Doves,

I have been pondering the reality of the Beast, as described by EAR in recent posts.

It seems to me that the evidence for the beast, as he describes, is more than just compelling. This is because it has a quality about it that's intriguing; and that quality is that it's not a static argument about ancient history, or some speculation about magical future events,  but rather, it's a living phenomenon of sorts. We are "seeing" it in real time, whereas Daniel (and John in Revelation) "saw" it presented in a sort of fast moving series of events, like a smooth motion process that is described as "rising" out of the sea.

The argument for the beast rising out of the sea, and being a land mass that comprises past kingdoms, has been growing for some time. Piece by piece the final form of the beast from the sea is "coming" together. You really can't get away from the fact that less than 20 years ago, the "wings" were added to the beast figure, as described by EAR, having come from the break up of the Soviet Union. Even now the beast is about to be completed as Turkey is on the verge of becoming a full fledged part as the head of the body, all knit together by a common "religious" bond, Islam.

To me this is amazing, and fitting, at the same time. The beast from the sea, as pictured on a map, more precisely fits the words of Daniel, and John in Revelation. To me it's about reality. I mean think about it, Daniel and John both actually "saw" something actually happen. They "saw" history unfolding before their eyes. Did I mention that it was "FUTURE" history. We see throughout Scripture that prophets are often "taken" to the future event itself, and shown what is going to happen. So what does the prophet do? He just writes it, as he "sees" it. The prophets are either told what will happen, or shown what will happen. In either case the prophecy actually happens as an event, or series of events in actual reality. In the case of John he saw Heaven and Earth where actual tribulation events were taking place in front of him, including the "rising" of the beast from the sea. Daniel had a "vision" of the same beast, as well as the other beasts before it.

Let's take this "seeing-is-believing" thought one step further. Just imagine that you are Daniel, (or John in Revelation) having this vision about the beast "rising". You would be seeing the events happen in a continuous motion. But, let's pause on that thought for second. Daniel saw multiple beasts in the same vision. Yes, that would be during the same motion of history. But wait, back up a second....he actually understood what he was seeing. Just in case that flew over your head like a super sonic jet, let me restate that in a different way. In order for Daniel to see the smooth rise of beasts, in an orderly fashion, as as the unfolding of historical events, he would have to be looking at the same backdrop, or "location" the entire time. It makes sense to me that he was watching the same area (ie the middle east) as it changed form through the progression from one "beast form" to another. Now do you get it? It definitely works for me.

So, in conclusion I would say that EAR is right on the money with his detailed work on the beast being the land that rises out the sea, in the form of a strange beast, that is commonly comprised of a false "religion", that is ready to pounce, just as soon as they get their "head" together. Which could be any moment.

Ed P