Chapter 53

What symbol is introduced in Revelation 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." Revelation 12:3.

At what time in the world's history did this symbol apply?
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Revelation 12:1.

What did the dragon design to do to the child about to be born to the church?
"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Revelation 12:4.

What became of the child?
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Revelation 12:5.
NOTE. - Christ the Lord is the only one to whom the prophecy can apply (Hebrews 12:2).

Who sought to slay Christ as soon as He was born?
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." Matthew 2:16.

What symbol was next seen by the prophet?
"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." Revelation 13:1.

From what did this government receive its seat and power?
"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." Revelation 13:2.
NOTE.-It is an undisputed point in history that, when Constantine removed the seat of his empire from Rome to Constantinople, in 330 A.D., the city of Rome was given up to the bishop of Rome, who, in 538, became the head of all the churches, and the corrector of heretics, by the work of Justinian, the ruling emperor of the Romans. Thus Rome became the seat of the papacy, and the authority of the pope was derived from the decree of the dragon power. See "Croly on the Apocalypse." pages 114-115.

What was to happen to this beast?
"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." Revelation 13:3.

How was this wounding to be brought about?
"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." Revelation 13:10.

Had the papacy led others into captivity?
"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." Revelation 13:7.
NOTE. - Many millions have been martyred by the Roman Church, because they dared to differ with her in religious opinions. See "Fox's Book of Martyrs;" "The Wars of the Huguenots;" "Buck's Theological Dictionary," art. Persecutions; histories of the Reformation, etc.

When was the papal head wounded by being taken into captivity?
In 1798, the French army under Berthier then abolished the papacy in Rome, proclaimed a republic there, and carried Pope Pius VI a captive from place to place till he died at Valence, France, August 28,1799. See reading "A Remarkable Symbol." page 29.

At that time what additional symbol was seen by the prophet?
"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." Revelation 13:11.

Has the United States "come up" sufficiently to warrant the application of the prophecy to this country?
The "Centennial History of the United States" says: "The extent of the conceded domain of the United States, in 1776, was not more than half a million square miles. Now (1875) it is more than three million, three hundred thousand square miles. Its population then was three million; in 1875-forty million. Today it is over two hundred fifty million.

What do the "two horns like a lamb" represent?
A horn represents a kingdom, or a component part of a kingdom, as in Daniel 7:7,8,24,25. Lamb-like horns would indicate youthfulness, innocence, and gentleness. The "two" horns may represent the two leading principles of the government, civil and religious liberty.

Notwithstanding the lamb-like pretensions of this power, what is it ultimately to do?
"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." Revelation 13:11.

What will he say?
"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." Revelation 13:14.
NOTE. - The beast "which had the wound by a sword and did live," is the papacy. That was a church clothed with the civil power. In other words, it enforced its religious dogmas by the civil power, under pain of confiscation of goods, imprisonment, and death.

When the image to the beast has been formed in the United States, what will follow?
"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." Revelation 13:15.

How are the people to be led to form the image to the beast?
"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." Revelation 13:14.

How much power will be exercised in the matter?
"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." Revelation 13:12.
NOTE. - The "first beast before him" (the papal power) exercised the power of putting to death all who differed with them in religious faith.

What will the two-horned beast power try to enforce on the people?
"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." Revelation 13:16.

How far is this to be carried?
"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." Revelation 13:17.
NOTE. - That is, all who do not receive the mark are to be denied the right of citizenship. For the characteristics of the beast itself see the following chapter (54).

Comments (6)

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the child to be born
written by miriam mwibanda, August 26, 2009

this gives as Avery clear evidence on how the son of God was born to us,but the devil lucifer came in to show his powers over Jesus,but we have to be aware of this that the devil came to steal and destroy,but the son of man came to give life and life indeed,in abundance, we should therefore cling to this truth for Jesus Christ came to give us healing,to have life and share in God's eternity. Therefore this son that was born is the truth to the church, and was caught by God, so he is the only truth that the church has to stand by,and the only truth and prophecy that apply.

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The Child who was caught up to God!
written by Mazin Sweis, May 02, 2009

With all due respect to the interpreter regarding the child who was born of the woman, and was caught up to God and His thrown, this child is definitely not the Christ. Christ need not be caught to His Father and to His Thrown; Christ ascended to His original place that He had before He descended from His Glory and became a Man. It is obvious that child resembles those 144,000 who were gone under translation and were taken alive to God and to His thrown. Perhaps those are the 144,000 people who were first to translate to God's Thrown. Furthermore, Christ was not caught to His Father as a Child, but as the Son of God 40 days after His resurrection. In addition, Satan was, after the crucifixion of Christ, attempting to win the war between him and Christ, notwithstanding that by this very act to crucify Christ, he brought the greatest drubbing (defeat) upon Him self, while Christ accomplished the greatest victory between Good and evil and brought Salvation to all mankind by His death on the cross. Satan was defeated utterly and brought to shame by the work of Christ who ascended later to the Thrown of His Father. Christ then resumed His work to interceding between Man and God, who in 1844 entered the final stage of the intercession before His reappearance on the cloud with the 144,000 with Him.

This child is the first fruit of the Church that was caught up or rather translated alive to God and to His Thrown. Whatever they are, they are definitely not Christ. I do emphasize to modify this statement written in this page to reflect proper meaning. I do not comment on this issue to offense the writer's interpretation. I am only making a request to reconsider the right interpretation on who the child truly is.

Thank you!

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God's people
written by Natalie K, April 25, 2009

There was a time when the Israelites were considered as God's people, but since they crucified Jesus as a nation, the title of God's people was moved on to all those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior, whether Jews or Gentiles. A woman in prophecy represents a church, not Israel, as Ephesians 5:25 shows us.

God bless you.
In His love and service,
WLC Team

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Replacement Theology
written by Lee Gilbert, April 23, 2009

Am I to understand from your answer in #4 of your reply that WLC is a proponent of "Replacement Theology?" That is to say that Israel in the bible and prophecy has been replaced by the church?
I've heard of those that believe this to go so far as to say wherever the nation of Israel comes up in the bible, it can be replaced by the word church. Does WLC believe in Replacement Theology?

I understand the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and the woman is Israel. (Not the Body of Christ)

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To Itg
written by Natalie K, April 22, 2009

Hello Itg,

You have asked some good questions.
1) There are different understandings of the 7 heads and horns in Revelation 12, 13, and 17. Please contact me on my email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for further clarification.
2) Many people understand that the crown of twelve stars on the woman in Revelation 12 represents the twelve apostles.
3) Yes, we are of the opinion that a literal 1 out of every 3 angels in heaven were deceived by Satan, and thus were cast out with him, becoming demons.
4) I am glad to see that you realize that the woman represents the people of God, who are no longer the literal nation of Israel, but all those who accept Jesus. Indeed, the child represented in Rev. 12 is Jesus.
5) The significance of Herod slaying all those children in an attempt to kill Jesus is a demonstration of how the devil tried to kill Jesus, how the dragon tried to devour the male child that the woman in Rev. 12 delivered.

These questions, in this Bible Study, have been prepared long ago, and they are commonly known as Bible Readings. This particular study has not been prepared by the team here at WLC but has been adopted from "Bible Readings".

I hope that all is clear and understandable. God bless you!

In His love and service,
WLC Team

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Questions about the first five questions in this Q & A
written by Lee Gilbert, April 17, 2009

I have a few questions not answered in the response given by WLC to the questions, and a few comments as well.
In question #1, what do you think is the meaning of the seven heads, the ten horns, and the ten crowns worn by the dragon,(Satan)?
In question #2, what is the meaning of the crown of twelve stars that the woman is wearing?
In the third question, do you agree that the one third of the stars the dragon swept to the earth with his tail are fallen angels?
In the fourth question, I think it is obvious and agree that the woman is Israel, and the Child born is indeed, Christ our Lord.
The fifth question, would you explain what the signifigance of King Herod slaying the male children under the age of two has to do with end-time prophecy?
Also, I am curious if these questions were asked by WLC members, or are they merely questions that were assumed we needed to hear your opinion of the meaning of these things?

love and peace, in the spirit of Berean curiosity,
ltg

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