SYMBOLISM IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
PREPARED FIRST DECEMBER 27, 2004
CONTINUED JANUARY 10, 2005
INTRODUCTION
Suppose that you are a male missionary from the United States who with a number of other American male missionaries has been taken captive by the Russians to Siberia. You are a great baseball fan. Your wife and children as well as the wives and children of your colleagues are being detained in a portion of Cambodia held by the communists but subject to American attack. Those in Cambodia are allowed to write letters to their husbands and fathers, but the letters are subject to censorship.
Your wife has written you a number of letters. In the middle of most of her rather lengthy letters are descriptions of baseball games apparently taking place among those in detention in Cambodia. The following lines are among those which describe the baseball game.
One of the red-white-and-blue team tried to steal second base today, but the catcher caught him off first base.
One of the red-white-and-blue team tried to steal second base today, but the catcher threw him out at second base.
One of the red-white-and-blue team stole home today.
One of the red-white-and-blue team hit a grand-slam home run.
The red-white-and-blue team was given many extra players this week.
The red-white-and-blue team has been having good success extending its dugout.
One of the red team decided to co-operate more fully with the red-white-and-blue team. He has been abele to get the team some of the bats of the red team.
There may be many interpretations of the above lines. Likewise there are many interpretations of the Revelation. It is likely that there is some code to the above lines. That there is a code in the Book of Revelation is stated. One of the reasons for the special promise given in the third verse of the first chapter of the Revelation apparently is to encourage people to read the book thoroughly enough to understand that there is a code and to decode the message.
Revelation 1:3
(Rev 1:3 NIV) Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Now suppose that you are living in the days of the severe persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. Recent emperors have become more and more enamored with the idea that the best way to unite the empire is for the emperor to proclaim himself to be god and to have people worship him and images of him. More and more he has taken away the religious freedom of individuals. Recently he has made laws preventing people from being members of the equivalent of trade guilds or unions unless they say Caesar is Lord and worship his image. He has representatives throughout the Roman provinces using all manner of practical and superstitious devices attempting to enforce these new laws.
The Apostle John was once an elder of your assembly. He has been exiled to the remote isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. Quite understandably any letter, which he would write to, you is subject to careful censorship. He wants to wants to let you know that he understands your problems. He is experiencing the same tribulation, which you are experiencing.
Revelation 1:9
(Rev 1:9 NIV) I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
He wishes to tell you that Satan controls the Roman Empire; and that it is absolutely wrong for a Christian to say that Caesar is Lord, no matter how much he is persecuted. He wants you to know that even though Caesar and Rome and even Satan seem to have the upper hand, Jesus is the real Lord; God has ultimate control; and He will have His day.
Having read the promise in the third verse of the first chapter and having therefore persevered in the reading of the Book, you have come to the seventeenth chapter. How would you interpret (decode) the following messages?
(Rev 17:1 NIV) One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
(Rev 17:2 NIV) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
(Rev 17:3 NIV) Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
(Rev 17:4 NIV) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
(Rev 17:5 NIV) This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
(Rev 17:6 NIV) I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
(Rev 17:7 NIV) Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
(Rev 17:8 NIV) The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The Inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
(Rev 17:9 NIV) "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
(Rev 17:10 NIV) They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.
(Rev 17:11 NIV) The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
(Rev 17:12 NIV) "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
(Rev 17:13 NIV) They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
(Rev 17:14 NIV) They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
(Rev 17:15 NIV) Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
(Rev 17:16 NIV) The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
(Rev 17:17 NIV) For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.
(Rev 17:18 NIV) The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Please let me as a teacher share with you my thoughts concerning this chapter. Let me tell you how I, having read and taught this letter many times, presently decode the message. As I do, I shall attempt to put myself in the place of one living during the time of John the Apostle, and a recipient of a copy of the Book of the Revelation.
(Rev 17:1 NIV) One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
(Rev 17:2 NIV) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
(Rev 17:3 NIV) Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
Come. … Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert.
This suggests to me that the judgment of the great whore takes place in a different location and at a different time than the judgment of Armageddon which is discussed in the latter part of the sixteenth chapter and resumed again in the nineteenth chapter. Compare my essay on the Warp and Woof of the Book of Revelation.
the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
This suggests to me that the woman controls a Mediterranean empire. Verse 18 seems to confirm the idea that the great prostitute is the city Rome, which controls the Mediterranean world. That she is called a prostitute suggests to me that any spiritual association with her is spiritual harlotry.
(Rev 17:2 NIV) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
That spiritual fornication has already taken place. The leaders of my world have been guilty of it.
(Rev 17:3 NIV) Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
The suggestion of verse 1 is confirmed. I have been carried away from the scene of the battle of Armageddon. Saying Caesar is Lord is absolute blasphemy.
(Rev 17:4 NIV) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
My belief that the woman represents Rome in all her royalty and riches and abominations is strengthened.
(Rev 17:5 NIV) This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Mystery. Babylon
The Greek word mystery in this context could well be translated by the modern English word code. Here it is plainly stated that the Book is coded. Dear Lord, help me to understand the code and to teach the Book in such a way that others will understand. Babylon seems to be a code name for Rome. Babylon was the great persecutor of God’s people in Old Testament times. Now Rome is the primary persecutor. Babylon at many times seemed to have the upper hand, but God punished her severely. Though presently Rome may seem to have the upper hand, God will do the same to her. The message is certainly coming loud and clear that Caesar worship is abominable and blasphemous.
The term Babylon should lead me now to the conclusion, if I have not already come to it, that there are many parallels between this letter and the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
(Rev 17:6 NIV) I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
Rome is certainly persecuting the Christian churches. Our assembly is becoming rapidly depleted. Christians are being killed like flies throughout the Empire. Rome sure strikes terror and awe in everyone’s mind.
(Rev 17:7 NIV) Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
John, I sure hope you tell us what the angel told you. I am beginning to understand who the woman is, but understanding who the beast is gives me many problems still.
(Rev 17:8 NIV) The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out
of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The Inhabitants of the earth whose names
have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be
astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will
come.
Abyss
The beast seems to represent the Satanic forces which support the woman (Rome) and
whatever are represented by the seven heads and the ten horns.
(Rev 17:9 NIV) "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
Here is the key to the code. John, that was extremely risky to make such a clear statement concerning the seven hills on which Rome sits; but I suppose you had to do it, because some Christians are extremely dense when it comes to interpreting such codes.
(Rev 17:10 NIV) They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.
John, are you telling us that the Roman Empire is nearly six-sevenths expired. Praise God. I am not sure that I can endure this tribulation very much longer. I feel very much like the martyred saints whom you saw at the opening of the sixth seal.
(Rev 6:9 NIV) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
(Rev 6:10 NIV) They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
(Rev 6:11 NIV) Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
Moreover, John, I am glad that you did not give the exact number and names of the Roman emperors. Verse 9 was risky, but that would have been devastating to the security of the Book.
(Rev 17:11 NIV) The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
The beast seems to represent a Satanic force present in the Roman empire but separate from it and surviving beyond it, only to support that which is left. Praise God that the beast, like Satan, is on his way to perdition, to loss. Victory is for us who love Christ, whatever happens in human history. How wonderful to be on the victory side.
(Rev 17:12 NIV) "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
I am reminded of the ten toes in the second chapter of the Book of Daniel. Let me take time now to meditate on that vision.
(Dan 2:1 NIV) In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.
(Dan 2:2 NIV) So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king,
(Dan 2:3 NIV) he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
(Dan 2:4 NIV) Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
(Dan 2:5 NIV) The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.
(Dan 2:6 NIV) But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
(Dan 2:7 NIV) Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
(Dan 2:8 NIV) Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided:
(Dan 2:9 NIV) If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
(Dan 2:10 NIV) The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.
(Dan 2:11 NIV) What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
(Dan 2:12 NIV) This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.
(Dan 2:13 NIV) So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
(Dan 2:14 NIV) When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.
(Dan 2:15 NIV) He asked the king’s officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
(Dan 2:16 NIV) At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
(Dan 2:17 NIV) Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
(Dan 2:18 NIV) He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
(Dan 2:19 NIV) During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
(Dan 2:20 NIV) and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
(Dan 2:21 NIV) He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
(Dan 2:22 NIV) He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
(Dan 2:23 NIV) I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."
(Dan 2:24 NIV) Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him."
(Dan 2:25 NIV) Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
(Dan 2:26 NIV) The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
(Dan 2:27 NIV) Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
(Dan 2:28 NIV) but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
(Dan 2:29 NIV) "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.
(Dan 2:30 NIV) As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
(Dan 2:31 NIV) "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue--an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.
(Dan 2:32 NIV) The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
(Dan 2:33 NIV) its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.
(Dan 2:34 NIV) While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.
(Dan 2:35 NIV) Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
(Dan 2:36 NIV) "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.
(Dan 2:37 NIV) You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory;
(Dan 2:38 NIV) in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
(Dan 2:39 NIV) "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to ours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.
(Dan 2:40 NIV) Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron--for iron breaks and smashes everything--and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
(Dan 2:41 NIV) Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.
(Dan 2:42 NIV) As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
(Dan 2:43 NIV) And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
(Dan 2:44 NIV) "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
(Dan 2:45 NIV) This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."
(Dan 2:46 NIV) Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.
(Dan 2:47 NIV) The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
(Dan 2:48 NIV) Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.
(Dan 2:49 NIV) Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
(Rev 17:12 NIV) "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
The ten horns like the ten toes of the image in Daniel 2 seems to
correspond to the descendants of the Roman Empire, Daniel 2:43
seems to indicate that these descendants will not be able to gather
themselves together to form a world empire.
The descendants of the Roman Empire, like the Roman Empire itself,
are in basic agreement with and supported by the beast. They too are
temporal. This verse seems to suggest that the period after the fall of
the Roman Empire is from heaven’s standpoint a very short time, one
hour. People in the twenty-first century could well be in the final
seconds of the last minute of world history.
(Rev 17:13 NIV) They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
(Rev 17:14 NIV) They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
The beast may seem to get the upper hand, but the victory is with the Lamb and His followers.
(Rev 17:15 NIV) Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
This verse, taken with verse 1 and with verse 18, continues to strengthen the belief that Babylon represents Rome. Notice the use of the present tense in these verses, and the contrasting use of the future in verse 16.
(Rev 17:16 NIV) The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Rome does not come to an end by cataclysms originating in heaven at the end of the age, but by normal methods of warfare during the course of human history.
See further my material on the Warp and the Woof of the Book of the Revelation.
(Rev 17:17 NIV) For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.
Though the beast has tremendous control over the nations of human history, God has the ultimate control. These two parallel truths explain why Christians are being persecuted, but give Christians reason for rejoicing in the persecutions and looking for ultimate relief.
Now let us go back and look at Revelation 13:1-18
(Rev 13:1 NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
(Rev 13:2 NIV) The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
The second verse of this chapter reminds us of the seventh chapter of Daniel; so we shall study these chapters together.
On Daniel 7, see The Prophecy of Daniel by Edward J. Young, pp. 146-164.
(Rev 13:3 NIV) One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
(Rev 13:4 NIV) Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
(Rev 13:5 NIV) The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
(Rev 13:6 NIV) He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
(Rev 13:7 NIV) He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
(Rev 13:8 NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
(Rev 13:9 NIV) He who has an ear, let him hear.
(Rev 13:10 NIV) If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
(Rev 13:11 NIV) Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
(Rev 13:12 NIV) He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
(Rev 13:13 NIV) And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
(Rev 13:14 NIV) Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
(Rev 13:15 NIV) He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
(Rev 13:16 NIV) He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
(Rev 13:17 NIV) so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
(Rev 13:18 NIV) This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.
(Rev 17:18 NIV) The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
(Dan 7:1 NIV) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
(Dan 7:2 NIV) Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.
(Dan 7:3 NIV) Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
(Dan 7:4 NIV) "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
(Dan 7:5 NIV) "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ’Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
(Dan 7:6 NIV) "After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
(Dan 7:7 NIV) "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
(Dan 7:8 NIV) "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
(Dan 7:9 NIV) "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
(Dan 7:10 NIV) A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
(Dan 7:11 NIV) "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
(Dan 7:12 NIV) (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
(Dan 7:13 NIV) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
(Dan 7:14 NIV) He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
(Dan 7:15 NIV) "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
(Dan 7:16 NIV) I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
(Dan 7:17 NIV) ’The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.
(Dan 7:18 NIV) But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever.’
(Dan 7:19 NIV) "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws--the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
(Dan 7:20 NIV) I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
(Dan 7:21 NIV) As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,
(Dan 7:22 NIV) until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
(Dan 7:23 NIV) "He gave me this explanation: ’The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
(Dan 7:24 NIV) The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
(Dan 7:25 NIV) He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
(Dan 7:26 NIV) "’But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
(Dan 7:27 NIV) Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
(Dan 7:28 NIV) "This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."
(Rev 13:1 NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
(Rev 13:2 NIV) The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
(Rev 13:3 NIV) One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
(Rev 13:4 NIV) Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
(Rev 13:5 NIV) The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
(Rev 13:6 NIV) He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
(Rev 13:7 NIV) He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
(Rev 13:8 NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
(Rev 13:9 NIV) He who has an ear, let him hear.
(Rev 13:10 NIV) If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
(Rev 13:11 NIV) Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
(Rev 13:12 NIV) He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
(Rev 13:13 NIV) And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
(Rev 13:14 NIV) Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
(Rev 13:15 NIV) He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
(Rev 13:16 NIV) He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
(Rev 13:17 NIV) so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
(Rev 13:18 NIV) This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.
