The Beast Of Revelation 13 & 17

One of Yahuwah's strongest warning for the last days is against receiving the mark of the Beast. Before identifying this mark, let us learn the identity of the Beast.

The Beast

1. What persecuting power did John see coming on the scene?

“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.

2. How did John describe the beast that he saw and when did “the beast” appear?

“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.

Answer: It appeared following the dragon power of chapter 12. If it is correct to identify the dragon with the Roman Empire in the days of Yahushua, then a power is to be identified following the Roman Empire, which is closely related to it. The prophecy declares that the dragon [Roman Empire or pagan Rome] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

NOTE: In Daniel 7, the prophet was shown four successive persecuting powers under the symbolism of monsters, a winged lion, representing Babylon; a deformed bear, representing Medo-Persia; a four-headed, four winged leopard, representing Greece; and a ten-horned beast representing Rome. The beast John saw resembled all these monsters. The papacy is idolatrous, as was Babylon (see Daniel 3). Medo-Persia claimed infallibility (see Daniel 6:8, 15) as does the papacy. Greek philosophers taught the immortality of the soul, a central teaching of the papacy, while Imperial Rome provided the seat and authority of the papacy.

3. What is the similarity between the first beast of Revelation chapter 13 and the whore of chapter 17?

“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.

“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. . . . And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. . . . And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” Revelation 17:3,9,12.

Answer: The description of the whore is parallel to the first beast of Revelation 13 that also has seven heads and ten horns (v. 7) indicating that both symbols represent the same entity – that being the Roman Catholic papal system. Furthermore, the whore is described as sitting on seven mountains (v. 9). Rome has frequently been identified as the City of Seven Hills, from classical times down to contemporary time.

Here Is Wisdom

4. What especially was John shown about the beast?

“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. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Yahuwah to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” Revelation 13:5-6.

“And he shall speak great words against the most High” Daniel 7:25.

“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but Yahuwah only?” Mark 2:7.

“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself Eloah.” John 10:33.

Answer: The Bible identifies several things as blasphemous. For a man to make himself Yahuwah is blasphemous. Paul prophesied that the antichrist would claim to be Yahuwah. See 2 Thessalonians 2:4. This claim has been made by the supposedly infallible popes. For example: The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol. 6, page 48, describes the pope as: 'not a mere man, but as it were God and the vicar of God.' Pope Leo XIII in one of his encyclical letters wrote: 'We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.' Pope Innocent III wrote: 'The pope is not simply a man but rather God on earth.' He also wrote: 'The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ but he is Jesus Christ Himself hidden under the veil of flesh.' 'The Pope is crowned with a triple crown as king of heaven and earth and of the lower regions. Moreover the superiority and the power of the Roman pontiff by no means pertains only to earthly things, but even over angels, than whom he is greater....If angels err in the faith, or think contrary to the faith, they could be judged and excommunicated by the Pope, for he is of so great dignity and power that he forms one and the same tribunal with Christ...The Pope is as it were God on earth, chief king of kings.' Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica Moralis Theologica, Vol. 6, pages 25-29.

NOTE: The Bible describes as blasphemy the practice of claiming to forgive sin. Roman Catholic priest Michael Muller expresses the papal doctrine thus: 'The priest not only declares that the sinner is forgiven, but he really forgives him; so great is the power of the priest, that the judgments of heaven itself are subject to his decision.' (The Catholic Priest, published by Kreuzer Bros., 1876) The Bible also describes as blasphemy the claim of a man to be Yahuwah. The Catholic Encyclopaedia (Volume 6 page 48) quotes the following from Ferraris' Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica Juridica Moralis Theologica: 'The pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God… The Pope is as it were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ, chief king of kings.'

5. What descriptions in Daniel, compared with what we read in Revelation 13:5-7, show that the Beast power is the same as the Little Horn of Daniel 7?

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25.

Note: A time is a year (Daniel 4:16-32; Revelation 12:6,14). A time, two times, and a half a time equal 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, as denoted in Revelation 13. Revelation 12:14 refers to this period of time when the Beast rules as 1260 prophetic days (or literal years). Symbolic time prophecies are based on 30-day months, making 360 days a year. 3 1/2 times 360 equals 1260 days. Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; Ezekiel. 4:6; Numbers 14:34.

6. What does Paul call this power who seeks to exalt himself above Yahuwah?

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called Eloah, or that is worshipped; so that he as Eloah sitteth in the temple of Yahuwah, shewing himself that he is Eloah. . . And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Master shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8.

Answer: The man of sin, “Wicked” and the son of perdition.

Note: The Papacy also removed the 2nd Commandment, which forbids idol worship.  In order to keep 10 Commandments, they divided the 10th Commandment into two parts. So, in fact, they have added an 11^th commandment. Read Exodus 20:3-17 and compare it with the Catholic version below:

R C C VERSION

(Creator's Seal Removed)

I

I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no strange gods before me. (The second commandment has been omitted)

II (actually III)

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

III (actually IV)

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. (The Sabbath commandment has been radically altered)

IV (actually V)

Honor thy father and thy mother.

V (actually VI)

Thou shalt not kill.

VI (actually VII)

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VII (actually VIII)

Thou shalt not steal.

VIII (actually IX)

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

IX (actually X, first part)

Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife.

X (actually X, second part)

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

(--The General Catholic Catechism)

7. What further aspect of the beast's activities was John shown?

“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: 'That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history. The memorials, indeed, of many of her persecutions are now so scanty, that it is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no power of imagination can adequately realize their sufferings.' Dr W. E. H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Volume 2, page 32.

'From the birth of popery in 606 to the present time, it is estimated by careful and credible historians that more than fifty millions of the human family have been slaughtered by popish persecutors, an average of more than forty thousand religious murders for every year of the existence of Popery.' Dr J. Dowling, History of Romanism, pages 541-542.

8. What further identifying feature of the beast was John shown?

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Revelation 13:18.

Answer: The Pope's triple crown holds the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei, which is latin for Vicar of the Son of God. Let’s count the values of this name.

V -- 5 | F -- 0 | D -- 500

I -- 1 | I -- 1 | E -- 0

C -- 100 | L -- 50 | I -- 1

A -- 0 | I -- 1

R -- 0 | I -- 1

I -- 1

U -- 5

S -- 0

Vicarius 112

Filii 53

Dei + 501

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666

NOTE: In the (Roman Catholic) Douai Bible, the following footnote is found under Revelation 13:18: '666. The numeral letters of his name shall make up this number.' In several ancient languages (e.g. Latin, Greek and Hebrew), no separate numerals existed and letters of the alphabet were given numerical values.

It has been known for four hundred years that the title 'Vicarivs Filii Dei' (Vicar or Deputy of the Son of God) has the numerical value of 666. At least six Roman Catholic authorities (Decretum of Gratian, founder of the system of Canon Law 1148-1582, Revised Edition of the 'Decretum' 1582-present, the Catholic Encyclopaedia Volume 6 page 48, Cardinal Manning in The Temporal Power of the Vicar of Christ, pages 231-232, Labbe in Sacrosanta concilia ad regiam editionem exacta, Volume 1 page 1534, and the Donation of Constantine (the forgery used by the papacy for centuries to establish its authority 'over all kindreds, tongues and nations') confirm this to be a title claimed by the pope. The pope is hailed by this title as the crown is placed on his head at his coronation. The title means "vicar of the Son of God." A vicar is one who stands in for another, a deputy or substitute. The Greek word 'antichristos', used by John in 1 John 2:18 22, 1 John 4:3 and 2 John v.7, means one who stands in for the Anointed Yahushua, a deputy or substitute for Yahushua, 'anti-' in Greek being a prefix meaning 'in place of'.

Thus when the pope describes himself as "Vicar of Christ," he is in effect claiming to be antichrist. Andreas Helwig of Friedland, who was the first to reach this conclusion, had already concluded from other passages that the papacy is referred to here. He showed that not only must the name or title yield the number 666; it must also agree with the other Bible evidence identifying the antichrist. It must not be a term of abuse applied by his enemies but must be a title acceptable to the antichrist and indeed one of which he can boast.

Wounded To Death

9. At the end of the beast's period of power, what did John see happening to it?

“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. . . . 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 13:3 10.

10. Was the wound in fact fatal to the beast?

“And his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3, last part.

NOTE: 'What was it that constituted the deadly wound? It was the stripping from the Papacy of its political power. The church continued as a religious body but the political element was destroyed.' Cooke, The Antichrist 666, page 22.

11. What is the world's reaction to the healing of the deadly wound?

“All the world wondered after the beast. . . 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.” Revelation 13:3, last part 8.

NOTE: The Papacy's revival and restoration has amazed the world. One hundred years ago, no Roman Catholic could hold public office in Great Britain or the United States. The Roman Catholic Church was an unpopular, hated and despised church. It was considered by millions to be unchristian, pagan, idolatrous, degrading, oppressive and even a curse to the community. Today, Roman Catholicism is looked upon in exactly the opposite light. It is an amazing reversal of public opinion. Cooke, The Antichrist 666, page 23.

The Judgment Of The Great Whore

12. What was John next shown in his vision?

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Revelation 17:1-2. (Compare Revelation 16:19.)

13. How was Babylon portrayed in this vision?

“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. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” Revelation 17:3-4. Compare verse 18.

Answer: A woman in prophecy represents a ekklesia/church while a beast (the Greek word means a ferocious beast, a totally different word from that used to describe the four beings, described in the King James Bible as 'the four beasts') represents a persecuting power. A woman riding a beast therefore signifies a church controlling and directing a persecuting power, a union of church and state. The description of the woman includes purple, scarlet, gold and precious stones, all used in the sanctuary with symbolic significance. The scarlet represents sin and the blood of Yahushua, the sin-bearer. Purple represents the kingship of Yahushua. Gold represents faith and love, two essential elements of the Christian life while the precious stones represented the people of Yahuwah, worn upon the heart of the high priest, thus symbolizing the tender care of Yahushua for His people. Babylon assumes some of the ornaments of the sanctuary but purely for adornment. Missing is the colour blue, which in sanctuary symbolism represented the law of Yahuwah, and fine linen, representing the righteousness of saints. (See Numbers 15:37-40 and compare Exodus 25:4. See also Revelation 19:8.) Babylon and her daughters claim to continue the worship of Yahuwah while omitting obedience to His law. The result is degeneracy and persecution of Yahuwah's faithful saints.

14. Where was Babylon when John saw her in his vision?

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness.” Revelation 17:3.

Answer: John is transported in vision forward to the time when Babylon is in the wilderness. It is important to remember this fact in interpreting the symbolism which follows. Just as the true ekklesia of Yahuwah was driven into the wilderness in order to find safety from the persecutions of the 1260-year tribulation, so in her turn Babylon, the persecuting power, would suffer a period of persecution and obscurity from 1798 onwards. See Revelation 13:10.

The Mother Of Harlots

15. What name was in the forehead of the great whore?

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:5.

16. What especially did John notice about the great whore?

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Yahushua: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” Revelation 17:6.

Was, And Is Not, And Shall Ascend

17. What three phases of the great whore's career was John told of?

“And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 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. . . And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” Revelation 17:7-8, 11.

A. The Beast that was: The Roman church began in 538 AD and continued until Napoleon sent in General Berthier in 1798 AD
B. ...and is not: From 1798 AD until the signing of the Lateran treaty in 1929 the Roman Church/state was non-existent.
C. ...yet is: From 1929 to present the Roman Church has been a church state.

18. What was John told about the seat of the beast?

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” Revelation 17:9. “The dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority.” Revelation 13:2. last part.

Seven Kings

19. At the time of the scene John saw in his vision, how many of the seven kings had fallen?

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. Revelation 17:10.

NOTE: Five of them have fallen. John was taken in vision to the time of the sixth king: “five are fallen, and one is.” He comes after the first five have fallen. Again, it is not coincidental that when taken in vision, John was taken to the time of the sixth king. It is a divine hint by which Yahuwah is guiding us to focus our attention on this particular king, as he will play a very important role in the end-time events.

20. So who are the seven kings/popes?

Pius XI was the first Roman Catholic pope (from February 6, 1922) who became king as well on February 11, 1929. He along with Mussolini, engineered the Lateran Treaty.

21. What is destined to take place soon during the reign of Pope Francis?

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Revelation 17:11.

Here, we learn the following:

1. The Roman Catholic Church was once a beast (up to 1798), but now is not (as she has been in the wilderness experience since 1798); however, she will soon regain the beast status (meaning she will come out of her wilderness experience) during the reign of Pope Francis.

2. Pope Francis will soon no longer be considered a mere king, but will be a beast as well; for with him the Roman Catholic Church will regain her former power to persecute her enemies.

3. The eighth, Pope Francis, will be the last; for he “goeth into perdition.”

The Eighth King

22. Who is the eighth who will restore the beast status to the Roman Catholic Church anew?

“The beast that thou sawest was [the Catholic Church was once a beast until 1798] and is not [during her wilderness experience], and shall ascend [Pope Francis, the eighth will restore her beast status] out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition.” Revelation 17:8.