The Beast of Revelation is a Political and Religious Entity.

[HappyOma]

A Beast in prophecy is identified as a Kingdom which symbolizes a Nation.
Daniel 7:23
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

But at the same time this Nation which is demanding worship
Revelation 14:9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

And we see what happens who accede to its demands..
Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

And it is pictured as a women on it which in bible prophecy symbolizes a church.

Revelation 17:3-6
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

This means that the Beast is both political and religious, and we find the following about the Church of Rome.

“No other religious system has [these] two powers, both political and religious.” -(The Godfathers, pg.3 Dr. Alberto Rivera)

"The Pope State, a unique entity within the heart of Rome, stands as a symbol of spiritual authority and historical significance. Encompassing the Vatican City, this independent city-state serves not only as the papal residence but also as a focal point for millions of Catholics worldwide."The Role of the Pope in Vatican City: A Political Perspective | Actualizado February 2025

"Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent state, holds a profound significance that extends far beyond its geographical size. Nestled within the city of Rome, Italy, this sovereign entity serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church."Significance of Vatican City - Catholicism

“The Vatican is a government itself. It is a political state of which every Roman Catholic becomes a member at the time of baptism… Their allegiance should be to Rome first, then to the country in which they were born.” -Double-Cross, pg. 29

"Vatican City was established as an independent state in the year 1929 by the Lateran Treaty."The Vatican's government

"Vatican City is the smallest state in the world, measuring only 108 acres, and is located entirely within the city of Rome.'" 14 New Catholic Encyclopedia 555 (1981 edition).

"The Vatican City, often simply referred to as the Vatican, is the smallest independent city-state in the world, both in terms of area and population. Enclaved within the city of Rome, it stands out as a sovereign state that operates independently from Italy. The Vatican is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the residence of the Pope..."Why Is The Vatican Not Part Of Italy? A Historical And Political Explanation

The Beast of Revelation is clearly a Political and Religious entity and we see who it is if we discern what Gods Word gives us.

Clearly, the "beast" was someone of John's own day. John was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place; the time was NEAR (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). The beast was NERO.

 

[CTK]

Two questions, What does Rome have to do with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
And is Rome going to surround Israel, and try and obliterate it, and if so when?

Rome (pagan then later papal), is the most 4th kingdom / beast that is identified in the metal man image of chapter 2.

The book of Daniel is meant to reveal God’s plan of restoration for His people after they spend 70 years in exile in Babylon, the 1st of the 4 kingdoms. God will reveal His prophecies through the journey His people will take back to Jerusalem.

They are held captive in Babylon, then they will be allowed to return from the decree of Cyrus, the king of the 2nd kingdom. Later on, when they are back in Jerusalem, another king of the 2nd beast kingdom will also issue his own decree that favors the ability of the Jews to rebuild and restore their city and their temple.

And within another 120 years, another king named Alexander of the 3rd beast kingdom will destroy the 2nd kingdom, and Alexander will utterly destroy all of the earlier kingdoms (prior to their exile), that persecuted them.

So the Jews would be back in Jerusalem and would soon come to completely restore their way of life, the city, the walls, the streets, all of their religious ceremonies, etc.

And then came Rome conquering everything and everyone in their path and would also put Jerusalem under their power. And all of this was revealed in Daniel for one thing: the restoration had to be complete, the Romans had to be in control, and this would all be required for the coming of the Messiah on the first day of the last week in the 70 weeks of years prophecy (restoration prophecy) given to Daniel.

Rome was the final kingdom in God’s plan of salvation and restoration for His people AND mankind.

But after the cross, pagan Rome would be slain (7:11), and would be replaced by papal Rome. And this phase of the 4th beast kingdom is obviously still here as prophecies and will continue until the end. Forgot— pagan Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.

 

[Douggg]

Clearly, the "beast" was someone of John's own day. John was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place; the time was NEAR (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). The beast was NERO.

The beast and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire at Jesus's return in Revelation 19:20. So the beast is not Nero.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

[HappyOma]

The beast and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire at Jesus's return in Revelation 19:20. So the beast is not Nero.

The only proper way to determine the identity of the "beast" is to acknowledge the clear timing for John's vision. He was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place; the time was NEAR--in his own day (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). This includes Revelation 19:20! We must remember that the Revelation is a VISION filled with metaphors and symbols. We must be literal when it is justified but not press it when it is not.

The Book of Revelation was written prior to A. D. 70. John's vision involved those things leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A. D. 70. Everything the "beast" (Nero) represented was cast into "lake of fire" (remember symoblism)!

 

[ewq1938]

The only proper way to determine the identity of the "beast" is to acknowledge the clear timing for John's vision. He was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place; the time was NEAR--in his own day (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). This includes Revelation 19:20! We must remember that the Revelation is a VISION filled with metaphors and symbols. We must be literal when it is justified but not press it when it is not.

The Book of Revelation was written prior to A. D. 70. John's vision involved those things leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A. D. 70. Everything the "beast" (Nero) represented was cast into "lake of fire" (remember symoblism)!

The world did not miss the second coming, so it is incorrect that things like Rev 19 already happened.

 

[Douggg]

Clearly, the "beast" was someone of John's own day. John was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place; the time was NEAR (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). The beast was NERO.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:


The text of Revelation 1:1 says "things which must shortly come to pass". Not "eveything" which must shortly come to pass.

Some of the things that shortly came to pass applied to some of the seven churches.

 

[CTK]

For what it is worth...

Could the beast with the 7 heads be referring back to Daniel?

In chapter 7:

Babylon - one head,
Medes-Persia - two heads,
Greece - 4 heads (generals)

pagan Rome -verse 7:11----I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.


12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season

When pagan Rome came to power, they conquered the known world. In God's plan (book of Daniel) He identified the "world" with 4 and only 4 kingdoms. This is where He would place all of His prophecies until the end of time... no other kingdoms are allowed in His plan.

So when Rome came to power it included the 3 previous kingdoms of the image - it does not mean that Rome directly conquered these earlier kingdoms, but they were indeed folded in under the Roman Empire.

But pagan Rome would indeed see its own demise in 476 AD only to be replaced by papal Rome, who grew out of pagan Rome.

So this 4th kingdom beast - no longer Imperial Rome but is now constructed of the culture and people of the first 3 kingdoms of the metal man image, as well as the remants of pagan Rome - the people and their military might. And symbolically, it is being spoken of in Revelation as a beast with those 7 heads after the demise of pagan Rome... And who is sitting on top of this beast? The little horn!

 

[ewq1938]

For what it is worth...

Could the beast with the 7 heads be referring back to Daniel?

No, because the heads in Daniel are not explained as they are in Rev. In Rev the heads are mountains which in the Greek are literal mountains but also any land that rises up so thinking globally they can be the 7 continents.

 

[CTK]

No, because the heads in Daniel are not explained as they are in Rev. In Rev the heads are mountains which in the Greek are literal mountains but also any land that rises up so thinking globally they can be the 7 continents.

I think you might want to read Revelation again.... and no, they are not literal mountains...

 

[Douggg]

I think you might want to read Revelation again.... and no, they are not literal mountains...

Revelation 17:9 says the seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sits - indicating Rome.

Revelation 17:10 implies that the seven heads are also seven kings associated with that location. Five of which have fallen, one is (the sixth), and one yet to come (the seventh).

Revelation 17:12 says that the ten horns are ten kings.


That same beast is in Revelation 12 and Revelation 13. But the heads and horns have differing crowns/no crowns as the status of the kings changes.

Revelation 17 (status first century)
7 heads - no crowns - the prophecy of the 7 kings incomplete. king 7 yet to come.
10 horns - no crowns - the prophecy of the 10 kings not started.

Revelation 12 (status with 7 years before Jesus's return)
7 heads - crowns - the prophecy of the 7 kings complete, king 7 the little horn person in power.
10 horns - no crowns - the prophecy of the 10 kings started, but no crowns since the little horn person has not become the beast-king yet.

Revelation 13 (status with 42 months before Jesus's return)
7 heads - no crowns - no crowns because the little horn person has been assassinated, ending the prophecy of the 7 kings.
10 horns -crowns - to rule with the beast-king (the little horn person brought back to life) for the 42 months.

 

[ewq1938]

I think you might want to read Revelation again.... and no, they are not literal mountains...

I already said that.

 

[CTK]

Revelation 17:9 says the seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sits - indicating Rome.

Revelation 17:10 implies that the seven heads are also seven kings associated with that location. Five of which have fallen, one is (the sixth), and one yet to come (the seventh).

Revelation 17:12 says that the ten horns are ten kings.


That same beast is in Revelation 12 and Revelation 13. But the heads and horns have differing crowns/no crowns as the status of the kings changes.

Revelation 17 (status first century)
7 heads - no crowns - the prophecy of the 7 kings incomplete. king 7 yet to come.
10 horns - no crowns - the prophecy of the 10 kings not started.

Revelation 12 (status with 7 years before Jesus's return)
7 heads - crowns - the prophecy of the 7 kings complete, king 7 the little horn person in power.
10 horns - no crowns - the prophecy of the 10 kings started, but no crowns since the little horn person has not become the beast-king yet.

Revelation 13 (status with 42 months before Jesus's return)
7 heads - no crowns - no crowns because the little horn person has been assassinated, ending the prophecy of the 7 kings.
10 horns -crowns - to rule with the beast-king (the little horn person brought back to life) for the 42 months.

Okay, you have cut / pasted a bunch of verses found in Revelation… I see no interpretations and no references from their original source- the book of Daniel.

The symbols in Revelation com from Daniel.

 

[HappyOma]

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:


The text of Revelation 1:1 says "things which must shortly come to pass". Not "eveything" which must shortly come to pass.

Some of the things that shortly came to pass applied to some of the seven churches.

The problem with your contention is that John is given the very same time frame in the last chapter of the Revelation. In chapter 22, it is again stated that he was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place. Then he is told to NOT seal up the vision because the time was NEAR. The fact that this time indicator is given in both the first and last chapters makes it clear that it was not about "some of the things" but, rather, all of the things--not just those concerning the seven churches.

Consider also that Daniel was told TO seal up the vision (Dan. 8:27) because it was about things that were many days off. These "many days" involved mere hundreds of years. Why, then, would John be told to NOT seal up the vision because the time was near, if the events within it were not to happen for thousands of years? How can something that is merely hundreds of years off be considered far off when thousands of years can be understood as NEAR? They cannot.

The events of the Revelation concern those things leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A. D. 70. THEY were the things that were to SHORTLY take place. In John's own day, the fulfillment/time was NEAR.

Also, John considered himself to be "a fellow partaker in the TRIBULATION" (Rev. 1:9).

 

[HappyOma]

The world did not miss the second coming, so it is incorrect that things like Rev 19 already happened.

Sadly, Christians have indeed missed the Second Coming. They missed it in the same way the Jews missed the coming of the Messiah. Both look have a faulted concept of the NATURE of the Kingdom. Jesus told those of HIS day that they would see Him coming in His kingdom. "There are some standing HERE who will not taste death until THEY see the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM" (Mat. 16:28).

And again, Revelation 19 comes before Revelation 22 where it is stated that John was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place. He was to NOT seal up the vision because the TIME WAS NEAR.

 

[ewq1938]

Sadly, Christians have indeed missed the Second Coming.

That is false.

They missed it in the same way the Jews missed the coming of the Messiah. Both look have a faulted concept of the NATURE of the Kingdom. Jesus told those of HIS day that they would see Him coming in His kingdom. "There are some standing HERE who will not taste death until THEY see the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM" (Mat. 16:28).

Mat_16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.


"cometh" is erchomai and it can mean come or go.


G2064
e?´???µa?
erchomai
er'-khom-ahee
Middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] word, e??e?´??µa? eleuthomai or e?´??? eltho¯; which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): - accompany, appear, bring, come enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.



I think Jesus was saying this: "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man going into his kingdom."

Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Luk 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Looks like it was fulfilled at the Ascension.

And again, Revelation 19 comes before Revelation 22 where it is stated that John was shown those things which were to SHORTLY take place. He was to NOT seal up the vision because the TIME WAS NEAR.

The verse does not say all things were near. John was shown the past, present and future, and most of them were things in the very distant future.

 

[Douggg]

The events of the Revelation concern those things leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A. D. 70. THEY were the things that were to SHORTLY take place. In John's own day, the fulfillment/time was NEAR.

No, the events of the Revelation are too great to have happened in the past.

Since the events have not taken place yet, the expressions near and at hand can only be against the backdrop of eternity. Near in that respect.

Consider also that Daniel was told TO seal up the vision (Dan. 8:27) because it was about things that were many days off. These "many days" involved mere hundreds of years. Why, then, would John be told to NOT seal up the vision because the time was near, if the events within it were not to happen for thousands of years? How can something that is merely hundreds of years off be considered far off when thousands of years can be understood as NEAR? They cannot.

"many days" in Daniel 8:26 (you made a typo, not Daniel 8:27), is in respect to the lifespan generations of men, to the time of the end, when Jesus will break the little horn person (Daniel 8:25).

Differently, in Revelation, Jesus and His angel are speaking against the backdrop of eternity. His angel speaking in the text of Revelation 21 and 22, is in Revelation 21:9. The angel is one of the seven angels who pour out the vials of God wrath during the great tribulation.

In Revelation 22, that angel continues speaking as he and John are standing in the presence of Jesus - who speaks forth throughout Revelation 22. Jesus speaking in the online kjv is highlighted in red.

Revelation chapter 22 KJV (King James Version)

Revelation chapter 22 KJV (King James Version)

www.kingjamesbibleonline.org