| Beast | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Unknown |
|
First Appearance |
Book of Revelation (Rev 13:1) |
|
Created by |
Abrahamic Theology |
Origin[]
The Beast is a figure in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. There are two beasts described in Revelation 13; the First Beast arises out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns. The Second (Lamb-like) Beast arises out of the earth, having the appearance of a lamb while speaking like a dragon. This Beast exercises authority on behalf of the first beast, causing the Earth-dwellers to make an image of the First Beast, and worship him. It is able to give life to this image so that it could speak and kill anyone who doesn't worship the First Beast. This Beast is later called “The False Prophet” (Rev. 16:13; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10). In Christian eschatology the Beast together with the Dragon (Satan) and the First Beast (the Antichrist) forms the unholy trinity.
Preterist interpretations, a theological position also advocated by most academic scholars, generally identify the First Beast with Imperial Rome, particularly with Nero. Much evidence is given by preterists and secular scholars as to why the Beast from the Sea probably referred to Nero.
Many Historicists such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church identifies the first Beast with the Papacy. According to adherents of this view, the "image to the beast" represents Protestant churches which will form an alliance with the Papacy, and the "mark of the beast" refers to a future universal Sunday law. Some Adventists have interpreted the number of the beast, 666, as corresponding to the title Vicarius Filii Dei of the Pope. But it was pointed out by Catholic apologists that Vicarius Filii Dei was never an official name or title of the Pope (appearing in the forged Donation of Constantine) — rather it was Vicarius Christi. Latin also does not use the letter U, but V, which would throw off the numerical value of the title. The beast number 666, which some Historicists claim is engraved in the Pope's tiara, has never been shown to exist. Pre-Seventh-day Adventist Historicists who identify the Papacy as the Beast include Reformers such as John Wycliff and Martin Luther, as well as other prominent figures such as Isaac Newton.
Futurists identify the Beast with the Anti-Christ who may appear before or immediately after the rapture to rule the world and deceive the Jews. They hold that the Beast will rule the world using a world government like unto or greater than the Roman empire. Christian Zionist author Hal Lindsay has written of the Antichrist as head of a revived Roman Empire (A United States of Europe Or European Union). They also believe that RFID tagging could represent the Number of the Beast, which Revelation 13:16-17 says will be placed by the Beast in the right hands or foreheads of humans and necessary for commerce.
Idealists identify the Beast not as a specific entity but as a symbolic representation of all sociopolitical systems that have oppressed the church throughout history. Some Idealists also adopt the Futurist idea that the final fulfillment of the Beast symbol will be an intense and widespread persecution of the church immediately preceding the return of Christ.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of he Beast from before Janury 1, 1929 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
- The Bible - Book of Revelation (Rev 13:1)
See Also[]
- Wikipedia
- Religion Wiki (Revelation)
- Religion Wiki (Bible)
- DC Wiki
- Villains Wiki