When we were last together I left you with a riddle from the book of Revelation - "The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and it is of the seven, and is going to perdition"...Rev. 17:11. This is only solvable if we keep the visions of Revelation in the setting of their historical fulfillment. Since the modern viewpoint on Revelation says that most of it is yet future, then their opinion on this riddle is totally speculation and fanciful imaginations.
"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."...Rev. 13:1. If we ignore historical documentation, and put the fulfillment of this beast off to the future, then we participate in a guessing game that produces fear of the unknown, while leading the seeker of truth in the wrong direction. The question is - has this portion of Revelation been fulfilled?
By defining the symbolism by historical documentation, the message will be revealed - no interpretation needed. Seven heads symbolize seven empires. Sea symbolizes restless nations - discontented, constantly searching, trying to find their way by forever seeking change. John was shown seven empires in his vision - five fallen - one existing - one future. The five deposed empires were Assyria, Egyptian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Grecian.
The one empire that was existing at the time John had the vision was Rome. This is the sixth head of the beast. This is the empire that received a mortal wound which we will clearly explain in future blogs. Horns symbolize a seat of power. Crowns symbolize royalty or sovereign empire. History confirms that these ten horns were successive seats of power in the royal line of Rome. Only ten seats of power are mentioned, because these specific ten empires would exact especially cruel persecution against the saints of God for nearly three centuries - until Emperor Constantine stopped the persecution in 306 A.D.
The seventh empire of the seven-headed beast to rise was the Holy Roman Empire, which reigned approximately one thousand years called the Dark Ages. Since prophecy of scripture is understood in its fulfillment, Martin Luther personally experienced the beginning of the demise the seventh head of the beast, and we will share his evidence as we seek the truth about the seven-headed beast. So how do we explain the riddle at the beginning of this blog?
The eighth beast is of the seven - don't you love a good mystery? One common thread woven throughout all seven beast empires is Paganism. So the beast that was is Paganism. If the Eighth Beast is of the seven he also symbolizes Paganism. So what does the text mean when it says this beast is not?
Once the Holy Roman Empire was defeated, the Paganism it practiced is not any longer. The mighty Reformation of Martin Luther crushed Paganism after he published the Bible for the common man to read, and find out the truth about salvation, and many other important Biblical topics. So Paganism was no longer embraced by the majority of worldwide citizens. Paganism is not. But Paganism didn't go away, it only received a temporary knockout punch.
It took about three centuries for the church of Jesus Christ to divide into many denominations, returning to familiar rituals and ceremonies - works of the flesh - for salvation. Spiritual complacency and legalism - men's rules and regulations - put out the passionate fire of the Reformation, and later the Great Awakening. Paganism reared its ugly head again, precipitating the rise of the Eighth Beast who is of the paganism of the previous empires.
The Eighth Beast distinguishes himself from the other seven beasts in two ways - (1) he is not identified as a king with an empire (2) only thing in common is Paganism. This is the power that is ruling every government on the face of the earth today. You are personally living under the global rule of the Eighth Beast of Paganism at this time.
The Globalists, who rule all governments on planet earth, collaborate under many different names, such as, Council on Foreign Relations, Bilderbergers, Trilateral Commission, Federal Reserve Bankers, Carnegie Foundation, and so many more. But I think you get the idea - collectively they embrace Paganism - the Eighth Beast - who is going to perdition according to our text.
This riddle is solved, but there is so much more to reveal about the beasts of Revelation. Stay tined...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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