragon." Before entering upon a discussion of, this let us look at the points already established. It has been shown,

              (1)    That the government symbolized by the two-horned beast must be some government distinct from the powers of the Old World, whether civil or ecclesiastical.

              (2)    That it must arise in the Western Hemisphere.

              (3)    That it must be seen assuming a position of prominence and influence about the year 1798.

p 581 -- (4)   That it must rise in a peaceful and quiet manner, not augmenting its power, as other nations have done, by aggressive wars and successful conquests.

               (5)   That its progress must be so rapid as to strike the beholder with as much wonder as would the perceptible growth of an animal before his eyes.

               (6)   That it must be republican in its form of government.

               (7)   That it must be Protestant in its religion.

               (8)   That it must exhibit before the world, as an index of its character and the elements of its government, two great principles which are in themselves perfectly just, innocent, and lamblike.

               (9)   That it must perform its work this side of 1798.

And we have seen that of these nine specifications, it can be said, first, that they are all perfectly met in the history of the United States thus far; and secondly, that they are not met in the history of any other government on the face of the earth. It is therefore impossible to apply the symbol of Rev. 13:11 to any other government but that of the United States.

But after describing. the lamblike appearance of this symbol, the prophet immediately adds this, "And he spake as a dragon." The dragon, the first link in this chain of prophecy, was a relentless persecutor of the church of God. The leopard beast, which follows, was likewise a persecuting power, grinding out for 1260 years the lives of millions of the followers of Christ. The third actor in the scene, the two-horned beast, speaks like the first, and thus shows himself to be a dragon at heart; "for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh," and in the heart actions are conceived. This, then, like the others, is to be a persecuting power; and the reason that any of them are mentioned in prophecy, is simply because they are persecuting powers. And if the United States is the power intended by this symbol which speaks as a dragon, it follows that this government is to enact unjust and oppressive laws against the religious profession and practice of some of its subjects. '

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This second beast - Revelation 13 verse 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.   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.  

Comes up in the United States, is lamb-like but will speak as a DRAGON, and will exercise the same power of the religious political power that the Papacy has, and this will cause those that dwell in the United States to worship the first beast who as we know had a deadly would but that would has since been healed. And truly today many people are worshiping the papacy power. The Catholic Church and its beloved Pope are very popular- extremely popular today in ways they have never been before.

We are talking about OUR TIME here, RIGHT NOW, TODAY!

We are LIVING in this prophecy!

YOU ARE LIVING IN THIS PROPHECY! YOU!

If you are a Christian and you believe in God's word as truth, then you know through this IN DEPTH study with MANY, MANY incredible FACTS in history, that what we have studied is TRUTH and relevant to US today! How do we know this?  Our Savior has promised to return and has given us these great prophecies so we could WATCH and PRAY, so we could DISCERN the times in which we live. We do NOT want to be among those who are wretched spiritually poor, miserable, blind and naked! We want to be blessed as we read and KEEP the things in the book of Revelation! We NEED to comprehend that there is a mark of the Beast, and there are seven plagues, and it is all relevant to US who hope and pray to be alive at the coming of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Studying prophecy, over and over. God please open our hearts, our minds to understand!

Now let's jump back to a study we did a few days ago. After reading what we did the last two days it may seem more pertinent. By the grace of God may we UNDERSTAND, so we may read and keep what we read!

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Let's take a closer look at the beasts.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (((FIRST BEAST HERE)))) 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.

(((Remember this beast is the Papacy our study REVEALED this beyond doubt.))))

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast (((SECOND BEAST HERE))))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.

(((From yesterday's study- this beast is one coming up in the United States))))

The commonality between the first beast and the dragon is further heightened in the imagery.

 Both have seven heads and ten horns (12:3; 13:1)

Rev 12:3  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (((FIRST BEAST HERE)))) 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.

 However, there is a movement of one item in the symbols; the crowns are placed on the "horns" of the first beast, rather than remaining on the "heads."

It must also be kept in mind that the book of Revelation presents a third beast with seven heads and ten horns. (17:3) No crowns are seen on this symbolism either on the "heads" or the "horns."

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

What is this telling us? If a "crown" is symbolic of reigning, then the "dragon" is portrayed as functioning through its seven heads from the time of the first gospel promise to the time of, and including the war with the "remnant of her seed."

(((We really have to note this- The DRAGON functions through its SEVEN heads from the first gospel until the very end.))))

The first beast of Revelation 13, would then be operating at the time of the reigning of "the ten horns."

(((The first beast has the crowns on its horns NOT its head.  This beast the FIRST beast in Rev. 13 will function during the reigning of the 10 horns.))))

To further identify this beast, the description is closely associated with the vision given to Daniel (Chap. 7). The lion, the bear, and the leopard are followed by a nondescript beast.

 In Revelation 13, the nondescript beast is a COMPOSITE, "like unto a LEOPARD, and his feet were as the feet of a BEAR, and his mouth as the mouth of a LION" (v. 2). This is the exact order as found in Daniel 7, only REVERSED. In the vision to Daniel, he saw that the dominion of the three beasts was "taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." (7:12).

The symbolic representation in Revelation 13, tells us that the lives of the three beasts of Daniel 7 lived on in the first beast.

(((It's true that even today we STILL have the history of the great kingdoms that have affected each other one after the other and so on. Today people know about Babylon- they know about Medo-Persia, they know about Greece- THESE are facts, THESE are real parts of our history and lives, no one can deny this- no one.))))

We must next turn our attention to the seven heads. What do they represent?

The span of Revelation 12 covers the time from the first gospel promise made in Eden till the war against the "remnant of her seed."

 Genesis gives the beginning of the first nation or peoples through whom this promised "seed" would be realized. (Gen. 12:3; 21:12)

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Gen 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

They were to go into bondage. (Gen. 15:13-15)

Gen 15:13  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Gen 15:14  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Gen 15:15  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

This defiant power - EGYPT - was the first power to seek to "devour" the people of God. Pharaoh was the "son of Ra," one of the sun gods of Egypt. The symbolisms of Egypt used to represent their sun gods, as noted in the previous study of Revelation 12, was the "serpent of fire" around a sun disc.

From the first attempt to destroy the people of God through whom the Promised Seed would come, there were five powers to John's day -

Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia

The power of John's day was Rome, another was yet to come. (Rev. 17:10)

Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

At this point, we need to determine how we are to understand prophecy.

Do we place the count, "five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come," as beginning in our day, or do we understand it to be in the time frame of John to whom the statement was made?

There is another problem however, the seventh head was "to continue a short space."

If the sixth head is pagan Rome, and the seventh, papal Rome, we have the seventh head continuing for a longer period than any of the previous six heads which the wording of the definitive statement will not permit.

The book of Daniel in the visions as recorded in Chapters 7 & 8, present both pagan and papal Rome as one continuous power.

The "little horn" of Daniel 7, ever remains in and is nourished by the nondescript beast (7:8).

Further this beast is pictured as continuing "till ... slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." (7:11)

Dan 7:11  I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

The problem then is to interrelate all of this data to the first beast of Revelation 13, for it is this beast along with the second which are consigned to "the burning flame" (Rev. 19:20).

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

There is another textual relating between symbols which must be considered.

The first beast of Revelation 13 is "to act, or work" (Gr.- poiesai) his will "forty and two months." (13:5) The only other place where this same time period of prophecy is indicated is Chapter 11:2. There the "holy city" is to be "tread under foot forty and two months."

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.

The next verse (11:3) speaks of the "two witnesses" prophesying in sackcloth 1260 days.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth

As noted in exegeting Chapter 12, this time period is identical in terminology with the time period that the woman was to be in the wilderness.

 It can be shown that all of these time periods -

 Daniel 7:25

Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; and 13:5 - are equal and apply to the same period.

 Why then this differentiation? Is it for interpretive purposes so that we can put together the various symbolisms? Is it saying that the first beast of Revelation 13 is the power involved with the work described in Rev. 11:2; and the woman of Revelation 12 has a connection with "the two witnesses"?

If this be so, then there is some "knitting" back and forth between the last section of Revelation and Chapter 11, which must be considered.

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Picking up where we left off yesterday we were talking about the relationship between  the first beast of Rev. 13 and the two witnesses in Rev. 11.

 Why then this differentiation?  Is it for interpretive purposes so that we can put together the various symbolisms? Is it saying that the first beast of Revelation 13 is the power involved with the work described in Rev. 11:2; and the woman of Revelation 12 has a connection with "the two witnesses"? If this be so, then there is some "knitting" back and forth between the last section of Revelation and Chapter 11, which must be considered. Before pursuing further the "beasts" of Revelation 13, let us ask ourselves, what is Rev. 11:2 saying? The verse is couched in symbolism.

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The "court" of the temple was the place of the Altar of Burnt Offering. Here the sacrifices which were symbolic of the one great Sacrifice for sin, were offered. That Sacrifice was offered on earth.  The ministry of the sanctuary typified a Heavenly ministration.  How do we understand then, the symbolism of "the holy city"?  It cannot be the Holy City which comes down at the close of the Millennium, for the "holy city" noted in Rev. 11:2 is already on earth.  However, in the chapters which follow, the Harlot is described not only as a woman, but also a city. (Rev. 17:18)

Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Is the symbol of the "holy city" in Rev. 11:2 then to be equated with the "woman" of Rev. 12?

All of this places the time frame for the first beast of Revelation as the instrument through which the dragon sought to destroy the woman who fled into the wilderness.

The section of the prophecy of Revelation 13 which describes the first beast, can be divided in two parts:

1)    A symbolic description of the beast itself and a brief overview of its history (vs. 1-4); and

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 make war with him?

2)    What it was to do in the time period allotted (vs. 5-7).

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.

A question arises at this point, do we consider the verses as consecutive, thus placing the 42 months after the healing of the "deadly wound," or is one section a prophetic amplification of the other?

What is interesting is the parallel between the 42 months, if understood literally, and the 3 1/2 days of Rev. 11:9, if considered prophetically. Both would equal exactly 3 1/2 years.

However, the connection between the "first beast" and Revelation 11 is with "the holy city," while "the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit" is connected with the 3 1/2 days (11:7-9; See also 17:8).

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Rev 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Again we are left with SO much to consider. The first beast matches up with the fourth beast in Daniel 7.

Rome was a composite of all the beasts that had come before it. Rome the power that would exist in a fallen state- divided- until Christ comes again.  The first beast in Rev. 13 Rome (Pagan/Papal) and Rev. 11 - connected with the holy city.

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Forty-two months- the first beast would reign, forty-two months- the witnesses would be tread underfoot.

The Papacy - the first beast was wounded as the two witnesses were finished being trod underfoot- as God's written word began to flourish, as His prophecies were being revealed as the little book was opened.  These aren't haphazard occurrences - this is all foretold by our God. Our Savior is coming again and this WE have to look forward to. The beast will be destroyed and Christ will reign.

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Yes, this study is bringing up questions and not just lecturing and giving answers. WE NEED TO STUDY FOR OURSELVES as well as read what Biblical scholars have studied for us. The Bible talks of 'some being teachers'  1Co_12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.   Why would it tell us this if there weren't to be people to teach us? Why? The fact is there ARE teachers and we are to pray and study, learning from the teachers what God would have us know. God will give us discernment, true discernment all by the grace of Jesus and we must pray for this discernment as we study over and over again.

This AFFECTS us all. We know that right before Christ returns there are things that must take place and that is why this ALL is so incredibly important, why we do not dare give up on this because we find it confusing. We will continue on with our study and do so with various prophecy teachers, praying God give us what we need to know in order to be wholly HIS.

All through the love and mercy, the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever!!!!!!! Amen.

The Lamb-like Beast of Revelation.

After our study of the last few days it's clear that history and deep study of the Bible has revealed that the Beast so far mentioned in Revelation 13 is the same Papal power we know from our study of Daniel.  The two books - Daniel and Revelation go hand in hand in prophecy.   Let's continue on in Revelation and learn more, this time about another beast. By the grace of God may we gain all the understanding He would have us know so we may be blessed and keep the things in His Revelation.

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This next excerpt is from 'Facts of Faith' By Christian Edwardson

'24. The United States In Prophecy

A Beautiful Picture WE HAVE now seen that "the first beast of Revelation 13: 1-10 represents the Papacy, and that it received its "deadly wound" in 1798, when the Papal States had been abolished, Rome declared a republic, and Pope Pius VI taken a prisoner into France where he died in "captivity," August 19, 1799.

(Revelation 13: 3, 10.) The prophet then sees "another beast coming up." Verse ll. Knowing that a "beast” in prophecy represents a "kingdom" (Daniel 7: 23) we must conclude that a new nation was to come up about 1798.

In 1754 John Wesley, in his "New Testament with Explanatory Notes," applied the beast of Revelation 13: 1-10 to the Papacy, and then wrote the following note under the eleventh verse: "Another . . . beast. . . . But he is not yet come, though he cannot be far off; for he is to appear at the end of the forty two months of the first beast. And he had two horns like a lamb-a mild, innocent appearance." - p. 427.

In locating this new nation let us notice the following points in this prophecy:

(1) When the prophet saw the papal beast go "into captivity" (Revelation 13: 10), he "beheld another beast" "like a lamb" "coming up." Verse 11.

A lamb is not full grown. This nation, therefore, would be coming up, and not be full grown in 1798, when the papal beast went into captivity.

(2) While the four beasts of Daniel 7: 3, and the first beast of Revelation 13: 1, all came up from "the sea," which in prophecy means "peoples, and multitudes" (Revelation 17: 15), the second beast of Revelation 13: 11 came "up out of the earth," indicating that, while the former kingdoms arose in countries populated with peoples and multitudes, this latter nation was to rise in new territory, not formerly occupied.

(3) The dragon of Revelation 12, and the first beast of Revelation 13, both had crowns, but this beast had none, which would indicate that it was to be a republic, having no crowned head.

(4) It would exercise its power "before" the papal beast (verse 12), showing that it is not a Catholic nation, nor counted as part of the papal confederacy, therefore it would naturally be a Protestant nation to begin with.

(5) It would be a great nation, for it was equal in power to the Papacy. Verse 12.

(6) And yet its principles were to be lamb like, mild (verse 11), or as the Danish and German have it: "Like the lamb," - Christlike. And Christ advocated two great principles: First, separation of church and state. He said: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Luke 20: 25. That is, keep the two separate. Second, religious liberty. He said: "If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not." John 12:47. "Judge not, that ye be not judged!' Matthew 7: 1.

It is evident that only one nation answers to all these specifications: the United States of America. It became an independent nation in 1776, and was not full grown in 1798, having only thirteen states, compared with forty-eight now. Its peaceful growth and principles of liberty answer also to the predictions of this prophecy.

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The United States in Prophecy.  It's true, the United States is in prophecy and we need to understand this further. By the grace of God alone this will be possible!

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever, and ever, AMEN.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! ******

Blessed if we read and keep the things written in the Book of Revelation- Lord, please bless us, please.

Plainly- Revelation 13 begins by telling us there is a kingdom/rulership/power that rose up among a lot of people, and this power is revealed by the details of the vision and previous verses throughout Revelation.  Through the study which goes into great detail we come to comprehend that this is the Papal power we've already talked about.

Rev 13 verse 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.  

The sea is a symbol of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Rev. 17:15

Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

A beast is the Bible symbol of an unrighteous nation, or power, representing sometimes the civil power alone, sometimes the ecclesiastical in connection with the civil. Whenever a beast is seen to come up out of the sea, it denotes that the power arises in a thickly populated territory; and if the winds are represented as blowing upon the sea, as in Dan. 7:2, 3, political commotion, civil strife, and revolution are indicated.

Dan 7:2  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Dan 7:17  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Dan 7:18  But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.  (Kings/Kingdoms- the RULING POWERS)

This beast rising up out of the sea in Rev. 13 is an unrighteous nation, possibly representing civil power, or civil and religious power that arises from a very populated area.

Rev 13 verse 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.

This beast/power has seven heads and ten horns, and on the horns ten crowns and on the heads is the name blasphemy.

By the dragon of the previous chapter, and the beast first introduced in this, we have the Roman power as a whole brought to view in its two phases, pagan and papal; hence these two symbols have each the seven heads and ten horns.

(((From the last chapter-

…having fixed the chronology of the prophecy at the time when he (CHRIST)was born into this world, it will be easy to find the power symbolized by the dragon; for the dragon represents some power which did attempt to destroy him at his birth. Was any such attempt made? and who made it? No formal answer to this question need be given to anyone who has read how Herod, in a fiendish effort to destroy the infant Jesus, sent forth and slew all the children in Bethlehem, from two years old and under. But who was Herod? - A Roman governor. From Rome Herod derived his power. Rome ruled at that time over all the world (Luke 2:1), and was therefore the responsible party in this transaction. Moreover, Rome was the only earthly government which at that time could be symbolized in prophecy, for this very reason that its dominion was universal. It is not, therefore, without the most conclusive reason that the Roman empire is considered by Protestant commentators generally to be the power indicated by the great red dragon. And it may be a fact worth mentioning that during the second, third, fourth, and fifth centuries of the Christian era, next to the eagle the dragon was the principal standard of the Roman legions; and that dragon was painted red, as though, in faithful response to the picture held up by the seer of Patmos, they would exclaim to the world, We are the nation which that picture represents. 

As we have said, Rome, in the person of Herod, attempted to destroy Jesus Christ, when he sent forth and destroyed all the children of Bethlehem from two years old and under. The child which was born to the expectant desires of a waiting and watching church, was our adorable Redeemer, who is soon to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Herod could not destroy him; the combined powers of earth and hell could not overcome him; and though held for a time under the dominion of the grave, he rent its cruel bands, opened a way of life for mankind, and was caught up to God and his throne. He ascended to heaven in the sight of his disciples, leaving to them and us the promise that he would come again.

And the church fled into the wilderness at the time the papacy was established, in 538, where it was nourished by the word of God and the ministration of angels during the long, dark, and bloody rule of that power, 1260 years.

It may be proper to notice that according to the testimony of this chapter, three powers are made use of by the devil to carry out his work, and hence all are spoken of as the dragon, he being the inspiring agent in them all. These are,  (1)   pagan Rome;  (2)   papal Rome;  (3)   the two-horned beast, our own government under the control of apostate Protestantism, which is the chief agent, as will hereafter appear, in making war upon those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.

))))

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.

The seven-headed and ten-horned beast, or, more briefly, the leopard beast, here introduced, symbolizes a power which exercises ecclesiastical as well as civil authority. This point is of sufficient importance to justify the introduction of a few of the conclusive arguments which go to prove it.

The line of prophecy in which this symbol occurs commences with chapter 12. The symbols of earthly governments embraced in the prophecy are, the dragon of chapter 12, and the leopard beast and two-horned beast of chapter 13. The same line of prophecy evidently continues into chapter 14, closing with verse 5 of that chapter. Commencing, therefore, with verse 1 of chapter 12, and ending with verse 5 of chapter 14, we have a line of prophecy distinct and complete in itself.

Each of the powers here introduced is represented as fiercely persecuting the church of God. The scene opens with the church, under the symbol of a woman, anxiously longing for the promise to be fulfilled that the seed of the woman, the Lord of glory, should appear among men. The dragon stood before the woman for the purpose of devouring her child. His evil design is thwarted, and the child is caught up to God and his throne. A period follows in which the church suffers severe oppression from this dragon power. And though in this part of the scene the prophet occasionally glances forward, once even down almost to the end, beckons all the enemies of the church were to be actuated by the spirit of the dragon, yet in verse 1 of chapter 13 we are carried back to the time when the leopard beast, the successor of the dragon, commences his career. From this power, for the long period of 1260 years, the church suffers war and persecution. Following this period of oppression, the church has another conflict, brief, but sharp and severe, with the two-horned beast. Then comes deliverance; and the prophecy closes with the church brought safely through all her persecutions, and standing victorious with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Thank God for the sure promise of final victory!

The one character which ever appears the same in all these scenes, and whose history is the leading theme through all the prophecy, is the church of God. The other characters are her persecutors, and are introduced simply because they are such. And here, as an introductory inquiry, we raise the question, Who or what is it that persecutes the true church? - It is a false or apostate church. What is it that is ever warring against true religion? - It is a false and counterfeit religion. Who ever heard of the civil power, merely, of any nation, persecuting the people of God? Governments may war against other governments, to avenge some wrong, real or imaginary, or to acquire territory and extend their power, as nations have often warred against the Jews; but governments do not persecute (mark the word - do not persecute) people on account of their religion, unless under the control of some opposite and hostile system of religion. But the powers introduced in this prophecy, - the dragon, the leopard beast, and the two-horned beast, - are all persecuting powers. They are actuated by rage and enmity against the people and church of God. And this fact is of itself sufficiently conclusive evidence that in each of these powers the ecclesiastical or religious element is the controlling power.

Take the dragon: what does it symbolize? - The Roman empire, is the undeniable answer. But this is not enough. No one would be satisfied with this answer and no more. It must be more definite. We then add, The Roman empire in its pagan form, to which all must also agree. But just as soon as we say pagan, we introduce a religious element; for paganism is one of the hugest systems of counterfeit religion that Satan ever devised. The dragon, then, is so far an ecclesiastical power that the very characteristic by which it is distinguished is a false system of religion. And what made the dragon persecute the church of Christ? - It was because Christianity was prevailing against paganism, sweeping away its superstitions, overturning its idols, and dismantling its temples. The religious element of that power was touched, and persecution was the result.

We now come to the leopard beast of chapter 13. What does that symbolize? The answer still is, The Roman empire. But the dragon symbolized the Roman empire, and why does not the same symbol represent it still? - Ah! there has been a change in the religious character of the empire; and this beast symbolizes Rome in its professedly Christian form. And it is this change of religion, and this alone, which makes a change in the symbol necessary. This beast differs from the dragon only in that he presents a different religious aspect. Hence it would be altogether wrong to affirm that it denotes simply the Roman civil power.

To this beast the dragon gives his seat, his power, and great authority. By what power was pagan Rome succeeded? We all know that it was by papal Rome. It matters not to our present purpose when or by what means this change was effected; the great fact is apparent, and is acknowledged by all, that the next great phase of the Roman empire after its pagan form was its papal. It would not be correct, therefore, to say that pagan Rome gave its seat and power to a form of government merely civil, having no religious element whatever. No stretch of the imagination can conceive of such a transaction. But two phases of empire are here recognized; and in the prophecy, Rome is pagan until Rome is papal. The statement that the dragon gave to the leopard beast his seat and power, is further evidence that the dragon of Rev. 12:3 is not a symbol of Satan personally; for Satan has not abdicated in favor of any other malevolent being; and he has not given up his seat to any earthly power.

But it may be said that it takes the leopard beast and two-horned beast together to constitute the papacy, and hence it is to these that the dragon gives his power, seat, and great authority. But the prophecy does not say so. It is the leopard beast alone with which the dragon has to do. It is to that beast alone that he gives his power, seat, and great authority. It is that beast that has a head that is wounded to death, which is afterward healed; that beast that the whole world wonders after; that beast that receives a mouth speaking blasphemies, and that wears out the saints for 1260 years; and all this before the succeeding power, the two-horned beast, comes upon the stage of action at all. The leopard beast alone, therefore, symbolizes the Roman empire in its papal form, the controlling influence being ecclesiastical.

To show this more fully, we have but to draw a parallel between the little horn of Dan. 7:8, 20, 24, 25, and this power. From this comparison it will appear that the little horn referred to and the leopard beast symbolize the same power; but the little horn is acknowledged on all hands to be a symbol of the papacy. There are six points of identity, as follows: -

    1. The little horn was a blasphemous power. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Dan. 7:25. The leopard beast of Rev. 13:6 does the same. "He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God."

   2. The little horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Dan. 7:21. This beast also (Rev. 13:7) makes war with the saints, and overcomes them.

   3. The little horn had a month speaking great things. Dan. 7: 8, 20. And of this beast we read, Rev. 13:5: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies."

   4. The little horn arose on the cessation of the pagan form of the Roman empire. The beast of Rev. 13:2 arises at the same time; for the dragon, pagan Rome, gives him his power, his seat, and great authority.

   5. Power was given to the little horn to continue for a time, times, and the dividing of time, or 1260 years. Dan. 7:25. To this beast also power was given for forty-two months, or 1260 years. Rev. 13:5.

  6. At the end of that specified period, the dominion of the little horn was to be taken away. Dan. 7:26. At the end of the same period, the leopard beast was himself to be "led into captivity." Rev. 13:10. Both these specifications were fulfilled in the captivity and exile of the pope, and the temporary overthrow of the papacy by France in 1798.

Here are points that prove identity; for when we have in prophecy two symbols, as in this instance, representing powers that come upon the stage of action at the same time, occupy the same territory, maintain the same character, do the same work, exist the same length of time, and meet the same fate, those symbols represent the same identical power.

Now all the particulars above specified do apply alike to the little horn, and the leopard beast of chapter 13, showing that these two symbols represent the same power. It is admitted on all hands that the little horn represents the papacy; and he who claims that this leopard beast does not represent the same, must, to be consistent, show that at the same time that the papacy arose, there arose another great power exactly like it, occupying the same territory, bearing the same character, doing the same work, continuing the same length of time, and meeting the same fate, and yet a separate and distinct power; which would be as absurd as it would be impossible.

The head that was wounded to death was the papal head. We are held to this conclusion by the very obvious principle that whatever is spoken in prophecy of the symbol of any government, applies to that government only while it is represented by that symbol. Now Rome is represented by two symbols, the dragon and the leopard beast, because it has presented two phases, the pagan and the papal; and whatever is said of the dragon applies to Rome only in its pagan form, and whatever is said of the leopard beast applies to Rome only in its professedly Christian form. But Rome was pagan in John's day, who lived under the sixth or imperial head. This shows us at once that six of the heads, including the imperial, belong to the dragon; and if it was any one of these heads which was wounded to death, then it was one of the heads of the dragon, or one of the forms of government that belonged to Rome in its pagan form, and not one of the heads of the beast; and John should have said, I saw one of the heads of the dragon wounded to death. But he says that it was one of the heads of the beast that was wounded to death. In other words, this wound fell upon some form of government that existed in the Roman empire after its change from paganism- to Christianity. But after this change, there was but one head, and that was the papal. 1  Thus it is placed beyond controversy that it was none other than the papal head that was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. This wounding is the same as the going into captivity. Rev. 13:10. It was inflicted when the pope was taken prisoner by Berthier, the French general, and the papal government was for a time abolished, in 1798. Stripped of his power, both civil and ecclesiastical, the captive pope, Pius Vl, died in exile at Valence in France, Aug. 29, 1799. But the deadly wound was healed when the papacy was re-established, though with a diminution of its former power, by the election of a new pope, March 14, 1800. (See Bower's History of the Popes, pp. 404-428; Croly on the Apocalypse, London edition, p. 251.)

This beast opens his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name. (See mention under Dan. 7:25 of the presumptuous titles assumed by the popes.)

He blasphemes the tabernacle in heaven by turning the attention of his subjects to his own throne and palace instead of to the tabernacle of God; by turning their attention away from the city of God, Jerusalem above, and pointing them to Rome as the eternal city; and he blasphemes them that dwell in heaven by assuming to exercise the power of forgiving sins, and so turning away the minds of men from the mediatorial work of Christ and his heavenly assistants in the sanctuary above.

By verse 10 we are again referred to the events of 1798, when that power that had for 1260 years led the saints of God into captivity, was led into captivity itself, as already noticed.

1--   The symbol as here presented has but seven heads, denoting seven forms of government, not contemporaneous but successive. Of course only one head is ruling at any one time; but all are placed alike upon the dragon and beast to identify both these symbols as denoting the Roman power. Six heads belonged to the dragon; that is, six forms of government were developed and passed away one after another,while the religion of Rome was pagan; and only one remained to be developed after the change to Christianity, and that was the papal; which as a spiritual power continues to the end (2 Thess. 2:8), and as a temporal power to the time when his dominion is taken away just before the end. Dan. 7:26.

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Why is it important for us to know this? Why must we be sure of this? Because we are told we are blessed if we read and keep what is in this book of Revelation. We are told our history, not only our parents or those living hundreds, thousands of years ago but our history and we need to comprehend OUR history, our future! We must WATCH and PRAY and know and KEEP by the grace and mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR and to do that we have to comprehend it's important we know this truth! Please, pray.

Prophetic Beasts

Taking a short break from the other study to get a different perspective. We started out with Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith and today we are going back to him for a bit. I wanted more in- depth for this. Because we don't all know this, we just don't.  Tomorrow we're going to jump back to William Grotheer's take on this which brings up more questions and may God help us in all this, that we find the understanding we need.

In the name of Jesus, always! Amen.

The Beasts in Revelation 13-

REVELATION CHAPTER -- XIII -- Persecuting Powers Professedly Christian   (By Uriah Smith- Daniel and Revelation)

p 558 - VERSE 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.   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.   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.   4.    And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?   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.   6.    And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.   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.   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.   9.  If any man have an ear, let him hear.   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.

The sea is a symbol of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Rev. 17:15. A beast is the Bible symbol of an unrighteous nation, or power, representing sometimes the civil power alone, sometimes the ecclesiastical in connection with the civil. Whenever a beast is seen to come up out of the sea, it denotes that the power arises in a thickly populated territory; and if the winds are represented as blowing upon the sea, as in Dan. 7:2, 3, political commotion, civil strife, and revolution are indicated.

p 559 -- By the dragon of the previous chapter, and the beast first introduced in this, we have the Roman power as a whole brought to view in its two phases, pagan and papal; hence these two symbols have each the seven heads and ten horns. (See on chapter 17:10.)

The seven-headed and ten-horned beast, or, more briefly, the leopard beast, here introduced, symbolizes a power which exercises ecclesiastical as well as civil authority. This point is of sufficient importance to justify the introduction of a few of the conclusive arguments which go to prove it.

The line of prophecy in which this symbol occurs commences with chapter 12. The symbols of earthly governments embraced in the prophecy are, the dragon of chapter 12, and the leopard beast and two-horned beast of chapter 13. The same line of prophecy evidently continues into chapter 14, closing with verse 5 of that chapter. Commencing, therefore, with verse 1 of chapter 12, and ending with verse 5 of chapter 14, we have a line of prophecy distinct and complete in itself.

Each of the powers here introduced is represented as fiercely persecuting the church of God. The scene opens with the church, under the symbol of a woman, anxiously longing for the promise to be fulfilled that the seed of the woman, the Lord of glory, should appear among men. The dragon stood before the woman for the purpose of devouring her child. His evil design is thwarted, and the child is caught up to God and his throne. A period follows in which the church suffers severe oppression from this dragon power. And though in this part of the scene the prophet occasionally glances forward, once even down almost to the end, bacons all the enemies of the church were to be actuated by the spirit of the dragon, yet in verse 1 of chapter 13 we are carried back to the time when the leopard beast, the successor of the dragon, commences his career. From this power, for the long period of 1260 years, the church suffers war and persecution. Following this period of oppression, the church has another conflict, brief, but sharp and severe, with the two-horned beast. Then comes deliverance; and the prophecy closes with the

p 560 -- church brought safely through all her persecutions, and standing victorious with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Thank God for the sure promise of final victory!

The one character which ever appears the same in all these scenes, and whose history is the leading theme through all the prophecy, is the church of God. The other characters are her persecutors, and are introduced simply because they are such. And here, as an introductory inquiry, we raise the question, Who or what is it that persecutes the true church? - It is a false or apostate church. What is it that is ever warring against true religion? - It is a false and counterfeit religion. Who ever heard of the civil power, merely, of any nation, persecuting the people of God? Governments may war against other governments, to avenge some wrong, real or imaginary, or to acquire territory and extend their power, as nations have often warred against the Jews; but governments do not persecute (mark the word - do not persecute) people on account of their religion, unless under the control of some opposite and hostile system of religion. But the powers introduced in this prophecy, - the dragon, the leopard beast, and the two-horned beast, - are all persecuting powers. They are actuated by rage and enmity against the people and church of God. And this fact is of itself sufficiently conclusive evidence that in each of these powers the ecclesiastical or religious element is the controlling power.

Take the dragon: what does it symbolize? - The Roman empire, is the undeniable answer. But this is not enough. No one would be satisfied with this answer and no more. It must be more definite. We then add, The Roman empire in its pagan form, to which all must also agree. But just as soon as we say pagan, we introduce a religious element; for paganism is one of the hugest systems of counterfeit religion that Satan ever devised. The dragon, then, is so far an ecclesiastical power that the very characteristic by which it is distinguished is a false system of religion. And what made the dragon persecute the church of Christ? - It was because Christianity was prevailing against paganism, sweeping away its superstitions, overturning its idols, and dismantling its

p 561 -- temples. The religious element of that power was touched, and persecution was the result.

We now come to the leopard beast of chapter 13. What does that symbolize? The answer still is, The Roman empire. But the dragon symbolized the Roman empire, and why does not the same symbol represent it still? - Ah! there has been a change in the religious character of the empire; and this beast symbolizes Rome in its professedly Christian form. And it is this change of religion, and this alone, which makes a change in the symbol necessary. This beast differs from the dragon only in that he presents a different religious aspect. Hence it would be altogether wrong to affirm that it denotes simply the Roman civil power.

To this beast the dragon gives his seat, his power, and great authority. By what power was pagan Rome succeeded? We all know that it was by papal Rome. It matters not to our present purpose when or by what means this change was effected; the great fact is apparent, and is acknowledged by all, that the next great phase of the Roman empire after its pagan form was its papal. It would not be correct, therefore, to say that pagan Rome gave its seat and power to a form of government merely civil, having no religious element whatever. No stretch of the imagination can conceive of such a transaction. But two phases of empire are here recognized; and in the prophecy, Rome is pagan until Rome is papal. The statement that the dragon gave to the leopard beast his seat and power, is further evidence that the dragon of Rev. 12:3 is not a symbol of Satan personally; for Satan has not abdicated in favor of any other malevolent being; and he has not given up his seat to any earthly power.

But it may be said that it takes the leopard beast and two-horned beast together to constitute the papacy, and hence it is to these that the dragon gives his power, seat, and great authority. But the prophecy does not say so. It is the leopard beast alone with which the dragon has to do. It is to that beast alone that he gives his power, seat, and great authority. It is that beast that has a head that is wounded to death, which is afterward healed; that beast that the whole

p 562 -- world wonders after; that beast that receives a mouth speaking blasphemies, and that wears out the saints for 1260 years; and all this before the succeeding power, the two-horned beast, comes upon the stage of action at all. The leopard beast alone, therefore, symbolizes the Roman empire in its papal form, the controlling influence being ecclesiastical.

To show this more fully, we have but to draw a parallel between the little horn of Dan. 7:8, 20, 24, 25, and this power. From this comparison it will appear that the little horn referred to and the leopard beast symbolize the same power; but the little horn is acknowledged on all hands to be a symbol of the papacy. There are six points of identity, as follows: -

    1. The little horn was a blasphemous power. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Dan. 7:25. The leopard beast of Rev. 13:6 does the same. "He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God."

   2. The little horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Dan. 7:21. This beast also (Rev. 13:7) makes war with the saints, and overcomes them.

   3. The little horn had a month speaking great things. Dan. 7: 8, 20. And of this beast we read, Rev. 13:5: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies."

   4. The little horn arose on the cessation of the pagan form of the Roman empire. The beast of Rev. 13:2 arises at the same time; for the dragon, pagan Rome, gives him his power, his seat, and great authority.

   5. Power was given to the little horn to continue for a time, times, and the dividing of time, or 1260 years. Dan. 7:25. To this beast also power was given for forty-two months, or 1260 years. Rev. 13:5.

  6. At the end of that specified period, the dominion of the little horn was to be taken away. Dan. 7:26. At the end of the same period, the leopard beast was himself to be "led into captivity." Rev. 13:10. Both these specifications were fulfilled in the captivity and exile of the pope, and the temporary overthrow of the papacy by France in 1798.

p 563 -- Here are points that prove identity; for when we have in prophecy two symbols, as in this instance, representing powers that come upon the stage of action at the same time, occupy the same territory, maintain the same character, do the same work, exist the same length of time, and meet the same fate, those symbols represent the same identical power.

Now all the particulars above specified do apply alike to the little horn, and the leopard beast of chapter 13, showing that these two symbols represent the same power. It is admitted on all hands that the little horn represents the papacy; and he who claims that this leopard beast does not represent the same, must, to be consistent, show that at the same time that the papacy arose, there arose another great power exactly like it, occupying the same territory, bearing the same character, doing the same work, continuing the same length of time, and meeting the same fate, and yet a separate and distinct power; which would be as absurd as it would be impossible.

The head that was wounded to death was the papal head. We are held to this conclusion by the very obvious principle that whatever is spoken in prophecy of the symbol of any government, applies to that government only while it is represented by that symbol. Now Rome is represented by two symbols, the dragon and the leopard beast, because it has presented two phases, the pagan and the papal; and whatever is said of the dragon applies to Rome only in its pagan form, and whatever is said of the leopard beast applies to Rome only in its professedly Christian form. But Rome was pagan in John's day, who lived under the sixth or imperial head. This shows us at once that six of the heads, including the imperial, belong to the dragon; and if it was any one of these heads which was wounded to death, then it was one of the heads of the dragon, or one of the forms of government that belonged to Rome in its pagan form, and not one of the heads of the beast; and John should have said, I saw one of the heads of the dragon wounded to death. But he says that it was one of the heads of the beast that was wounded to death. In other words, this wound fell upon some form of government that existed in the Roman empire after its change from paganism

p 564 -- to Christianity. But after this change, there was but one head, and that was the papal. 1  Thus it is placed beyond controversy that it was none other than the papal head that was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. This wounding is the same as the going into captivity. Rev. 13:10. It was inflicted when the pope was taken prisoner by Berthier, the French general, and the papal government was for a time abolished, in 1798. Stripped of his power, both civil and ecclesiastical, the captive pope, Pius Vl, died in exile at Valence in France, Aug. 29, 1799. But the deadly wound was healed when the papacy was re-established, though with a diminution of its former power, by the election of a new pope, March 14, 1800. (See Bower's History of the Popes, pp. 404-428; Croly on the Apocalypse, London edition, p. 251.)

This beast opens his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name. (See mention under Dan. 7:25 of the presumptuous titles assumed by the popes.)

He blasphemes the tabernacle in heaven by turning the attention of his subjects to his own throne and palace instead of to the tabernacle of God; by turning their attention away from the city of God, Jerusalem above, and pointing them to Rome as the eternal city; and he blasphemes them that dwell in heaven by assuming to exercise the power of forgiving sins, and so turning away the minds of men from the mediatorial work of Christ and his heavenly assistants in the sanctuary above.

By verse 10 we are again referred to the events of 1798, when that power that had for 1260 years led the saints of God into captivity, was led into captivity itself, as already noticed.

1--   The symbol as here presented has but seven heads, denoting seven forms of government, not contemporaneous but successive. Of course only one head is ruling at any one time; but all are placed alike upon the dragon and beast to identify both these symbols as denoting the Roman power. Six heads belonged to the dragon; that is, six forms of government were developed and passed away one after another,while the religion of Rome was pagan; and only one remained to be developed after the change to Christianity, and that was the papal; which as a spiritual power continues to the end (2 Thess. 2:8), and as a temporal power to the time when his dominion is taken away just before the end. Dan. 7:26.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! ******

More on this tomorrow by the grace of our GOD!

Please Lord, please forgive me for not being more. Please.

Help us, help me.

The Deceivers of Satan Will Be Beautiful, Cheerful, Pleasant, Sweet, Kind and Deadly.

We are studying the book of Revelation and one of the reason we are doing this is because we will be BLESSED. Don't we all need to be blessed?

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Blessed are those that read, hear, and keep the things written in this book of prophecy.  How can we expect a blessing if we read the entire book of Revelation and understand nothing? What if it all sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to us? If we can't make heads or tails out of what we are reading how are we going to be able to KEEP those thing which are written in this book?

Yesterday we talked about the need for praying to gain understanding and it is my prayer that we will understand all that we need to understand so we may read, hear, and keep the things written in this book of prophecy. Please Lord, please we bow down before Your majesty, before Your presence and we plead with you to help us to find all the truth we need to find in this book of prophecy given to us. You opened the understanding of so many before us and the Holy Spirit guided them to discover the truths by Your will. Please Lord, please we have no hope of comprehending what we need to comprehend without the Holy Spirit guiding us now, right now. We need this not because we deserve it but because our Savior died for us so that we may live in Him, and because of His sacrifice, through HIS righteousness , we may live watching and praying for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So far as we've entered into the second half of the book of Revelation we've encountered quite a few thought provoking verses. 

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When we studied the prophecy of Daniel and linked it to Revelation we knew we were following the instructions given to us by God to rightly divide the word of truth, studying line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.  We have to do this- sheer logic alone demands that we don't ignore the way the two books similarities call us to note them together. 

Revelation 12 is a broad outline- much as Daniel 2 was a broad outline. Revelation 13 is calling us to a deeper understanding. Now let's look closer to what we started studying yesterday-

 In the Thirteeenth Chapter, two "beasts" are seen, one rising "up out of the sea," and the other "coming up out of the earth." (vs. 1, 11)

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 13:11  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.

TWO BEASTS.

One comes 'UP OUT OF THE SEA'.

The other comes 'UP OUT OF THE EARTH'.

These two beasts are related in the text to the dragon.

One receives "his power, and his seat, and great authority" directly from the dragon (v. 2).

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.

 The other, "spake as a dragon" and exercised "all the authority of the first beast," which authority had been given it by the dragon. (vs. 11-12).

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.

TWO BEASTS.

The FIRST beast coming up out of the sea gets his power from the dragon.

The SECOND beast coming up out of the earth gets his power.

Satan is the POWER behind the beasts.  We can NEVER forget this, never. The beasts will NOT want to be recognized as being controlled by Satan- and we know this for a fact-

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

And if Satan can transform himself into an angel of light we know for a fact that these beasts can appear as angels of light- they can deceive by appearing as being forces for good when in truth they are deceiving forces of pure evil.  A person deceived will be given or will have been given every opportunity to see the truth. Too many take the stand of being appalled that seemingly sweet, innocent people are being trapped and God is letting it happen. Those seemingly sweet, innocent people are JUST people like you and I are. And we know for a fact that we are anything but sweet and innocent. Every single old, white haired granny, every gray haired grandpa, every adorable, sweet, soft spoken man and woman is a sinner. We don't like to believe that everyone is a sinner, in fact a lot of times we are shocked when we learn someone we thought sweet commits a crime.  People can't be put on pedestals, not one. We are all sinners and our sins warrant death. The only escape from that penalty is through the forgiveness of our Savior, through His righteousness. When we become Christ's we are open to all His truth and He knows our hearts because He is the one who creates a clean heart in us, giving us a clean heart. If we keep our filthy heart we will never be God's. So many only get a superficial cleaning and think it's enough, but our entire heart must be cleaned. We are chastened and refined by our God if we allow Him to work in our hearts. And still, so many believe that ALL will be saved, that churches are FILLED with saved people- God's people. People believe that being a sweet person is all it take to be God's, but that's not true at all. And we are made to believe that God is awful because He will reject a sweet person. The truth is… God KNOWS our hearts and HE KNOWS the truth in our hearts whether it is His truth or another's.  IF that sweet, sweet person's heart is His and their sweetness is manifested because of Him- He knows and they will be saved! Not a single person from anywhere in the world will be lost if they are HIS.

The beasts are NOT His.

The beasts are Satan's.

These beasts have power that comes from Satan and we cannot forget this as we study.

You say it won't be hard to forget because we associate beasts with evil anyway, but in truth a beast that has power to deceive all but the very elect is a beast that will NOT look or act like a beast at all.

More tomorrow- we're taking this slowwww.

By the grace of God always!!!!

Amen.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 96. God bless you! ******