Who is the beast that was and is not?

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lamad

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If this was correct then John would have seen a beast with 2 heads and ten horns. Instead, the beast has all 7 heads perfectly intact plus he sees ten horns and the ten horns remain the entire time the beast is ruling which means 3 horns aren't plucked up like in Daniel's vision.
I will go by his written description rather than a symbol.
 

ewq1938

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I will go by his written description rather than a symbol.
Still, the Revelation 13:1 beast has 7 heads not 2. Never at any time does it lose 5 heads.
 

ewq1938

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First, all 7 heads exist at the same time. Why then does John tells us that five of them have fallen?
He never said that. He said 5 kings had fallen.

In Revelation a horn symbolizes a king and a head symbolizes a mountain. Mixing the metaphors causes great confusion and bad exegesis.
 

lamad

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He never said that. He said 5 kings had fallen.

In Revelation a horn symbolizes a king and a head symbolizes a mountain. Mixing the metaphors causes great confusion and bad exegesis.
So what are you saying? What happened to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar? It did remain for a while, but was overcome by Persia and the land area was then run by the kings of Persia.

Daniel tells us that the Beast will take down 3 kings out of ten, not five.
 

lamad

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Still, the Revelation 13:1 beast has 7 heads not 2. Never at any time does it lose 5 heads.
According to Daniel, there are ten kings (supposedly each with a nation or empire. The Beast will take out 3 kings (again supposedly taking over that nation) out of the ten, leaving 7 kings intact and he then becomes the 8th king (over the seven nations?).

Perhaps John is giving us hints of which nations by telling us in history which ones destroyed. For example, Nebuchadnezzar is long gone, but the remains of the ancient city of Babylon still are there showing us the land area of BAbylon is still there. Is this showing us that one of the 10 kings is modern day Iraq? In fact, did one of the heads (Iraq) receive a "deadly wound" and its king put to death?

In like manner, I think John is identifying some of the ten kings by the modern day nations who are in that place on earth: Assyria has become Syria. Persia is Iran. Babylon is Iraq. Egypt is still Egypt. The land areas of ancient Rome are still there as the one that "is now" as John wrote.

So, YES, the heads are still there. Land areas don't change. But over time nations on those land areas do change.
I have no revelation on this chapter. I am only guessing like most others do.
 

Kolistus

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If this was correct then John would have seen a beast with 2 heads and ten horns. Instead, the beast has all 7 heads perfectly intact plus he sees ten horns and the ten horns remain the entire time the beast is ruling which means 3 horns aren't plucked up like in Daniel's vision.
What do you believe this all means?
 

Ahwatukee

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Mar 12, 2015
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Read it this way: there are seven mountains...and there are seven kings.
Mountains here are nations or empires, each with a king or leader.
This is not the correct interpretation, lamad. Symbolism has a figurative symbol which represents what is literal. That said, the 'seven heads' are the symbols which are figuratively representing seven literal mountains. Your interpretation makes the seven heads and the mountains both symbolic.

The seven heads also symbolically represent a succession of seven literal kings. At the time that John was receiving the information from the angel, 5 of those kings had come and gone, with king number six ruling. King number seven had not yet come but would only remain for a short time. An eighth king is introduced who comes from the seven, which is the beast who comes up out of the Abyss. He's also that head that receives the fatal would and lives. He's that angel of the Abyss revealed at the sounding of the 5th trumpet. He's the same one who kills the two witness after he comes up out of the Abyss.

Five of these kings have fallen. Some people guess Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece as the five that have come and gone. Each in their turn controlled the land of Israel.
Since the woman is that great city that ruled over the earth and the seven mountains is where that city sits, then I would think that the seven kings would have to be referring to a succession of Roman emperors, not other kings from other kingdoms.

Everything in chapters 17 & 18 are pointing to Rome and her Babylonia pagan religious system, as well as her commerce which obviously increases during the time of the beast.
 

lamad

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This is not the correct interpretation, lamad. Symbolism has a figurative symbol which represents what is literal. That said, the 'seven heads' are the symbols which are figuratively representing seven literal mountains. Your interpretation makes the seven heads and the mountains both symbolic.

The seven heads also symbolically represent a succession of seven literal kings. At the time that John was receiving the information from the angel, 5 of those kings had come and gone, with king number six ruling. King number seven had not yet come but would only remain for a short time. An eighth king is introduced who comes from the seven, which is the beast who comes up out of the Abyss. He's also that head that receives the fatal would and lives. He's that angel of the Abyss revealed at the sounding of the 5th trumpet. He's the same one who kills the two witness after he comes up out of the Abyss.



Since the woman is that great city that ruled over the earth and the seven mountains is where that city sits, then I would think that the seven kings would have to be referring to a succession of Roman emperors, not other kings from other kingdoms.

Everything in chapters 17 & 18 are pointing to Rome and her Babylonia pagan religious system, as well as her commerce which obviously increases during the time of the beast.
Right! And mountains have kings! Got it!

By the way, Mystery Babylon is the city of Jerusalem.
 

ewq1938

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Daniel tells us that the Beast will take down 3 kings out of ten, not five.
Yes that's what Daniel saw but John wasn't shown that in his vision. In Revelation, all ten horns remain intact until the entire beast is destroyed. Plus, all 7 heads also remain intact until the entire beast is destroyed. The beast never loses any horns or heads.
 

ewq1938

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What do you believe this all means?
It means God changed prophecy of the end times when the new covenant occurred. Another difference is in Daniel, there are 4 beasts, and the 4th is destroyed but he writes the other beasts had their lives prolonged. That doesn't happen in Revelation. There is only one kingdom beast and when it is destroyed, there are no previous beasts that continue to exist. People do the strangest things to try to harmonize Daniels prophecies with what John wrote but it's not possible because the differences are too vast.
 

lamad

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Apr 14, 2021
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Yes that's what Daniel saw but John wasn't shown that in his vision. In Revelation, all ten horns remain intact until the entire beast is destroyed. Plus, all 7 heads also remain intact until the entire beast is destroyed. The beast never loses any horns or heads.
I think I agree: the 7 nation empire of the Beast will remain through the last half of the week. I don't disagree with this. But one head receives a deadly wound. I personally think it could be Iraq. That nation certainly received a deadly wound, and the king killed.
 

ewq1938

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I think I agree: the 7 nation empire of the Beast will remain through the last half of the week. I don't disagree with this. But one head receives a deadly wound. I personally think it could be Iraq. That nation certainly received a deadly wound, and the king killed.

IMO the heads are larger, basically I think of the 7 continents. I don't believe the wound has happened yet. I believe it happens and is the reason why and how the world unites under one global empire consisting of ten kingdoms.
 

Kolistus

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It means God changed prophecy of the end times when the new covenant occurred. Another difference is in Daniel, there are 4 beasts, and the 4th is destroyed but he writes the other beasts had their lives prolonged. That doesn't happen in Revelation. There is only one kingdom beast and when it is destroyed, there are no previous beasts that continue to exist. People do the strangest things to try to harmonize Daniels prophecies with what John wrote but it's not possible because the differences are too vast.
Interesting, I have never heard that before. Can I ask you something more?

1. Do you believe in the pre-trib rapture?
2. Do you believe in a millennium here on earth. (Premillenialism)
3. Can you show me some of the changed prophecies when the new covenant occured?
4. Is there anywhere in the Bible where it says prophecies can be changed or have changed?
 

Nebuchadnezzer

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Feb 8, 2019
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It means God changed prophecy of the end times when the new covenant occurred. Another difference is in Daniel, there are 4 beasts, and the 4th is destroyed but he writes the other beasts had their lives prolonged. That doesn't happen in Revelation. There is only one kingdom beast and when it is destroyed, there are no previous beasts that continue to exist. People do the strangest things to try to harmonize Daniels prophecies with what John wrote but it's not possible because the differences are too vast.
Please consider Psalm 110:4
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:

Did you ever consider that the "other beasts" does not refer to the beasts that came before the 4th beast in Daniel 7?
The "other beasts" refers to the beasts that will come after the 4th beast in Daniel 7.
Therefore, the 1st beast in Revelation is not a single beast. It is a compilation of all the other beasts that were and are to come.

The "other beasts" is also translated to "the rest of the beasts". This implies the "other beasts" come after the 4th beast.

Daniel 7:12
King James Bible
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
 

lamad

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Apr 14, 2021
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IMO the heads are larger, basically I think of the 7 continents. I don't believe the wound has happened yet. I believe it happens and is the reason why and how the world unites under one global empire consisting of ten kingdoms.
7 Continents? No, neither Greece nor Rome covered that much ground.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
The beast is the blinking blue light in that box that keeps repeating lies until you believe it, and are unable to know if you are a boy or a girl. That this or that politician has all the answers and that science will save you from the death that is knocking on your door. That wearing a mask will keep covid fr killing you. That the vaccine which is up to four separate ones required will save you. Just take this pill, and that vaccine, and those vitamins, and don't eat meat, and don't drink coffee, but hey have sex with everybody and murder your unborn.
Worship yourself into destruction and you will be happy
 

Rondonmon

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May 13, 2016
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This is not the correct interpretation, lamad. Symbolism has a figurative symbol which represents what is literal. That said, the 'seven heads' are the symbols which are figuratively representing seven literal mountains. Your interpretation makes the seven heads and the mountains both symbolic.

The seven heads also symbolically represent a succession of seven literal kings. At the time that John was receiving the information from the angel, 5 of those kings had come and gone, with king number six ruling. King number seven had not yet come but would only remain for a short time. An eighth king is introduced who comes from the seven, which is the beast who comes up out of the Abyss. He's also that head that receives the fatal would and lives. He's that angel of the Abyss revealed at the sounding of the 5th trumpet. He's the same one who kills the two witness after he comes up out of the Abyss.
You have everything right here except the king who receives the Fatal Wound, it's not an 8th King, who is a Demon from hell, it's the 6th Head of the "FIGURATIVE BEAST" that receives a mortal wound. Look, the Beast was around oppressing Israel via Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece, then Rome was oppressing Israel while Jesus was alive, and while John was alive, but Israel was "SACKED" and became as Dead Men's Bones, thus God saw her as dead, thus how can you oppress that which is no longer an "ENTITY". Thus the Beast that oppressed Israel, went away because there was no Israel to oppress until 1948. Now, I sometimes think the Church who could not be overcome by the gates of hell delivered the Mortal Wound, because we Christians turned the Rome Beast from a God hater, into a Nation that helped transform the world by being a conveyor belt of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Romans pushed the Gospel of Jesus Christ over the next 1000 years. The Pax-Romana was the number 1 gift of the Gospel, God knew exactly when to send Jesus. ALL ROADS lead to Rome meant Paul and Peter being Citizens of Rome could travel to all of the Nations Rome Ruled!! And all Nations speaking Koine Greek also helped the Gospel spread. THE BEAST DIED, it was Rome who received the mortal wound, the Beast that is HEALED will be the Anti-Christ coming to power over Israel and the Mediterranean Sea Region when he conquers them or OPPRESSES them again, see Daniel 11:40-43, that is when it happens !!

Since the woman is that great city that ruled over the earth and the seven mountains is where that city sits, then I would think that the seven kings would have to be referring to a succession of Roman emperors, not other kings from other kingdoms.

Everything in chapters 17 & 18 are pointing to Rome and her Babylonia pagan religious system, as well as her commerce which obviously increases during the time of the beast.
You are going down wrong path here brother teaching this stuff. Remember, Satan never stops trying to whisper falsehoods into our minds, he never stops working. You have totally misunderstood who The Harlot is, and who Babylon is. John in Rev. 17:18 is being reminded by the angel of "WHAT HE SAW" in verses 3-6, the Vision (go look) was only 4 verses, thus the Angel says to John, REMEMBER what you saw or remember THAT WOMAN (Harlot) is that Great City. So, we have to define Babylon right brother? Even though it's pointing to the Harlot Religions of Babylon, it's not Babylon in the PHYSICAL per see, it's Babylon in the Spiritual sense, I will show you in a moment who God says Babylon is, in scriptures: SEE BELOW

Rev. 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts(Jesus LANDS in Jerusalem), and the cities of the nations fell:(Jesus defeats these City/Nations at Armageddon) and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

So, who does God point out unto us here that Babylon is? Well, who did Jesus defeat at Armageddon? Lets look at te 6th Vial, it plainly informs us who God sees as Babylon the Great.

Rev. 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

So, Jesus defeats the Kings of the WHOLE WORLD at Armageddon, and then.......THEN, AFTERWARDS, God Himself calls these Nations that show up to fight against God/Jesus, Babylon the Great. So, what does Babel mean? Confusion, God confused the languages thus its called Babel or Babylon. What is Satan's job on this earth? To confuse, lie and deceive. I think when a WHOLE WORLD full of Kinfs and their followers gather to battle their own lovig Creator, Babylon is a great operative word. Babylon the Great is the fools of this world, who have been confused, deceived etc. etc., fighti g against their own Creator and thus Gd called them Babylon the Great, or the GRAT CONFUSED ONES if you wish. Gof thus gives them His Wrath !! Satan is then locked in the bottomless pit, Saa is the leader of this world, thus Babylon is Satan's Dark Kingdo on this earth. Satan let it be known in Luke 4 when he told Jesus that he was given ALL THESE KINGDOMS, (on earth) to do as he so pleased with, that he was the ruler of this world, Babylon is his kingdom of CONFUSION on this earth.

Everything is pointing to The Harlot (All False Religions of ALL TIME) andshe is RIDING THE BACK of the Seven Headed Beast (GOVERNMENTS of Babylon/Satan) who we know as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.........AND the Coming Anti-Christ stops this co-habitation by KILLING HER OFF !! Because he wants to be the ONLY GOD, thus there is no room for Islam, Biddhism, Hinduism, Jupiter, Zues, etc. ALL RELIGIONS are thus forbidden save Beast Worship. Thus she rides the Government Beasts Back, but we are told THE MYSTERY..........In verse 7 the Angek says come, I will show you the Myster of the Harlot AND the Beast she rides. Then we are told about the 7 Heads who are 7 Mountains who are 7 Kings...........5 Have Fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Pesia, and Greece), then he says ONE IS (Rome, and she would soon receive the MORTAL WOUND)........And one is YET TO COME (The Anti-Christ) and when he does (HUGE CLUE) he will rule but a SHORT TIME (42-Months).

Why can't people see why God REDUCES the 7 Mountains unto 7 Kings who fall? The Mountains were GREAT POWERS right? Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persua, Greece and Rome, all who ruled over Israel AND the Mediterranean Sea Region at one time or another. So, why REDUCE THEM to Kings who fall? It's easy once we see it. The lAST KING never passes his Kingdom on like all the others, thus HE ALONE is THE BEAST, and that is why he is THE BEAST, not a Nation like Babylon, or Persia, or Greece or Rome, but HE ALONE is the LAST BEAST !! That is why God REDUCES the 7 Mountains to 7 Kings WHO FALL, so we will understand the LAST BEAST is a MAN not a Nation per see !! Thus he rules but a SHORT TIME (42-Months) and HE is cast into hell like Daniel 7:11 and Rev. 19:20 both say. He is never allowed to pass his kingdom on before God/Jesus TAKES OVER. Amen.

The Woman is a part of THAT GREAT CITY in that she was the False Religious Order side while the Government Beasts were the False Governance side, they both went hand in hand for centuries. But she was not ROME.........She was of Babylon the Great, Satan's Dark Kingdom on this earth that LIES and DECIEVES people into not worshiping the one true God. There is NO CITY with 7 hills, this is all about 7 Kingdoms/powers over the Mediterranean Sea Region AND Israel, and ONE is yet to come. There was NO BEAST nor could be one from again until 1948, because there was no Israel. Thus is why the Ottoman Empire was to a Beast its why the British were not a Beast, etc. etc.

Everything points to FALSE RELIGION and FALSE GOVERNANCE. The Harlot RIDES the Beast. As a matter of fact the only people wh wore Scarlet and Purple were Religious Orders and Royalty, and John knew this, thus the Scarlet and Purple Beast mention.

God Bless.
 

CS1

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May 23, 2012
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Can some of the brethren here help me unlock a few things:

Revelation 17:9-12
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

1. Who are the seven kings?

2. Who is the beast that was and is not? My guess would be something related to the Roman Empire as previously in the chapter it talks about purple and scarlet and being drunk with the blood of the saints and cup of abominations, all fit the Catholic Church.

3. Rome is called the city on seven hills so I am confident the mountains refer to that. I have heard some say Jerusalem is also called that, but I find Rome to be more likely as John is writing in code to avoid further Roman persecution I believe. It also says the city runs the kingdoms of the earth, that much more aligns with Vatican city where all the world leaders meet the Pope all the time and they are actively involved. Jerusalem doesn't really run things right now.


hmmmmm, it'd toss-up between Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.