Definition of "The Beast"

Submitted by Michael S (United States), May 2, 2016 at 02:05

Hello, Moh.

The word translated as "beast" (θηρίον) signifies wild creatures, sacrificially unclean (probably because they could never be considered willing sacrifices). The particular beast in question, the one with many heads and horns, was called "terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong". That would certainly describe the United States, plus its powerful allies represented by the ten horns. If you want a possible list of these horns, they are:

1. France 2. The UK of Great Britain & N Ireland 3. Japan 4. Germany 5. Italy 6. S. Korea 7. the Netherlands 8. Canada 9. Australia 10. Spain

Over a century ago, during the Boxer Rebellion, that list would be more like:

1. The British Empire 2. the Greman Empire 3. the French Republic 4. the Japanese Empire 5. Austria-Hungary 6. Italy 7. the Netherlands 8. Belgium 9. Spain 10. Portugal

In either case, the countries A. are strongly inter-connected, B. have powerful militaries, and C. are able to project power overseas (The "Beast" of Revelation is said to have come out of the sea). There is no combination of ten countries, probably in all history, who meet these criteria. That is why I call the West, "The Beast".

One might, at first glance, fail to see the US and its allies as "wild" and "untamed". Someone living IN these countries, obviously, would not think of them in that way. The point in question, is "Who is the would-be tamer"? In recent history, it is the Beast that has tamed others: Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Panama, Bosnia, Serbia, etc. But the other great powers of the earth, such as Russia, China, etc. have been unable to tame IT; so to them, we are wild. Much more importantly, it is the King of the Universe that this "beast" refuses to submit to; hence, the name, θηρίον.

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