Nebuchadnezzar was beaming with pride and satisfaction—until it was reported that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had refused to bow and worship his image.

Astonished that anyone would dare to disobey, Nebuchadnezzar assumed these young advisers must have misunderstood his decree. So he offered them one more chance to bow down—but they refused! Now the king’s expression turned to rage. He ordered his soldiers to heat the nearby furnace seven times hotter than normal. As fuel was piled onto the fire, the three men were firmly tied with ropes. The resulting heat was so intense that it killed the soldiers who threw them into the blazing inferno.

As the king peered into the roaring furnace, his mouth suddenly fell open. With a trembling voice he asked, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” Daniel 3:24. His counselors agreed that they had. Then the king said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25.

God delivered those brave young men in the fiery furnace because they stood up for His truth. In the last days, God’s people will have to face a similar test.

THE STUDY

Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.

1. How does our story in Daniel 3 relate to Revelation?

Revelation 13:15 As many as would not___ the ___of the beast [would] ... be killed.

NOTE: In the last days, God’s people will be forced once again to worship contrary to conscience or be slain. They will have to choose between obeying the law of God or the laws of man.

2. What are the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14?

Revelation 14:7 Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His___ has___ ; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.

Revelation 14:8 And another angel followed, saying,___ is___, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Revelation 14:9, 10 If anyone___ the___ and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God.

NOTE: The Bible tells us in Revelation 14:6-14 that in the last days, this awesome three-point message of hope and warning will go to the entire world to prepare people for Jesus’ return. One of these messages warns against worshiping the beast and receiving its mark. In this lesson, we will identify the beast. In Lesson 20, we will identify the mark. Eternal life itself may be at stake, so pray earnestly for God’s guidance and understanding as you study.

3. What does a beast represent in Bible prophecies?

Daniel 7:17 Those great___, which are four, are four___.

Daniel 7:23 The fourth beast shall be a fourth___ on earth. 

Daniel 8:21 And the male goat is the___ of Greece.

NOTE: In Bible prophecy, a beast represents a government, kingdom, or political power. God uses beasts to symbolize governments, as we do today—an eagle (the United States of America), a bear (Russia), etc. In the Bible, “beast” is not a disrespectful term. It does not suggest beastly characteristics. The beast that has the mark is pictured in Revelation 13:1-10, 15-18. Please take time to read these verses before proceeding to Question 4.

4. How does the Bible identify the beast?

Revelation 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a___ rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

NOTE: In Revelation 13:1-10, 15-18, God gives 10 clues to help us identify the beast. He gives us a long list of characteristics so that we can be absolutely certain of the beast’s identity.

Point 1 - Rises up out of the sea (verse 1)

Point 2 - Receives its power, seat, and authority from the dragon (verse 2)

Point 3 - Becomes a worldwide power (verses 3, 7)

Point 4 - Is guilty of blasphemy (verses 1, 5, 6)

Point 5 - Rules for 42 prophetic months (verse 5)

Point 6 - Receives a deadly wound that heals (verse 3)

Point 7 - Is a religious power that receives worship (verses 4, 8)

Point 8 - Persecutes God’s saints (verse 7)

Point 9 - Has the mysterious number 666 (verse 18)

Point 10 - Is led by one supreme man (verse 18)

Only one power fits all 10 of these identifying marks—the papacy. But in order to be certain, we will carefully consider them one at a time, beginning with Question 5.

5. This beast arises from the sea. What does the sea, or water, symbolize?

Revelation 17:15 The___ which you saw … are___, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

NOTE: In prophecy, water represents great multitudes of people, or heavily populated areas. Prophecy predicted that the beast would arise from amid the established nations of the then-known world. The papacy arose in western Europe, so it fits Point 1. But what about the other nine identifying points?

6. Who gives the beast its power and position?

Revelation 13:2 The___ gave him his____, his____, and great authority.

NOTE: The beast—which has a mark that we must avoid—obtained its power, authority, and capital city from the dragon. According to Revelation 12:3-5, the dragon is the power that sought to destroy the child Jesus at the time of His birth. It was Satan who inspired Herod, a king for the pagan Roman Empire, to slay all the male babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13, 16). To whom did pagan Rome give her authority and capital city? History is clear that pagan Rome turned over its power and capital city to the church of Rome. The following historical quote is typical: “The Roman church ... pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation. The Pope, who calls himself ‘King’ and ‘Pontifex Maximus,’ is Caesar’s successor.”1 So Point 2 fits the papacy, as well.

7. How far-reaching is the influence of the beast?

Revelation 13:3 And ___ the ____ marveled and followed the beast.

NOTE: No one would question that during the Middle Ages, the papacy was indeed a worldwide power. In fact, the word “catholic” means “universal.” We can see that Point 3 also fits the papacy.

8. What comes out of the mouth of the beast?

Revelation 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in____ against God, to His name.

NOTE: The Bible defines blasphemy as man claiming to forgive sins (Luke 5:21) and claiming to be God (John 10:33). The papacy boldly claims the power to forgive sins. Notice the following section from a Catholic catechism: “Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”1 The papacy also claims that the pope is equal with God. Pope Leo XIII said, “We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”2 Here is another startling statement about the pope: “Thou art another God on earth.”3 So Point 4 also fits the papacy.

9. How long would this first beast rule?

Revelation 13:5 And he was given authority to continue for ___ months.

NOTE: Remember that in prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6). This time period is repeatedly referred to in prophecy as three and a half years, 42 months, or 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, all three time periods total the same 1,260 prophetic days, or 1,260 literal years. The worldwide power of papal Rome became official in A.D. 538, when Emperor Justinian’s decree making the papacy supreme was no longer opposed. The papacy was dealt what appeared to be a death blow in 1798 when the pope was captured by Napoleon’s general, Alexander Berthier. You will notice that the time period between A.D. 538 and 1798 is precisely 1,260 years. Point 5 also fits the papacy.

10. What happened to the beast after the 42 months?

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly____ was ____. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

NOTE: As already mentioned, the papacy received what appeared to be a deadly wound in 1798 when General Berthier took the pope captive to France, where he died in exile.1 Half of Europe thought that this event signaled the end of the papacy, but God had said that the wound would be healed and that the papacy’s power and influence would be restored until the entire world would follow her leading. Malachi Martin, consummate Vatican insider, reveals the following in his book The Keys of This Blood: “The pope is the best-known person of the 20th century (p. 123), has formed personal relationships with the leaders of 91 countries (p. 490), and is prepared for worldwide rule now”

(p. 143).2 Even a novice would recognize that today the papacy is, in many ways, the most influential power on earth. And with each trip the pope makes, his power and influence grow. Multiplied millions worldwide look to the papacy as the only hope for world unity, peace, and decency—precisely as God predicted.

The papacy clearly fits Point 6.

11.Is the beast a religious power?

Revelation 13:15 And cause as many as would not___ the image of the beast to be killed.

NOTE: It is obvious that this entity would be involved in spiritual matters. The words “worship” or “worshiped” are used five times in Revelation 13 in reference to this power. Surely no one doubts that the papacy fits Point 7.

12. What does the beast do to the saints?

Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him to make___ with the saints and to____ them.

NOTE: It is common knowledge that the papacy did persecute and destroy conscientious Christians, especially during the Middle Ages, the peak period of its control. Many historians say that more than 50 million people died for their faith during this period of great tribulation. Apparently the church felt it was doing God a favor by stamping out “heresy.” The pope has asked that the church be forgiven for its atrocities, but the fact remains that it did persecute and destroy. The papacy fits Point 8 also.

13. What is the mysterious number that identifies the beast?

Revelation 13:18 His number is___ .

NOTE: In Revelation 13:18, God says to count the number of the beast’s name and that it is the number of a man. When we think of the papacy, the man we naturally think of is the pope. What is his name? One of the pope’s official titles is “Vicar of the Son of God,” which is “Vicarious Filii Dei” in Latin (the official language of the church). Newspaper articles, when referring to the pope as “Vicar of Christ,” will often enclose the words in quotation marks to show that they are a translation of his title, or name. The book of Revelation is saying that the Roman numeral value of the letters of his name will equal 666. Let’s see whether or not Point 9 and 10 fit the papacy:There should be no doubt remaining. We have shown that all 10 characteristics portrayed in Revelation 13:1-8, 15-18 fit the papacy. And this power has a specific mark that we dare not receive.

Now please note that there are many godly, loving Roman Catholic Christians whom God counts as His children. There have also been many gracious and courageous popes who loved God. This lesson is not an attack upon our Catholic friends. It is an attack upon the devil, who lures churches away from scriptural truth. However, God Himself has told us that this institution has a mark we dare not receive. Sincere Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and non-Christians will all be eager to discover what this mark is so they can avoid receiving it. Let’s thank God that in His Word He has exposed Satan’s ugly plans to destroy us all.

In our next lesson, we will clearly identify the “mark” of the beast. If you receive the mark of the beast, you will be lost. Many will discover that avoiding the mark will involve a tremendous struggle. But God can give us the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were willing to face death in order to honor God.

YOUR RESPONSE

Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads, even though you may lose your friends?

Answer:___________________