Mystery Beast - Rumor notes 183

 Revelation 17

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. 9 Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful."

The beast that you saw

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)

The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. (Revelation 17:7)

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days. (Revelation 12:3-6)

We must not miss the synchronous symbols that link these passages. In chapter 12 the dragon stands before the woman with diabolical intent. This dragon is identified mainly by the number of heads and horns that uniquely define it. This raises serious questions over what these numerous references relate to in these chapters. Here in chapter 17 the woman is seen riding on top of the dragon. Does that mean she has subdued it? Not likely. Rather, given the radical transformation that has transformed this woman’s disposition and appearances, it appears she is now synchronizing with him.

In chapter 12 the wilderness was a refuge where the woman fled, a place of nurture prepared for her by God. Yet we find the great prostitute in the same place, but whose nurture has she received?

When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony. (Revelation 12:13-17)

In chapter 12 the dragon is the woman’s protagonist. In 17 the dragon is portrayed in a very different relationship with her, more as a coconspirator as the woman has turned prostitute.

In 12 the waters are spewed from the mouth of the dragon with intent to sweep her away with them. In that description the waters were absorbed by an earth apparently in sympathy with the woman. In 17 the woman is described not only as sitting on the dragon but also sitting on the waters, later defined as peoples of the earth. Might this be a counterfeit of the ark of Noah safely sitting on top of the decimating waters? It might also resonate with the messianic prophecy of Psalm 18 describing Jesus trusting God to rescue Him from the peoples/waters. This had been His experience repeatedly up to the time He was ‘handed over’ by God to allow His enemies to do whatever they desired to Him.

He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. (Psalms 18:16-17)

The Lamb’s loyal followers near the end will likely experience similar feelings as well.

Then I [or the dragon] stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. [ever shifting identity] The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:1-9)

This is where it appears the dragon conjures up a clone of sorts to mask the fact that there is very little difference between him and the beast who operates just like him.

was, and is not; and is about to come

This is likely a mimicking of one of the trademarks of the Son of God. Here are some of the passages referring to the original that is here likely being counterfeited.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)

While this beast and its originating dragon, very much lust after the power of the Almighty, they deny the validity of the true character that possesses that power. They grasp for power without love. Ironically the very essence of true power is ignored in their lust for selfish, exploitive power.

But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

This description clearly mimics the eternal nature of Christ and His Father. It also shifts away from the descriptions about the time of persecution of the woman and her seed, here using a different measure. This could be part of the continual shifting identity of this deceptive player in the war between righteousness and evil, where counterfeits multiply to deceive the entire world to worship the dragon, despite his previously losing his war with Michael in heaven.

Alternative interpretation

This may well be an assessment of the span of effective existence of this beast, past, present and demise. It parallels similar descriptions of God which this beast so violently opposes and seeks to defeat. Yet from heaven’s perspective from beyond the confining restriction of time awareness, God declares the end from the beginning and informs us of how this is all going to play out. In short, this is a good example of the power of God’s prophetic perspective, not to make thing happen to suit Him but simply to inform everyone ahead of time of just how things are going to transpire.

come up out of the abyss

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7-8)

This raises interesting questions that should have attention. Clearly an identical phrase links these two passages.

Is this referring to the exact same actor? Very likely.

Is this referring to the very same events? Not necessarily.

Does this provide a useful pattern to see how the enemy operates? Very likely.

How likely is this beast identical to the one described in 13:1?

It appears nearly identical, yet so does the dragon who raised up this beast.

In the previous verse this description also included this same ID (the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns), linking it with the dragon described in chapter 12.

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:3-4)

A few verses later we find one of the most extensive positive IDs in the book, to be sure we don’t mistake who this is actually talking about.

The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

These constitute a trail of clues about this entity connected by references that link it with the abyss.

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (Revelation 9:1)

They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (Revelation 9:11)

I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

As we connect these together, we can compile a dossier for this case:

Someone seen as a star fallen from heaven to earth is given the key to the abyss.

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)

A few verses later we find a king, one called the angel of the abyss, positively ID’d as Satan.

A couple chapters later the beast that comes up out of the abyss wars with, overcomes and kills the two witnesses of heaven.

Here this mystery beast is about to come out of the abyss but is headed into destruction.

In chapter 20 another angel (clearly not the same one) comes down out of heaven (not fallen from heaven) now possessing the key to the abyss. This angel seizes the one again ID’d as the dragon/serpent/devil/Satan and casts him into the abyss, this time locking him securely there for 1,000 year until the next transition demands he be released.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8)

While the word abyss is used in these previous verses, it is not the same word used to describe where a nearly identical beast comes up out of the sea. Yet that doesn’t mean there is no connection, for the sea in ancient times was often viewed as synonymous with the abyss. The dragon Leviathan in Job lived in the sea and it likely represents Satan. The ancients generally viewed the vast deeps of the ocean as the mysterious unknown region and often referred to it as the abyss.

And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (Revelation 13:1 NAS95)

to go into destruction

The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. (Revelation 17:11)

If anyone has captivity, he will go. If anyone is with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10)

It appears the destruction alluded to here will be at the hands of those the beast has manipulated.

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:20-21)

This lake of fire as defined from Scripture, is not about God punishing with literal fire, but can mean living under intense fury and vicious retaliation and shame heaped on someone after they are exposed as the main cause of problems that brought so much pain and destruction to others through deception.

The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot. You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evil-doers will not be named forever. (Isaiah 14:19-20)

I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. (Daniel 7:11)

But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. (Daniel 7:26)

He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)

Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation [epiphaneia] of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)