02.40. LECTURE No. 40 -- Rev_13:2
LECTURE No. 40 -- Revelation 13:2
Current Events Rapidly Fulfilling Bible Prophecy - People Should Be Glad for the Message of This Last Book of the Bible - The Symbolic Meaning of the Nondescript Beast Which John Saw Explained in the Book of Daniel - Divine Symbols of Political Power - Political Application of These Symbols to History and the Present Times - Rome Was And Is the Fourth World Power Alluded to in Our Lesson Text - Antichrist Will Rule Over Revived the Roman Empire - How These Things Will Affect the Jews in Palestine and Throughout the World
WHEN I read current events in the light of Scripture prophecy, and especially about the Jewish situation throughout the world and in Palestine, and about the War in China, I am more convinced than ever that our present studies in the Book of Revelation are of timely importance to all Christian people everywhere.
It certainly seems as if the world is hastening on to the time when the Church will be completed and raptured away to be with Christ, which event will be followed by the great tribulation.
When we see what is taking place, who can doubt but what the times of the Gentiles are fast drawing to a close.
With such terrible conditions existing throughout the world as we have today, Christians everywhere need to be instructed and informed as to the purpose and the outcome of present and future events, and unsaved men and women need to be warned of the impending judgments, which God has ordained, will come upon this Godless, wicked, unrepentant world.
People Should Be Glad
Therefore, instead of opposing a study of this last Book of the Bible, men everywhere should be glad to hear and receive the message of this book, for it is indeed and in truth a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ in His relation to things in Heaven and upon the earth.
In this book perhaps more than in any other book of the Bible, we are able to see both God’s mercy and His wrath.
In this Book, both God’s grace and His judgments, are revealed and men must choose which of these two they will receive at the hands of an omnipotent God.
Antichrist Revealed in Revelation the 13th Chapter
We have progressed in our present study to Revelation 13:1-18.
In our last lesson we read Revelation 13:1-15 of this remarkable chapter because they gave to us a word picture of the coming Antichrist. Our study was limited principally to Revelation 13:1 where John said:
“And I stood upon the sand of sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7 heads and 10 horns and upon his horns, ten crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”
These words we learned, were a symbolic presentation of the political sovereignty of this world as it will be headed up in the person of the coming Antichrist who is so vividly described to us in this chapter.
In order to help you understand the things which are stated in our present chapter concerning the Antichrist, in our last lesson we called your attention to the metallic image, which was revealed to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream and which was interpreted by the Prophet Daniel.
This great image with its head of gold, its breast and arms of silver, and its belly and thighs of brass, with legs of iron and its feet part of iron and part of clay, we learned, was a symbolic presentation of the march of empire during the “times of the Gentiles.”
And according to the nature and description of the image, we were able to discern that there would be a gradual deterioration in the quality of Gentile governments, all the way from the head of gold, to the feet and toes which were made of iron mixed with clay.
It is plainly evident therefore, according to the metallic construction of this image, that it was top heavy, thus indicating that the governing power would pass from the head eventually to the feet, which ordinarily are made only to carry the body and not to direct its course! Judging from present day political conditions throughout the world, it would seem as if we have just about arrived at this condition. Instead of the nations being governed by the upper and better classes of the people, the powers of government are more and more being controlled by those from the lower walks of life and from the lower strata of society, who rule by force rather than by intellect.
Empires Symbolically Represented
Now, we want to remind you of the fact, that the four different kinds of metal used in the image were each of them, representative of an empire. The head of gold represented the world empire of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, the silver in the image represented the world empire of Media-Persia and the brass of the image represented the World empire of Greece while the iron Presented the fourth world empire of Rome. And we know from other Scriptures that the feet and toes of the image which were part of iron and part of clay, represent the Roman Empire as it will be in its revived state, during the closing days of the present dispensation. The March of Empire
Therefore, in the great image which Nebuchadnezzar saw and which Daniel interpreted, we have a prophetic foreview of the march of empire during “the times of the Gentiles.”
History confirms this fact and current events compel us to realize, that we are living in that period symbolized by the feet of the image, which means that the time is not far distant when the stone cut out without hands, will smite the image upon its feet. And when this happens, we are told, that the entire image will be broken to pieces and become like the chaff of the summer threshing floors and that the stone, which will smite the image, will become a great mountain (or kingdom) and fill the whole earth.
In this connection, it is interesting to note what is stated in Daniel 2:44-45, where it says:
“And in the days of these kings, (that is, the ten kings represented by the ten toes of the image) shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. For as much as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: And the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
Lesson Text
Now, referring to our lesson text in Revelation 13:2 John said:
“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
These words are, of course, descriptive of the beast which John saw rise up out of the sea, having 7 heads and 10 horns and upon his horns, 10 crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
What Does This Nondescript Beast Represent?
Now, what do you suppose, could be the significance in the fact, that this nondescript beast bore the characteristics of a leopard, a bear and a lion? The Beasts Which Daniel Saw By turning to Daniel 7:1-17, we get some light and help upon this difficult subject. In Daniel 7:1-7 it says:
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
“Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
“And behold! another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this, I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it.
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, and it had great iron teeth: It devoured and broke in pieces and stamped the residue with the feet of it, and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”
We are told that it was 48 years after King Nebuchadnezzar had his dream concerning the metallic image, which represented the march of empire during the times of the Gentiles that Daniel himself received this vision of the four beasts, rising up out of the sea.
Divinely Given Symbols of Political Power
There are many things that might be said about these four beasts which Daniel saw, but our main purpose now, is to point out the fact that these beasts, which were like a lion, a bear and a leopard, and the fourth beast dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly; which had great iron teeth were divinely given symbols of political power as it would be during the “times of the Gentiles.”
In other words, just as the march of empire was represented by the four different kinds of metal in the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw just so, the four beasts which Daniel saw represent the march of empire during the same period.
In other words, the lion, which Daniel saw, symbolized the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar, and the bear, symbolized the world empire of Media-Persia, and the leopard which he saw, symbolized the world empire of Greece under Alexander. And the fourth beast which was dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly, symbolized the Roman Empire as it in the beginning. The Meaning of the Nondescript Beast
Now with these facts in mind, we can see the significance of what is stated in our lesson text concerning the beast which John saw, which was like unto a leopard and had feet like a bear whose mouth was like the mouth of a lion to whom the Dragon gave his power and seat and great authority!
Upon reading the description of the nondescript beast which John saw, we are able to see at a glance that it included all of the characteristics represented in the four different beasts which Daniel saw. Since this is true, we are shut up to one conclusion, i. e., that the beast which John saw rise up out of the sea, represented the last stage of Gentile world dominion as it will be headed up under the coming Antichrist, who is described to us in this chapter, and whose kingdom will have the combined characteristics of all the other kingdoms of the Gentile period.
One Head Wounded to Death
Now in Revelation 13:3 speaking concerning the nondescript beast, which he saw, John said:
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
Here, again my friends, we have another interesting and perplexing problem to solve, and we shall need both grace and wisdom in order to arrive at the correct answer.
We have already stated that this chapter is descriptive of the coming Antichrist, but since unto the Antichrist, the Dragon is to give his power and his seat and great authority, the Antichrist represents the kingdom also over which he is to rule! There is, therefore, both personal and a political application which must be made of the truth stated here, if we are to understand all which the passage is intended to teach. The Political Application As a matter of convenience, let us make the political application first. Since the nondescript beast represents not only the person of the Antichrist, but also his kingdom, we may well ask which of the four metals of the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw represented the final kingdom of the Antichrist and which of the four beasts which Daniel saw represented the same kingdom?
This should not be difficult to do, because in the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw, we learned that the fourth and last world empire was Rome and that it would continue until the very close of the Gentile period, as represented by the legs of the image and the feet of the image also, which were of iron mixed with clay. An Interesting Comment In his footnotes on this verse, Dr. Scofield says:
“Fragments of the ancient Roman empire have never ceased to exist as separate kingdoms. It was the Imperial form of government which ceased: the one head wounded to death. What we have prophetically in Revelation 13:3 is the restoration of the Imperial form as such, though over a federated empire of 10 kingdoms; the “head” is “healed,” i. e., restored; there is an emperor again-i. e.,) the beast.”
Thus, my friends, we see that the Roman empire although it was severely wounded, has never ceased to exist, and that it will continue until the very end of the Gentile period!
We have every reason to believe that it will be revived and eventually come under the leadership and headship of the coming Antichrist.
Rome the Fourth World Empire
There is a very interesting statement in Daniel 2:40-43 concerning the fourth world empire, i. e., Rome, which we quote as follows:
“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; for as much as iron breaketh in pieces, and subdueth all things, and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, for as much as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”
Complete Prophetic Forecast
Here, my friends, you have a complete prophetic outline and forecast of the Roman empire. First, as it was in the beginning, when it rose to power and subdued and broke in pieces all the other kingdoms. Then came the time when the kingdom was divided into an eastern and western division as represented by the two legs of the image, both of which were of iron. And the last form of the Roman empire is represented by the ten toes of the image which were part of iron and part of clay.
What Is Meant by the Clay?
Now, in order to understand what is stated here, we must inquire as to the significance of the clay, referred to in this passage. If iron represents the strength of the Roman empire, what does the clay represent? In Daniel 2:43 it says:
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”
Now this, my friends, is a statement which I believe is very little understood, and one which is seldom referred to in an exposition of this passage. If I did not believe it to be of importance, I would not take time to make mention of it here, but in the light of current events, I feel that it well deserves our attention.
Roman Empire to Be Ruled Over by the Antichrist
We have already seen that when the Roman empire is revived it will be ruled over by the coming Antichrist.
This ruler will have under him, the ten kings represented by the ten toes of the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw and by the ten horns of the beast which Daniel saw, and by the ten horns of the nondescript beast which the Apostle John saw.
Since this is true, when these things come pass it is easy to see that all Gentile political authority will be in the hands and under the dominion of the Antichrist. A Jewish State in Palestine But what about the Jewish question, and the problem of a revived Jewish state in Palestine?
If the Roman empire is to be revived and the Scriptures plainly teach that it will be, and if all Gentile authority is to come under the jurisdiction and dominion and over lordship of the Antichrist, which the Scriptures also teach, what will happen to the revived Jewish state in Palestine which the Jews are now struggling to bring about?
Will the Jews submit to the overlordship of the of the Antichrist, even as the Gentiles will be forced to do?
I think the answer is given in Daniel 2:43 where it says:
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”
Personally, I believe that the miry clay of this passage represents the Jews as compared to the Gentiles who are represented as being under subjection to the revived Roman power. We all know that the Jews are an exclusive race of people, but we should not hold this against them because they inherited this characteristic and God made them this way for a very purpose. Although the Jews have been dispersed among the Gentiles for nearly 2,000 years, they have not intermarried with the Gentiles but very very little, and this fact has meant the preservation of their race, which in itself has been a miracle! Thus, we see that their separation has resulted in their preservation! The Jews Have No King Now in Jerusalem
Now, as we know, during all these centuries, the Jews have been without a king and without a temple and without a ruling high priest. The political convictions of the Jewish people are based not upon the wisdom of men or upon the political policies of the Gentiles, but upon the conditions of the Abrahamic and the Davidic and the Palestinian covenants, which are recorded in God’s word.
Therefore, as the Jews are now returning to their own land, with hopes of reestablishing a revived Jewish state, it is natural to believe that they will seek to build their government upon the foundation of the covenants which God has made with them, and upon principles in keeping with Jewish tradition. The Jews Will Not Compromise The present political conflict in the Holy land is positive proof of what I have just stated and shows that the Jews are determined not to compromise their present or future political ambitions with any Gentile government, not even with England, who holds the Present Mandate over Palestine.
What the Jews want is a leader who will confirm the covenant with them so that they can go back to their own land and rebuild their temple and reestablish a revived Jewish state in Palestine.
And that, my friends, is exactly what the coming Antichrist will do.
In Daniel speaking of the Antichrist it says:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the Week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even unto the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Now, we do not have time to enlarge upon this passage in this message but this is a confirmation of what is stated in Daniel 2:43 where it says:
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” The Jews Are Returning In other words, the Jews are now returning to their own land with a determination to build a revived Jewish state in Palestine!
In their desperation to throw off the yoke of Gentile overlordship, they will seek out a king of their own choice and accept him as their Messiah!
All because he is willing to confirm the covenant with them for a period of one prophetic week of seven years.
Thus, “They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men;” i. e., for political purposes and advantage, but God says: “They shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” We know that God will not be pleased with this Gentile-Jewish compromise in government.
Thus, my friends, we see that the last form of Gentile world dominion will be a revival of the Roman empire, headed up by the Antichrist, who will subdue all Gentile authority by mere force of power and who will bring the Jews also under his dominion by making with them a deceitful covenant as stated in Daniel 9:27.
Summary
Now, in Revelation 13:3 when John said concerning the nondescript beast, “I saw one of his heads as it were, wounded to death: and his deadly wound was healed: And all the world wondered after the beast,” - from what we have said, I am sure that you have been able to see and to understand the political application of what is stated here; i. e., that the fourth world empire would be wounded unto death and later healed and restored to power during the latter days of the present dispensation.
That is what was prophesied and that is what is coming to pass and it is plain to see that power will be given to the Antichrist as head of the revived Roman empire over all kindreds and tongues and nations, as stated in Revelation 13:8.
Now, in our next lesson, we shall show how this very same passage concerning the head that was wounded, and then was healed, will apply personally to the Antichrist himself.
~ end of lecture 40 ~