Chapter 29
Identifying the Sea Beast – part 3
Introduction
The sea beast is a composite beast of many parts. The individual parts, that the sea beast is composed of, come from the Old Testament. Each part tells a story. To understand the story of each part, one has to go back into the Old Testament and examine how each part of the beast is used. When we understand the Old Testament usage of each part, we will then understand the usage of the repetition of the part, in the sea beast. As we understand each part of the sea beast, we will then understand the sea beast as a whole. In this chapter we will begin with the seven heads. [Note: a more detailed exposition of the seven heads will be provided when Revelation 17, is considered].
Seven Heads
The prophecy in Revelation 13, tells us that the sea beast will have seven heads. However, the heads are connected to one body. This means that the body, gives rise to seven different manifestations of itself. The image in Daniel 2, explains what the first five manifestations are, symbolized by; gold, silver, bronze, iron and iron mingled with clay. The prophet Daniel tells us, how we can begin to identify, what these metals and clay represent. He says to Nebuchadnezzar, “Thou art this head of gold” (Dan. 2:38). Thanks to Daniel’s revelation, we now know that the first head is Babylon. Further exposition, including the repetition and enlargement of Daniel 2, in Daniel 7, 8, 11, 12, reveals that the next four heads, are the empires of Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. Returning to Revelation 13, we are told that:
And I saw one of its heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Rev. 13:3.
The question we have to ask ourselves is which head, of the seven, is it that receives the deadly wound?
The Deadly Wound
The answer is to our question is that, the head that receives a deadly wound must be the fifth head, which is the kingdom of iron and clay, which is the Roman Catholic Church. It must be the fifth head, for at least four reasons. The first reason is, we must find one of the heads, that receives a deadly wound. Deadly, means death, and the prophecy goes on to say “wounded to death.” It means that the empire is killed, destroyed, no longer in existence. This happened to the Roman Catholic Church:
Berthier entered Rome on the 10th of February, 1798, and proclaimed a republic… No wonder that half of Europe thought …the papacy was dead. Joseph Rickaby (Jesuit) The Modern Papacy Lectures on the History of Religion, Lecture 24, (London Catholic Truth Society, 1910), p.1.
But the prophecy also says, “as it were wounded to death.” In other words, it would certainly have all the appearance of being dead, but it was only “as if were” dead – to all intents and purposes it was dead, but it has a resurrection. Because the prophecy immediately goes on to say, “and his deadly wound was healed.” Therefore, when we are deciding which of the seven heads suffers a deadly wound, to the point of dying, we can only find an historical incident that applies to the Roman Catholic Church.
The second reason, the deadly wound must apply to the Roman Catholic Church, is because the pattern of succession from one head to another, is that, each new head conquers the old one. There is rivalry, there is friction and then there is war between the heads, and the previous head is conquered by the new head. This pattern continues with the deadly wound. The deadly wound is the sixth head announcing its presence on the world stage, killing the fifth head, and taking its place. This is why Revelation spends so much time dealing with the French Revolution, because it is dealing with the arrival of the sixth head – ‘the new manifestation of satanic power’ – which gives the Roman Catholic Church its deadly wound:
When Louis XVI was executed half the work was done and henceforward the Army of the Temple was to direct all its efforts against the Pope. Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite’s Southern Jurisdiction, pp. 823, 824.
The third reason, the deadly wound must apply to the fifth head and the Roman Catholic Church, is because, all the other details we are given in the prophecy, when they are taken all together, can only apply to the Roman Catholic Church. The whole purpose of giving us all the facts and features about the sea beast, is so that we can identify who/what this beast is. Therefore, it would be foolish to understand that all the facts and features, all the details apply to the Catholic Church, but the deadly wound does not. Consistency requires us, compels us, to apply this ‘deadly wound’ feature also to the Catholic Church.
1260 Years of Supremacy
The fourth reason, the deadly wound must apply to the Roman Catholic Church, is because the prophecy tells us that the Roman Catholic Church would reign over the remnants of the Roman Empire for 1260 years. It would have 1260 years of supremacy, after which it would lose its supremacy.
As mentioned before, the 1260-year prophecy is mentioned seven times in the Bible prophecies (see Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). The reason why it is mentioned seven times, is because once more Jesus is saying, “pay attention, this is important.” The reason why it is important, is because this is perhaps the most important of all the identifying features of the empire of iron and clay/little horn/sea beast/woman riding the beast/Babylon/son of perdition/anti-Christ etc. The 1260-year prophecy is the most important feature/detail, because there is no other religious/political power that even comes close to reigning for 1260 years, other than the Roman Catholic Church. There is absolutely no other power, that this prophecy can be applied to. The only way to escape this prophecy, being not applied to the Roam Catholic Church, is to introduce a ‘private interpretation’ (see 1 Pet. 1:20), and reduce the 1260-years to 1260-days.
In Daniel we are told, that the little horns power, “shall be mighty, but not by his own power” (Dan. 8:24). This means that the little horn/sea beast etc. does not need ‘his own power’ – if he controls the hearts and minds of people, he can use their power. And this is precisely how the little horn got launched onto the world stage:
Vigilius… ascended the papal chair (538 AD) under the military protection of Belisarius. History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, p. 327.
Belisarius was the champion general of the Eastern Roman Empire. He managed to destroy the hegemony that the Goths had established over Italy, on behalf of the eastern Roman Emperor, Justinian. This was achieved in 538 AD, and Pope Vigilius was installed as pope as a consequence of, “not by his own power” – but by the military power of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantium Empire). Exactly 1260 years later, in 1798, the pope was un-installed by military power. The 1260-year prophecy, perfectly fits and applies to the historical events, pertaining to the beginning and ending of Catholic supremacy in Europe.
The Healing of the Wound
Up until this point (1798), the Roman Catholic Church was both a religion and a nation. The pope ruled over the church, and he was also the king of the Papal States. The pope was both a religious ruler and a political ruler. The deadly wound certainly diminished the religious prestige of the Catholic Church, but that side of the church largely remained intact, under its hierarchical structure of priests and bishops. That which was completely destroyed, was the political side of the church. The office of the pope (the papacy) was abolished and the Papal States were confiscated and converted into a republic. Therefore, if the deadly wound was to be healed, then the Catholic Church would have to regain what it lost. This happened in 1929, when the Kingdom of Italy signed a concordant with the Catholic Church, restoring what it had lost, along with a substantial financial compensation package, because the Papal States were reduced to the size of the present-day Vatican:
The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past and the Vatican was at peace with Italy… In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound… extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides. San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929.
From 11 o’ clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel–the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence. New York Times July 7, 1929.
By mutual agreement with the government of Italy, the healing process began. The Roman Catholic Church had lost its hegemonic control over the world. But now it was going to work to get that same control back:
The church is building herself up in the world. She is building herself up with living men. At the beginning of my episcopal service, I ask each of you to find and define his own place in this work of construction. Talks of John Paul II, pp. 256, 257.
Of necessity, this rebuilding work, needed to begin with the work of winning the hearts and minds of the people. To this end, the Church embarked on a new modern-day device – the public relations campaign – announcing to the world that it had changed its ways – that it was going through a process of reform – it was no longer the ‘evil empire’ that people in the past perceived it to be etc. etc. This campaign was kicked off with the Second Vatican Council. The result has been that the Protestant Churches and the world at large has been lulled into a false sense of security.
God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 581.
War with the Saints
The prophecy tells us, that during the 1260 years that, “it was given him unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Rev. 13:7). There are many estimates, about how many people perished, with the persecution of the sea beast, during the 1260 years. The estimates vary, from 60 million to 100 million. Jesus said that this 1260 time period would be a time of “great tribulation” and unless those days were not shortened “there should no flesh be saved” (Matt. 24:21, 22). War with/against the saints and overcoming them, is a consistent theme throughout the prophecies about the little horn/sea beast/scarlet woman etc. (see Dan 7:21, 25; 8:24, 25; 12:7; Rev. 12:13-17; 13:7, 15; 17:5, 14; 18:24; 20:4).
In fact, when the woman riding the beast (a repeat and enlargement of the sea beast) is judged, it is said of her:
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Rev. 18:24.
In other words, the entity that makes up the body of the sea beast, in all its different manifestations (as expressed by seven heads) is responsible for all the horrendous iniquities practiced not only against God’s people, but against the world in general. She is responsible for all the blood shed throughout the history of the world, and she is held accountable for it. [Note: this is explained more fully when Rev 17 & 18 are dealt with]. And this is why the prophecy about the sea beast ends, with some cryptic comments, involving a partial judgment on the sea beast:
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Rev. 13:10.
We have just been informed that the sea beast would receive a deadly wound, we have also been told that the sea beast would persecute the saints. Persecution, did not always result in death, it often resulted in imprisonment or slavery, such as a galley slave (rowing ships whilst chained in place at the oars). However, one of heaven’s principles is, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). In other words, what we do to others, God will see to it, that we will be treated the same way. Therefore, because the papacy took God’s people captive, God, in His own time, ensured that the papacy would be taken captive as well = as a Jesuit historian has recorded this happened in 1798, when the papacy suffered its deadly wound:
The papacy was extinct and not a vestige of its existence remained… its bishop was dying a captive in foreign lands; and the decree was already announced that no successor would be allowed in his place. J Rickaby (Jesuit), The Modern Papacy, p. 9.
However, the papacy not only took God’s people captive, the popes also killed God’s people, expressed as ‘killing with the sword.’ Therefore, they will again reap what they have sown. At the time of the end, when Jesus appears, he will also use a sword, to inflict upon them what they inflicted upon His people:
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev. 19:14, 15.
Conclusion
There is ample evidence, Biblically and historically, that the sea beast is a symbolic representation of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the sea beast and the Roman Catholic Church, are just one manifestation of a long chain of satanic manifestations going back into the darkest periods of the past. The sea beast is just one of many entities, that have served and are serving as instruments of war, against God and His people. The purpose of Revelation is to reveal, that in spite of the longevity of the war, in spite of the intensity of the war, in spite of the horrendous atrocities, in spite of the torture and destruction wrought by this war, the enemy will not succeed. As we unravel Revelation, it is revealed that the war will eventually end. And God’s people, will emerge triumphant. This is all revealed that we might have hope, and courage to endure to the end. Jesus said, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13).
The papacy (office of the pope), has “a mouth speaking great things” (Dan. 7:8; cf. 7:25; Rev. 13:5, 6). And the ‘great things’ are not confined to the mere temporal and physical. The ‘great things’ include the supposed authority over sin. The ultimate power and authority of the Roman Catholic Church, is in the spiritual realm, because the ‘great things’ include the claim to have authority over sin, and salvation. The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the exclusive source of salvation, because it has the power to forgive sin, and there is no possible salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church:
No man has a right to choose his religion. Catholicism is the most intolerant of creeds. It is intolerance itself. We might as rationally maintain that two and two does not make four as the theory of Religious Liberty. Its impiety is only equaled by its absurdity. John Hughes, Archbishop of New York, 1864. Quoted in: Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, Charles Chiniquy ex-Catholic priest, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1968) p. 480.
“The Roman Catholic Church must demand the right to freedom for herself alone.” La Civilta Catholica, pg 82-86 [Jesuit Publication]
“The Catholic Church has persecuted … when she thinks it is good to use physical force she will use it… Will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute?… The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.” –Western Watchman, Dec. 24, 1908
“When in 1797, Pope Pius VI fell grievously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the event of his death no successor should be elected to his office, and the Papacy should be discontinued. But the Pope recovered. The peace was soon broken: Berthier entered Rome on the tenth of February, 1798, and proclaimed [Rome to be] a republic. The aged Pontiff refused to violate his oath by recognizing it, and was hurried from prison to prison in France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died on the seventeenth of August, 1799, in the French fortress of Valence, aged 82 years. No wonder half of Europe thought Napoleon’s veto would be obeyed, and that with the Pope, the Papacy was dead.”–Joseph Rickaby, The Modern Papacy, p. 1.
The absurd and erroneous doctrines or ravings in defense of liberty of conscious are a most pestilential error – a pest, of all others, most to be dreaded in a state. Pius IX, Encyclical Letter, Aug. 15, 1854.
Pope Pius IX, anathematized – “those who assert the liberty of conscious and of religious worship” and “all such as maintain that the church may not use force.” Pius IX, Encyclical Letter, Dec. 8, 1864.
When asked about… “Liberation theology.” Ratzinger said.. “The ‘absolute good’ (and this means building a just socialist society) becomes the moral norm that justifies everything else, including–if necessary–violence, homicide, mendacity (deception).” Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, US News & World Report, Dec 2, 1985
The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held… Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High.
Berthier entered Rome on the 10th of February, 1798, and proclaimed a republic… No wonder that half of Europe thought …the papacy was dead. Joseph Rickaby (Jesuit), The Modern Papacy Lectures on the History of Religion, Lecture 24, (London Catholic Truth Society, 1910), p.1.
The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past and the Vatican was at peace with Italy… In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound… extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides. San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929.
From 11 o’ clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel–the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence. New York Times July 7, 1929.
The church is building herself up in the world. She is building herself up with living men. At the beginning of my episcopal service, I ask each of you to find and define his own place in this work of construction. Talks of John Paul II, p 256-257.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Rev. 13:10.
The papacy was extinct and not a vestige of its existence remained… its bishop was dying a captive in foreign lands; and the decree was already announced that no successor would be allowed in his place. Joseph Rickaby (Jesuit), The Modern Papacy), p9.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Rev. 13:10
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev. 19:14,15.
What the Roman Church-State accomplished on a small scale during the Middle Ages is what it desires to achieve on a global scale in the coming millennium. If it fails to reach its goal within the next hundred years, it will not quit. It will continue to work relentlessly for world power, even if it should take a millennia or two. In its social encyclicals of the twentieth century, the Roman Church-State has frequently called for world government. John W. Robbins, Ecclesiastical Megalomania, The Trinity Foundation, 187.
It is our clear duty, therefore, to strain every muscle in working for the time when all war can be completely outlawed by international consent. This goal undoubtedly requires the establishment of a universal public authority acknowledged as such by all and endowed with the power to safeguard on the behalf of all, security, regard for justice, and respect for rights. Gaudium et Spes – Second Vatican Council.
“Today the universal common good presents us with problems which are worldwide in their dimensions: problems, therefore, which cannot be solved except by a public authority with power, organization, and means coextensive with these problems, and with a worldwide sphere of activity. Consequently, the moral order itself demands the establishment of some general form of public authority”. Pope John XX111, the encyclical Pacem in Terris, (Peace on Earth).
This international collaboration on a worldwide scale requires institutions that will prepare, coordinate, and direct it until finally there is established an order of justice which is universally recognized… Who does not see the necessity of thus establishing progressively a world authority, capable of acting effectively in the juridical and political sectors? Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio
It is precisely this hope and this concept of solidarity that must ever inspire all men and women – in working for a new world order based on harmonious relations and effective cooperation between peoples. This is mankind’s task for the new millennium… John Paul II, Vatican, June 3, 2003, (Zenit.org)
Do not fear put your trust in him! The life-giving power of his light is an incentive for building a new world order based on just ethical and economic relationships, he said, speaking in Italian. The pope made his comments to tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered under umbrellas in a rainy St Peter’s square for his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world) message and blessing. Vatican, Sunday 25th December, 2005.
Vigilius… ascended the papal chair (538 AD) under the military protection of Belisarius. History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, p. 327.
God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recess of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectingly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time will come for her to strike. All she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall soon feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.
GC 581
Under the influence of Germanic customs and concepts, torture was little used from the 9th to the 12th centuries, but with the revival of Roman law the practice was reestablished in the 12th century… In 1252 (Pope) Innocent IV sanctioned the infliction of torture by the civil authorities upon heretics, and torture came to have a recognized place in the procedure of the inquisitional courts. -New Catholic Encyclopedia, arts. “Inquisition”, “Auto-da-Fe’,” and “Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Day.”
The prophecy provides us with all the features and facts regarding the sea beast, that we need in order to conclusively identify the beast. These features and facts include the following:
- It rises out of the sea.
- It is a composite beast.
- It is a religious and political power (church and state)
- It has seven heads and ten horns and ten crowns on the horns.
- It blasphemes God.
- Satan bequeaths his power, seat and authority to the beast.
- The sea beast is a pagan power.
- One of its heads receives a deadly wound.
- The deadly wound is healed.
- All the world ‘wonders’ after the beast.
- The world worships Satan and the beast.
- The beast wields power for 1260 years.
- The beast makes war against God’s people.
- The beast will go into captivity.
- The beast will be destroyed by the sword.
- The prophecies in Daniel are the type and the sea beast is the antitype.
