Part 14 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

Northern Lights

 

When we last together I asked you the question, "Who gave life to the image of the beast?" The image is the Holy Roman Empire - 7th head of the seven-headed beast. The paganism of this beast is the mirror image of the paganism of the Imperial Roman Empire - 6th head of the beast. Imperial Rome gave life to Holy Rome - but how was this accomplished? For the answer, we must lay some historical ground work.

 

The seven-headed beast also has ten horns...the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have re3ceived no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast...these are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast...Rev. 17:12-13.

 

When John received this vision the ten king - ten horns - had not come into power as yet. History reveals that these ten kings were subsequent rulers of Imperial Rome. The reason only ten are mentioned, these were the most vicious destroyers of Christians until the 10th, and worst king, Emperor Dioclesian. One hour means they ruled a very short period of time. Of the same mind means their single goal was to eliminate Christians from the earth.

 

Remember, Jesus in the Revelation is not giving a  history lesson on Imperial Rome, but rather revealing its spiritual impact on His beloved, so His kids will understand His purpose in allowing such vicious oppression. Tertullian of Carthage (150-225 A.D.) was a well educated apologist for the Christians, yet well respected by the Roman Senate. He said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Martyrdom produces true followers of Christ - because they are not willing to compromise His standards.

 

Emperor Dioclesian chose Emperor Maximian to join him in ruling his burgeoning empire at Rome. But he chose Emperor Constantius to rule over the northwestern portion of his empire. When Emperor Constantius died in Britain in 306 A.D., his son, Emperor Constantine succeeded him. His mother was a Christian. When Emperor Maximian committed suicide in 310 A.D., his son Maxentius succeeded him.

 

Emperor Maxentius feared his kingdom at Rome would be overthrown by Emperor Constantine, because he stopped the persecution of Christians, which Emperor Maxentius wanted to continue with a vengeance. So Emperor Maxentius plotted a wicked plan to lure Emperor Constantine and his army to Rome and murder them. Emperor Constantine was known as a man of courage and confidence and was not easily dissuaded, so he accepted the challenge to meet Maxentius on his own turf. What was his wicked scheme?

 

Through the devilish art of magic, charms, and sorcery, Maxentius conjured a fail-poof trap for Constantine and his army. He ordered his men to tear down the bridge over the Tiber River, and rebuild it with inferior materials. He will lure Constantine and his army onto the weakened bridge, which would collapse from the massive weight, plunging them into the river to a guaranteed death.

 

On his way to Rome, Constantine had a vision, where he saw a light in Heaven, appearing in the similitude of a cross with an inscription in Latin - in hoc vince - in this overcome. His soldiers were witnesses. Later that night, Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream, directing him to make a replica of the cross that he had seen in the earlier vision. Jesus told Constantine the cross would replace his Roman standard - by his obedience he would have victory.

 

Constantine made the cross standard from gold and precious stones, symbolizing his spiritual appointment and allegiance to God, rather than his military prowess. Eventually the two armies faced each other outside Rome near the Tiber River. The capability of Constantine's army, under the cross of Christ, was underestimated by Maxentius, and his demon advisors. As the battle raged on, Maxentius and his army found themselves retreating.

 

How was this battle won - a battle to continue the vicious persecution of Christians, or to stop the vicious persecution of Christians?  It may take a couple of weeks to reveal how Emperor Constantine eventually gave breath to the image of the beast, but there is so much historical documentation that must be presented to you, so you can see the truth of the matter for youerself. Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question.

 

 

 

 

 



Part 13 - Riddles, Enigmas & Eosteric Imagery of Revelation

 

 

When we were last together we revealed the identity of the beast who received the mortal blow and lived. By solving this riddle, we found out that the mortal blow was a spiritual death, not the death of a physical empire...only the power behind the empire...Satan.

 

As we move along in this extensive study defining the symbols, metaphors, enigmas, and esoteric imagery of Revelation, the message from Jesus Christ unfolds before you, like the essence of a rose is revealed with the unfolding of its petals. So we must not lose sight of the fact that Revelation is the revealing or unveiling of the spiritual side of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

In His short time on the earth, Jesus could not impart the profundity of His appearing nor its full impact on the future of the world, because His apostles were not able to comprehend the spiritual world. Once the Holy Spirit was imparted to them, He was able reveal the deeper truths of God's Kingdom - through the Revelation.

 

After the apostles received the Holy Spirit, the visions were given and written down, so they could study and understand the spiritual world of Jesus Christ, and how it impacts the physical world of men on the earth...as in Heaven, so in the earth...Luke 11:2. I believe that historical documentation proves that most of Revelation has been fulfilled, or is in the process of being fulfilled. This is what this study is all about - think outside the box, rather than stay in the confinement of a hundred-year old end-time doctrine that we have been programmed to believe.

 

The plan of God is encapsulated in the symbolism.  Once defined, you will rejoice in the beauty of His perfect spiritual world that He wants to make you aware of by explaining the spiritual significance of the 144,000, 666, and the Two Witnesses -.and we will in this study because the Bible is clear on these matters. You will love the true spiritual meaning of these esoteric images, when we get to that part of the Revelation.

 

We have been studying the seven-headed beast and there is more to find out about him. We know that the 6th head of the beast is the Imperial Roman Empire. We know that the 7th head of the beast is the Holy Roman Empire that ruled during the thousand years of the Dark Ages. But do you know who is the image of the beast? Again, historical documentation will be invaluable for identifying him.

 

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived...Rev. 13:14.

 

Since this prophecy has already been fulfilled, history confirms that the 7th head of the beast is the Holy Roman Empire, who will make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Last week we learned that the 6th head of the beast - Imperial Rome - was wounded but lived again. Of course, it was the spiritual power of Satan that was killed by Jesus, but lived again during the reign of the 6th beast.

 

An image must be made of the Imperial Roman Empire - 6th head of the beast. The 7th head of the beast - Holy Roman Empire - is requiring those who dwell on the earth to make an image of the 6th head of the beast. This means that the same reverence and allegiance the people pledged to Imperial Rome, must now to be transferred to Holy Rome, because their religious power and authority is a mirror image of the power and authority of the secular empire.

 

What did these two empires have in common, whereby creating a mirror image? Both empires exercised power and authority over massive lands and people. They both claimed divinity, requiring worship from their subjects, while they ruthlessly tormented and murdered defectors. The rulers of both empires were filled with pride and arrogance - corrupt to the core - and hated all true uncompromising Christians.

 

There was one difference between these two empires - the paganism of the image was deviously cloaked in the guise of Christianity. This is symbolized by the lamb of the two-horned beast whom we described in Part 11 of this study...Rev. 13:11.

 

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed...Rev. 13:15. Who gave life to the image of the beast? Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Part 12 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together we revealed who the two-horned beast symbolized. As we proceed with this fascinating study, keep in mind that we are revealing authentic historical documentation to prove how the visions of Revelation are nearly all fulfilled - rather than the revisions of church history that insist most of Revelation is yet to be fulfilled. You have heard the modern viewpoint on end-time doctrine for so long, the old historical viewpoint seems foreign and hard to believe. Broaden your horizon by giving true history a chance to prove its case.

In Revelation 13 & 17 we find a seven-headed beast who is one and the same, so I will use references from each of these chapters to obtain a full picture of the message we are to receive. 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...Rev. 13:3.

Keep in mind this reference is describing an empire - all seven heads of the beast symbolize empires. So how is an empire killed? How does an empire come back to life? We will find insight in Rev. 13:14...the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Now we know that the empire was mortally wounded by a sword, yet lived again. Does this sound like a riddle? Yes - a fascinating solvable riddle! One thing we do know thus far, the sword must be a symbolic term since the empire that was killed by it, comes back to life.

What does a sword spiritually symbolize in the New Testament? ...sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...Eph. 6:17. The Word of God - Bible - is a spiritual sword to fight a spiritual enemy. The enemy of mankind lives in the invisible spiritual realm - named Satan. In order to keep the Revelation reference in a spiritual perspective - which is imperative - we must understand that the sword is a spiritual weapon that caused the mortal wound to the empire.

Jesus - His name is called the Word of God...Rev. 19:13. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations...Rev. 19:15. Keep in mind that no matter what beast-empire is in power, the Revelation exposes who is the invisible authority behind them. Who is the invisible power behind them? So glad you asked that important question - questions demand answers.

Satan - the dragon - is the invisible power and authority behind all pagan empires. The name of the empire is of little significance, but knowing about Satan's manipulative power behind the scenes is of grave importance. 

The Imperial Roman Empire was reigning at the time John received this vision, and he was aware that the mortal blow, or wound was struck against it - sixth head of the beast. If the sword that struck the mortal blow against the sixth head is the Word of God, how could Jesus strike a mortal wound against this great empire? Another good question.

Jesus arrived and impacted the kingdoms of the earth during the reign of the Imperial Roman Empire - sixth head of the beast. If Jesus is the Word of God, symbolized by the sword, did Jesus do anything physically to harm this empire? No! If Jesus - the sword - struck a mortal wound against the head of the beast, how did death occur? ...for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil...I John 3:8.

When Jesus destroyed the works of Satan - death occurred. Satan wielded the power of death over mankind until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus' victory over death - His sword - struck a mortal blow against Satan, the power and authority of the sixth head of the beast - during its reign. Jesus saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven...Luke 10:18 - evidence of the mortal blow.

We now understand that the mortal wound was received by Satan, the invisible power behind the pagan sixth head of the beast - Imperial Roman Empire. Jesus took from him the keys to the earthly kingdom -- power over death - authority over mankind and dominion of the earth. Jesus restored to mankind all that was lost to Satan in the Garden of Eden.

The sixth head of the beast lived again, because Satan, the power behind the Imperial Roman Empire, was not killed, only his works received a mortal blow - he lived to continue his hostile activities against mankind, because his end was not for this time in history. Jesus Christ began His reign upon the earth when He died and rose again, deposing the reign of Satan when the sixth head of the beast was in power.

Oh my, we have only scratched the surface for defining the riddle of the seven-head beast, but there is so much fun ahead. Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...

Part 11 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

When we were last together I said the we will begin to delve into the historical documentation that proves the 7th head of the seven-headed beast is the Holy Roman Empire - it also is the image of the beast. The seven-headed beast in  Revelation 13 and 17 is the same beast, yet reveals different characteristics - here is the mind which has wisdom:  the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits...there are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come...Rev. 17:9-10.

 

We have already confirmed that Martin Luther saw the fulfillment of the 7th head of the seven-headed beast, described in this text as...the other has not yet come - Holy Roman Empire. When John received this vision five empires had already fallen, and the one is was the empire in which John lived - Imperial Roman Empire.

 

Martin Luther was well aware of the fact that the city of Rome is geographically situated on seven hills. At the time this vision was given to John, the Imperial Roman Empire was the nation in power centralized in Rome, Italy. This explains the symbolism - seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

 

Long before the Holy Roman Empire existed, the ancient city of Rome was already situated on the natural formation of the seven hills. The Imperial Roman Empire was established in 27 B.C. on these seven hills called Vaticanus. Vaticanus means:  place of divination; serpent of sorcery; black magic; the occult. The word divination in the Latin language is vaticinatio. This explains why snakes are wrapped around the massive columns in Rome - serpents of sorcery.

 

The meaning of the seven hills (mountains) provides the mind of wisdom. All empires situated on the seven hills have one thing in common - Paganism. Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon...and he exercises all the authority of  first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed...Rev. 13:11-12.

 

There is a lot of information in this riddle, but once we define the symbolism, the message will be unveiled to you as the drama in the imagery unfolds before you. The two-horned beast rises out of the earth, whereby the first beast in chapter 13 rises out of the sea. Out of the earth symbolizes that the power and authority of this beast evolved from an existing empire.

 

The two-horned beast symbolizes two supreme authorities, two seats of power on the earth, cloaked in a religious system. Two sides of the same coin, so to speak. This is the only reference in the Bible of a two-horned beast, so we know that it is a symbolic image. Horns symbolize seats of power. The image has two horns thus two seats of power - secular and religious governments.

 

The beast symbolizes secular government - seat of power. The lamb symbolizes ecclesiastical government - seat of power. The dragon always symbolizes Satan's authority. Since the lamb spoke like a dragon we know this religious empire is ruled by Satan, and what the empire represents and speaks is a false religious doctrine.

 

This beast presents an outward appearance of a peaceful docile lamb, but inside of his heart is the venom of a dragon, so he speaks a false religious doctrine. The lamb metaphorically symbolizes Christianity. The dragon metaphorically symbolizes a serpent (Satan) who speaks for the beast with a forked tongue. What does this mean? It means that the beast says one thing, while doing something completely different behind the scenes.

 

The two-horned beast depicts the gradual transformation of the secular power - 6th head of the beast - into the religious power - 7th head of the beast. This means that the Holy Roman Empire became the image of the Imperial Roman Empire - they both claimed divinity requiring worship from their subjects, while they ruthlessly tormented and murdered defectors. Both empires were filled with pride and arrogance - corrupt to the core - and hated all true uncompromising Christians.

 

Only one difference - the paganism of the image of the beast was deviously cloaked in the guise of Christianity - symbolized by the lamb of the two-horned beast. Much more to come on this fascinating subject. Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...

 

 

 

 

 



Part 10 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together I asked if you had ever heard about John Huss, who was martyred by the Holy Roman Empire - burned at the stake for refusing to surrender his allegiance to them. Jesus Christ was the only one to whom he would surrender his allegiance. John's passionate desire was to expose the false religious doctrine of the Empire, and awaken the people to the truth written in the Bible.

Historical documentation reveals that John was more incredulous over the scandalous private lives of the leadership of the Empire, their opulence and unrestrained lasciviousness, and was determined to expose them publicly. Before long, John was arrested and brought before the court of the Empires' religious hierarchy. Even King Wenceslaus, who previously was sympathetic with John's cause, feared the revenge of the church leadership, and eventually allied with them against Huss.

For the crime of exposing their false religious doctrine, the Empire forbade John to buy or sell in Prague. Denying the basic needs of this true-heart did not silence him, but rather invigorated his message to bring the truth to the beguiled. Once again John was brought before the court of the Empire, found guilty of heresy and thrown into prison.

While in prison, John was given time to recant his vitriolic attack on the Empire, but he steadfastly refused to surrender his allegiance to them. John lost his long battle for the truth of the gospel, and was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415, praying for the salvation of the Pope, who personally ordered his execution.

During the reign of the Imperial Roman Empire (6th head of the beast) and the Holy Roman Empire (7th head of the beast), historians have estimated that 50 million Christians were murdered. Christians were hunted like animals, imprisoned, tortured, beheaded, and burned at the stake simply because they refused to surrender their allegiance to these Empires.

Tyrannical men in power demand allegiance to them - religious or secular - so Jesus Christ becomes the competition...and must be stamped out.  Now you understand why Christians have been so viciously persecuted, and will continue to be until their Lord returns for them.

You may be asking if Revelation reveals this terrible persecution of the true Christians during the Dark Ages - the thousand-year reign of the Holy Roman Empire? I'm glad you asked that question, because Martin Luther gave us the answer from his biblical research, when he revealed the woman on the scarlet beast in chapter 17 of Revelation as, not only Paganism, but she also symbolized the leadership of the Holy Roman Empire.

"I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement"...Rev. 17:6. The religious leaders of this Empire were intoxicated with their power and authority over the lives of all their subjects around the world - power to imprison, torture, and murder all who refused allegiance to them - thousands of books have recorded their chicanery.

But the preaching of John Huss, and so many other martyrs, awakened many of the disillusioned subjects to question the religious doctrine of the Holy Roman Empire, and demand the truth. John left a legacy of hunger for a revival of Biblical truth, which paved the way for the success of Martin Luther in 1517 in Germany. Light began to shine on the false religious doctrines of the Empire -- guiding the way out of the Dark Ages of lies and superstitions.

No wonder the seer of the vision marveled with great amazement when he saw the woman drunk on the blood of the saints - seeing a great religious empire persecuting and massacring multitudes of faithful followers of Jesus Christ, must have stunned him with incredulity!

Next we must delve into the historical documentation that proves that the 7th head of the seven-headed beast is the Holy Roman Empire. As we progress we will also find out which head is the image of the beast, and which head received a mortal blow, but lived again - and why.  The answers to these riddles are easy, but will take a few blogs to provide the historical documentation. Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...