Study #4
The Beast Power
of Revelation 13

In order to have a more complete understanding of this study, it is imperative that you have completed Study #1 on Daniel 2; Study #2 on The Ten Commandments and especially Study #3 on Daniel 7. Without the foundation of those three studies, you are not in a position to have a valid understanding of Revelation 13. Please go back and complete those three studies first before starting this study.

It must be repeated at this point that no attempt is being made to attack any Christian believers of any denomination. What has been exposed in Daniel 7 is a religious system that God has revealed through 9 identifying marks. That religious system could be none other than Papal Rome. We will now continue with the study of Revelation chapter 13. Do not proceed until you have prayerfully and carefully read Revelation 13, verses 1-10 and verse 18 below. We will read the remaining verses of Revelation 13 in our study #6 of the "Image of the Beast" where the seconf beast of Revelation 13 is introduced.

Revelation was written by John, the son of Zebedee, the brother of James. John was confined to the Isle of Patmos, a rocky island in the Mediterranean Sea, 40 miles off the coast of Asia Minor. It was near the end of the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, who ruled from 81 to 96 AD.

Revelation Chapter 13

13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

What did John see rising out of the sea?

1. What did John see rising up out of the sea? Revelation 13:1

"...saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."

Note- As discussed in our previous study, waters represent existing populated areas. See Rev 17:15
15 "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." A Beast represents a kingdom or ruling power. See Daniel 7:17, 23
17. "These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth."
23. "Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms,"
What John saw was a ruling power rising up out of a populated area.

In the study on Daniel chapter 7, we found nine points of identification that showed it could be none other than Papal Rome. We are now going to uncover nine points of identification that will show the beast of Revelation 13 is the same system.

2. Describe this beasts features. Verse 2.

"....And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ...."

Note - This dreadful beast was a composite beast that parallels the little horn of Daniel 7. It was coming up in an area and at a time that would have been after the last of the four kingdoms.

Point #1- Arose from the ruins of the Roman empire.

3. From whom did this beast power get it's authority? Verse 2.
"...and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

4. Who is this dragon that gives this political/religious system his throne, power and authority? Revelation 12:3, 4, 9
"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." 9. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

Note- The dragon does primarily represent Satan, but it also represents Pagan Rome whom Satan used to try to destroy Jesus when Herod, a Roman ruler, killed the babies of Bethlehem. History is very clear that the Papacy received it's power, authority and capital city from old Pagan Rome.

Point #2- It received it's power and ruling authority from the dragon (Satan and Pagan Rome)

5. What would this beast power become? Last part of verses 3 & 7

A WORLD WIDE POWER.

Point #3- During the middle ages the Papacy was a world-wide power.

6. What was the period of time that this world-wide power would continue to rule? Verse 5.

FORTY-TWO prophetic months or 1,260 Literal Years

Note- We covered this time period thoroughly in study #12, but quickly in review, a day in prophecy is a literal year. See Numbers14:34; Ezekiel 4:6. A prophetic month of 30 days is 30 years. A prophetic year of 360 days is 360 years. A time is a prophetic year or 360 years. The prophetic 42 months or 3-1/2 prophetic years or 1,260 prophetic days is 1,260 literal years. The period of Papal Rome's rule in seven different scriptural references all add up to 1,260 years. As we learned in the Daniel 7 study #3, the power of the Papacy became supreme in 538 AD when the decree of Emperor Justinian became in full effect. It acknowledged the Bishop of Rome as "Head of all the Churches." This letter became part of the Justinian code, the fundamental law of the empire. The power ended in 1798 AD. Review Study #3 - Daniel 7.

Point #4- No power on earth, other than the Papacy ever ruled exactly 1,260 years.

7. What did the beast receive and what marvelous thing then occurred? Verse 3

"And I saw one of his heads as were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast."

Note- Depending on which translation you are using, verse 3 reports that the beast receives a deadly wound, and then the deadly wound is healed and the world marvels and follows the beast. When in 1798 The French General Berthier marched his army into Rome and took the Pope prisoner, the Papacy received it's deadly wound. He then died in exile. Half of Europe thought that the Papacy had ended with this event. God, however, was on record in scripture, that the deadly wound would heal. And in 1929 Mussolini executed the "Concordat of 1929" with the Papacy, restoring to them their properties and power. The deadly wound was healing and the influence of the Papacy would continue to grow until the whole world would wonder after this power. The Papacy today is recognized as the most influential power on earth. Multiplied millions look to the Papacy today as the only hope for world unity, love, peace and decency.

Point #5- Only the Papacy fits the identification of Rev 13:3, receiving a deadly wound that eventually healed.

8. What is this beast power guilty of? Revelation 13:5, 6.

BLASPHEMY!

Note - Blasphemy in the Bible is defined as a mortal man claiming to have the power to forgive sins. Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?". Also, a man claiming to be God. John 10:33 "The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
The Catholic Church claims to forgive sins. The following is taken from a catechism:

Question: Does the priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted?
Answer: "The priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given him by Jesus Christ." Source- Joseph DeHarbe, Catechism of the Catholic Religion; New York; W.H. Sadler, Inc. 1924, Page 279.

It claims the Pope to be God: "Thou art another God on earth" Source- Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512) in Mans, S.C. volume 32, col 761 (Latin) and "The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh." Source- Catholic National- July 1895

Point #6- Again the Papacy fits the identifying point of Blasphemy.

9. What is the number of the beast in Revelation 13 verse 18?
His number is 666
Note- We are told to count the number of the beast's name and that it is the number of a man. When a person wanted to know the number of their name, a practice quite common in centuries past, they would count all of the letters which were Roman numerals. The sum of the total was the number of their name. God did not need to add this further point of identification, but in so doing, we read in verse 18 that we are to understand by calculation. If the Papacy is the beast power, then this equation has to apply....and it does. The official Latin title of the Pope is "VICARIUS FILII DEI"
Here is wisdom. Count the number of his name. * Note- U's are V's in the Roman Alphabet

100

500

5 + 1 + 100 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 5 + 0 = 112
0 + 1 + 50 + 1 + 1 = 53
500 + 0 + 1 = 501
112 + 53 + 501 = 666

It is important to note that the number 666 is not the mark of the beast, it is only one of nine identifying points of who the beast is.

Point #7- His name adds up to 666.

10. What will all who dwell on the earth do to the beast? Verse 8.

"....shall worship him,"
This is a religious power as well as a political force. Notice he is worshiped. The word worship is used four times in Revelation 13, but this chapter is about false worship.

Point #8 - This is a religious power that is worshipped as well as being a political force.

11. He would make war with and persecute the saints. Verse 7. It is common knowledge that the Papacy did order the armies of nations friendly to the Papacy, to persecute and destroy conscientious Christians, especially during the peak of its period of control, during the middle ages. Many historians say that more than fifty million people died for their faith, during this period of great tribulation, however some say it may have been more like one hundred and twenty million. For only wanting to read the scriptures themselves, in their own language, and believing as God's Spirit led them, millions were tortured in dungeons and burned at the stake. The church felt it was doing God a favor in stamping out "heresy", but the fact remains, it did persecute and destroy the real people of God.

Point #9 The Papacy made war with the saints.

There you have it. No other power on earth outside of the Papacy fits the nine identifying points of Revelation 13, and the nine identifying points of Daniel 7. God has identified him with His Word.

No conscientious child of God wants to receive the Mark of the Beast. However multiplied millions will receive it. God says in scripture, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. You need not receive the Mark of the Beast friend, and to make sure, you need to know what it is. That will be our next topic of study #5 "The Mark of the Beast."