[§220] Rev 13:4: Worship of the Dragon and the First Beast

This podcast explains the symbolism used by John in Revelation 13:4 to describe worship in the period of time from the fall of Rome in 476 AD until 607 AD, when Phocus‒the Emperor in Constantinople‒decreed that the bishop in Rome was chief among all other bishops and clergy in the Roman empire. This verse covers more than 100 years between the fall of Rome and the emergence of papal authority in what would later become the Holy Roman Empire.   Revelation 13:4 states that "they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” This verse describes two separate forms of worship, homage, adoration or reverence for things that are not of God. The first form relates to the worship of the Dragon or Satan, which is more universal and worldwide than the worship of the First Beast in the Roman Empire. The worship of the Dragon includes locations like the American continent and all other lands outside the territories of the Roman Empire as of the early seventh century AD. By that time the Great Apostasy was universal in all the world, including apostasy among the Nephites in America and apostasy last of all among the Lost Ten Tribes no later than 570 AD. The worship of the First Beast in the Roman Empire is also tantamount to worship of Satan, who gave the First Beast his power, his seat, and his great authority in Revelation 13:3.   As the power of the imperial Roman emperors declined and the power of the pope's increased, worshipers in the Roman Empire rhetorically asked: “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” The first question is a parody on the true worship of God. This verse means that earthly ministers of the First Beast (Roman Empire) had elevated themselves to a position above even God. The second question is a rhetorical recognition that there was no power on earth that could defeat or overcome the power of the popes in ancient Rome. -------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Unveiling Jesus Christ 00:30 Introduction to Revelation 13:4 07:55 Worship of the Dragon and First Beast 23:21 Separate Worship of the Dragon and the Beast 37:38 Worship of the First Beast and Dragon 43:15 Who is Like Unto the Beast? 45:44 Who is Able to Make War on the Beast? -------------------------- 🔗 Where to Find More from Unveiling Jesus Christ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnveilingJesusChrist ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johncassinat/ ► Website: https://www.unveilingjesuschrist.com/