Prophecy
Before we proceed with this narrative it is necessary that we complete our thoughts on an essential character in this most human tragedy and that character is the BEAST. As you saw in the previous chapter the word “beast” can have several different meanings attached to it ( and since we are dealing with prophecy it is vital to clarify who or what is “the beast”. Beast can refer to Evil creatures – Ezekiel 14:21, Domestic animals – Ezekiel 14:21, False prophets and tyrannical leaders – Ezekiel 34:8, Sovereign nations (believed to be Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece and Rome) – Daniel 7:3, A world empire (believed to be the Roman Empire) - Daniel 7:7, A man of sin (believed to be The Anti-Christ) – Revelation 13:1, Celestial beings (believed to be Seraphim) – Revelation 4:8 and Vicious wild animals or snakes – Revelation 6:8.
Were we alive a few hundred years ago and you asked me to define the “beast” of Tribulation my answer would be very different from what it is right now. The difference is that the “beast” would have been a nebulous concept without concrete, tangible identification and that would have been reflected in its description. I would have described the “beast” as an end-time entity emerging from a combination of entities that in the process of time produced a dominant entity known as the Anti-Christ. That definition would not have been very useful but it would have been the best in the given circumstances. Today things have changed somewhat and it is now clear that the unknown “entity” can be reliably identified.
Whatever might be your concept of “the beast” it should be obvious to all (Bible scholars and eschatologists especially) that during the seven year Tribulation “the beast” plays an important role and there is widespread agreement that it is from “the beast” that the Anti-Christ emerges. This Anti-Christ is going to be the most diabolical figure ever to walk this earth. Think of Adolph Hitler multiplied by several thousands. Hitler murdered millions of people but this Anti-Christ will kill billions, which is no misprint for the Anti-Christ will be responsible for the death of billions of people.
Let us be very clear on one thing and that is that the leader of an entity or organization can be synonymous with that entity or organization. In other words if we can identify an organization as “the beast” then the leader representing that organization can also be referred to as “the beast”. This is important because the Bible adheres to this principle.
The common view held by many people, theologians and laymen alike, is that “the beast” of the seven year Tribulation is the REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE. This view is so ingrained in religious orthodoxy that it is almost taken as an article of faith. This view sees the old Roman Empire revived and headed by the Pope and perpetuating all the wickedness and the blasphemies of the former empire. Bible prophesies gives some credence to this view but as we shall see Bible prophesies give us even greater credence to an alternative view.
The old Roman Empire was the strongest, most dominant and most influential World Empire in the history of this planet and since its collapse strenuous efforts have been made to revive it. The Roman Empire CANNOT ever be revived because the Bible makes it clear that Rome was the final World Empire where one sovereign country ruled the civilized world.
There were two powerful attempts to revive the Roman Empire and both have been total failures because they failed to understand the deterministic nature of Bible prophesies. Both of these attempts were made by French men and this is powerfully significant.
The first real, credible and powerful attempt was made by the Frenchman called Charlemagne (Charles I of France), 742 – 814 AD, who at the time was king of the Franks. History shows that Charlemagne was incredibly successful in conquering much of western and central Europe including France, Germany and Italy but his efforts failed and the revived Roman Empire never emerged.
The next powerful and credible attempt was made by another Frenchman of more recent vintage called Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769 – 1821, (Emperor of France and King of Italy) who was enormously successful in conquering and dominating much of continental Europe as he successfully fought nearly all European powers. His demise came when at the height of his power he threw his mighty army against Russia, was soundly defeated and forced to abdicate and so his grand scheme of the revived Roman Empire came to naught.
The third and final attempt to revive the Roman Empire came from another Frenchman but this time he was sufficiently perceptive to know a revived Roman Empire CANNOT take place based on the Roman paradigm of one sovereign country so he put together an entity that would imitate the Roman Empire in many aspects but make sure the entity was MULTI-NATIONAL. The Frenchman is President Giscard of France, born 1926, (French president from 1974 – 81) who along with Chancellor Schmidt of Germany, born 1918, (German chancellor from 1974 – 82) formed a MULTI-NATIONAL ENTITY in 1975 that would later be called the GROUP OF SEVEN (G7) NATIONS.
The GROUP OF SEVEN (G7) NATIONS is the BEAST of prophesy that will play a pivotal role during the last seven years on earth as we know it. This last seven earth years is known in prophesy as the Tribulation and from the BEAST will emerge the Anti-Christ who will be the “Terror of the Ages”.
A check in the 21st Century edition of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible shows that there are 180 references to the beast (singular) in the Kings James Version of the Bible. When you look for the references relating to the Tribulation beast of prophesy, i.e. you disregard all the beast references to evil creatures, domestic animals, celestial beings and the like you are then left with 36 references. Now here is the most amazing thing. Of the 36 references relating to the Tribulation beast of prophesy, 33 of these references are applicable to the GROUP OF SEVEN (G7) NATIONS (that is a staggering correlation of 91.7%) and only 15 of these references can be applied to the revived Roman Empire (that is a correlation of 41.7%).
However you look at it, any rational assessment demands that a careful re-examination of the entity called the BEAST, from whom the Anti-Christ will emerge, be made and as the Scripture references show just one compelling conclusion can be drawn. The GROUP OF SEVEN (G7) NATIONS is the BEAST.
To make such a powerful claim one has to be standing on solid ground and there is no ground more solid than The Holy Scriptures. I will deal with these scriptures in part 2 and I hope you will read the post.
Books by this author (non-fiction except indicated otherwise)
E-books Published by Amazon.com
If you do not have a Kindle then when you access the site, click on How Buying Works and you will see the FREE apps for Computer, Cell phone, etc Then click as appropriate.
(Please click on the appropriate book link or cut and paste in your URL)
THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 – Five tough facts to be faced
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YX5NSI
STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 – You must first identify him
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BQVLSS
BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OF3SD6
ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002X78D16
ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 865 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dr. Henderson Ward or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 865 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.