The leopard-bear-lion "beast"

[Peter]

Daniel's lion, bear and leopard kingdom "beasts" discussed in Daniel's prophecy, reappear together in scripture only one more time - in Revelation Chapter 13 - but combined into a composite "beast" - kingdom.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Daniel's beast is "his")
(The Greek interlinear below helps us understand who it is that gives what to whom.)

This beast was to continue 42 months.  The seats of the ancient successive kingdom beasts of lion, bear and leopard that Daniel prophesied are occupied today by the countries of Iraq, Iran, and Syria/Lebanon. The dragon in the verse above is Satan.

While these countries and sects of Islam may have differences, and some with national sovereignty, they are united spiritually through following the false prophet Mohammed, and by their holy book the Quran.  As a result they are filled with the spirit of antichrist because their belief that God has no Son, or "shirk", is the most important element in Islam.



Bible prophecy is ethnographic and therefore is largely about the Middle East.  Terms like "whole world" are likely not about Peoria Illinois.  "that deceiveth the whole world" - Strong's explains:   3625 oikoumene {oy-kou-men'-ay} 1) the inhabited earth 1a) the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians 1b) the Roman empire, all the subjects of the empire

The sketch map above is an excellent illustration of the seat of the Islamic Empire "beast", and the countries that compose that seat today. But the Lord's interest isn't likely to lie in the artificial boundaries of men, but rather in the spiritual condition of mankind.  The spirit of antichrist, in this case.  Each of Daniel's successive kingdoms conquered the whole known world (Middle East area) in its turn.  
 
Below are maps of the succession of kingdoms that Daniel wrote of, that ruled the Middle East.
There is broad consensus on the identity of these beasts.  As we learned on the prior page, Daniel defines a beast as a kingdom when used in the figurative language of a dream or vision in prophecy.

BEAST = KINGDOM

Lion - Babylon



Bear - Medo-Persia



Leopard - Greece



Daniel's 4th "dreadful" beast - Roman Empire
Not included in John's leopard-bear-lion beast description.  
 
Below is a map of the composite leopard-bear-lion "beast" (kingdom) and the spiritual condition of the Middle East today.

Leopard-Bear-Lion - Islamic Empire



While some Muslims may be unaware that other Muslims mark the Quran with the number 666, former PLO terrorist Walid Shoebat also said that the moment he saw the GREEK symbol for 666, he read it as the ARABIC symbol for "Bismillah", or "in the name of Allah".  There are ISLAMIC web sites that discuss how the number 666 demonstrates the perfection of the Quran, and that the Quran "is the 666". This number association of 666 was prophesied in Scripture 500 years before Mohammed was born and is explored more completely on this page.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

On this link are videos of Muslims who have come to know the love of God.

http://www.beholdthebeast.com/the_beast.htm

[Mike S]

I was posting on prophecy talk.com the other day abou how the people of Darfur are in "the tribulation", and my progression took me to the LBL beast. I was explaining how all tbeasts (minus the dragon) were empires. and it hit me that Islam is a spritual emprire. That in effect, makes Islam the LBL beast. The region of Syria-Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, is serving as the geographical base of that empire. I took off with that thought, and wrote how I thought it would play out to the end, without qualifying it, and the one person that replied directly to the post thought I was way off base. I am planning on building a point by point case in a reply to him, but I don't know if he will get it even if he does read it. It seems he wasn't aware of the common thought among all who study the Bible on what the 4 beasts in Daniel 7 represent. Here is my post, and you can follow down to tom's response:Pre-Trib has the devil dancing, reply # 100 - Mike S

[Peter]

I was posting on prophecy talk.com the other day abou how the people of Darfur are in "the tribulation", and my progression took me to the LBL beast. I was explaining how all tbeasts (minus the dragon).....

The dragon is never described as a "beast" so there is no reason to make this distinction.
And the term "beast" means kingdom when used in the figurative language of a dream or vision in prophecy. In some other more literal areas of scripture beasts are literally beasts.
The guy that wrote back said God never defines beast as kingdom but that simply isn't so: Daniel 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth...

..... were empires. and it hit me that Islam is a spritual emprire.

Indeed it is. While there separate and independent sovereign Islamic states, and there are different Islamic sects, while Sunnis and Shiites even murder each others innocent men, women and children over their differences, all Muslims are united spiritually by THE false prophet Mohammed, and by the quran, and they are all filled with the spirit of antichrist. Indeed each and every Muslim is an antichrist.

That in effect, makes Islam the LBL beast.

The relationship of Daniel's lion, bear and leopard beast kingdoms, and John's composite leopard-bear-lion beast make the Islamic empire the LBL beast.
http://www.beholdthebeast.com/the_beast.htm

The region of Syria-Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, is serving as the geographical base of that empire.

Revelation 13:2 ... the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The power and authority coming through oil.

I took off with that thought, and wrote how I thought it would play out to the end, without qualifying it, and the one person that replied directly to the post thought I was way off base. I am planning on building a point by point case in a reply to him, but I don't know if he will get it even if he does read it. It seems he wasn't aware of the common thought among all who study the Bible on what the 4 beasts in Daniel 7 represent. Here is my post, and you can follow down to tom's response:Pre-Trib has the devil dancing, reply # 100 - Mike S

These 2 pages may help you build your case:
http://www.beholdthebeast.com/daniels_four_beasts.htm
http://www.beholdthebeast.com/the_beast.htm

[Mike S]

 To JW- Great post a couple days ago on the ProphecyTalk board. It got a lot of positive responses, and a few of us helped reinforce the concepts when some posters asked questions.

[SAB]

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Locusts/Images/locust_map.gif

i don't know how to post the pic but it makes a good comparison to the maps you've posted here

[Peter]

To JW- Great post a couple days ago on the ProphecyTalk board. It got a lot of positive responses, and a few of us helped reinforce the concepts when some posters asked questions.

Got a link?
My handle is sometimes JW, but I haven't posted in there since I was banned for pointing out the problems with their preterist doctrine. The "times of the Gentiles" in particular.
RRM's been haunting a Christian forum or two, but I don't think he has mentioned that one.

[resistingrexmundi]

No I haven't ever even heard of that board until now. I find it easier to witness to people on eschatological matters after I can affirm that they are sound in their foundational doctrines first. That being the case I usually go to boards other than those dealing with prophecy that way they aren't already entrenched in an "ism". I tried the direct approach but didn't get very far. I can't even get people to read a free book in a country full of people who love free stuff.LOL. But if you post a link I will see if I can help. May be a little while before I can because I have had to put a few things on hold until I get through my final exam.

[Mike S]

Been a while since I've posted or read anything here. The link you requested isThe Mathematical Precision of Prophecy. I noticed a bit ago it was originally posted in March 2007, but Midwest or someone else found it and posted a comment, and it went on from there.

Many on that board are still resistant to the mathematical proof . Sometimes I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall when I'm trying to get people to see the truth.

[Peter]

Been a while since I've posted or read anything here. The link you requested isThe Mathematical Precision of Prophecy. I noticed a bit ago it was originally posted in March 2007, but Midwest or someone else found it and posted a comment, and it went on from there.

Many on that board are still resistant to the mathematical proof . Sometimes I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall when I'm trying to get people to see the truth.

Yes, that was my thread. John Williams is one of my forum usernames. That's where my brotherJW YouTube channel gets it's handle. Might have been an unfortunate handle because a couple of people have asked if I was Jehovah's Witness!