Then
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the 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. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 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. 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. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 13:11-18
- He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
- And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
- He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
- Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
He,
him, and
his, refer to a man, not a system.
A religious system doesn’t make fire come down from heaven and perform signs and wonders to deceive.
JLB
Your reference to the land beast ignores the implication of the scripture itself.
The prophet DANIEL established the template for interpreting human-animal hybrids in scripture. They ALWAYS refer to; systems, religions or nations. The Bible interprets itself. USE IT.
In Revelation two of these properties are combined to describe the sea beast and the land beast. Revelation further defines the sea beast by saying it arises out of "
peoples and nations and tongues". A man has two parents, not a multitude of them as most 6th grade students are aware. Thus the sea beast refers to an international religion based in the city of Rome.
The sea beast, the church of Rome, DOES INDEED support and magnify all manner of miracles and hocus pocus including but not limited to demon worship. Is the reader not aware of Vatican claims to miracles? Saints are RCC human agents that enact miracles and we are encouraged to worship them as demi-gods. Look it up. Educate yourself. Learn.
Horns on a beast, as defined by Daniel and Revelation, refer to leadership - either a single leader or a progression of leaders as expressed by multiple horns. In the case of the sea beast we see multiple horns - a progression of leaders commonly known as popes.
The land beast is limited in scope. It is limited to action and terrain. It isn't global. It's limited as to leadership. The land beast has only two horns indicative of the Republican and Democratic parties in America. No other nation has two-only leader parties. Some have only one while others have multiple parties as in a parliamentary system.
Additionally, the land beast supports the sea beast. The American Protestant church marches in lock-step with Vatican doctrines and ceremonial requirements. Its also obvious that when the American military uses drones, attack helicopters and high level bombers IT IS CALLING DOWN FIRE FROM THE SKY. The first instance in modern times when
this phrase was actually used was when President Truman issued an ultimatum to Imperial Japan to surrender. Truman claimed he could call down fire from the sky upon Japan.
(*) As we all know from history this is exactly what happened.
In the late 16th century Catholic Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera published a work called FUTURISM. [google it] In this book, the Catholic church established all the false doctrines about the End Times that American Protestants fanatically support today. Its purpose was to squelch, usurp and CANCEL all the rhetoric issued by the European Protestant Reformers concerning the End Times. Reformers opposed it. American Protestants embrace it. Where are the voices of the Reformers today?
Censored by fanatics who accept without an ounce of Biblical examination what predictions in Daniel and Revelation have actually happened and what they imply. Instead they support future events that will NEVER HAPPEN because they are entirely fictional.
Thus the beast is not a man as the RCC would have us believe. According to Daniel and Revelation it's a religious system. The mark is indicative of ALLEGIANCE (mental acquiescence) and ACTIVE SUPPORT (physical obedience) of the system. We see both of these qualities demonstrated by American Protestants who link themselves to RCC doctrines and ceremonies. The only thing we don't see very often is a tattoo of the pope's likeness on the skin of gentiles. I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN SUCH A THING. Tattoos are FORBIDDEN according to Leviticus 19:28.
Hope this clears things up. If you disagree, then study the Bible. Please do not quote religious slogans from the Vatican to support your theory. If you choose to bully me instead there isn't anything I can do about it. Cancel me or thoughtfully consider my words. That's all you can do.
that's me, hollering from the choir loft...
(*)
If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth. - President Harry S. Truman
