The Future Foretold

When Revelation chapter 13 begins, like Daniel, it identifies a beast. “I saw a beast rise out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1). We know beasts represent kingdoms & the bible tells us that the sea or water represents multitudes of people or densely populated areas (Revelation 17:15). When Daniel spoke about the Papal beast in his dream, it rose out of a densely populated area in the mediterranean. This is the area in which the Papacy arose. Revelation 13 also tells us this beast had “a blasphemous name” as it’s head. Previously we discovered blasphemy means to claim to be God or having the ability to forgive sins. We know the Pope is the head of the papacy & has made both these claims right throughout history. Interestingly, chapter 13 of Revelation also mentions the same ten horns (ten germanic tribes) which invaded Rome & became the modern day countries of Europe.

“The beginning of Revelation 13 clearly identifies the same Papal beast, the little horn from Daniel 7”

Revelation 13 continues & we discover this same beast “was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13:2). Rome was the kingdom which took over from the three former beasts of Daniel 7 – Babylon (the winged lion), Medo-Persia (Bear) and Greece (winged leopard with four heads). Previously, each of these kingdoms worshipped false God’s & were pagan kingdoms – Rome swallowed these territories up when It came to be the 4th power. Therefore, it exhibits a little of each. As we continue reading, Revelation 13 tells us that this beast is different. This particular power is not just a political power, it is also one that receives worship. “and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 14: 4). So we have a religious & a political power.

Revelation 13 then tells us this papal beast “was given his power, throne & great authority” from the dragon. Pagan Rome gave the papacy it’s power, it was a pagan worshipping kingdom. This means they worshipped many false Gods – putting Satan before the creator. The dragon is “called the devil & Satan” (Revelation 12:9). So Satan working through pagan Rome handed the Pope his seat. This is true because at the succession of the Roman Caesars came the Pontiffs. When Constantine left Rome, his seat was given to the Pontiff. In 538AD when Pope Vigilius stepped to the throne he seized the sceptre and became the religious leader over all Holy churches and the political leader of the world. Via the papacy, the pagan practices of Rome took control of the whole world, killing millions of Christians who refused to follow the rules. These rules included enforced Sunday worship. This stemmed from an earlier decree in 321AD where Constantine stated, “On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed” (Codex Justinianus lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian church, Vol. 3, p. 380). Sunday had always been a Pagan day of worship, stemming from ancient Rome where they worshipped the Syrian Sun God, Sol Invictus. Interestingly, the festival of this sun god took place on December 25th (Christmas) & can be traced back to much earlier origins in Egypt. It’s hardly a coincidence that the Sun God Tammuz, worshipped by the Israelites (Ezekiel 8) also shared the same birthday. Just as Daniel 7:25 said, this papal beast would “seek to change times & laws.” Sure enough they did, from Saturday to Sunday. In fact, the only commandment in the bible that is a ‘time’ & a ‘law’ is the 4th commandment & it talks about keeping the 7th day Sabbath Holy, not the first day of the week.

As we move deeper into Revelation chapter thirteen, we are told this same beast made “war with the saints”. History is clear, the papacy killed more people (Christians) than any other entity which has ever existed before. However, we soon discover that it was given authority to rule for “forty-two months” (Revelation 13: 5). Sound familiar? This is the exact timeframe we were given in Daniel 7:25 which represents 1260 years (42months x 30 days per month – a year for each day). From 538 – 1798AD the papacy ruled for exactly 1260 years. Until, in 1798, Napoleon’s general Berthier took the head of the Papacy Pope Pius VII captive, declaring an end to the papal rule. The beast was wounded. Revelation 13 makes mention of this when it says, the head of this papal beast “had been mortally wounded” however “his deadly wound was healed”. In 1929 the Lateran treaty was signed by Mussolini, returning the papacy it’s standing as a political state, thus enabling ambassadors to be sent to & from the Vatican. 131 years after the papacy seemingly received a mortal wound, the wound was healed – Papal Rome again had political standing. The first beast of Revelation 13 is clearly the same papal beast mentioned in Daniel 7. However, as we head into the second half of Revelation 13 we discover a new modern day world power would arise & give the papacy one final shot at persecution before earth is destroyed & God sets up his own kingdom. Who is this world power?

2ND BEAST OF REVELATION 13 – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

When Revelation 13 begins, we discovered the Papal power had been wounded. In 1798, Napoleon knew he had to break the back of the Papacy in order to rule Europe. His army took the pope captive and the 1260 year prophecy of Rome’s rule was complete – it looked like a mortal wound had been inflicted. In a historical sense the words of Revelation 13:10 were fulfilled: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who leads with the sword shall be killed by the sword”. This tells us that the actions carried out by the Papal beast against the saints would be turned on itself. We are then told, another beast was “coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13: 11). So which world power was rising just as Rome fell? It would have to be late 1700’s because the papacy fell in 1798.

On July 4, 1776, the United States of America issued a declaration of independence. In 1783 the revolutionary war with Great Britain came to an end, America won. In 1787, the United States formed it’s constitution. In 1791, a bill of rights was established which confirmed the fundamental rights of America’s citizens. From 1789 to 1797, the first US president George Washington served his time. There is no doubt, when the papacy was going down in 1798, the United States of America was quietly establishing its power and dominance. In fact, since the papacy lost its control, the United States has clearly been the most powerful & influential kingdom on the planet. When the Papacy fell, America had just been recognised as an independent power. There is no other power that fits the timing or has since been a world power like America is. Revelation 13 says, this new beast was “coming up out of the earth” (13:11), not the water. Remember, the sea represents people, multitudes & densely populated areas – this is the area in which Rome arose out of central Europe. Earth though, is the  opposite of sea so it must be a sparsely populated area. The North American Continent was exactly that, empty, before the United States rose out of it. This was largely due to European settlers escaping persecution from the civil and religious laws held over them by the papacy.  The desire for freedom of speech and choice of religion is clearly reflected in the first amend-

ment of the Bill of Rights (left), when it says, “congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion in prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It is very interesting that a group of people would choose to make their first law, one that desires freedom of religion. Why? Because they had witnessed & understood the attrocities and oppression that was held over them by the Papacy throughout the dark ages in Europe.

As the description of the 2nd beast in Revelation 13 continues, we are told it “had two horns like a lamb” (Revelation 13:11). A lamb like beast represents a Christian nation with Christian principles. This is because Jesus was often referred to as the “lamb of God”, due to him being the sacrificial lamb – paying the ultimate sacrifice for sin when he was nailed to the cross (John 1: 29 & 36). Early American settlers eagerly sought religious and civil freedom which they had never before known. In it’s early years, America displayed the characteristics of a lamb, it was a Christ-like nation – which the beast from the land is described as. But what do the 2 horns on the lamb represent? It’s two horns are representative of the religious freedom and civil freedom the early settlers sought. In Daniel chapters 7 & 8 we are told repeatedly that horns are a symbol & represent kings, kingdoms or powers. History indicates that these can be civil powers as Rome was or religious powers as the papacy was. As it turned out, the Papacy held both civil & religious power in controlling Europe throughout the dark ages, 1260 yrs.

So, this lamb-like beast (Christian nation) was clearly for a long time since it’s founding, a religious, God-fearing power. It only takes a look at the US national anthem ‘Star spangled banner’ to see how they talk of fighting for freedom and trust in God (right). The timing of the rise of America & the fall of the Papacy is quite remarkable. There is simply no other world power that fits the timing or has since been a world power like America.

However, as time progressed, America began to forget it’s religious foundations and became a mostly civil power. Money & greed dictated the actions of it’s citizens & the corruption of government. Unfortunately, Revelation’s description of America, tells us the lamb with 2 horns would begin to speak “like a dragon” (13:11). The downfall of it’s religious roots has been clear to see in the last 30-40 years & in more recent times congress has begun to do away with the civil freedoms of it’s citizens. Revelation 13 tells us the 2nd beast (United States) would “exercise all the authority of the first beast” (Papacy/Rome), and cause “the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13: 12). Remember who had the deadly wound? So, America is going to exercise the authority Rome once had and force the world to worship the Papacy? Or perhaps they’ll form an image of the papacy in enforcing Sunday worship & become a civil & religious world power? Remember what the Catholic church has said many times about the Pope? We upon this earth hold the place of God almighty. Connections between the United States & papacy have shown remarkable growth in the last 100 years.