Conclusion of Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts

Moreover, why should anyone object to the Bible's saying that it is Satan who gives the wild beast its great authority? God is the Source of that statement, and before him 'the nations are as a drop from a bucket and as a film of dust.' Those nations would do better to court God's favor than to take offense at the way his prophetic Word describes them. (Isaiah 40:15, 17; Psalm 2:10-12) Satan is not mythical person assigned to tormenting departed souls in a fiery hell. No such place exists. Rather, Satan is described in Scripture as "an angel of light" -a master of deception who exercises powerful influence in general political affairs. -2 Corinthians 11:13, 14, 15; Ephesians 6:11-18.

The wild beast has ten horns on its seven heads. Perhaps four heads had one horn each and three heads had two horns each. Moreover, it had ten diadems on its horns. In the book of Daniel, fearsome beasts are described, and the numbering of their horns is to be interpreted literally. For example, the two horns on a ram represented a world empire made up of two partners, Media and Persia, while the four horns on a goat represented the four coexisting empires that grew out of Alexander the Great's Greek empire. (Daniel 8:3, 8, 20-22) On the beast that John saw, however, the numbering of the ten horns appears to be symbolic. (Compare Daniel 7:4; Revelation 17:12) They represent the completeness of sovereign states making up the entire political organization of Satan. All these horns are violent and aggressive, but has indicated by the seven heads, headship resides in only one world power at a time. Similarly, the ten diadems indicate that all sovereign states would exercise ruling power simultaneously with the dominant state, or world power, of that time.

The wild beast has "upon its heads blasphemous names," making claims for itself that show great disrespect for Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. It has used the names of God and Christ as a sham to achieve its political ends; and it has played along with false religion, even allowing the clergy to take part in its political processes. For example, the House of Lords in England includes the bishops, Catholic cardinals have played prominent political roles in France and Italy, and more recently, priest have taken political office in Latin America. Governments print religious slogans, such as " IN GOD WE TRUST," on their bank notes, and on their coins they claim divine approval for their rulers, stating, for example, that these are appointed "by the grace of God." All of this is actually blasphemous, for it attempts to involve God in the sullied nationalistic political arena.

The wild beast comes out of "the sea," Which is a fitting symbol of the turbulent masses from which human government springs. (Isaiah 17:12, 13) This wild beast began to emerge out of the sea of turbulent humanity away back in the days of Nimrod (about the 21st century B.C.E.), When a post flood system of things, opposed to Jehovah first manifested itself. (Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9) But only during the Lord's day has the last one of its seven heads fully manifested itself. Notice, too, it is the dragon that "gave to the beast its power and its throne and great authority." (Compare Luke 4:6) The beast is Satan 's political creation among the masses of mankind. Satan is truly "the ruler of this world." -John 12:31.

Next time: The Death Stroke.