Revelation 13 - A Prophetic Disney Cartoon that Carries its Message Through Animals and Other Symbols.
As we shall find in Revelation 13 the enemy of souls puts in place a diabolical counterfeit. 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 Revelation12:6,13,14). 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, in an unholy trinity, to oppose God’s redemptive activities and seek to win the allegiance of the world.
To achieve this counterfeit, the enraged and vengeful dragon needs backup! He calls forth a beast, modelled on Daniel’s successive beasts in Daniel 7. These are an insight into satan’s methods. This beast called forth by the dragon is one like himself, a counterfeit of the real. And so begins the counterfeit trinity – the dragon, the sea beast, and the earth beast. The similarities between the dragon (12:3) and the sea beast (Rev.13:1-3) are copious.
But you may be asking, why so much time is devoted to uncovering this counterfeit in Revelation when this book is about the revelation of Jesus? The answer is simple – if we do not understand the subtlety of the counterfeit as presented here, we might be fooled when confronted with the false image. In His end-times sermon Jesus warned of false messiahs and false prophets performing great signs and wonders for the purpose of deception (Matt 24:24).
What saves God’s people (the elect) from being deceived isn’t that they are smart – it’s that they have a continuing connection with Jesus, who ensures through the Holy Spirit that they can see the difference. What presents itself as the real deal in the last days is covertly false religion seeking to destroy and mock God. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:9—11).
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 by email.
Hi Ross
Could you please send me a list of Biblical symbols and their Biblical interpretation as well as the detailed explanation of who Michael is in Revelation 12.
That you so much for all the work and insight you have provided in the Daniel and Revelation series.
Regards
Lorraine
I emailed them to you. Ross
Ross
Please email me a list of biblical symbols and their interpretations and the 81 biblical identifiers of who the sea beast is.
Also can you give mme step by step instructions as to how to commence Daniel unlocked again.
I find what you share really helpful, it helps me to be able to share with others.
Thank You
Glynn