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864A.
DO YOU HAVE THE SYMBOLIC MARK OF THE WILD BEAST,
OR THE NUMBER OF ITS NAME? (Rev 13:17).
The "wild beast":
Earthly kings of the past
disobedient before God.
Its "image":
Political systems today worshipped by people having satan's authority.
(Rev 13:2-4).
Those
with the "mark" make war with witnesses of God, conquer and "kill" them
(making all anointed ones spiritually inactive regarding peoples on earth). (Rev
11:7).
(Rev 13:1-4):
This symbolic
beast ascends out of the sea (of
mankind) with ten horns, seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems. Upon its
head, blasphemous names (of these kingdoms against God). Symbolically like a
leopard, with the feet of a bear, a lion's mouth, and the dragon's authority,
power and throne. (See JW book: 'Aid to Bible Understanding' under 'Beasts
symbolic'). Inhabitants of the earth follow the beast with admiration (pleased
contemplation, approval). Because the dragon gave its authority to the wild
beast, they worship the dragon satan. People ask,
"…who can do battle with it (with
the wild beast)?"
(V.5,6):
Wild beast speaks great things and blasphemies. It acts for 42 months (3½ years). It blasphemes against God, His Name, His residence, and those residing in heaven.
(V.7):
Wild beast allowed to wage war
upon
the holy ones and conquer them, with authority over
every tribe, people, tongue
and nation (spirit war against
holy anointed ones by all nations).
(V.8):
Those who worship it are not written in the "scroll of life" (will not be resurrected to life).
(V.11):
Another wild beast with two horns,
like a lamb (with deceptively 'innocent' appearance),
but speaking
like a dragon (satanic promotion of scientific technologies
through
wild beast).
(V.12):
Exercises all authority in sight of the first wild beast, and makes people
worship it.
(V.13):
Makes
fire descend from heaven to earth to be witnessed by mankind.
See
Page (18/1/94B).
(V.14):
Misleads mankind because of signs
it was granted to perform in sight of the wild beast.
Deludes people
into making an "image" to the wild beast that revived after its stroke.
(V.15):
Granted it to give "breath" to
(make active) this image so that it speaks and causes to be
"killed" all those refusing
to worship this image of the wild beast.
(V.16-18):
Puts
all persons under compulsion to receive the mark in right hand and/or forehead.
No one allowed to buy or sell (trade) without the mark. The mark is 666 a
man's number.
Includes those worshipping
earthly man-made systems through "Babylonian"-type doctrines not from God.
(Rev 17:3):
Scarlet-coloured
(shares in the guilt
of the blood of the holy ones).
(V.5-7):
Throughout the ages the wild beast has been a vehicle for "Babylon the great",
who is the original "mother" of "harlot" offspring.
(V.8):
Wild beast was, is not, but is
about to ascend out of the abyss. It is then destroyed.
Earth's inhabitants
wonder admiringly. Their names are not written in the "scroll of life".
(V.9):
Wild beast's heads are seven
mountains (or kings), carrying
the "harlot".
(V.10-12):
The
ten horns mean ten kings. The sixth king existed when John received the vision.
Seventh king is of short duration. Wild beast is an eighth king out of the other
seven, and are political kingly authorities. The ten kings receive authority as
kings for one hour with the wild beast.
(V.13-18):
The
ten kings have a single purpose, and confer their authority upon the wild beast.
These will battle with the Lamb. But the Lamb, and those called and chosen and
faithful, will conquer them. The ten horns and the wild beast will hate the
"harlot" and will strip and devastate her. They will devour her fleshy parts
(her authority and wealth), and will completely burn her with fire. God puts
His thought into their hearts, until the Words of God have been accomplished.
Earth's peoples
worshipping the wild beast carry out His/their thought against this "harlot"
authority over the kings of the earth.
Theocratist:
Believes in direct intervention and authority of God;
through revelation in government of society.
Bureau:
Government department.
Bureaucracy:
Government by bureaux, centralization; officialism; officials.
Government:
Portion of country ruled by a governor, province; system of governing,
form of polity; body or successive bodies of persons governing a state,
the state as an agent, an administration.
(Cont. on Page 864B).
22/1/79.
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