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IV. JOHN'S
FOREVIEW.
"John 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. And the
'BEAST' which I saw was like 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 (Throne), and GREAT AUTHORITY.
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.' 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? 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."
When we compare these
"Foreviews," and note the similarity of conduct of
Daniel's "LITTLE HORN," Paul's "MAN OF SIN," and
John's "BEAST," and that Daniel's "LITTLE HORN" and
John's "BEAST" are to continue for the same length
of time--"Forty and Two Months," or 3½ years, and
that Daniel's "LITTLE HORN," Paul's "MAN OF SIN,"
and John's "BEAST," are all to be destroyed in the
same manner at Christ's "Second Coming," we see that
they all prefigure the same "Evil Power," which is
after the "Working of Satan," and which John in 1
John 2:18, calls THE ANTICHRIST. In other words when
we find in prophecy "Three Symbolic Personages" that
come upon the stage of action at the same time,
occupy the same territory, exhibit the same
character, do the same work, exist the same length
of time, and meet the same fate, they must symbolize
the SAME THING.
Before we examine in
detail John's "BEAST," it would be well for us to
compare it with Daniel's "FOURTH WILD BEAST."
In comparing these
two "BEASTS" we find that they both come up out of
the sea (the nations), and that they are utterly
unlike any beast we ever heard of. Daniel's "Beast"
was
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Daniel's
Fourth Wild Beast
Daniel 7:7, 8, 19, 20, 23-25.
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John's
Beast Out Of The Sea
Revelation 13:1-7
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"After this I saw
in the night visions, and behold a FOURTH BEAST,
dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly;
and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue (the 3
preceding Beasts) with the feet of it; and it
was diverse from all the Beasts that were before
it; and it had TEN HORNS. I considered the
HORNS, and, behold, there came up among them
another LITTLE HORN, before whom there were
THREE of the FIRST HORNS plucked up by the
roots; and, behold, in THIS HORN were eyes like
the eyes of a MAN, and a mouth speaking great
things."
"Then I would know the truth of the FOURTH
BEAST, which was diverse from all the others,
exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron,
and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in
pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
and of the TEN HORNS that were in his head, and
of the OTHER which came up, and before whom
three fell; even of THAT HORN that had eyes, and
a mouth that spake very great things, whose look
was more stout than his fellows."
"Thus he said, the FOURTH BEAST shall be the
FOURTH KINGDOM upon earth, which shall be
diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the
whole earth, and shall tread it down and break
it in pieces. And the TEN HORNS out of this
Kingdom are TEN KINGS that shall arise; and
another (King) shall rise after them; and he
shall be diverse from the first, and he shall
subdue THREE KINGS. 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."
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"I 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 NAMES OF BLASPHEMY. 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.
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. . . . 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 God, to
blaspheme His Name, and His Tabernacle, and them
that dwell in Heaven. 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."
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dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great
iron teeth, and nails of brass; while John's "Beast"
was like a LEOPARD, with thefeet of a BEAR, and the
mouth of a LION. As Daniel's "Beast" represented the
"FOURTH KINGDOM" upon the earth, the Roman Empire,
it is evident that its characteristics describe the
old Roman Empire, while the characteristics of
John's Beast represent the revived Roman Empire. We
know that the Old Roman Empire was "strong
exceedingly" and its grip and power were like a
beast with "great iron teeth" and "nails of brass,"
and from the description of John's "Beast" we learn
that the revived Roman Empire shall embody all the
characteristics of the Four World Empires, as seen
in its LEOPARD like body, its feet of a BEAR, and
its mouth of a LION.
That both "Beasts"
have TEN HORNS reveals the fact that they will be in
existence at the time indicated by the TEN TOES of
the Colossus, with which they correspond, which will
be just before the setting up of the "Stone" or
Millennial Kingdom of Christ. We are told that the
"TEN HORNS" of Daniel's "Beast" stand for "TEN
KINGS," and the "TEN HORNS" of John's "Beast" stand
for the same. Rev. 17:12. From this we see that both
Daniel and John foresaw that the Roman Empire was to
be eventually divided into "Ten Separate but
Federated Kingdoms."
While both "Beasts"
have TEN HORNS, they differ in that John's had
"SEVEN HEADS" while Daniel's had but ONE, and among
the "TEN HORNS" on Daniel's "Beast" there came up a
"LITTLE HORN," which is not seen amid the "TEN
HORNS" of John's Beast. These, as we shall see, are
features that refer to the last stage of the "Beast"
and show that we cannot 'understand the last stage
of the "Beast" without carefully comparing Daniel's
and John's "Beasts," for the "LITTLE HORN" of
Daniel's "Beast" plucks up THREE of the "TEN HORNS"
and destroys them, or takes their kingdom away, a
thing that John omits to tell us. Again the
Antichristian character of Daniel's "Beast" is seen
in its "LITTLE HORN" whose conduct corresponds with
not a part, but the whole of John's "Beast," and
that for the same length of time, "TIME" and "TIMES"
and the "DIVIDING OF TIME" which equals "FORTY AND
TWO MONTHS."
It now remains to
analyze the "Beast" that John saw come up out of the
sea, and try to discover the meaning of its various
members.
We have two
descriptions of this "Beast."
Daniel's "Fourth Wild
Beast" as we have seen, represents the Roman Empire
as it existed from B. C. 30, until as a nation it
shall cease to exist. While it was divided in A. D.
364, as the result of an ecclesiastical schism, into
its Eastern and Western Divisions, and lost its
national life as a world power, yet it has never
lost its religious existence or influence as seen in
the continuance of the Greek and Roman Churches, and
Roman Law is still a controlling power in our laws.
In this sense the Roman Empire in its influence has
never ceased to exist. We are now to consider it in
its last stage as out-lined in John's "Beast."
In the two
descriptions of John's Beast as given above it is
very important to see that the "Beast" has a "Dual"
meaning. It represents both the revived Roman
Empire, and its Imperial Head the Antichrist. As The
revived Roman Empire it is coming up out of the
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JOHN'S TWO VISIONS
OF THE BEAST
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John's
Beast Out Of The Sea
Revelation 13:1-7
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The Scarlet
Colored Beast
Revelation 17:3, 7-17
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"I 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 NAMES OF BLASPHEMY. 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.
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. . . . 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 God, to
blaspheme His Name, and His Tabernacle, and them
that dwell in Heaven. 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."
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"I saw a Woman
sit upon a scarlet colored BEAST, full of names
of blasphemy, having SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS.
. I will tell thee the mystery of the Woman, and
of the BEAST that carried 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. The
SEVEN HEADS are SEVEN MOUNTAINS, on which the
Woman sitteth.
And they 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. And
the BEAST that WAS, and IS NOT, even he is the
EIGHTH, and is of the SEVEN, and goeth into
perdition. 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.
These have one mind, and shall give their power
and strength unto the BEAST. . . . And the TEN
HORNS which thou sawest upon the BEAST, these
shall hate the WHORE, and shall make her
desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and
burn her with fire. For God hath put in their
hearts to fulfil His will and to agree, and give
their kingdom unto the BEAST, until the words of
God shall be fulfilled."
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sea of the nations,
as the Antichrist it comes up out of the ABYSS. For
instance it cannot be said of the Roman Empire of
John's day, that it WAS, and IS NOT, for it was at
the height of its power in John's day. Neither can
it be said of it that it shall ascend out of the pit
and go into PERDITION, that could only be said of a
person. Again we must distinguish between the body
of the "Beast" and its heads and horns. The body
being that of a LEOPARD, with the feet of a BEAR,
and the mouth of a LION is to show that the revived
Roman Empire in its last stage will include the
characteristics of the first "Three Wild Beasts" of
Daniel, that is, of the LION (Babylon), the BEAR
(Medo-Persia), and the LEOPARD (Greece), and as the
largest part of the "Beast," the body, is
represented by the LEOPARD, the prevailing
characteristic of the revived Roman Empire will be
GRECIAN.
The "Beast" that
comes up out of the sea (Chap. 13), has SEVEN HEADS
and TEN HORNS, and the "Horns" are CROWNED. This
represents the "Beast," or Empire, at the height of
its power, when it will have all its "Heads," and
when the TEN KINGS, the heads of the TEN KINGDOMS
into which the Empire shall be divided, will have
been crowned. The "Beast" that comes up out of the
ABYSS also has SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS, but they
are not crowned, for the TEN KINGS represented by
the TEN HORNS, have not as yet received their
kingdom. (Rev. 17:12.) This implies that the "Beast"
of Rev. 17, represents the Antichrist at the
beginning of the "Week." As confirmation of this
view the "WOMAN" is seen at this stage riding the
"Beast." For while the "Scarlet Clothed Woman" is
not seen until chapter 17, it is clear that she
rides the "Beast" from the beginning of the "Week,"
for she represents the "PAPAL CHURCH" that comes
into power after the true Church has been caught
out.
During the wars
preceding the rise of Antichrist the nations that
will then be found in the geographical limits of the
Old Roman Empire will form an "Alliance" for mutual
protection. Those nations will be ten in number,
represented by the "TEN HORNS" of the Beast. No
doubt the "Papal Church" will play a prominent part
in those proceedings. She will be rewarded by
restoration to political power, and this union of
Church and State, in which the Church will have
control, is shown by the WOMAN riding the Beast,
thus dominating it. But when the "Ten Kings" shall
receive their Kingdoms and be CROWNED, they "shall
hate the WHORE, and shall make her desolate and
naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with
fire." (Vs. 16.)
While we are told in Rev.
17:9 that the "SEVEN HEADS" of the "Beast" represent
"SEVEN MOUNTAINS" (this is to identify it with the
Roman Empire), we are told in the next verse that
they (the Seven Heads) also represent "SEVEN KINGS"
of whom "Five are fallen, and one is, and the other
is not yet come; and when he cometh he must continue
a short space." That is, in John's day "Five" of
these Kings had fallen, one was the then ruling
Emperor, and the "Seventh" was yet to come. Who are
meant by the first "Five Kings" that had fallen we
do not know. The King that was on the throne in
John's day was Domitian, who had banished John to
the Isle of Patmos.
The last or "SEVENTH
KING" who is yet to come is undoubtedly the
ANTICHRIST. We are told in Rev. 13:3, that one of
the "SEVEN HEADS," or "KINGS," received a deadly
wound. Which one is not stated. The inference is
that it is the last, for the Beast has all of his
"HEADS" before one of them is wounded. In Rev. 17:11
he is called the Beast that WAS, and IS NOT, even he
is the "EIGHTH," and is of the "SEVENTH," and goeth
into PERDITION. The only clear explanation of this
passage is that the "SEVENTH HEAD"--THE ANTICHRIST,
is the one who receives the "deadly wound," probably
at the hand of an assassin, and as his body is lying
in state prepared for burial, he rises from the dead
(Vs. 14), and thus becomes the “EIGHTH,” though he
is of the “SEVENTH.” By this resurrection of the
Antichrist, Satan imitates the Resurrection of
Christ and makes the world “wonder after the Beast”
(Rev. 13:3), and this adds to his prestige and
power. If this happens at the “Middle of the Week,”
at the time the Dragon is cast out of Heaven, it
will account for the great change that takes place
in the Antichrist, for before receiving his “deadly
wound” he will be sweet and lovable, but after his
resurrection or recovery he will become Devilish,
the result of the Dragon incarnating himself in him.
It is at this time that he breaks the Covenant with
the Jews and desecrates the Temple by setting up the
“Abomination of Desolation” which is an “Idol Image”
of himself – the “DESOLATOR.” As the “LITTLE HORN”
of Daniel’s “Fourth Wild Beast” he will destroy
three of the “Ten Kings” and firmly establish
himself in the place of power, and as he, as “LITTLE
HORN,” does not appear until after the “TEN HORNS,”
or “Ten Federated Kingdoms,” come into existence, it
is clear the Antichrist does not form the
Federation, but is the outgrowth of it.
He will be a “composite” man. One who embraces in
his character the abilities and powers of
Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes, Alexander the Great and
Caesar Augustus. He will have the marvelous
attracting unregenerate men, and the irresistible
fascination of 1:1-=s personality, his versatile
attainments, superhuman wisdom, gre'l:
administrative and executive ability, along with his
powers as a C summate flatterer, a brilliant
diplomatist, a superb strategist, make him the most
conspicuous and prominent of men. All these gifts
will he conferred on him by Satan, whose tool he
will be, am: who will thus make him the-
He will pose as a great humanitarian, the friend of
men, and the especial friend of the Jewish race,
whom he will persuade that he has come to usher in
the “Golden Age” as pictured by the prophets, andwho
,will receive him as their Messiah.
He will intoxicate men with a strong delusion and
his never varying success. And when he shall be
slain and rise again he will have lost none of these
powers, but will be in addition the embodiment all
kinds of wickedness and blasphemy.
“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.” Dan. 7: 25.
“He shall also stand up against the “Prince of
Princes” (Jesus). Dan. 8: 25.
“He shall do according to his will; and he shall
exalt himself and magnify himself above every god,
and shall speak marvellous things against the God of
Gods.” Dan. 11: 36.
“Who opposeth and exalteth himsetf above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he AS GOD
sitteth in the Temple of God (at Jerusalem) showing
himself that he IS GOD ... whose coming is after the
Working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying
Wonders.” 2. Thess. 2: 3-9.
There has never as yet appeared on this earth a
person who answers the description given in the
above Scriptures. Such a character is almost
inconceiveable. No writer would have invented such a
character.
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THE ANTICHRIST
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Fourth Wild
Beast
Daniel 7:7, 8, 19.20, 23-25.
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Daniel's
Foreview
The Little Horn Of The He-Goat
Daniel 8:8-12, 23-25.
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The Wilful King
Daniel 11:36-39.
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Paul's Foreview
2 Thessalonians 2:3.12
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John's Foreview
Beast Out Of The Sea
Revelation 13:1-7
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"After this I saw
in the night visions, and behold a FOURTH BEAST,
dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly;
and it had greet iron teeth; it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue (the 3
preceding Beasts) with the feet of it; and it
was diverse from all the Beasts that were before
it; and it had TEN HORNS. I considered the
HORNS, and, behold, there came up among them
another LITTLE HORN, before whom there THREE of
the FIRST HORNS plucked up by the roots; and,
behold, in THIS HORN were eyes like the eyes of
a MAN, and a mouth speaking great things."
"Then I would
know the truth of the FOURTH BEAST, which was
diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful,
whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of
brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and
stamped the residue with his feet; and of the
TEN HORNS that were in his head, and of the
OTHER which came up, and before whom three fell;
even of THAT HORN that had eyes, and a mouth
spake very greet things, whose look was more
stout then his fellows."
"Thus he said,
the FOURTH BEAST shall be the FOURTH KINGDOM
upon earth, which shall be diverse from all
kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and
shall tread it down and break it in pieces. And
the TEN HORNS out of this Kingdom are TEN KINGS
that shall arise; and another (King) shall arise
after them; and he shall be diverse from the
first, and he shall subdue THREE KINGS. And he
shall speak great words against the Most High,
and shell 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."
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"Therefore the
He-Goat waxed very great; and when he was
strong, the GREAT HORN was broken; and for it
came up FOUR NOTABLE ONES toward the four winds
of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a
LITTLE HORN, which waxed exceeding great, toward
the South and toward the East, and toward the
Pleasant Land (Palestine). And it waxed great,
even to the Host of Heaven; and it cast down
some of the Host and of the Stars to the ground,
and stamped upon them. 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. And an host was
given him against the daily sacrifice by reason
of transgression, and it (he, the LITTLE HORN)
cast down the truth to the ground and it (the
LITTLE HORN) practised and prospered.
And in the LATTER
TIME of their kingdom, when the TRANSGRESSORS
ARE COME TO THE FULL, a King of FIERCE
COUNTENANCE, and understanding dark sentences,
shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty,
but not by his own power; and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice,
and shall destroy the mighty and the Holy
People. And through his policy also he shall
cause craft (all kinds of business) to prosper
in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his
heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall
also stand up against the PRINCE OF PRINCES
(Christ) but he shall be broken without hand."
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"And the KING
shall do according to his Will; and he shall
exalt himself and magnify himself above every
god, and shall speak marvelous thing against the
God of gods, and shall prosper till the
indignation be accomplished; for that, that is
determined, shall be done.
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,
or the desire of woman, nor regard any god; for
he shall magnify himself above all. But in his
estate shall he honor the God of forces; and a
god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor
with gold, and silver, and with precious stones
and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the
most strong holds with a strange god, whom he
shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and
he shall call them to rule over many, and shall
divide the land for gain"
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'Let no man
deceive you by any means; no man for 'THAT DAY'
(the Day of the Lord") shall not come except
there come a falling away first, rod that
'MAN OF SIN'
be revealed. The
'SON OF
PERDITION,'
who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all, that is called God,
or that is worshipped; so that he AS GOD sitteth
in the Temple of God (the rebuilt Temple of
Jerusalem), showing himself that he IS GOD. . .
. For the
'MYSTERY OF
INIQUITY'
doth already work
(in Paul's day); only He (the Holy Spirit) who
now letteth will let (restrain), until He be
taken out of the way. And then shall
'THAT WICKED'
be revealed, whom
the Lord shall consume with the spirit (breath)
of His Mouth and shall destroy with the
brightness ) of His Coming. Even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders, and with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish: because they received not the love of
the Truth (Christ) that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion that they should believe a lie, that
they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
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"I 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 NAMES OF BLASPHEMY. And the
BEAST which I sew war 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.
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. . . . And
there was given to 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 God, to
blaspheme His Nome, and His Tabernacle, and them
that dwell in Heaven. And it was given unto him
make war with the saints, and to overcome them;
and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations".
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