Part 3
Hi Beloved, here in part 3, we continue in verse Revelations 17:11
10- Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.
This verse sounds quite complicated, & I’ve read several interpretations, many which sound very much like doctrines of men & here I share some that follow good godly logic, which I consider to have more possibilities of being correct.
First, even though I already talked about this, I will say that because in the Scripture we find that the word “beast”, sometimes refers to a kingdom, & sometimes to the man that rules a kingdom, we have to see the context in which this word is placed to see if it is referring to a kingdom, or to the man that rules a kingdom. For example:
Rev 13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. And on its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads was the name of blasphemy.
You see the “beast” John sees in chapter 13:1 is not a man, because as we see that it has seven heads. Each head of the same beast in chapter 17:9-10 we see that the angel says are 7 mountains that represent 7 kings, so if each head is a king on the same beast, then the beast in that passage represents kingdoms. But then following the narrative in verse 13:3 we find
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of its heads as having been slain to death, and its deadly wound was healed. And all the earth marveled after the beast. Now the passage seems to be clearly referring to a man. I will say why. Analyzing the narrative of Revelations 13, we see that the people of the world worships Satan who gave his power to a man who is apparently raised from the dead, & the people say that there is no one like “the beast”, the man. This beast, a man, speaks great blasphemies against God, etc., he will make war with the Saints, will have authority over all nations & will be worshiped as God; this is a clear reference to none other than the Antichrist. The apostle Paul calls the Antichrist, this “beast”, the man of sin, the son of perdition, in 2Thes 2, who will set the abomination the Jesus predicted in Mat 24:15
The reason why I am making this point clear is because I have read some commentators who interpret this one head as a nation or a religious movement. Then when we read in this verse Rev 17:11… “the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth”, is talking about a man & not a kingdom. We see later on the 10 kings working hand in hand with the Antichrist.
1 - Now talking about “the beast that was, and is not”… I’ve heard a quite detailed explanation saying that since the beast existed & at the time of John the beast was not, it was referring to one of the kings with antichrist characteristics that lived before the times that John lived, & that the best one to fit that characteristic is Nimrod of Genesis 10:9-10, as he was not only the one behind the tower of Babel, but besides being the first world dictator, he was also worshiped as God according to the book of Josher, & when he died, he was embalmed & his dead body was set in a very safe tomb underneath the earth. Some modern archaeologists affirm they have found Nimrod’s tomb, & because of it some occultists affirm his death body will come back to life according to some of the books by mystical writers & will become the Antichrist. Well, that is one interpretation, even though I have an objection which I will share later on, it is possible, when we put into perspective the supernatural aspects which we are living & which will continue to be manifested more & more around us, all things are possible.
2 - Another interpretation which is also valid… “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition” refers to the fact that this beast in question, being the Antichrist, will be killed but will come back to life. We find quite a few verses who mentioned this, so it is obvious that the Lord wants us to make sure we don’t miss this point…
Rev 13:3… One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed,
Rev 13:12… the first beast whose mortal wound was healed.
In Revelations 11, we find the two Witnesses, who get killed by the Antichrist, & in this chapter he is described as..
Rev 11:7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. One aspect of Satan is that in order to deceive people, he copies many of the things that God does; using the power he has to make people believe he is God. So since Jesus rose from the death…
Act 2:31-32 (David) he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison, after his death & then after 3 days was risen, so sort of coming out from the abyss.
So most surely, if the Antichrist dies & rises from the abyss, he will certainly look like the “messiah”.
So the angel tells John, the beast that was, & is not because he was killed, but when he comes back he will be the eight, because even though he was the seventh, he will also be the eighth king. As far as the fact that John didn’t live in the end times to be told that the beast that was, it doesn’t really matters because John was there in the Spirit, watching those events as if he was actually there. So at the time he was being told that the “beast was”, was at the time he had been killed, but he was about to come out of the abyss & be the eight king even though he was originally one of the seventh, & will go into perdition, as he will end up in Hell, Rev 19:20.
I know this sounds a bit complicated, but please read it a couple of times & see if you catch the idea.
11- 12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom yet, but will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.
We find these ten kings, which sounds like some kind of union between countries, sort of like the European Union, who are somewhat united even though still independent, & who will reign for a very short time but with the Antichrist.
12- 13 These have one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
So they will give their alliance to the Antichrist & not only be his allies, but will also submit whatever their assets are to his political and military authority.
13- 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings; And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones.
These kings trust so much in the Antichrist that they apparently believe that their union with him will make them powerful enough that they can war against Jesus, which actually shows how stupid the will actually be, as of course they will get totally crushed by our King of kings. That is what happen to people when they abandon the reading of the Bible, otherwise they would know better… Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
We read in Revelations 16…
Rev 16:12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings that come from the sunrise. 13 I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.
See, when the sixth bowl of the wrath of God is poured upon the Earth then God allows Satan, the Antichrist & all their devils to go out throughout the Earth & this time deceive the kings of the Earth, one more time, for what is called the “Battle of Armageddon”.
Rev 16:16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
And this is how this battle will go on…
Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but himself.13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
14- 15 And he says to me, The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues,
Clear right, the waters where the harlot sits represent peoples and multitudes and nations in the world.
15- 16 and the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
We see here that for some reason these 10 kings will hate the Great City, & will turn against her.
17 For God gave into their hearts to do His mind, and to act with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words of God will be fulfilled.
We see here that the Antichrist also will turn against the harlot, kind of like some men who have turned against their lovers, & will kill her burning her with fire together with the ten kings. But we also see that God Himself allowed them to destroy the harlot to fulfill His Will, showing the sovereignty of God in the long run.
There is a passage in the book of Lamentation where Jeremiah laments for the Jerusalem of his days that has some similarities…
Lam 1:8 Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away.
So this is the end of part 3, I pray this is a blessing to you & will inspire you most of all to do your own studies & your own searching in the Bible & allow the Spirit of God to show you great & mighty things. Don’t forget that your questions are always welcome. Don’t miss part 4.
Love in Jesus… Alejandro
If this reading has been a blessing to you, please don’t hesitate to share it with the world. We need to be a blessing to others today, tomorrow may be too late. John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day. Night comes when no man can work.
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