Beast - What Beast?

"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3:1-5)asv

The serpent here is Satan. "Any beast of the field" means animals, but it is interesting that the term "beast" will have a completely different meaning in Revelation.

"And they said one to another, Behold, there comes that dreamer! And now come and let us kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast has devoured him; and we will see what becomes of his dreams." (Gen 37:19-20)dar

In this reference, the term beast is conjectural, as Joseph's brothers plan to murder him, and try to pin the blame on wild animals.

There are many Old Testament references to "beast," but they still mean animals. Later we will see possible inferences of what is yet to come.

"And when Paul had gathered together a bundle of sticks, and had laid them on the fire, a viper coming out of the heat, fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging on his hand, they said one to another: Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, who though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance doth not suffer him to live. And he indeed shaking off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm. But they supposed that he would begin to swell up, and that he would suddenly fall down and die. But expecting long, and seeing that there came no harm to him, changing their minds, they said, that he was a god."
(Acts 28:3-6)drv

The word "beast" here continues to mean animal, but note that merely the presence of this "beast" causes people to begin expecting a false god. The forces of Satan are already looking toward the future! Worse is yet to come.

"It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline? But if you are without discipline, whereof all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, as Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, tempest, the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, for they could not stand that which was enjoined, 'If even a animal touch the mountain, it will be stoned;' and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, 'I am terrified and trembling.' But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, whose voice shook the earth, then, but now he has promised, saying, 'Yet once more will I shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.' " (Heb 12:7-26)web

Who needs a mediator? Only one charged with a crime. Is there any one among us who is without blame? Please notice that God says it is important for us to be disciplined as His children because those without discipline are illegitimate, and are NOT His children! Being punished for our misdeeds does NOT give Him joy, but returning to His way does!

We are warned; Do not be bitter, immoral or profane.

Today's world does not seem to pay heed to this warning at all! Look around you. Outside of Christian society, foulness, wanton sexuality and general meanness of spirit prevail everywhere.

So, who is the "animal" (or beast) who will attempt to touch and conquer Mount Zion?

"But the court, which is without the temple, cast out, and measure it not: because it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city they shall tread under foot two and forty months: And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths, and shall devour their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, in this manner must he be slain. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and they have power over waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast, that ascendeth out of the abyss, shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." (Rev 11:2-7)drv

Okay, there will be two "preachers" who will give testimony and prophecy for forty-two months. They cannot be harmed until that time has passed, the "beast" will kill them. But, who is this "beast" who comes up out of the abyss?

"Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?' A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to continue for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tent, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear." (Rev 13:1-9)web

It seems this "beast" will be killed mid-way through the Tribulation, but will be restored to life. Then, for the next forty-two months, he will declare war upon all who follow Christ. He will be in charge of everyone who is not Christian. We are reminded to pay attention to what God has spoken.

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Rev 13:11-17)kjv

This "second beast" is the dead beast, currently indwelt by Satan! He will fool many into thinking he is divine. All will be made to suffer.

"A mysterious caption was written on her forehead: 'Babylon the Great, Mother of Prostitutes and Idol Worship Everywhere around the World.' I could see that she was drunk - drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus she had killed. I stared at her in horror. 'Why are you so surprised?' the angel asked. 'I'll tell you who she is and what the animal she is riding represents. He was alive but isn't now. And yet, soon he will come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction; and the people of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life before the world began, will be dumbfounded at his reappearance after being dead.' " (Rev 17:5-8)tlb

Babylon the Great is the home, and center of government for, the "beast." Have you figured out just who he is, yet?

"These have one design: and their strength and power they shall deliver to the beast. These shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and elect, and faithful. And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire. For God hath given into their hearts to do that which pleaseth him: that they give their kingdom to the beast, till the words of God be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest, is the great city, which hath kingdom over the kings of the earth."
(Rev 17:13-18)drv

A lot of Revelation is confusing, at least it is to us now. Basically, what is said here is that the forces of evil (Satan's armies) will array themselves against the Lamb of God (Jesus), and lose everything. What is incredible is that these satanic armies are doing God's will, to fulfill all that has be foretold.

Final score - God wins, Satan loses!

So, who is this "beast," anyway? We call him the Antichrist. The probability is very large that he is alive today, working to establish himself into a position of power. From that point, he will be ready to jump into action for his master, Satan, when the opportunity arises.

Where's the beast?

He's out there, waiting, watching, planning...

Stay alert and be ready!