What does the beast symbolize? (Revelation 11:7)


beast


And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7 - King James

 

 

⚪ The government without a foundation (revolutionary France - 1793)

Rev. 11:7 [...]
The beast that THEN ascendeth out of the [bottomless pit] ABYSS.The government without a foundation; revolutionary France during the "Reign of Terror."
Shall make war against them. — "In 1793 a decree passed the French Assembly forbidding the Bible; and under that decree the Bibles were gathered and burned, every possible mark of contempt was heaped upon them."— Smith.
And shall overcome them, and kill them. — "All the Institutions of the Bible were abolished; the weekly rest day was blotted out, and every tenth day substituted for mirth and profanity. Baptism and the communion were abolished. The being of God was denied, and death proclaimed an eternal sleep. The Goddess of Reason, in the person of a vile woman, was set up, and publicly worshipped."— Smith.

Source : 🇺🇸 1917 - Studies in the Scriptures, Vol 7, The finished mystery, page 174 + Cover

 

⚫ 'Beast' is a symbol of Satan's organization

Rev. 11 [...]
After the Elijah-John-the-Baptist witness work had been finished, at the end of the forty-two-month period, God permitted "the beast that aseendeth out of the bottomless pit [to] make war against them" and "overcome them". (Vs. 7) The Diaglott and Batherham render this word "beast" as "the wild beast". It is a symbol of Satan's rule of force, violence and oppression exercised by his visible organization known as the leaders of the principal nations of the world. [...] the United States formed a part of that "wild beast", [...] "Beast" is a symbol of Satan's organization; and the "wild beast", of which the United States and Britain form a part, [...]

Source : 🇺🇸 1930 - Light, Vol 1, page 203, page 204 + Cover