Monday: The Activities of the Sea Beast
Revelation 13:5 specifies a time period of persecution that we talked about in yesterday’s study. The 42 months of the beast’s activities is the same time period as the 1,260 days/years of the persecution of the woman/church in Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14. (A prophetic day symbolizes a year [Num. 14:34, Ezek. 4:6]. See Tuesday’s study in Lesson 7).
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The year A.D. 538 marks appropriately the beginning of this prophetic period when the Roman church, with the pope as its head, established itself as a church-state power that dominated the Western world throughout medieval times. The events of the French Revolution inflicted the deadly wound upon the beast in A.D. 1798, thus bringing the church’s oppressive rule and the state-empowered religion to a temporary end.
Compare Revelation 13:5-8 with Daniel 7:24-25 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2-12. In what way do the activities of the sea beast mirror the descriptions of the little horn and the man of lawlessness?
The sea beast’s activities during the prophetic 1,260 days/years are stated in terms of blasphemies. In the New Testament, blasphemy can denote a claim of equality with God (John 10:33, Matt. 26:63-65) and the action of usurping His authority (Mark 2:7). The sea beast’s blasphemies are directed “against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13:6, NKJV). The dwelling of God is the sanctuary in heaven, where Christ ministers on behalf of our salvation. The sea beast seeks to negate Christ’s mediatorial work by attempting to replace it with a human priesthood that claims to administer salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Assuming these powers that belong only to God is the essence of blasphemy.
Revelation chapter 13 points to a time of major apostasy in Christianity, which was fulfilled when Roman Catholicism claimed the position and authority of God with the pope as its head. Those who refused submission to Rome experienced persecution and martyrdom. Although today such statements are viewed as harsh, even bigoted, the present cannot erase the history, no matter how much some people wish that it would.
| How can we stay faithful to prophecy about church history and yet, at the same time, be kind and cautious as we present these truths to others? |
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There is no doubt in the minds of many commentators that the sea beast represents the papacy, through the dark ages. It was during this period that the distinction between church and state disappeared. The great principles of love to God and one another were replaced with greed, avarice, persecution, and force. For a greater part of this period, the main embodiment of this union was the Holy Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire was not a single entity but a loose confederacy of principalities, duchies, kingdoms, and city-states. Nor were they united. They often disagreed with one another and fought among themselves. While we focus on the persecution of true Christians during this time it needs to be remembered that ethnic tensions were also high and ethnic cleansing was considered the God-ordained way of handling them.
It is difficult to put an exact date on when political Christianity grew. Emperor Constantine is often considered the first two combine church and state in the 300AD era. The crowning of Charlemagne in 800ADs is largely regarded as the start of the Holy Roman Empire and it continued in various forms until around 1806. (There are interesting threads of connection right into our own time.) It should be noted that the papal influence extended beyond the Holy Roman Empire. For example, England and Spain were largely Catholic through much of this time but were never part of the Holy Roman Empire. They too used coercion and persecution to ensure uniformity and suppression of independent thought.
The papal line was frequently blurred during this period as well, with rival popes competing with one another and persecuting one another's followers.
Small groups of independent Christians such as the Waldensians, the Moravians, the Amish, the Mennonites and so on were essentially ethnic groups of Christians who were regarded as rebels and were persecuted or protected depending on the alignment of the local state alignment with the papacy. The larger church-state machine was also prone to schism and it was during this time that Eastern Orthodoxy split from the Western Roman church to become the world's second largest Christian religion.
The politico-religious scene throughout this time was complex and while the persecution of believers was widespread and horrific, it also extended beyond them and included persecution of Jews and Muslims. The real sin on the papacy was their total disregard for the law of love that is the undergirding principle of God's Kingdom. They replaced that with brutal force towards anyone that did not pay homage to them.
Any form of religion where men are involved has imperfections. At any given time, when we are not connected to God we fall. Which means that although there are several types of religious rites and interpretations of God's Word, the Bible continues to be the safest haven to be founded on. God has left His message to anyone who wants to seek for it, and that's where always we have to rely upon. God has never failed to give light to those who look for it.
The great controversy is at our minds right now, because our cells were doomed to genetic ending! But we were not created to die, and we fear such a state, as we fear pain and suffering. The only way out of this 'crazy' state that we locked ourselves in is to trust in God's Love to restore us back to perfection! Love can rebuilt us, maybe not fully and not right away, but the sooner we get to pay attention to the Love of God for us the faster we get to start healing! And our hearts get open to the Truth.
Political "christianity", like a weed, grows automatically when the "good seed" is prevented from germination and growth to maturity. If the Divine principles of God's torah do not possess our heart, the noxious weed of pride will dominate the landscape of our life. Don't we see the beginnings of this in the church at Ephesus? Consider the seed of the giant sequoia, how small it is compared the the immense tree that tiny seed will become. As the Wise man wrote: "keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of [how you will live]"(Prov 4:23).
Robert, when you use the phrase "the Divine principles of God's Torah" that of necessity need to "possess our heart", would it be correct to undertstand that you are referring to what Jesus said in Matt 22:35-40?
Phil, according to scripture, I don't know what else it could mean. But it goes beyond what Jesus said doesn't it? I believe the demonstration of His life and teachings affords all who study it a true understanding of the perfect "Law of the Lord".
Can you imagine a society where these principles are instilled in every heart? This will one day be the reality, as the Revelation shows all who read...hear...and keep those things which are written. Any who do the will of God will "know the teaching"(John 7:17), or as Jesus also said: "the pure in heart...shall 'see' God".
Thank you Mr. Ashton for your comments. I have learned so much from them and the daily lessons. I use to be afraid to read Revelations. I now have a better understanding. God bless you and your family.
Maurice, you well described the manifestation of that/those which is/are beast-like:
With Adventism's strong emphasis on how these prophecies have been fulfilled in the past and how they pertain to one religious power in particular, it is comforting to rest assured that the above-mentioned attributes and tendencies aren't manifest in more recent times across the landscape of Christianity - and especially not within Adventism. Or are they?
Phil, great question which each soul must reflect upon personally(2 Cor 13:5). Yes, each must search their own heart for a correct estimation of their true condition. Especially today, while the while the counsel of the True Witness appeals to Laodicea.
Those "above-mentioned attributes and tendencies" will be found in "all that dwell upon the earth..., whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world".
My question could be: Do I wear the yoke of Jesus, or have I cast it away, as the one "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that [I] as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing [my]self that [I am] God."?
There have been many fights in the barracks, while those fighting among themselves were still on the same side during war. Isn't that the character of sin when self is the center of all intentions and purposes? Yet there are only two sides in this great conflict, and only one side will be found in "one accord".
You've nailed it Robert! It is the very definition/explanation of sin that will, with sufficient repetition, result in a heart that is hardened like stone against any other motive. Hence the need for Matt 16:24 on our part in co-operation with the Holy Spirit who is working within us to create a clean heart and right Spirit within us (Ps 51:10; Eze 36:26; Jn 3:3-6).
Apostacy is hinted at in the phrase "the rest of her offspring" or "the remnant of her seed." Often times a remnant shows up, not just as the last part, but also what remains during times of apostacy. Noah and his family represented both applications, and the prophets of Elijah's day, 7,000 not bowing the knee, represent a remaining portion of those during apostacy. Thus, apostacy is hinted at in the closing verse of 12.
Interestingly, the narrative of apostacy can be seen in the women of revelation. The last place we see the woman in chapter 12 is the wilderness. The place we see the woman Babylon is in the wilderness and her attire is mimicking the high priest's attire. Hence, the women are the same, but portrayed at different times in the history of the church. The great falling away of 2 Thess. 2 is manifest in the Babylon of Revelation 17.
The worse persecution often comes from those we once called friends, fellow believers.
"How can we stay faithful to prophecy about church history and yet, at the same time, be kind and cautious as we present these truths to others?"
Prayer. I do believe that the Angels of God leave those that are indifferent and careless with prayer and trust in God, and go to the side of those who are fervent, ardent, or characterized by enthusiasm, and have unceasing prayer. Prayer in private will open the heart to acting the charactor of God.
I think the answer is found in Christ's answer to the lawyer (above) and in His dissertation to His disciples in Jn 13 - 16. Our job is to spread His love through our lives. The information (such as Rev 13) is given to help us understand. But rarely it it likely that heralding this information is going to bring people into the kingdom. Rather it is how we love. Both each other and those we are seeking to bring into the kingdom. Rev 13 has its place, but I believe we have focused on it often too much, to the exclusion of more important things (love).