Revelation
12-14: The Dragon, The Beast and the Three Angels
The Dragon, the Woman and the Child
Revelation 12:1-2 ASV
1
|
And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the
sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;
|
και σημειον μεγα ωφθη εν τω ουρανω γυνη περιβεβλημενη τον ηλιον
και η σεληνη υποκατω των ποδων αυτης και επι της κεφαλης αυτης στεφανος
αστερων δωδεκα
|
2
|
and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth,
and in pain to be delivered.
|
και εν γαστρι εχουσα και κραζει ωδινουσα και βασανιζομενη τεκειν
|
A pure woman represents God’s faithful followers.
Isaiah 51:16
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee
in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the
foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Jeremiah 6:2
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate
woman.
The Sun, Moon and stars are an allusion to a dream Joseph had that
represented his family, which would become the nation that the Messiah was born
to. Note: there are eleven stars in
Joseph’s dream because it was describing Joseph’s family and their relationship
to him, whereas Revelation 12 has twelve stars because Joseph is included
there.
Genesis 37:9-10
9 And
he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I
have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven
stars made obeisance to me.
10 And
he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and
said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy
mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Revelation
12:3-4 ASV
3
|
And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great
red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven
diadems.
|
και ωφθη αλλο σημειον εν τω ουρανω και ιδου δρακων μεγας πυρρος
εχων κεφαλας επτα και κερατα δεκα και επι τας κεφαλας αυτου επτα διαδηματα
|
4
|
And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and
did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is
about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.
|
και η ουρα αυτου συρει το τριτον των αστερων του ουρανου και
εβαλεν αυτους εις την γην και ο δρακων εστηκεν ενωπιον της γυναικος της
μελλουσης τεκειν ινα οταν τεκη το τεκνον αυτης καταφαγη
|
We will see in the next chapter a beast with seven heads and ten
horns and ten crowns on the ten horns and it is given the dragon’s
authority. We will see that that beast
represents the Roman Church. The vision
in chapter 12 covers much of the same period, but from heaven’s
perspective. The dragon is named in
verse 9 as the Devil and Satan. And it
includes several verses describing Satan’s war with God.
It starts off during the time of Pagan Rome with the birth of
Jesus. The dragon represents Satan
working through Pagan Rome to try to destroy Jesus and then Papal Rome to
destroy the followers of God. That is
why it is described in a way that closely resembles the beast in the next
chapter. However, since it is focusing
more on the lifetime of Jesus during Pagan Rome, the crowns are on the seven
heads in chapter 12. Chapter 17 verse 9 tells
us that the seven heads of the next beast represent seven mountains. We can assume it is the same for the seven
headed dragon because of the similar descriptions. Rome is known as the city of seven
hills. By placing the crowns on the
seven heads, it is acknowledging that this vision is beginning before Rome
breaks up into the ten kingdoms.
Revelation
12:5
5
|
And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all
the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and
unto his throne.
|
και ετεκεν υιον αρσεν ος μελλει ποιμαινειν παντα τα εθνη εν ραβδω
σιδηρα και ηρπασθη το τεκνον αυτης προς τον θεον και προς τον θρονον αυτου
|
I believe the child represents Jesus who will rule with a rod of
iron when he returns. Revelation
describes it this way.
Revelation
19:11-21
11 And
I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon
called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war.
12 And
his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a
name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
13 And
he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The
Word of God.
14 And
the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and pure.
15 And
out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And
he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS.
17 And
I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to
all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the
great supper of God;
18 that
ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of
mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh
of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.
19 And
I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.
20 And
the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in
his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast
and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of
fire that burneth with brimstone:
21 and
the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the
sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with
their flesh.
I believe the raising of the child to heaven is talking about when
God raised Jesus up to heaven.
Acts
2:24, 32-33
24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it
was not possible that he should be holden of it.
32 This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are
witnesses.
33 Being therefore by the right hand of God
exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he
hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
Revelation
12:6
6
|
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place
prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.
|
και η γυνη εφυγεν εις την ερημον οπου εχει εκει τοπον
ητοιμασμενον απο του θεου ινα εκει τρεφωσιν αυτην ημερας χιλιας διακοσιας
εξηκοντα
|
This is that same 1260 day/year time period that keeps appearing in
Daniel and Revelation which allows us to positively identify the time period
and power being described. We are told
in verse 9 that the Dragon is Satan so the chapter is telling us that Satan was
the one behind the 1260 year reign of Papal Rome over Europe. We already know from Daniel 7 that Papal Rome
makes war against the saints during this time.
Revelation 12 informs us that God’s followers are being protected in the
wilderness during this time.
Revelation
12:7-9
7
|
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth
to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;
|
και εγενετο πολεμος εν τω ουρανω ο μιχαηλ και οι αγγελοι αυτου
του πολεμησαι μετα του δρακοντος και ο δρακων επολεμησεν και οι αγγελοι αυτου
|
8
|
And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
|
και ουκ ισχυσεν ουδε τοπος ευρεθη αυτων ετι εν τω ουρανω
|
9
|
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called
the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the
earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
|
και εβληθη ο δρακων ο μεγας ο οφις ο αρχαιος ο καλουμενος
διαβολος και ο σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην εβληθη εις την γην και οι
αγγελοι αυτου μετ αυτου εβληθησαν
|
Some try to place this war at Satan’s original fall, which is
understandable. Others point out that
the placement of the description here seems to indicate that the war takes
place at this time. There is some
evidence for that in the book of Job which portrays Satan as still having free
access to God’s council. Either way,
Satan is at some point cast out of heaven along with his angels. Verse 4 mentions that he drew a third of the
stars from heaven. Revelation 1:20
informed us that stars represent angels, so we can see that a third of the
angels followed Satan.
Revelation
12:10-12
10
|
And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of
his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them
before our God day and night.
|
και ηκουσα φωνην μεγαλην εν τω ουρανω λεγουσαν αρτι εγενετο η
σωτηρια και η δυναμις και η βασιλεια του θεου ημων και η εξουσια του χριστου
αυτου οτι εβληθη ο κατηγωρ των αδελφων ημων ο κατηγορων αυτους ενωπιον του
θεου ημων ημερας και νυκτος
|
11
|
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and
because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even
unto death.
|
και αυτοι ενικησαν αυτον δια το αιμα του αρνιου και δια τον λογον
της μαρτυριας αυτων και ουκ ηγαπησαν την ψυχην αυτων αχρι θανατου
|
12
|
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for
the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having
great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
|
δια τουτο ευφραινεσθε ουρανοι και οι εν αυτοις σκηνουντες ουαι
την γην και την θαλασσαν οτι κατεβη ο διαβολος προς υμας εχων θυμον μεγαν
ειδως οτι ολιγον καιρον εχει
|
Verse 10 is one of the many, many verses in the New Testament that
refer to the Father alone as God and Christ separately.
These three verses are a homily celebrating the defeat of Satan and
his being cast out of heaven. But it is
also a warning to the earth because Satan is now confined to the earth and
knows he only has a little while longer.
Revelation
12:13-16 ASV
13
|
And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he
persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.
|
και οτε ειδεν ο δρακων οτι εβληθη εις την γην εδιωξεν την γυναικα
ητις ετεκεν τον αρσενα
|
14
|
And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great
eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is
nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent.
|
και εδοθησαν τη γυναικι αι δυο πτερυγες του αετου του μεγαλου ινα
πετηται εις την ερημον εις τον τοπον αυτης οπου τρεφεται εκει καιρον και
καιρους και ημισυ καιρου απο προσωπου του οφεως
|
15
|
And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a
river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
|
και εβαλεν ο οφις εκ του στοματος αυτου οπισω της γυναικος υδωρ
ως ποταμον ινα αυτην ποταμοφορητον ποιηση
|
16
|
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
|
και εβοηθησεν η γη τη γυναικι και ηνοιξεν η γη το στομα αυτης και
κατεπιεν τον ποταμον ον εβαλεν ο δρακων εκ του στοματος αυτου
|
This is basically a retelling and expansion of verse 6. The true followers of God are protected in
the wilderness during the 1260 year reign of the Roman Catholic Church. Here it is refered to as the time, times and
half a time, similar to Daniel 7. In
Revelation 11 this is refered to both as 1260 days and 42 months. Revelation 11 and 12 provide the key passages
for confirming that these time periods are all equivalent.
If you recall from Revelation 9, Muhammad began preaching shortly
after the 1260 year reign began.
Revelation 9 mentions that the Islamic world would fight against the
Roman world, but they were instructed to only fight those who don’t have the
seal of God. In this way, the Islamic
world offered some relief and protection to the followers of God. Related to this is the fact that those who
suffered the worst persecutions were the Christians who denied the
Trinity. Historically, the Christians in
the Middle East focused more on the humanity of Jesus and were more likely to
hold a non-Trinitarian position than those in Western Europe. This is one of the contributing factors to
why many of them accepted Muhammad as a messenger of God and the Quran as a
message from God.[3]
Revelation 12 ASV
17
|
And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make
war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold
the testimony of Jesus:
|
και ωργισθη ο δρακων επι τη γυναικι και απηλθεν ποιησαι πολεμον
μετα των λοιπων του σπερματος αυτης των τηρουντων τας εντολας του θεου και
εχοντων την μαρτυριαν ιησου
|
After the 1260 year reign of the Roman Church,
the Dragon (Satan) continued to make war with the followers of God. These followers of God are identified as
those who “keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus”. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.
Revelation
19:10
10 And
I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The Scriptures are called the Law and Testimony
or the Law and Prophets. By keeping the
commandments of God and holding to the testimony of Jesus they are basing their
lives on the Scriptures and Scriptures alone.
They do not follow after the traditions of the Church.
Here are some examples of the Scriptures being
called the Law and Testimony or the Law and Prophets.
Psalms 19:7
7 The law of [Yehovah] is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony
of [Yehovah] is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms
78:5
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in
Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to
their children;
Isaiah 8:20
20 To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to
this word, surely there is no morning for them.
Matthew 5:17
17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came
not to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 7:12
12 All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto
you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:40
40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
Acts 24:14
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a
sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are
according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
One could make the argument that we could use
this description to look for the “true church”.
Interestingly enough, the one person Revelation identifies as a messenger
or prophet is Muhammad. And the word
“Islam” means “submission to God” which is essentially the same thing as “keep
the commandments of God”.
However, I believe this is meant to be a
description of the true followers of God rather than identifying a specific
religious group as the end times “true church”.
The Beast
Revelation 13:1-4 ASV
1
|
and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming
up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten
diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
|
[12 18] και εσταθη επι την αμμον της θαλασσης [13 1] και ειδον εκ
της θαλασσης θηριον αναβαινον εχον κερατα δεκα και κεφαλας επτα και επι των
κερατων αυτου δεκα διαδηματα και επι τας κεφαλας αυτου ονοματα βλασφημιας
|
2
|
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 throne, and great authority.
|
και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως
αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την
δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην
|
3
|
And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto
death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after
the beast;
|
και μιαν εκ των κεφαλων αυτου ως εσφαγμενην εις θανατον και η
πληγη του θανατου αυτου εθεραπευθη και εθαυμασθη ολη η γη οπισω του θηριου
|
4
|
and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority
unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the
beast? And who is able to war with him?
|
και προσεκυνησαν τω δρακοντι οτι εδωκεν την εξουσιαν τω θηριω και
προσεκυνησαν τω θηριω λεγοντες τις ομοιος τω θηριω και τις δυναται πολεμησαι
μετ αυτου
|
Here we see another beast coming up out of the sea. Revelation 17:15 informs us that the waters
represent “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues”. It closely resembles the Dragon except the
diadems are on the ten horns. Verse 5
informs us that it has power for 42 months.
As we saw before, this is the same 1260 year period that keeps showing
up in Daniel and Revelation. This is one
of the clues that tells us it is the same Roman Church from before.
Also, since this beast receives authority to make war on the saints
for the same 1260 day/42 month/3 ½ year period (corresponding to 1260 literal
years) that the dragon (Satan) pursued the woman (true followers of God), we
know this is discussing the same event as in chapter 12 from a different
perspective. Revelation 12 focused on
the perspective of the supernatural realm.
Revelation covers part of the same time (the 1260 year period) from an
earthly perspective. However, Revelation
12 begins before the 1260 day/year period and ends right after it is
finished. Revelation also talks about
the 1260 day/year period and continues on with what happens after.
In chapter 12 the dragon was pictured with seven crowns on the
seven heads. Here there are ten crowns
on the ten horns. Chapter 12 began
during Pagan Rome. This chapter begins
with Papal Rome. We can see this clearly
in the description given in verses 5-8 which very closely follow the
description of the little horn in Daniel 7.
The beast makes war on the saints for the same period of time as the little
horn in Daniel 7 and the rest of the descriptions very closely line up. This shows us quite clearly that we are
dealing with the same courrupt Roman Church.
Notice in verse 2 the beast has the characteristics of the lion,
bear and leopard from Daniel 7. It even
gives them in the reverse order of Daniel 7.
Daniel 7 was looking forward in time to each succeeding kingdom. Revelation is looking backward in time to
each previous kingdom. This is another
indicator that it is the same power.
Verse 2 also tells us that the dragon (Satan) gave his power and
seat and great authority to the beast (Roman Church). While there are many wonderful Catholic
individuals, the institution of the Roman Catholic Church receives its power
and seat and authority from Satan.
In verses 1-4 we have a description of the beast being
1.
given power,
2.
receiving a
deadly wound,
3.
recovering and
4.
the people
worshipping the beast.
Verse 14 informs us that this deadly wound was with a sword. This is a thumbnail of the more detailed
description given in the rest of the chapter.
Notice how these same events unfold in the rest of the chapter. This is how we know they are an expansion and
don’t simply take place after.
Revelation
13:5-8 ASV
5
|
and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two
months.
|
και εδοθη αυτω στομα λαλουν μεγαλα και βλασφημιας και εδοθη αυτω
εξουσια ποιησαι μηνας τεσσερακοντα [και] δυο
|
6
|
And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme
his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.
|
και ηνοιξεν το στομα αυτου εις βλασφημιας προς τον θεον
βλασφημησαι το ονομα αυτου και την σκηνην αυτου τους εν τω ουρανω σκηνουντας
|
7
|
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and
people and tongue and nation.
|
[και εδοθη αυτω ποιησαι πολεμον μετα των αγιων και νικησαι
αυτους] και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι πασαν φυλην και λαον και γλωσσαν και εθνος
|
8
|
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one
whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book
of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
|
και προσκυνησουσιν αυτον παντες οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ου ου
γεγραπται το ονομα αυτου εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου του εσφαγμενου απο
καταβολης κοσμου
|
Here the beast is given its power.
Its power runs for 42 months. We
have seen before in Daniel 7 and 12 and Revelation 11 and 12 that the 1260
days/42 months/3 ½ years are time prophecies that concern a 1260 year period
from 538 to 1798. During this time he
does the same things we saw done by the little horn in Daniel 7 and 8 and the
King of the North in Daniel 11. The time
period and activities make it clear that this beast also represents the same
power. This corrupt religion plays a
central role in the prophecies of both Daniel and Revelation.
Revelation
13:9-10 ASV
9
|
If any man hath an ear, let him hear.
|
ει τις εχει ους ακουσατω
|
10
|
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man
shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints.
|
ει τις εις αιχμαλωσιαν εις αιχμαλωσιαν υπαγει ει τις εν μαχαιρη αποκτενει
δει αυτον εν μαχαιρη αποκτανθηναι ωδε εστιν η υπομονη και η πιστις των αγιων
|
Now that the beast has excercised its power for a time, it receives
the deadly wound. Verse 14 specifies
that this deadly wound was with a sword.
Verses 9-10 mention that those who kill with the sword (which the beast
was doing during the 42 months) must be killed with the sword. Interestingly enough, the sword is linked to
the military and warfare, but the prophecy also mentions captivity. In February of 1798 Napoleon soldiers
occupied Rome. They took the pope
prisoner, and held him captive in the citadel of Valence where he died. So, the Roman Catholic Church received a
deadly wound from Napoleon’s conquering armies when they took the pope captive.
Revelation
13:11-15 ASV
11
|
And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had
two horns like unto lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
|
και ειδον αλλο θηριον αναβαινον εκ της γης και ειχεν κερατα δυο
ομοια αρνιω και ελαλει ως δρακων
|
12
|
And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his
sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose death-stroke was healed.
|
και την εξουσιαν του πρωτου θηριου πασαν ποιει ενωπιον αυτου και
ποιει την γην και τους εν αυτη κατοικουντας ινα προσκυνησουσιν το θηριον το
πρωτον ου εθεραπευθη η πληγη του θανατου αυτου
|
13
|
And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come
down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.
|
και ποιει σημεια μεγαλα ινα και πυρ ποιη εκ του ουρανου
καταβαινειν εις την γην ενωπιον των ανθρωπων
|
14
|
And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the
signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them
that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath
the stroke of the sword and lived.
|
και πλανα τους κατοικουντας επι της γης δια τα σημεια α εδοθη
αυτω ποιησαι ενωπιον του θηριου λεγων τοις κατοικουσιν επι της γης ποιησαι
εικονα τω θηριω ος εχει την πληγην της μαχαιρης και εζησεν
|
15
|
And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image
to the breast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that
as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
|
και εδοθη αυτη δουναι πνευμα τη εικονι του θηριου ινα και λαληση
η εικων του θηριου και ποιηση [ινα] οσοι εαν μη προσκυνησωσιν τη εικονι του
θηριου αποκτανθωσιν
|
The beast has now recovered from its deadly wound. The second beast makes the world wonder after
the first beast.
The second beast has several features that can help us identify the
most likely candidate.
First, it is the only beast in Daniel and Revelation to come up out
of the earth. The beasts in Daniel and
Revelation are usually shown as coming up out of the sea. Revelation 17:15 informs us that the waters
represents nations, multitudes, tongues and peoples. The kingdoms the beasts represented did
indeed rise up among the previous nations of the Old World. This beast, however, rises up out of the
earth. It is located away from the
nations of the Old World.
Second, it appears about the same time the first beast receives the
deadly wound. This would place its
founding at the end of the Eighteenth or beginning of the Nineteenth Centuries.
Third, it has an innocent appearance (two horns like a lamb), but
it does terrible things (speaks like a dragon).
Fourth, it becomes a major world power (exercises the authority of
the first beast).
Fifth, it deceives the world to worship the first beast. It forces them to make an image to the beast
and forces them to worship the image to be killed.
Of those five identifying features, there is only one nation I am
aware of that matches the first four.
The fifth is still future, as of this writing. That nation is the United States. It is located far from the nations of the Old
World. It came into being around the
same time as the Roman Catholic Church received the deadly wound. It maintains an image of being innocent and
good, but it has done and will continue to do terrible things when they suit
its purpose. And lastly, the United
States has definitely grown into a major world power.
The last feature is the one that is still future. It will create an image to the first beast
and cause everyone to worship the beast and his image. If the first beast is Papal Rome, then the
image to the first beast will be a form of Christianity that resembles the
Medieval Catholic Church. The fact that
all who fail to worship the image (follow this corrupt religion) will face
death, and verse 17 says they won’t be able to buy or sell, shows that the
Church will be pulling the strings of government, just like in Medieval Europe.
Let’s see how this happened before.
The foundational belief of the Roman Church is the denial of the
Jewish understanding of God and the assertion that God is instead a trinity.
The
mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of Catholic faith. Upon it are
based all other teachings of the Church.[5]
When Constantine adopted Christianity as the religion of Rome, the
doctrine of the trinity was being hotly debated. The eastern churches tended to emphasize
Jesus’s humanity more than the western churches. Those who saw Christianity as a continuation
of Judaism tended to gravitate towards one form of Arianism (the belief that
only the Father is eternal and he brought Jesus into existence and gave him his
authority) or another. The anti-Arians
sought a cleaner break with the past and pushed the doctrine of the
trinity. Constantine despised Judaism
and naturally wanted his “New Rome” to be distanced as much as possible from
Judaism.[6]
Soon after Rome adopted Christianity as its official religion they
held the Council of Nicea to decide which form of Christianity would be
accepted by the Roman Church. Since
Revelation 12 shows us that Satan was the power behind Rome and Revelation 13:2
says Satan gave his authority to the Roman Church, we should be very cautious
about accepting its council on doctrine.
The council produced what is known as the Nicene Creed.
Here is the English translation.
We
believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and
invisible.
And
in one Lord Jesus Christ , the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the
only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of
Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousion)
with the Father; by whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth];
who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made
man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from
thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
And
in the Holy Ghost .
[But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was
not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another
substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or
'alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.][7]
Not everyone was satisfied with the Nicene Creed, especially the
fact that it did not clarify the position of the Holy Spirit. It was revised in Constantinople in 381 under
the reign or the Roman Emperor Theodosius I.
We
believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible.
And
in one Lord Jesus Christ , the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father
before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not
made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who
for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by
the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us
under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose
again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father ; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to
judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy
Ghost , the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with
the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the
remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of
the world to come. Amen. [8]
Naturally, acceptance of the Nicene Creed provided a test to determine
whether or not a Christian leader should be considered a part of the Catholic
Church. The emperor Theodosius I stated
this in the “edict, called Nullis haereticis: No heretics. “He who professes
the Nicene faith is to be thought of as the genuine worshipper in the Catholic
religion,” it read.”[9]
Right after the Council of Constantinople, the emperor Theodosius I
declared:
We now order
that all churches are to be handed over to the bishops who profess Father, Son
and Holy Spirit of a single majesty , of the same glory, of one splendor, who
establish no difference by sacrilegious separation, but [who affirm] the order of the Trinity by
recognizing the Persons and uniting the Godhead.[10]
Soon after the Council of Constantinople in 381 the advocacy of Arian
teachings and the possession of Arian writings was deemed by the Roman Emperor
Theodosius I to be punishable by death.[11] Thus, the Trinity was the primary doctrine
that was settled with the help of the Roman Emperor. It is the primary doctrine the acceptance or
denial of which marked someone as Catholic or “heretic”. Rome caused all people within the empire to
accept the Nicene Creed. Those who held
beliefs closer to the Jewish understanding of God and opposed the Trinity
doctrine were punished by death.
The second beast (America) will will set up a system that resembles
(image to) the Roman Church and will punish any who refuse to follow it with
death. I don’t wish to speculate too
much about exactly how this will play out.
But, since there are strong parallels with the Arian Controversy in the
Forth Century, I think this may provide us with a glimpse of how what will happen
in the future. When the image to the
beast is set up there will also be something to identify those who comply with
those who don’t. Noncompliance will be
punishable by death.
I am far from the first to suggest that the second beast represents
the United States. However, there has
always been a huge problem with the fact that such a system would violate the
separation of church and state, one of America’s most basic principles.
Revelation doesn’t give any timetable for these prophecies. It is impossible to know if the current
events will lead directly into these prophecies or if there will be many more
years before these things come to pass.
But, there have been some significant changes in the early 21st
Century that make it easier to see how this could come about in the near
future. The prophecy doesn’t tell how
this will come about. Anything I say
about that should be considered speculation.
But, I am certain of this. The
Christians at the time of Constantine had just come through a time of great
persecution. When Constantine officially
embraced Christianity and made it the favored religion of Rome, he had the
support of the majority of Christians.
And when the Nicene Creed became legally enforced, the majority of
Christians supported, or at least went along with, it too. The image to the beast will also be set up
with the support of the majority of Christians.
As of the writing of this paragraph (January 3, 2016), the United
States is still maintaining the separation of church and state. However, many people are beginning to feel
that Christianity itself is under attack.
For example, the gay rights movement has made significant strides with
the legalization of same-sex marriage and other things. Things like this constitute internal threats
to the Christian community. Christians
are seeing their values under attack.
But, I think it will require something much larger to make
Christians feel it is necessary to enforce certain religious principles. Fear has always been very successful at
bringing about these kinds of change. Since
2001 there has been growing hostility and violence between the fanatical
elements within the Islamic world and the West.
First I should say that
there is no justification for terrorism and all terrorists and religious
leaders who encourage them should be brought to justice. “A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American
Muslim Patriot's Fight to Save His Faith” by M. Zuhdi Jasser is an excellent
book that addresses some of the issues within the Islamic community that lead
to this fanaticism. It also does a good
job of showing that the problems are not inherent to Islam, but stem from some
people’s interpretation of Islam.
Daniel 11 describes a final conflict involving the King of the
North (Papal Rome and/or the Christian world) and the King of the South
(Islamic world). This provides good
reason to think that the conflicts between the fanatical elements within Islam
and the West may provide the catalyst for America blending religion and
politics.
When Christianity was made the official religion of Rome in the
Fourth Century, the Nicene Creed became the primary test of who would and would
not be considered a “true Christian”.
The only religious institutions allowed to operate were those that
espoused the Nicene Creed. Anyone who
taught against the Nicene Creed faced the death penalty. This very closely
parallels Revelation’s description of the image to the beast set up by the
first beast.
The doctrine of the Trinity, which is the central theme of the
Nicene Creed, is the biggest doctrinal difference between Judaism (the faith
practiced by Jesus and the disciples) and mainstream churches. It is also the biggest doctrinal difference
between Islam and mainstream churches.
Most Protestant denominations still adhere to a variation of the Nicene
Creed. The few denominations that
maintain an understanding of God closer to Judaism and Islam (deny the trinity)
are often considered to not be “true Christian”.
More and more major politicians today are demonizing Islam itself
and not just the fanatics. By demonizing
Islam itself and saying that it is inherently evil, they are feeding the idea
that Chrisianity is under attack and must defend itself. The fact that this kind of rhetoric is coming
from politicians and not just religious leaders increases the chances that they
will eventually try to set up laws regulating religious teachings. In the Fourth Century it was the Nicene Creed
that provided the litmus test of whether someone would be accepted as a “true
Christian” and all who taught against it faced the death penalty. Today it may be something else, but it will
line up with at least some of the basic doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church
and it will be enforced by the government.
Otherwise, it couldn’t really be considered an image to Papal Rome. And fighting against the “demonic” Muslims
may provide the motivation to Americans to allow the government to regulate
what religious teachings are “acceptable”.
This may very well give Americans the motive to enforce which religious
doctrines are “acceptable” and legally penalize anyone who won’t accept, or at
least not teach against, certain “Christian” doctrines.
To be clear, the ideas I just presented on how the image to the
beast might be set up are simply theories.
I simply presented them to demonstrate how such a thing is possible in
the current state of the world. However,
it may end up being something else entirely.
We also don’t know for sure when it will be. I believe current world politics are becoming
ripe for this possibility, but it could also turn out to be many years on down
the road. We need to watch and be ready.
I mentioned the final conflich between the King of the North
(European/Christian world) and the King of the South (Arab/Islamic world) in
Daniel 11. I believe this provides
evidence in Scriptures that the image to the Beast will be related to the
conflict between Christians and Muslims.
See the chapter on that prophecy for a detailed study.
Daniel 11:40-45
ASV
40 And
at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the
king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and
with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and
shall overflow and pass through.
41 He
shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be
overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and
the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 He
shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt
shall not escape.
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.
44 But
tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go
forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.
45 And
he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy
mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Revelation 13:16-18 ASV
16
|
And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the
poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their
right hand, or upon their forehead;
|
και ποιει παντας τους μικρους και τους μεγαλους και τους
πλουσιους και τους πτωχους και τους ελευθερους και τους δουλους ινα δωσιν
αυτοις χαραγμα επι της χειρος αυτων της δεξιας η επι το μετωπον αυτων
|
17
|
and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that
hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.
|
[και] ινα μη τις δυνηται αγορασαι η πωλησαι ει μη ο εχων το
χαραγμα το ονομα του θηριου η τον αριθμον του ονοματος αυτου
|
18
|
Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the
number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six
hundred and sixty and six.
|
ωδε η σοφια εστιν ο εχων νουν ψηφισατω τον αριθμον του θηριου
αριθμος γαρ ανθρωπου εστιν και ο αριθμος αυτου εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ
|
When the Beast (Roman Catholic/Orthodox Church) first gained legal
authority in the Fourth Century, the acceptance of the Nicene Creed was what
marked someone as “true Christian” and the government shut down any churches
that refused to accept the Nicene Creed and later even made teaching against it
a capital offense. When the second beast
(United States) sets up the image to the beast (corrupt mainstream Christianity
that controls the people like the Roman Church), it creates something that
indicates (marks) whether or not someone is following the religious laws.
Revelation 7:3 tells us that the seal of God is only received in
the forhead. One must be a true believer
in order to receive this mark. The mark
of the Beast, however, can be received in either the forhead (true belief) or
in the right hand (performing the required actions).
Many people have speculated over the years about what exactly the
mark is. There are several clues. Verse 17 tells us that it is the name of the
beast or the number of his name. Verse
18 tells us that it is the number of a man and that it counts out to 666. In the ancient alphabets the letters often
had numerical values. For example, in
Latin the “V” had a value of 5. We refer
to the usage of Latin letters for numbers as “Roman Numerals”. Many people have taken various names and
titles and shown that they can be calculated out to 666. Many volumes of books have been written over
which name or names or title is pointed to here. Every interpretation I have seen has some
evidence to support it and some evidence against it. I have not yet found an interpretation that I
feel is definitive. It is possible that
it is referring to a name that will only become evident when the image to the
Beast is set up. I would encourage you
to pursue and study this and I will do the same.
I would like to interject a word of caution. If you follow the outline of history
presented in Daniel, the most reasonable conclusion is that the little horn
represents the Roman Church or mainstream Medieval Christianity depending on
how you want to look at it. The beast in
Revelation provides many clues that it also represents the same power. And the image to the beast will be a blending
of political and religious authority like the Roman Church and will commit many
of the same sins.
One can only conclude that the image to the beast will more or less
correspond to modern mainstream churches just as the beast corresponded to the mainstream
church during the 1260 year reign of the Roman Catholic Church. The mark of a religious movement (such as the
beast and its image) is whatever defines whether someone is accepted into the
folds of that movement or cast out as a heretic. We can see some of the forms this can take
when Christian leaders discuss fringe denominations (such as Mormons, Jehovah’s
Witnesses, etc.) and debate whether or not they are “really Christian”. They
make lists of doctrines that they think a denomination must adhere to in order
to be considered “true Christian”.
If the government designates whether or not people are religiously
acceptable (receive the mark) it will set out certain religious principles
people must adhere to in order to maintain their rights, just as Rome decreed
that only churches who adhered to the Nicene Creed would be allowed to continue
to operate. Revelation says it will be
linked to the beast’s (Roman Catholic Church’s) name. It is debatable now exactly what this means,
but it will become clear to those who study and remain faithful.
The caution I would like add is that we must keep in mind that any
condemnations in Revelation only apply to the way mainstream churches practice
and teach. It in no way condemns the
belief that Jesus is the Messiah or following his teachings. The actual revelations given by God through a
religious leader (i.e. Jesus) are not always what is taught by their followers
centuries down the road. Those are two
separate issues. Keep in mind that the
book of Revelation is called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to
him”. Studying and living by Revelation
is the truest way to follow Jesus.
If you want to know what the Quran says about following Jesus’s
teachings, you will find:
Quran 5:43-48
43. But why do they
come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) law before them?- therein
is the (plain) command of Allah. yet even after that, they would turn away. For
they are not (really) People of Faith.
44. It was We who
revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard
have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah.s
will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the
protection of Allah.s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not
men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail
to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than)
Unbelievers.
45. We ordained
therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear,
tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the
retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if
any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No
better than) wrong-doers.
46. And in their
footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come
before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and
confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition
to those who fear Allah.
47. Let the people
of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to
judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than)
those who rebel.
48. To thee We sent
the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and
guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and
follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee.
To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so
willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you
in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of
you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in
which ye dispute;
Quran 5:68-69
68. Say: "O
People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the
Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your
Lord." It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that
increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow
thou not over (these) people without Faith.
69. Those who
believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the
Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and
work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
The Three Angels’ Message
Revelation
14:1-5 ASV
1
|
And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and
with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name
of his Father, written on their foreheads.
|
και ειδον και ιδου το αρνιον εστος επι το ορος σιων και μετ αυτου
εκατον τεσσερακοντα τεσσαρες χιλιαδες εχουσαι το ονομα αυτου και το ονομα του
πατρος αυτου γεγραμμενον επι των μετωπων αυτων
|
2
|
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and
as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice
of harpers harping with their harps:
|
και ηκουσα φωνην εκ του ουρανου ως φωνην υδατων πολλων και ως
φωνην βροντης μεγαλης και η φωνη ην ηκουσα ως κιθαρωδων κιθαριζοντων εν ταις
κιθαραις αυτων
|
3
|
and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before
the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song
save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been
purchased out of the earth.
|
και αδουσιν ως ωδην καινην ενωπιον του θρονου και ενωπιον των
τεσσαρων ζωων και των πρεσβυτερων και ουδεις εδυνατο μαθειν την ωδην ει μη αι
εκατον τεσσερακοντα τεσσαρες χιλιαδες οι ηγορασμενοι απο της γης
|
4
|
These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are
virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These
were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the
Lamb.
|
ουτοι εισιν οι μετα γυναικων ουκ εμολυνθησαν παρθενοι γαρ εισιν
ουτοι οι ακολουθουντες τω αρνιω οπου αν υπαγει ουτοι ηγορασθησαν απο των
ανθρωπων απαρχη τω θεω και τω αρνιω
|
5
|
And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.
|
και εν τω στοματι αυτων ουχ ευρεθη ψευδος αμωμοι εισιν
|
We saw the 144,000 before.
They seem to be representative of part or all of those who remain
faithful to God until the end. They have
the name of the Lamb and the Father in their foreheads. They are given a special honor by God.
We will see in Revelation 17-18 that mainstream churches at the end
of time (represented in Revelation 13 as the Beast and his image) is described
as “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5) and says that all the kings of the
earth “committed fornication and lived wantonly with her” (Revelation
18:9). But the 144,000 have not defiled
themselves with women. They have not
participated in the abominations committed by the Church. They are free from the corrupt teachings of
Roman Christianity. Instead of the Mark
of the Beast (by which the world identifies those it considers to be “real
Christians”) they have the name of the Lamb and the Father written in their
foreheads.
Revelation 7 presented the 144,000 at the end of the sixth seal and
right before the seventh seal, which marked the very end. Here the 144,000 are presented after the
establishment of the image to the Beast and before the three angels’ warning to
those who follow the Beast. This seems
to provide an anchor for lining up the time periods.
Revelation
14:6-7 ASV
6
|
And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good
tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation
and tribe and tongue and people;
|
και ειδον αλλον αγγελον πετομενον εν μεσουρανηματι εχοντα
ευαγγελιον αιωνιον ευαγγελισαι επι τους καθημενους επι της γης και επι παν
εθνος και φυλην και γλωσσαν και λαον
|
7
|
and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory;
for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven
and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.
|
λεγων εν φωνη μεγαλη φοβηθητε τον θεον και δοτε αυτω δοξαν οτι
ηλθεν η ωρα της κρισεως αυτου και προσκυνησατε τω ποιησαντι τον ουρανον και
την γην και θαλασσαν και πηγας υδατων
|
This echoes Jesus’s statement in Matthew 24:14.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world
for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
The last part of verse 7 strongly resembles the Sabbath
commandment.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember
the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six
days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
10 but
the seventh day is a sabbath unto [Yehovah] thy God: in it thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy
maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 for
in six days [Yehovah] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore [Yehovah] blessed the sabbath day, and
hallowed it.
If you recall, the changing of laws was one of the identifying
marks of the Little Horn of Daniel (which is the same as the Beast and Babylon
in Revelation). The Church has admitted
that it changed the Sabbath to Sunday.
This is what the Catholic Church says about changing the laws of
God:
Q: Which is the
Sabbath day?
A: Saturday is
the Sabbath day.
Q: Why do we
observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because
the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, transferred the solemnity from
Saturday to Sunday[14]
And elsewhere:
" It
is worth its while to remember that this observance of the Sabbath,—in which,
after all, the only Protestant worship consists,—not only has no foundation in
the Bible, but it is inbflagrant contradiction with its letter, whichbcommands
rest on the Sabbath, which is Saturday. It was the Catholic Church which, by the
authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest to the Sunday in
remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Thus the observance of Sunday by
the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority
of the Church. "[15]
Of course the statement “worship him that made the
heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters” is more
specifically addressing the issue of WHO we worship rather than HOW we
worship. It specifies that that we are
to worship the one who made the heavens and the earth.
The Nicene Creed (as updated in 381) states that the Father is the
creator of the heavens and the earth.
But, it goes on to say that there are two more we need to worship.
We
believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible.
And
in one Lord Jesus Christ , the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father
before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not
made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who
for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by
the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us
under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose
again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father ; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to
judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And
in the Holy Ghost , the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake
by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one
baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen. [16]
The doctrine of the Trinity, more than anything else, was and still
is the foundation of the Catholic Church.
The
mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of Catholic faith. Upon it are
based all other teachings of the Church.[17]
The Jewish faith taught and practiced by Jesus and the Apostles states
that there is only one who is truly God and He created the heavens and the
earth.
Isaiah 45:5-18
ASV
5 I
am [Yehovah], and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird
thee, though thou hast not known me;
6 that
they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none
besides me: I am [Yehovah], and there is none else.
7 I
form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am [Yehovah],
that doeth all these things.
8 Distil,
ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the
earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness
to spring up together; I, [Yehovah], have created it.
9 Woe
unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the
earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy
work, He hath no hands?
10 Woe
unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With
what travailest thou?
11 Thus
saith [Yehovah], the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things
that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands,
command ye me.
12 I
have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched
out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded.
13 I
have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he
shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor
reward, saith [Yehovah] of hosts.
14 Thus
saith [Yehovah], The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the
Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine:
they shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; and they shall fall
down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is
in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily
thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They
shall be put to shame, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go into
confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But
Israel shall be saved by [Yehovah] with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not
be put to shame nor confounded world without end.
18 For
thus saith [Yehovah] that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth
and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to
be inhabited: I am [Yehovah]; and there is none else.
Nehemiah 9:6
ASV
6 Thou art [Yehovah], even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens,
with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and
all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven
worshippeth thee.
Many Christians are taught that Jesus is the Creator. However, the Bible says the Jesus did not
perform miracles through his own power. Instead
all of the miracles were the result of God working through him.
Acts 2:22 ASV
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by
him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;
Similarly, it clearly states that the Father is the actual Creator
who worked through Jesus.
1 Corinthians
8:6 ASV
6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and
we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we
through him.
Ephesians 3:9
KJV
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 1:1-2
ASV
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers
in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in
his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom [Jesus] also he
[God] made the worlds;
Colossian
1:15-18 ASV
15 who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation;
16 for in him were all things created, in the
heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created
through him, and unto him;
17 and he is before all things, and in him all
things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have
the preeminence.
Notice that verse 15 says that Jesus is the image of the invisible
God, like Adam, and not actually God. It
also says that he is the firstborn of all creation. Paul uses the same word in verse 18 to
describe Jesus as being the most preeminent of those who are raised from the
dead. If we listen to Paul, instead of
the church, then we could only conclude that “firstborn of all creation” means
the most preeminent of created beings. This
is a plain statement that Jesus is a created being.
I have heard it argued that if all things were created by Jesus,
then he can’t be created. First, this is
ignoring the Bible’s plain statements that it was God who created things by
Jesus. Second, Paul himself says that
this kind of thinking is illogical and we should understand “all things” to
mean “all other things”.
1 Corinthians
15:24-28 ASV
24 Then
cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
25 For
he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The
last enemy that shall be abolished is death.
27 For,
He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All
things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject
all things unto him.
28 And
when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself
be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all
in all.
The doctrine of the Trinity contradicts the answer to who created
the heavens and the earth given by Judaism, the faith taught and practiced by
Jesus and the Apostles. The most basic
aspect of any religion is WHO is to be worshiped.
Revelation
14:8 ASV
8
|
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is
Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication.
|
και αλλος δευτερος [αγγελος] ηκολουθησεν λεγων επεσεν επεσεν
βαβυλων η μεγαλη η εκ του οινου του θυμου της πορνειας αυτης πεποτικεν παντα
τα εθνη
|
Revelation 17 – 18 go into the fall of Babylon and her
fornication. We will see that Babylon
represents mainstream churches after the Roman Catholic Church recovers its
former power. This second angel is
announcing the impending fall of this apostate faith. The Roman Church began its recovery in the 20th
Century. We could probably mark the
beginning of this recovery with the Lateran Treaty in 1929 which recognized the
Vatican as an independent state within Rome.
Throughout the 20th and into the 21st Centuries
the Papacy has been gaining more and more power and prestige. For example, Pope John Paul II has been
credited with being a key player in the downfall of communism. However, it has not yet regained its full
influence. Since Babylon refers
primarily to the Church after the recovery and/or its image, this message would
seem to still be in our future.
Revelation
14:9-11 ASV
9
|
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great
voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark
on his forehead, or upon his hand,
|
και αλλος αγγελος τριτος ηκολουθησεν αυτοις λεγων εν φωνη μεγαλη
ει τις προσκυνει το θηριον και την εικονα αυτου και λαμβανει χαραγμα επι του
μετωπου αυτου η επι την χειρα αυτου
|
10
|
he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire
and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Lamb:
|
και αυτος πιεται εκ του οινου του θυμου του θεου του κεκερασμενου
ακρατου εν τω ποτηριω της οργης αυτου και βασανισθησεται εν πυρι και θειω
ενωπιον αγγελων αγιων και ενωπιον του αρνιου
|
11
|
and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and
they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image,
and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.
|
και ο καπνος του βασανισμου αυτων εις αιωνας αιωνων αναβαινει και
ουκ εχουσιν αναπαυσιν ημερας και νυκτος οι προσκυνουντες το θηριον και την
εικονα αυτου και ει τις λαμβανει το χαραγμα του ονοματος αυτου
|
Those who follow the Beast (Roman Christianity) or its image (mainstream
corrupt Christianity) and receive a mark in their forehead (truly believe) or
in their hand (go through the actions of obedience to the Church), will suffer
the the wrath of God unmixed with mercy.
Revelation
14:12-13 ASV
12
|
Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
|
ωδε η υπομονη των αγιων εστιν οι τηρουντες τας εντολας του θεου
και την πιστιν ιησου
|
13
|
And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they
may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
|
και ηκουσα φωνης εκ του ουρανου λεγουσης γραψον μακαριοι οι
νεκροι οι εν κυριω αποθνησκοντες απ αρτι ναι λεγει το πνευμα ινα αναπαησονται
εκ των κοπων αυτων τα γαρ εργα αυτων ακολουθει μετ αυτων
|
God will reward those who remain faithful to Him.
Revelation
14:14 ASV
14
|
And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one
sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his
hand sharp sickle.
|
και ειδον και ιδου νεφελη λευκη και επι την νεφελην καθημενον
ομοιον υιον ανθρωπου εχων επι της κεφαλης αυτου στεφανον χρυσουν και εν τη
χειρι αυτου δρεπανον οξυ
|
Jesus described himself as the Son of Man who would come in the
clouds of heaven.
Matthew 26:64
64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,
Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and
coming on the clouds of heaven.
In this, he was making a reference to the prophecy in Daniel.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there
came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to
the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that
all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed.
Revelation
14:15-16 ASV
15
|
And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great
voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the
hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
|
και αλλος αγγελος εξηλθεν εκ του ναου κραζων εν φωνη μεγαλη τω
καθημενω επι της νεφελης πεμψον το δρεπανον σου και θερισον οτι ηλθεν η ωρα
θερισαι οτι εξηρανθη ο θερισμος της γης
|
16
|
And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and
the earth was reaped.
|
και εβαλεν ο καθημενος επι της νεφελης το δρεπανον αυτου επι την
γην και εθερισθη η γη
|
An angel emerges from the temple in heaven and cries out with a
great voice, instructing Christ to begin the harvest of the righteous from the
earth.
1 Thessalonians
4:16-17 ASV
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven,
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first;
17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be
caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord.
Why does the angel need to tell Jesus when to begin the
harvest? The angel comes from the
temple, from God’s presence. Jesus does
not know the day or the hour. Only God
knows. That is why God sends the angel
to tell Jesus that the hour has come.
Mark 13:31-32
ASV
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words
shall not pass away.
32 But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in
heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Revelation 14:17-20 ASV
17
|
Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he
also having a sharp sickle.
|
και αλλος αγγελος εξηλθεν εκ του ναου του εν τω ουρανω εχων και
αυτος δρεπανον οξυ
|
18
|
And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power
over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle,
saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of
the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
|
και αλλος αγγελος [εξηλθεν] εκ του θυσιαστηριου [ο] εχων εξουσιαν
επι του πυρος και εφωνησεν φωνη μεγαλη τω εχοντι το δρεπανον το οξυ λεγων
πεμψον σου το δρεπανον το οξυ και τρυγησον τους βοτρυας της αμπελου της γης
οτι ηκμασαν αι σταφυλαι αυτης
|
19
|
And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the
vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of
the wrath of God.
|
και εβαλεν ο αγγελος το δρεπανον αυτου εις την γην και ετρυγησεν
την αμπελον της γης και εβαλεν εις την ληνον του θυμου του θεου τον μεγαν
|
20
|
And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came
out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as
a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
|
και επατηθη η ληνος εξωθεν της πολεως και εξηλθεν αιμα εκ της
ληνου αχρι των χαλινων των ιππων απο σταδιων χιλιων εξακοσιων
|
The wickedness of the earth is compared to ripe grapes and they are
pressed in the winepress of God’s wrath.
The wicked are so great that their blood is described as reaching “even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six
hundred furlongs”.
[1] By
w:Herrad of Landsberg ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[2] Gustave
Doré [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[3] Rubenstein,
Richard E. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in
the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 229-231. Print.
[4] Matthias
Gerung [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[5] Redemptorist
Pastoral Publication (2010-08-31). Handbook for Today's Catholic (p. 19).
Liguori Publications. Kindle Edition.
[6] Rubenstein,
Richard E. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in
the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 74. Print.
[7] Schaff,
Philip. The Creeds of Christendom: With a History and Critical Notes.
Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1877. 28-29. Print.
[8] Schaff,
Philip. The Creeds of Christendom: With a History and Critical Notes.
Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1877. 28-29. Print.
[9] Rubenstein,
Richard E. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in
the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 221. Print.
[10] Rubenstein,
Richard E. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in
the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 223. Print.
[11] Rubenstein,
Richard E. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in
the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 223. Print.
[12] Matthias
Gerung [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[13]
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[14] Peter
Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic
Doctrine, 1957, p. 50
[15] Plain Talk
About the Protestantism of Today, by Mgr. Louis Segur, 1868, p.225
[16] Schaff,
Philip. The Creeds of Christendom: With a History and Critical Notes.
Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1877. 28-29. Print.
[17] Redemptorist
Pastoral Publication (2010-08-31). Handbook for Today's Catholic (p. 19).
Liguori Publications. Kindle Edition.
