20161118 Friday, November 18 2016
Revelation 15: Victory Over The Beast, His Image, And His Mark

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter ... And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God"

"Beast"

There are two Greek words recorded in the Book of Revelation (which was actually an epistle; see The LORD's Letter From Patmos) that are translated as "beast" in the King James Version.

The first, pronounced dzoo-on, means an animal (the English word zoo originated from that Greek word). That word is used only for the holy creatures around the Throne of God. They were present when the Messiah stood before the Throne after His resurrection and ascension into heaven (see The Messiah's Returns - To Heaven And Earth), when He thereby fully fulfilled Passover and the Day of Atonement (see The Messiah's Atonement Of Passover At God's Throne).

"4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." (Revelation 4:4-6 KJV)

The other Greek word in the Book of Revelation that is translated as "beast" in the King James Version is pronounced thay-ree-on which means a dangerous animal, or a venomous beast (thereby also giving it serpent-like characteristics; see The Dragons Of The Bible). It is used only for the Satanic "beast" power, and the "mark of the beast."

"13:4 And 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?" (Revelation 13:4 KJV)

"Mark"

There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as "mark" in the King James Version. The first, pronounced skop-ee-oh, means to take aim at, or to regard in a certain manner. It is found in Romans and Philippians (see The Race Toward The Dawn Of The New World), and is not used as the "mark" ("mark of the beast") in the Book of Revelation.

"3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14 KJV)

The other Greek word, pronounced kha-rag-ma, means an imprinted sign, a stamp, a brand, an engraving - all of which in the modern-day could describe a scar, a tattoo, a printed commercial "bar code." But it can also, much more easily than putting a tattoo or electronic chip into or onto billions of people, be manifested by someone "leaving their mark" on others (on their "forehead" i.e. their way of thinking) that thereafter causes them to make themselves into an image of the one who they revere - as explained in the next paragraph.

"13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17 KJV)

"Image"

The first use of "image" in the Holy Scriptures defines what "image" means (see also Eve Was Created From Adam; What Woman Was Created From Jesus Christ?):

"1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27 KJV).

For humans to make themselves into an image of something, or someone else, or to create "images" of "gods" that don't even exist, is foolish and wicked (see What Does Wicked Mean?), as explained in the First and the Second commandments:

"20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:3-4 KJV).

In the matter of the "image" of the beast, it will involve (as it already does), not only regarding the "Beast" to be holy, but people adopting the vocabulary and appearance of the "Beast" and his nationalism e.g. in the time of the Roman Empire (and most empires ever since), people of other nations made themselves into cultural and psychological images of the imperial Romans (sometimes because they were gullible, sometimes because they were cowards and traitors to their own nation and identity). Again, in the end time, deceived (and not very patriotic) people will lust to imitate their "hero" and his empire of hegemony ("the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others"). They will make themselves and their lifestyles into the image of their idol - the "image of the beast."

The Messiah is going to return and obliterate all of that confusion and evil that has become the state of humanity (see the Fact Finder question below). Then, "Who shall not fear Thee, O LORD, and glorify Thy Name? For Thou only art Holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest."

"15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." (Revelation 15:1-8 KJV)

Fact Finder: When will the Messiah's return happen? What is the only Biblical proof?
See The Battle Of The End-Time Prophets