Home Current issue Back Issue History Photos Subscription

"Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men. For we also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of Yahweh our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works in righteousness, which we ourselves did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Yahshua the Messiah our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed Yahweh may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men: but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A factious man after a first and second warning refuse; knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

"When I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, give diligence to come to me to Nicopolis: for I have determined to winter there. Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them. And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

"All that are with me salute you. Salute them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all." (Titus 3:1–15).

We have been carefully studying through the central chapters of the book of Revelation. The first installment of this series concentrated on Revelation 12. Since the material was so gripping and applicable, the decision was made to concentrate upon Revelation chapter 11 in the last issue. This month we shall bridge the gap and go from Revelation 11 to Revelation 13, a chapter of considerable importance. Immediately a deeper understanding of these passages opens up to us when we consider them related in this manner.

Starting with the middle of the book, it may seem that we have begun turning the book of Revelation inside out. It appears as though greater understanding of the book of Revelation is opening to us like the unfolding of a flower. However, it becomes apparent that Revelation chapters 11, 12, and 13 comprise a high point in the book.

This current study, combined with the study of the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, that we published under the title, "The Seven Lamps of Yahweh," will take us far along the road to completing our anticipated book, "Commentary on the Book of Revelation," that I hope to publish sometime in the future (should Yahshua the Messiah tarry, of course).

Titus chapter 3, as a pilot text, is intended to open our minds with a question. "Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men." (Titus 1:1–2). The question that confronts us at this point as we seek to harmonize Revelation 13 with some of these passages is simply this: How much of our lives can we (or should we) devote to obedience to this world’s governments? Are worldly governments to be the supreme authority in our lives?

The Order of the Book

Therefore, we might come to understand that Revelation chapters 11, 12, and 13 are not in their proper "chronological" order. They appear not to be in a proper time frame. You would naturally conclude that Revelation chapter 13 would precede Revelation chapter 11, but Yahweh has His reasons for arranging the material of these prophetic books as it appears in the Bible. We can never forget this. Yahweh Elohim has inspired this book to be assembled as we have received it, because there is a purpose behind whatever He does.

There was once a man we knew who tried to rearrange the prophecy of Daniel in a chronological way, in a different time frame. He mutilated the book of Daniel. The same thing happens when theologians tamper with the book of Jeremiah. They suggest how these chapters are assembled incorrectly. They proceed to edit the book to pieces. One theologian called the book of Jeremiah a collection of broken potsherds. Do not tamper in any way with Yahweh’s Word! Do not correct the Bible, rather, allow the Bible to correct you.

The Beast of Revelation 13

Let us now take into consideration Revelation 13. There are two other chapters in the Bible that concentrate more or less on similar subject matter, and they are 2 Thessalonians 2 and Daniel 7.

"And he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his head names of blasphemy." (Revelation 13:1).

Is this the dragon that is standing on the sand of the sea? Or, perhaps it is John. We cannot lightly disregard the translation in the King James Version.

What sea is this? We saw in last month’s segment of this series that the sea is described in Isaiah 57:20 as humanity which appears like a troubled sea. However, consider "the sand of the sea" as being the Mediterranean Sea. Comparing Daniel chapter 7, we notice that it presents a very plausible explanation. "Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven broke forth upon the great sea." The four winds of heaven are undoubtedly described at the beginning of Revelation chapter 7, where they are called "the four winds of the earth." In this chapter four angels are holding back the looming Tribulation. These four angels are holding back the four winds of trouble that they cannot blow on the earth.

Who Rules the Beast?

Continuing in Revelation chapter 13, we read, "And I saw one of his heads as though it had been struck to death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast." (Revelation 13:3).

One of the interpretations (but not the ultimate interpretation, however) is what happened to post World War II Germany. Germany was divided into four parts. When you "draw and quarter" a beast, you surely put him to death, actually, and for all practical purposes. This is what happened to Germany following World War II. Germany, the Beast (of that period of time), that particular head, was drawn and quartered, but subsequently it has been put back together again. America is now reputed to be friends with Germany, although we fought them valiantly a half century ago. Germany made the gas and supplied the chemicals for Iraqi weapons to wage the Desert Storm war against us. That is how they make lots of money. Horrors, when will the nations ever learn who is their friend and who is their enemy? Perhaps not until it is too late!

False Prophets Blaspheme Yahweh

The passage in Revelation 16:13–14 reads, "And I saw coming out of the MOUTH OF THE DRAGON, and out of the MOUTH OF THE BEAST, and out OF THE MOUTH OF THE FALSE PROPHET, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: for they are SPIRITS OF DEMONS, working signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together to the war of the Great Day of Yahweh, the Almighty." The "mouth of the Beast" will speak blasphemies. These false prophets are demon possessed. They are the SPIRITS OF DEMONS working signs. These two individuals, the beast and the false prophet, will be speaking Satan’s words.

The Anti-Messiah Attitude

"For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard to them that forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their Elohim shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed." (Daniel 11:30–35).

We see in verse 32 that the mouth of certain wicked people will flatter the True Worshipers. Who are those that shall fall? Will it be you or me? Today is the day wherein all of us must declare and reconfirm that we will be faithful to the end. Some of those individuals that are wise will fall, it is surely written in this prophecy of Daniel 11. Now read Hebrews 6:4–8.

The Saints Persecuted

In Revelation 13:7, we read, "And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation." In Daniel 9:7–22 we read that the anti-Messiah will wear out the saints. He makes war against the saints, and will ultimately win the victory against the saints.

What will the saints do at that time? Will they grab their rifles and oppose the Beast? We have only two options: stand still and maintain our preaching of Yahweh’s Word, depending faithfully upon Yahweh for His power to be manifested to support the message and to hold back this vicious Beast system! Or conversely, the other option is to flee somewhere and attempt to hide as best you can for protection. This will have to be your individual decision. Both options are sanctioned by Yahweh.

How I rejoice in the study of the message of this book, Revelation, and to comprehend things that we are all learning. I hope that all of us can say after this series is complete, what a great joy it has been to study through these passages and to establish ourselves more securely in the inspired Word of Yahweh!

The more we study and perceive what lies just ahead of us, the more we must prepare, and the less anxiety we are going to experience when these things begin taking place across the world. Let us prepare adequately so that we will be victorious over Satan and the flesh and especially over this Babylonish system of the world in which we find ourselves.

Editor’s Note: Since the method employed by the author is such a radical departure from that employed by other teachers of Bible prophecy, yet it is so simple and logical to interpret Scripture with other Scripture, the author recommends that you restudy this chapter several times to gain the full impact of what he has pointed out. Don’t just read this material, but study it very carefully so you will not forget it.

Join us in the next issue for more of this absorbing study of the book of Revelation.