The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

The apostle John is on the island of Patmos, and he has this vision of a frightening beast coming out of the sea.

WHO or WHAT is this BEAST of Revelation?

There are various theories and interpretations as to who this monstrous beast is.

One religious organization believes that this beast represents a “worldwide political system.”

Some say it’s the Roman Emperor Nero.

And there are those who maintain that the beast is the United States.

What does the Bible say?

Please turn to the book of Revelation chapter 13 and start reading verse 1.

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

In his vision, John sees only ONE beast: a composite or a combination of the prophet Daniel’s vision of four great beasts symbolizing four world-ruling empires.

The first — like unto a lion — symbolizes the glory and splendor of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon.

Next, like unto a bear, symbolizing the mammoth size of the Persian Empire.

The third, like unto a leopard, picturing the swiftness and brutality of Alexander the Great’s Greco-Macedonian Empire, which — upon his death — was divided by four of his generals: Cassander, Ptolemy, Antigonus and Seleucus.

The fourth was the Roman Empire of 31 BC to 476 AD: the strongest, most formidable, most terrible of all these world-ruling empires.

And this Roman Empire absorbed all of the territory of the other 3.

Thus, John saw this beast having seven heads!

If you continue reading verse 2, it says “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”

Revelation chapter 12 and verse 9 identifies this dragon as Satan the devil.

So, Satan confers upon or delegates his power, his throne and great authority to this beast, the Roman Empire of John’s time.

Verse 3, Revelation 13.

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

The mighty Roman Empire suffered a deadly wound.

In 476 AD, wave after wave of Germanic invaders swooped down on the city.

Rome fell.

Then, in 554 AD, Justinian — emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire at Constantinople; the city of Istanbul in Turkey today — recaptured the entire Italian peninsula.

. . . and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The Roman Empire — east and west — was revived under Justinian’s rule.

The deadly wound of 476 AD was healed!

History memorializes it as the Imperial Restoration.

Now then, John sees this beast having TEN horns. And upon its horns, TEN crowns.

The first THREE horns typify the three Germanic tribes that invaded Rome — the Vandals, the Heruli and the Ostrogoths — and brought about its downfall.

The next six horns describe the SIX revivals of the Roman Empire.

Beginning with Justinian’s imperial restoration; followed by Charlemagne’s Frankish kingdom; the German rule of Otto the Great; then the Hapsburg dynasty of Charles V; Napoleon’s French kingdom; and Garibaldi’s Italy culminating in Mussolini’s fascist rule.

The seventh and last horn — completing the TEN — is the final revival of the Roman Empire which is prophesied to appear in our time today.

Notice 2nd Timothy chapter 3.

This is where we are NOW.

TODAY.

Verse 1, 2nd Timothy chapter 3.

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

This characterizes the society we are in today.

We have reached the time just before the emergence of the Beast.

The 7th and final revival of the Roman Empire.

A powerful coalition — a political, economic and military powerhouse — made up of TEN European nations under one leader.

This union will be the instrument, the agent by which Satan — with great wrath and unbridled ferocity — will seek to persecute and destroy God’s people.

But it will last only a short time.

These tumultuous, troubling events prophesied in the Bible lie just ahead.

But beyond the chaos and the upheaval, as we draw closer to the end of this civilization, there is good news!

In fact, it is the BEST news ever!

God will intervene for the sake of His chosen people and send Jesus Christ back to the earth

.

The return of Jesus Christ marks a pivotal point in all of human history.

Satan will be restrained. Bound in chains and shut up.

INCAPACITATED.

The Beast, together with his ally — the man of sin — will be cast into the lake of fire and destroyed.

Turn to Revelation 17, verse 14.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb — that’s Jesus Christ — and the Lamb will overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those that are with him are called, chosen, and faithful.

And it will usher in that millennium — Christ’s one thousand year rule — of true and lasting peace, overflowing abundance and real happiness for all of mankind.

It’s going to happen!

We have God’s iron-clad guarantee of that coming wonderful world tomorrow right here on the earth.

And . . .

It won’t be long now!

This is Ross Abasolo with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!