Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org:  https://renew.org/who-is-the-beast-in-revelation/ 

This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org

Editor’s Note: There seem to be as many interpretations of the book of Revelation as there are readers. It’s true that we find core Christian truths in Revelation— truths which all Christians can agree on—but many questions fall more naturally into the agree-to-disagree, personal conviction category. The question of the Beast’s identity (e.g., Revelation 13) is one which faithful Christians will disagree on, and this article is not meant to provide “the” definitive answer to the question. Nonetheless, I commend this article as 1) being plausibly argued, and 2) providing a very helpful snapshot of how to read Revelation. Its author is Jonathan Young, author of the commentary on Revelation, The Song of the Lamb: The Beautiful and Powerful Art and Message of Revelation. Thoughtful readers will benefit from his inductive style. 

The book of Revelation is a message, a sermon, which a reader would get up and read to a gathered church. Someone would read it out loud start to finish, straight through, no time to stop and analyze details. And yet it was meant to be clearly understood by John’s original audience. It was publicly sent out and filled with many commands to all the churches to obey the words of the prophecy.

How is it that such a complicated book was meant to be understandable to a first-century church gathering?

Through repeating themes throughout the book, Revelation invites us to focus on the broad message rather than on every detail. For example, Revelation sets up many of the issues provoking the letter’s writing in chapters 2-3 where Jesus directly addresses each of the seven churches with a crystal-clear message. And then every aspect and image in Revelation 2 and 3 will reappear throughout the rest of the book, fleshing out the same themes using details that resonated with their present situation. And the book is entirely, from start to finish, revolving around Hebrew scriptures, our Old Testament, known extremely well and even memorized by this audience.

So let me give an example of how, if you focus on the message as a whole, it makes a lot more sense. Moreover, if you know about the historical and Old Testament background, you can really have even more confidence in its meaning. Let’s go through what we learn about “The Beast” in every appearance of it in Revelation, focusing on the broad message rather than every detail. By the end, you should have a good idea of the identity of the Beast in Revelation.

Listen for more...

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/

Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/

Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. 

https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 

Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media! 

You can find us on: