Lesson 10 for June 9, 2018
The last section of Revelation depicts the final scenes of mankind history with symbols. As we understand these symbols, we ll see the plan of Satan to attack, deceive and hinder our work as we preach the everlasting gospel in the End Time. 1) THE BEAST FROM THE SEA Revelation 13:1-10 2) THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH Revelation 13:11-13 3) THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST Revelation 13:14-17 4) BABYLON THE GREAT Revelation 17:1-6 5) THE ANGEL THAT ILLUMINATES THE EARTH Revelation 18:1-5
Revelation 13 Daniel 7 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. (Revelation 13:1) Let s compare this beast to the little horn in Daniel so we can identify it. He speaks great things (v. 5) He continued for 42 months (v. 5) He blasphemed against God (v. 6) He made war with the saints (v. 7) He shall think to change times and law (v. 25) He continued for 3.5 years (v. 25) He shall speak against the Most High (v. 25) He shall persecute the saints (v. 25) The only institution that fulfilled that prediction is the Papacy. He was the heir of the Roman Empire and reigned for 1,260 years (42 months, 3.5 years)
In 538 AD, Justinian gave civil power to the bishop of Rome over the city of Rome, after the Ostrogoths (Arian doctrine) were expelled. In 756 AD, Pepin the Short gave dominion over the surroundings of Rome to the Pope. The Papal States were created with Rome as their capital city. In 1494 AD, Pope Alexander VI was given the power to divide the lands of the New World among Castile and Portugal. Nothing was done on Earth without the consent of the Bishop of Rome. On March 7, 1798, the Roman Republic was founded, and Pope Pius VI was arrested and deported to France. The Papacy never got his power back. On September 20, 1870, Victor Emmanuel II set up the new capital in Rome and incorporated the Papal States into Italy. On February 11, 1929, Pius XI and Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty. The Church accepted Italy as a sovereign state, and Italy accepted the Vatican City (a little independent territory of 44 hectares [110 acres] governed by the Pope) as such.
In 538 AD, Justinian gave civil power over the city of Rome to the bishop of Rome, after the Ostrogoths (Arianism doctrine) were expelled. In 756 AD, Pepin the Short gave dominion over Rome surroundings to the Pope. The Papal States were created with Rome as their capital city. In 1494 AD, Pope Alexander VI was given the power to divide the lands of the New World among Castile and Portugal. Nothing was done on Earth without the consent of the Bishop of Rome. On March 7, 1798, the Roman Republic was founded, and Pope Pius VI was arrested and deported to France. Papacy never got his power back. On September 20, 1870, Victor Emmanuel II set up the new capital in Rome and the Papal States came to an end. On February 11, 1929, Pius XI and Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty. The Church accepted Italy as a sovereign state, and Italy accepted the City of Vatican (a little independent territory of 44 hectares [110 acres] governed by the Pope) as so.
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. (Revelation 13:11) The beast is likened unto the United States of North America. He comes up from Earth The United States were founded in a sparsely populated area in 1776 and near the end of the 1,260 years. He has two horns like a lamb Civil and religious powers were separated. That guaranteed freedom of conscience. He was peaceful like a lamb at first. He speaks like a dragon He became an oppressor later. He makes everyone worship the papacy He s not a religious power, but he supports the papacy and works wonders.
An image to the papacy will emerge when civil and religious power unite in the United States. At that moment, the people of God will have to choose between worshipping the beast and his image, and worshipping the Creator (Revelation 14:6-11) And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:14) During the Dark Age, everyone that refused to humble himself before the Roman Church was executed. The prophecy predicts that the power of the Papacy will be restored.
BABYLON THE GREAT And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5) The beasts in Revelation 13 and the one supporting Babylon are similar: 7 heads and 10 horns. Satan controls every oppressive power. The tower of Babel was built to ascend above the heights of the clouds and to be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:14). Every attempt to divert the worship from the Creator is part of Babylon the great. Babylon is a counterfeit of the true Church in chapter 12. PURE WOMAN In heaven Clothed with the sun Crown of 12 stars Attacked by the dragon Mother of the remnant HARLOT On the Waters Clothed in purple Adorned with gold Supported by the dragon Mother of harlots
The last message involves worshipping the Creator, the fall of Babylon and the punishment for all those who receive the mark of the beast. That message is a warning for today. Soon the mark of the beast or being part of Babylon will make the difference between worshipping God or man. There are still many people who don t know how to worship the Creator. When the right moment comes, the Holy Spirit will descend with power and the Remnant will proclaim the loud cry: Come out of her, my people. (Revelation 18:4) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! (Revelation 18:1-2)
No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light [ ] But when [ ] the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast. E.G.W. (Evangelism, ch. 8, p. 234)