Biblical Insight
Letter 1 Watching for the Beast
July 24, 2009
Yeshua said, WATCH! But watch what? Watch America, Europe, North Korea, Iran, Israel, the economy, world events - what? Clearly people today would be wise to watch all of these things to a degree, but what specifically was Yeshua encouraging His people to watch as reliable indicators that the climactic events of the latter days and Messiah's return is near?
Many are watching for what they believe to be the ten nation European beast system spoken of in the book of Revelation. Watching "the beast," as an indicator of where we are in the fulfillment of prophecy brings a few things to mind... First, though many are assured that they know where the beast will arise and enough of what it will look like to recognize it; I fear that for many, their assurance will fade into fearful confusion as they realize that they have been misled and have falsely assumed many things about the beast of Rev 13 and 17. Many will need to have their prophetic compasses reset. Secondly, to watch the development of what one thinks is the prophesied ten nation beast system (even if they do correctly identify it) in hopes of using that information as a prophetic forecaster - is like trying to predict the beginning from the end. Once the end has happened, the beginning has long since passed. No one wants to have to wait until the end of the Great Tribulation to be able to accurately predict its beginning. So let's take a quick look at these two elements of watching prophecy, before moving on to what God's word actually tells us to watch.
News of past events is a lagging indicator - by the time a story breaks, the event has already happened and thus cannot be prepared for. In the case of the beast of Revelation, this system may be in place for many years before it can be dogmatically identified. But the ten nations will not be a part of that system UNTIL the final weeks or months of the tribulation period. Notice:
12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (NKJV) [Rev 17:12-14]. Emphasis mine throughout
Since these ten kings will only receive their authority for "one hour" as kings with the beast, and, since these ten kings will fight the Lamb at His return, we can clearly deduce that their short time with the beast comes at the END of the tribulation - not at the beginning. Therefore, the ten nations are not intended as an advance warning of the beginning of the tribulation, but rather they are given as a confirming sign of when the tribulation is about to END! God's word is clear in these regards. I'm sure we can all see this.
Additionally, when we read the text of Revelation carefully, we can see that the ten nations are not actually the beast. Nowhere does our Bible tell us that the beast of Revelation 17 is made up of ten nations. Rev. 17:12 says, "...they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast." Someone may do something with you, but they are not you. So also the beast system will be independent of the ten nations until the final days of the tribulation, when the ten nations will operate with the beast for only a short time.
The beast system may be made up of one nation or it may be a union of two or more nations. But if we're looking for a union of ten nations, we'll have to wait until the end for that. Even then, the ten nations will join with the beast making a total union of at least eleven or twelve nations.
Another real problem that many may find themselves dealing with is the identity of the final beasts of Revelation. Many established churches believe that the USA is the beast. I know of many churches that believe that the beast will be a European union of ten nations likely headed by Germany or a country with a heavy Germanic population, such as Austria. Others believe that the beast is a Babylonian/Assyrian headed enemy of Israel located in the Middle East where it has always attacked Israel from. In the next issue of BIBLICAL INSIGHT, we'll deal scripturally with each of these beliefs in order one-at-a-time. More importantly, in future issues we'll begin to look specifically at what Yeshua said we are to watch so that we are not caught in the snare of ignorance.
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Be sure to check out our latest book, PASSOVER: The Price the Path. It includes a Messianic Haggadah (The Passover telling and instructions) for the Church of God. It's both a revealing and rewarding read for any season. The text can be viewed online, but books will be available in hard or soft cover very soon, so check the website periodically.
If you have not yet booked your reservations for Sukkot - the Festival of Tabernacles - perhaps you would like to join is for joyous feast fellowship and worship this year in Bend, Oregon. Check out our Feast info at www.godslawislove.org/holydays.htm
At the conclusion of each letter we always try and provide a few links to stories relating to Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple and/or regarding the Messianic community that you may find interesting.
Until the next installment of BIBLICAL INSIGHT, I leave you with this blessing:
May Yahweh make you like Ephraim and Manasseh, may He fill you with good fruit and make His face to shine upon you. May He establish you in the Faith of His Son Yeshuah, and that you may reflect His light and be a merciful gift to others. May He reward you richly with the freedom of His truth. Amen
Verse of the Week
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
