Scripture Reading: Daniel 3:1-27.
Memory Verse: Joshua 24:15.
1. What does a beast represent in Bible prophecy? Daniel 7:17, 23, Daniel 8:21.
2. Who gives the beast its power and position? Revelation 13:2.
3. What does the sea symbolize in Bible prophecy? Revelation 17:15.
4. For how long did this beast rule? Revelation 13:5.
5. What did the Beast do during its 1260 year reign? Revelation 13:4-7.
Note: The Bible defines blasphemy in two ways. One, humans claiming the power to forgive sins (Luke 5:21), and two, humans claiming to be God (John 10:33). The Catholic Church’s own doctrinal manual explains: “Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.” And Pope Leo XIII said, “We (the popes) hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty”. According to the biblical definition, the papacy indeed “opened his mouth in blasphemy against God” and its stance remains unchanged today. The Bible also says that the beast successfully persecuted God’s people, “the saints.” It is a well-known fact that at the height of its reign, called the Dark Ages, the papacy massacred Christians, branding as heretics whoever believed contrary to its Catholic doctrines. Historians conclude that more than 50 million people, mostly Protestants, died for their faith at the hand of the Catholic Church’s Inquisition. This persecution demonstrated the absolute domination of the papacy. This brings us to another characteristic of the beast: It commands worship, and as such, is defined as a religious power, Papal Rome, obviously a religious power, appropriated worship by its claims to be God and by persecuting those who would not bow to those claims.
6. What happened to the beast after its 1260 year reign? Revelation 13:3.
Note: According to Bible prophecy, the beast ended its reign in apparent demise- only to rise again later. Indeed, this is exactly what happened with papal Rome. Soon after being taken captive in 1798, Pope Pius VI died in exile.”Half Europe thought…that without the Pope the Papacy was dead, confirmed Joseph Rickaby, a Jesuit priest. It is evident today, however, that the Holy See has been resuscitated.
7. What is the beast’s mysterious number? Revelation 13:18.
8. What does this beast power want? Revelation 13:8.
9. What will happen to those who worship the beast? Revelation 14:9-10.
10. Will everyone worship the beast at the end of time? Revelation 14:7.
Conclusion: Everyone has the power and the ability right now to “choose for (themselves)...whom (they) will serve” Joshua 24:15.