Introduction: This is a devotional. This passage deals with things dating historically from the time in which Daniel lived until now and into the the future for a time which only God the Father knows! I list here both the OT & NT books which tie together with this passage in case you want to study the Apocalyptic Bible Passages. Today I will only look at several very relevant points to highlight. In the OT – Daniel 7 onwards; Joel ch2&3; Ezekiel 38&39; Zechariah 12-14. In the NT Jesus talks about this in Matthew 24.Mark 13 and Luke 21: Paul addresses the issue in both letters to the Thessalonians and 2 Timothy; and John records the Revelation which Jesus gives to him.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Comment: I have underlined 5 words or phrases about which I will make some comments. a) The beast can and probably does represent two things. i) a specific person, devilishly evil and a personified Antichrist a real person. ii) The mass of forces combining together to try and destroy the Plan of God. The beast is the combination of all that is anti Christ – against what Christ stands for! b) The seven heads are seven mountains. Heads are kings and mountains are dynasties. Rome is built on seven hills and that may be included in the reference but the Roman empire is not a ‘mountain’. These days the iron ruler has been fragmented into many divided powers. c) The woman, seated on a red dragon, presumably the beast, is thought by many to be world religion which tries to dominate (rides upon) the powers of the time to misguide them in all ways so that evil is uplifted and Christ not honoured as He really deserves. Apostate Christians are seen as part of this woman. By others she seen as the prostitute mentioned later. Certainly the Apostate Church and all other religions are anti-Christ. A famous saying is that, ‘If Jesus is not worshipped as Lord of All, then He is not Lord at all!’ d) The prostitute is certainly Babylon considered as the sum of all evil in the sight Of God. She is not the actual city but the concept of all set against Jehovah God! e) The Lamb certainly means Jesus the Lord of lords and King of kings but highlights His saving work as the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world!
John 14; 6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Prayer: I look through a clouded window into the future Lord. Please help me to see more clearly and to trust more completely.