The Beast of Revelation will be active throughout the Times of the Gentiles, but it takes different forms. Its first manifestation is the Roman Empire. Later it morphs into Christendom. The final manifestation of the Beast comes through the democratic revival that is now spreading throughout the world.
Democracy promised freedom, but instead, it has given even greater power and authority to the political powers. Traditional kings had absolute power, but the scope of their authority and ability to levy taxes was limited. The modern democratic state has far more power than previous empires. It can conscript any citizen, male or female, to fight in its wars. The democratic state can tax income and wealth at whatever level it wishes. A democratic parliament can pass any law it chooses. Democracy has given unprecedented power to human governments.
Much of the second half of the book of Revelation is a description of this Democratic Beast. The environment in which it gains power is the religious, social and economic turmoil released on earth when the first four of the seven seals are opened (Rev 6). Human governments will be handed enormous political, legal and military powers, as they attempt to manage these troubles and restore peace to the earth. One political power will tower above the rest and will eventually dominate all other human governments. This political empire will hold immense economic, political and military power. This democratic empire will reach a climax in one nation.
Seven Heads
And angel carried John into the wilderness to receive a more detailed vision of the Woman riding a Beast.
There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns (Rev 17:3).
The seven heads and ten horns are important clues to the identification of the Democratic Beast.
The meaning of the seven heads is explained further on in the vision.
The world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction (Rev 17:8).
The seven heads refer to seven different forms of human government that ruled over Rome. Five did not exist during John's lifetime but had held power at an earlier time. The sixth form of government was ruling at the time when John received his vision. It is easy to identify, because the Roman Empire dominated the world throughout John's lifetime. It is the sixth head.
The key to identifying the Beast with seven heads is identifying the form of human government that came to a violent end prior to the time when the emperors came to power. The major form of human government that existed prior to the Roman Empire was the Roman Republic. The Republic began in 500 BC and lasted for nearly five centuries. This democratic form of government came to a violent end about thirty years before Jesus was born. Democracy died as the Kingdom of God began.
Julius Caesar and his successor Caesar Augustus turned the Roman armies against Rome and destroyed the Republic. By the time that John received his vision, democracy seemed to be gone forever, having been dealt a fatal blow by the Roman emperors
John warned that Republic would come back to life as an eighth king. "The beast that once was, now is not" is the fifth king come back as an eighth king in a different time and place. It is not one of the seven. This eighth form of government is another democratic republic.
Democracy did not come back to life until ten centuries later, but the leaders of the democratic movement in the United States looked back to the example of the Greek and Roman Republics. The government buildings in Washington used Greek and Roman designs. The eighth king is a restored democratic republic.
Astonished
John said that people would be astonished when a democratic republic returns, because this form of government seemed to have been obliterated.
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come (Rev 17:8).
Persecution
When the democratic republic is restored, the people of the world will be impressed too.
The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast (Rev 17:8).
They will be impressed with the "new" form of government because it seems to give them control over the state. The democratic republic will seem like the best form of government ever. (Its true nature will eventually be revealed). People longing for peace and prosperity will support any government power that promises to fulfil their dreams.
The only challenge to this aggregation of political power will come from Christians who understand the signs of the times. When most people are calling on the political powers to do more to turn back the overwhelming crisis, they will expose the real character of the "best government ever". Explaining that this democratic republic is just another manifestation of the Beast will make them unpopular. Opposition to the Beast will lead to the persecution of God's people (Rev 6:9-11).
The church that is allied with the power of the democratic state will persecute those who reject the treachery of political power.
Ten Horns
The Beast of Revelation had "ten horns". This provides a link back to the Beast in Daniel. He explained the meaning of the ten horns, which is the key to identifying the Beast.
After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully (Dan 7:7-8).An angel explained the meaning of the vision.
He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time' (Dan 7:23-25).
This frightening kingdom devoured the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing everything that stood in its way. Daniel is describing a powerful military empire that would dominate most of the earth.
Daniel's Beasts rose to power when the four winds of heaven had churned up the sea (Dan 7:2-3). The sea is a symbol of the multitudes of people living on the earth (Rev 17:15). These events happen at a time when the people of the world are all stirred up.
A Confederation of States
Daniel saw a confederation of states. Most biblical commentators think that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the European Union transforms into a super-state, like a restored Roman empire. There are real problems with this view. Disagreement between the EU members means that they will be unlikely to hand over full sovereignty to the European parliament. Britain has just left the union, and other members might follow. Europe is economically weak and its population is declining. European military forces are very limited and the anti-war sentiments of the population would make a military build-up difficult. Therefore, if this prophecy is being fulfilled in our time, we need to look outside Europe. The United States is the only modern nation with sufficient military and economic power to be the fulfilment of the Beast.
The most obvious interpretation of the beast with the ten horns is that a number of independent nation states hand over their sovereignty to become part of a single united nation. One third of these nations refused to hand over their sovereignty and are forced to join under threat of military force.
America is the only place in recent history where this has happened. The thirteen states that gained independence from Britain were each independently-governed, autonomous nation-states. They united to fight for independence, but they remained politically independent. After the war of independence, these nation-states came together and established the United States. They created a federal system in which they handed over very limited powers (mostly defence) to the federal government. All other powers were retained by the states.
We sometimes get confused by the use of the word state in this context. These states were not provinces of a greater state, but legally independent states that gave some power to a federal government.
Because they joined freely, many states considered that they could also withdraw from the Union. At the beginning of the civil war, the southern states attempted to withdraw from the Union and establish a separate confederacy. Although slavery was the initial trigger, the civil war was primarily fought over the right of these states to secede from the Union. If they had been allowed to freely secede from the Union would have been significantly weakened and further fragmentation would have been inevitable.
The army of the twenty northern states (two thirds) destroyed the armies of the 11 southern states (one third). The victory of the union forces enabled them to maintain the union, eliminating the right of the states to secede. This opened the way for a gradual shift of power from the states to the federal government. During the following century, the United States became the greatest military and economic power in the entire world and the states are now just provinces within this greater entity.
Christian commentators looking for a powerful confederacy of nations forget that a powerful union called the "united states" already exists. Daniel saw a group of nations (ten horns) joining together to become one nation (a single horn). At first, the federal government had very limited power (a little horn), but it defeated a group of states that tried to withdraw from the union (three horns) and became very powerful (large beast). The numbers ten and three should not be taken literally. Ten symbolises completeness, indicating that all the states joined freely. The number three indicates that 3/10 of these states would be defeated in their attempt to secede. All this happened for the god of democracy.
Ten minus three is seven. Seven symbolises divinity. This indicates that the conquering states would take attempt to take on sovereignty that belongs only to God.
The Beast attempts to "try to change the set times and the laws". This represents a rejection of God's laws. Since the civil war, the United States government has become increasingly secular and humanistic. The Supreme Court has forced through a separation between church and state that has shut the influence of Christianity out of the corridors of power. Whereas the thirteen original states had laws directly based on the Bible, American law is now dominated by pragmatism and humanism.
Everyone is looking for the Beast in Europe, but all the while this terrible Democratic Beast is having its ultimate fulfilment in America.
John's Beast
John also saw the Beast with ten horns.
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast (Rev 17:12).
This is the same Beast that Daniel saw. The horns are ten kings who gain power for a short time when the Beast is emerging to power. They are the independent, autonomous states that were established by the settlers in America (ten symbolised completeness). They hand their authority over to the federal government.
They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled (Rev 17:13-18).
The purpose of the states was to establish a united government that would eventually become a powerful Beast.
The woman was sitting on the Beast with seven heads and ten horns in the midst of many waters. These represent the of peoples of many nations and languages that have come to America (Rev 17:15). This is strange, but it confirms that the Beast with seven heads and ten horns is actually a democratic empire.
The leaders of the thirteen states that joined the union were appointed to represent the interests of the people living in their state. However,they sacrificed those interests to the federal government, because they were intoxicated with its power.
The reference has a wider fulfilment. The American empire does not need direct control of every country in its sphere. It can gain enough control to accomplish its purposes by doing deals with kings and dictators. The United States government supplies the dictator with military and economic assistance. The dictator creams a tithe off the top of the economic aid to maintain his family in a presidential lifestyle. He uses the military assistance to suppress opposition and to establish the peace and stability needed for the operation of American business. The American people get their cheap coffee. Everyone that counts is happy.
These dictators and presidents sell out the interests of their people for the privileges of being an American vassal. When they were sworn into office, they made a covenant to serve their people, but then they sacrifice them for the pleasure and privilege of power.
The expansion of the American Empire does not eliminate kings and dictators. They continue in their comfortable lifestyle with undiminished power, provided they submit to American interests. The only risk is people marching in the streets demanding their overthrow, but even then, they can fly to a safe haven in an American satellite and continue their abundant life.
Important Promise
All this could be really scary, but a key promise puts it all in perspective.
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (Rev 17:14).
This is an amazing promise. Jesus will triumph over all the political powers and human empires. He has been raised to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is
Lord of Lords King of Kings
John uses the present tense. This is not a promise for the future. Jesus is already Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Every king, dictator and political power must surrender to him, or see their power swept away.
The called, chosen and faithful followers of Jesus will share in his victory.
Christians will be astonished when then they wake up and realise that America has become the Beast of Revelation. America was the only nation ever established with a deliberate intent of being the Kingdom of God earth. John Winthrop, one of the early colonists, wrote these famous words.
For we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill (Winthrop Papers).The United States was intended to be the city set on the hill that would reveal God's glory to the world. For many years, the United States has been seen widely recognised as the ultimate Christian nation. Most Christians will not be able to believe that it is morphing in the Beast of Revelation. They will not be able to understand why a nation that started so well has fallen so far.
Unholy Quadunity
American hegemony and power operate in various ways:
These forces work together. The American entertainment industry has encouraged the export of American culture. American military power extends the reach of the American economy. American political power is enhanced by the globalisation of the American economy. These four forces have worked together to give the United States a dominant position in the world.
Americans do not see this as hegemony, but as exporting American values of freedom and democracy to the rest of the world. The United States has become an imperialistic nation, with the goal of saving the world from evil. The underlying motivation might be good, but eventually this enormous power will corrupt those who exercise it. Recent presidents have had good intentions, but they have overseen a vast increase in American power. Power is always dangerous. Messianic power is even more dangerous. American hegemony will be perverted for evil ends.
Time of Distress
The Beast of Revelation emerges in a Time of Distress. The Seven Seals of Revelation describe a series of tumultuous events that release terrible fear on earth. The people of the world will look for to human governments to rescue them from them these tribulations. This allows the emergence of the most powerful human government that has ever existed on earth. Daniel and John refer to this enormous power as The Beast because it is both a government and a nation.
The first of the seven seals have already been opened and the Time of Distress has begun, so the Beast must already be emerging. The United States is the only government in the world that has the military and economic strength to step into this role. It has no real competitors.
The Beast is already visible, but most Christians have not recognised it, because they are looking in the wrong place. They have been taught that the Beast will emerge in Europe, but this is wrong. The Beast develops in a place where a number of states joined to become one. That already happened in America in 1787 and was confirmed in 1865.
Confusion over the future of America has prevented Christians from seeing the rise of the Beast. Many political and economic commentators believe that America is about to collapse. They are wrong. Worldwide disaster and distress will strengthen the hand of the American government. This is already happening, but Christians have not noticed.
Many Christians are surprised that the United States is not mentioned in Revelation and Daniel, but they have missed the fact that the United States is the dominant character in these prophecies. It is well on the way to becoming the Beast described in Daniel and Johns visions.
Fear of Islam
Many Christians fear that Islam will take over the United States. Although the scriptures warn of a struggle between the Islamic nations and the United States, America will not be invaded or forced to convert to Islam. The greatest danger to America comes from a within, and most Christians are unaware.
The advance of radical Islam is the first seal in Revelation 6 (the bowmen on a white horse). It sets off a chain of events that leads to the empowerment of the Beast. Therefore it is not surprising that the threat of Islamic terrorism has produced an amazing aggrandisement of power in the United States. As the fear of Islam increases, especially if it is stirred up by some frightening incidents, the government will demand more and more power to expand the American empire. People who are afraid will gladly give power to the politicians who promise to protect them. Americans will wake up one up one day and realise that Islam is still just a threat, but America has become the Beast.
Grouching towards the Beast
Some economists and prophets claim that the American economy is collapsing. They saw the Global Financial Crisis has a terminal blow. They are wrong. The credit crunch did not destroy American power. The productive base of the United States is too strong. After a few brief hiccups, the underlying power of the American economy will become stronger than ever. It will continue to grow until this Democratic Beast has completed its adventures.
The main consequence of the credit crunch has been an enormous increase of state power in America. Crises always lead to an expansion in the power of government, as the people demanded political action to solve the problems that are disrupting their lives. The only impact of the credit crunch will be a sharp shift from freedom and independence towards state subservience and control. This radical change has happened without even a whimper of protest.
The American government has made some huge interventions in the economy and most Americans are cheering. People who would not accept telephone number that includes the digits 666 are glad to have the state bailing out the banks and automakers. They will never be a credible resistance against the creeping power of government again.
The home of market capitalism and the bastion of independence has become the breeding ground for state power. Faith in the state has grown rapidly in the United States over the last few decades. The beauty of the Democratic Beast is that it does not seize power by force. It is freely given power by people who prefer peace and plenty to freedom and faith.
A combination of collapsing faith and widespread crisis has created a perfect breeding ground for the growth of democratic political power. God would have to open the eyes of the American people to prevent this from happening. That would require an enormous move of the Holy Spirit and widespread repentance. There are no signs that this is going to happen. The more likely outcome is more of the same.
America is slowly grouching toward the Beast.
Many Christians are advocates of Messianic Imperialism. They believe that American leadership of the world is the best way to fight evil. However, fighting evil human government with better human government is dangerous, because it just produces greater human government. The greater the evil confronted, the greater the human government becomes. Evil cannot be overcome evil.
Return to the Democratic Beast.
