TIMES OF THE BEAST
Dan 7:7-8, 19-22 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the Kingdom."
These verses are from a dream Daniel has in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar, king of Babylon. In the book of Daniel, chapter 7, the prophet Daniel has a vision of four beasts coming out of the sea, the first three beasts displaying features that resemble animals we are familiar with. This fourth beast, however, has huge iron teeth and ten horns on its head, of which three are pulled out from the roots by a horn that has eyes and a mouth! I'm sure Daniel was curious about all of these beasts, but he asks specifically only about the fourth beast which is different from the rest of the beasts. In verse 23 the answer is given to Daniel.
Dan 7:23-25 Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time."
Daniel, in chapter 8, again has a vision, similar to the previous one. In this vision Daniel is given an interpretation, from Gabriel, of his earlier dream concerning the conquest of the world by the Medes, Persians, and Greeks. But in addition we are also told more concerning the final empire of the Antichrist and something about his cunning and deceptive ways.
Dan 8:24-25 “His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means."
The above verses, and ones to follow, deal with a worldwide monarchy and the ruling 'agencies' operating this worldwide government. To understand who this Antichrist is requires an investigation of the similarities in Daniel and Revelation. Over and over again we see in Daniel and Revelation these “ten horns” depicted as being in world control, and a little horn (Antichrist) coming up from these rulers taking over the position and authority of three of the ten rulers. This “little horn” speaks blasphemous things against God and His kingdom, and he is given power to wage war against the saints of the Most High and to overcome them for a time, times and half a time. This phrase “time, times and half a time” is a Hebraism for saying a year, two years and half a year, or 3 1/2 years. Thus the saints of the Most High will be given into his hands for three and a half years, but at the end judgment is passed in favor of the saints and the Lamb will overcome the beast. Several places in the above verses we see this “little horn” persecuting the saints of the Most High, and we certainly want to know who these saints are that are being persecuted. Is it the Church, is it the Jews, or is it both? The word 'saint' is used both in the Old Testament and the New Testament and both have the same meaning . The definition of the word is holy ones, or consecrated ones, and in the New Testament the word is used in reference to both Jewish and Gentile believers. I believe, since the New Testament now interprets Gentile believers as being 'saints', that these saints mentioned in Daniel could also include the Church. Of course there are those who would disagree, saying that Daniel was only speaking to the Jewish nation, and that only the nation of Israel was in reference here. But I must point out that when Daniel gave these prophecies only the Jews were God's chosen people and the Church was not in existence yet. Speaking of the Jewish nation, there are some who believe that the prophecies in the Bible surrounding the return of Jesus are directed entirely toward the Jewish nation, and that the Church, (being raptured) is not the recipient of any of Jesus' warnings and teachings concerning His return. If you are one who believes this way then you might know that I have included a section at the end of the book entitled A Reasonable Doubt to discuss this notion that Jesus was speaking to the Jews and not the Church regarding the events preceding His return.
Now, let’s get back to Daniel's visions. The dreams and visions in the book of Daniel give us insight, not only on the future kingdom of the Antichrist, but also a history of world domination in general. The first mention of a list of world empires occurs in Daniel chapter 2. Here we read how King Nebuchadnezzar had his dream of a statue and how Daniel interpreted this dream to be the four kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The concluding interpretation to this dream illustrates that the Kingdom of God will crush the kingdoms of the earth and His kingdom will never be destroyed. Daniel, as we have read above, has his vision of four beasts coming out of the sea, the fourth beast displaying ten horns on its head. A similar scenario occurs in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 17 John is given an explanation of a vision he has just witnessed concerning a woman, clothed in purple and scarlet, sitting upon a beast with seven heads and ten horns. One of the seven angels with the seven bowls now begins to explain to John the mystery of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:8-14 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
At the time of John's vision there had been six world empires, including the Roman Empire which prevailed in John's day. As the angel says, “Five have fallen, one is...”, the one existing at that time being Rome, which was also the fourth beast in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The five fallen empires up to the time of John's prophecy, which included 3 from Daniel's and Nebuchadnezzar's visions, were (1) the Egyptian Empire, (2) the Assyrian Empire, (3) the Babylonian Empire, (4) the Medo-Persian Empire, and finally (5) the Greek Empire. The sixth king, which existed at the time of the writing of John, was of course Rome. The reason for presenting this brief history lesson is to help determine the history of world domination up to the time of the writing of Revelation, and the capacious realm the seventh and eighth beast would eventually obtain. When trying to grasp the 'big picture' of what's happening in these verses it is absolutely essential to integrate the appropriate passages from Daniel and Revelation to help formulate the identity of this seventh beast. If I were permitted freedom to merge and paraphrase the above passages from Daniel and Revelation, which define the Antichrist's progression, it would read something like this:
(Note: I have inserted my comments and explanations in brackets [ ] )
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, different from all the beasts that were before it, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. The seven heads are seven mountains and also seven kings [seven kingdoms]. Five have fallen [from Assyria to Greece], one is [Rome], and the other kingdom [a continuation or expansion of Rome] has not yet come. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings [a ten member world alliance] who shall arise from this kingdom [expansion Rome], but who have received no kingdom as yet [a kingdom that will be somewhere in the future]. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who, when they come, must continue a short time, but they receive authority [world wide ruler ship] for one hour as kings, [a brief period of time] and they will give their power and authority to the beast [Antichrist]. And there was another horn [Antichrist], a little one, coming up from among them [the ten rulers], before whom three of the first horns [three of the first ten kings] were plucked out by the roots; and this other horn which came up [Antichrist], had an appearance greater than his fellows, and had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words. And one [Antichrist] shall rise after them; and he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three of these kings [three of the original ten kings]. And the beast [Antichrist] that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth [a final eighth kingdom in which he will be the sovereign monarch], and is of the seven [the original ten kings, minus the three he replaced], and is going to perdition. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man [the 'beast' is a man], and a mouth speaking pompous words. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time [3 1/2 years]. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailing against them and will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. And the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High.
What I see transpiring in the above edited verses is a seventh kingdom that comes into power in the latter years, made up of ten ruling 'governments', or 'governors', who pretty much control the worlds finances and political direction. Three of these governors, (or 'kings' we'll call them), are replaced by this 'little horn' (the Antichrist), which leaves seven ‘kings’ and the Antichrist who now control the world's affairs. The Antichrist, who is at first part of these seven ‘kings’, will eventually become sole ruler of the earth (after the 'kings' give their authority to him) and he will therefore be considered an eighth kingdom, even though he was originally part of the seven ‘kings’ from the seventh kingdom. So we see that this 'little horn', who was the eighth member, will also be the eighth kingdom. It could be well argued that the Antichrist will arise from a 'revived' Roman empire since Daniel 9:26 says the “people of the prince who is to come ...”, implying that the people who destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 A.D. (the nation of Rome) were/are the people of the prince (Antichrist). The 'spirit' of Rome, in the last days, will be in full rebirth (hedonism, paganism, and sexual immorality.) Looking back at the culture and philosophy of historical Rome we see an attitude that will be soon be prevailing throughout our world in these end times. The cultural philosophy of today is "..there is no God, we are here by accident and evolution." Soon however, as the fallacies of evolution become more and more exposed, the world's attitude will become, "... O.K., you say you have a god? Fine. You have a god, I have a god, we all have gods. Just don't impose your god's rules on us and we'll get along fine." Their gods, as with Rome, will culminate in a dictator (someone like Caesar) who rules absolute on the earth, as the end of Daniel 9 implies. We will discuss Daniel 9 in more detail later on, but for now I want to discuss further this seventh kingdom. According to Daniel, this seventh kingdom, controlled by these 'kings' and eventually the Antichrist, will be the final united one-world governmental system, in the history of the world, to obtain a worldwide monarchy. This push for a one-world government has been ensuing for a long time now. Technology has immeasurably increased the ability to have an operating system that is tied into a one-world government. To have such a sophisticated network system that can control the world's finances and create an efficient governmental operating system could only be possible with today's expanding cyberspace technology, the smart chip, or the next generation of these technologies. The complete tracking of individuals, and their personal information, is already present today via a 'smart chip'. [to see this demonstrated visit www.verichipcorp.com ]
Now I want to bring in other verses that will shed some light on who this “man of perdition” is and how he will affect the followers of our Lord. Jesus, as we have seen above, mentions him as a call to readiness when he sets himself up in the holy place. Daniel 9 is a focal point for pinpointing who this Antichrist is and what actions he will take. In the first twenty verses of this chapter Daniel has been in prayer and supplication, after reading Jeremiah's prophecy for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem. Starting at verse 21 he is then visited by the angel Gabriel who tells Daniel that his supplications were heard. Gabriel then reports this message to Daniel:
Dan 9:24-27 “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate."
What we see here is an on-going prophecy for Israel, beginning in Jeremiah, through Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel and Jesus, and then eventually to John in Revelation. Jeremiah 25 is a message from God to Judah, calling for their repentance, or else Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will take them away captive and destroy the temple (as did happen in 586 B.C). Jerusalem is destroyed and Judah is led away captive “because you have not obeyed My word.” (Jer 25:8). Daniel now is given understanding that from the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem (see Nehemiah chapter 2) until Messiah there will be seven weeks and sixty two weeks, or the equivalent of 173,880 days. In Hebrew terminology a week is 7 years, with 360 days in a year. We can therefore see when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday it was exactly 173,880 prophetic days from the issuing of this decree and that Messiah had indeed appeared as prophesied! But the sections I want to discuss here are in Daniel 9:26-27. “After sixty two weeks Messiah will be cut off ...", and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” The Messiah is no longer in the presence of the Jewish nation, and next the people of the prince (who is to come) destroy the city and sanctuary. This prince now confirms (either initiating or ratifying) a covenant with Israel for one week, or 7 years as mentioned above. This week is the last week from the 70 weeks prophesied in verse 24, and it will still have the same purpose as it originally did - for Israel to finish transgression, make an end to sin, atone for this sin, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy. We understand, therefore, that before this age comes to a close the nation of Israel will still have another opportunity to fulfill the requirements of this prophecy (the 'last chance' week). It is amazing how God completes His plans, and with whomever He chooses to accomplish His plans, because for this 'last chance' week given to the nation of Israel it is the Antichrist himself who establishes when this week will occur by confirming a covenant with lsrael for the duration of the week. However, 3 1/2 years into the 7 years the prince breaks his covenant with Israel and stops the sacrifices and offerings, and sets up, on the wing of abomination, what we would call the abomination of desolation. Looking at these last two verses we see that Israel indeed still holds a place in God's future plan, and that this last week for Israel is taking place sometime in the future. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus of Rome, and there are some who believe that the prophecies of Daniel and of Jesus were fulfilled by Titus. However, Jesus in Matthew 24 is also telling, not only of the destruction of Jerusalem, but of His second return, a theme which is continued on in Revelation which was written well after 70 A.D. Besides, General Titus served Caesar, not himself. These passages in Daniel, as attested to in Revelation, are speaking of the Antichrist who will set up his kingdom in the last days. Let me, at this time, bring up a point of significance to the seven year contract and the 3 1/2 year division. Throughout Daniel and Revelation we have recurring numbers, all of which add up to 3 1/2 years, and all of which deal with the Great Tribulation, or Great Persecution, as we should think of it. The final countdown of this world will begin with this last week in Daniel. Most students of the Bible have heard over and over again of this seven year tribulation period, which is always referenced by the last week in Daniel. Well excuse me for saying so, but I can't find anywhere in scripture where it mentions seven years of tribulation during this period. As a matter of fact the first 3 1/2 years sound pretty pleasant to me. Israel is back sacrificing and making offerings to God in the temple, and the world has new leadership and a new united respect for all the countries under this new world order. It is only when this “little horn” breaks his contract with Israel that everything goes down the tubes, and it is only those who can see the 'signs' that will know a great storm is approaching. From what we have seen in the above verses we know that Israel will have to rebuild the temple and once again begin the ceremonial offerings and sacrifices of Judaism, and that a one-world system will have been initiated. Daniel tells us that this little horn will then gather an army and abolish the sacrifices in the temple and fling truth to the ground. But what is the turning point that causes this world leader to disregard everything he and his fellow leaders have set up and defiantly declare himself God and demand to be worshiped? I believe the answer lies in Revelation. The book of Revelation was written somewhere between 80-95 A.D. and is addressed to, as we can see in the first three chapters, the churches in Asia. Beginning at the fourth chapter John is taken up in the spirit and is shown what things must take place. Several chapters will need to be discussed in order to maintain a proper perspective of this great 'picture' transpiring in these last day events. Starting in Revelation 12 we read:
Rev 12:7-17 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
This section of scripture is one of the most fascinating to me. What apparently happens in the last days is that a battle takes place in heaven, and Satan (the dragon) is thrown out of heaven, along with his angels. He is cast down (imprisoned) to earth, and there is no longer access into heaven for Satan. Satan then unites with the Antichrist and begins a reign of terror. A foreshadowing of this Satan/Antichrist union can be found in Daniel chapter eight where Daniel observes in his vision the little horn growing up to heaven and casting down some of the stars, magnifying itself to be equal with God. There are some who would say, however, that Satan being cast from heaven has already happened and that prophecies like Isaiah 14 already mention when Lucifer was kicked out of heaven, or that Luke 10:18, (when Jesus beholds Satan falling from heaven like lightning), implies he was kicked out of heaven during Jesus' ministry on earth. This section in Revelation gives us clues, however, as to pinpointing a time frame for Satan's defeat by Michael the archangel and when Satan will actually be cast down to earth. In verses 10 and 11 of chapter 12 we see the loud voice in heaven proclaiming, “...for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” This passage tells us two things. One - Satan, up to this point, is still allowed access into the throne room of God and that with this access he can confront God personally. Two - that because he is accusing the brethren this must be a post-crucifixion time, as shown by the conditional remark, “...they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” But an exact time frame is given to us in verses 13 and 14. Here we see Satan, after realizing he is now a prisoner on this earth and that he only has a “short time” left, begin to persecute the woman (Israel) because she gave birth to the male child (Jesus). The woman is carried into the wilderness, however, and there she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time - or 3 1/2 years, (the same last 3 1/2 years of the Great Persecution). But if the Antichrist is supposed to persecute the saints, and here we see Satan persecuting the saints, is there multiple persecutions going on or is this a combined effort? Chapter 13 will give us the answers. Before leaving chapter 12, however, I would like to make one last comment on verse 17. The dragon (Satan) is enraged with the woman because she has now been preserved for 3 1/2 years, so he goes off to make war with the rest of her offspring, those "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” These who are the offspring are not the remnant Israel, because Israel is in the wilderness. These who keep the testimony of Jesus Christ, I believe, are the residing Church, which has not been raptured but is now about to engage in a conflict with the Antichrist for 3 1/2 years. So Israel, God's chosen remnant, is in one place, and the Church, being the offspring of Israel (see Galatians 3:29), in another. There are those, however, who would object to this view, saying that these who have the testimony of Jesus Christ are the “tribulation saints” (non-believers who are given a special "second chance" to become a Christian after the Church is raptured). I will address these mythical “second-chance saints” in the section entitled A Reasonable Doubt. For now, however, I want to continue with an understanding of Satan and the Antichrist's persecutions during these times of the beast. Chapter 13 in the book of Revelation is the most detailed section in the Bible for understanding what circumstances encompass the events of the empirical kingdom of Satan and the Antichrist. Beginning with verse one we read:
Rev 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Here is a parallel description of Daniel's vision of the beast. We see the beast with these 10 horns and 10 crowns, or the representation of kingdoms, coming out of the sea. The first sentence of this verse could have another interpretation, however, because other manuscripts translate this sentence as “Then he stood on the sand of the sea.” It's a minor difference actually, but I like the visual imagery of the dragon standing on the sand of the sea and calling forth this beast from the sea. This tends to align the hierarchy of the Antichrist's rule under Satan and his dominion. The symbolism of the sea, the beast arises from, represents the nations of the world, whereas the earth represents the nation Israel. We will see later on how this plays an important role in the origins of the beast and the false prophet. Continuing on with the next verses we read:
Rev 13: 3-5 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Here we see the infamous "fatal wound to the head" recovery. Instead of going into any names, or speculations as to who this could be recovering from a fatal head wound, or if it is a stricken kingdom that recovers, I would rather view this as another warning sign of the great Satanic empire developing upon the earth. Whatever the circumstances are behind this head wound recovery it does cause the world to marvel, and to worship the dragon and the beast. Satan, calling forth this beast, now gives to the beast all his power and authority, and thus we see that Satan persecutes those who belong to God, through the office of the beast, for 42 months (3 1/2 years). The beast, now with Satan's attributes, openly defies God, as we see in the next verses:
Rev 13: 6-8 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Here we see the zenith of the beast's reign. He blasphemes God, wages war with the saints, and all authority over every nation and people is given to him. But the ultimate example of his power is in verse eight. This is a very important key to understanding what will happen in the last days. Everyone, who's name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, will worship him and receive the mark. Everyone who does not belong to God (or will eventually belong to God), everyone who does not hold to the testimony of Jesus, and who has not been called by God, will take the mark and worship the beast. Talk about your wheat and chaff being separated! There's no middle ground here. You're either with God or with Satan. But during this evolving dictatorship you would think that certain people, who have heard the Bible enough to detect and perceive what is taking place, could grasp the fact that a prophecy is indeed coming true and that maybe the Christians were right. The separation of the wheat and chaff, however, is not merely being instigated by Satan, but it is also a directive from God. As II Thessalonians 2 says:
“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
So we see that because people did not receive the truth and become saved God will now let them take the mark and suffer His wrath. And in the next verses we are told who it is that will cause everyone to receive this mark and worship the beast:
Rev 13:11-18 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both the small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Rev 14: 9-12 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The False Prophet now is introduced into the cast of diabolical characters. It appears that the False Prophet is someone of importance in the Jewish nation, and that he will probably claim himself, or the beast, as Messiah (being in the appearance of a Lamb, but speaking like a Dragon). According to verse eleven he arises out of the earth (the earth being symbolic of the nation of Israel). The False Prophet also performs miraculous signs (calling down fire from heaven) and is basically the Gestapo for the beast, causing everyone who worships the beast to receive a mark on his hand or forehead. He causes all to receive the mark, everyone who's name is not in the Lamb's Book of Life. We see the image of the beast being cast and worshiped by the inhabitants of the earth, and the “rebellious” believers being killed for their defiance of the beast and his image. These “rebels”, we are told in Revelation 20:4, are the same ones who are mentioned as participating in the first resurrection and the millennial reign of Jesus. They are the ones who did not worship the beast or take his mark, but instead underwent martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus. Later on in this book I will point out the significance of these martyrs when mentioning the time references for the resurrection of believers, but for now I want emphasize the terrible torment upon the Church and the militant rampage of the false prophet upon God's people during this time. There have been many movies made showing the terrible treatment of captured prisoners under a Gestapo regime, and I can't help but imagine how much worse it will be for those of us who reside on this earth during the worst persecution this world has ever known. Through all of this mass persecution and unparalleled affliction of believers, however, is our knowledge that we, the saints, know whoever takes the mark will incur the wrath of God, and their fleeting moment of earthly security (42 months, or 3 1/2 years) and our brief moment of suffering will be nothing compared to our glorious eternity. (see Rom 8:18 and Rev 14:11-12 above)
Moving back to Revelation we see another scene in chapter 7 that was revealed to John. This scene was mentioned briefly before, but I now want to examine it more closely. The first three verses in chapter 7 depict the angels of God preparing to harm the earth, but before this happens the bond-servants of God must be sealed. These bondservants who are sealed are the twelve tribes of Israel, numbering 144,000, with 12,000 per tribe. This number may be a literal number or symbolic; either way it definitely does represent the nation Israel. Now, beginning at verse nine we read:
Rev 7: 9-10, 13-15 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.”
Here again we see the phrase “the great tribulation”, and these who are robed in white coming out of this tribulation. Several points of interest are to be found in these verses. First, we know that these multitudes in white are believers, as witnessed by their confession of "Salvation belongs to God ... and to the Lamb." (These have washed their robes in the "blood of the Lamb"). Second, these are not the remnant Israel, but are believers from all nations. Believers, which are from the still residing Church upon the earth, enduring the greatest persecution this world has seen. To reiterate a previous point, we know that the great tribulation can't be the wrath of God, based on this verse above. Can you imagine the elder saying to John, "These are saints who were killed by the wrath of God?" No!! These are saints who were martyred during the Great Persecution, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.To understand how large a number this multitude is, and to see how they couldn't be the mythical "Tribulation Saints", please see section 5 under A Reasonable Doubt at the end of this book.
What has transpired up to this point is a picture of a one-world government, under the dominion of Satan, under the leadership of the Antichrist, and under martial law by the False Prophet. Numerous places in scripture tell us that this reign will be for a time, times, and half a time; for forty-two months; for 1260 days; or for our equivalent of 3 1/2 years. The warnings of Jesus are now ringing true; to flee for your lives and to not believe He is in the desert, or in the mountains, or anyplace else where the 'Gestapo' might be waiting to ambush the naive believers. The saints, persevering in faith and relying upon God's Word, are running from the greatest holocaust this world has ever known, desperately praying to survive another day, or possibly yielding to martyrdom. In Daniel 11 we read the words, “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white.” Jesus tells us that unless those days had been cut short nobody would have survived, but for the sake of the chosen ones those days will be cut short. Now how short they will be cut is anybody's guess, but since we know that no man knows the day or hour of the Lord's return, not even the Son, then it is the decision of our Father in heaven to appoint that day. We are told in scripture that it will be 3 1/2 years (or 1260 days or 42 months) from the time the Antichrist declares himself God, but then those days decreed will be shortened. Those days may be cut short by a week, or two weeks, or even a month - who knows. What we are to know is that we must be prepared for His coming, and the persecution prior to His coming.