The dragon gave him his power (Revelation 13:2)


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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.

Revelation 13:2 - King James

 

 

⚪ The papal Rome succeeded to the imperial / pagan rome (539)

Rev. 13 [...]
And the dragon. — Imperial Rome, represented by Constantine.
Gave him his power. — "Ancient Pagan Rome had only a mere skeleton of sacerdotal power as compared with the complex and elaborate machinery and contrivances of doctrine and practice of Papal Rome, the triumphant successor to their scheme, who now, after centuries of cunning and skill, has its power so Intrenched that even today, when its power is outwardly broken and it is shorn of civil dominion, it rules the world and controls kingdoms secretly, under cover, more thoroughly than the Roman emperors ever ruled the kings subordinate to them."— B288.
And Ms seat. — His place in the city of Rome, by transferring his own headquarters to Byzantium, "New Rome."— Rev. 12:4.
And great authority.At the hands of the Roman Emperor Justinian, in A. D. 539. — Rev. 12:3-6.

Source : 🇺🇸 1917 - Studies in the Scriptures, Vol 7, The finished mystery, page 195 + Cover

 

⚫ Satan gave power to the nations (from ancient Egypt - 3150 BC)

Concerning the father of this monstrosity, or "wild beast", we are not left in doubt. "And the dragon [which is Satan the Devil] gave him [the 'wild beast'] his power, and his seat [throne (Diag.) or authority]." This shows that Satan brought the beastly thing into existence and gave or supplied it with the power that it has and exercises; hence it is his child and his instrument. He is the father, and his wicked "woman", his organization, gives birth thereto. [...] The prophetic description and facts prove beyond all doubt that the "wild beast" that John saw in vision is Satan's organization of the earth which came into existence long centuries ago, and was manifest in the first world power, Egypt, and is now manifest in all the powers and nations of the earth, of which the British Empire holds the supremacy. The further description given in the prophecy of Revelation fully corroborates the foregoing conclusions.

Source : 🇺🇸 1930 - Light, Vol 2, page 268, page 269 + Cover