Rev 9 - Islam & Horses with a Head Like a Lion

THE REVELATION 9 “THE ISLAM INVASION and HORSES WITH A HEAD LIKE A LION”

11-25-2018

Revelation chapter 9 prophesied of the rise of Islam that culminated in the conquest of Constantinople with the use of cannons and gunpowder in Rev. 9:18, 19. In those days the cannons were forged in the shape of a lion, and those operating them actually rode them. The cannons had wicks (“tails”) to light the gunpowder. The first military use of cannons was in the overthrow of Constantinople in 1453.

Pictured is a cannon used in the siege of the city of Constantinople in 1453, taken from the cover of the book, Marvels of Prophecy, by Howard B. Rand. Of course, the cannon has been disabled by plugging the opening, but it was meant to portray an open-mouthed lion. This is what John envisioned in Rev. 9:17.

Revelation 9:17-19 NET Now this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and sulfurous yellow in color. The heads of the horses looked like lions' heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. (18) A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. (19) For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries.

After the rise of Islam described in symbolic language in Rev. 9, John then saw “another strong angel” appear in Rev. 10:1, 2, holding “a little book which was open.” The printing press made it possible to reduce the size of books. Because they printed the Bible first in 1452, the Word of God began to be opened up to the common people.

The technological development of the printing press, beginning in the 1440’s, then began to make books small and inexpensive so that the common people could learn to read. The first actual book to be printed was the Bible, printed by Gutenberg in 1452. The beginnings of the Reformation provided motivation for the common people to become literate in order to study the Scriptures.

The printing press was invented in China centuries earlier, and this technology was brought to the Mideast by the Mongols, who invaded in the 13^th century. They also brought gunpowder, which, in 1453, was used by the Muslims to conquer Constantinople, the last stronghold of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Is the Beast a Man?

IS THE BEAST A MAN?

Or An Empire

With any usage of the word "antichrist" employed within a post, there is usually someone who berates me or another poster by saying the word "antichrist" only appears in 1 John and 2 John. Of course I know that fact quite well and I also know the so-called antichrist we generally refer to in the Revelation is actually called the "beast".  This is not the only beast in scripture.  Daniel 7 has four beasts that arise from the sea and they are all conspicuously described as empires.  Is it possible the beast referenced in Revelation 13 is also an end-times empire and not an actual individual, although a beast empire will have a leader or ruler? 
 At an old blog site I frequently visited in the past called Watchmen Bible Study which is not associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses (still online but not active since 2010).  The administrator and primary poster, Nick Goggin, produced an article which included a commentary of Revelation chapter 13.  In this commentary, he stated the beast is an empire and not a person, although some translations appear to refer to the beast as a person in later sections of the chapter.  Mr. Goggin is not totally out to lunch as I initially thought because, although the KJV uses the pronouns “he” and “him” to address the beast, literal translations such as Green’s Literal Version and Young’s Literal Version translations use the pronoun “it” to reference the beast. 

There is no reason, scriptural or otherwise – in my opinion, the beast cannot be an empire although most prophecy students (and most of the civilized world) have been conditioned (perhaps brainwashed) to think of the beast as the antichrist or a person who will sit in some future Jewish temple and declare himself to be “god”.  Some people believe the actual temple will not be rebuilt because the temple is the Christian believer.  Keep in mind that some Jewish Rabbis consider Jews to be “one with god” and trans-genetic futurists believe mankind will evolve to godhood.

The beast which rises from the sea in 13:1-2 is a composite of the initial three beasts that emerge from the sea in Daniel 7:3-6:  the first was like a lion (with eagle’s wings); the second was like a bear (raised up on one side); and the third was like a leopard (with four wings of a fowl). 

The beast in Revelation 13 has ten horns as did the fourth beast of Daniel 7.  It is also described as having composite animal parts of the three Daniel 7 beasts: body of a leopard; feet of a bear; and the mouth of a lion similar to the first three beasts of Daniel 7.  If you read the recent post AC Arising out of Syria, that particular author considered these three beasts, prior to their amalgamation, as Russia, the bear, Britain and the USA as the lion, and Islam as the Leopard, although there is no known association of a leopard and Islam other than maybe the characteristics of a leopard are considered similar to those of Islam.  These beasts rising from the sea are NOT the same empires (or countries) as the statue of Daniel 2 regardless of one’s prophetic proclivity. 

Daniel 7:3-7 KJV  (3)  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.  (4)  The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings…..(5)  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side….. (6)  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads…..  (7)  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Revelation 13:1-2 KJV  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  (2)  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Is Symbolism Necessary?

Applying symbolism or symbolic representation to prophetic scripture is a process that most of us try to avoid as much as possible, although some instances must be considered symbolic.  Something necessary to state is that Biblical typology appears firmly entrenched in Christian doctrinal studies.  The Old Testament has been said to represent every aspect of Jesus Christ.  Symbolic representation and typology must play a big part.  At the Emmaus road journey, Jesus had much to say concerning his fulfillment of the Old Testament, and I will assume that many examples were symbolic and typologic.  How I wish that monologue was written down for us today.

Lately I have considered that Russia might be that beast (although doubtful) which was supposedly put to death during Reagan's term and now seems to have been resurrected to the status of an elite word power. It is also possible Russia could be considered the king of the north which is a more likely possibility.  In addition Russia could be the Daniel 7 beast that appears as a bear.  At the moment, Russia appears to be attempting to correct the Khazarian’s plan to minimize or eliminate Russia as a world power and to limit their expansion throughout the Middle East. 

On the other hand the USA was an elite world power performing the dirty military work for the Khazarian Jews (Israel and the city of London banking sector) destabilizing various countries around Israel apparently for the expansion of Israel.  The government now appears to be in a second place military position due to the military might of Russia. If the USA has a resurrection of military power with an influx of Khazarian money, since the Jews appear to have all the money, it might in the near future be considered the beast. The Khazarian Jews (or Israel) could be the false prophet since they are false Jews with no relation to the Semitic Abraham but rather to Japheth, Ashkenaz, and Khazar.  It is also possible the roles of the USA and Israel could be reversed with the USA as the false prophet and Israel as the beast.  A more positive identification will depend on future events, particularly in the Middle East (in my opinion).  Agree or not, Biblical scripture and prophecy always seems to revolve around the nation of Israel and the Middle East.

I realize this requires much of prophecy to be figurative or even symbolic rather than a literal absolute.  However, that may be the case.  It actually may be more literal than thought but just not in the manner we have been taught, thought, or heard for the past several years.  After coming to the conclusion the Gog-Magog invasion has already taken place with the Khazarian Ashkenazi Jews and Edomites invading Canaan after the Balfour declaration during the 30’s and 40’s, more semi-literal interpretations may necessarily be needed or perhaps different understandings of the prophecies we have learned over the years.  The Gog-Magog invasion is actually quite literal, just not in the manner as considered by exegetes and Bible teachers.

The manner that other prophetic Revelations fit into the above proposed scenario tie in is uncertain at the moment, but it may be ascertained before long.

Antichrist Rising out of Syria

ANTICHRIST RISING OUT OF SYRIA

Russia's Prophetic Destiny May Be Unfolding With Antichrist Rising Out of Syria

By Steve Magill/Christian Newswire published by Charisma Magazine

Russia's recent reactivation of the "friendship and cooperation treaty" with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has prophecy students considering whether this move will prove to be significant toward ushering in the Antichrist.

[ Personal Note:  Several commentators have proclaimed the beast (as a person – not as an empire) will be an Assyrian, or from Syria.  Peter Goodgame seems to believe the beast, as an antichrist person, will be a manifestation of Nimrod]
Steve Magill, author of the new book Revelation and the Age of Antichrist, says "Russia's revived treaty with Syria is important because the Antichrist will appear out of Syria. Scripture also records Russia as the feet of the Antichrist ordained to mobilize his empire."

[ Personal Note:  To my knowledge, scripture does not Record Russia as the feet of the antichrist (or beast as a person - further research may show that the beast is an empire and not an individual and may not even be a consideration for the so-called antichrist) again the majority of this article is imaginative opinion ]
Magill notes that in Daniel 7 an empire with the national symbol of a bear will be on the world stage concurrently with three other empires, also known by their animal symbol. These empires are identified as a lion with eagle wings (Great Britain and the United States); a bear (Russia); and a leopard (Islam). Never in the history of the world have four empires with these animal symbols appeared on the world stage at the same time.

[ Personal Note:  Russia could be associated with a bear and England with a Lion (as on various heraldry shields) but Islam is not a symbol of Islam to my knowledge.  An internet quote states:  “The leopard is not known as the symbol for any nation.  If you examine Islam you will find that it has all the characteristics of the leopard”. ]

Revelation 13:2 describes the role each of these empires have in establishing the Antichrist's empire. Great Britain and the United States are recorded as the Antichrist's mouth/voice to set the agenda and lead the world toward establishing the new global world order. Russia, the bear, is recorded as the feet of the Antichrist to realign and support the Middle-East landscape. Islam, the leopard, is recorded as the body of the Antichrist's empire to which America, Great Britain, and Russia will be attached to make the earth's final empire, the Antichrist empire.

[ Personal Note:  The above paragraph is mostly opinion and not fact. ]
When Antichrist's empire is formed, it will be the fourth, brutal beast of Daniel 7, the composite beast of Revelation 13:2, and the new world order realigning all nations into ten economic/political regions, known as the ten toes of Daniel 2:42, 7:24-25, and the ten horns of Revelation 13:1.
Russia's Syrian aggression is one more confirmation that the last days are ending and earth's last seven years and the age of Antichrist are at the door. It appears the feet of the Antichrist's empire is getting ready to attach itself to Islam, the body of the Antichrist.