The Beast That Refuses to Die There was a popular movie out a few years ago featuring a robot that completely resembled a man. It was called a cyborg. Many times in the movie the viewer was relieved to see this beast dead, only to have it come to life again and again. It survived a crash and a fire. It was finally crushed and died in a mechanical press. It appeared to have many lives. It was a beast that refused to die. The beast of Revelation chapter thirteen was wounded and seemed dead, but came to life again. Those that inflicted the wound would find it hard to believe the beast would survive, let alone gain its power back and more. That is what is happening. The beast that received a deadly wound has almost been completely healed. The whole world is wondering after the beast. But in the end, like the cyborg, it will be totally destroyed. In Daniel we read about a little horn that opposes God and His people. This little horn attempts to set up a world government and is successful for a time. The Book of Revelation, written about seven hundred years after Daniel, tells us about a beast that attempts to set up a one world government. This movement attempts to take control of the world. It succeeds for a time, but is destroyed in the end. Let us leave Daniel for a while and move to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. In chapter thirteen a civil, religious power is 45
presented as a beast that sets itself against God. Here is the presentation: Chapter Thirteen - A Beast Out of the Sea 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. The sea in the days of John was a mystery, a foreboding evil source of who-knows-what. John alludes to this concept when he tells of the eventual destruction of all evil. He speaks of heaven as a place where there is no more sea. 1 In prophecy the sea represents the existence of people, peoples and multitudes. 2 No one suspects he is really the representative of an evil power. The seven heads represent both hills 3 and kings 4. The ten horns are ten kingdoms. 5 The beast here is almost identical to the one mentioned in the seventh chapter of Daniel. 6 Having the name of blasphemy on his heads clearly points to the fact that this is an evil power. A Composite Beast 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, his seat, and great authority. Revelation 13:2. Notice that the beast is a composite of three beasts of prey. Remember also that in Daniel seven the same beasts were mentioned but in the reverse order. In Daniel the lion was first while the leopard was last. The lion represented Babylon and the leopard was Greece. 46
Daniel is looking into the future. John in Revelation is looking back into history in the reverse of Daniel. Please notice that in Daniel chapter two the image in the kings dream was also a composite of future world kingdoms. This composite was of their religions and philosophies. The philosophies of Greece and the religions of Babylon and Rome are still with us. Hitler's Nazi government was founded on the Greek, Plato's philosophy. Babylon's religion and philosophies are with us to such a degree that in Revelation the false church is called Mystery Babylon the Great. 7 Many of the religious practices are with us in the worship of Easter (from Ishtar the Goddess of Fertility) and Christmas with the yule log and the Christmas tree. There is also Halloween and others too numerous to mention. 8 This beast of Revelation chapter thirteen received its power from the dragon 9 and cannot, as some contend, be the dragon itself, Satan. 10 One Head Wounded 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. This beast is most dangerous because it is not recognized as an evil power. No one fears it. Instead of trying to destroy it, they worship it. Only the Word of God reveals its true character. Without the Bible, we would fall prey to the beast. On the surface it seems pious and pure, but only when comparing it to the true will we understand it is the false. Please notice that the power was once strong but later weakened or wounded. After a time, it is healed, and the whole world wonders at its power and wide-spread influence. This power will regain all that it lost and more. What power was once very strong, then wounded and now in the state of recovery? Who could this be? 47
The Beast Has Great Popularity And they worshiped 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? Revelation 13:4. Imagine a religious leader traveling around the world with millions flocking to see him. They look on him as someone to worship. No one suspects he is really the representative of an evil power. To almost all he looks like the good guy with the white hat, but under all his pretended holy outside appearance he is the bad guy. He only wears a white hat in order to deceive. He Continues 42 Months 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. Revelation 13:5. With thirty days for each month times forty-two months, we come up with the figure of 1260 days. A day in Bible prophecy has long been calculated as a year. 11 Consequently, the 1260 days are 1260 years. What religious power governed all or most of the world for that long a time? He Speaks Against God And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. Revelation 13:6. Revelation speaks of blasphemy in regard to the beast of chapter thirteen. Daniel mentioned blasphemy concerning the little horn of chapter seven. It is the act of claiming to be God. The Jews in Jesus day knew this when they said they would stone Jesus because He claimed to be God. 12 48
In Daniel we read about the tabernacle: Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Daniel 9:11) It is necessary to attack the sanctuary doctrine, if the Little Horn is to destroy the truth of God. The sanctuary represents the entire plan of salvation and is explained in its types and symbols. This beast rules the world for the period of 1260 years. During that time it persecuted those who would worship God contrary to its prescribed manner. Persecution of God's People 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. The atrocities carried out in the name of religion during the history of the world will not be known fully until they are brought up in the judgment. This beast ruled the world for a period of 1260 years. During that time it persecuted those who would worship God contrary to its prescribed manner. Daniel says: And he shall say great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High... (Daniel 7:25). Written in the Book 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 13:8. When someone decides to follow God, their name is recorded in the book of life. Those who continue with their names in God's 49
book will refuse to follow and worship the beast of Revelation thirteen. Most will go the wrong way. Which side will the increasingly popular New World Order be on? What part will it play? Yet Another Beast 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. 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 13:11,12. The first beast ruled the world for 1260 years, was wounded and then revived to rule again. The second gives aid to the first beast by setting up an image of the first beast. The second beast causes all to worship the first. Who are these two beasts? Is either the New World Order? 1. Revelation 21:1. 2. Revelation 17:15. 3. Revelation 17:9. 4. Revelation 17:10. 5. Revelation 17:12. 6. Daniel 7:7. 7. Revelation 17:5. 8. See The Two Babylons, by Hislop. 9. Revelation 13:2. 10. Revelation 12:9. 11. Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:33,34. 12. John 10:33. 50