First, as we recall from Birds and Beasts, when the Bible talks about a "beast" as a person, it doesn't automatically mean a derogatory reference, or an animal, like much today. The words "Beast of the Field," as noted, could quite possibly mean the title of a particular group of people. In Revelation, in fact, the word "beast" was even
The book of Revelation clearly refers to a "beast" as a person, or angelic being. It also may stand for something else, such as, I believe, the system of influence under this angelic "beast." If we look closely at the verses of chapters 13 and 17, we see a "seven headed beast," one which comes out of the water, the other which comes out of the earth. What are these beasts? We know, in Genesis, the serpent (Nachash) was "more subltle than all the beasts of the field" (Genesis 3:1), which implies that he may also have been placed into the same group as these people, or a leader of them, in the garden (see Untold Eden). I believe the Bible is full of "parallels," or "repeats," in our history. As we recall from Matthew, Jesus stated the world of the end times would parallel the world of Noah (Matthew 24:37). The world in the days of Noah was terrible:
"And lasciviousness and fornication increased among the children of Cain, and they had nothing to occupy them except fornication - now they
had no obligation (to pay) tribute (taxes), and they had no prince or governor - and eating, and drinking, and lasciviousness, and drunkenness,
and dancing and singing to instruments of music... and the laughter which affordeth pleasure to the devils, and the sounds of the furious lust of
men neighing after women."
The Book of the Cave of Treasures: The First 1000 Years
Our culture begins to follow the "beast" when we begin to change our society into one that, again, easily adopts these same ways of the era of Noah. What about the rest: do we have a parallel to the religious or political side of this world? Do we have a parallel "beast" to the beast of Noah's day, in the garden? Possibly so. We know, probably, that the original serpent (or "beast") in the garden was named Azazel. We also know, from the garden story, that Satan "rode" the serpent: he was behind everything the serpent was saying and doing. The fallen angels of this day were chained in the depts of hell for their disobediance (II Peter 2:4). Possibly, Azazel was one among them. From this, it is interesting enough to see, as well, there was a demon named Abaddon in Revelation, who would be released from his chains, and, in the future, be allowed to wreak havoc on man as the "beast." Could this "beast" be the same "beast" as of old? It even says, in Revelation 20:2, this modern beast would be known as that Old Serpent (or Serpent of Old), as well as the Devil (which, actually, comes from the same Hebrew root Nachash does). If this serpent is indeed the same angelic being as that of old, now allowed to make one last attempt to seduce mankind, what would be the seven heads which describes this beast? Apparently, it all comes back to Babylon. Another name for this serpent is the dragon (Revelation 20:2). Could the beast with seven heads have some relation to the ancient city of Babylon, or something that happened in Noah's day? Apparently, there is a lot more to this than most would believe, or know. The chosen people of God, those destined to carry on the seed of the first Adam to the last "Adam," were obviously the Israelites. Abraham was made a covenant, or promise, by God that through him would come the prophecised seed (of Jesus). According to ancient sources, Abraham, himself, was imprisoned by the leader of original Babylon: none other than Nimrod! These "heads," as we shall see, are none other than the number of "heads of state" that arrived since Nimrod, the number of heads who imprisioned the Israelites.The influences and system which began in Babylon continued on, through these 7 "heads," up to today. The style of politics, religion and culture of Noah's day was borrowed, and utilized, up to now; the only thing that changed were the names of those in power.
Jacob, Abraham's grandson, had his named changed by God to "Israel:" the father of this promised nation. He and his 12 sons (the "twelve tribes of Israel") were imprisoned by the Egyptians: "head" number 1. Since then, the children of Israel have been taken captive by 5 other "heads," or empires: the Assyrians, the Babylonians (a later Babylonian empire, under king Nebuchanezzer), Media/Persia, Greece and Rome. The total is 6: 6 "heads." This same "proof" lies in the book of Daniel, chapter 8. These two books have more to say about prophecy that most books in the Bible. Daniel stated there would be four empires which would lead up to the end times, since his day: Nebuchanezzer's Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece and Rome. Again, the same as Revelation. These fit perfectly in our scenerio.
In Genesis, we have Satan and Nachash. In Revelation, we also have two "beasts." These, I believe, are the systems of influence, a parallel to the two angels of the garden. One system comes from the "sea" (the political sea), the other comes from "earth" (the world of religion). They seem to parallel Satan, and his "riding" of Nachash in the garden. According to Revelation, one of these "beasts" (a whore) will ride the other, and "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him (Revelation 13:12). The religious "beast" will be behind the political "beast." There are seven "heads" to both this religious and political "beast." Lets find out, first, about both of these 7 heads, and what these two systems are:
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed..."
Revelation 13:3
What does this mean? Simply, there was one "head," or empire, wounded, as if it were dead, but it became healed, and again continued. As we recall, our 6th Gentile "head" that ruled over Israel (at the time of Revelation) was none other than Rome. The Romans ruled the children of Israel up to and during the time of Christ. After that, the nation of Israel was disbursed, not to become a nation again for almost two thousand years. In 1948, however, the nation of Israel was, once again, re-established, as well as the powerful influences of this city of Rome.
The Europen Union was established around the same time, all at the "Treaty of Rome." The nation which now encompasses Rome (Italy) was one of the founding countries of the Europen Union. This conglomerate became, in actuality, the "healed" empire that Rome originally headed:
Revelation 17:9 "And here the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman (or whore) sitteth."
Rome is one of the only cities of the world that sits on seven hills.
Revelation 17:10 "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short
space."
This tells us a great deal, which also agrees with our scenerio: at the time Revelation was written (the first century, A.D.), if we look at five kingdoms ruled over Israel, five which had indeed fallen from control over the Israeli nation (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece). There was one indeed still in control: Rome. The other (7th), according to this verse, is not yet come, but when he comes, he must continue a short space. The European Union has only been in existence some 50 years, a far cry from the hundreds of years other empires were in control over the Promised Land. Great Britain, a member of the European Union, was the country who had control over the land of Israel, and the one who gave it back to the Israeli people!