ear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his
heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:
and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the
dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with
him? and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it
was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth
into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword
must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints" (Rev. 13: 1-10).

From the nature of the symbol employed, we should naturally infer that
a persecuting, tyrannical kingdom or empire is meant. That such
an application of the term "beast," when used in connection with
prophetic symbols, is correct, is shown by a reference to the
interpretation given concerning the fourth beast of Daniel's vision.
"The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth" (Dan.
7:23). We have already shown conclusively that by the dragon was meant
the pagan Roman Empire, and the same heads and horns are apparently
ascribed to this leopard-beast, the only difference being that the
crowns--a symbol of sovereignty--have been transferred from the heads
to the horns. This substantial agreement with the facts of history
makes certain the identification of this beast with the revised
western Roman Empire under the papal form, the sovereignty being
vested in the ten minor kingdoms until they chose to "give their power
and strength unto the beast" (Rev. 17:13).

The symbol of a beast considered merely _as a beast_, could not, in
the nature of the case, signify anything more than a temporal kingdom
or political empire. It will be noticed, however, that this particular
prophetic symbol is _more than a beast_; for, combined with his
beastly