THE MARK OF THE BEAST (1)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) How is the BEAST mentioned in the book of Revelation related to King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a giant statue in the form of a man (Daniel 2)? Who will likely be the power that will rule the world during the end time? What exactly is the MARK of the Beast?

b) In order to figure out what the mark of the beast is, we first need to know who and what is the Beast. The key Biblical verses related to this topic are found in Daniel 2 (where it discusses Nebuchadnezzar's image of a great statue), Daniel 7 (where four great animals representing four kingdom are shown coming out of the Sea) and Revelation 13 (where the end time Beast is specially mentioned).
 
c) The two legs of iron of the great statue in Daniel 2 and the Beast that rises up out of the sea (Revelation 13) are symbolic of the same thing that the fourth animals in Daniel 7 represents. Daniel 7's dreadful and strong beast has teeth of iron and ten horns, making it the most fearsome animal seen in Daniel's dream. It represents the Roman Empire, including its various resurrections, such as the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages.

1. The End Time Identity

a) The term 'Beast' can refer to either an empire as a whole or the dictator leading it, just as a king represents his country symbolically (cf. Daniel 7:17-18, where "king" and "kingdom" are interchangeable). The end time Beast will be the current European Union (possibly minus a few smaller countries) or the dictatorial person who heads it. What can be confusing is that the SECOND beast of Revelation 13 (verses 11-18) is the false prophet or man of sin described by Paul in 2Thessalonians 2 and the religious institution he or she leads. If we use what Revelation chapter 17 to 18 says about a "woman riding the Beast," this second 'animal' is also symbolized by a woman. Ask yourself what church became unified with the state during the Middle Ages and even with the Roman Empire before it fell? What church had great influence over kings and emperors?


The End ...

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