The Truth About The Beast of Revelation
by Michael D. Fortner

(1) The Beast Makes War
There will never be a one-world government ruled by a one-world dictator. The beast of Revelation 13 does

not come to power by bringing world peace, as often claimed, because his purpose is to wage war, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" (Rev. 13:4). The beast is ten Islamic nations that join forces to wage a holy war against Europe, Israel and the United States and many other nations.

He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. . . . If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (Rev.13:7,10)

(2) Whole World?
At this point you might bring to mind that in Revelation 13 it says,

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Rev.13:8)

To begin with it does not say that everyone will worship the beast, but only those who are not Christians. Most inhabitants of the Middle East and North Africa are Muslims and will be part of or give approval to the coming Islamic empire. Second, when the bible uses the term "earth" or "world" it does not mean the whole planet as seen in the following examples:

And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world. (Genesis 41:57)

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. (1 Kings 10:24)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar August, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)

So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" (John 12:19)

All nations did not go to Egypt to buy grain, neither did all nations seek an audience with Solomon, neither was the whole planet taxed by the Romans, neither did the whole world follow Jesus while he was on Earth. What this shows is that the Bible often speaks of the whole world or the whole Earth, but it really means just a large geographical area of no certain size, and refers to nations that exist in the Mediterranean world.

When the book of Revelation says the whole earth will worship the beast, it refers to the nations of the Middle East, and North Africa, which are Islamic; Islam will be the religion of the beast with ten horns. Yet there is another verse which seems to indicate the whole planet, "And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation" (Rev.13:7). It says it was given "authority over" every nation, but that does not mean it rules every nation for a full 42 months; it means it will invade the world during World War III, like Hitler invaded Europe, but it will be defeated like Hitler was defeated. To further illustrate that the Bible does not mean the whole planet, even when it appears to, in Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar is said to rule the whole world:

"You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all." (Daniel 2:37-38)

Wow, Daniel must have been exaggerating. This is also an example of hyperbole, which is an intentional exaggeration to make a point, as the land was "flowing with milk and honey." At no time was the land of Cannan actually flowing with milk and honey. It means it was a very fertile land. Just a few decades after Neb was declared ruler of the world, Babylon was conquered by the Media-Persian Empire (Persia is today Iran). So Neb did not rule the world, he did not rule all the known world, he did not even rule all the Middle-East.

Also, in Jeremiah, God said of Nebuchadnezzar, "All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him" (Jeremiah 27:7). If "all nations" are subject to Babylon, where do the kings and nations come from that will defeat Babylon? So this shows that the Bible does not mean the whole planet but merely a large section of no certain size. Likewise, the beast will not rule the planet but will rule most nations in the Middle East and North Africa.

Finally, Paul said, "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing" (Colossians 1:6). Clearly, Paul did not mean the whole planet. So the beast does not rule the world as a dictator, and does not bring peace, but war.