Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Image of the Wild Beast

 Is this two-horned wild beast as innocent as it lamblike horns would indicate?  John  goes on to say: "And it misleads those who dwell on the earth,  because of the signs that were granted to it to perform  in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells  those who dweell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived. And there was granted to it to give breath to the image of the wild beast, so that the image of the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed all of those who would not in any way worship the image of the wild beast." -  REVELATION 13:14, 15. 

What is the "image of the wild beast,"  and what is its purpose?  The purpose is to promote the worship of the seven-headed wild beast of which it is an image and thus, in effect, to perpetuate the existence if the wild beast.  This image is constructed after the seveen-headed  wild beast revives from its sword stroke, that is after the end of the first world war.  It is no lifeless statute such as Nebuchadnezzar erected on the plains of Dura.  (Daniel 3:1) The two-horned wild beast breathes life into this image so that the image can live and play a role in world history.

The outworking of history identifies this image as the organization proposed, promoted  and supported by Britain and the United States and known initially as the League of Nations.  Later, in Revelaton chapter 17, it will appear under a different symbol, that is of a living breathing scarlet-colored wild beast having an independenct extistence.  This interational body 'speaks,'  in that it makes boastful claims to be the onlyone able to bring peace and security to mankin.  But in reality it has become a forum for member nations to exhange verbal tirades and insults.  It has threatened with ostracism, or a living death, any nations or people that does not bow down  to it authority.  The League of Natons that failed to abide by its ideologies. At the onset of the great tribulation, militaristic "horns" of this image of the wild beast will fulfill a devastating role. - REVELATION 7:14; 17:8, 16.

Since World War II, the image of the wild beast-now manifested as the United Nations organization-has already killed in a literal way.  For example, in 1950 a UN force took the field in the way between North Korea and South Korea.  The UN force, along with South Koreans, killed an estimated 1,420,000 North Koreans  and Chinese.  Similarly, from 1960 to 1964, United Natons armies were active  in the Congo (Kinshasa).  Moreover, world leaders  including popes Paul VI and John Paul II, have continued to affirm that this image is man's last and best hope for peace.  If mankind fails to serve it, they insist, the human race  will destroy itself.  They thus figuratively cause to be killed all humans who refuse to go along with the image and worship. - DEUTERONOMY 5:8, 9.

Next time: Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Mark of the Wild Beast

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