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INVESTIGATION: The symbol of the Dragon is identified in Revelation as "the Devil, and Satan" (Revelation 12:9). The Dragon and the First Beast of Revelation chapter 13 are similar in two ways: Both have ten horns, and both have seven heads. However, the Beast has a crown on each of its horns, but the Dragon has no crowns at all on its horns. Ten Horns: The most prominent 10 items in the Bible are the Ten Commandments. Could the horns represent God's Law? If so, we could say the Dragon has no crowns because Satan, whom the Dragon symbolizes, has never kept God's Law. Seven Heads: On the other hand, the Dragon does have a crown on each of its seven heads. Suppose the seven heads symbolize the Seven Churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We know that Satan has influenced all of the churches. Each church holds to at least one false doctrine created by men afflicted by sin. Thus Satan could be represented by seven crowns as having influenced all seven of the Churches. Conclusion: There is no identity theft here. The symbols of horns and heads resolve to their owner, Satan.
Horns Can Be Commandments? Yes. Horns were used by the Children of Israel to carry oil for lamps, and for anointing king's heads. Oil in prophecy represents the Holy Spirit. The Ten Commandments are the Spiritual Law of Heaven. Oil used in horns: "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil." (Psalms 92:10) The Ten Commandments as our Spiritual Law today: "We know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Romans 7:14) |
INVESTIGATION: The First Beast of Revelation chapter 13 also has ten horns, but unlike the Dragon, this Beast's horns have a crown atop each one. He is described as a Beast because he has power "to make war with the saints, and to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7) Ten Horns: The horns represent God's Ten Commandments, so the ten crowns on the Beast's ten horns indicate that it claims to keep all of God's Law. But only Jesus did that! Something is fishy here. Seven Heads: Like the heads of the Dragon, the seven heads of the Beast represent the Seven Churches. However, rather than crowns, this Beast's heads have the name of blasphemy on them. Why? Because the heads of the Beast use the name of God to do evil, to spread the false doctrine of the Churches, doctrine which came from the Dragon who has the seven crowns on its heads. Conclusion: Identity theft! This Beast blasphemously uses the name of Jesus Christ to make war with the saints, and do many other evils described in Revelation. This Beast Acutally symbolizes the Roman Church up to the Reformation, which mixed state with church.
And the Second Beast? The two horns like a Lamb symbolize the simpler Two Commandments of Jesus: "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40) Conclusion: The Second Beast also steals the identity of Jesus. It performs miracles and oppresses people using His name. This Beast actually symbolizes the United States, which mixes church with state. "In God We Trust" is its motto. Bible Beasts are great pretenders. |
THE PRECEDENT: When Jesus began His ministry on earth, the saints of that time were the Pharisees. Both the Pharisees and the Apostles were expecting the Messiah to arrive as a great political and military leader who would "break into pieces" the Roman Empire and restore Israel's former greatness. In God's eyes, this expected Messiah was a Beast, incomparable to known animals. Ten Horns: The ten horns of this Beast identify it as "from" God because they represent the spiritual law of the Ten Commandments. The Little Horn: The first three of the Ten Commandments are shown being "subdued" by the Little Horn that comes up. The Little Horn was the true Messiah, who could not come to the earth as God or God's Son without "breaking" those three commandments - as the Pharisees often accused Him of doing. From the Pharisees point of view, the true Messiah (the Little Horn) did speak great things "against" the Most High. For example: "I and my Father are One." (John 10:30). He also thought to change times and laws, and the great words He spoke came from God Himself, who came to give us His Word rather than to conquer Rome and the world for the Children of Israel. Conclusion: Another case of identity theft confirmed! In this case, Jesus' identity was misrepresented before He was even born! This Beast is shown slain when Jesus was crucified, which is why in Daniel Jesus is next shown as ascending to His Father in heaven, being given His Kingdom.
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