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...

Part 9 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together I said that we will begin to explain how Martin Luther experienced the fulfillment of the seventh head of the seven-headed beast in Revelation 17:3...and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which is full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Prophecy of scripture is understood in its fulfillment and Martin Luther recorded what he personally experienced in the fulfillment of this prophecy.

The woman sitting on the beast symbolizes Paganism which is practiced by all seven heads - empires. But Martin Luther noted that this woman also symbolized the Holy Roman Empire which reigned during his lifetime. Since he was a priest of the Empire he was well aware of the pomp and adornment of the leadership described in Revelation 17:4...the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls - symbolizing royalty and worldly wealth.

On the forehead of this woman was written - Mystery - Babylon the Great - Mother of Harlots - Abominations of the Earth...Rev. 17:5. Martin Luther knew the inside scoop of this Empire that it truly represented counterfeit Christianity. When the gold crown is placed on  the head of each new leader of the Empire, it bears the shocking words:  Vicarious Son of God.  What does this mean?

Vicarious means to stand in the place of another. Only the Son of God can claim this distinction, because He stood in our place accepting the punishment for our sins. No sinful human being is eligible to pay that price. It is blasphemy for a sinful man to say he is the Vicarious Son of God.

After Martin Luther accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, his eyes were opened to the false religious doctrine taught by this Empire, which he now considered scurrilous, and was compelled to expose it if the leadership refused to repent. In the hand of the woman was a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication...Rev. 17:4. The leadership of this Empire used a golden chalice for communion, confirming to Martin Luther that prophecy of scripture had fully described the abominable religious doctrine taught by them.  

Filthiness of her fornication symbolizes an apostate religion - paganism - beguiling the innocent into damnation, clearly described to Martin Luther exactly what he personally saw happening to his generation. The average citizen was prevented from learning to read and write, so they could be told they were too ignorant to read or understand the scriptures.  Martin Luther was so disturbed by this, because many could read and write, that he published a Bible for the common man in 1522.

In his first published Bible, Martin Luther inserted many drawings depicting certain passages. On the head of the woman sitting on the scarlet beast he drew the crown that is placed on the head of a Pope at coronation, where is written - Another God on Earth or Vicarious Son of God.  Luther knew that the color scarlet on this beast symbolized the sins of these pagan empires, including the one in which he lived - Holy Roman Empire.

When the people read Luther's Bible, and saw the truth about this false religious empire as depicted in his drawings, the Reformation was birthed. The truth created a worldwide mass exodus of millions of people out of this false religious Empire - precipitating its eventual demise. Luther was adamant that salvation was a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast...Eph 2:8. He proclaimed throughout the realm there was no other way to be reconciled to God - baptism will not, penance will not, works of the flesh will not, Mary will not - only the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed men of their sins.

Martin Luther became the Holy Roman Empire's worst nightmare! In his many books and sermons he relentlessly exposed the powerful wicked influence this Empire had all over the world by 1517 - a thousand years of the Dark Ages - cruelty, imprisonment, and death of anyone who attempted to expose their false religious practices. John Huss refused allegiance to this Empire and was burned at the stake - have you heard about this martyr? Stay tuned..

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

Part 8 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together we solved one small riddle among many regarding the beasts of the Revelation. This blog delves into documented Biblical history, not the revised history created by scholars of the last one hundred years.  Sometimes we don't like how history sheds light on the sins of those who profess to be Christians in past decades, so they revise it so that it doesn't point the finger, so to speak, at any modern denomination. But we are supposed to learn from history, not revise it, so my purpose in life is to shed a bright light on it all the dirty linen, so maybe I won't repeat their mistakes.

Revelation is an historical record of the sins of empires of the past from whom we can learn. "And another sign appeared in Heaven; behold a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads."...Rev. 12:3. We will find that all beast references in Revelation are related, but different characteristics of its purpose are symbolized - and we will define the symbolism which will unveil the message.

The dragon in this reference symbolizes Satan, who symbolizes Paganism - Idolatry. The seven heads symbolize seven pagan empires on the earth. Horns symbolize seats of power. Ten horns symbolize ten subsequent seats of power related to the sixth head of the beast.  Diadems or crowns symbolize royalty - power over a kingdom.The number seven means complete or perfection - God's number. This symbolism tells us that God has permitted this beast to arise on the earth.

When John saw the vision of this beast, five of its seven heads - empires - had already been deposed, one empire was existing, and one was future. John was living in the existing empire - Imperial Roman Empire. In another vision John saw this same beast rising out of the sea, but now it looked "...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."...Rev. 13:2.

Scripture asks the question, "Can a leopard change its spots?" John now sees the dragon (Satan) appearing like a leopard, symbolizing that all of the empires connected to this beast will not change their spots - Paganism will always rule. When John saw the seven-headed dragon transformed into a leopard, bear, lion combo, he was shown how these previous empires had fallen because of Paganism.

Daniel in his vision saw an image of a lion which symbolizes the Babylonian Empire. The image of a bear which symbolizes the Medo-Persian Empire. The image of a leopard which symbolizes the Grecian Empire. The image of great iron teeth which symbolizes the Imperial Roman Empire...Dan. 7:2-8. When John saw the images that Daniel had previously seen, three had already fallen, but he was living during the time of the great iron teeth empire - Imperial Roman Empire.

The most important image to focus on is the dragon who gave his power and authority to all of these empires - Paganism. The continuity of Paganism in all the beast empires is what Jesus was instilling in the mind of John.

More about the seven-headed beast was shown to John, "...and on his heads a blasphemous name."...Rev. 13:1. Blasphemy means:  disrespect for God and sacred things. In the original Greek text the word SCURRILOUS is written upon this beast. What does all of this mean?

The next time we get together we will begin to reveal what Martin Luther recorded, as he experienced the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, "And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which is full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."...Rev. 17:3. Stay tuned...

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

Part 7 - Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

 

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...

 

 

 



 



 



Part 6 - Riddles, Engimas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

 

When we were last together I left you with the question, "Did Francisco's commentary of 1590 dissuade the massive Protestant revolt as intended? The answer is NO. In 1591, one year after his fabricated end-time doctrine regarding the beast of Revelation was completed, Francisco de Ribera died. The great Reformation of Martin Luther raged on, unimpeded. So what happened to Francisco's false commentary?

 

Inadvertently, or providentially, the unpublished commentary was inserted in a Vulgate Bible, and lost to the archives of time in the Church of England.  The public never read it. But 300 years after the passionate fires of the Reformation revival ebbed to mere embers, the Christian church had divided itself into many denominations, due to infighting and squabbling over the interpretation of the scriptures.

 

A form of godliness, denying the power of the early church permeated the body of Christ worldwide, where the miraculous was rarely demonstrated any longer. The religious fervor for intimacy with Christ was reduced to complacency and religious ceremonies, so they were ripe for deception.

 

In 1826, 300 years after Luther's Reformation began, a lawyer became librarian of the Church of England. During his tenure he found Francisco's commentary tucked away in the Vulgate Bible. The lawyer, John Darby, was so impressed with this commentary that he immediately got it published. But later, Mr. Darby added a few ideas to Francisco's body of work, which he gleaned from other authors of his day.

 

In his research of the writings of his contemporaries he found the new revelation of the Rapture theory.  This theory originated during the Scottish revival of 1830, when a sickly bedridden woman named Margaret MacDonald had a vision which showed her that the Lord's return would be in two stages. The first stage would be a secret Rapture, and the second stage He will return for His millennial reign on the earth.

 

When a person receives a revelation, it must have a scriptural foundation in order to confirm that it is from God. But if a person changes scripture in order to prove his revelation is from God, he has just embraced deception.

 

It was these fabricated end-time theories from which Mr. Darby formulated his unscriptural viewpoint, that Europe denounced. Modern scholars sought long and hard to fit the new found ideas of Francisco de Ribera and Margaret MacDonald into a scriptural foundation. Then along comes

Cyrus Scofield.  What he gleaned from the writings of Mr. Darby and other contemporaries, enabled him to become the scriptural architect of the end-time doctrine of the modern church, when he published these new revelations in the Scofield Bible Commentary in 1909.

 

Now you know the origin of the Antichrist doctrine and the Rapture theory. Isn't historically documented truth a bit pesky - it will eventually surface? When people want to promote fanciful imaginations they simply revise history. When they repeat the revised version over and over again, publish it in books and preach it over the airwaves, the revision becomes the "new" truth, and the new generations of people aren't the wiser.

 

The only way a spiritual lie can become truth is when the people stop seeking the Truth Giver. The glitz and prosperity of the world, where men desire important positions and the accolades it offers, will suffocate the truth of recorded Biblical history - especially the very clear end-time parables of Jesus Christ.

 

"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. Don't you just love a good riddle? I do, especially when it is solvable...and this one is easy to solve. Has anyone ever told you about the reign of the Eighth Beast? Well...hold onto your seats...this will be a fun ride. Stay tuned...

 

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