I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it talked like a dragon. It uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs spectacular signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do on behalf of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived. The second beast was allowed to impart life to the image of the first beast so that the image of the beast could talk and order the execution of those who would not worship the image of the beast. The second beast forces all people—important and unimportant, rich and poor, free and slaves—to be marked on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is the beast's name or the number of its name. In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding calculate the total number of the beast, because it is a human total number, and the sum of the number is 666 (Rev. 13.13-18).
The Roman Empire controlled almost the whole of Europe and the Middle East. Though it collapsed, its culture remained in its territories. The empire covered; Europe by the line of Rhine and Danube; in Asia by the Euphrates. In Africa, it possessed Egypt and the north coast; South Britain and Dacia were afterwards added but were ultimately resigned.
The Roman Catholic Church led the west. The Byzantine Empire ruled in the East. The Catholic Church later handed the headship of the church to the popery in the 6thcentury.
The Arabs in the Middle East started war on the Byzantine Empire and eventually conquered in the 6thcentury. Mohammed founded Islam the 5th century. The religion spread very rapidly among the Middle East and northern parts of Africa and became an empire (the Ottoman Empire). The Islamic empire completely overthrew the Byzantine Empire in 1453AD.
Roman Catholism ruled in the west and Islam ruled in the East. Both religions had political power. The governments were both religious and political. They each held kingly authority. These two political religions ruled the two principal territories of the Roman Empire. The two horns of the Ram (the false prophet) are Roman Catholism and Islam. Though the Roman imperial cult was wounded with the sword, it still lives in spirit. Roman Catholism and Islam is the Roman Empire in spirit.
At that time that both religions came to power around 1000AD, people were forced to convert. In the west, it is either you are Roman Catholic or you die. in the east, it is either you convert to Islam or you die. People were crushed. You either believe in Islam or you are beheaded. You either accept the Roman Catholic doctrines or you are killed. This was the order of that time.
People were denied civil rights in Europe if they did not become Roman Catholics. You could not do public practice or own property if you were not a Roman Catholic. Protestants were expelled from all offices, trades, privileges, and employs; thereby depriving them of the means of getting their bread. They would not suffer even the midwives to officiate, but compelled their women to submit themselves in that crisis of nature to the Roman Catholics. If not, their children were taken from them to be educated by the Roman Catholics, and at seven years of age, made to embrace popery.
The false prophet made the entire world, except those whose names are written in the book of Life, to worship the statue of the beast and be branded with his mark. Even the word, “Roman” in Roman Catholic shows its roots.
The Ram is the spirit of the Leopard. The Roman Empire is no longer physical but spiritual. It has broken from its physical boundaries by becoming spirit and it has spread its wings to the whole earth.
After the 1000AD, these religions had a political power that had never been held by any human scepter. Roman Catholism united to the Germans and created the Holy Roman Empire. About 68 million saints died from the hand of the Holy Roman Empire.
Islam claimed political power directly in all its territories. Islam continued its conquest in the East. Millions too have perished from the Islamic power.
The Ram (the spirit of the Leopard beast) is still present today but it does not any longer exercise the power and authority of a king over the world. It cannot force, condemn, kill as it did before. Still, many are still receiving the mark. This mark is a spiritual mark. As Jesus is marking his servants with the name of His Father, so too, is the devil marking his worshippers.
Many people are thinking that the Ram is still to come. They speak of a coming one world religion and government. They fail to realize that the Ram has already reigned and it is still here. The two horns may seem to differ but they are one. They are of one spirit manifesting in two different ways. Rev 16 speaks of “the spirit” of the false prophet and not “spirits” of the false Prophet. It is one false prophetic spirit ruling in two different ways. The two horns do not come to become one, rather they spring up from their oneness. The world is following the beast because of the voice of the false prophet. Islam and Roman Catholism is the worship of the devil (the dragon). The devil wants to be worshipped like God. He is getting many to bow before him instead of the LORD God. To follow the Ram is to follow its doctrines and teachings.
When the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in the 18th century, Germany and Italy, the principal nations of the Empire retaliated. In 1915, Germany and Italy (the seat of Catholism) stimulated the First World War to regain its power but failed. Due to the disgraceful defeat in WW1, Germany supported by the Ottoman Empire (the Muslim empire) triggered again WW2 but they still suffered defeat. After the WW2, the European nations were gathering to talk on the possibility of becoming one with a memorandum of Association. They were afraid to be controlled by the US and other united powers. Most of the European nations were not willing to lose their sovereignty, so the Memorandum was never signed. Eventually, a different treaty was signed and in this treaty, the individual nations still retained their autonomy. This treaty gave birth to the EU. The EU was born on the 3/11/2009. The Germans principally control the EU. The Holy Roman Empire (alliance between religion and government) is still among us even though it is no longer king.
In the Middle East, we have the Arab league wherein membership is according to the Muslim culture rather than geography. Currently in the world, the Arab league and the EU are the only union of nations apart from the UN.
The Roman Catholic Church is a false prophet. It is deceiving people to worship a false god. Roman Catholism does not follow the teachings of Christ rather it follows its dogmas. The pope claims blasphemous titles; the vicar of Christ, Holy Father, Bishop of Rome, His holiness, Supreme pastor, the rock, Father of kings, Governor of the world, Shepherd of the universal church, the infallible one etc.
Islam is a false prophet. It tells the world that Jesus is not the son of God and he never died on the cross. “Allah” is the title which the fallen proud Lucifer has taken for himself. Seeking to take the place of God, he calls himself “Allah” which means “the one true God”. Islam refuses the teachings of the Jesus Christ. Their Allah is not the God of the Christians.
“Many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh. They are impostors and antichrists. Take care of yourselves that you do not lose the fruit of your labors, but receive a perfect reward. Everyone who goes beyond and does not remain within the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your houses or even greet him. Even in greeting him you would become an accomplice in his wicked deeds” (2 John 1.7-11).
The Seven Heads of the Dragon
Head 1: Lion (Babylon)
Head 2: Bear/Ram (Mede and Persia)
Head 3: He-goat/Leopard (Greece)
Head 4: Little horn beast (Seleucid Greece)
Head 5: The dragon
Head 6: The Leopard (Roman Empire)
Head 7: The Ram (Roman Catholism and Islam)