CHAPTER 11: FUTURE OF THE BEAST

Let's retrace what we've covered thus far.  The dreadful beast rising out of the sea (Hell) is Satan himself.  The seven heads are seven kingdoms with the seventh kingdom rising to power after the time of John.  We've identified the seventh kingdom (head) as the papacy which historically grew slowly to prominence thanks largely to the Byzantine Empire and its emperor, Justinian.  The head representing the papacy will reign for a time, times, and half a time.  In Bible terms this would equal 42 months or 1260 days.  If we apply the biblical principle taught in Ezekiel 4:6 that a day can equal a year, then 1260 days becomes 1260 years.  Our 1260 year timeline for papal supremecy began in 538 with Justinian's various edicts.                    

The Book of Revelation tells us what will happen to one of the beast's heads:                     

"And I saw one of its heads as if it had been    mortally wounded."  (13:3)                    

Note that the text says ONE of its heads was wounded to death.  Since this verse has apocalyptic importance, the head in view would have to be the seventh head.  Which head was mortally wounded?  The head representing the papacy.  How this happened is the subject of the next chapter.