IDENTIFYING THE BEAST OF REVELATION

Revelation 13:1-8, 18 -  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. 

13:18   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. 

The beast has eight points of identification. Let's review them:

1.  It would receive its power, seat and authority.

     NOTE: The dragon, Revelation 12:3, 4, 9, though primarily representing Satan, also represents Pagan Rome, whom Satan used to try to destroy Jesus when Herod, a Roman ruler, killed the babies of Bethlehem, Matthew 1:16-18. History is clear that the Papacy received its power, authority and capital city from old Pagan Rome. This quote from history is typical:

     "The Roman church...pushed itself into the place of the Roman world empire, of which it is the actual continuation. The Pope...is Caesar's successor." --Adolf Hamack, What is Christianity; New York; Putnam, 1901, pp. 269, 270.

2. Would become a world-wide power (vs 3,7)

     NOTE: None would dispute that during the middle ages the Papacy was indeed a world-wide power so, once again, the Papacy fits the identification.

3.  Would rule for 42 months (vs 5).

     NOTE:  Remember that, in prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year, Ezekiel 4:6. The time of the Papacy's rule is repeatedly referred to in prophecy as 1260 days, 42 months or 3 1/2 years. All equal the same thing: 1260 prophetic days or 1260 literal years. The power of the Papacy became supreme in Christendom in 538 A.D. due to the letter of Roman Emperor Justinian, which acknowledged the bishop of Rome as the head of all churches. This letter became part of Justinian's code, the fundamental law of the empire. The power and status of the Papacy reached its lowest ebb in 1798 A.D. when Napoleon's general, Berthier, took the Pope captive and he died in exile. Please note that 538 A. D. to 1798 A.D. is exactly 1260 years, as prophecy predicted. Again, the Papacy fits the identification point. No other power could possibly fit THIS point.

4. Would be guilty of blasphemy (vs 5,6).

     NOTE: The Bible defines blasphemy as claiming to be God, John 10:33 and claiming power to forgive sins. Luke 5:21. Once again the Papacy fits the identification point. It claims to forgive sins. From a catechism we note the following:

     "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." --Joseph DeHarbe, Catechism of the Catholic Religion, New York; W. H. Sadler, Inc. 1924, p. 279.

     It claims to be God. "Thou art another God on earth."--Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512) in Mans, S. C., Vol 32, Col 761 (Latin).

     "The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." --Catholic National, July, 1895.

5.  Would receive a deadly wound which would heal. Then the entire world would follow Him (vs 3).

The Papacy was dealt what appeared to be  death blow when in 1798 Napoleon's general Berthier, took the Pope captive and he died in exile. --Joseph Rickaby, The Modern Papacy, in Lectures on the History of Religion, Vol 3, Lecture 24, p. 1, (London: Catholic Truth Society, 1910).  Half of Europe thought that the Papacy had ended with this event. God, however, was on record that the wound would be healed and that the influence of the Papacy would grow till all the world followed her leading. Even a novice recognizes today that the Papacy is, in many ways, the most influential power on earth. And with each trip of Pope John Paul II, the Papacy's influence and power increases. Multiplied millions from all over the world look to the Papacy today as the only hope for world unity, love, peace and decency--precisely as God predicted. So, again, the Papacy fits the identification point.

6.  Would have the mystic number 666 (vs 18).

Revelation 13:17, 18 says to count the number of the beast's name and that it is the number of a man. The man we think of when the Papacy is mentioned is the Pope. What is his name? One of the Pope's official titles is "Vicar of the Son of God" which in Latin is "Vicarius Filii Dei" --Our Sunday Visitor, April 18, 1915, in answers to readers questions. Often newspaper articles, when referring to the Pope as "Vicar of Christ", will enclose the words in quotation marks because they are a translation of his title or name. The book of Revelation is saying that the Roman numeral value of the letters of his name will equal 666. Let's see if it does.

So, once again the Papacy fits the sixth point.

7.  Would be a religious power--it is involved in worship (vs 5,8).

NOTE: This power is not a secular government but is involved in spiritual matters. The word "worship" is used four times in Revelation 13. The chapter is about false worship. Again, the Papacy fits the identification point.

8.  Would war with and persecute the saints (vs 7).

It is common knowledge that the Papacy did 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. The church felt it was doing God a favor in stamping out "heresy", but the fact remains that it did persecute and destroy. Many modern Catholics disapprove of these persecutions. The Papacy fits this point, also.

There may be two sides to some questions, but there is only one side here: the beast of Revelation 13:1-8, 18 represents the Papacy. And this power has a mark that I dare not receive.

NOTE:  There are many beautiful, sweet loving Roman Catholic Christians who serve Jesus gladly and whom Jesus counts as His children.  Pope John Paul II, himself, seems to be a warm, gracious, congenial, courageous person who loves God. This lesson is not an attack upon our Christian Catholic friends. It is an attack upon the devil who is responsible for the entire miserable affair. It is true, however, that God, Himself, has told us that this system has a mark which we dare not receive. Sincere Protestants, Catholics, Jews and the unchurched will all be anxious to discover what this mark is so they can avoid receiving it. Thank God that He has, in the book of Revelation, uncovered Satan's ugly plans to destroy us all.

Click here to read about the  Papacy's admission  to changing the seventh day Sabbath of the Lord to Sunday, the first day.  

--Taken from It is Written Revelation Seminar.