Revelation Chapter 13

VERSE 5 “And he (the beast) was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.”

AND THERE WAS GIVEN TO HIM:

Remember what we learned about the construction of this chapter in our opening statements on this chapter, this phrase begins another look at this beast, (the second look) one which clicks back in time to its beginnings.

In the first one the beast was given three things, power, a throne, and authority. In this second look the beast is given two things.

A MOUTH SPEAKING ARROGANT WORDS AND BLASPHEMIES: This is a clear reference to Dan. 7:8, 11, and 25.

A brief history of this “mouth” is found in Volumes II and III in the Studies in the Scriptures series. Papacy was the mouth. (Papacy, remember, is NOT a head, but a horn with prominent eyes and mouth.) Papacy was the bark of the beast; the civil powers were the bite.

AND AUTHORITY TO DO FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS: Papacy “did” things most indirectly — through the state. But this authority to “do” through the state went practically unchallenged unto 1799 A.D. when the forty-two months had expired.

Viz. a time (12 months), times (24 months) and half a time (6 months). Each month comprised of 30 days according to the Jewish calendar. 42 months = 1260 days. A day for a year, 1260 years.

(Verse 5 as explained in The Keys of Revelation)

“In a work entitled ‘The Pope the Vicar of Christ, the Head of the Church,’ by the celebrated Roman Catholic, Monsignor Capel, 32 is a list of no less than sixty-two blasphemous titles applied to the pope; and, be it noticed, these are not mere dead titles from the past, for they were arranged by one of Papacy’s foremost living writers. We quote from the list as follows:

“’Most Divine of all Heads.’

“’Holy Father of Fathers.’

“’Pontiff Supreme over all Prelates.’

“’Overseer of the Christian Religion.’

“’The Chief Pastor—Pastor of Pastors.’

“’Christ by Unction.’

“’Abraham by Patriarchate.’

“’Melchisedec in Order.’

“’Moses in Authority.’

“’Samuel in the Judicial Office.’

“’High Priest, Supreme Bishop.’

“’Prince of Bishops.’

“’Heir of the Apostles; Peter in Power.

“’Key-bearer of the Kingdom of Heaven.’

“’Pontiff Appointed with Plenitude of Power.’

“’Vicar of Christ.’

“’Sovereign Priest.’

“’Head of all the Holy Churches.’

“’Chief of the Universal Church.’

“’Bishop of Bishops, that is, Sovereign Pontiff.’

“’Ruler of the House of the Lord.’

“’Apostolic Lord and Father of Fathers.’

“’Chief Pastor and Teacher.’

“’Physician of Souls.’

“’Rock against which the proud gates of hell prevail not.’

“’Infallible Pope.’

“’Head of all the Holy Priests of God.’

“In addition to the long list of titles of which the above are some mere instances, the author gives the following quotations from a letter which St. Bernard, Abbott of Clairvaux, wrote to Pope Eugenius III, A.D. 1150:

“‘Who art thou? —The High-Priest, the Supreme Bishop. Thou art the Prince of Bishops, thou art the Heir of the Apostles. Thou art Abel in Primacy, Noah in government, Abraham in patriarchal rank, in order Melchisedec, in dignity Aaron, in authority Moses, Samuel in judicial office, Peter in power, Christ in Unction. Thou art he to whom the keys of heaven are given, to whom the sheep are entrusted. There are indeed other door-keepers of heaven, and other shepherds of the flocks; but thou art the more glorious in proportion as thou hast also, in a different fashion, inherited before others both these names. . .. The power of others is limited by definite bounds: thine extends even over those who have received authority over others. Canst thou not, when a just reason occurs, shut up heaven against a bishop, depose him from the episcopal office, and deliver him over to Satan? Thus, thy privilege is immutable, as well in the keys committed to thee as in the sheep entrusted to thy care.’

“All these blasphemously flattering titles have been applied to and received by the Roman pontiffs with complacency and marked satisfaction, as rightfully belonging to them.” 33

The “power . . . to continue forty and two months” (Verse 5) refers to the era A.D. 539 to A.D.1799.

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32. The Right Reverend Monsignor Capel, D.D., was Domestic Prelate of Leo XIII, a member of the Roman Congregation of the Segnatura, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster.

33. The Time Is at Hand, Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 306–308.

We continue with Verse 6 in our next post