The Image and the Mark: Revelation 13:11-17

   Which comes first, the baby or the birth pains? Any mother will tell you, that birth pains arrive before the baby does. What we are witnessing, is the rise of global birth pains; wars and threats of wars, famines and earthquakes, the beginning of sorrows - the birth pains that precede the baby's arrival. The baby represents the birth of a new era; the second coming of Christ Jesus. 

   The same logic applies to the image and the mark. You can not have the mark without the image. The image must be in existence before the mark is enforced. Just as the birth pains come before the baby, the image comes before the mark. 

   So, where is it? 

   We often hear about how this or that is the 'mark of the beast.' It's a barcode, a jab, A.I., a microchip, digital I.D., Sunday law, a fingerprint, an eye scan, our cell phones, a brain implant, an electronic pill.... If 'this and that' is the 'mark of the beast', then, where is the image? What is it and, when was submission to an image required to make everyday purchases? 

Simplified Overview Revelation 13 - Rise of the Beast Kingdom

    Revelation 13 can be broken down into four distinct characters, the red dragon, the beast kingdom, the little horn (antichrist) and the false prophet, magician or sorcerer.

    Mesopotamian kingdoms had a slew of false prophets: magicians, sorcerers, necromancers, star gazers, mediums with familiar spirits, wise men, and dream interpreters in the kings court. This is what the false prophet represents, a master magician who rules in the kings court, in service to the king and his kingdom. 

The Simplified Overview:  

Rise of the beast kingdom. Revelation 13:1-4

Rise of the little horn or antichrist: Revelation 13:5 - 10 

Rise of the false prophet: Revelation 13:11-16 

Rise of the dragons power: Revelation 13:2b, 5b 

   Of the four, the rise of the beast is the most complicated as it is the most complex. What makes it so complex is the amount of detail involved in his genetic makeup. The beast has many parts and pieces, such as three previous beast kingdoms, ten horns with crowns, and seven heads; and, one of his heads was slain and mortally wounded. But, by the time John sees this beast rise from the sea, his mortal wound is healed. There is also a bit of historical knowledge needed to navigate the rise of previous 'beast' kingdoms and, their geographical locations. 

   Many ancient kingdoms simply absorbed the conquered ones, expanding their territorial boundaries. These ancient territorial markers set the boundaries for the coming antichrist kingdom. 

Revelation 13:3 King or Kingdom?

    I was a little late to the Revelation 13:3 social media party and almost missed it completely. After the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald J Trump, social media lit up with Revelation 13:3 quotes. This was mostly from those who don't study scripture but, are quick to use it to serve their purposes or, fit a specific narrative which has become a common practice. Most comments were quite misguided, even delusional, misquoting scripture. 

   "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast" 

   The bullet grazed former President Trump's ear, whereas, the alleged shooter received a deadly head wound. Does Trump have seven heads? Do you know any human that has seven heads? Heads represent kingdoms, horns represent kings, Is Trump a kingdom? Is he a kingdom that sits upon the beast that rises mid-tribulation? Is he even a sitting President right now? Is he a leader (king) of a world kingdom? 

   Why doesn't scripture say one of the horns was wounded as to death if this verse represents a deadly head wound upon a man; a king? Because is isn't a man, it's a kingdom. 

   Let me explain: 

   Revelation 13:1-4a details the rise of the antichrist kingdom aka: the beast kingdom mid tribulation. 

Dreams of a King Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar's Prophetic Dream

   Upon claiming the throne (605 BC) after the death of his father King Nabopolassar, King Nebuchadnezzar II inherited a bunch of mystic advisors that had once served his father. These wise men were collaborators of the dark arts who worked in service to the King. These advisors were the best the empire had to offer, Egyptian magicians, Canaanite fortunetellers, Aramaic astrologers, and Chaldean practitioners of the dark arts and dream interpreters. There were also soothsayers, diviners,  sorcerers, enchanters, conjurers, and illusionist available to provide counsel unto the new king.  

   But none would come close to doing what the king requested.

   King Nebuchadnezzar II was haunted by a dream that deeply troubled his soul. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, the details of his dream evaporating as soon as he woke. It disturbed him so deeply that he called upon his court of dream translators, sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians to reveal his dream and also the interpretation. 

   He was desperate to know the meaning of the dream that evaded his waking moments. 

Daniels Fourth Beast from the Sea

   The interpretation of Daniel 7 can be a bit perplexing. I thought I would attempt a quick and hopefully simple breakdown of Daniels four beasts that rise from the sea. It will aid in the interpretation of the beast kingdom in Revelation 13, and 17, and perhaps offer some clarity concerning the rise of this kingdom in the latter days. 

    The writing below is based upon scripture as the Bible is interconnecting: scripture defines scripture. Daniels night vision interconnects with Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar was intensely occupied with the future of  the mighty kingdom he had built. The Bible doesn't require outside sources to interpret scripture but, we often find that historical events fill in the gaps. 

   God doesn't want us confused, he wants us to understand what the prophets are documenting. Fortunately for us, there was an angel close by to give us an explanation, adding clarification to what Daniel was witnessing.... the angel told Daniel: 

   Daniel 7:23,24 The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other (beast) kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. Out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.