Revelation 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.
When we go through the Book of Revelation we can see how it is a Book of prophecy, of history, of current events, of symbolism, of literalism, which explains everything that is going on in the world today and what is soon going to come to pass. This is the Book of all books. This book is in connection with the prophecies that are found in the Book of Daniel. It is a continuation of the Book of Daniel. To understand who the first beast is, we need to a historical facts check on what the Book of Daniel reveals to us. The Books of Daniel and Revelation are part of the two witnesses of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Let us begin in Daniel 2 and 7. As we know, when reading the Books of Prophecy we will come across a lot of symbolism. So, what do beasts symbolize? Looking into the Book of Daniel we find, “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” - Daniel 7:23. The Bible reveals that beasts are nations. So, when the Books of Prophecy are talking about beasts, it is referring to them as kingdoms or nations, etc.
To better understand the first beast, let us do some history and Biblical facts check. When we look into Daniel chapter 2 we can see how the Bible defined four great kingdoms that would take place before the kingdom of God would destroy it. The last kingdom would go through a series of changes as the great controversy would continue to the end. The fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 would be the kingdom that would try and destroy the man child Jesus; they would help the Jews hang Jesus on the tree, and then they would hunt down and kill the children of God starting with the apostles till the end of time when Christ destroys Rome and her church that deceived the nations. Rome fulfills all the prophecies that the Lord warns us about in His Word. Taking a look real fast at Daniel 2 and 7 where we can see how the head of gold in Daniel 2, the lion of Daniel 7, was the empire of Babylon was under Nebuchadnezzar, which this kingdom of Babylon was mighty and strong like a lion and had wings of an eagle representing this beast’s swiftness fierce lion-like abilities, and they used the lion as a symbol.
Next, the chest of silver in Daniel 2, the bear of Daniel 7, was the Medo-Persian Empire.
Like a bear, their army was huge, which has been said to be up to 1.5 million people, and they overwhelmed their enemies with their size.
Next, the waist of brass in Daniel 2, the leopard of Daniel 7, was the Grecian Empire.
Alexander the Great and his Grecian army were smaller, so they were able to move swiftly like a leopard and were agile in their battles which destroyed their enemies.
Next, you have the legs of iron in Daniel 2, the dreadful beast of Daniel 7, is the Roman Empire, which will transition into the Roman Catholic Church Empire.
“Out of the ruins of political Rome, arose the great moral Empire in the ‘giant form’ of the Roman Church.” -A.C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, 1909, p. 150.
Pope Pius IX, in his “Discorsi” (I., p. 253), said: “The Caesar who now addresses you, and to whom alone are obedience and fidelity due.”
This Roman beast, again, it was in power during Jesus’ ministry and in power when John wrote Revelation on the Isle of Patmos where Rome sent him for the service of Christ John was involved with. The Roman Empire could not kill John with the pot of oil they place him in, so they sent him to exile on Patmos as a prisoner. Then, Pagan Rome collapsed internally, and then army after army attacked it, resulting in the Roman Emperor being divided in 476 A.D.
The 10 toes of Daniel 2, the 10 horns of Daniel 7, was the divided Roman Empire. It then split into 10 civil kingdoms, symbolized by the 10 toes and the 10 horns, which would reflect the end time kingdoms that the Roman Catholic Church would rule over in the end called “The Club of Rome”. - Adaptive Model of the Global World System.
“The Club [of Rome] had its beginnings in April of 1968, when leaders from ten different countries gathered in Rome…The organization claims to have the solutions for world peace and prosperity…The Club of Rome has been charged with the task of overseeing the regionalization and unification of the entire world…
“The Club’s findings and recommendations are published from time to time in special, highly confidential reports, which are sent to the power-elite to be implemented. On 17 September 1973 the Club released one such report, entitled Regionalized and Adaptive Model of the Global World System… The document reveals that the Club has divided the world into ten political/ economic regions, which it refers to as ‘kingdoms.'” - The Club of Rome & - Adaptive Model of the Global World System.
Biblical prophecy clearly did state…
Revelation 17:12 - And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
The Ten Kingdoms of the New World Government:
Kingdom 1: Canada and the United States of America
Kingdom 2: European Union - Western Europe
Kingdom 3: Japan
Kingdom 4: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and Pacific Islands
Kingdom 5: Eastern Europe
Kingdom 6: Latin America - Mexico, Central and South America
Kingdom 7: North Africa and the Middle East (Moslems)
Kingdom 8: Central Africa
Kingdom 9: South and Southeast Asia
Kingdom 10: Central Asia
Next, to better understand who this first beast is of Revelation 13:1 we can see how the iron/clay feet of Daniel 2, the Little Horn of Daniel 7, and Revelation 12 where this mother of harlots as described in Revelation 17 would kill the saints of God for 1260 days/years (Numbers 14:34) is none other than the Roman Catholic Church! This papacy beast / pope antichrist is also known as the little horn with eyes of a man who would speak great words and blasphemies against the most high God.
Daniel 7:8 - I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Let us take a look at two ways we can blaspheme God.
1. When a man claims to be God when He is just a man.
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Does the Vatican declare the Pope to be a god?
“To make war against the Pope is to make war against God, seeing the Pope is God, and God is the Pope.” -Moreri’s History. (Louis Moréri (25 March 1643 - 10 July 1680) was a French priest and encyclopedist.)
2. When a man claims to have power to forgive men of their sins when only God can.
Furthermore, this beast says, “Don’t go to God for forgiveness of sins, come to me.” -Pope John Paul II, LA Times, 12-12-1984
During the reign of the Roman Empire, Jesus started to setup His kingdom, which expanded quickly, even though Satan used the Roman Empire to try to wipe it out many times by killing the commandment-keeping saints of God.
“That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history . . . It is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of imagination can adequately realize their sufferings.” -W. E. H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, vol. 2, p. 32, 1910 edition. (An excellent though lengthy article describing in detail the right of the Roman Catholic Church to do this, will be found in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 12, p. 266.)
When we look into Revelation 13:1 we can see that history and Biblical truths are showing how the beast of Revelation 13:1 is Rome and clearly is connected with the Book of Daniel.
Rome is the nation that tried to kill the new born Jesus in Matthew
2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
Rome is the nation that hung Jesus on the cross with the Jews in Matthew
27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers].
27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify [him].
Rome is the nation that hunted down the children of God from the beginning of this beast's rule. They hunted down the apostles, tried to kill John the apostle by boiling him in a pot of oil, but they could not kill him so they sent him to the Island of Patmos where the Spirit of Prohecy fell on Him to write down the Book of Prophecy called - "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"!
Revelation 1:9 - I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
And so, the book of Revelation brings to plain sight that there will be a notable beast in the lasts days, which we find in Revelation 13:1-10.
Revelation 13:1 - And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, the beast having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns.
So, Question: What does the bible say about numbers, sea, heads, horns and crowns?
1. SEA, WATER = people, multitude, nations, tongues
Scriptural facts:
Revelation 17:15 - The water which thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are people, multitudes, nations and tongues.
In Bible prophecy, water (sea) means people, multitudes, nations and tongues. Now what about heads?
2. HEADS= major powers, rulers, governments, and mountains.
Strong’s concordance:
3735orosor’-os
probably from an obsolete oro (to rise or “rear”;
perhaps akin to 142;
compare 3 a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain):
-hill, mount(-ain).
Scriptural facts:
Daniel 7:6; 8 - After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.”
Daniel 8:22 - Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.”
Revelation 17:3; 10 - 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. 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.”
Strong’s concordance:
3735 orosor’-os
probably from an obsolete oro (to rise or “rear”;
perhaps akin to 142;
compare 3 a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain):
-hill, mount(-ain).
Revelation 17:9, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”
The 7 heads are 7 mountains which the woman sitteth.
Fact:
Documented Roman Catholic source states, “It is within the city of Rome, called The City on Seven Hills, that the entire area of Vatican State Proper is now confined,” -The Catholic Encyclopedia, p. 529.
What are the Seven Hills of Rome? “Rome is known to be built upon seven hills. Rome was said to have been founded when Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, ended up at the foot of the hill Palatine and founded the city. The other six hills are Capitoline (the seat of government), Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine.” - Geography.about.com
ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
Seven Hills of Rome “group of hills on or about which the ancient city of Rome was built. The original city of Romulus was built upon Palatine Hill (Latin: Mons Palatinus). The other hills are the Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine (known respectively in Latin as the Mons Capitolinus, Mons Quirinalis, Mons Viminalis, Mons Esquilinus, Mons Caelius, and Mons Aventinus).” -http://www.britannica.com/seo/s/seven-hills-of-rome. So, it is the Vatican who is confined within the seven hills. This is where the seat of satan is located. Revelation 2:13.
3. 10 HORNS = power, strength.
Scriptural facts:
Daniel 8:22 - Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.”
Psalms 89:17; 24 - For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.”
So horns are a sign of power, strength.
What about crowns?
5. CROWNS = kingship, victory.
Scriptural facts:
James 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Understanding Revelation 13:1:
The nation (beast) Rome rose up to power in a part of the world in a period of time where there were peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. They had much victory and thus they were given crowns. The seven heads are from the book of Daniel and Revelation combined from Babylon, Medo Persia, Greece and Rome (The beast is one that "was", "is not" and "yet is” as Revelation 17:8 says -...behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."
e. Roman Catholic Church (Vatican City, Rome), - persecuting power, Dark Ages (538AD - 1798AD) "WAS"
f. Roman Catholic Church received a deadly wound in 1798 (pope captured then died) "IS NOT"
g. Roman Catholic Church revived- Vatican II, (1929) church & state unite again "YET IS").
So, Revelation takes over from Daniel 2 and 7 with Rome being the first beast, which this beast rose to power from the sea where it represent a heavily populated area at that time, while the Americas were not so populated, and thus this second beast of Revelation 13:11 would rise up out of the earth. It would look like and act like the beast of Rome by exercising all the powers of the frist beast before it, which this second beast would come to power and give help to the Roman beast that received a “deadly wound”! When did this Vatican beast receive a deadly would?
"In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one." -Encyclopedia Britannica 1941 edition
The pope later would die in France, and thus, history says, "Half Europe thought... that with the Pope the Papacy was dead." - Joseph Rickaby. "The Modern Papacy" Lectures on the History of Religion, Lecture 24, (London Catholic Truth Society, 1910), p.1
This wound would eventually be healed: Revelation 13:3 -... his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Mussolini and (Cardinal) Gasspari sign historic Roman pact, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle. Feb. 11, 1929.
"The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound of many years, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides"
Pope Becomes Ruler Of A State Again:
Fact: Rome, June 7.--From 11 o' clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel--the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican--exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence. -New York Times July 7, 1929
There are many signs and historical events that points to the papacy that can fill an entire book showing forth the evils of this Vatican beast which fulfills Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17 down to here scarlet colors, decked with precious stones and perils and having a golden cup in her hand, which has fornicated with the kings of the earth and has made the earth drunk with her false doctrines. History also shows that this beast killed millions of God's commandment keeping sons and daughters. This first beast is clearly described as Rome who would rise to power in the last days to fulfill Satan's end time plans to worship the beast and His Sunday worship image.
In closing, the 7 heads are 7 different nations throughout the world’s history that our Lord Jesus Christ is warning us about as He stated in the book of Daniel. The first four are given to us in Daniel and Revelation finishes it, as follow:
a. Babylon
b. Medo-Persia
c. Greece
d. Rome
The beast is one that "was", "is not" and "yet is". Revelation 17:8, "...behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."
e. Roman Catholic Church (Vatican city, Rome), - persecuting power, Dark Ages (538AD - 1798AD) "WAS".
f. Roman Catholic Church received a deadly wound in 1798 (pope captured then died) "IS NOT".
g. Roman Catholic Church revived- Vatican II, (1929) church & state unite again "YET IS".
And soon, when this last beast stands up in great power, in the one hour with the beast, they will once again bring back the dark ages and kill all who will not worship Satan through the Vatican's manmade Sun worship Sunday worship image.
Revelation 17:12 - And the ten horns which thou sawest are TEN KINGS, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast”.
In today’s world, Satan has changed the titles, names and meanings of words. It is his way to try and cause confusion. What do I mean by this? You have terms like kings & kingdoms. In today’s world, these words have changed to presidents & nations. It is just like the title of the Caesars, the title of Caesar has been given to the Pope. Taken from Pope Pius IX, in his “Discorsi” (I., p. 253), said: “The Caesar who now addresses you, and to whom alone are obedience and fidelity due.”
When looking into the ten kingdoms (nations), kings (presidents) or governments of today, the Vatican is at the head of all this, just as the prophecy declares would happen. The beast's wound would heal and repeat history with the enforcement of her Sunday worship.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday) was her act... And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." - H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons. Nov. 11, 1895
"Sunday is our MARK or authority. . .the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact" - Catholic Record of London, Ontario Sept 1,1923.
This beast and her mark is being pushed by the little horn in these last days with the second beast and the kings of the earth along with the merchants of the earth. All the world, but the elect of God is wondering after the beast. This is why you see ambassadors of the Vatican going to all these countries around the globe, which if they do not bow a knee to Baal/Pope, they will give an account for it. The second beast (America) who is the police of the world, is doing the dirty work of Rome.
The first beast Rome and the second beast America are working with the kings of the earth to bring about the globalization of Sunday laws throughout Satan's kingdoms. And until Satan appears to tempt and to force the world to worship him, these kingdoms will not cleave with Rome fully as she is the seat of Satan! And what every TRUE Protestant needs to remember is what the founder of Protestantism had already revealed to us regarding the Roman Catholic Church.
History clearly says, that when the papal beast reached Martin Luther (the founder of Protestantism through nailing the 95 thesis to the doors of the Catholic Church, who started the protest against Rome), he said: “I despise and attack it, as impious, false.... It is Christ Himself who is condemned therein.... I rejoice in having to bear such ills for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty in my heart; for at last I know that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself.” -D’Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 9.
Christianity today has lost her path due to the majority of the Jesuit prelates filling the pulpits of the wrold and their universities they control where she has been spuing out all their false doctrines, traditions, principles and commandments of men. The protest is not over with, it is just beginning!