The Beast Rising
from the Earth
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Let's pray together:
Our Father,
Now that Your Word has revealed the identity of the beast rising from the sea, we humbly
ask You to show us what the beast rising from the earth represents.
Please accompany us through this lesson, and may Your Word and Your Spirit be our only
guides.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 12:17; 13:1 (NIV)
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to
make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's commandments and hold
the testimony of Jesus.
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
In our last lesson, we have seen the dragon, Satan, standing «on the shore of the sea».
This indicates that Satan will use the powers of both the sea and the earth to try to
annihilate God's people.
In fact, immediately after this scene, two powerful beasts appear, the first one rising
from the sea, and the second one rising from the earth.
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Revelation 13:1
And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns.
Revelation 12:3
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great,
fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns.
We studied the description of the first beast, rising from the sea, and learned
that it means that this power is controlled by Satan, the great dragon. Indeed, just like
the dragon, this beast has seven heads and ten horns.
Identical to the little horn of Daniel chapters 7 and 8, this
beast symbolizes the papacy.
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Revelation 13:3
I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally
wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
We have also seen that the beast was mortally wounded, and then its deadly
wound was healed.
In fact, exactly as foretold, the papacy, after having lost its political power to France
in 1798, recovered it in 1929. In that year, Mussolini, by the Lateran Treaty, restored
temporal power to the pope, who has, since then, ruled over Vatican, a little country
within the city of Rome.
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Revelation 13:10,11
He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity
(...).
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and
spoke like a dragon.
The prophecy links the pope's captivity (which happened at the end of the 18th
century) with the appearance of another beast.
Unlike the first beast, this second beast comes up out of the earth, not the sea.
Who is this beast which arose at the end of the 18th century, and why does it come up out
of the earth?
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Daniel 7:17,23
Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which
arise out of the earth. (...)
The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth.
Daniel 8:20,21
The ram which you saw, having the two horns - they are
the kings of Media and Persia.
And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece.
First, we must remember that, in Bible prophecy, a beast symbolizes a kingdom,
a political power.
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Revelation 17:15
The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are
peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
We must also remember that waters symbolize «peoples,
multitudes, nations, and tongues».
So, the beast rising from the sea represents a power coming out of a populous place (it
was the case with the papacy, which appeared in Europe).
But what about the beast rising from the earth? The only power which arose out of a
sparsely-populated place, at the end of the 18th century, was the United States of
America, which came out of the New World in 1776.
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Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and
he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
But does the United States really fit the other criteria of the beast coming up
out of the earth?
First, the beast displays lamb-like features, appropriately representing the Christian
tradition of the United States which stands up for principles of civil and religious
liberty.
But the beast also speaks «like a dragon»: in spite of an
outward gentleness, this nation remains a fearsome power, ruling the roost throughout the
world.
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Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and
he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
Revelation 12:3
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great,
fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns.
Like that of the beast rising from the sea, the description of the beast coming
up out of the earth indicates that this power too is controlled by Satan, the great
dragon: like the former, the latter has horns and speaks like a dragon.
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Revelation 12:15,16
So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood
after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood
which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
In addition to making the second beast look like a lamb, the symbol of Jesus,
Satan carried the deception to the point of making this beast come up out of the earth,
that is, the New World, the very place that had helped the woman, the Church of God, as it
was persecuted by the papacy in Europe.
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Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you,
having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
The prophecy was right again: «the devil has come down
to the earth and the sea».
In fact, in spite of the outward religious liberty offered by the United States of
America, it is clear that this nation, which arose out of the «earth»,
fits into Satan's plan, in the same way as the papacy, which arose out of the «sea».
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Revelation 13:1,2,11,12
And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns (...). And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great
authority. (...)
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and
spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
The first beast had received its power from the dragon. This authority is also
given to the second beast. So, for the first time, a satanic trinity appears, made up of:
- the dragon (Satan)
- the beast rising from the sea (the papacy)
- and the beast rising from the earth (the United States).
This satanic trinity represents a fearsome counterfeit of the divine trinity, and portrays
itself as an alternative to the true Godhead, as the following three tables clearly
demonstrate...
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Revelation 13:12
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his
presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed.
The beast rising from the earth, being a political power, does not seek to be
worshiped, but rather causes men to worship the beast rising from the sea, which is, for
its part, a religio-political power.
So there is a kind of alliance between the papacy and the United States, leading men to
worship the papacy.
But how could this be possible?
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Revelation 13:13
[The beast coming up out of the earth] performs great
signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
First, the United States' influence over the other nations is significant,
especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the break-up of the Soviet Union
in 1991.
The «fire coming down from heaven» indicates the
extraordinary power of the United States, which became, with the bombing of the Japanese
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the first nuclear power of the world.
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Revelation 13:13
[The beast coming up out of the earth] performs great
signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
1 Kings 18:37,38
[Elijah said:] «Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this
people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to
You again.»
Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice.
By calling to mind fire coming down from heaven, this prophecy also indicates
that the United States' actions seem to have God's approval.
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Revelation 13:14
[The beast coming up out of the earth] deceives those who
dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do.
The United States really charmed and «deceived those who
dwell on the earth», not only by their political and military power, but also by
their culture and symbols which conquered the whole world.
The «American way of life» lures the nations with a picture of liberty and prosperity.
The American dollar has become the currency exchange standard.
The United States of America truly sets the pace of the whole world.
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Revelation 13:14
[The beast coming up out of the earth is] telling those
who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and
lived.
In March 1984, the United States sent its first ambassador to Vatican. Since
that time, the collaboration between the United States and the papacy has become closer
and closer yet.
Their greatest common success is, without a doubt, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the
break-up of the Soviet Union, resulting in an important weakening of Communism.
Now, prophecy announces another great common project: the «image of
the beast».
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Revelation 13:14
[The beast coming up out of the earth] deceives those who
dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the
sword and lived.
Very soon, the worldwide influence of the United States will also be felt at
the religious level, by the creation of an image to the first beast, that is, a system
reminiscent of the papacy.
In the papacy's image, this system will unite Church and State, producing a
religio-political power.
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Matthew 22:21
Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's,
and to God the things that are God's.
Jesus always commanded that Church and State be kept separate.
And He was right, since history reports that such a union has always resulted in horrible
persecutions.
But prophecy had indeed seen right: during the past few years, we have witnessed the rise
of the American Christian Right Wing, exerting more and more pressure on the United States
government, so that it is gradually giving up its principle of separation between Church
and State.
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Revelation 13:15
He was granted power to give breath to the image of the
beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not
worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Prophecy announces that the extremist Christian Right Wing will soon succeed in
destroying the wall between Church and State, creating a religio-political government
similar to that of the papacy.
This is how the «image of the beast» will be produced.
Of course, this alliance between political and religious powers will once again lead to
intolerance and persecution.
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Revelation 13:16,17
And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor,
free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has the mark.
Once set up, the religio-political American government, with the papacy's
approval, will cause men to receive a mark.
First imposed in the United States, this mark will quickly become universal.
All the inhabitants of the earth will be forced to receive this mark, for fear of
increasingly severe penalties.
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Revelation 14:9,10
If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives
his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.
And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone.
God warns us not to receive the mark of the beast; otherwise our punishment
will be eternal destruction.
But what, exactly, is the mark of the beast?
This is a crucial question which requires a precise answer from the Word of God. This will
be the subject of a future lesson.
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Daniel 3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose
height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits.
He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Let's note that, by announcing the coming of an «image
of the beast», the prophecy calls to mind a story contained in the book of Daniel.
Just as the United States will produce an image to the papacy (the leader of spiritual
Babylon), King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue, an image in honor of his kingdom,
Babylon.
But the parallel is even more precise...
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Daniel 3:7,8
So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of
the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people,
nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
Under threat of death, everyone bowed down before the king's image, except
Daniel's three friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
The resistance of these three Jews triggered off the king's rage...
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Daniel 3:14,15
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them,
«Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship
the gold image which I have set up?
Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and
psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image
which I have made, good!
But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?»
Determined to remain faithful to God, these men endured severe pressure.
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Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the
king,
«O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we
worship the gold image.»
These three young Jews are a shining example for God's people who, at the end
of time, will have to refuse to worship the image of the beast in order to remain faithful
to God, even if this decision may cost them their lives.
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Daniel 3:24,25
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in
haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, «Did we not cast three men bound into the
midst of the fire?»
They answered and said to the king, «True, O king.»
«Look!» he answered, «I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they
are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.»
This story had a happy ending for the three faithful Jews, who were saved from
the fiery furnace by Jesus Himself, the One who «is like the Son of
God».
Will it be so, at the end of time, for the believers remaining faithful to God?
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Revelation 20:4
I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their
witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image,
and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
God is honest and straightforward with us: our decision to remain faithful to
Him may cost us our lives.
But, to those who refuse to worship the beast and its image, and to receive its mark, God
promises eternal life.
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1 Peter 4:12,13
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to
the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you
may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Just like Daniel's three friends, our decision to follow God will soon plunge
us into the fiery furnace of trial.
But, whatever may happen, we will ultimately be saved, at the return of Jesus Christ, our
Savior.
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Let's thank God:
Our Lord Almighty,
On the horizon, we already see the image of the beast dawning, this religio-political
system which everyone will have to worship, on pain of death.
Please give us the courage You gave to Daniel's three friends, who withstood pressure from
everybody, and remained faithful to You in spite of the threat of the fiery furnace.
Please grant us Your continuous support, so that we may also remain faithful to You in all
circumstances, and that our names may remain written in Your book of life.
In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: Picture collection «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund,
CD #4, NATTR001.JPG. Screen 2: «Seven-Headed Serpent from the Book of
Revelation» (c.1530), Bible Society, London. In: «Revelations - Art of the Apocalypse»
(GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.58. Screen 3: In: «La
Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society, 1988, p.189. Screen 4: In: «La Révélation - le grand
dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.190.
Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 5: BISHOP, Tom. «Beasts of
Revelation 13». In: «New Pictoral Aid For Bible Study» (BREADEN, Frank), Australian
Division of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1970, chart #41. Screen 6: STEEL,
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Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software,
JM184.BMP. Screen 11: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and
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the Beast is 666» (c.1805), Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia. In: «Revelations
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Palace, Florence. In: «Great Bible Stories and Master Paintings» (RACHLEFF, Owen S.),
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Français, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1972, front cover. Second picture: In:
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Tract Society, 1988, p.189. Screen 15: BLAKE, William. «The Number of
the Beast is 666» (c.1805), Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia. In: «Revelations
- Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.61.
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Sabbat», Pacific Press Publishing Association, Third Quarter, 2000, front cover. Second
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Bill Clinton chats with the Pope». In: «John Paul II» (EDWARDS, Patrick), Bison Books,
London, 1995, p.68. Screen 17: Photo by BLAISE, Olivier. «Nevada Test
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Français, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1972, p.647. Screen 23: In:
«La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society, 1988, p.195. Screen 24: CONVERSE, James. In: «The Triumph
of God's Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and
Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.501. Screen 25: In:
«La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society, 1988, p.233. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 26: RUDEEN,
Herbert. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1955, p.34. Screen 27: In: «The Illustrated Children's
Bible» (CHRISTIE-MURRAY, David), Grosset & Dunlap, New York, 1978, p.143.
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Barnes & Noble Books, 1994, p.173. Screen 28: MANISCALCO, Joe. In:
«Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM096.BMP.
Screen 29: FORD, Eric. In: «Guideposts #26 - King Nebuchadnezzar's Golden
Statue» (FRANK, Penny), Lion Publishing, 1986, pp.18,19. Picture edited by Cyberspace
Ministry. Screen 30: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and
Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM097.BMP. Screen 31: HARLAN,
Russell. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1955, p.40. Screen 32: In: «La Révélation - le grand
dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.245.
Screen 33: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (February 1, 1986), New York, Watch
Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.16. Screen 34: Picture collection
«ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4, NATOT624.JPG.
Any copyrighted images not bearing a statement of permission, are used
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The test of Lesson 67 is waiting for you!