AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST
An Excerpt from WWN 1(87)
Identifies the two beasts of Rev. 13 ¹

^{Prophecy is how God views a given event, an institution, a government, which by His divine foresight He reveals will take place or come into existence. Prophecy is God's prejudgment of history. This serves a very specific purpose. When the event or entity occurs or appears in history, the children of God can then know how to react in harmony with God's revelation. Inasmuch as a chief focus of prophecy is to unmask the workings of Satan in and through earthly powers, the children of God can in fulfilled prophecy discern "the wiles of the devil" and sound a note of warning to all who will hear. Those who read, hear, and keep the things revealed in sacred trust need not be deceived by the workings of "wicked spirits in heavenly places. (Eph. 6:11-12 margin)}

^{While any given prophecy is specific and its fulfillment can be discerned because the facts of its fulfillment fit no other event, nevertheless lessons in principle can be learned from a fulfilled prophecy as the cycles of history repeat themselves. Further, while given prophecies may remain as yet unfulfilled, the principles indicated in the prophecies may be applied and understood in events which anticipate the actual fulfillment of any given prophecy.}

^{In Revelation 13, two "beast" powers are symbolized. One through an "image" of the other causes distress to those who did not have either "the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Rev. 13:17) Certain things have been fulfilled in history which coincide with the prophetic delineation so that the first "beast" can be identified. There are close parallels between this "beast" of Revelation 13, and the seventh chapter of Daniel.}

^{In Daniel 7, there are four beasts - and only four - the lion, bear, leopard and a non-descript animal symbol. These four came up in succession, not simultaneously. The Bible language is too clear to warrant any other conclusion: "The first... and behold another... after this I beheld, and lo another... After this I saw... a fourth beast." (7:4,5,6,7) The lion with eagles wings, the national symbol of Babylon, is clearly identified in the Bible as that power. (Jer. 49:19, 22, 28) The succession follows - Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. From Rome comes forth not only ten horns, three of which are plucked up "by the roots," but a "little horn." It must be kept in mind this "little horn" is ever nurtured by that fourth beast - its roots remain in that beast's head to the end of the "beast."}

^{This non-descript beast with its "little horn" continues till Daniel beholds it given "to the burning flame." (7:11) The other beasts "had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." (7:12)}

^{This 12th verse of Daniel 7 serves as a preface to Revelation 13, for the first beast of Revelation 13 is pictured as a composite of all the beasts of Daniel 7. It was like a leopard, with the feet of}

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^{a bear, and a mouth of a lion, with itself being non-descript having seven heads and ten horns. (13:1-2) It is significant to observe that here the exact order - only in reverse designation - of the beasts of Daniel 7 are incorporated into this first "beast." Further, there is a parallel between the two non-descript beasts keeping in mind that "the little horn" is ever a part of the fourth beast of Daniel 7. The "horn" speaks "great words against the most High," seeks to "wear out the saints of the most High," being allotted "a time and times and the dividing of time." (7:25) The first "beast" of Revelation 13 has "a mouth speaking great things" against God, makes "war with the saints" and overcomes them" with an allotted time of "forty and two months." (13:5-7) The conclusion is inescapable - the "mouth speaking" in Revelation 13 is to be identified with "the little horn" speaking in Daniel 7. The Papacy is the single fulfillment of both of these prophecies.}

^{The first "beast" of Revelation 13 is both political and ecclesiastical. It is given a "seat," "power," and "great authority" by the dragon - the Devil and Satan. (13:2; 12:9) The Devil boasted to Christ that the kingdoms (governments) of this world belonged to him, and "to whomsoever" he would give them." (Luke 4:6) But this beast is also ecclesiastical - worship is involved. (13:4)}

^{The second "beast" of Revelation 13 is likewise both political and ecclesiastical. It exercises all the power of the first beast whose power was derived from the dragon. (13:12,2) It has ecclesiastical overtones - it "causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (13:12) But its horns of power are separated - "two horns like a lamb." This power arising out of "the earth" rather than "the sea" has been accurately identified with the American nation. From the United States is to come the suggestion of the formation of the "image to the beast." (13:14)}

^{In the formation of this image which will demand obeisance to the beast through a mark, name, or number is a vital principle interlocked with the Third Angel's Message. The message is - "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark..." (14:9) This is clearly defined by the "wisdom" of God. Those who accept God's wisdom have "understanding." The text says - "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man." (13:18) The worship of the beast in principle is the worship of man. The image to the beast in principle is the setting up of an organization in which man appropriates to himself that which belongs to God alone, and causes the adherents to that organization to give their allegiance under threat of excommunication. . .}

¹ Full article propounds an image to the beast formed at church organizational level, preceding the image formed by the second beast of Rev. 13.