The Christadelphian Bible Journal
June 2003 Volume 1 Number 6
In the book of Revelation we are informed that those brethren who separate from the Beast-system described therein shall live and reign with Christ during the Millennial Aion. John records: "And I saw thrones, (and they sat on them, and judgment was given them,) and the persons of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, -- even those who did not worship the Beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead, and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with the Anointed One the thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).
A wonderful day is promised to the faithful in Christ Jesus. However, the antithesis is also clear. Those who do not maintain separation from this System shall not be among the symbolic 144,000 who reign with the King during the Age to Come. This is, therefore, an issue related to eternal salvation.
In order for one to effectively separate from a system, he or she must first correctly identify it. The book of Daniel provides the first clue. Among other things, the prophet forecasts a fourth world empire symbolized by legs of iron, and feet and toes of iron and clay (ch. 2). History reveals this power to have been Rome. He describes it further as brass and iron bands around an Assyro-Babylonian stump (ch. 4), and ultimately depicts it as an unnamed terrible Fourth Beast (ch. 7). This vital information provides the historical framework in which to set the prophecies of the Apocalypse; for it presents to the reader a general prophetic timetable of relevant Gentile activity commencing from the Greco-Roman period.
Against this backdrop, the Apostle John enters the scene. He receives the Revelation during this selfsame Roman period and writes of key political and religious events: "The things which thou HAST SEEN, and the things WHICH ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER." Therein does the Spirit reveal much greater details concerning Daniel's prophecy -- especially with respect to the Fourth Beast -- elaborating a continuous series of events reaching even unto the Eighth Day when sin and death are no more (Rev. 1:1; 2:19; 13:1-8; cf. 21:1).
The Apocalyptic Beast-system is, therefore, Roman in nature. It has to be. No other Biblically defined Beast is extant during John's day for him to prognosticate about (cf. Rev. 17: 3, 10). And it still exists today. Geopolitically, it is to be found in a fragmented state upon the territorial power centers of the old Greco-Roman domain across Continental Europe. One day soon these remnants of Rome will come together to oppose the Multitudinous Christ, and they will suffer the everlasting defeat foreordained by the Deity.
The official State religion of the Roman Empire was Roman Catholicism. In fact, it can be said that Rome gave birth to this great system of iniquity. The Revelation places particular emphasis upon this ecclesiastical aspect of the Beast. The saints are to utterly eschew it. Accordingly, as Christ's brethren we must make every effort to correctly identify Rome in all manifestations and not fall under her influence in either doctrine or practice. Furthermore, may we not make the fatal mistake which some have made in declaring that the Apocalyptic Beast is not a Roman-based entity; for our separation will be seriously compromised if, in the process, we adopt as our belief any version of Roman Catholicism's primary prophetical heresies -- Preterism and Futurism -- both of which take Papal Rome out of the prophetical equation.
-Bob Widding.Dear Bible Journal:
"I enjoyed the Bible Journal yesterday -- it reminded me much of an experience I had when my son was a toddler, when, by Yahweh's care, his life was spared. He had removed himself from his car seat to come sit by me in the front seat -- something I never allowed -- and something he had never done. By doing this very unusual thing -- his life was spared. Only seconds later, a huge pole rammed through the window where his head had just been, when an 18 wheeler crashed into our car, slowly forcing parts of it under the huge vehicle, destroying almost every inch of our car little by little as it drug us, captive, around a curve. Just before the section where we sat was forced under the large truck, it suddenly stopped. The only place left undamaged was the places where (my son) and I sat. We felt the Elohim encamped around us that day, as we still do today. I could not have prevented this myself -- but Yahweh took control of the situation, and spared our lives. Now, my son is ... a brother in Christ as well as precious son, and I can look back with such thankfulness at our heavenly Father's mercy and kindness in giving me the life of my son that day.
"His providential care did not stop then, but has continued with us along our journey and probation. That day my faith was strengthened, being young in the Truth, by realizing I was helpless. Trust was the valuable lesson." - a sister.