Day 215

Standing on the shores of the sea, the dragon (the devil) summons the beast from the sea. It is a nondescript animal with body parts from a leopard, a bear, a lion, and a ten-horned dragon. These are the beasts from Daniel 7, and represent the political powers that arose and fell in this order: Babylon (Lion), Medo-Persia (Bear), Greece (Leopard), and Pagan Rome (Dragon like.)

Revelation 13 is like a prophetic Disney cartoon that carries its message through animals and other symbols. Peter told us that, “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2Pet 1:20 & 22.) I think I have laboured the point that everything in Revelation comes from the Old Testament. All imagery, symbols, illusions, and quotes. This means we must let the Bible interpret the book of Revelation based on previous revelations. I am happy to provide, on request, a list of Biblical symbols and their Biblical interpretation. 

Revelation 12 had described Satan’s attacks against God’s faithful people, including persecution by pagan Rome and later papal Rome, during the 1,260 days/years (A.D. 538-1798; see Rev.12:6,13,14). Chapter 13 describes in more detail Satan’s attacks during Christian history with the help of two allies, both portrayed as beasts. Under Satan’s direction, the dragon and these two beasts will unite at the end of time to oppose God’s redemptive activities and seek to win the allegiance of the world.

A word of caution is necessary. It is easier to interpret prophecies already fulfilled in the past. But when we come to prophecies yet to be fulfilled, as we do in the following study, we need to be more cautious. God shows us what will happen at the time of the end so that we will not be surprised, but He does not tell us every detail we would like to know.

We must always remember that while these prophecies tell us what will happen at the end, they do not tell us when and exactly how the final events will unfold. We must, therefore, be careful not to speculate beyond what prophecy tells us. Let us not forget that the prophecies of Revelation have practical purposes: to teach us how to live today and to be prepared for the future.

PS, because of a question, I have prepared a more detailed explanation of who Michael is in Revelation 12 – available on request in a 3 part SMS or email.