REVELATION 13 - BEAST FROM THE SEA - PART II
Psalm 24:7-10 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
PART I of this series was posted on Five Doves on 12 OCT 2005 – http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2005/ear1012.htm
BEAST FROM THE SEA – REVEALED – REVIEW OF PART I
The 8th Beast in Revelation 13:1-2 KJV.
“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. 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.”
The geographical location of this Beast
Empire is ascertained by putting together the clues in Daniel 7:3-8
and John’s vision in Revelation 13:1-9. The 7 heads of this
beast, are the 7 previous Empires named in the Bible, that arose out of
the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, from the time of the rebellion
in the Garden of Eden, until the present day. They are Babel-Babylon,
Assyria, Neo-Babylon,
This coming Beast Empire (which is “different” from all other Empires) will cover the same geographical areas which contained the last vestiges of the Roman Empire (i.e. the toes represented by the Byzantine Empire). These will become the 10 “crowned” horns, (Balkan States) on the head of the Beast from the Sea. i.e. Mediterranean. It will also include the “bears feet” area from the old Persian Empire, and the body areas of the Leopard, from the old Grecian Empire, which in Daniel’s description had four heads, and four wings on its back.
Although the four wings are shown as a separate geographical area, the four heads are actually within the beast itself. The four heads are related to the 4 generals who eventually subdivided the Grecian Empire after Alexander’s death.
Last of all, the beast is given a Lion’s mouth – i.e. spokesperson for the Empire. The fact that it is a Lion’s mouth indicates Babylon (Babel) as the source.
The spiritual source of this evil Beast which John sees rising out of the Sea (the Abyss), has been present in the World since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. It’s aim is, and always has been, to usurp and to occupy the throne of the God of Heaven, YHWH, and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. To this end, Jerusalem, its people, and the Temple Mount in particular have been subject to destruction by many of the 7 past Empires.
For me, to view the shape of the Beast Empire on a modern map, vindicates above all else, the fact that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; (2 Tim 3:16) and (2 Peter 1:21) “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The same Holy Spirit who instructed them what to write in apocalyptic terminology, is the same Holy Spirit who is now interpreting the meaning to us, who are at the end of the age. Thank God the Word of God is a pure word and nothing has been taken away from the books of prophecy – no matter how strange and enigmatic their message might have seemed to those who have gone before us.
1 Cor. 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
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THE 10 HORNS OF REVELATION 13:1, and 17:3,7,8,12,13, and 16
Daniel 2:44 “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
THE BIG PICTURE
How John saw the 10 horns and seven heads all at once I can’t imagine, but he perfectly described the future shape of the coming 8th Beast Empire, with the mortal wound to the head, coming back to life again.
Review of the Countries, Nations and People Groups which compose the Beast Empire.
1. The beast’s horns
encompass the Balkan States (some of them are in the accession phase of
being joined to the E.U.)
2. The “lion’s” mouth represents the Babylonian Empire. Daniel 7:4
It is possible that the so-called “little horn” is the “mouth” because they both seem to say the same sort of things, their tenure is for the same period of time, and the same group of people are persecuted – (follow the colour links.) Compare the two scriptures below -
Rev. 13:5-6 “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…”
Daniel 7:24-25 “And he (the “different” horn) 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 7:8b. “and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” The eyes and the mouth are the two “moving parts” of a face.
The fact that the mouth is given to
him means that without it this Beast Empire can’t speak. The fact
that it is associated with Babylon (Lion) makes me think this person might
come out of
The phrase “and think to change times and laws” would indicate a “regime change”. E.g. Sharia laws, and the Islamic calendar.
3. The head is
4. The body
is made up of Northern Syria,
5. The four wings of “a fowl”
on the back of the leopard look more like dragon’s wings. (I don’t think
birds usually have 4 wings unless they’re
6. The legs
encompass South Syria,
7. The feet
are the large feet of a bear extending down through
Other nations would be aligned with this beast Empire too, but they don’t cover the geographical area of the
Beasts as described by Daniel and John. For instance Daniel 11:43 “But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.” (Or subdued, under his feet.)
Before I continue with details about the beast and its attachments, I should say more about the horns first.
RATIONALE – THE 10 HORNS
The head is the ONLY place the horns can possibly be.
1.) Rev.13:1 “…having …ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns…” Horns symbolise power. In this case the fact that they are “crowned” indicates that the areas we are looking at are actually “sovereign” states, with their own Governments.
The horns must be separate from the main beast, i.e. an addition to the head. The placement of the horns is confirmed (for me) by the fact that the long inlet that forms the Harbour for Constantinople (now Istanbul) is called THE GOLDEN HORN.
Constantinople, “NEW ROME”; like old ROME,
is also built on 7 hills. Constantinople sits on both sides of the Bosporus
Strait, joining mainland
The 10 Nations in this area of Eastern
Europe, could not be seen as a complete number until recently, as some were
not in existence until 1991/92 when the former
2.) Rev. 17:12 “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. These shall make war with the Lamb…”
I think there are two possible explanations for this verse –
a) These 10 horns could be terrorist leaders (i.e. Kings who have no kingdom) who come out of these “Sovereign” states. Although they wield power, they are not the official leaders of the States. They would therefore be leaders of 10 terrorist cells of militant Islamic factions within the Balkan States. Remember Daniel 2:43 when speaking of the toes of the Metallic Man said “…they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another….”
I understand that the
Quote from http://www.debka.com/article_print.php?aid=1089 Dated 1/10/05
“Al Qaeda’s Saudi cell and the Lebanese
Hizballah have established strongholds in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo
and
b) The other possibility is that instead of aligning with the European community towards the West, and entering fully into the European Union, for some reason these 10 Balkan States (except for 3) decide to align with the growing Islamic Beast Empire to the East. Some leader rises up amongst them and turns them towards the Beast. The “Kings who have no Kingdom” therefore may be leaders who have aligned themselves with the Beast Empire, and their previously sovereign states are now but mere provinces of a much larger Empire. This 11th horn is obviously the catalyst for the change. It seems to be an intruder because Daniel 7:24 says “…another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first…” He is not described as a “King” nor does this horn appear to have a crown on it. However, these leaders are of one mind when it comes to their purpose with the beast Empire - N.B. only for 1 HOUR.
3.) Daniel 7:8 “plucked up” and Daniel 7:24 “subdue three Kings” Strongs No. 8214 to humble, subdue, bring low. The Bible states that another “little horn” comes up amongst them and either “subdues” or “uproots” three of the original 10 horns, so obviously some of these “leaders” initially don’t go along with whatever the little horn and beast are planning. He obviously conquers them, or subdues them to fit his purposes. However, the term “little horn” does not actually mean “little” in size. In the sense in which it is used here, it means “he has gone forth from littleness…” New Bible Commentary.
Daniel 7:8 “…there came up among them another little horn..” Strongs No. 2192 – little, small, insignificant, light in status. However, although the horn is described as “little” it constantly acts as though it were big. Attention is drawn to the eyes and the mouth, which speaks blasphemous and presumptuous things against God.
The description of this horn can be compared with it’s predecessor which relates to the descendant of the Selucid General who took one of the four areas of the Grecian Empire after Alexander’s death. Daniel 8:9 “And out of one of them came forth a little horn” Strongs No. 4704 – small, little, lowly, (form of 4705 – small quantity, few). He name was Antiochus Ephiphanes, and he defiled the Temple in Jerusalem.
4.) We can conclude therefore, that not only do the 10 horns come out of the 10 “Sovereign States”, but that the little horn comes out of one of the four heads/areas of the Grecian Empire after Alexander’s death. In the first instance, in Daniel 8:9 this 11th horn came out of the Selucid area, but that does NOT include the area occupied by the Balkan States in this scenario. The area that underlies the Balkan States, was the Macedonian Kingdom of Philip II, and his son Alexander the Great.
The original shape of the horns during
the time of the Persian Empire at its peak, can be seen on the map on Page
5 of PART I, with the horns jutting into
After the division of the Grecian Empire, this area was ruled by Cassander.
THE HEAD AND BODY OF THE BEAST
The one uniting feature of all of the countries that make up the head, body, wings and feet of the 8th Beast is that the majority of the States are all Muslim, with Islam as the dominant religion. In this way the Beast Empire is different from other Empires, because it is a “Religious” Empire. Statistics from my Dorling Kindersley Compact Atlas of the World, are as follows –
THE FOUR WINGS OF A FOWL
The four Countries that make up the wings
on the back of the beast were detached from
THE TEN TOES OF ROME/BYZANTINE and THE 10 HORNS OF THE BALKAN STATES
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/balkans
Daniel 7:19-23 states that the fourth beast of the great Sea Beasts, “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 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.”
From Daniel’s perspective he apparently only saw one great fourth kingdom which has already been identified with Rome, stretching through to the end of the age, whereas the Apostle John saw three – Rome, Ottoman Empire, and the Composite 8th Beast Empire. Daniel is quite right in stating that out of the fourth kingdom (Rome) 10 Kings shall arise, because they arise in a new configuration out of the same geographical area as John’s 6th (Rome) kingdom ended.
I believe the answer to the difference in their view points, lies in a World wide expanded view of history. We live today in an era where the Graeco/Roman culture and civilization of long ago has continued to be our legacy. For Daniel’s prophetic purpose, it was not important to be specific about what came after the beginning of the Fourth Kingdom. God knew that John would pick up the thread of this prophetic picture of history at that point. He after all, was the source of their visions. John’s vision therefore of the final 3 empires expands on Daniel’s fourth Empire, and brings it into a World-wide arena up to the time that God’s Kingdom supplants all the previous Kingdoms.
Candidates for the sovereign countries “hosting” the horns (network Islamist terrorist cells) would be –
Other nearby countries are
Of these countries
Enlargement of the European Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement_of_the_European_Union
When you look at the shape of the beast in the map above, you will see that the very place the Roman/Byzantine toes died out is the very place that the 10 Balkan States now exist. I guess this is another proof that the last Roman toes on the Eastern leg of Nebuchadnezzar’s Metallic Man Vision, and the 10 horns on the “Beast out of the Sea” are one and the same.
Those people who are looking for a revived Roman Empire of 10 countries are partly right, but I don’t think they appreciate that the 10 “horns” are going to be aligned with the rising future composite 8th Beast Empire to the East, with Islam at its centre.
THE SNARE AND THE FLOOD
In Luke 21:34 Jesus warns us about the consequences of not being alert in the end times – “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
A snare is a hidden object, that catches its prey unawares, and floods rise dangerously around those who are trapped by the rising water levels.
Daniel 9:27 “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Daniel’s description of one like Antiochus Ephiphanes, (“The Prince” that shall come), will have a further fulfilment in our time.
THE COMPOSITE BEAST – PEOPLE GROUPS
The Nations that I have listed above in the composite beast are some of the same people groups as in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 and 39, who are generally understood to be participants in future battles against Israel.
Hagarenes =
Amalak = Northern Sinai Philistines = Gaza Tyre = Southern Lebanon
Assur =
Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah & Gomer (Cimmerians)
are
Put =
Tarshish ?
CONCLUSION
I believe we are on the edge of seeing these Nations “tip over” into a Revived Islamic/Ottoman type Empire. See - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,16850617,00.html – dated 8/10/2005.
Especially paragraphs 2 and 7 and 8.
President Bush has mentioned the words “Islamo-fascism” recently. “Fascism” is described in my Webster’s Dictionary as “a system of Government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized governmental control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism etc.”
This sounds very much like the activities of Revelation’s two beasts which demand total control of those under their influence. In Revelation the dissidents are assassinated by beheading. All of these facets of fascism can easily fit within the dogma of the radical Islamic sects who are trying to destabilize the Governments of many Middle Eastern countries.
Within those countries and World-wide there
are 1.3 billion Muslim people who are unaware of the plans that the Beast
Leaders have in store for them. When they arise in their moment of opportunity,
they will declare that they have been appointed by Allah, and the Nations,
kindreds, tongues and people groups within their sphere of influence and
domination, will be given no alternative but to submit to Allah and to their
leadership. That is what they have been “conditioned” to do. Rev.
13:8 indicates that the people who are susceptible to worshipping
the beasts are those whose names are NOT written in the Lamb’s book of life.
We already know that the radical Islamists have no empathy for their own
people, as evidenced by the slaughter committed by the insurgents in
If someone who is hidden at the moment, comes forward and declares himself to be the Imam Mahdi (hidden 12th Imam) or Caliph (rightful inheritor of Mohammed’s Mantle) then we could suddenly see the rift between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims disappear. I believe that Daniel’s “Prince that shall come” (Daniel 9:26) described by the angel as the “Prince of Greece”, is such a person. He will arise in the same area as Alexander the Great, subdue the provinces around his base, and then begin his march to conquer the world of Islam and beyond. Alexander did it in just 8 years with a Macedon Army of just 35,000 original men.
Many of Osama bin Laden followers see him as Mahdi -
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46860
Quote “Caliph” – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_empire
“The caliph has often been referred to as “Prince of the Faithful” where “Prince” is used in the context of “commander” The title has been defunct since 1924….Islamist movements have argued for the necessity of re-establishing the institution of a single office whose occupant, as successor to Muhammad, would possess clear political, military, and legal standing as the global leader of the Muslims. Such an initiative has yet to gather much in the way of practical support in the Muslim world.”
End of quote.
I don’t know when that was written, but recent press articles indicate there is a desire to establish an Islamic Common market, as well as calls to establish Islamic rule or Sharia Law in various countries.
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,172058,00.html
This is the “Prince” Islam is looking for – they also call him the 12th Imam or Mahdi.
You may recall that there is a “Mahdi Army”
already existing in
“Al-Sadr’s militia named after messianic image.
By Trish Wells
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Muqtada al-Sadr summoned one of Shiite Islam’s most messianic images when he chose the name Mahdi Army for his militia. The mahdi is believed to be the successor to Muhammad who will return to save the world.
The word isn’t mentioned in the Quran or in the collected sayings attributed to Muhammad, known as the hadiths. But the term is common to both Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam as the term for a leader who will bring righteousness to the world.
The title means “the divinely guided one” but refers to differing concepts, depending on the believer. Some Muslims believe the mahdi will come in conjunction with the second coming of Jesus.
For the largest branch of Shiites, however, the “mahdi” is the 12th imam or leader of the Muslim faith who is said to have gone into hiding in the ninth century and who Shiites believe is still alive and will return at the day of judgment.
The concept is so holy, say some, that few in Islam would dare use it to describe themselves, which makes the actions of al-Sadr’s militia appear all the more audacious.” (End Quote)
The picture of the coming Islamic Empire
I have portrayed above, could well arise as a “state-within-a-state” as
could be illustrated by the way Hizballah has operated in
Whether the Beast Empire is able to bring down the current regimes of the countries mentioned, and install radical Islamo-fascist regimes, or remain as terrorist organisations that trouble the fourth part of the earth over which they gain dominion can only be revealed in the future.
I hope our eyes have been opened to where the real danger lies.
Revelation 17:11-14
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. These shall make war with the Lamb, AND THE LAMB SHALL OVERCOME THEM: for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
Jesus said - John 14:1-3, 18, 27 “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. V.18 I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. V.27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
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In part III of this series we will look at the BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH.