本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛-----What does a beast represent in Bible prophecies?
Daniel 7:17 These great beasts are four kings who will be cut off from the earth.
Daniel 7:23 This is what he said: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom which will come on earth, different from all the kingdoms, and it will overcome all the earth, crushing it down and smashing it.
Daniel 8:21 And the he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn between his eyes is the first king.
Note: In Bible prophecy, a beast represents a government, kingdom, or political power. God uses beasts to symbolize governments, as we do today-- an eagle (the United State of America), a bear (Russia), etc. In the Bible, "beast" is not a disrespectful term. It does not suggest beastly characteristics. The beast that has the mark is pictured in Revelation 13:1-10, 15-18. Please take time to read these verses before porceeding to next one.
----How does the Bible identify the beast?
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Note: In Revelation 13:1-10, 15-18, God gives 10 clues to help us identify the beast. He gives us a long list of characteristics so that we can be absolutely certain of the beast's identity.
point 1: Rises up out of the sea. (verse 1)
point 2: Receives its power, seat, and authority from the dragon (verse 2)
point 3: Become a worldwide power (verses 3,7)
point 4: Is guilty of blasphemy (verses 1, 5, 6)
point 5: Rules for 42 prophetic months (verse 5)
point 6: Receives a deadly wound that heals (verse 3)
point 7: Is a religious power that recieves worship (verses 4, 8)
point 8: Persecutes God's saints (verse 7)
point 9: Has the mysterious number 666 (verse 18)
point 10: Is led by one supreme man (verse 18)
Only one power fits all 10 of these identifying marks -- the papacy. But in order to be certain, we will consider them one by one .....
上面十点还可以详细列出圣经相关原文并加以解释. 但是我不确定是否你还愿意继续...
Also please note that there are many godly, loving Roman Catholic Christians whom God counts as His children. There have also been many gracious and courageous popes who loved God. This lesson is not an attack upon our Catholic friends. It is an attack upon the devil, who lures churches away from scriptural truth. However, God Himself has told us that this institution has a mark we dare not receive. Sincere Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and non-Christians will all be eager to discover what this mark is so they can avoid receiving it. Let's thank God that in His Word He has exposed Satan's ugly plans to destory us all.
以上英文引用圣经学习课程. 圣经引用出自 http://www.o-bible.com/bbe.html "Basic English Version", 其中也有中文版本可以参照. 谢谢!更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
