The Beasts of Revelation Exposed

What do They Represent?
________________________

page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l

-2-

 

Faulty Presuppositions

 

I know several different views exist on the identity of the four beasts described above, and the culprit that produces so many different views is this: Presuppositions. A presupposition is an idea or theory believed to be true before examining or testing new data. The problem with presupposition surfaces when we force the weight of evidence found in Scripture to conform to a preexisting concept. If a presupposition leads us away from a plain and simple “thus saith the Lord,” then the presuppositions are faulty. Do not misunderstand; nothing is wrong with presuppositions if they can be demonstrated to be true. Everyone studies the Bible with various presuppositions, but caution is needed because logic alone is not sufficient properly to understand the Word of God. As students of God’s Word, it is necessary to bring all the relevant data to the table before we can resolve the meaning of difficult passages. Evan after doing this, we are still at God’s mercy to discover and know truth. If God does not want certain things revealed, no amount of study or logic will produce them. On the other hand, if God wants something known, every sincere heart will be enabled to draw the correct conclusions! This is why the gospel must be preached to the entire world before Jesus can come. (Matthew 24:14) If our heart and attitude are not right toward God and man, we cannot be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Without the illumination of the Spirit, there is no possible was of grasping knowledge of Truth! Therefore, the sword of truth has two edges – we must depend upon the Spirit of God to reveal truth, and take time to study. The Spirit helps us to “connect the dots” as we gather all the information the Bible has to say on a topic. To show the power and influence of presuppositions, four examples are described in the following paragraphs. Pleas consider them and their results:

 

Presupposition # 1: “All events described after Revelation 4:1 occur after the saints are taken to Heaven in a pre-tribulation rapture.”

 

Notice how the presupposition logically forces the fulfillment of the seven seals, seven trumpets and a host of other events after the rapture simply because the seals, trumpets and other events are described in chapter following Revelation 4.

 

Presupposition # 2: “In Bible prophecy, beasts always represents kingdoms or nations.”

 

Notice how this presupposition forces the identities of the Lamb and the dragon in Revelation to be nations or kingdoms. (Contrary to the claims of those who defend this presupposition, a lamb is a beast – just like a ram and goat in Daniel 8 are beasts.) As you will see, this presupposition forces conclusions that are contrary to the plainest Scripture. For example, the Bible interprets the symbol of the great red dragon as follows: “The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:9) It is not good scholarship to make the symbol of the dragon more, or less, than what the Bible says that it is. In fact, it is highly dangerous. (Revelation 22:18,19) We must be vigilant to allow the Bible to be its own interpreter. The dragon in Revelation 12 is nothing less and nothing more than the devil, and the Lamb in Revelation 5 is nothing less and nothing more than Jesus, the Son of God.

 

Presupposition # 3: “In Bible prophecy, a day always represents a year.”

 

This presupposition produces several false conclusions. For example, if you accept this view, considering the fifth trumpet of Revelation 9 as a future event is not possible since the fifth trumpet covers a time-period of five months (5 x 30 equals 150 days that would equal 150 years using the day/year presupposition). Further, this presupposition also prevents adherents from considering the fact that the 42 months in Revelation 13:5 occur after the deadly wound is healed. In other words, the presupposition demands that the 42 months be 1,260 years (42 x 30) – a time period far too long to be considered “the last days.” So it is argued that the 42 months cannot occur after the deadly wound is healed, although Scripture plainly shows just the opposite.

 

Presupposition # 4: “A person’s position or prophetic truth may be determined by (a) a prophet, or (b) founding church fathers, or (c) a doctrine committee, since God confirms truth through (a) prophets, (b) religious leaders, or (c) scholars.”

 

This generic presupposition includes most religious people. Moslems, Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus all use this presupposition. The frightening aspect of this presupposition is that Scripture becomes secondary, and in some cases, immaterial. Nothing makes the devil happier that to lead religious people away from the plain and simple truths of God’s kingdom written in the Bible. Consider the real problem: Truth is ever advancing and when new truth appears, it always seems to contradict that was previously thought to be “true.” Let me explain. At any given time, man’s understanding of truth contains two elements: That which is actually true and that which is believed to be true. The problem with human beings is that distinguishing one element from the other is hard for us. We encapsulate both elements into one neat little box we call “truth.” Therefore, when new insights come regarding truth, it always defeats that portion of existing “truth” believed to be true. New truth does not change or alter that which is actual truth. Since most religious people cannot differentiate between actual truth and believed truth, they cannot endorse or accept new light as truth advances. This is why religion, per se, always goes stale when it comes to the area of advancing truth.

 

As you can see, the inherit problem with presuppositions is that thy can prevent people from accepting the Bible as it reads. Any presupposition that fails to exalt the Bible and the Bible alone as the Word of God (the rule of faith and doctrine), and any presupposition that prevents or discourages men and women from understanding all that is written in Scripture, is flawed. This does not mean that everyone has to see eye-to-eye on every point of Scripture. However, I do believe that all who are sincere and honest in their study of truth can get past their flawed presuppositions through study, prayer and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13)

 

Fussing with Secondary Details

 

Another point needs to be made before we begin looking at Bible texts. To make sense of prophecy, a good student first begins by trying to identify the main characters or elements in the story, constantly aligning his/her conclusions with the texts. After somewhat, stable conclusions on the big parts are developed, and then secondary details should be addressed. Too often, I find people trying to resolve everything at once. Fussing with secondary details, while ignoring larger issues, will only end in confusion. Truth is always simple, straightforward and easily grasped by those who seek it. If you believe your conclusions about Revelation or any spiritual matter are better that what you find here, put those views to the test and share them with a hundred Bible students or so and observe their response. As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding!” So, let us turn our attention to the identity of the beasts.

 

The Lamb is Jesus

 

The identity of the Lamb is quite simple to determine. Notice the following texts: Revelation 5: 5-6,9, 12 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth…And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open it seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation… In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 

 

Comment: When Jesus appears the second time, He will be “a roaring Lion” to the wicked and a “meek and gentle Lamb” to the righteous. With his own blood, He purchased men for God from every tribe, language and nation. He alone is worthy to receive the seven attributes of God (power, wealth, wisdom, etc.) Can there be any doubt as to whom the Lamb is? I do not see how. (John 1:29) The seven horns signify His omnipotence – having all power. The seven eyes signify His omniscience as though He has seven spirits reporting to Him about everything done on earth – having all knowledge.

 

The Dragon is the Devil

 

The identity of the dragon is no mystery. Notice the texts:

 

Revelation 12:3,4  Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born…

 

Revelation 12:7-9  And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him…

 

 Revelation 12:17  Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

 

Comment: Taking the Bible as it reads concerning the identity of the great red dragon leaves no doubt. He was in Heaven and he was cast to the Earth. The Bible leaves no doubt that this is the dragon, which is the devil, Lucifer, and the adversary of God and man. Notice that at the end of chapter 12, the dragon “went off” to make war against the rest of the woman’s offspring. This indicates that the dragon, himself, has been preparing to wage war on the remnant of God’s people during the last days. This war described in Revelation 13:7.

 

Note: The great dragon was a strange shaped body. There are seven heads, ten horns and seven crows on the seven heads. These descriptive appendages were purposely designed by God to help to help Earth’s last generation trace the devil’s activities through centuries of time. In other words, God’s descriptive language helps us identify and trace the activities of an invisible being that works in a spiritual dimension, a being who can assume different forms and do unbelievable things. The seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns will be described in a later segment of this document.

 

 

page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l

-2-

[TOP]