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The book of Revelation speaks of a terrifying, great “beast” to appear just before Christ
returns. The Bible identifies this beast and warns of his mark—while prophesying civilization-shattering
events leading to Armageddon. The nations of Earth are in confusion. War,
famine, disease, poverty, ignorance, civil unrest and misery are widespread and growing
worse. Where are conditions leading—and why? This introduces questions that demand
answers: Who—or what—is the beast of Revelation
13 and 17? Is it a man?—a church?—a government?—or an empire?
Who is the woman—the Great ***—of Revelation 17 who rides it?
What is the mark of the beast? And the image of the beast?
What about the number 666 associated with it?
Who is the false prophet often spoken of in conjunction with the beast?
When will these things occur—how long must we wait to see these figures appear?
How will world trends, conditions and events spawn the beast’s arrival?
Why is it so important to correctly identify it, with all related prophecies?
Finally, how will it affect you? The Bible actually speaks of several different
beasts. To understand them all, each must be explained separately. This takes time.
The answers will be plain, clear—deeply sobering—and what no one else is telling
you!!!
The World to Come. The Restored Church of God presents David C. Pack. Author of 80 books
and booklets. Editor-in-chief of The Real Truth magazine. Read by countless and growing
numbers in every nation and territory of the world. In a violent age full of war, famine,
pollution, disease, disasters and economic uncertainty, and ever-worsening bad news.
Answering life’s greatest questions straight from the Bible, and announcing the wonderful
good news of the World to Come. And now, David C. Pack.
The world is drifting along—sleepy, drunken, oblivious to what lies ahead. The average
person has no idea what the future holds—and many don’t care. Few are concerned beyond
tomorrow—and fewer still remotely suspect what is coming in our time. God says, “My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This series will strip away the confusion,
misunderstanding, wrong knowledge and outright deceit now deluding so many who do not know
the plain truth of this prophecy. Every day, end-time conditions grow more ominous—and
you must understand! This series presents what will happen to governments
and nations from now on! And the Bible will be seen to interpret itself. When God’s
Plan—His great over-arching Purpose—is understood, confusion, mystery and misunderstanding
disappear. Events become clear! The world does not know God. It is unaware
of the Plan and Purpose He is working out “here below.” Worldwide disobedience to
His laws, and rejection of His truths, will cause horrific plagues to be poured out on
a God-rejecting humanity. But the God of the Bible is a loving God. Before punishment takes
place, He always makes certain His watchman sounds the alarm to those in harm’s way.
(Read Ezekiel 33 verses 7 to 9.) He wants no excuses of, “I didn’t know” or “Why
didn’t you tell me?” It is my responsibility to caution—to warn—all
who will yet take heed of the seriousness and meaning behind world-shaking events and
calamities, lying just over the horizon. Historians can only record what has already
happened. They cannot see into the future. Yet, one full third of the Bible is prophecy—history
written in advance! God foretells major events before they happen. He wants you to know what
the future holds—what lies ahead for the world. Over 80 percent of Bible prophecy remains
unfulfilled. Many major events must yet come to pass. Fearing the world might end on various
dates issued by self-appointed prophets, millions have become uncertain and frightened about
answers to questions now filling the airwaves of the world.
Conditions in Europe and around the world will soon dictate that a single great authority
must be given immense power for a short time—and unlike anything ever held by one government
entity. Much is written about the beast, and events surrounding its appearance, but little
is understood of what the Bible actually reveals about this powerful, dominant governing system,
eventually united under two men. Behind the scenes, enormous events are now
taking shape. Prophesied world trouble will culminate in events terrifying beyond description.
They will soon stun—and shake—every nation on Earth! But get this before continuing!
They do not mean the end of the world—and that is crucial to know in light of the growing
number of false prophets (Nostradamus is just one), filled with false thinking, who are
trumpeting false dates through use of a false sequence of events.
World history is the study of the rise and fall of empires. But few know why great “civilizations”
ebb and flow—why governments rise and fall—why events move as they do. Most see these things
as products of the normal cycle of economics, war, disease and natural calamities.
This thinking is about to change—and in a big way! This broadcast begins the explanation
of how—and why. Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are parallel
accounts of Jesus’ greatest prophecy in which He announced the gravest of warnings.
In these chapters (including Matthew 25), Jesus gives a detailed description of events
that will precede His Second Coming. Each of these chapters adds additional details,
filling in the picture of what will happen from here on.
Luke’s account contains a strong warning to all who live at the end of the age. Christ
explains that those who serve God must be careful not to be swept away by conditions
that give a false impression of what is happening—or coming.
Here is how He began: “Take heed to yourselves [be careful!], lest at any time your hearts
be overcharged with surfeiting [that’s overindulgence], and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
so that day [awesome, world-shaking events] come upon you unawares.”
This passage pictures the values and lifestyle of most people. Almost no one is “taking
heed,” and this time will come on them unawares. Here is how Christ describes the sudden arrival
of worldwide cataclysms: “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the
face of the whole earth.” Jesus carefully chose this analogy. Snares
catch unsuspecting victims, who carelessly step into them—and find themselves suddenly
trapped, often hanging upside-down and disoriented. This is a graphic picture of what will soon
strike “the whole earth”! And these are the words of Jesus Christ, not some “doomsday
prophet” speaking without facts or authority. Here on The World to Come we follow what is
the most basic rule of Bible study: that the Bible always interprets the Bible. You will
see this. Human opinions are of no worth. This snare need not catch you—or anyone
who heeds Christ’s words. Calamity will not come without notice to those who are vigilant.
Here is what Jesus said to do: “Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man.” The snare Jesus spoke of will entrap the entire
world. Yet, incredibly, and despite His warning, almost no one is preparing for what lies ahead.
But by following His instructions, you can escape horrible events foretold to soon slam
into civilization like a runaway freight train! But to effectively “watch,” you must know
what to watch for. Otherwise, such watching is useless—it has no value. Many will be
deceived—completely fooled—because they will be watching in the wrong places for the
wrong things, or expecting events to occur in a wrong timeframe or sequence.
Understand. The Bible is: (1) a history book, (2) a prophecy book and (3) a book about essential,
revealed knowledge that man could not otherwise discover for himself. If world history is
the study of the rise and fall of past empires, then prophecy is primarily the study of the
rise and fall of world empires before they appear. Men cannot discover what the future
holds without God revealing it! The beast involves the sudden—in fact explosive—rise
of a world empire, and unlike any ever before it! But the rise of certain other empires
must be understood before one can grasp the emergence of the final beast.
Early world history records little about nations, kingdoms and empires that may have existed
prior to the great Flood of Noah’s time. However, the Bible does discuss the empires
of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and various other nations as they came into contact with God’s
people, the nation of Israel, after the Flood. The first great empire God focuses on, both
through Bible history and prophecy, is Babylon. It was founded by Nebuchadnezzar in the 600s
BC, and consisted of multiple nations and regions unified under this king’s leadership.
Nebuchadnezzar was perhaps the first great gentile king, and—now get this—Scripture
focuses on this man and his system all the way to the Return of Jesus Christ.
Paralleling this foretelling of the rise and fall of great gentile empires are prophecies
describing the nation of Israel—both ancient Israel and the modern-day nations populated
by its descendants. The role of the symbolic beast of Revelation
has everything to do with world empires. Many know that it represents “Babylon the Great”
in some way, but are unsure how. And the nature and identity of this “wild beast” remains
shrouded in mystery, even for those who profess to and think that they understand who or what
it is. Yet, the real truth of how the beast will eventually affect and change the earth
will shock you beyond belief! Terrible plagues will strike the disbelieving
and unprepared. Notice this blunt, stark warning to all: “If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture [the Greek means undiluted].”
This is serious! God is not a respecter of persons, one who plays favorites. He says,
“If any man worship...” Woe to all who remain ignorant of the facts surrounding this
awesome prophecy. They will suffer in ways God describes most graphically. There is no
room for misunderstanding on this most sober of Bible warnings.
The World to Come will continue after this brief message. Discover more from David C.
Pack! Visit our website worldtocome.org. See The World to Come broadcasts, read and order
books, booklets and articles, all free of charge. To continue learning about the topics
covered in this broadcast, visit worldtocome.org today! Now back to David C. Pack.
I repeat, the Bible speaks of several different beasts. To understand each one, they must
be explained separately. Revelation 13 speaks of a beast in its first seven verses. Another
beast, ridden by a woman, is described in Revelation 17. Daniel 7 speaks of four separate
beasts, with a reference to a “little horn” that appears during the time of the fourth
beast. Revelation 13 describes a second “two-horned beast,” beginning in verse 11. Also, Daniel
2 describes a giant image of a man composed of four separate metals. Within most of these
descriptions, a specific number of heads, horns and toes are mentioned.
No wonder this subject is so confusing. It does require thorough explanation, and God
must supply the clues—the critical knowledge to unlocking all the above terms.
The Bible foretells a series of catastrophic events, which involves seven trumpets, to
occur immediately prior to Christ’s Return. The seventh trumpet “fills up” what the
Bible calls “the wrath of God.” This last trumpet is comprised of the seven last plagues
(also called bowls, or vials), which punish a rebellious, sinning mankind.
Seven angels “pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” The seven
trumpet plagues are not to be confused with the seven last plagues. These two sets of
plagues are separate. The Bible depiction of how this occurs is
most graphic. This last generation is so vile, so corrupt and contemptuous, that God will
subject them to the worst punishment of all time. Jesus compared these days to that of
Noah’s time: “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man
be [He said]. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.”
How did God view Noah’s time? “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
We are very close to that time again! When the first vial is poured out upon the
earth, the Bible states, “There fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the
mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” All those who receive this plague
belong to a great, false church/state system. The second plague is equally terrible: “And
the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead
man: and every living soul died in the sea.” In the next three plagues, the rivers and
fountains turn to blood, the sun becomes so hot that men are scorched with fire, and darkness
and pain become unbearable. Yet, even after these plagues, men continue to “blaspheme
the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
There are many theories about what the beast’s mark may be. I have heard them. This is a
subject of almost unending opinion, and has produced a veritable “cottage industry”
of speculation, debate and disagreement. For almost every person who reads of the mark,
another idea is born. Many have come to think it is a computer microchip that will be placed
in the forehead and right hand, and possibly by the year 2017. This silly theory misses
the whole point, and later in the series the mark will be carefully—and fully—explained.
This is because all attempts to explain the mark, the image of the beast and who will
receive the plagues are fruitless unless one first establishes who or what the beast is!
We must start with the Bible description of the beast.
Comparing Revelation 13, Revelation 17 and Daniel 7 with Daniel 2 brings full understanding
of the scope and magnitude of the beasts, and the system they represent. Numerous Old
Testament scriptures also refer to them, but these chapters are the most critical to understand.
Combined, they explain a staggering—and deeply sobering!—prophecy about latter-day
events that will affect all humanity in your lifetime!
Revelation 17:8 and 9 describe a beast that ascends out of a bottomless pit and is ridden
by a woman. Verse 12 shows that this beast involves 10 kings who shall receive power
and unite to bequeath it to a leader who will be part of, and will embody, the final beast
and anti-Christ system. This will be the seventh, and last, short-lived resurrection of the
Holy Roman Empire—forming right now in the heart of Europe. It is crucial you realize
that a United States of Europe is coming—and in fact now lies just ahead. When it appears,
the entire world will stand in shocked amazement. Let’s establish, and then prove, these stunning
prophecies. It is vital you grasp what they mean!
Revelation 13 contains a symbolic description of the “beast”—and of a second beast
with two horns. The first beast represents the Roman Empire—a political kingdom. The
two-horned beast represents the headquarters of a powerful and influential prophetic “woman”
church that controls the first beast. This chapter also describes the beast’s image
and its mark. The apostle John recorded Revelation during
his exile on the Island of Patmos. But what he wrote is actually the Revelation of Jesus
Christ, not John. John wrote what he saw in vision, offering significant detail in describing
the beast: “I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea
[he recorded], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and
upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard,
and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion.”
The first short part of chapter 13 contains a physical description of what the beast looks
like. This will be important to remember. But the next few verses tell more about the
nature—the source of power, size, scope and conduct or behavior—of the beast. They
give important clues for later examination, and go far in telling us exactly who or what
the beast is. Now read: “And the dragon gave him his power,
and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death;
and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped
the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who
is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him
a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty
and two months.” Many mistakenly equate this last description
of the beast with the papacy. They fail to recognize that history is filled with accounts
of its citizenry worshipping the Roman Empire and its emperors. Here is what one source
states: “...the worship of the head of the Empire, the emperor...In a word, the Roman
government was not only wonderfully organized...Every one was required to join in the worship of
the emperor because he stood for the majesty and glory of the Roman dominion...all were
obliged, as good citizens, to join in the official sacrifices to the head of the State,
as a god.” Think of North Korea today. Notice the question was asked, “Who is able
to make war with him?” It would not be difficult to make war with the papacy, because they
only have a tiny group of ceremonial guards around the Vatican. But making war with the
Roman Empire was always very difficult. Also, the papacy, as an institution, has lasted
far longer than 42 months, or the prophetic fulfillment of this period—1,260 years (see
Ezekiel 4:4 to 6 and Numbers 14:34). So this is not a picture of the papacy, or Vatican.
John’s description of the beast’s appearance leaves many questions. Perhaps the three biggest
are: (1) Is John’s description that of a literal creature? (2) Does it represent a
single individual—a kind of anti-Christ/superman/world dictator? (3) Or does it picture something
else? These all require answers. First, there is no literal creature on Earth
that this could be describing. If there is, who has ever seen it? Where does it live?
How did it come to be alive? How could three known creatures (a leopard, a bear and a lion)
come together in the worship of a dragon, when there are no real dragons? This passage
does not remotely describe any known animal. Obviously, it must represent something other
than a literal creature. Second, regarding whether it is a human being—superman
or otherwise—similar questions arise. What kind of person looks like this? What man looks
like a leopard, has feet like a bear and the mouth of a lion?—and has seven heads, 10
horns and 10 crowns on the horns?—and comes out of the ocean? Again, the obvious answer
is no one. This depiction cannot possibly refer to either a literal man or creature.
This leaves only the third possibility. The description must be symbolic. Many recognize
this, so it has produced a long stream of human interpretations for what the beast and
other descriptions in Revelation represent. But it is useless to try to assign an arbitrary
meaning to such graphic symbolism. If the Bible does not explain who or what
the beast is, then its identity is subject to every possible human interpretation. No
one would have a right to claim to be more correct than anyone else. Many do attempt
to understand the beast, but then give up in hopeless frustration, thinking that no
proper explanation and meaning of this, or the other two beasts, is even possible!
In other words, if God does not reveal the meaning and identity of the beasts—then
either anything goes, or one can rightly conclude that there is no correct explanation and this
prophecy cannot be understood! So then, unless one is to give up or choose
to rely on human opinion, we must accept a basic principle: What John records in Revelation
is written in symbol. While he speaks in plain language, it is impossible to understand his
symbols by merely re-reading various passages again and again until their meaning suddenly
“comes clear.” Since John uses many symbols, we need to be able to understand the many
actual events that these symbols represent. Otherwise, we will not know what is being
described. Therefore, John’s description must contain sufficient clues that can be
deciphered by examining other verses in the Bible.
Only God can interpret what He inspired John to record. I repeat yet again, one of the
basic rules of Bible study is to always let the Bible interpret itself. This is most true
of the book of Revelation. Since it is God who inspired Scripture, He must always interpret
its meaning. No man, including me, has authority to do this.
Now let’s understand another related principle. Two New Testament passages, Mark 4:10 to 12
and Matthew 13:10 to 15, hold the all-important key to understanding how Christ (the One who
is the real Revelator behind the Apocalypse) teaches and interprets. In both passages,
He explained that He spoke in parables so His servants would understand Him—but all
others would not! Carefully read: “When [Jesus] was alone,
they that were about Him with the 12 asked of Him the parable. And He said unto them,
Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them [all others
He was pointing to] that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing
they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at
any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”
Note exactly what Christ said! Only His followers can understand His real meaning. Others might
think they do—but they cannot! Christ never leaves His servants in the dark about matters
He wants them to understand. But He does record them in ways that keep them hidden from the
view of all others. God wants you to understand—but only if you are willing to accept His interpretation.
Before this series is over, you will understand the beast of Revelation like few others.
There is not enough time in a single broadcast to cover every point on the subject of the
beast. Other broadcasts will answer more of the questions raised in this one. In the meantime,
read this thorough, free booklet, Who or What Is the Beast of Revelation? Many hundreds
of thousands have—and now they know the answer.
Until next time, this is David C. Pack saying, “Goodbye, friends.”
This program was made available by Restored Church of God members and donors from around
the globe. Explore our vast library of literature and other World to Come programs which are
all made available free of charge. To order the literature featured in the program, write
to The Restored Church of God: 1000 Ambassador Drive, Wadsworth, Ohio, 44281. Or, call toll
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