Blasphemy: Understanding the Beast

 

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.

Revelation 13:1

In this passage of scripture we see John's description of a strange looking animal coming out of the ocean wearing man made objects and with some anti-God writings on its multiple heads. At least in the most literal sense this could be a sight to see in the most extravagant display that Phineas Taylor Barnum could have ever imagined. I suppose it is even possible in today's world of scientific developments, genetic wonders and death defying feats to create some strange looking beasty. Or, quite possibly, John's description is not so literal.

The one thing that John made so very clear in this passage is the word "blasphemy". In Fact in the first six verses of Revelation 13 the word "blasphemy" is written in some form or another four times. I would say that to understand these literal or metaphorical beasts we must first understand the word "blasphemy".

Webster's Definition:

 "The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God."

We all know this definition. I was taught in my earliest days that saying a "GD" would land me a sure spot in one of the most fiery places in Hell. As a young man I knew for sure that it certainly would cause a little hell on earth by my mom giving me that evil eye and a look of disappointment. It was enough to keep me straight until I can gain a testimony of my own about the consequences blasphemy. If you have not noticed already you should know that this part of our culture in the USA and other parts of the world is diminishing at a rapid rate. Hollywood induced culture helps blasphemy spread like a wildfire.

Other Definitions of Blasphemy include:

- Impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.

- Saying something concerning God that is very disrespectful.

 -The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable.

 -The act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things.

You can get a good idea through these definitions what blasphemy is. However, in my opinion the worst form of blasphemy is the denial that God exists. 

Don't get me wrong. The questioning of the existence of God can be spiritually healthy and is what leads to a more sure knowledge and truth. However, the complete denial of the existence of God is a religion of its own. It is a commitment to live your life a certain way. We are on a great journey designed for a lifetime of action. You make choices every day and you act upon them. You may be able to attempt stagnation for a short period, or, maybe it just seems as though. Whatever the case eventually you have to choose. Joshua said it like this: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15). Sometimes I hear people state that they believe in God but not religion. Hearing that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. It is a lie devised by Beelzebub himself. It is not even possible. Religion is the action that you do because of your belief system. James describes religion as such: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27). To me this is the only way to know if a person truly does believe in God. As did James, I can see many other reasons that a person can profess a belief that is not valued. Mostly for worldly gain of some kind. Maybe for political recognition or possibly an able bodied person holding a sign looking for easy sustenance, the reasons are numerous. It happens. Professing is just an empty statement to me. Throughout your life you will choose to serve the God of Israel or some other god. There is no way around it. 

In Revelation 13, can John's  beast be an idea, a creed, a political movement, a government, or a philosophy? The description certainly gives the notion of some kind of worldly power. Ten crowns is a lot of crowns. My wife and I recently visited her ancestors old stomping grounds were her clansman Robert The Bruce wore only one crown. Every castle we visited was either occupied by him or he destroyed it. If it wasn't for her halo I would be more worried about what I married into. Clearly John's beast would be wielding more power than Robert the Bruce. In today's world if you picked the right earthly kingdoms 10 would be an adequate number to rule the world. "Who is like unto that beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (emphasis added from Rev 13:4). That would be a powerful entity indeed. One thing that is on the rise in the most powerful kingdoms of the earth is secularism. On my journey to explore the exploits of Robert the Bruce I was able to talk to many Scots. I was surprised at how many people told me that it was considered rude subject matter to talk about religion. So I went to an open door at the local Church of Scotland. I had a wonderful time talking to some bible thumping grandmas there. In the end I asked them, "how many young people do you have in your congregation?" The answer was a resounding "zero". They explained that young people don't want anything to do with religion these days. It must be a heartbreaking thing for a loving God to give so abundantly and then be ignored. I would ask, "is there a worse blasphemy than this?". 

 Where can such a lack of concern of the eternities come from? I suppose it has been around before Cain killed Abel. Paul battled these ideas amongst the Romans. Surprisingly these modern day movements sprung from religious entities such as The League of the Just where Marx and Engels exploited religion, seeing it as a means of pacification for the masses. Rather than, a means to gain a better relationship with God. Wolves in sheeps clothing if you will, denying God in a christian organization creating an extreme form of Blasphemy. Today many political leaders cling to these notions there were put forth by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. These teachings are nearly becoming the industrial world's standards of leadership. Marx and Engels believed themselves to be enlightened and they esteemed religious people to be small minded. If you do not know someone like this then you need to get out more. They are everywhere preying on the insecurities of everyone around them. These are they that would shout hurray at such a beast rising out of the sea giving it some strange form of worship in exchange for some stange temporary validation. Infact, about forty and two months of temporary validation (Rev 13:5). You can secure a lot of power in forty and two months and remove a lot of personal liberties with the help of "enlightened" people. We have seen it before. Here you can begin to see the natural consequences of blasphemy.

Wise words from the Apostle James:

“… If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor listeth.

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” (James 3:2–10.)

Put on you whole suit of armor. It is going to be a bumpy ride.