Download Revelation 13

Revelation 13: The Beast Of The Earth
The Dragon, The Beast of the Sea, The Beast of the Earth
Revelation 12:
Revelation 13:
Revelation 13:
3 Then another
sign appeared in
heaven: a huge
red dragon that
had seven heads
and ten horns,
and on its heads
were seven
diadem crowns.
2 The dragon
gave the beast
his power, his
throne, and great
authority to rule.
11 Then I saw
another beast
coming up from
the earth. He
had two horns
like a lamb, but
was speaking
like a dragon.
The Beast Of The Sea And The Beast Of The Earth
Revelation 13:
Revelation 13:
2 The dragon gave the
beast his power, his
throne, and great authority
to rule.
12 He exercised all the
ruling authority of the
first beast on his behalf,
and made the earth and
those who inhabit it
worship the first beast,
the one whose lethal
wound had been healed.
The Beast Of The Sea And The Beast Of The Earth
‘John then speaks thus:
‘And I beheld another Beast coming up out of the Earth. And he had two
horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon’...
The words ‘he exercised all the power of the First Beast before him’... signify
that, after the manner of the law of Augustus by whom the Empire of Rome
was established, he too will rule and govern sanctioning everything by it
and taking greater glory to himself.
For this is the Fourth Beast whose head was wounded and healed
again...
Then he [Antichrist] shall with knavish skill heal... and restore it.’
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and AntiChrist’, sections 48-49, 200 AD
The Dragon In Sheep’s Clothing
Matthew 7:
Revelation 13:
15 “Watch out for false
prophets, who come to
you in sheep’s clothing
but inwardly are
voracious wolves.
16 You will recognize
them by their fruit. Grapes
are not gathered from
thorns or figs from thistles,
are they?
11 Then I saw another
beast coming up from the
earth. He had two horns
like a lamb, but was
speaking like a dragon.
The Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
‘With the greatest effort, Jesus also admonished that we avoid false Christs,
false prophets who, clothed in sheep skin with the name of Christian and
a Pontifical title, desire to rule and deceive us.
It is fitting they be recognized by their thorny works, especially avarice,
debauchery, strife, hatred, envy, wars, the desire to have dominion, and
blind ambition.
Can there be a more obvious meaning to these words which our heavenly
Emperor prophesies? He can only be pointing to the Pharisees and
Scribes of Babylon who, under the title of Supreme Pontiff, we discern,
unless we are blind, a most savage wolf whose skin feels as the skin of a
Shepherd.’
Eberhard II, Archbishop of Salzburg, speech at Council of Ratisbon, 1240
The Irony Of The Pallium
‘In early centuries the Popes used a real lambskin draped
over their shoulders. This was later replaced by a stole of
white wool woven with the pure wool of lambs reared
specially for the purpose.
It was decorated with several crosses that were generally black
in the early centuries, or occasionally red.’
Article ‘The Coat of Arms of His Holiness, Benedict XVI’, Andrea
Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, in ‘L'Osservatore Romano’,
official newspaper of the Vatican, 21 - 25 May, 2005
The Irony Of The Pallium
‘Already by the fourth century the pallium had become a
liturgical symbol proper to and characteristic of the Pope.
The Pope's conferral of the pallium upon Metropolitan
Archbishops began in the sixth century. Their obligation to
postulate the pallium after their appointment is attested as far
back as the ninth century.’
Article ‘The Coat of Arms of His Holiness, Benedict XVI’, Andrea
Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, in ‘L'Osservatore Romano’,
official newspaper of the Vatican, 21 - 25 May, 2005
The Irony Of The Pallium
‘The modern pallium is a circular band about two inches wide,
worn about the neck, breast, and shoulders, and having two
pendants, one hanging down in front and one behind.
The pendants are about two inches wide and twelve inches
long, and are weighted with small pieces of lead covered with
black silk.
The remainder of the pallium is made of white wool, part of
which is supplied by two lambs presented annually as a tax
by the Lateran Canons.’
Article ‘Pallium’ by Joseph Braun, Catholic Encyclopaedia,
Online Edition Copyright © 2003
The Irony Of The Pallium
‘It seems that, from the beginning, the pope alone had the
absolute right of wearing the pallium.
Its use by others was tolerated only in virtue of the
permission of the pope.’
Article ‘Pallium’ by Joseph Braun, Catholic Encyclopaedia,
Online Edition Copyright © 2003
The Beast Of The Earth
Revelation 13:
13 He performed momentous signs, even making fire
come down from heaven in front of people
14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on
behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the
earth.
He told those who live on the earth to make an
image to the beast who had been wounded by the
sword, but still lived.
The Beast Of The Earth
Revelation 13:
15 The second beast was empowered to give life to
the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and
could cause all those who did not worship the
image of the beast to be killed.
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
'Know that the interest of the Holy See, and those of your crown
make it a duty to exterminate the Hussites.
Remember that these impious persons dare proclaim
principles of equality, they maintain that all Christians are
brethren, and that God has not given to privileged men the
right of ruling nations; they hold that Christ came on earth to
abolish slavery; they call the people to liberty, that is, to the
annihilation of kings.’
Pope Martin V (1417-1431), letter to the King of Poland, as
quoted in L. M. de Cormenin, ‘The Public and Private History of
the Popes of Rome’, volume II, pages 116, 117, 1847
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
‘’The church,’ said Luther… 'has never burned a heretic‘…
I reply that this argument proves not the opinion, but the ignorance or
impudence of Luther.
Since almost infinite numbers were either burned or otherwise
killed, Luther either did not know it, and was therefore ignorant, or if
he was not ignorant, he is convicted of impudence and falsehood; for
that heretics were often burned by the church may be proved if
we adduce a few examples.’
Robert Bellarmine, ‘Disputationes de Controversis Christianae Fidei’,
Tom. II, cap. XXII, 1581-93
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
‘The memorials, indeed, of many of her persecutions are now so
scanty that it is impossible to form a complete conception of the
multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of
imagination can adequately realize their sufferings.
[…]
These atrocities were not perpetrated in the brief paroxysms of a
reign of terror, or by the hands of obscure sectaries, but were
inflicted by a triumphant church, with every circumstance of
solemnity and deliberation.’
William E. H. Lecky, ‘History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of
Rationalism in Europe’, volume II, pages 35, 37, 1879
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
‘The civil power can only punish the crime of unbelief in the
manner and to the extent that the crime is judicially made
known to it by ecclesiastical persons, skilled in the doctrine
of the faith.
But the church taking cognizance by herself of the crime of
unbelief, can by herself decree the sentence of death, yet not
execute it; but she hands over the execution of it to the
secular arm.’
Alexius M. Lepicier, ‘The Stability and Progress of Dogma’,
page 195, 1910
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
‘The Catholic has some reason on his side when he calls for
the temporal punishment of heretics, for he claims the true
title of Christian for himself exclusively, and professes to be
taught by the never-failing presence of the Spirit of God…
It is not more 'morally' wrong to put a man to death for heresy
than for murder… in many cases persecution for religious
opinions is not only permissible, but highly advisable and
necessary.’
‘The Lawfulness of Persecution’, in ‘The Rambler’, 4, June
1849, pages 119, 126 (English Roman Catholic journal
published from 1848 to 1862)
Those Who Do Not Worship The Beast Are Killed
‘The Catholic has some reason on his side when he calls for
the temporal punishment of heretics, for he claims the true
title of Christian for himself exclusively, and professes to be
taught by the never-failing presence of the Spirit of God…
It is not more 'morally' wrong to put a man to death for heresy
than for murder… in many cases persecution for religious
opinions is not only permissible, but highly advisable and
necessary.’
‘The Lawfulness of Persecution’, in ‘The Rambler’, 4, June
1849, pages 119, 126 (English Roman Catholic journal
published from 1848 to 1862)
The Beast Of The Earth
Revelation 13:
16 He also caused everyone (small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their
right hand or on their forehead.
17 Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things
unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his
name or his number.
Forbidden To Buy Or Sell If You Are Not A Catholic
‘…no man presume to entertain or cherish them [heretics] in
his house, or land, to exercise traffic [commerce] with them.’
Pope Alexander III, Third Lateran Council, 1178
‘… no man should presume to receive or assist them in
selling or buying, that, being deprived of the comfort of
humanity, they may be compelled to repent of the error of their
way.’
Pope Alexander III, against the Waldenses, circa 1179
Forbidden To Buy Or Sell If You Are Not A Catholic
‘[It is commanded that] they permit not the heretics to have
houses in their districts, or enter into contracts, or carry on
commerce, or enjoy the comforts of humanity with [Catholic]
Christians.’
Pope Martin V, decree issued after the Councils of Constance,
held 1414-19
The Number Of The Beast
Revelation 13:
18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has
insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s
number, and his number is 666.
The Number Of The Beast
‘…let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into
ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and
beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, to
acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for
himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking,
having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the
abomination of desolation…
Then also Lateinos has the number six hundred and sixty-six;
and it is very probable, this being the name of the last kingdom.
For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not,
however, make any boast over this.‘
Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies' Book III, Chapter 30, Sections 2-3,
185 AD
The Number Of The Beast
‘His number is 666. With respect to his name, it is not in our power
to explain it exactly, as the blessed John understood it and was
instructed about it, but only to give a conjectural account of it...
But, as we have already said, the wound of the first beast was
healed, and he (the second beast) was to make the image speak, that
is to say, he should be powerful; and it is manifest to all that those
who at present still hold the power are Latins.
If, then, we take the name as the name of a single man, it
becomes Latinus.’
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and Antichrist’, section 50, 200 AD
The Number Of The Beast
‘This interpretation is the oldest we know of, and is already
mentioned by Irenaeus, the first among the Fathers who investigated
the problem… He mentions three interpretations, all based on the
Greek alphabet…
The interpretation Latinus is the only sensible one among the
three, and adopted by Hippolytus, Bellarmin, Eichhorn, Bleek,
DeWette, Ebrard, Düsterdieck, Alford, Wordsworth, Lee, and others.
Latinus was the name of a king of Latium, but not of any Roman
emperor. Hence it must here be taken in a generic sense, and
applied to the whole heathen Roman empire.’
Philip Schaff, ‘History of the Christian Church’, Chapter XII, section
101, 1910