“The beast THAT WAS, and is not; and is about to come …”
In order for us to clearly understand the nature of the Beast which is shortly “TO COME” (Rev 17:8) we need first to take a closer look at the Beast “THAT WAS” to determine just what were some of the leading causes and or circumstances which brought it to life (during the French Revolution) in the first place .
If we can determine this we might then look to see if any of these SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TAKING PLACE TODAY.
Some of the primary causes then were:
1) Political conflict between the classes,
2) Economic hardships;
3) Governments disregard for the will of the people, and of course
4) The Enlightenment.
Since the middle ages, France had been divided into a three-class system. The nobility made up the first class, the clergy the second and the peasantry the third. There was no room for social climbing: Kings gave birth to kings, paupers gave birth to paupers. For centuries, the Old Regime held all the power in France. The nobility and clergy represented only 3 percent of the French population, but their minds conceived of the policies that governed the entire country. This system was rigid and uncompromising, but no one paused to consider — or dared to say — that it was unfair.
By the 18th century, the Enlightenment was dawning. Philosophers like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated for equality and reason. They asked why people put their faith in political and religious leaders who disregarded their needs. In salons, the wealthy members of Parisian society debated these issues. Their eyes were on the American colonies, where the Americans had gone to war to claim their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… While the French nobles pondered the unfairness of the universe, peasants went hungry in the streets of Paris and in the outlying provinces.”
Today we have similar circumstances, conflict between three classes, only this time it’s the rich (or the 1% as many like to call them), the middle or working class (the bulk of the taxpayers), and the poor (or what some refer to as the entitlement class. Note however that not all the poor although equally qualified receive any kind of government assistance, most are too proud to accept any help, i.e. charity.) Likewise the opportunity to climb beyond ones social or economic status is somewhat limited. And once again those in positions of power (government), money and influence, the minority dictate the laws and policies which govern the rest of us, the majority. Many of which laws and policies they exempt themselves from.
Here too the people question why? Why are the privileged not bound by the same laws as the rest of us? Why do our elected officials cater to their own needs and disregard the people? And so while the politicians today argue over what to do we likewise have the poor and the hungry, the homeless.
Other significant causes:
5) Excessive Government debt,
6) Unpopular wars waged in foreign lands which in turn lead to more debt likewise dividing the people.
“When Louis XV died in 1774, the crown went to Louis Auguste…His young wife, Marie Antoinette, only compounded his troubles. When she wasn’t reproducing, Marie Antoinette was spending. Her reputation as Madame Deficit was well-deserved: She amused herself by ordering hundreds of gowns, trying out elaborate hairstyles and hosting lavish parties at her private retreat, Petit Trianon, on Versailles’ expansive grounds. Marie Antoinette had a yearly wardrobe allowance of $3.6 million, but she easily surpassed that by ordering dresses trimmed with silver and gold and dripping with precious jewels — even diamonds.
Emasculated by this negative publicity and still smarting from criticisms at court, Louis exacted military vengeance. He pledged 2,000 million livres to the American Revolutionary War; for that massive sum, he could’ve fed and sheltered 7 million of his own people for a year. (How many billions has this country spent on foreign wars while many of its own citizens sleep in the street?) This mistake wouldn’t be Louis last, however. And the French would see to it that he was duly punished.”
In our next post we will continue with our look at the causes which brought to life the beast “THAT WAS”.
