Today governments around the world as well as governments in ancient history have used animals, or beasts, to represent themselves. Here are some examples.
Russia, the bear, The United States, the eagle, Germany, a two headed eagle, Great Britain, the lion, Egypt, over time, was represented by a serpent and the bull, China, the dragon, etc.
Little wonder then that the beasts of the book of Daniel and Revelation also represent governments or ruling powers. The beasts described in these books represent political kingdoms or governments, exercising rulership and authority. This is clearly stated within those books.
“After this I kept watching, and look! another beast, like a leopard, but on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. And the beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.” Daniel 7:6
“This calls for a mind that has wisdom: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. 10 And there are seven kings: Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet arrived; but when he does arrive, he must remain a short while. 11 And the wild beast that was but is not, it is also an eighth king, but it springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction. 12 “The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast.” Revelation 17:9–12
In these verses in Revelation it is plain that the beast with seven heads represents the world powers, from the past as well as those that will come. “There are seven kings: Five have fallen” when John wrote those words he was in exile as a prisoner on the isle of Patmos. The five kings, or world powers of their time, that had fallen were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, the Medo-Persian empire, and Greece. The Roman empire was the government that was ruling when John wrote the book of Revelation and that is who John spoke of when he wrote “one is.” The “other has not yet arrived” has proved to be the political alliance of The United States and Great Britain.
There have been many governments but these seven were the dominate world powers in terms of military might. These political ‘wild beasts’ vary in symbolic form, yet all have certain characteristics in common. All are shown as standing in opposition to God’s rule by the Messianic Kingdom over mankind. None of those governments are willing to allow God’s Kingdom to rule the earth; they will fight against that ever happening.
“The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast. 13 These have one thought, so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. 14 These will battle with the Lamb, but because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those with him who are called and chosen and faithful will do so.” Revelation 17:12–14
The lamb is none other than Jesus Christ installed on his throne in heaven. The governments of this earth will not give up their rulership willingly so eventually Jesus will conquer them. That battle is called the battle of Armageddon. This verse from Daniel shows the eventual outcome:
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever,” Daniel 2:44
This is the same Kingdom Christians have prayed for for centuries when they pray the “Lord’s Prayer.” “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:10
Soon now, God’s Kingdom will put an end to all the governments of the world and it will begin ruling over this earth. With God’s Kingdom ruling this world, blessings like these will abound on this planet we live on:
“The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.” Psalm 37:29
“Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. 11 But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”Psalm 37:10,11
“And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”Revelation 21:4
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