FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THE BOOK OF REVELATION, BABYLON & THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHY IS THE REVELATION SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?
There are two basic reasons why it is difficult to understand the Revelation.
Firstly, the Revelation, as it appears in our Bibles of today, is out of sequence! Originally all scriptures were recorded upon scrolls or parchments (small pieces of leather) and they had no chapters or verses. Currently the book of Revelation in the Bible has twenty-two chapters and approximately four hundred and twenty verses (depending upon translation). In the chapter and verse Bibles, the following anomalies are extremely difficult to detect, owing to the necessity of having to turn from one page to another. However, in the scroll-format the discrepancies come to the fore! These are the last verses in the letters addressed to the first three churches respectively. In each case the last verse tells of the reward for the overcomers. The second last verse is the Holy Spirit’s encouragement to the ‘churches’ (plural) and yet, each letter is addressed to the respective ‘church‘ individually? Inexplicably in the first three letters these verses have been switched!! The sequence followed in the last four letters appear to be the correct ones.
-
1ST THREE LETTERS (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum) : Chapter 2: 7, Chapter 2:11, Chapter 2:17.
-
FOUR REMAINING LETTERS (Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) : Chapter 2:26-29, Chapter 3: 5-6, Chapter 3:12-13, Chapter 3:21-22.
Secondly, there are TWO TIME PERIODS relative to the APOCALYPSE. At the time of recording there was a present content: the appearance of our Lord Jesus and the letters to the seven churches. The second time period is clearly identified by the command of our Lord Jesus to John: “Come up here and I will show you what must occur in the hereafter (future)”! It is therefore necessary to have this insight in order to comprehend the Revelation. See also the of the Protocol (a Technical Exposition).
IS THE REVELATION TO BE UNDERSTOOD FIGURATIVELY OR LITERALLY?
The English translation of the Greek word ‘Apokalypto’ broadly translated means: Unveiling, Appearing, Disclosure or Manifestation. In today’s parlance it would mean what is to occur upon the earth prior to the RETURN of our blessed Saviour! Therefore, it succinctly relates to the return of our Lord. It is imperative to grasp that the Revelation as revealed to John has compositely a threefold component:
-
What was applicable in John’s day.
-
What would occur in the distant future. The future is real time! In other words, John is literally transported into the future and reports on what he either sees or hears as it unfolds. For example: In Revelation Chapter 9 John sees something like chemical warfare – although John in the flesh is living around AD95/96 he is carried in spirit into the twenty-first century and sees the events as such.
So, yes, it is to be taken literally! Bear in mind that the Revelation encompasses a time period spanning the year AD95/96 up to the present day.
IS THE REVELATION TO APPLICABLE FOR TODAY?
Very much so! In the light of world events: the establishment of the state of Israel – the gathering of the Jews from all nations to their homeland; the collapse of the Berlin Wall and subsequent reunification of Germany (something Sir Winston Churchill said should never ever happen again!); the realignment of Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals – a ‘European Superstate’. The Balkans are the fulcrum for such realisations! Sir Halford Mackinder fine-tuned the theory of ‘GEOPOLITICS’ which was popular towards the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The theory expounded the following: He who controls the Heartland (central Europe) controls the Middle East (Israel/Palestine), and he who controls the Middle East controls the world. It is interesting to note that the ‘Iron Chancellor’ – Kaiser Wilhelm, Mussolini and Hitler were all familiar with the theory of ‘GEOPOLITICS’! Each one of these men desired the rebirth of the Roman Empire and they saw themselves as latter day Roman Emperors – resurrected Caesars! They all had ambitions of wearing the diadem and scarlet toga of the Caesars. Napoleon was also desirous of these things – although he knew nothing of ‘GEOPOLITICS’!
WHO AND WHAT IS ‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT’?
Letting the scripture speak for itself, the Revelation has much to reveal about ‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT’ :- It is not the USA – as many would have us believe! ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great’ is amongst many things ‘The Mother of Harlots’ and has idol worshippers around the world – offspring! Her seat (government), according to the Revelation, is Roma (Rome); however, she is truly the world’s only GEORELIGIOUS organisation. Her deadly tentacles encircle the entire globe – waiting for the perfect moment to unleash an unprecedented persecution upon true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. The major indictment against her in heaven is that within her was found the blood of the prophets and martyrs! Beware!! ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’ – Rev 18:4!!
WHAT ARE THE SEALS, TRUMPETS AND BOWLS/VIALS?
These are various sequential judgements that are initiated in heaven and poured out upon a wicked and unbelieving world. In order to keep the contents of a scroll confidential in the days of the Revelation, it was rolled up and sealed in various places along it’s length. If it was an extremely important document the seal would bear the insignia of the person from which the scroll emanated. Our Father in heaven gives Jesus a small sealed scroll written within and without and sealed with seven seals. We believe in the near future these seals which are sequential will be opened by our Lord Jesus. However, it cannot be over-emphasized that it is the contents of this small scroll that is all important! The contents of this small scroll IS THE REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. In other words, HIS COMING! Hallelujah! The apostle Peter states in one of his epistles that judgement begins in the house of the Lord! Therefore, it is possible that the seal judgements begin in Middle/Eastern Europe – judgement upon an idolatrous church! And later through the bowl judgements Western Europe. The trumpet (shofar) judgements outwork upon the nation of Israel. This is ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ – a time of refining in preparation for the return of her Messiah! Although these judgement are initiated in heaven, Satan through the agency of wicked men, brings them to fruition. The bowl judgements are Almighty God’s judgement upon the beast’s kingdom.
The beast out of the sea is a prophetic picture of Satan’s kingdom in all it’s glory. Therefore, it is totally satanic by origin and objective. This is Satan’s penultimate challenge to the Godhead and more specifically to our beloved Lord Jesus’ authority. This kingdom is a regionalised political system which in its final form according to prophecy will comprise a confederation of ten nations under the rulership of the beast – the last ‘Roman emperor’! It must be stressed that the emergence of these nations is a process. The prophet Daniel prophesied that this kingdom will be fully functioning at the time of the return of our blessed Saviour (Dan.2:44-45) He alone having power and authority to destroy it.
There can be no doubt that the present day European Union is the archetype for the establishment of the beast’s kingdom. In other words, the beast (through the agency of the false prophet) co-opts the European Union’s laws and structures for his diabolical purposes! We are of the opinion, that according to Bible prophecy the ultimate union of the European peoples as envisaged by Brussels will not come to fruition. Instead, a confederation comprising five strong and five weak nations will come into existence presided over by the council of ten.
To the discerning, there are many clues in the quoted scripture – as there are in the entire scroll of the Revelation. It is crucial to grasp that the sea spoken of here is a major clue. In John’s day, there was only one sea and that was called the ‘Great Sea’. By God’s grace, we today, know this sea as the Mediterranean. We believe that John is conveying to us that at the end of the age (which began with the birth of Jesus); a political system will arise from within the geographical areas occupied by the former Babylonian, Grecian and Roman empires respectively. We deduce this by the fact that the beast out of the sea (Mediterranean) had the body of a leopard (Grecian), the feet of a bear (Babylonian), and the mouth (therefore the head) of a Lion (Roman). Apart from their geographical symbolism, these animals also portray the following characteristics: Leopard = Cunning, agility and speed. Bear = Size and power. Lion = Brute strength and kingship. We can construe from the prophetic language used that this political system will rapidly come into being through the vicissitudes of intrigue and war.
Also, this political system will embrace a huge geographical area and will be very, very, powerful indeed – using political guile and brute force to achieve it’s objectives. At it’s zenith it will comprise a population of close to one and a half billion people! This is a Roman Empire stretching from the Atlantic in the West – to the Urals in the East, the Adriatic Sea in the South – to the Baltic Sea in the North; the Middle East, and the whole of Mediterranean North Africa. Taken together with the European Union FTA (Free Trade Area) agreements it will be the world’s largest GeoCommercial block. The implications boggle the mind!! “And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or name of the beast, or the number of his name!” (Rev 13:17). As already alluded to, the duration of this kingdom in it’s final form is three and a half years.
The beast is also an individual, and it is to this latter day Roman emperor that the ten bestow their allegiance and sovereignty. He is the eighth head – who was the sixth and came out of the seven, and as such is the personage who is it’s (Confederation) visible head (ruler/dictator).
The False Prophet is pictured as a beast coming out of the land. Like his counterpart, the beast who comes out of the sea, the false prophet also has a dual role. He represents a universal GEORELIGIOUS system and is it’s head. He is able to perform mighty feats in the presence of the beast – even call fire down from heaven! However, he is satanically inspired and extremely dangerous! It is he who has the idea of making a statue of the beast and it is he who commands all to worship the image of the beast! All those refusing to do so will be beheaded! The Revelation reveals the origin and abode of this satanic creature.
The False Prophet is pictured as a beast coming out of the land. We believe the land referred to here is Italy – more specifically the Vatican.Like his counterpart, the beast who comes out of the sea, the false prophet also has a dual role. He represents a universal GEORELIGIOUS system and is it’s head. In a sense, the beast out of the land is the more dangerous of the two – because his specialty is subterfuge! This beast has two horns and looks like a lamb – but, he speaks like the dragon (Satan). The horn is an Old Testament symbol for kingship (leader) therefore, the twin horns of this beast depict a dual leadership function. In addition, he has the attributes of a lamb and yet speaks like the dragon … Let us examine this enigma a little more closely:
- Has two horns: Dual leadership role.
- Looks like a lamb: Feigns to be, or, represent Jesus Christ!
- Speaks like the dragon: By definition as per the Revelation is satanically inspired!!
In our day, there is but one person who concisely fits this description – that is the so-called Vicar of Christ – the pope of the day. Let us broadly examine the office of the pope.
He executes a dual role: A: He is the head of the Vatican State (political). B: The spiritual leader of one billion Roman Catholics globally. Church dogma proclaims him to be the Vicar of Christ, one representing Jesus Christ – the true Lamb of God. According to the Catholic Church, when the pope speaks Ex Cathedra he is infallible – what blasphemy! By direct contrast the Bible declares, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). This includes the pope! Through his actions – dogma (idolatry) and objectives – serves Satan his master!
B: In addition, in his role as the false prophet (beast out of the land) he orders the making of an animated statue of the beast (dictator) out of the sea. This is the statue that the people of this geographical area will be required to (physically) come and worship. The rest of the world will possibly worship via satellite link up. It is he who initiates the idea and subsequent implementation of the infamous ‘mark of the beast’! Owing to the general confusion surrounding the mark – a detailed explanation can be found under the heading ‘mark of the beast’. Furthermore, when in the presence of the first beast, the false prophet is able to perform miraculous signs and wonders – through these signs and wonders he will deceive many. These two satanically inspired characters work hand-in-glove for their mutual diabolical benefit.
WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?
The primary purpose of this visible mark (sign or symbol) is the external representation of the rationale/purpose for the sign – which is comprehensive ownership – as in slavery!! The English word ‘mark’ is rendered in Latin as ‘stigma’ and in Greek as ‘stigmata, stigmatos’ from the root stizein – to brand! A mark formerly made with a branding-iron on slaves and criminals – a mark of infamy, or disgrace! This is a sign of absolute allegiance to the beast out of the sea in the personage of it’s leader – the latter day Roman emperor – in this the age of CyberSpace!!
“…And he causes 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:16-18)
The beast he referred to in the above scripture is none other than the beast from the land – the false prophet – the pope of the day. Therefore, by inference, he is not only the originator of the ‘mark’ – but has the power and infrastructure for it’s mandatory implementation! By the leading of the Holy Spirit and through the process of deduction we arrive at the following conclusion regarding the mark: The mark is literal and not spiritual! This is a visible mark that will be placed upon the recipients forehead or right hand. No other alternatives are offered! The forehead or right hand!! The one hundred and forty-four thousand were sealed by the angels on their foreheads with the seal of the living God! This seal comprised the name of Abba Father, ‘Yahweh’. Satan is the master counterfeiter! Therefore, at a later stage he emulates this sealing with a mark of his own. Without his mark of ownership it will be impossible to function economically!
His mark comprises the following components: The name of the beast, or his number. His name will be just that – his name, followed by the numerals 666 (some manuscripts record 616) which is the numeric value equivalent to his name. This sign will most likely be in Latin and hence his name will be suffixed by the Latin word ‘Augustus’ meaning revered one (as in deity). For example: ‘Caesar Augustus’ translated into English is, ‘Emperor – the Revered One’ (as God). Remember the beast sees himself as a fully fledged latter day Roman emperor! On the bottom perimeter of the mark the date applicable to his reign will be inscribed in Latin. Compositely this title is known as superscription. It is the opinion of the authors that there could possibly be two version of the visible mark – depending upon the geographical area of it’s application.
Note that one of the illustrations of the mark depicts a cross. There is a president for the depiction of the cross. In the dark and middle ages the Catholic Church (through the popes of the day) proclaimed a law know as a ‘Bull’. This law required that all citizens be branded on the forehead with a cross! – thereby showing their allegiance to the pope and his Holy Roman Empire. Anyone refusing to obey was arrested as a heretic – and as such, was subjected to the court of the inquisitor wherein they were severely tortured. They usually died as a result of being tortured, those that did survive were ultimately banished from the community. If they had families they usually suffered the same fate. In addition, any assets were confiscated by the inquisitor and given to ‘mother church’.
Emperor Constantine had a vision just prior to a battle he was about to embark upon. His vision was this: In the sky appeared a flaming cross and above it the words, In Hoc Signo Vinces (“In this sign, conquer!”). He then ordered that the Christian symbol – the monogram ? (the superimposed Greek letters X and P, Chi and Rho, the first two letters of the word Christos) – be inscribed upon the standards and shields of the army. The battle was then fought in the name of the Christian God and Constantine was victorious. This crucial victory meant not only supreme power for Constantine, but a new era for the Church. Thus, Constantine became the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. It is interesting to note how many European nations have the cross as a foundational design within the overall layout of their national flags and coat of arms.
Summary
Bible prophecy foretells of a day when Satan will establish a demonic government whose duration shall be three and half years. A revived Roman Empire stretching from the Atlantic in the West, to the Urals in the East, from the Adriatic Sea in the South, to the Baltic Sea in the North; the Middle East, and the whole of Mediterranean North Africa. Taken together with the European Union FTA (Free Trade Area) agreements it will be the world’s largest GeoCommercial trading block.
The primary area of control over humanity will be economic – a cashless society! Satan has been working stealthily to bring about hiselectronic system of control. He has been so successful that most of humanity is totally unaware of the deadly trap that has been sprung. Sadly, millions of professing Christians are completely unaware of the lateness of the hour – and worse still, they have no understanding of the ‘Mark of the Beast’ or it’s horrendous implications! “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…” (Hosea 4:6).
By way of an illustration, consider the following examples:
1.The UPC
– the prototype of which was first tested in the early seventies in the USA. The UPC (Universal Product Code) is today ubiquitous!
2.The WTO (World Trade Organisation), formed in the mid-nineties, has as one of it’s major objectives (in the writer’s opinion): the codifying of all raw materials, products and services throughout the entire world. Reflect for a moment… Universal Product Code? World Trade Organisation? The meaning and intention of both of these prefaces is exactly the same – global! Satan has long being preparing the world for his economic system of slavery.
All the recipients of the mark of allegiance/slavery will suffer the same fate as the beast and the false prophet – being tormented in the lake of fire! This is the second death – the lake of fire! It is highly probable that the mark will be applied by laser and will incorporate smart micro-chip technology. The ‘Smart Card’ technology precludes the necessity for cash. There is now a world-wide banking initiative to adopt the EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) standard, for the introduction of the ‘Smart Card’ – with a global deadline set for December 2005. Here in South Africa, banks are confident that they will achieve this change over by December 2004! Please note: the ‘Smart Card’ per’se is not the mark of the beast, but is the electronic precursor necessary for the implementation of the mark.
Compiled by: The Final Word Internet Ministry
Document may be copied and freely distributed as long as no charge is levied.
