What is the Beast?

The beast of Revelation 14 can only be understood as we look back one chapter into the 13th. When the 14th chapter refers to "the beast", it must be referring to the beast of the 13th chapter because there is the nearest previous reference to a beast. It should be remembered that punctuation, capitalization, and chapter and verse breaks were entirely lacking in the original manuscripts from which our Bible is translated. These were later inserted by Bible translators in order to make the Bible more understandable. So, in fact, there is no Scriptural reason to break off chapter 13 where it is. The beast of chapter 13 follows obviously in the beast of chapter 14 if no chapter break is used to determine otherwise.

Let us examine this beast in chapter 13, for there it is described. In verse 1 we see this beast arise out of the sea (symbol for a populated area, Rev. 17:15). Next, in verse 2, we see some of the attributes of the beast. It bears certain characteristics of the nations which spawned it: Babylon (the lion), Medo-Persia (the bear), and Greece (the leopard). (See Daniel 7 for a description of these beasts and the world powers they symbolize.) The most important attribute of this beast is, however, that it receives its power from the dragon, which we know from Revelation 12 is Satan. So, it is clear that the beast has satanic origins and motivations.

In verse 3 we see that one of the heads of this beast receives a deadly wound--as unto death. But wait! The wound is healed and then the world wonders after the beast. In verse 4 we see that by worshiping the beast the world is inadvertently worshiping the dragon (Satan) who gives the beast its power.

In verse 5 we see that the beast speaks great words against God and has power for 42 months. The beast uses this power to overcome the saints of God, as seen in verse 7, and also to rule all the nations. All the people who have not chosen God as their ruler, worship the beast.

In verses 11 through 17, we find the beast joining with another power to obtain total rule over men's minds and consciences. This despotic power is used to force men into a choice between submission or death. You will find more on this subject in our section on Sunday laws and "Blue laws." |0+|

Finally, in verse 18, we get one final clue about the beast: it has a number. This number is one of our numbers and we can understand it. That number is 666. Remember, 666 is the number of the beast--not the mark of the beast. It is common to confuse the number of the beast with the mark of the beast; but let's read what the Scripture actually says. We are here considering the number of the beast.

Now, we will now put all these puzzle pieces together and find out what is the beast.

Let us first list the clues we have so far: 1) It arises from a populated region; 2) It has characteristics of the nations before it; 3) It gets power from Satan; 4) It speaks great words against the Most High; 5) It receives a mortal wound--and is healed; 6) It has power over the saints for 42 months; 7) Those not of God worship it; 8) It will attempt to rule over men's consciences--by the penalty of death; 9) It has a man's number: 666.

There is only one system or power on earth that meets all these criterion. The clues are so specific that there can be no mistake. Let's go down the list and see.

The beast arises from a populated area. The Roman Catholic Church arose from the center of population. The Roman Empire had its center and capital in Rome. From there, the seat of the World Empire, arose the Catholic Church.

The beast has characteristics of other powers. |1| The Catholic Church demonstrates its acceptance of the religious practices of pagan nations.

The beast obtains its power from Satan. |2| The Catholic Church has used satanic methods since its inception: lies, murder, blasphemy, and political corruption have marked its reign through the ages.

The beast speaks great words and blasphemies against the Most High. |3| The Catholic Church has spoken great words of blasphemy against God in the most startling and direct manner.

The beast gets a deadly wound in the head. In 1798, Pope Pius VI was taken prisoner by Napoleon's general Berthier; the Pontiff died in prison. From that time until March 14, 1800, for the first time in its history, there was no visible head of the Catholic Church. It appeared as though the Catholic Church would rapidly decline in power and eventually fade away. But the deadly wound was healed! A new Pope was elected on March 14, 1800 and the Church gained its head once again. Then, in 1929 Cardinal Gasparri and Benito Mussolini signed a concordat that restored the temporal power of the Papacy and allowed Vatican City to become an independent political power. Thus the Catholic Church regained both ecclesiastic power and her own little nation. Vatican City is the smallest nation on earth. It is both a religious power and a civil power. Remember that the United States now has an ambassador to the Vatican!

The beast has power for 42 months. |4+| The Catholic Church obtained power and supremacy for 1260 years, and used this time to destroy anyone who would not compromise their consciences to the Papal errors.

The beast is worshiped by those who are not written in God's book of life. This prophecy has not yet met its final fulfillment. Many people have been and presently are in the Catholic Church who are living up to all the light they have. God recognizes these true in heart as His people. However, a warning message is going out through the world to "come out of Babylon", and the true followers of Jesus will heed that call. One of the purposes of this web site is to show the truth about the beast and to call people out of it. This prophecy will be finally fulfilled when every person has a warning about the beast and its mark. Then, every person will either have chosen to worship God, or to worship the beast. Because the majority will choose the easy way, it will truly be said that, "all the whole world wondered after the beast."

The beast will require men to worship the image of the beast or be killed. |5+| The Catholic Church will, through Sunday laws and other civil enactments, cause every person to choose between death and following the church's decrees. Here we see that the "dark ages" will have a short repetition. Obedience to God will become a life and death issue, as it was in the time of Daniel 3.

The beast has a number: 666. |6| The Catholic Church uses this number.

So we see that the Roman Catholic Church fits all of the criterion perfectly for the beast power of Revelation 13 and 14.