Revelation 13 – 666, The Dragon and the Two Beasts and the Image

This is going to be short, I left my keyboard at our other house so I have to finger type.

We have been reading these middle chapters of Revelation again I encourage you to sign up for Dr. Dilday’s Course or listen to his long series of Sermons, beginning with Chapter I. You really can’t grasp the historical interpretation approach by skipping over 1,500 years of history.

Just for a sample Rev EB Elliot begins these sections with these notes of Chapter XI, as you can see there is an extensive historical span, and Elliot is commenting retrospectively, while John’s vision is far into his own future.

LECTURE XVIII. THE COVENANT ANGEL’S COMMISSION. ECCLESIASTICAL RE-FORMATION OF TOE MINISTRY AND OF THE CHURCH.1

CHAPTER X. 8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up ; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up ; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey ; and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 1 1 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

CHAPTER XI. 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod : and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. ‘ 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not ; for it is given unto the Gentiles.

LECTURE XIX. RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE TWO WITNESSES. EARLY HISTORY OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN LINES.1 A.D. 600-IOOO. CHAPTER XI.

LECTURE XXI. RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE TWO WITNESSES. PAPAL WAR AGAINST THEM. THEIR DEATH AND RESURRECTION.1 A.D. 1 163-1530. CHAPTER XL…..

LECTURE XXII. ASCENT OF THE WITNESSES— GREAT EARTHQUAKE. POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REFORMATION. — SEPARATION FROM THE PAPACY.1 A.D. 1552-1790. CHAPTER XI. 12 And I2 heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud ; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake ; and the tenth part of the city fell ; and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand : and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past ; and behold the third woe cometh quickly.

One can see how alternate Interpretations can be easily created with this much time involved.

Also note Elliot indicates there is a supplementary aspect of these visions which begins with Chapter 12 and continues through today’s reading and into the next chapters.

LECTURE XXIV. THE GREAT RED DRAGON. SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF THE ADVERSARIES OF THE CHURCH. SATANIC AGENCY OF PAGAN ROME.1 CHAPTER XII. 1 And there appeared a great sign in heaven…….

Again since this view is rarely taught today, it is best to study it from the beginning as I mentioned above. Jumping into the text here in the middle leaves much out.

Prologue

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.