What do the Animals in Scripture Represent

Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

Dragon

The dragon in scriptures is very closely correlated to Satan and his kingdom building efforts. In the Old Testament, the word, “dragon,” comes from the Hebrew word, “tanniyn,” and means “dragon, sea-monster, serpent, or whale.” When tied to the “great red dragon” in the book of Revelation it can be concluded that the dragon is generally referring to a sea-monster. The word, “sea,” in Revelation generally has reference to the sea of humanity. There is much that the scriptures teach us about Satan and his building of multi-national kingdoms to seek to destroy the Lord’s humble obedient people. In a series of articles we will detail the efforts of the “Great Red Dragon” to build multi-national kingdoms as detailed for us in the book of Revelation and in the book of Daniel.

We will follow, generally, the following outline:

1. A general look at the word, dragon, in the scriptures and its significance.
2. The desires of Satan.
3. Dragons’ Bride
4. Dragons’ Image
5. Babel and subsequent attempts to build the beast.
6. The seven headed beast.
7. The religious beast.
8. Satan’s attempts to destroy the Christ child and his attempts to destroy the Lord’s faithful obedient children in His church today.
9. The Lord’s dealings with the seven headed beast.
10. The final battle.

A general look at the word, Dragon, in the scriptures

The word, dragon, generally has reference in the scriptures to a sea monster or a giant sea serpent. The first time it appears in the scriptures is found in Deu. 32:33 “Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.” The dragon is identified here as being poisonous.
Ultimately, Christ will be victorious over the dragon: Ps. 91:11 “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” Also, Is. 27:1 “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon is compared to a dragon: Jer. 51:34 “Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.”
In the prophecy of the Lord’s punishment of Babylon she is called a dwelling place for dragons: Jer. 51:37 “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”

Pharaoh, king of Egypt is also compared to or called a dragon: Ezek. 29:3 “Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.”

The most concentrated use of the word Dragon is found in the New Testament in the book of Revelation where Satan is called a great red dragon:

1. Rev. 12:3 “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.”
2. Rev. 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

The fact that Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh were called dragons as heads of great kingdoms, paints to us a picture of Satan as a dragon being the head of a great kingdom, which will be abundantly clear in later essays.

Satan's Desire

The desire of Satan for power, authority and worship is set forth in Isaiah chapter 14:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

The desire of Satan or Lucifer is set forth for us in the form of five "I wills" showing us what Satan is trying to accomplish.

The first is "I will ascend into heaven." This is consistent with the doctrine the serpent set forth in the Garden of Eden when he told the woman, "Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Thus, he said to the woman that by an act of the creature the creature could attain to be like God. This is also the doctrine of most of the religious world today. They believe that by an act of will or action that man can attain to eternal life. This is a satanic doctrine and is a lie. The truth is that eternal life is the gift of God and the creature cannot do anything to get it.

The second is "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." This shows forth the desire of Satan to reign over the stars of God. In the scriptures, the "stars" frequently depict God's children. It is Satan's desire to reign as a King over the children of God. In order for Satan to reign over the children of God, he must convince them that he is the true King and that they should obey him in his kingdom. This requires much subtlety and deception.

The third is "I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." In the scriptures, Mount Zion is known as the "mount of the congregation." We read about the "sides of the north" in Ps. 48: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." The "sides of the north" are therefore, "the city of the great King." The church is known as the "city of God." Satan desires to sit at the top of the kingdom of God and be worshipped by the Lord's church. Again, this can only happen where people are deceived and believe that Satan is God.

The fourth is "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds." In the scriptures, the clouds are associated with the glory of God. It is Satan's desire that he have more glory than God does in that he desires to ascent "above" the heights of the clouds, which depict the glory of God. Again, this is done through subtlety, as God's children would not glorify Satan unless they believed Satan to be God.

The fifth is "I will be like the most High." The obstacle that Satan has in being like the most High is that Satan is a fallen creature and God is the creator. Satan is also an imitator. He uses the mirror image principle to be like the most High.

I will illustrate the mirror image principle by using myself as an example. When I look in the mirror in the morning, I see what at first glance appears to be the almost perfect image of myself. However, the image in the mirror is the closest to being the exact opposite of me. My left ear in the mirror is my right ear. My left eye in the mirror is my right eye. Everything in the mirror is exactly opposite of me.

Satan tries to be the exact opposite of God. God is the God of all truth. Satan is a liar and the father of liars. God is the giver of life. Satan is a murderer from the beginning. God has a bride (His church) that is pure and a virgin. Satan's bride (so-called church) is a harlot and the mother of harlots. God is love but Satan is hate. God is light but Satan is darkness. God is a Spirit, but Satan is a multitude of false spirits.

Using the mirror image approach, Satan tries to be like the most High.

The Dragon’s Bride

Previously we had noted that Satan is an imitator. He uses the mirror image approach to be like God. That is he is the opposite of God. The Lord’s bride is described in the scriptures as a virgin. Also, the Lord’s bride is described as his church.

In contrast we would expect that Satan’s bride would not be the opposite of a virgin and the mother of many harlots. This is exactly what we find in the book of Revelation:
Preface to Chapter 17

Recall from Chapter 12 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." According to chapters 13-16 Satan had developed a powerful multifaceted political and religious systems in which to attack those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (the Lord's church). He caused to rise up out of the sea of humanity a seven headed, ten horn beast that was made in the image of the dragon. This was a multinational beast designed to bring political power and pressure against the Lord and His church. He also caused to rise up out of the earth another beast with two horns like a lamb, but spoke as a dragon. This beast is the false prophet. This also was a multinational religious beast designed to gather the false religious systems against the true religion of Jesus Christ.

The second beast made an image to the first beast, which of course Satan made in the image of the dragon. Furthermore, the second beast caused all outside the true church of Jesus Christ to worship the image of the beast (or dragon). This image of the beast is the antichrist spoken of in 1 John chapter 2. The antichrist is one in the place of Christ who is also opposed to Christ. As the scriptures teach, there are many antichrists in the world.

Among the arsenal of this trifecta of enemies against the Lord and his true disciples are included:

1. Destruction and devastation (Rev. 13:2).
2. Great political power (Rev. 13:2-4).
3. Blasphemy against God, against his name, against his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (the Lord's church). (Rev. 13:6)
4. False worship (Rev. 13:8, 12).
5. False wonders (Rev. 13:13).
6. Deception (Rev. 13:14).
7. Mortal fear (Rev. 13:15).
8. Bondage (Rev. 13:16, 17).
9. False spirits (Rev. 16:13).
10. False doctrine or teaching (Rev. 12:15, 16).

Finally there is introduced to us in Rev. 14:8 and 16:19 the bride of Satan or the false church known as Babylon the Great. Chapter 17 will help us identify Babylon the Great.

Rev. 17:1, 2 Seven Headed Beast

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

The seven angels are the same as the seven angels, which had the seven vials of the seven last plagues. There is no reason to think that these are any different from the seven angels of the seven churches of Asia in Rev. Chapters 2 and 3. Since the word angel means messenger, the angels are delivering the message of God to God's people. A part of the message of God is God's judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. The "many waters" are identified for us in verse 15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." This is consistent with the fact that the great whore rides the back of the seven head ten horn beast (v.3 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns").

The great whore was judged for her fornications. She committed fornication with the kings of the earth, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Her fornications were spiritual fornications not natural fornications. Examples of spiritual fornications follow:

1. 2 Chr. 21:11 "Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto."
2. Ezek. 16:15 "But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so."
3. Ezek. 16:26 "Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. 27 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way. 28 Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. 29 Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith."

As can be seen by the above examples, spiritual fornication is idolatry or the worshipping of false Gods.

There are two groups of people mentioned in the above passage, "the kings of the earth" and "the inhabitants of the earth." The term, "kings of the earth" is used several times in the scriptures and while sometimes it has reference to natural "kings of the nations of the earth," yet other times it appears to have reference to God's people:

1. Ps. 102:13 "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory."
2. Ps. 138:4 "All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD."
3. Ps. 148:11 "Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven."
4. Lam. 4:12 "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem."
5. Rev. 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
6. Rev. 21:24 "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it."
The term, "kings of the earth," appears nine times in the book of Revelations and very obviously the first and last time it appears it is referring to those who the Lord has made kings and priests unto God. That is, it has reference to God's born again people. If we are to be consistent in our interpretation then the other seven times it must have reference to God's born again people. With this understanding, we conclude that God's people sometimes commit spiritual fornication with Mystery Babylon and her harlot daughters. It appears most of them commit spiritual fornication or idolatry through ignorance.

The term, "inhabitants of the earth," appears to have reference to humanity in general as those who inhabit mortal bodies:

1. Ps. 33:13 "The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."
2. Is. 24:6 "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."
3. Is. 26:21 "For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
4. Jere. 25:29 "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. 30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD."
5. Dan. 4:35 "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

All humanity are possessors of earthly bodies, but only God's born again people have been made kings and priests unto God.

We notice a difference in the effect of Mystery Babylon's fornications. The kings of the earth have committed fornication, but the inhabitants of the earth are made drunk (intoxicated) with the wine of her fornication. The one have committed fornication with a condemning conscience, whereas the other has been completely taken in and ravished with Mystery Babylon.

Rev. 17:3, 4 Religious Beast

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication."

With these verses of scripture, we begin the process of identifying whom Mystery Babylon the Great is. However, before we definitively identify her, we note that she was riding the back of a "scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." This is the same beast that is identified in Chapter 13:1 "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." The dragon had caused this beast to rise up out of the sea of humanity. The dragon had given this beast his seat and authority. The dragon had made this beast in his own image. Thus, the origin of the woman also came from the dragon. The dragon is the architect of both the beast and the woman. In addition, the dragon was controlling the movements of both the beast and the woman. The dragon had arranged that the beast would export the woman's fornications on the back of the beast and would ride the beast unto the uttermost parts of the world. In addition, we would expect that since the beast was full of names of blasphemy, that woman who rode upon his back would also be full of names of blasphemy.

With verse 4, we begin to identify the woman known as Mystery Babylon the Great. At this point, I will set forth the proposal that Mystery Babylon the Great was Jerusalem under Judaism. Judaism is not a scriptural term, but identifies the religion of the Jews when Christ walked on the earth. The worship of the Jews was a polluted form of the Old Testament Law worship that God had given her on Mt. Sinai. The key here is "polluted." The Jews had changed the purpose of the Law worship. The law was not designed to make anyone righteous, but to show forth the need of a redeemer:

1. Heb. 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
2. Rom. 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
3. Gal. 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
4. Gal. 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

The Lord told some unbelieving Jews: John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." These Jews assumed that the scriptures were a rulebook by which they could attain eternal life. Rather than being a rulebook for attaining eternal life, the scriptures are a testimony of Jesus and what he did for his people. With this erroneous view of the purpose of the scriptures, the Jews went about trying to establish their righteousness through the keeping of the law of God:

1. Rom. 9:31 "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
2. Rom. 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Furthermore, they weren't satisfied with just attempting to keep the law of Moses, they added to the law their own traditions:

1. Matt. 15:1 "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."
2. Col. 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."\
3. 1 Peter 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers."

Furthermore, the Jews added their own teachings to the Old Testament teachings:

1. Matt. 15:8 "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
2. Matt. 16:12 "Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
3. Col. 2:20 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

They worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. They believed and taught that the creature through an act on his part could attain to eternal life. This worship of the creature is an act of spiritual fornication. The belief that the creature can attain unto eternal life by his efforts is the doctrine of Satan. The serpent set forth this doctrine in the Garden of Eden: Gen. 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This doctrine that the creature can do something to obtain eternal life has been exported all over the world on the back of the seven head, ten horn beast.

We proceed to show that the woman called Mystery Babylon the Great answers to Jerusalem and Judaism. The word purple appears in the scriptures 48 times and about 40 of those times it is associated with the law worship given to the children of Israel. The word scarlet appears in the scriptures 52 times and at least 45 times the word is associated with the law worship given to the children of Israel. The word gold appears in the scriptures 417 times and in at least 350 of those times the word is associated with the law worship and the children of Israel. The phrase "precious stones" appears in the scriptures 19 times and in at least 15 times it is associated with the nation of Israel. The word pearls appears 8 times in the scriptures and is associated with Israel in all but one time, except when it is associated with Mystery Babylon. All of these associations suggest that Mystery Babylon and Jerusalem are the same. In the rest of Chapter 17 and Chapter 18 there are many other signs that point to Mystery Babylon being Jerusalem under Judaism.
The woman had "a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication." The word abomination is associated with idolatry. An idol is a representation of a false God. The many antichrists that are in the world today are all idols. The descriptions of their Christs are all descriptions of false Christs and not the biblical description of Christ. These false Christs are abominations and their worship is spiritual fornication. Mystery Babylon's cup was full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. The Lord warned that there would arise false Christs: Matt. 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Rev. 17:5 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

Jeremiah wrote in Jere. 3:1 "They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. 2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. 3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed." Israel of old had a whore's forehead and the woman known as Mystery Babylon had a whore's forehead in that she refused to be ashamed of her harlotry and idolatry. The very title on her forehead described her as a harlot and idol worshipper.

The first part of the title is "Mystery." Mystery is defined as a secret. 2 Thes. 2: 2:1 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." This indicates that the woman was cloaked in secrecy. She was also full of deception, deluded, deceived, and took pleasure in unrighteousness.

The word, Babylon, means confusion and indicates that the woman is full of spiritual confusion. The doctrine of salvation from sin by works of the sinner is a doctrine of confusion. There are multitudes of variations of this theme and all based on the works of man. The problem is that it requires a spiritually dead person to act to get spiritual life. This is utter confusion. This confusion has gone forth throughout the world upon the back of the beast.

The Great is referring to the great city. The term great city is used in the scriptures 17 times. Most of the time it is used to describe Jerusalem or Mystery Babylon, which I propose, is pointing to Jerusalem. The following verses correlate Jerusalem to a great city:

1. Rev. 11:8 "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."
2. Jere. 22:8 "And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city? 9 Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them."
3. Rev. 21:10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal."

Obviously reference 3 above is referring to the church, whereas the first two references are to natural Jerusalem. "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Elsewhere Mystery Babylon is described as a harlot. This indicates that she, as a mother, gives rise to harlots. Since her fornication is spiritual fornication and resulted in the arising of idols (false Christs), her doctrinal teachings (salvation by works) has gone forth on the back of the beast to all nations on the earth and sprung up in multitudes of organizations including false churches and other religious societies.

Rev. 17:6 "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

The murderous nature of this woman is manifest here. In addition, Rev. 18:24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." The Lord told us that Jerusalem would slay the apostles and prophets: Luke 11:49 "Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation." Furthermore, he told us in Matt. 23:33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

This murderous harlot was guilty of the blood of the apostles, and of the prophets, and of the martyrs of Jesus. She set forth the same nature that was first manifest in Cain, who slew Able his brother, because his own works were evil but his brother's righteous. The wicked and their wicked religious systems will always persecute the righteous and the true worshippers of the Lord. Only Jerusalem could fit the description of Mystery Babylon who killed the apostles and prophets and to whom the Lord declared judgment against in Luke 11 and Matt. 23. There can be no doubt that Mystery Babylon and Jerusalem were the same "great" city. Furthermore, though some think that Rome is Mystery Babylon, yet Rome could not have been guilty of the apostles and prophets, because they were already slain before the Roman religious system came into existence. The only city that can fit the description is Jerusalem with the wicked religious system of Judaism.

The Apostle John wandered with great admiration when he saw the woman. This shows how deceptive the false religious systems can be. They present a beautiful natural façade and the intricate workings of man really appeals to the natural eye. There is a principle taught in the scriptures that that which is outwardly beautiful is often inwardly wicked and that which is inwardly beautiful is often outwardly plain. Let us not be deceived with the outward appearance of false religion that appeals to the flesh. The true religion of Jesus Christ appeals to the inward man, not to the outward man.

Rev. 17:7-11

"And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."

In this passage of scripture we are given a description of the seven head and ten horn beast which provided the means by which the woman, mystery Babylon, carried her fornications throughout the world. This beast exists in the past, the present, and the future: "the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

The beast ascends out of the bottomless pit where in Revelations Chapter 20 the dragon was bound for a thousand years so as not to be able to gather the nations together during that time. The angel over the bottomless pit is Satan and the bottomless pit is God's eternal judgment against sin. Previously we saw the beast under the power and authority of the dragon rise up out of the sea of humanity. Now we see it ascending out of the bottomless pit and carrying the harlot woman.

As we have previously shown, this beast is a multinational political power that reigns over the kingdoms of this world. It is said to have seven heads, five of which are fallen, one is, and one that is not yet come. The scriptures describe the first six multinational political kingdoms. These are Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation the first five were fallen. Rome existed at that time as the one that is. The seventh head is said to be not yet come, but when he comes he must continue a short space. Since Rome, there has been no multinational kingdom reigning over the majority of the nations of the earth. There have been several attempts to form such a beast, but none has succeeded to date.

Revelation Chapter 20 informs us that after the thousand years end that Satan will be loosed out of the bottomless pit for a little season to gather the nations together to encompass the camp of the saints. We will have more to say about this when we get to Chapter 20.

The wording, "the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eight and is of the seventh," is interesting. For something to be is not and yet is indicates that it exists in a different form. The seven heads: Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the future head are all tangible and visible. For something to be "of the seven" and yet to be "the eight" and to "be not" and "yet be" indicates that it is largely invisible as a beast and covert instead of overt. In addition, the fact that it is of the seven indicates that it has been around all along throughout the reign of the overt seven head, ten-horn beast. This indicates a secret organization that has beastly (multinational) dominion.
Nimrod was a kingdom builder and sought to build a one-world kingdom when he built Babel and the tower. God, of course, thwarted his attempts with the confusion of tongues. Such a covert organization would have as it main goal to build a one-world government. There are several references in the scriptures to kingdom builders:

1. Ps. 22:22 "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
2. Ezek. 27:4 "Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty."
3. Matt. 21:42 "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
4. Mk. 12:10 "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
5. Acts 4:11 "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
6. 1 Peter 2:7 "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

There are several secret organizations in the world today, working in secret to direct the course of human events toward a one-world government. One only has to look on the back of the one-dollar bill to see the term "novus ordo seclorum" which means new world order along with the unfinished pyramid topped off by the all-seeing eye. This indicates that the builders are planning a new world order in which the all-seeing eye will be worshipped (Satan).

"And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." This simply states that all the non-elect will wonder at the beast and the woman carried by the beast. I was recently asked if the woman and the beast could deceive the elect. My answer was "what did John do in verse 6? Rev. 17:6 "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration." If even the apostle can be deceived at the natural beauty and organization of the woman and the beast, then she could deceive any of God's unsuspecting people. We do know, however, that all the non-elect wonder at her and the beast.

Dragon’s Image

We know that God made man in his own image, but that man fell in the Garden of Eden. Later, Christ is said to be in the image of God:

1. 2 Cor. 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

2. Col. 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”
3. Heb. 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Satan is an imitator. Since, Christ is the express image of God, then it stands to reason that the Dragon will also have an image of himself. This we find in the 13th chapter of Revelation:

Rev. 13:13-15

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power 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, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."

The Lord, after his death, burial, and resurrection, but prior to his ascension into heaven gave the apostles gifts in which to manifest their work and authority. Mk. 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Similarly, Christ himself performed multitudes of miracles and wonders during the three and a half years that he walked in his ministry on earth. Satan is an imitator. Both the image of the beast and the false prophet were established so as to deceive people into believing that they are/were performing miracles and wonders.

We will now look at the image of the beast. Remember that whatever is the image of the beast is also the image of the dragon. When anyone worships Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God, he is worshipping God. Likewise, when anyone worships the image of the beast, he is worshipping Satan. He may not believe that he is worshipping Satan and may even think he is worshipping Christ, but he is actually worshipping Satan. It is said of Satan that he transformed himself into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Obviously Satan is anything but an angel of light, but he deceives others into believing that he is an angel of light.

The image of the beast is the antichrist spoken of in 1 John. 1 John 2:18 "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." The word, antichrist, implies opposition to Christ. It also means "one in the place of Christ." Thus, antichrist is a false Christ made to appear as thou he is Christ. The scriptures give us the only true image of Christ, which is a word description. The scriptures describe the attributes, work, and covenant purpose of Christ. To create an antichrist one would only have to change the attributes, work and purpose of Christ.

John said that there were already many antichrists in his day. People today are told to look for some future antichrist, but that is a deception to hide the fact that many antichrist already exist in the world today. A comparison between the true Christ and a typical antichrist will illustrate the deception and manifest the image of the beast:

1. The true Christ has all power in heaven and earth. The false Christ or antichrist has done all he can do, and now he is dependant upon the creature to finish the work of salvation.
2. The true Christ chose his people before the foundation of the world. The false Christ has left the designation of his people up to the free will of man.
3. The true Christ saves his people by grace. The false Christ provides an offer of salvation based on the will and actions of man.
4. The true Christ died for all the sins of all the elect. The false Christ died for some of the sins of all mankind, but not for the sin of unbelief.
5. The true Christ is the one head of his church. The false Christ has organized his churches after the Nicolaitane pattern.
Hundreds of other examples of differences could be given, but these suffice to show how people can be deceived to worshipping a false image and a false Christ or antichrist.

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." Fire coming down on earth in the sight of men is a sign of judgment. The following verses show this correlation:

1. 2 Kings 1:10 "And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty."
2. 2 Chr.7:1 "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house."
3. Rev. 20:9 "And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

The proposition is set forth that if a person doesn't hear the gospel and believe the gospel and accept the Lord as their personal Savior, and be baptized then the judgment of God will consume them and they will be eternally lost and hell will be their eternal abode. Thus the fire (judgment of God) comes down in the sight of men through there proposition.

"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." The false ministry or false prophet says that they have the keys to whether a person can go to hell or go to heaven. They also say that they have the formula for eternal salvation and can give it to whomsoever will accept it. They additionally set forth that if a person will receive their gospel then they can get born of the Spirit and obtain eternal life. To save from hell, to save from sin, to give eternal life, and to cause the spiritual birth are all miraculous things. The problem for the false prophet is that only God can do those things. Therefore, the false prophet must deceive people into believing that they can do those things. What the false prophet does is deceptive miracles and not real miracles.

"Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." The whole doctrine of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is turned around to fit the antichrist image that the false prophet has set up. The scriptures say that "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3).

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Nebuchadnezzar built an image and required worship of the image by all his subordinates in the government. This was forced worship. Throughout the last two thousand years multitudes have been slain because they refused to worship the image of the beast. They refused to bow down to a false Christ. Today in the United States we have the freedom of worship without fear of government retribution. However, this is the exception and not the rule.

The image of the beast speaks through the false ministry in the perverted gospel that they preach. Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:6-9). Today multitudes of people accept the false gospels as being the truth and are deceived into believing a lie. Their image of Christ is perverted and become the image of antichrist. Instead of hearing the true gospel they are hearing a perverted gospel. Instead of worshipping Christ they are worshipping another Jesus (2 Cor. 1:4), or antichrist or Satan.

Rev. 13:16-18

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

The right hand is used in the scriptures to indicate a position of honor and power and is used to signify labor or work. As this verse is used to indicate the right hand of man, it is used to signify the labor or work of man.

The forehead is the place of conscious thought. In Ezekiel God set a mark on those who sighed and cried against the wickedness that was transpiring in Jerusalem. Ezek. 9:4 "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." This mark was applied so as to exempt the ones marked from the judgment of God upon the city. Ezek. 9:6 "Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house."

In the seventh chapter of Revelation God sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:3 "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." This sealing identifies the true worshippers or servants of God with God. This is a sealing of the Holy Spirit as spoken of in the first chapter of Ephesians. Eph. 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Thus in the conscience of these servants of God they have an assurance of God's salvation.

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." The phrase "small and great, rich and poor, free and bond" is used to indicate the universal nature of the mark that is placed in the right hand and forehead. All, regardless of their station or status, who worship the beast receive this mark. The mark is identification, but it is not to be taken as a literal physical mark. It is used to identify the worshippers of the beast by their works and by their thoughts. Thus those who believe that they can work (right hand) their way to heaven and that believe that their will (forehead) is ultimately the cause of their salvation from sin and the cause of their new birth or eternal life have been marked in their right hand and forehead. The mark is their works and their will. However, the word of God says, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."

"And that no man might buy or sell." Buying and selling are terms used to indicate merchandising. Sometimes there are auctions or other merchandising arenas that require that the participants have some type of identifying mark. Only those so marked can participate in the merchandising. Later on in the book of Revelations Mystery Babylon is described in much detail. The buying selling and merchandising will be presented in much greater detail and clarity. Also the identity of Mystery Babylon, which is the natural city of Jerusalem under Judaism will also become apparent.

Rev. 13:1 tells us the name of the beast which is blasphemy.

"Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." The number 666 is found in the Old Testament three times and arranged a fourth time (1 Ki. 10:14; 2 Chr. 9:13; Ezra 2:13; Dan. Chapter 3). In the New Testament the number is derived from three Greek letters: chi xi stigma meaning six hundred, sixty, and six. 1 Ki. 10:14 and 2 Chr. 9:13 indicate a money base associated with the number. Ezra 2:13 associates the number with the children of Adonikam whose name means high Lord. The 3rd Chapter of Daniel tells us about the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar setting up an image that was 60 cubits high by 6 cubits wide and when six musical instruments began to play all the people were to fall down and worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. The gist of this is that the number 666 is associated with man-made and man enforced worship. The penalty for refusing to worship was death. This man-made and man enforced worship was enforced by the ruler of the beast (Babylon).

Babel and subsequent attempts to build the beast

Gen. 10:8 “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.”

Nimrod was the first of the kingdom builders. It is said above that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the LORD. The Hebrew word translated before also carries the meaning of being “against or opposed to.” Later when the scriptures speak to us about Babel we will see more of Nimrod’s opposition to the LORD and his attempts to build a kingdom over all of mankind.

Gen. 11:1 “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

The LORD had given commandment to the people after the flood: Gen. 9:1 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” The people were commanded to replenish the earth and to do that they had to go forth. But under Nimrod’s leadership the people sought to rebel against the commandment of God and to build a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven and to make themselves a name so that they be not scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. This was the first attempt to build the multinational beast to rule over the inhabitants of the earth and God thwarted their attempts by confounding their languages. No doubt Nimrod sought to be the ruler over this beast and to bear rule over all mankind. Many attempts have been made since that time. As we read in Revelation the great red dragon is behind these attempts in Satan’s attempts to rule over all mankind.

A subsequent attempt to build a multinational beast is set forth in the days of Abraham.

Gen. 14:1 “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.”

At one point, Chedorlaomer had gathered nine kings under his rule until five of the kings rebelled against him. Subsequently he smote seven other tribes as he sought to bring back the five kings that rebelled. Later we see the LORD intervening when he blessed Abraham and the 318 trained servants to conquer and slaughter the kings in the vale of Siddim.

Next, we read of a building beast under the King of Syria. 1 Kings 20:1 “And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.” Now, we see that the size of the multinational beast has grown significantly and now includes 32 kings under Benhadad, king of Syria. Later we see the LORD blessing Israel with 7000 men to smite twice the armies of the 32 kings and thus bring down the multinational beast.

Later, Assryia appears on the scene. In the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, the kingdom of Assyria had grown to cover most of the civilized world and went to take captive Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem. Once again God intervened and sent one angel who in one night slew 185,000 of the solders of the king of Assyria. Then the sons of the king of Assyria slew their father and the kingdom fell.

Next, arose Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and he commanded an even greater host of nations and took Judah captive as well. According to the dream that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed and Daniel interpreted there were three beastly kingdoms to follow Babylon, which are the Medo-Persian empire, the empire of Greece and the Roman empire. It was the multinational beast known as the Roman empire that was ruling at the time of the birth of Christ. Since the fall of Rome there has been no kingdom rise to the beastly position of reigning over much of the civilized world, although the 20th chapter of Revelation tells us that a seventh beast will arise sometime in the future.

By studying the beasts we learn that Satan uses the beasts to impose his rule over the civilized world and to attempt to destroy those who will not worship according to the prescribed manner of the beastly king.