VERSE 8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
THE BEAST: — that is its body, the people
THAT YOU SAW: —in Verses 3-5. (Remember here that John typifies the Church, it was not the beast which John saw in vision, but the beast which we the Church saw). We “saw” it historically during the “wilderness period” of A.D. 539-1799.
WAS: — that is to say this particular aberration of the beast only occurred once thus far, during the French Revolution, at that time the body of the beast (the people) rose up against its leaders (head, horns, harlot.)
AND IS NOT: That is to say IT (the body of the beast) “was not” during the days when this angel (the Seventh messenger) was alive in the flesh explaining Babylon’s fall to the saints.
Remember what we had learned from our previous post, this beast is (Verse 10) and is not (Verse 8) AT THE SAME TIME! (That is to say some characteristic, some form or aberration or peculiarity) of the beast USED TO EXIST (during the French Revolution), but it does not (now) CURRENTLY exist – even though the beast AS A WHOLE DOES CURRENTLY EXIST.
However IT…comes
IS ABOUT TO COME UP: — to show itself again: another uprising or revolution of the people against their rulers as was in the French Revolution when 1/10th of the city fell is about to take place, however the 9/10ths of the future will be much more severe than was the first 1/10th.
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt 24:21)
OUT OF THE ABYSS: — out of a condition in which power is not exercised, to that in which it is.
AND GO TO DESTRUCTION (Anarchy): — this will be history’s final revolution. The “great earthquake” of Rev 16:18
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: The contents of this verse were precisely what the Laodicean Messenger taught. It was distinctly his point that the French Revolution was a prototype of the final trouble which would destroy Babylon. He said in the plainest of terms: The Trouble began in France. It now is abated. But it will come back and do the final work. IT WAS, IS NOT, AND WILL BE again. These difficult words have been a clear part of the harvest message for over a century.
AND THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH: — those with a vested interest in the current order of things (this is not in reference to the masses of mankind, the sea-class, but rather to a specific element which has, as stated a vested interest in things as they are, in maintaining the present order, the rich, the powerful, those in control.)
WILL WONDER: What a wonderful contrast to Verses 6 and 7, the tables are now turned! Now the saints are not the ones who will wonder; but rather the astonishment, the wonder will be on the part of the establishment, the world and the worldly church, the church nominal.
WHOSE NAME HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD:
Only the spirit-begotten will comprehend what is happening (i.e. The “Little Flock” and the “Great Company”). This phrase clearly excludes “those who dwell on earth” from spirit-begettal.
WHEN THEY SEE THE BEAST: — the partial beast; the uprising of the people (the body of the beast). This will not be a pleasant experience for those trying to sustain the old order — although they will cooperate with this partial beast hoping to preserve their interests
If you are able to perceive it you will note that even now this cooperation, more to the point this concession to the will of the beast is even now taking place.
THAT WAS: People KNOW about the French Revolution, but they try to suppress its meaning from their minds. It is just fine with them in their memories to consign this “beast” to history — to the “WAS” condition.
AND IS NOT: — as the angel explains the matter, the beast is yet in his “NOT” condition. (It has not yet ascended out of the abyss, gained its power and authority as a king)
AND WILL COME: The Greek is “and is present.” The thought is that “those who dwell on earth” will wonder when the beast is again present — in their midst.
We continue on to Verse 9 in our next post.
