THE STORY OF
THE LEOPARD-LIKE BEAST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I An Ignominious End "The Name of Blasphemy" The Dragon Gave Him Power

Part II "Wounded to Death" "Blasphemy Against God" "Let Him Hear"

Part III "If Any Man Worship the Beast" "Seat of the Beast" "Euphrates" "Desperate Times" Armageddon, Israel's View Armageddon, Christendom's View City Divided in Three Parts "Plague of Hail"

Part IV Fate of the "Beast" and "False Prophet" The Final Conflict The Supper of the Great God "The Beast Was Taken" What Happened to the Image?

    The first verses are spent in introducing the papal beast. Then Revelation 13:3 transports us through history to the Reformation period, when the leopard beast has one of its heads wounded. This began in the closing years of the fourth head of Charlemagne’s era, the time of the Reformation which severely wounded the papal power.    
    However, the Reformation did not kill the papal power. The closing hours of this era brought on the French Revolution which culminated when Berthier took the pope prisoner in 1798 and where he subsequently died. This was the coup de grāce, the final shot in the head commonly practiced by firing squads, which should have finished off the papacy.

"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:4

    To everyone’s amazement, the deadly wound was healed. This did not make the papal powers humble, however, for they accepted the claims of the world who were saying, "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" They learned nothing from their setback.
    When it was said, "Who is able to make war with him?" the Lord heard this challenge and answered the question posed. In Revelation 19:16-20 the "King of Kings" reveals his power by easily casting the beast and the false prophet into the "lake of fire."
    The lesson to be learned here is that the Lord did not immediately destroy the pompous papal hierarchy. The Lord allowed it time to add to its sinful behavior.

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Revelation 13:5-8

    These verses cover the reign of the papacy, especially the symbolic forty-two months, or the literal twelve hundred and sixty years, of their unbridled power. They used God’s forbearance to persecute the saints, to blaspheme God’s name and His Tabernacle (His people that God dwells in), and them that dwell in the spiritual condition on earth, called "heaven."

    The power and majesty combined with the ruthless control the papacy exercised caused the people of earth to "worship him." How can anything so powerful, so magnificent, and with such a massive following, not be ordained of God?
    Yes, it was this that caused "all that dwell upon the earth" to bow down before it. Not quite, however, for those who had their names written in "the book of life of the Lamb" refused to worship this abominable system.
    Make special note that none of the saints worship this beast, for we read in Revelation 20:4 concerning those who "had not worshipped the beast." None who are said to reign with Jesus are guilty of this. Anyone who worships the beast or its image may not be among those who reign with Christ. Any follower of the Master who bows to this beast will lose his "crown."
    The Lord calls extravagant attention to the fact that those with him in glory did not worship the beast or its image. All the Lord’s people should take note of this. It is a deadly serious matter. If they hope to reign with Christ, they cannot yield to the beast or its image. There is no room for a mistake in this matter.

    The writer now turns away from the beast and addresses the saints with a needful message. Yes, this papal beast shall have its season to persecute and try the saints, but with patience and faith they may not only endure, but also will surely overcome.
    The Lord has set in motion a certain rule of law. Those who kill with the sword must also be killed in like manner, and those who take captives shall be made captive. This principle applied surely should give the saints confidence that the papal beast, who leads captives and kills at will, will suffer a similar fate.
    "Strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (Revelation 18:8) The worst possible mistake any of the Lord’s people could make is to be on the wrong side in this battle. With patience and faith all the saints shall share in the coming victory.
    Having exhorted the saints to steadfastness, the Lord closes this vision to introduce a "two-horned beast" and an "image to the beast." This remains for a separate study. Hence, war against the saints will not be abated, but other forces emerge to test and challenge the Lord’s faithful.
    The only point to remember here is that the "image of the beast" is, in fact, a likeness of the "papal beast," but without seven heads. This reminds the saints that the forces pitted against them will come from the ranks of Protestants. As the enemies of the Lord’s people join forces against them, so the Lord himself will stand with the faithful saints. No need to fear then, is there?

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The Image of the Beast Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV
The Leopard-Like Beast Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV

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