Satanic System
Let us briefly take a look at these two satanic personalities, and discover what the Bible really says about them.
The Beast is a great dictator of the book of Revelation who is to rule over 10 nations or groups of nations just before Christ's return (Revelation 17:12-13).
In the Bible, a beast is the symbol for a political system or its leader. Yet how many ministers understand this fact? In the Bible the Beast is symbolic of the political system we call the Roman Empire. Throughout the centuries since the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476 (the "deadly wound" of Revelation 13:3), numerous revivals of the beast — the Roman political system — arose in Europe.
In Revelation 17, the revivals are represented symbolically by the seven heads of a beast. Six have already occurred from Justinian to Mussolini. One last restoration of this great political system is yet to arise. The end-time Beast will rule over this final restoration of the Roman Empire.
In the book of Daniel, where he is called the "king of the north," we learn that the Beast will ultimately conquer portions of the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-41).
Working hand in hand with the Beast will be the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13; 19:20), a great miracle-working religious figure. By means of lying wonders and false miracles he will command the obedience of millions (Revelation 13:13-14).
The apostle Paul wrote of the False Prophet in II Thessalonians 2:3, calling him the "man of sin," and "the son of perdition." This miracle-working individual — a great religious figure — will declare himself to be God (II Thessalonians 2:4)! Many will believe him to be Christ in the flesh!
Rise of the Beast
Let's notice now how the Beast will achieve great power and authority. The Beast will not seize power by means of a coup or by military conquest. Ten leaders will "give their power and strength unto the beast" (Revelation 17:13). This charismatic individual will be widely viewed as a deliverer — the only man who can lead Western civilization out of its troubles!
The prophet Daniel sheds further light on the Beast's rise to power. He writes in a dual prophecy — anciently fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167-164 B.C. and again to be fulfilled in these last days (Matthew 24:15) — that the Beast will be a person "of fierce countenance and understanding dark trickery and craftiness" (Daniel 8:23, Amplified Bible). He will be a sly manipulator, cunning in the art of political maneuvering.
"And his power shall be mighty," Daniel continues, "but not by his own power. . . ." This is clearly a reference to the 10 rulers giving their power over to the Beast.
"And he shall corrupt and destroy astonishingly, and shall prosper, and do his own pleasure, and he shall corrupt and destroy the mighty men and the holy people . . .” the prophecy continues.”And through his policy he shall cause trickery to prosper in his hand; he shall magnify himself in his heart and mind, and in their security he will corrupt and destroy many."
The prophecy concludes with a clear statement of the time setting of these events.”He [the Beast] shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken, and that by no human hand" (Dan. 8:25). The Beast will confront Jesus Christ at His Second Coming!
Religious Support
It will not be political craftiness alone that will propel the Beast to the top. His rise to power will be supported and encouraged by the False Prophet.
The False Prophet presides over a great, centuries-old religious system labeled "BABYLON THE GREAT" in Revelation 17:5. This' system is an "image" or copy in the religious sphere of the Roman civil governmental system (Revelation 13:14).
This religious power is also personified as a fallen woman (Revelation 17:1) and a scarlet woman (17:3). In Bible symbolism, a woman is representative of a church (II Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 12). A fallen woman thus represents an apostate church.
In Revelation 17:3, we read that this scarlet woman sits "upon a. scarlet coloured beast . . . having seven heads and ten horns." In other words, this religious power has historically presided over the restorations of the Roman political system (symbolized by the heads), and is yet to be associated with the final restoration (seventh and last head), made up of 10 powers (the 10 horns).
The Beast will be supported in his rise to power by the False Prophet. And in turn, the Beast will use his political might to enforce religious uniformity.
Beast's Mark and Number
In this regard, many readers of The Plain Truth have written inquiring about the mysterious "number" and "mark" of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18. This bewilderment is totally unnecessary. The Bible clearly reveals what these things mean!
The number of the Beast is 666. It is described as the number of a man (v. 18). And we are told to count it.
In Greek — the language of the New Testament — letters of the alphabet have numerical values. The same principle is found in the use of Roman numerals (V = 5, X = 10, L = 50 and so on).
In the 2nd century A.D., Irenaeus, disciple of Polycarp, the Apostle John's disciple, explained that in Greek the word Lateinos — meaning "Latin man" or Roman — adds up to 666. (L = 30; A = 1; T = 300; E = 5; I = 10; N = 50; 0 = 70; S = 200) This, he stated, was the, intent of the scripture.
The number 666 is thus anciently branded on the old Roman Empire and its revivals.
But what of the mark of the Beast? Some claim it is the swastika. Others that it is the social security number. Still others that it is the universal product code. These are all mere guesses — and wrong ones, at that! Notice what the Bible says about this mark:
The mark of the Beast is received in the right hand or in the foreheads of those subject to him (Revelation 13:16). Without it, one will be unable to conduct business, to "buy or sell" (v. 17).
Those who have the mark of the beast in their hands or foreheads will suffer the corrective plagues of God's judgment (Revelation 14:9-10; 15:1, 6; 16:1-2). These individuals are contrasted, in Revelation 14:12, with the saints who "keep the commandments of God."
The mark thus has something to do with commandment breaking. Those who have the mark will suffer divine plagues; those who keep the commandments will not. One group is forced to accept the mark; the other keeps the commandments of God. The mark involves obedience to human authority. It is symbolic of forced allegiance. Is there a specific commandment that is intended? Is there a commandment that can be considered a sign of God's people?
A mark is a sign or a brand of identification. What commandment does the Bible call a sign?
There is only one: the Fourth Commandment!
Notice Exodus 31:12-17 — "Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a SIGN between me and you throughout your generations. . ." The keeping of God's Sabbaths is the sign identifying God's people!
This sign of God is also received symbolically in one's hand — symbolizing work or labor — and forehead — representative of the mind or intellect. See Exodus 13:9; Deuteronomy 6:1, 6-8; 11:18.
The mark of the Beast is clearly revealed as an enforced counterfeit of the sign between God and His people — specifically the observance of man-made holidays in place of those Sabbaths that God originally ordained! Those who do not fall into line and join in religious conformity — including participation in its false religious days — will not be able to hold a job or earn a living.
And, as in centuries past, many who refuse to receive the mark — who refuse to submit body and intellect to the Beast's domination — will suffer martyrdom.
For an in-depth look at this subject, request our free booklets, Which Day Is the Christian Sabbath? and Pagan Holidays or God's Holy Days Which?
Then, Armageddon
What will be the ultimate fate of this satanic religious-political union? The Bible provides a graphic description.
The Beast and False Prophet will together muster armies to fight the returning Christ (Revelation 16:13-16; 17:13-14). They will undoubtedly have convinced much of the world that Christ is really the Antichrist. Because of this deception, many will refuse to repent and submit to Christ at His return (Revelation 16:9).
This final climactic battle, commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as Armageddon, is called in the Bible "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14). The fate of the Beast, False Prophet and their armies in that confrontation was seen in vision by John (Revelation 19:11, 14-16, 19-20):
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. . .
"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. . .
"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
The Beast will not be stabbed by a magic dagger in a lonely chapel by a BBC correspondent! It will be Jesus Christ returned in power and glory — not as a reborn Christ Child — who will decisively overthrow the Beast and the False Prophet. They will be cast into a lake of fire and be consumed!
Satan's rule over the nations will be forever ended!