Revelation 13:1 ¶And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
We may all have different ideas who or what this beast is.
This is a complete endtime entity. It's not a sucession of empires. Neither is it a global empire or one world government.
I know that most of you are opposed to using bible study resourcs to gain a better understanding of the author and original text. Word studies in the original text is only the beginning of a good hermeneutic. Good study books are also helpful. You can't interpret the bible in English to get the full meaning of it. In end-time prophecy you usually get the incorrect understanding of it. There are hundred of examples where the definition of words in the original text are not at all like the English translation.
John sees this beast rise up out from the sea. The words, "out from" indicate to me that this beast is a complete end-time figure. It emerges all at once in the last days.
OUT FROM IS...A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative.
Rev. 13 is a great chapter to show you how words really do need to be observed in the original taext. Especially small 3 letter words like "ALL."
In verse 3... and 2532 all 3650 the world 1093 wondered
V.3 the word all means the entire world. Wouldn't the entire world will marvel if they see Saddam or bin Laden return?
In verse 8 another word for all is used. And 2532 ALL 3956 that dwell 2730 upon 1909 the earth. This word means individually. In verse three the word world is used in verse 8 the word earth is used. Any idea why? Without a word study into these things I doubt that anyone can achieved a correct interpretation. And without a good hermeneutic, people can go off into all sorts of directions and make anything fit into bible prophecy.
The word all and earth in verse 8 is better understood as "all within his authority, region, and religion." They shall worship the beast indicating these things to be specfic to him. All or 'pas' doesn't indicate a global empire. If that were the intended meaning the author, he would have used the word 'holos' which does mean all encompassing instead of the word "pas" which indicate those individual things are specific only to the beast religion and kingdom. 'Pas' implies all things within something.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Muslim's are not written in the book of life, and verse 10 is a perfect description of the cruel and oppressive nature of Islam. Islam often speaks about "The swod of Allah" or converting by the sword. Beheading is mentioned in Revelation as one method of persecution and Muslim's seem to be the only ones doing these things these days. And their abominations are often directed against the saints and all infidels with global dominance as their goal.
I'm kind of discouraged to discuss these things with you guys. You're too much into your own heads and you simply don't study these things objectively or hermeneutically.
The only religion on earth who gets on their knees and bows toward Mecca with forehead to the ground are Muslim's and they do it 5 times a day. The anti-christ will change Islamic law. Muslim's will worship the beast and this could be directed to the Dome of the Rock where the man of sin will become the abomination.
