Revelation, the Major Players
The book of Revelation has many actors on its stage, all of whom must be properly identified in order to arrive at a correct interpretation. That in it self will require a very careful study. The following is but a brief description of a few of these players to aid in beginning your study.
MICHAEL (Rev 12:7)
Remember that this is a book of SYMBOLS and therefore is NOT to be read as a literal interpretation.
Therefore Michael is NOT here in Revelation, Michael the Archangel as is commonly thought, (i.e. the good guy) No this Michael is his counterfeit, the MAN OF SIN, the Papacy. Compare 2 Thess 2:3, 4, read it carefully over several times, do not be deceive, Note its statement to the fact, “…he sits as God in the temple of God (the Church), showing himself that he is God, (i.e. God’s representative here on earth)”. Papacy has made this very claim. Even the word “God” (Theos) may not always be in reference to the real God, THE GOD (Ho Theos). Note Rev 16:11 it is quite possible that “the God of heaven” here being spoken of refers to Papacy, just as “Michael” does in Rev 12:7
THE DRAGON
This character always refers to purely CIVIL powers. Sometimes his name changes to “Devil” or to “Serpent”. (Compare 12:15 and 16) Sometimes his name changes to “Satan” (Rev 20:7). But all of these changes are accounted for in Rev 12:9 and 20:2, which clearly show us that the four names are all names by which the civil powers are symbolized. This in no way implies that the one true Actual Devil himself, Satan is not behind these civil powers; for the scriptures clearly state that he is the present ruler of these systems, the present “prince of this evil world” (John 14:30; Gal 1:4).
WOMAN
Scripturally a woman, if she is a virgin, represents the TRUE Church of Christ, all of the spirit begotten saints, both the “Little Flock” and the “Great Company”. If she is a harlot, she represents the apostate church—counterfeits. If she is a good woman with children, she represents a COVENANT.
Whenever a part of the apostate church is masculine, the reference is to the head of that church (Papacy)—the counterfeit of the church’s true head, Christ.
BEASTS
Revelation has several of these. They will be enumerated shortly. First it is important to define beasts as a whole: they are a large group of men (thus governments or institutions) with unholy characteristics. Next it is important to consider:
PARTS OF BEASTS
Revelation not only has beasts, but it specifies PARTS of those beasts.
HEADS, because heads THINK, represent large, overall philosophies—the way the beast thinks. Thus historically, when a large government or institution changes the way it functions, Revelation symbolizes this as a change of heads.
HORNS, because they are the enforcing implements on the head of animals, represent POWERS. Since heads are large “umbrella” governments or institutions, the lesser governments, which support them, which carry out their wills, (out of desire or out of expediency) are also represented by horns. Beasts also, of course, have,
BODIES This symbolism is often overlooked. Those who are under subjection to the heads constitute the body of the beast. Thus it is the PEOPLE in general who have been under the control of these governments who constitute the body of the beast. Rev 17:1 and 3 acknowledge this. These verses show that the woman (in this case a harlot) sits on a beast, which is ALSO “many waters” (peoples). The 15th verse explains the matter also. (See for yourself)
The key then is to be able to realize when a prophecy is speaking specifically in regards to the head, the horn, or the body of the beast, and when it is about the entire animal (head, horns and body).
In Rev 17:16 we read that “the ten horns which thou saw AND the beast, these shall hate the harlot.” Note that it is NOT the entire beast that is referred to here, but ONLY the body of the beast. Thus, as we learn from other places (like Rev 18:21), it is the PEOPLE (the “sea” class—the body of the beast), which eventually have a great part in Babylon’s destruction.
In our next post we shall examine some of the specific Beasts in Revelation
The book of Revelation has many actors on its stage, all of whom must be properly identified in order to arrive at a correct interpretation. That in it self will require a very careful study. The following is but a brief description of a few of these players to aid in beginning your study.
MICHAEL (Rev 12:7)
Remember that this is a book of SYMBOLS and therefore is NOT to be read as a literal interpretation.
Therefore Michael is NOT here in Revelation, Michael the Archangel as is commonly thought, (i.e. the good guy) No this Michael is his counterfeit, the MAN OF SIN, the Papacy. Compare 2 Thess 2:3, 4, read it carefully over several times, do not be deceive, Note its statement to the fact, “…he sits as God in the temple of God (the Church), showing himself that he is God, (i.e. God’s representative here on earth)”. Papacy has made this very claim. Even the word “God” (Theos) may not always be in reference to the real God, THE GOD (Ho Theos). Note Rev 16:11 it is quite possible that “the God of heaven” here being spoken of refers to Papacy, just as “Michael” does in Rev 12:7
THE DRAGON
This character always refers to purely CIVIL powers. Sometimes his name changes to “Devil” or to “Serpent”. (Compare 12:15 and 16) Sometimes his name changes to “Satan” (Rev 20:7). But all of these changes are accounted for in Rev 12:9 and 20:2, which clearly show us that the four names are all names by which the civil powers are symbolized. This in no way implies that the one true Actual Devil himself, Satan is not behind these civil powers; for the scriptures clearly state that he is the present ruler of these systems, the present “prince of this evil world” (John 14:30; Gal 1:4).
WOMAN
Scripturally a woman, if she is a virgin, represents the TRUE Church of Christ, all of the spirit begotten saints, both the “Little Flock” and the “Great Company”. If she is a harlot, she represents the apostate church—counterfeits. If she is a good woman with children, she represents a COVENANT.
Whenever a part of the apostate church is masculine, the reference is to the head of that church (Papacy)—the counterfeit of the church’s true head, Christ.
BEASTS
Revelation has several of these. They will be enumerated shortly. First it is important to define beasts as a whole: they are a large group of men (thus governments or institutions) with unholy characteristics. Next it is important to consider:
PARTS OF BEASTS
Revelation not only has beasts, but it specifies PARTS of those beasts.
HEADS, because heads THINK, represent large, overall philosophies—the way the beast thinks. Thus historically, when a large government or institution changes the way it functions, Revelation symbolizes this as a change of heads.
HORNS, because they are the enforcing implements on the head of animals, represent POWERS. Since heads are large “umbrella” governments or institutions, the lesser governments, which support them, which carry out their wills, (out of desire or out of expediency) are also represented by horns. Beasts also, of course, have,
BODIES This symbolism is often overlooked. Those who are under subjection to the heads constitute the body of the beast. Thus it is the PEOPLE in general who have been under the control of these governments who constitute the body of the beast. Rev 17:1 and 3 acknowledge this. These verses show that the woman (in this case a harlot) sits on a beast, which is ALSO “many waters” (peoples). The 15th verse explains the matter also. (See for yourself)
The key then is to be able to realize when a prophecy is speaking specifically in regards to the head, the horn, or the body of the beast, and when it is about the entire animal (head, horns and body).
In Rev 17:16 we read that “the ten horns which thou saw AND the beast, these shall hate the harlot.” Note that it is NOT the entire beast that is referred to here, but ONLY the body of the beast. Thus, as we learn from other places (like Rev 18:21), it is the PEOPLE (the “sea” class—the body of the beast), which eventually have a great part in Babylon’s destruction.
In our next post we shall examine some of the specific Beasts in Revelation
