The Beast

1998-11-19 10:23:00

The group has been jumping all over chapter thirteen and also other chapters (this is good and expected--it gives you a lot to think about), but the interesting thing is that for solving the mystery here, we are still on verse one.

Here is what we have established. The beast represents the energy of unjust, unearned blind authority. He was created "out of the sea" and the sea represents the multitudes of the people of the earth.

The next question: Why is he (you females are probably happy to call this one a "he") seen by John to be a beast? Why didn't John see some great king, dictator or devil man rise up out of the sea? Why a beast?

Hint: How is the right use of authority different between animals and human beings?