December 8: OH YES, IT YET IS!
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. Revelation 17:8
John is given an end-time view of three different stages of the beast in its papal form. The beast that…was references the long stage of unhindered domination that the beast exercised throughout the Dark Ages. This stage was also described by Daniel (7:24-25). The length of time allowed for this stage was a time and times and half a time, a notably unique way of expressing prophetic time. The unhindered domination began in 538AD after three opposing nations were plucked out by the roots (Daniel 7:8) and ended in 1798.* Death toll estimates by order of the Dark Ages church go up to a hundred million, but newer research indicates that the numbers are much greater. The satanic principles behind these executions are still taught today in the upper echelons of popery.
The is not phase of the papacy began in 1798 when Napoleon’s General Berthier marched into Rome and removed the pope from his throne. It was rumored all over the world that the papacy had come to its end. Napoleon’s order was perceived as a mortal wound (13:3). However, the angel told John that the beast would re-emerge from the bottomless pit. You will remember this term from 9:2&11 as a reference to the earthly abode of Satan and his fallen angels.
At the pinnacle of the papacy’s “comeback” it will go into perdition. This sentence will be executed by God alone. Daniel saw that he shall be broken without human means (8:25). In the New Testament, the antichrist is called the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3). There is only one other character in the Bible called the son of perdition, and that is Judas Iscariot (John 17:12). The parallel between the office of the papacy and Judas spotlights a total betrayal while acting as a friend. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss (see Matthew 26:49-50).
The miraculous “resurrection” of the mortally wounded papacy has gained tremendous steam of late and shows no signs of slowing down. The world marvels in stupefied awe at the splendor of Vatican City. Ambassadors and common travelers alike pay homage, just as stated in today’s opening verse and Revelation 13:3&8.
The papacy has a massive team of public relations workers. Their job is to promote Catholicism as having changed somehow from what she was during the Dark Ages. Yet, not a single false doctrine or the counterfeit version of the Ten Commandments has been corrected. In fact, the claim to infallibility is still firmly in place. Pilgrimages to Rome are encouraged among members for forgiveness of sins and promoted at every turn to the world at large, generating obscene levels of revenue. The world has been duped into believing the resurrected papacy has changed when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [of Christ’s return] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.
*The following verses will assist the Bible student to gain understanding of symbols used in prophetic time: Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5