Session 130: Revelation 11:19-13:10

11:19-12:7 To understand how the Ark of the Covenant (Old Testament) prefigures Mary (New Testament), and the significance of that, listen to Session 37 (Luke 1:36-66) and view the Key Notes of that Session.  In the OT, (Ark) and the NT (Mary), the people of God need them to do battle with the enemy.  “Don’t leave home without it/her!”

13  The “beast” in John’s time is the Roman Empire, with imagery John lifted from Daniel 7:3-6(Leopard, Lion, Bear).
(All of Daniel Chapter 7 refers to previous enemies of the Jews, leading up to Antiochus.  Daniel’s point is that God watched over his people through their tribulations and the people of God eventually withstood their enemies.  John makes the same point about the Romans.  There will be future “beasts” that will oppress the people of God, but ultimately God will give the faithful the victory of eternal life.)

13:5 John draws a parallel between Antiochus (in Daniel-see last session) and the current beast (Rome under Domitian) with his reference to “42 months” (= 3 1/2 years)  His point:  “We’ve seen this before, and we will triumph for eternity by persevering in our relationship with God.”