September 20: IDENTIFYING THE BEAST

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 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.” Revelation 14:9-10

The beast was initially seen in Daniel’s prophetic vision as a conglomerate beast with attributes of the three world powers that preceded it. Daniel was looking forward through the corridor of time. As a captive of Babylon, he reveals it…plus three that were yet to unfold: 1st: a lion representing Babylon, 2nd: a bear representing Medo-Persia, 3rd: a four-headed leopard representing Greece, and 4th: a beast with seven heads and ten horns, or Rome (Daniel 7). The same word picture in reverse (Revelation 13:1-2) is painted by John, a prisoner of Rome. From Rome, he looks back across the same stretch of history. Out of the multitudes of people that comprise the sea, he sees Rome rising up . . . having seven heads and ten horns. John has the advantage of recognizing Roman traits derived from the previous three empires: the leopard reveals the heavy influence of Greek philosophy upon Rome. The bear shows influence of the Medes and Persians, a notable facet being law that does not alter (Daniel 6:8) and Mithraism, a “mystery religion” associated with Zoroastrian divinity. Mithras was a god whose birthday was December 25th. The lion representing Babylon, was an empire built upon a conglomeration of pagan religions and practices taken into their continually expanding boundaries. The lion symbol (Genesis 49:8-10, Revelation 5:5) is counterfeited by Satan, who applies it to himself. Peter calls him out on it (1 Peter 5:8).

Let’s count Rome’s heads: the lion’s head, the bear’s head, the four heads of the leopard, and the hard-to-describe beast’s head. These seven, comprising Rome, represent the combined philosophies of the current thinking in Rome’s day under the influence of dominant ideas from the previous empires. The weighty influence of Greek philosophy is evident.

John also brings our attention to the shadowy power behind the seven-headed beast: The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:2b; see also 12:9). Notice also that Jesus saw it coming ahead of time in the form of compromise which opened the door for Satan to enter the church and wreak havoc. His words to Pergamos: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is…” (Revelation 2:13a). He went on to warn the church about compromising with the world before the full-blown Dark Ages church came upon the scene.

Although both Daniel and John were captives and prisoners in Babylon and Rome respectively, their relationship with Christ raised them above the world’s shallowness and cruelty. Their worldviews had been emancipated and brought into alignment with the Lord, through welcoming His Spirit into their hearts (see Daniel 6:3; Revelation 1:10). This is what real freedom is!

… and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Note: The ten horns symbolize divided Rome after its fall in AD476. They are also symbolized by the ten toes of Daniel 2:41-43