0401 The Dragon Beast

�Babylon� is a code word for Rome and it's Empire, which consisted of practically the entire known world in the time of John. �Babylon� is also a reference to �Faithless Jerusalem� and any other political, economic or religious "world system" that builds its foundation upon anything else but the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus. We start again from the beginning, this time recounting the history of the Babylons of yesteryear, which bear striking and fearful resemblance to the Babylons of today.

Refer first to the History of Persecution (01.02, 01.03, 01.04). The dragon is the devil, the ancient serpent of Genesis, that malevolent spiritual entity that, in his better days, was a member of the Heavenly Council. Now the dragon is a deranged and evil cosmic superpower, the vital force behind the Babylons of all ages. Having failed to devour the lady True Israel and her child Logos (12:1), the devil has been cast down to earth by Michael, True Israel�s protecting angel.

He takes his stand on the shore of the sea. Spiritually, the sea means turbulence, antagonism, and is monster-filled. But in three-dimensional time and space, standing on the seashore means the devil is looking outward for new conquests: imperialism, domination, blood. The dragon is blood red.

Rev 13:{1} And I saw a beast rising out of the sea having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. {2} And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.

The Sea Beast is the Roman Empire. We know this by the description (leopard, bear, lion): Rome is the consummation of the four beast-kingdoms of Daniel 7. The Roman Empire consumed them all: the Winged Lion of Babylon, the Medean Bear, the Persian Leopard and the 10-horned Greece of Alexander. Like these, the Roman Empire arises out of the sea, out of turbulence, from an abyss. Or, more practically, "from across the sea." The power of Rome originates from the dragon / devil. Indeed, the Sea Beast is a political projection of the dragon: "the dragon gave power, throne, authority."

As we shall see in section 04.06, the seven heads stand for the emperors of the first century: Augustus, Tiberias, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian and Titus. An eighth head is mentioned in 17:10. The important eighth head is "of the seventh," Titus' notorious brother, Domitian.

On each of these heads is written blasphemous names. Without exception, these emperors were tyrants and worshipers of the pantheon of Greek, Roman and Persian gods. They were great builders of pagan temples as well as temples dedicated to the worship of deceased emperors.

If the emperor didn't declare himself a god during his reign (Caligula, Nero, Domitian and many others did), it was standard practice that a deceased emperor was "deified" (declared a god) by his predecessor. All these "heads" were made gods, with temples, priests and worshipers. Their titles included "lord," god" and "deity." Borrow a good book about the lives of these emperors and let them amaze you with their atrocities, blasphemies and insecurities.

Rev 17:12 tells us that "the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom." These ten crowned horns stand for ten kings in the far-off future of the Empire -- perhaps they mean to be the "kings" of today's United Europe. We shall see.

HEAD NUMBER FIVE HEALED?: The "head" receiving the deathblow was Nero. Nero sent General Vespasian and his son, Titus (Heads Six and Seven) across the sea to Palestine in order to put down the Jewish rebellion (culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple). In 68, Nero attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the neck. (The Praetorian Guard finished the job). There was a widespread rumor that Nero had come back to life (Nero Redivivus). In fact, the "false Nero," a man who looked and acted just like the genuine article, came on the Roman scene during the reign of Domitian (Head Eight, 81 - 96). Because of the intense persecution of Christians conducted by both Nero and Domitian, Christians (and others) considered Domitian to be Nero reincarnated. The advent of the false Nero blurred the distinction between the dead emperor and the living even further. And in a very real way, the mortal head wound of Nero was healed in the head of Domitian. The two are historic counterparts. More on these two despots in section 04.03.

Rev 13:{3b} In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. {4} They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" {5} The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. {6} It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

The Roman Empire was "the world" in the first century; all were subject to the Empire, its emperor and the imperial cult. �Who is like the beast?� The mouth of the beast is its emperor. The emperor was worshiped throughout the world as the son of Jupiter, the king of gods. Such veneration was mandatory; in the first century, those who did not worship the emperor were killed.

42 MONTHS: In 167 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Seleucid Emperor, sacrificed a pig to himself on the brazen altar of the Jerusalem temple�s Holy Place. This sacrifice is what came to be known as the �desolating sacrilege� in Daniel�s prophecy. "42 months" is the amount of time from the desolating sacrilege to the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple by the Hasmoneans in 164 BC (Daniel 8:13). It fits like a glove, so let us interpret these 42 months literally.

Another possibility that fits this time frame is the reign of the mad, demon-possessed �god� Caligula. His intention was to commit the �desolating sacrilege� by setting up his own statue in the Temple. He was murdered just before his order could be carried out. He reigned about 3 1/2 years (March, 37 AD to January, 41). History tells us that Caligula did assuredly "open his mouth, blaspheming God�s name and his dwelling." (If you want to experience Caligula first-hand, rent the 1950's classic movie Quo Vadis starring Robert Taylor.)

Rev 13:{7} Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, {8} and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered.

The first half of verse seven is not found in all ancient manuscripts. If I were a scribe, I would have wanted to conveniently drop it out also. To read in inspired scripture that the end-time saints would be conquered (martyred) is not all that encouraging! But such a fate is indeed consistent with the rest of the book -- that the Beast is allowed to conquer the saints. For it is only through the resurrection of the saints that the Dragon and Beasts are finally terminated. The prerequisite of resurrection is death. And martyrdom is consistent with first-century history, as well. The first century martyrs herein mentioned consist of both Jews and Gentiles; those keeping the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus.

JEWISH WARS: The Jews generally were fiercely nationalistic (then and now). Reviled because they were considered a race of insurrectionists, they had to be put down by force time after time. Emperor Claudius (41-54) expelled all Jews from Rome. The Procurators of Judea crucified tens of thousands of Jews. Emperors Vespasian (#6) and Titus (#7) invaded Palestine in AD 67 (about the time that John wrote), burned Jerusalem and killed or enslaved everyone. Sixty years later, Emperor Hadrian (117-138) planned to raised a new Jerusalem on the site of the old, calling it Aelia Capitolina, and installing a temple for Jupiter on the site of the Holy of Holies. This fueled the Simon Bar Kochba rebellion that accounted for a half million Jewish casualties (132). Although many Jews acquiesced to Hellenism / Romanism, others proved their mettle over and over with their blood and their lives. They fought and died for an earthly Kingdom.

CHRISTIAN MARTYRS: Christians were despised by Rome and its early emperors as "atheists" because they wouldn't worship the Emperor or the gods of Rome. Nero, for example, despised Christians. When Nero burned Rome, he publicly blamed the Christians for setting the fires that killed hundreds and destroyed the city. Thus Nero made war on these saints, using them as lion bait in the Roman games, as torches on the streets, as entertainers in their deaths. The Apostle Paul would not have had a chance to be unchained if he had appealed to Nero as a Christian. He would have had a better chance if he appealed as a Pharisee. Tradition and church history informs us that Nero killed Paul, Peter and thousands of other Christians, both Jew and Gentile. Yes, thousands were tortured and killed rather than renounce the Testimony of Jesus. These saints fought and died for a heavenly Kingdom.

In all the ensuing centuries, True Israelites, both Jew and Gentile, have fought the good fight and have been overcome by the Beast. The battle rages on today, the saints are still being overcome yet are overcoming, and the cup of the blood of martyrs is filling to the brim. When it is full, Yahshua�s return will be made public.

THE BOOK OF LIFE: The saints of Yahweh whose names are written in the Book of Life seem powerless in the unenlightened eyes of the world. All will worship the Beast except those written in the Eternal Book. The zealous Jews would not worship and they died. Unorthodox Christians would not worship, and they also died. What does this say for those whose names are found in the Book of Life? And what does this say for the resurrection of the dead? It tells me that in the next stage of history, the resurrected Jewish saints will inherit the three-dimensional New Jerusalem located on the earth (Rev 14:1-5). The resurrected Messianics (Gentile or Jew) will inherit the four-dimensional New Jerusalem located in the "sky." At the end of the age, both Jerusalems, heavenly and earthly, converge under the authority of the Lamb of God, who was and is and is to come.

Rev 13:{9} Let anyone who has an ear listen: {10} If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

This passage is a far cry from the "faith" message. It calls for one to accept enslavement or death if it comes. Accept your fate. Endure, as those faithful witnesses and martyrs have since our Lord was crucified. The martyr's death is his portal to the First Resurrection (Rev 20:5-6). So, "Hang in there!"

16:{13} And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. {14} These are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

This passage does not speak of John's Rome, but of the end-times. These three demonic spirits are conceptualized by frogs for (1) frogs are unclean and (2) frogs broadcast. These frogs emanate from the unholy trinity and are seen by the nations (as represented by "kings"). The result of their propaganda is the convergence of armies to the place of battle. The time is not just the "Day of the Lord." It is "the great day of God the Almighty."

(Mat 24:43-44 NRSV) But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. {44} Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

The implication is that the Messiah�s coming will not only be unexpected, but secret. We are warned to be clothed with righteousness and watchfulness, that the eventual revelation of his presence will not be unexpected.

Megiddo is the only site in Israel mentioned by every great power in the Ancient Near East and is widely regarded as the most important biblical period site in Israel. Biblical Megiddo was the scene of several battles that decided the fate of all Asia west of the Euphrates. Surrounded by mighty fortifications, outfitted with sophisticated water installations, and adorned with impressive palaces and temples, Megiddo was the queen of cities of Canaan and Israel.

At the dawn of urbanization in the 4th millennium BCE (ca. 3500) Megiddo began to dominate the surrounding countryside. By the 2nd millennium, Megiddo was a center of Egyptian administration in Canaan. When the city-states of Canaan revolted against the pharaohs, it was at Megiddo that they assembled to do battle. The Egyptian army, led by Pharaoh Thutmose III, surprised the rebels by choosing the most dangerous route of attack -- through the narrow �Aruna pass. After routing out the Canaanite forces and capturing rich booty, Thutmose III laid siege to the city for seven months. This decisive victory enabled him to incorporate Canaan as a province into the empire of the New Kingdom.

In the 14th century BCE archive of el-Amarna in Egypt, six letters sent by Biridiya, King of Megiddo, to the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten were discovered. The letters indicate that Megiddo was one of the mightiest city-states in Canaan. The magnificent ivories found in the Late Bronze Age palace at the site also attest to the city�s wealth and grandeur and its varied cultural contacts in this era.

According to the Bible, King Solomon in particular left his stamp on Megiddo�s architecture. By the 10th century BCE, it had become the center of a royal province of the United Monarchy. The rulers of the Northern Kingdom refitted the fortress even more elaborately than before. The palaces, water systems and fortifications of Israelite Megiddo are among the most elaborate Iron Age architectural remains unearthed in the Levant. The Egyptian Pharaoh Shishak later took the city. His conquest of the site is affirmed both in his inscriptions at the Temple at Karnak and in a stele erected at the site.

By the mid-8th century BCE, the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III had annexed the region as a royal province and made Megiddo its capital. With the fall of the Assyrian empire the great religious reformer King Josiah of Judah led his troops to Megiddo to confront Pharaoh Necho in an attempt to stop him from joining the crumbling Assyrian army in its last-ditch efforts against the Babylonians (II Kings 23:29).

In the modern era Megiddo has also played a decisive role in battles for the control over the Jezreel Valley. In World War I, British Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, leading an Australian cavalry division and the Tenth Indian infantry, dislodged from the advantageous heights of the tel a group of about 100 Turkish fighters who defended the last vestiges of the Ottoman Empire. Allenby used tactics similar to those of Thutmose III (over 3000 years earlier), by cutting through the 'Aruna pass and catching the Turks unaware. The historical significance of the site prompted Allenby to include the name of the tel in his family�s hereditary title.

Because of Megiddo�s great significance for both Christians and Jews, the site served as the historic meeting place of Pope Paul VI with Israel�s president Zalman Shazar and Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in 1964, visit of a pope to the Holy Land. Megiddo�s military importance and long history as an international battleground is aptly reflected in the Apocalypse of John in the Book of Revelation (16:14-16). Armageddon (meaning "the mount of Megiddo") is designated as the site where, at the end of days, the demons will gather the hosts of the nations for the ultimate battle against the forces of God.

On the Day of the Lord, it will be on this historic site (literally or symbolically) that the kings of the world and their legions will be assembled for combat. For much more on this topic, go to 06.06.03.

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