Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 4/7/02 Radio Program

Question:

Two or three weeks ago, the program talked about the beast in Daniel 7 - the same beast in Revelation. This was identified as the Roman (Catholic) Empire.

In Revelation, what will the image be that will be made and what will be the role of the Roman (Catholic) Empire be in the end time?

Answer:

To clarify one thing our caller said, we never identified the "beast" of Revelation as the Roman Catholics. Perhaps this person misheard what we said, but we did not equate the beast in Daniel or Revelation as the Catholics.

Nevertheless, to remind people of what WAS said, a caller had asked about the descriptions in Daniel 7; and we noted that the descriptions given in Daniel corresponded to four kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman, Daniel 7:4-7, 14). Daniel looked forward in time (beginning with Babylon), and saw three more kings/kingdoms coming in the future. In the book of Revelation, Christ through John uses similar descriptions to show Christians that now three kingdoms have passed away, and they are currently living under the rule of the fourth beast (kingdom. i.e., Rome). What Daniel saw in prospect/prophecy, John pointed to as having been a reality. Therefore, this had reference to the Roman Empire which ruled the world at that time, not the Roman Catholics.

In the question above, concerning the "image" made, since he gave us no Scripture reference in his question, perhaps what the querist is referring to is what is found in Revelation 13:14. Yet again, in the context of the four kingdoms, the last being Rome, whatever this referred to, would have to be talking about Rome and what they did to the Christians.

The book of Revelation can be difficult to understand at times, but as we read this book, let us remember a few things:

1) What was written was something that "must shortly come to pass." (1:1). John said in reference to these things: "the time is at hand" (1:3). Therefore, what is said in this book is not intended to be an interpretation of world situations 2000+ years later.

2) The book of Revelation has many Old Testament references which would have meant something to the Christians at this time, but would have meant little to the Romans who had no knowledge of the Old Testament. Therefore, a working knowledge of the Old Testament clears up many of the misunderstandings that people have of this book.

3) We must interpret this book in light of those Old Testament descriptions, and NOT try to interpret the book of Revelation in light of present-day situations and events which happen around the globe today.

Back to Questions Concerning Catholicism
Back to Radio Program Questions - Answers