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 scripture. 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. Several 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 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 empire 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? 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. 

Isaiah 46 Failure of False Gods

   Babylon relied on her sorcerers, magicians, necromancers and stargazers. Just as many government officials and Hollywood stars consult with deceptive spirits and demons connected to Satan in today’s world, the rulers of Babylon consulted theirs.

   Nebuchadnezzars father King Nabopolassar had a slew of sorcerers, soothsayers, stargazers, diviners and occultist surrounding him, advising him of his every move. When King Nebuchadnezzar II took the throne, he inherited them as part of his counsel from his father. But Nebuchadnezzar found that only the God of Israel could reveal secrets and was true to His Word. 

   The ruling elite of Babylon were deeply humbled when their false gods, sorcerers, diviners and stargazers were unable to warn them of the invasion of the Persian King just as the Isaiah prophecy states. Not only did they not warn them, but those idols held them captive, promising peace and security within the massive walls. 

   What a burden their created idols became for them. Neither Bel or Nebo could stand erect on their own. The Babylonians would have to haul them away in their wagons, they had no use or power of their own.  The God of Israel has shown that their golden idols of pagan gods and carved animals were a heavy burden, mute and of no help. Even Marduk the Snake-Dragon – chief god of Babylon had been muzzled and lame. He was no match for the God of the Israelites. When the nobles and high priests removed the created idols that had failed them, they became a heavy burden under the victory of the God of Israel. 

   The Isaiah prophecy has more spiritual meaning than a physical one with the lackluster and worthlessness of the pagan idols. 

   There is no mention of the people scattering or fleeing Babylon after the Mede-Persian conquest. Historical documentation, including the Cyrus Cylinder (539-538 BC) suggests that the city was taken without much of a fight. In fact, most of the kingdom were not even aware that they had been captured for up to three days. 

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. 

Hislop and the Mother Child Religion

   The argument used by Alexander Hislop to explain the mystery religion or, the mother - child worship predominant in the Catholic church is that every false religion in the world is connected to the worship of a woman named Semiramis and her child, Tammuz, the reincarnation of Nimrod. His argument is that the mother-child religion flooded the entire world after the fall of Babel to honor or replicate the worship of Semiramis and Tammuz. He claims that these are the same beings with different names since the languages had changed. 

    His argument, based upon his research, is that Mary and Jesus are simply imitations of Semiramis and Tammuz reintroduced into religion and the birth of Christ Jesus was a replacement for this ancient Babylonian mystery religion. He ignores any reference to the rise of fertility cults consisting of a variety of deities that dominated the Mesopotamia. 

   History shows that the Mesopotamia was filled with a mixed combination of occult  rituals, idol worshippers and a saturation of fertility religions post-flood. History has no mention of a woman named Semiramis until the 8th century BC, long after the tower of Babel fell and Nimrod no longer walked the earth. Her memory was expounded upon and included in the writings of many Greek historians beginning with Greek physician and historian, Ctesias (5-4th C BC) who connected her to a mythological character, King Ninus. 

   According to Greek mythology, King Ninus ruled Assyria in 3000 BC. These myths and legends are what many historians, including Alexander Hislop, based their research on. 

Debunking Alexander Hislop?

    Hislop did a fantastic job selling his bizarre hypothesis of Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz and the Babylon mystery religion; as it continues to be the primary teaching in the church today to explain the prophecy of the 'harlot woman' of Revelation 17. This is the only chapter in the entirety of the Bible explained by an outside source. 

   The majority of parishioners aren't even aware that these tales are based upon mythology, mythical figures and fictional characters. Those who are aware, just don't care. It is taught in church and that is good enough for them. Afterall, who would question their favorite Bible teacher?  

  Surely Bible teachers had done their research on this, investing in a full analysis of Hislop's claims before teaching it as a historical and biblical narrative? One would think so,  but it is impossible to fully analyze the conjuncture of Hislop and still teach it as a historical or biblical narrative with a clear conscience. Many are being misled by these teachings. 

   The interpretation of Alexander Hislop is the most protected non-Biblical source in modern history. The truth in the Bible supports itself both historically and scripturally.  When you have doubts or questions, the Bible defends itself as scripture is interconnected and scripture defines scripture. Not so with Hislop. When you have doubts or questions as to the logic of reincarnation or mythical characters there are no discussions or debates. You become an outcast, verbally attacked as 'crazy', your comments hidden, blocked or deleted. It is something you cannot question or criticize. The insanity of it all just boggles my mind.  But, it is what it is. In the age of mass deception, logic and reason become the first victims. 

   Beginning sometime around  2012 or 13, something quite uncanny occurred. Someone taught the Hislop narrative of the mystery religion of Semiramis, and before long every bible teacher was teaching it. As a result, you can't listen to a sermon on Revelation 17 without it. Almost all use the same Hislop narrative that includes Nimrod, a fabled mother / wife Semiramis and a son named Tammuz. 

Frog Like Creatures Revelation 16

    When scripture uses the words ‘similar to, or like as’ to describe something, it is not suggesting that these things ARE what they are depicting. From our English language, that should be obvious. But, to many it is not quite so cut and dry. For example, I have read commentators from many years ago that point to the colors of the four horsemen in Rev 6 as nations. Red is China, green or pale are the Islamic nations, black are Asian nations and white, the European nations. This was back when everyone was trying to come up with a different version of  prophecy and theories were bouncing all over the place. 

   The colors are representative of the judgement the rider and horse represent, All nations will be effected when the seals are open. The green or pale color correlates with death, red - bloodshed, black- famine and suffering, white or blanco - the absence of color. White in this particular area of scripture represents the artificial righteousness or (un)holiness surrounding the rise of antichrist. Some will see him as a savior, others will know the evil he represents. 

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. When outside sources such as agenda riddled commentaries are added, scripture becomes twisted or confusing. For example: the beast like a leopard symbolizes a kingdom, it is not the secret leopard garments worn by Adam  and Eve that Noah gave to Nimrod. And no, Daniel didn't see the Roman Catholic church rise from the sea as the lion or as the fourth beast. 🙄 

   God doesn't want us confused, he wants us to understand what the prophets are documenting. We may have to search scripture for answers but, the answers are there. Fortunately for us, there was an angel close by to give us an explanation, adding  clarification to what Daniel was witnessing.

   Daniel 7:23,24 The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other 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. 
 

   Daniel chapter 7 documents a dream and a night vision where Daniel sees four beasts rise up from the sea. three of the beast symbolized a kingdom specifically recognized by their king. Each influenced Babylon in some way. Three kingdoms had kings or regent kings that occupied Babylonian territory by living within the confines of the Babylonian city. These kings were mighty warriors conquering most of the middle east. 

   The four beast that rise from the sea are kingdoms. Within prophetic implications, many prophecies, visions or dreams were given to various prophets cloaked in metaphorical significance; cities are depicted as woman, kingdoms as mountains and kings are mighty trees. In Daniels night vision, the beasts represent variations of four distinct kingdoms. 

   The kingdoms have the qualities that are similar to, or comparable with, those of the animal presented. The beasts are shown to Daniel as metaphors for kingdoms; just as the mystery woman in Revelation 17 is a visual of a city described metaphorically as a woman.