Revelation 13:1-14:5
The Four Beast of Revelation
#1. The Great Red Dragon
#2. The Composite Beast (Continued)

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The angel said, “Five heads have fallen.”

 

The word “fallen” is also used in Revelation 14:8 where the second angel says, “Babylon (the crisis government) is fallen, is fallen.”

So, looking at the end of the first century A.D., we find a simple explanation of what the angel meant when he said that five heads had fallen.

 

When Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, five religious systems fell – they were brought down, exposed as false.

1.   Heathenism
2.   Atheism
3.   Judaism
4.   Eastern Mysticism
5.   Islam*   

 

*Note: “Islam” as we know it today, came into existence during the sixth century A.D. as a result of Mohammed’s influence and the term is used here to identify the ancient religion of nomadic Arabs. Many Christians erroneously think that Mohammed is the father of the Arabic faith.  This is not true.  

 

Mohammed united, expanded and codified the beliefs of the Arabs. Even though he is considered by the Moslems to be the lastand therefore the greatest of God’s messengers, Arabs trace the origin of their faith back to Abraham through Ishmael’s 12 sons.

(See Genesis 21:13.)

 

How were these five religious systems “brought down” by Jesus?

 

1.   Heathenism is a religious system that does not have the truth about the God of Heaven. Heathenism creates its own gods and religious rules according to superstition and tradition. Jesus declared this religion false. (John 10)

2.   Atheism denies the existence and reality of God. Even though it denies the existence of God, it is a system of religious thought. Jesus proved that Atheism was false. (John 17)

3.   Judaism believes in God, but is also believes that salvation comes through obedience and ceremonial rituals. Jesus declared that man cannot save himself through obedience and rituals. (John 3; Matthew 5:20) 

4.   Eastern Mysticism teaches that man can become God. This is the inverse of truth. God became man to save us from the penalty of sin. (John 1)

5.   Islam denies that Jesus is deity, the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. This makes Jesus a liar. (Luke 22:70)

But wait! There’s more!

 

Keep in mind that the angel told John that “five heads have fallen, one is, and one is yet to come.” In John’s day, five heads had been exposed as false by the teachings of Christ.

 

The sixth religious system was just beginning to develop at the time of this vision, and according to the angel, a seventh head or religious system would appear later on and it would only last for a short time.

 

The sixth head or religious system that was developing in John’s day began as Christianity and today; this religious system is called Catholicism. (The English word Catholic is derived from the Greek word “katholicos” which means universal or inclusive.) John was a charter member of that new religious system. We know from church history that Christianity rose to power and fell from the truth as Satan entered through the back door and gained control of the church.

 

Centuries later, the Protestant Reformation produced the seventh and last religious system.  The angel said the seventh head would only last for “a short time.” This religious system is called Protestantism today.

 

Looking back over the landscape of history, Protestantism is a “newcomer” to the religious world in terms of existence and since we are near the end of the world, it can only last for a short time!

 

The essential problem with all seven heads is that all of them are blasphemous. This means all of themteach things that are contrary to the will of God! Of course, no honest hearted person believes that his religion teaches blasphemy. Everyone thinks that what be believes is the truth about God and this is precisely where the problem lies!

 

The only way to get out of this global confusion is simple. God will turn the religious world upside down so that everyone can hear the 144,000 and give His truth due consideration. The good news is that the sincere and honest of heart will receive the gospel of Jesus. The bad news is that most of the world will reject it!

 

During the Great Tribulation the 144,000 will proclaim the testimony of Jesus.

 

This will create much controversy. The will of God as taught by the 144,000 will stand in conflict with the will of God as demanded by the religious experts who control the composite beast. 

 

Because there will be severe penalties on both sides of this controversy, (if you obey God, you will receive the wrath of the composite beast, but if obey the composite beast/devil, you will receive the wrath of God)this contest will separate the sheep from the goats in all seven religions!

 

So, we are forced by the nine specifications on the seven heads to conclude that the seven heads of the composite beast represent the seven religious systems of the world!

 

They are:

1.  Heathenism

2.  Atheism

3.  Eastern Mysticism

4.  Judaism

5.  Islam*

6.  Catholicism

7.  Protestantism 

 

The composite beast will have power for 42 months/moons. (29.53 days per month x 42 = 1,240 actual days)   Look at the timing:

 

              /----------42 moons-----------/

---1-----2--------------------------3-----4---5---6----

     /----------1260----------------- / 4 /---70----/1

 

1.  Censer cast down

2.  42 moon begin

3.  Seventh trumpet  (1260 days end)

4.  1290^th day

5.  42 moons and (1240 = 60 – 1300)

6.  1,335 Day

 

Summarizing the composite beast:

 

Revelation 13:1   And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea (waiting for his opportunity to persecute the woman, he knows what Jesus is about to do….). And now I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

 

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