Whore Beast 666 of Revelation

The Beast, whore 666

Please ignore all spelling and punctuation errors due to the fact that my hands were paralyzed. I rely on voice recognition software that is not always adequate. Thank you.

Beast, Israel, 666

The mark of the Beast 666 & the whore of Revelation

Rev. 13:16

"He also caused everyone...to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead."(No one may buy or sell: The Israeli Zealots minted their own coins beginning in AD 66 to represent their independence from Rome and discontinued the use of other coins in Jerusalem, at Masada (60 miles away), and perhaps elsewhere; some were labeled “For the Redemption of Zion”; referenced in Revelation 13:17)

For starters, it's interesting to compare this verse to Deut. 6:8

"Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."

Here it's talking about the words of God, the law, and using the symbols on the hands and foreheads as a symbolic mark of the Israelites knowing and putting into action the law. You see the law was holy, but the problem was no man or woman was able to keep all the laws so it always resulted in them sinning. I believe that the same case is present with the mark in Revelation. Now they would have the opposite mark put on them the number of man 666. The law that had started out as something God wanted tied to their hands on foreheads was now an evil mark, because Jesus brought a new covenant and those who would not stop practicing the law were now not Gods people. Just like the great whore and we know who she was because she was wearing the exact description of what the high priests wore in Rev 17:4 (compare with Exodus 28:5-6, 9-10) “The priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.” Its interesting that God chose 6 twice. The high priest in Jesus day were the ones who wore that attire. They also drank from gold goblets. This is not a description of the Catholic church. God was never married to the Catholic church, so he never called her a whore. He was married to Israel and called her a whore, harlot, adulter in all the scriptures I will put below. Jesus also told the high priest in Matthew 23 that they were guilty of all the righteous blood shed on the earth from Abel to Zacharias. Then in Rev 17:6 it says the whore was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Making the whore the high priest of Israel. Well the high priest outfit had holy to the Lord written on their foreheads of their head piece and they had become evil and in Rev 17:5 it said and upon her forehead talking about the whore was a name written mystery Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth. God had put the opposite name on the high priest forehead just like he had caused the opposite mark on those who were once his people because God had wanted them to stop practicing the law, because he had fulfilled it. He wanted them to accept him as their messiah and his new covenant message, but they rejected him. So now that mark that represented the law that was tied to their forehead and hand had become the opposite mark that it started out to be. Let me put it this way, if the mark of the beast can be at all taken as symbolic, as I believe it can, then it is not hard to believe that this prophecy has already been fulfilled (especially when you look further into the number of the beast and it's first-century connection). Of course if you really want to, you can take it literally, but with all the other evidence, it's not likely. They were being judged under the law and the law had their wives, who were found in adultery stoned, so God had his old bride who was an adulterer and had been given time after time to repent to be stoned he did this in 66-70 A.D

1,000 pound hail stones-

The whore is stoned

The Romans used catapults that shot 100lb WHITE stones which destroyed much of the city. It could be coincidence, but with all the other evidence pointing to the A.D. 70 fulfillment, it seems like this is a very likely and adequate explanation.

About the hailstones? It's written clear as day in Flavius Josephus' "Wars of the Jews," which is arguably the most detailed account of the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 in existence. Book V, Chapter VI, Section III:

"The engines, that all the legions had ready prepared for them, were admirably contrived; but still more extraordinary ones belonged to the tenth legion: those that threw darts and those that threw stones were more forcible and larger than the rest, by which they not only repelled the excursions of the Jews, but drove those away that were upon the walls also. Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent (1), and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness; accordingly the watchmen that sat upon the towers gave them notice when the engine was let go, and the stone came from it, and cried out aloud, in their own country language, THE STONE COMETH so those that were in its way stood off, and threw themselves down upon the ground;"

Peter calls the Jews Brute Beasts. 2 Peter 2:10-12- 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Proof of Israels adultery

I will highlight and make bold all the times Israel was called a whore, harlot or caught in adultery.

Ezekiel 16 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: “Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born.

6 “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7 I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.

8 “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God. (This happened on MT Sinai when God gave them their marriage vows, which was the 10 commandments and they agreed to go by them.

9 “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. 14 Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God.

Jerusalem’s Harlotry

15 “But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotryon everyone passing by who would have it. 16 You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be. 17 You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them. 18 You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set My oil and My incense before them. 19 Also My food which I gave you—the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey which I fed you—you set it before them as sweet incense; and so it was,” says the Lord God.

20 “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, 21 that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire? 22 And in all your abominations and acts of harlotry you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, struggling in your blood.

23 “Then it was so, after all your wickedness—‘Woe, woe to you!’ says the Lord God— 24 that you also built for yourself a shrine, and made a high place for yourself in every street. 25 You built your high places at the head of every road, and made your beauty to be abhorred. You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry. 26 You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very fleshly neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry to provoke Me to anger.

27 “Behold, therefore, I stretched out My hand against you, diminished your allotment, and gave you up to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. 28 You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. 29 Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied.

30 “How degenerate is your heart!” says the Lord God, “seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazenharlot.

Jerusalem’s Adultery

31 “You erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high place in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you scorned payment. 32 You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband. 33 Men make payment to all harlots, but you made your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry. 34 You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite.”

Jerusalem’s Lovers Will Abuse Her

35 ‘Now then, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord! 36 Thus says the Lord God: “Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, 37 surely, therefore, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved, and all those you hated; I will gather them from all around against you and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. 38 And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. 39 I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.

40 “They shall also bring up an assembly against you, and they shall stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords. 41 They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will make you cease playing the harlot, and you shall no longer hire lovers. 42 So I will lay to rest My fury toward you, and My jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet, and be angry no more. 43 Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but agitated Me[a] with all these things,surely I will also recompense your deeds on your own head,” (70 A.D judgment)says the Lord God. “And you shall not commit lewdness in addition to all your abominations.

More Wicked than Samaria and Sodom

44 “Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter!’ 45 You are your mother’s daughter, loathing husband and children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children; your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.

46 “Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who dwells to the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters. 47 You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.

48 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.[b]

51 “Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done. 52 You who judged your sisters,bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.

53 “When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back the captives of your captivity among them, 54 that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when you comforted them. 55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state. 56 For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria[c] and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere. 58 You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says the Lord. 59 For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

An Everlasting Covenant

60 “Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. (this was the new covenant that only a few believed) 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. 62 And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,”says the Lord God. ( he made an atonement at Calvary)

When you read Ezekiel 16:59 it becomes obvious that God was angry at the Israelites for all the times they had committed adultery on him. Notice that he calls them a harlot, which is the same thing as a whore. It seems in bible prophecy God always talks about judging Israel and then turns around and speaks of blessing her. This is because there were two Israels. The first Israelites were his bride that he married at Mt Sinai. He speaks of divorcing her though in the new testament. That is the Israel that he judged in 70 A.D and the Israel he is speaking about in Ezekiel 16:59. The Israelites in the above Ezekiel 16:59 60-63 is then the new Israelites. The new bride, believing Jew and Gentile in one body. There were not very many Israelites that believed. Just the small remnant. They were the ones who came to Mt Zion. The heavenly Jerusalem. That is why Jesus gave the parable of the wedding feast. The wedding feast was God burning the city and people who killed the servants and son that God sent to the vineyard. This happened in 70 A.D. That is why in the parable the wedding feast takes place right after the city burnt Matt 22:7. God married his new bride that made it to 70 A.D under the new covenant of grace. That was anyone believing Jew and Gentiles who were willing to come to the marriage feast Matt 22:9. They had to have the right garments. This is talking about those who had been baptized, because they were wearing white garments that had been washed in the blood of the lamb Matt 22:11. In 70 A.D is when the kings and solders were killed and Revelation 19:17-18 proves the wedding feast took place after the war, because it says; Rev 19:17-18 - 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

Speaking of vineyards, I believe the person who wrote this article found on this website had the natural or literal interpretation of 666. (bibleinsight.com) The bible says, "first comes the natural and then the spiritual." I believe the spiritual interpretation happened during the Jewish Roman war. I got this from pursuing truth by Adam Marrschalk.No one may buy or sell: During the Jewish Roman war- The Israeli Zealots minted their own coins beginning in AD 66 to represent their independence from Rome and discontinued the use of other coins in Jerusalem, at Masada (60 miles away), and perhaps elsewhere; some were labeled “For the Redemption of Zion”; referenced in Revelation 13:17

Number 666

The name/number of the beast from the sea is said to also be the number of a man (Rev 13:17-18). Obviously Israel is the name of a nation, which but also of a symbolic son of God (recall Exodus 4:22). At a lesser level we know that Jacob's name was changed by God to 'Israel', refer Gen 32:27-28). However, the number 666 also suggests 2nd lesser connection to another actual person, King Solomon!. a The number '666' is presented in some received texts as "600 60 6". While the bible almost always records numbers (both small and large) in word form (eg 'two hundred and seventy-six' in Acts 27:37) in this case the number is recorded in the numeric form (where letters are used to represent numbers). = Chi = 600 = Xi = 60 = Stigma = 6 The number '666' is referred to in 3 other places. - Ezra 2:13 - number of the people of Adonikam who

returned to Jerusalem from Babylon

- 1 Kings 10:14 - '666 talents of gold' - 2 Chron 9:13 - '666 talents of gold' The last two references are relevant. Both refer to a fixed annual income received every year by Solomon. The source of this income is not stated, but a number of possible sources are excluded. 1King 10:15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country. The fixed nature of this income suggests a 'rental income' and indeed Solomon was the recipient of a significant rental income from many large vineyards. Song 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; he leased the vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. :12 My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred (each). This rental income was also alluded to in Isaiah. Isa 7:23 It shall happen in that day, that wherever there could be a thousand vine(yards)s worth a thousand (mina each) of silver, It will be for briers and thorns. These verses indicate that in the time of Solomon;

1,000 silver x 1,000 vineyards x 200 people = 200 million silver pieces

= 1 million silver mina = 666 gold talents [ Notes 1) Indicates that each 200 silver pieces received composed a silver mina. (Probably the heavier shekels of the merchants - refer the shekel discussion in the 'Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin' prophecy presentation.) 2) For 1 million silver mina to equate to 666 gold talents a deflated value for silver would be necessary. During the reign of Solomon silver was indeed in excess supply and undervalued. 1 Kings 10:27 "And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones" 3) The word for 'calculate' or 'count' in Rev 13:18 is Strongs G5585 and means to 'use pebbles in enumeration'. (So is interesting that the above 1 Kings 10:27 verse compares silver to stones.) 4) There were 200,000 lots of rentable vineyard so vineyard managers would have existed to collect the rental income. This means that while individual renters may have paid in silver the final payment paid to Solomon by the Managers would have likely been in gold. From the above verses it appears that Solomon, as king of Israel, had control of Israel's vineyards and rented them to whom he pleased. In the same way the future beast would control who would be permitted to control the spiritual vineyard of God. In other words, who would be able to 'trade' in the wine/teachings of God. Here is an example of vineyards representing God's prophets, disciples, and saints preaching and teaching and being murdered for it.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner ( God ) who went out early in the morning to hire workers (Saints) for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others (Gentile) standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard (God) said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’(rewarded in the kingdom of God)

9 “The workers (Jews)who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. (God) 12 ‘These who were hired last (Gentiles) worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, (the Gentiles replaced Gods unbelieving Jews)and the first will be last.” (unbelieving Jews were replaced with the Gentiles and believing Jews in the new covenant)

The beast was Israel

Beast

Most people who are preterists believe the beast was Nero or Titus. The problem with Nero is that he was dead before Rev 19:19 where the beast was getting ready to make war against God and his army. This also is a problem for Titus being the beast because of the way that Rev 19:19 is worded. It says “ and I saw the beast (Israelites) and the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to make war against him (Jesus) that sat on the horse, and against his army (Romans). Most people will not argue that the man on the horse was Jesus, because Rev 19:11-16 leaves no doubt that it was Jesus on the horse. Jesus army was the Romans, because his old bride had committed adultery, crucified him and killed his saints and apostles and now he was using the Roman armies to destroy his old bride and their city. Knowing this when you read Rev 19:19 it is obvious the beast and his armies were on one side and Jesus and his armies (The Roman armies) were on the other side. That means neither Nero nor Titus could have been the beast. In the next verse in Rev 19:20 the beast was taken and with him the false prophet and they were cast alive into the lake of fire. Nero nor Titus were cast alive into the Lake of Fire. Nero committed suicide years before the war and Titus died and was not cast alive into the lake of fire either. The Israelites that rejected Christ were the ones that were in the lake of fire, which was the fires of Jerusalem burning in 70 A.D. In the old testament and in the new Testament the prophets would prophecy to Kings false prophecies because they didn't want to hear the truth. In verse 20, the false prophet was Israel. In the old testament the Gentiles were considered unclean and beasts. In the new testament the Israelites that rejected Jesus and his new covenant he divorced and his new people were the Gentiles and remnant of Jews that he spared. Now it was his old bride that had become the beast. Rev. 19 is the beginning of the story of the wedding feast. God invites the fowls to gather unto the supper of the great God in verse 17 God kills the remnant that rejected him, and the fowls were filled with their flesh, according to verse 21,. What's interesting is that they dined on the flesh of Kings, captains, and horses according to verse 18. If this were future, then they would not be dining on Kings. They would be dining on soldiers. Kings do not go to war literally. They send their soldiers to war. There are hardly any kings left in the world today. They would also not be dining on horses. because we have tanks and vehicles now. Remember futurists it can not be symbolic, because you believe that you are suppose to take bible prophecy literally.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-19

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity

Identifying the beast of Revelation 13:1-10 as various forms of Israel If you really want to understand who the beast was,read Adam Marsschalk's article on his website pursuing truth- https://adammaarschalk.com/2017/01/02/the-beast-of-revelation-was-zealot-led-israel-introduction-and-outline/ From the time I became a preterist in 2009 until about six months ago, I was convinced that the beast of the Book of Revelation was Nero and the Roman Empire. After all, the Greek philosopher Apollonius of Tyana (15-98 AD) explicitly referred to Nero as “a beast.” After all, a certain form of Nero’s name, “Nrwn Qsr,” when calculated using Hebrew gematria, is said to equal “666.” After all, Nero persecuted Christians…

At the same time, I was failing to reconcile the Rome/Nero model of the beast with certain passages in Daniel 2, Daniel 7, and Revelation 19. Despite those issues, I never thought I would abandon the Roman model of the beast. This was true even in July 2016 when I made a case for viewing the 10 horns of Revelation 17 as the 10 Jewish generals named by Josephus in Wars 2.20.3-4. For about a week, I considered a reader’s suggestion that there were three beasts in the book of Revelation: [1] the sea beast with seven heads and 10 horns (Roman) [2] the land beast with two horns a.k.a. the false prophet (Jewish), and [3] the scarlet beast with seven heads and 10 horns (Jewish). Ultimately, that didn’t work either.

I decided it was time to restudy and reconsider “the beast.” I decided to not only pay attention to all 35 verses where a beast is mentioned in Revelation, but also to reconcile this study with what is said about the fourth beast/kingdom in Daniel 2 and 7. This study has revealed that the fourth beast – depicted first as iron, and later as iron and clay (Daniel 2:40-43) – was not Rome and Nero. It was Israel, and it was the Zealots who conquered that nation like kings and brought it to destruction.

If we take a close look at Daniel 2 and 7, and then compare it to what Jesus said in Matthew 21:43-45, isn’t it clear that Jesus identified Israel (and its leaders) as the “feet of iron and clay” that would soon be struck and crushed by the rock in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? Didn’t Jesus portray Israel, not Rome, as the fourth kingdom which would lose the kingdom and be destroyed at the very time that it would be given into the hands of the saints? In this series, we will take a deeper look at all this and more in Daniel 2 and 7 before going on to examine various passages in Revelation 11, 13-17, and 19-20 which speak about the beast.

A Summary of Evidence that the Beast Was Israel, Not Rome

The following is some of the evidence that will be shown in this series for why the beast of Revelation was Israel and not Rome:

*Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image in his dream, and the legs and feet (Daniel 2:33, 40) were the fourth kingdom. Babylon was the head of that image (verse 38), and the feet were the final stage. When the feet were struck by the stone, they were broken into pieces and the entire statue was crushed (verses 34-35, 44-45). At that time, the kingdom of God was set up (verses 35, 44). At that time, Rome was neither crushed nor in its final stage, but Israel was crushed (see Matthew 21:43-44).

*The fourth beast of Daniel 7 was a fourth kingdom (verses 7, 17, 23). Daniel watched as the fourth “beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame” (verse 11). This did not happen to Rome, but it definitely happened to Israel.

*Revelation 11 says that the beast would kill the two witnesses, and that in that same hour an earthquake would kill 7000 people in Jerusalem. In Wars of the Jews Josephus describes an earthquake which took place in late February or early March 68 AD. That same night an army of Idumeans, working on behalf of the Zealots, killed those who tried to keep them out of the city. The next morning 8500 dead bodies were found. The Romans were not in Jerusalem from November 66 AD until early 70 AD, but the Jewish Zealots were there and they not only engaged in mass murder at that time but also prevented victims from being buried (Rev. 11:9).

*In Revelation 13:4 those who worshipped the beast said, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” In Jewish education, it’s taught that Judah Maccabee carried the following expression on his standard when he went to battle around 165 BC: “Who is like unto thee among the mighty, O Lord!” Apparently, a strikingly similar expression was attributed to the Zealots when they slaughtered Roman garrisons at Masada and Jerusalem, and surprisingly defeated the armies of Cestius Gallus in November 66 AD. This expression reflected the excited hope that the Zealots were about to obtain full independence for Judea the way the Maccabees did 200 years before that.

*Revelation 13 shows a second beast, later called “the false prophet,” working closely with and on behalf of the first beast, and even performing signs and wonders. Josephus repeatedly spoke of false prophets working closely with the Zealots (in fact, being hired by them), promoting the war agenda of the Zealots, and claiming to perform signs and wonders.

*The fifth bowl judgment (Revelation 16:10) was poured out “on the throne of the beast,” resulting in darkness, sores, and pain. In Leviticus 26:18-28 God repeatedly warned Israel that a time would come when they would be punished “seven times” for their sins, as God would execute the vengeance of His covenant (verse 25). It’s no coincidence that the covenant imagery of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) appears in the opening of the seventh seal, the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and the pouring out of the seventh bowl. Those seven-fold judgments were reserved for Israel alone. They were not for Rome, so it follows that when the fifth bowl judgment was poured out “on the throne of the beast,” it was Israel, not Rome, which experienced that darkness and pain. It was Israel that hosted the kingdom of the beast.

*Revelation 16:13-14 describes the dragon, beast, and false prophet working together to gather a mass of people to a great battle. Josephus went to great lengths to describe how the Zealots and the false prophets worked together to compel the people of Israel to go to war, killing and torturing those who wouldn’t go along with their agenda.

*In Revelation 17:3 the beast was shown to be scarlet for a reason that was significant to first century Israel. According to both the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud, on the Day of Atonement a scapegoat bearing the sins of the people would be released into the wilderness (see Leviticus 16). The scapegoat would wear a crimson (red/scarlet)-colored strap, and it would become white once it reached the wilderness, indicating that God had forgiven their sins. This miracle happened every year. However, says the Babylonian Talmud, “During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ‘For the Lord’ did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white.” Also according to the Jerusalem Talmud, “the crimson thread remained crimson.” This appears to be why the beast was seen as scarlet.

*In Revelation 17:16 John was told that the 10 horns of the beast would make the harlot desolate, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. Josephus repeatedly blamed the Jewish Zealots for the destruction of Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple. He also repeatedly blamed the Zealots for the fire that consumed the temple. He even referred to the Zealots as a wild beast eating its own flesh.

*In Revelation 19:19-20, it’s said that the beast would be captured at the coming of Christ and cast into the lake of fire. This did not happen to Nero or Rome in the first century, but it happened to the Zealot leaders of Israel.

Paul, Peter, and Jude Referred to the Jewish Leaders as “Beasts”

In I Corinthians 15:32 Paul said that he had “fought with beasts at Ephesus.” There is no record that he wrestled with bears, mountain lions, or any other animal. He did, however, deal with Judaizers (Acts 19:8-9, Ephesians 6:12; I Timothy 1:3-4). Likewise, Peter referred to the false prophets (II Peter 2:1) of his day as “natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed” (verse 12).

Jude also said that there were “brute beasts” (Jude 10) among the saints, and that Enoch had prophesied about them that Christ would come “with ten thousands of His saints [or ‘angels’], to execute judgment on all” (Jude 14-15). This prophecy is found in Enoch 1:9, and Enoch specified that it would happen 70 generations after the time of Noah (Enoch 10:11-14). Luke confirmed that Jesus’ generation was that 70th generation (Luke 3:23-37).

Josephus Also Referred to the Jewish Leaders as “Beasts”

In early 68 AD Jesus, one of the former high priests, gave this description of the Jewish Zealots in his speech to the Idumeans who had been invited by the Zealots to make war on Jerusalem:

“You may, if you please, come into the city, though not in the way of war, and take a view of the marks still remaining of what I now say, and may see the houses that have been depopulated by their rapacious hands, with those wives and families that are in black, mourning for their slaughtered relations; as also you may hear their groans and lamentations all the city over; for there is nobody but hath tasted of the incursions of these profane wretches, who have proceeded to that degree of madness, as not only to have transferred their impudent robberies out of the country, and the remote cities, into this city, the very face and head of the whole nation, but out of the city into the temple also; for that is now made their receptacle and refuge, and the fountain-head whence their preparations are made against us. And this place, which is adored by the habitable world, and honored by such as only know it by report, as far as the ends of the earth, is trampled upon by these wild beasts born among ourselves” (Wars 4.4.3).

Josephus described Simon Bar Giora, a Zealot leader, in this way:

“This success of Simon excited the zealots afresh; and though they were afraid to fight him openly in a fair battle, yet did they lay ambushes in the passes, and seized upon his wife, with a considerable number of her attendants; whereupon they came back to the city rejoicing, as if they had taken Simon himself captive, and were in present expectation that he would lay down his arms, and make supplication to them for his wife; but instead of indulging any merciful affection, he grew very angry at them for seizing his beloved wife; so he came to the wall of Jerusalem, and, like wild beasts when they are wounded, and cannot overtake those that wounded them, he vented his spleen upon all persons that he met with. Accordingly, he caught all those that were come out of the city gates, either to gather herbs or sticks, who were unarmed and in years; he then tormented them and destroyed them, out of the immense rage he was in, and was almost ready to taste the very flesh of their dead bodies” (Wars 4.9.8).

Later he gave this description of the civil wars in Jerusalem:

“When therefore Titus had marched over that desert which lies between Egypt and Syria, in the manner forementioned, he came to Cesarea, having resolved to set his forces in order at that place, before he began the war. Nay, indeed, while he was assisting his father at Alexandria, in settling that government which had been newly conferred upon them by God, it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived, and parted into three factions, and that one faction fought against the other; which partition in such evil cases may be said to be a good thing, and the effect of Divine justice. Now as to the attack the zealots made upon the people, and which I esteem the beginning of the city’s destruction, it hath been already explained after an accurate manner; as also whence it arose, and to how great a mischief it was increased. But for the present sedition, one should not mistake if he called it a sedition begotten by another sedition, and to be like a wild beast grown mad, which, for want of food from abroad, fell now upon eating its own flesh” (Wars 5.1.1).

Other references to the Jews as “beasts” can be seen in Wars 3.8.6 and Wars 5.2.5.

Series Outline

A. INTRODUCTION

1. A Comparison of Matthew 21:43-45 and Daniel 2:34-35, 44; 7:23, 27

2. A Summary of Evidence in Revelation that the Beast Was Israel, Not Rome

a. Peter, Jude, and Josephus Referred to the Jewish Leaders as “Beasts”

b. 35 Verses Which Speak of a “Beast” in Revelation

B. DANIEL 2

1. Daniel 2:31-45 (Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream)

2. Kingdom #1 (Gold / Head) to Kingdom #2 (Silver / Chest and Arms)

3. Kingdom #2 (Silver / Chest and Arms) to Kingdom #3 (Bronze / Belly and Thighs)

a. Greece’s Rule Over Israel from 323 BC to 164 BC

b. The Jewish Hammer

4. Kingdom #3 (Bronze/Belly & Thighs) to Kingdom #4 (Iron & Iron-Clay/Legs & Feet)

a. The Jews Regain Their Independence

b. The Judean Kingdom Divided

c. They Will Not Adhere to One Another

5. Kingdom #4 (Iron & Iron-Clay/Legs & Feet) to the Everlasting Kingdom (God’s Mountain)

C. DANIEL 7

1. Daniel 7:2-8, 11-12, 16-27 (Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts)

2. Overview of the Four Beasts

3. The Fourth Beast

a. Devouring, Breaking, and Trampling (Daniel 7:7)

b. Different from All Other Kingdoms (Daniel 7:7, 23)

c. Ten Horns of the Beast (Daniel 7:7, 20, 24)

4. An 11th Horn, “A Little Horn”

a. A Little Horn Coming Up Among the 10 Horns (Daniel 7:8, 20-21, 24-26)

b. Three Horns Plucked Out by the Roots (Daniel 7:8, 20, 24)

c. A Mouth Speaking Pompous Words (Daniel 7:8, 11, 20)

d. The Body of the Fourth Beast Destroyed and Burned (Daniel 7:11)

e. The Lives of the Other Beasts Were Prolonged (Daniel 7:12)

f. The Kingdom Given to the Saints (Daniel 7:17-18, 21-22, 26-27)

g. The Little Horn Would Change Times and Law (Daniel 7:25)

h. The Saints Given Into the Hand of the Little Horn (Daniel 7:21, 25)

5. Were Christians in Jerusalem During the Jewish-Roman War?

a. Nero’s Government Helped Protect the Christians in Pella

D. REVELATION 11

1. Gentiles in Revelation 11:1-2

2. The Two Witnesses and the Beast

E. REVELATION 13

1. Revelation 13:1-2

a. The Beast’s 10 Horns

b. The Dragon

2. Revelation 13:3

a. Leaders of the Zealot Movement

b. The Beast’s Seven Heads

c. The Mortally Wounded Head Was Healed

3. Revelation 13:4 (Who Is Able to Make War with the Beast?)

4. Revelation 13:5-10

a. Given Authority to Continue for 42 Months

b. Making War with the Saints

5. Revelation 13:11-15

a. The Second Beast from the Land

b. False Prophets Working Closely with the Beast

6. Revelation 13:16-18 (The Mark and the Number ‘666’)

F. REVELATION 14-16

1. Revelation 14:9-11 (Consequences for Worshiping the Beast)

2. Revelation 15:2 (Those Who Have the Victory Over the Beast)

3. Revelation 16:2 (The First Bowl and Sores for Those Who Worshiped the Beast)

4. Revelation 16:10 (The Fifth Bowl Poured on the Throne and Kingdom of the Beast)

5. Revelation 16:13 (Unclean Spirits from the Mouths of the Dragon, Beast, False Prophet)

G. REVELATION 17

1. Revelation 17:3 (A Woman on a Scarlet Beast)

2. Revelation 17:7-11 (Seven Kings and an Eighth)

3. Revelation 17:12-17 (The Ten Horns)

a. Making War with the Lamb

b. Making the Harlot Desolate, Eating Her Flesh, and Burning Her with Fire

H. REVELATION 19

1. The Beast and His Armies Gathered To Make War

2. The Beast and the False Prophet Captured and Cast into the Lake of Fire

I. REVELATION 20

1. Satan Bound; Those Who Overcame the Beast Reigned with Christ

2. Satan Released; Gathers the Nations to another Battle

a. Satan Joins the Beast and False Prophet in the Lake of Fire

J. CONCLUSION

35 Verses Which Speak of a “Beast” in Revelation

The beast is spoken of in 35 verses in the book of Revelation (NKJV) – directly in 29 verses, and by a pronoun (“he” or “him”) in six more. To be clear, nine of these verses (Revelation 13:11-16; 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10) speak of a second beast, later called “the false prophet.” I’ve highlighted the references to “the beast” in red, and the references to the second beast, a.k.a. “the false prophet,” in green. These are the passages that will be examined in this series, along with Daniel 2 and 7:

Marks in the bible

No one may buy or sell: During the Jewish Roman war- The Israeli Zealots minted their own coins beginning in AD 66 to represent their independence from Rome and discontinued the use of other coins in Jerusalem, at Masada (60 miles away), and perhaps elsewhere; some were labeled “For the Redemption of Zion”; referenced in Revelation 13:17

A Mark (seal, sign, token, frontlet) is placed upon the forehead or hands, either as a sign of a curse or as a sign of redemption.

• • Genesis 4:15: God places a mark on the covenant breaking Cain, so nobody would kill him.

  • Exodus 28:36-38: Priests of God wore a gold plate upon theirforehead, symbolizing the redeemed man.

  • Exodus 13:9,16, Deuteronomy 6:6,8; 11:18: A mark upon theforehead and hand was a symbol of total obedience to God’s Law.

  • Solomon 8:6: A seal upon the heart and arm is symbolic of alove for someone.

  • Isaiah 49:16: God has graven His people on the palms of Hishands as a sign that he would not forget them.

  • Ezekiel 9:4: A mark upon the forehead was indicative of theirallegiance to the Lord in the midst of abomination.

  • Revelation 13:16-17: The Beast places a mark on the hand orforehead of his followers also. This mark is his name (which represents ones character).

  • Revelation 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20: Those who receive the markof the Beast (worship something other than God) will be tormented. Which means...

  • Revelation 9:4: Those who do not have the seal of God in theirforehead will be tormented. The Beast’s mark is contrasted to God’s mark!

  • Revelation 20:4: Those who do not receive the Beasts’ markwill be the keepers of God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus.

  • Revelation 15:2: To keep the Word of God is to overcome and be victorious over the mark, or name, or character, of the Beast.

  • Revelation 3:12: The name of God will be written upon those who overcome.

  • Revelation 7:3; 14:1; 22:4: Where will the name of God be written? It will be sealed in their foreheads!

Revelation 19:13: What exactly is the name of God that’ll be written in their foreheads? It isThe Word Of God! (See also John 1:1,14). In other words, Scripture, God's Word, will be in their hearts, minds, and souls!

Revelation 13:16-18 is based on Ezekiel 8 and 9. The "mark" symbolized the spiritual condition of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The ones with the "mark" were in allegiance with God. However, in Revelation, the mark is reversed. That is to say, the mark was on those who were against God and had allegiance to the "beast

A Name represents ones Character

Biblically, a name represents one’s character. This is why God changed the name of his servants (Genesis 17:5,15; 32:28; 35:10, 2 Samuel 12:25, Acts 13:9), and told parents what to name their unborn child (Genesis 16:11; 17:19, 1 Chronicles 22:9, Isaiah 7:14, Hosea 1:4,6,9, Matthew 1:21,24, Luke 1:13,31), and why men have chosen one name over another for their child (Judges 6:32, Genesis 35:18, Luke 1:59-60), and why name's of cities have been changed (Genesis 28:19): to reflect their character!

God wanted to seal his name, his character, his Law in his people

(Isaiah 8:16). God’s character is God’s Law, and is described in the Word of God. God’ Law was going to be written in the hearts and minds (foreheads) of the first century church, Hebrews 10:16, Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26.

"

The Mark in the Right Hand

Revelation 13:16 says the Mark will be placed in the "right hand." Again, this is a symbolicterm used to denote a position of power. The Lord is said to be at one's "right hand"(Psalm16:8-I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.;73:23-Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. ;

121:5-The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

Isaiah 41:13- For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you

45:1-This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor,

to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut

63:12-who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand,who divided the waters before them,to gain for himself everlasting renown

Acts 2:25- David said about him:‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

so the right hand is symbolic for who your Lord is, who you obey. The "right hand" denotes the power of the Lord

Exo.15:6,12-Your right hand, Lord,was majestic in power.Your right hand, Lord,shattered the enemy.9-I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’12 You stretch out your right handand the earth swallows your enemies.

Psalm 16:11-You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.o

17:7-Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand

those who take refuge in you from their foes.

18:35-You make your saving help my shield,and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great

20:6-Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand

48:10-Like your name, O God,your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness

60:5-Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered

63:8-I cling to you; your right hand upholds me

77:10-Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand

98:1-Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy armhave worked salvation for him.

118:15-16-Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”

139:10- even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast

Isaiah41:10-So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

48:13- My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens;when I summon them, they all stand up together

62:8-The Lord has sworn by his right handand by his mighty arm:

“Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled

Eze.21:22-Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works

Hab.2:16-You will be filled with shame instead of glory.Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed[]!The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,

and disgrace will cover your glory

Acts 5:31- God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.

and the power of Jesus Christ (Mat.26:64, Mark 14:62). Jesus is at the "right hand" of the Father (Psalm 110:1,5, Mat.22:44, Mark 12:36; 16:19, Luke 20:42; 22:69, Acts 2:33-34; 7:55-56, Rom.8:34, Eph.1:20, Col.3:1, Heb.1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2, 1Pet.3:22).

The "right hand" also denotes work (Psalm 78:54; 80:15), and the power of man (Psalm 45:9; 89:13). The "right hand" could be an adversary of the Lord (Psalm 21:8; 89:42, Lam.2:4, Zech.3:1). A right hand denoted falsehood (Psalm 144:8,11). A wise man's heart is at his right hand (Ecc.10:2), and whatever you embrace with the "right hand" is where your heart is (Sol.2:6; 8:3). Similarly to how Jesus places the things he values on his right hand, and the things he despises on his left (Mat.25:33-34), the right hand is symbolic for the things we value more than other things. Was thier right hand the mark of obedience to God Law, or to man's law?

"In" or "On"?

Some might claim that Revelation speaks of the mark being "in" the hand, whereas other books speak of the mark being "on" their hand. In Revelation 13:16; 14:9, the term "in" is Greek word #1909, epi, and there isno difference between the word "in" or "on". This same Greek word is translated as both "in" and "on" in Revelation 4:2,4; 5:1; 6:5; 7:15; 9:17; 10:2; 13:14; 14:1,6,14-16; 17:8; 18:19, and 20:6. Notice especially Revelation 5:1 for proof that the phrase "in the right hand" does not mean literally inside the right hand. And Revelation 10:2 for proof that "in his hand" does not mean literally inside his hand. And Revelation 14:1, in which the word "in" as used in the phrase "in their foreheads" is translated as "on" in the very same verse!

Were "things" sin?

What was sin? Sin was breaking God's old covenant Law. The bible says sin is lawlessness. It also says without the law there is no sin. Things, in and of themselves, were not a sin. For example,was accepting a sword a sin? No. It was what they willfully did with the sword that constituted whether it was a sin or not. Was a neighbor's wife sin? No, only the act or thought of adultery with that wife was a sin. If John is in a store, and Mugsy takes a watch from a shelf, and placed that watch in John's pocket without his knowledge, and John walks out of the store with that watch, did John commit a sin by stealing that watch? No, because the watch was forced upon him without his knowing it. Was that watch itself a sin? No. Only acts or thoughts were a sin. Not things. The Bible clearly teaches this. If anyone teaches a verse in the Bible that contradicts this, and teaches that a thing was / is a sin, and that a Christian can burn in hell for doing something unwillfully, unintentionally, and unconsciously, then that verse in the Bible must be studied, for the Bible does not contradict itself.

Those futurists who say that the Mark of the Beast will be literal, and that if anyone takes a mark in their hand or forehead they commit sin, is saying that a thing, the mark itself, was sin. They are saying when this mark is forced upon people, even if they take this mark unconsciously, unwillfully, or unintentionally, then it was still a sin. This contradicts the entire teaching of sin in the Bible. They say, "It does not matter what one does in thought or deed with this mark, because this mark, this thing itself, is sin". They are saying it was no longer what you do with this mark, if you accept this mark, because you are automatically guilty. This was not the teaching of God and his principles.

My point is Israel was the beast, the high priest was the whore, and the law tied to the hands and foreheads of those who refused to accept Gods new covenant of grace was the law and not a literal mark. It is not a computer chip. Nowhere in the bible does it describe a computer chip. The false prophet were Israelites that told the kings in the old and new testament what they wanted to hear,