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 The Guardian of International Peace and Security
According
to a United Nations Photo on Twitter, "A guardian for international
peace and security sits on the Visitor's Plaza outside #UN Headquarters. The guardian is a fusion of jaguar and eagle and donated by the Government of Oaxaca, Mexico @MexOnu. It is created by artists Jacobo and Maria Angeles.
UN Photo / Manuel Elias Before any detractors assail me with absurdly taking this photo out of context, let me assure you of the following: I do NOT think this statue is the "Beast" of Revelation 13:1-10 and referenced in Revelation 13:11-18. There are, however, some eerie parallels to be made. Isn't it interesting that its creators think that a ferocious wild animal can be The Guardian of International Peace and Security. How can an animal possibly safeguard human peace and security throughout the world? Well, it can't. This animal symbolizes a human or humans who guarantee international peace and security. And that is exactly what John saw in his vision of Rev. 13:1-18 – a ferocious wild animal, a "beast," that will, in the future, gain control over the entire world. And he will guarantee everyone peace and security – if they do exactly what he says. Except that this "Beast" is not really a beast. He is an evil, powerful, charismatic human being. What do we learn about this human whom God characterizes as a Beast? (1) He will be a ruler representing many past kingdoms (Rev. 13:1). (2) He will be a blasphemous ruler, defying and degrading the God of heaven and His chosen Ruler (Rev. 13:1). (3) His kingdom will be a synthesis of past regimes that have conquered the world of their day (Rev. 13:2). (4) He will derive his power, authority, and rule from the dragon, code for the Devil, or Satan (Rev. 13:2; cf. Rev. 12:9). (5) He will apparently be assassinated, but then raised back to life in Satan's imitation of Christ's resurrection (Rev. 13:3). This will generate amazement around the world and a world-wide following of this man. (6) People all over the world will worship Satan (the Dragon) because he will give his authority to the Beast (Rev. 13:4). (7) The whole earth will worship the Beast himself because of his military supremacy (Rev. 13:4). (8) The Beast will speak arrogant, blasphemous words (Rev. 13:5). (9) He will be granted authority to act for 42 months, or 3.5 years (Rev. 13:5). (10) The Beast will blaspheme God along with those who dwell in heaven (Rev. 13:6). (11) He will be given permission to wage war against the saints all over the earth, and to conquer them (Rev. 13:7). (12) He will be granted authority over every tribe, people, language and nation upon the earth (Rev. 13:7). (13) All who dwell upon the earth will worship him, except those whose names have been, since the dawn of creation, written in the slain Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 13:8). (14) Another "animal" will arise who will have religious overtones. He will have the appearance of an innocent lamb with two horns, but he will speak as a Dragon (Rev. 13:11). Elsewhere he is called "The False Prophet" (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). (15) The False Prophet will work on behalf of the first Beast, and act on his authority (Rev. 13:12). (16) He will cause the world and those who dwell in it to worship the first Beast (Rev. 13:12). (17) The False Prophet will deceive those who dwell on the earth by producing miraculous signs, even making fire fall from heaven (Rev 13:13-14). (18) He will cause those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the first Beast. He will have the power to give breath to the image, and to cause it to speak (Rev. 13:14-15). (19) He will cause all who do not worship the image of the first Beast to be killed (Rev. 13:15). (20) The False Prophet will cause all mankind of all socio-economic strata to receive a mark on their right hand or their forehead (Rev. 13:16). No one will be able to buy or sell except those who accept the mark, either the name of the first Beast, or the number of his name (Rev. 13:17). (21) The number of the Beast is 666, signifying the ultimate that man can accomplish apart from God or His Messiah – complete and total control and enslavement of mankind. This is what will happen when man sets out to be the Guardian of International Peace and Security. Without God, mere man becomes an absolute murderous tyrant when he sets out to rule the world and provide peace and security for all. Return to Eschatology, The Study of Last Things
Posted December 15, 2021
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