John
the apostle shared how he, “stood
upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and
upon his heads the name of blasphemy”,
and in chapter thirteen and verse two of Revelation John shared
characteristics of “the
beast” where
we read:
And
the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the
dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The
verse reads, “And
the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear,”
John
began with the words, “and
the beast”
which means “and the ferocious animal” “which
I saw”
or “that John perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned” “was
like unto”
which means “was similar to and as” “a
leopard”
or “a pard, panther or leopard which is a very fierce Asiatic and
African animal which has a tawny skin marked with large black spots”,
“and
his feet”
which means “and the beast's feet” “were
as the feet”
or “were similar to and like those” “of
a bear”
which refers to “which pertain to a ferocious bear”.
John noticed how this “ferocious beast”
appeared like a “leopard”
with “bear's
feet”.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power,
and his seat, and great authority.”
John
added the words, “and
his mouth”
which means “and the beast's orifice used for eating and drinking
in it's face” “as
the mouth of a lion”
or “was like the orifice in the face of a roaring lion”:
“and
the dragon”
which means “and the serpent or snake-like creature” “gave
him”
or “granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied this ferocious beast
with” “his
power”
which means “the beast's strength, ability and might”; “and
his seat”
which means “and the beast's
throne or kingly power and royalty”, “and
great authority”
or “and massive and abundant power of choice, doing as he pleases,
right and privilege”. John noticed the “mouth”
of the “beast”
was like a “lion's”
and that the “dragon
or the devil” granted this “beast”
all “power
and authority”.
When
we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we begin to see the
characteristics of this ferocious beast. A “leopard” look was
like the Grecian Empire. The “feet of a bear” represents the
Medo-Persian Empire, and the “mouth of a Lion” represents
the “Babylonian Empire”. All of these will be represented within
this “fierce beast” which John saw, and although “Satan – the
devil” shall grant him his power and authority upon the earth, we
should keep in mind that God Almighty is omnipotent over them all.
God desires to have a relationship with people through His Son Jesus
that will keep anyone who believes and trusts in Him from this awful
“beast”, and
those who are wise shall not only attempt to know what this
“beast” is or represents, but be assured they are aligned
with God and His way.
Next
time John shares how one
of the beast's heads was “wounded
unto death”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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