Obelisk Described King’s Awesomeness
Dating Back to Very Ancient Kingdoms
One of the most intriguing symbols to capture people’s imaginations in modern times is the concept of the image of the beast (Re 13:13-18; 14:9-11). Needless to say many false teachers have captured the imaginations of those poorly trained or immature in discernment in looking for this image of the beast. False teachers do not teach out of the Bible as it would expose them, reducing their income. Yet, the Bible does speak about the beast’s image, especially two examples from the Old Testament. Obelisks were some of the first and most ancient images describing the prowess of rulers and thus qualify as images. However, though obelisks were associated with Egypt our first example occurs after Egypt with Moses who led the Hebrews out of that land of images.
The’ Bronze Serpent Reverberates in Meaning
On Many Levels – Christ on the Stauros is One
The Hebrews were again complaining about God’s leadership, something well known in Christian circles also. God sent fiery serpents among the people. Anyone bit by these snakes died slow, painful deaths (Nu 21:4-9). Confronted with immediate judgment for testing God, the people repented to Moses. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a wooden pole; all who looked to this bronze serpent lived. Herein is one question no one has ever asked and thus answered. The moral law prohibited any making of images of God; yet, God is telling Moses to make an image that would indeed represent Christ on the stauros, cross to you (Ex 20:4-5). Is this a contradiction? First, it is a false dilemma because it ignores the second aspect to this command; “…bow down to them or serve them…” Second, the image does not directly represent God, or Christ, but sinners the chief of which is Satan, that old snake or dragon from the Garden (Re 12:9). When Christ was on the stauros He became sin in our place; thus, He represents us under the judgment of God; hence, the metal bronze symbolizing judgment (Ps 22:6). This image was not a form of worship but acknowledgement that each bitten person deserved judgment but received mercy. They were seeing themselves being replaced by God who would take God’s wrath in their stead and bestow mercy on those who believed as evidenced by their looking on Him in belief.
However, true to form, the Hebrews kept the bronze serpent long after Moses died and hung it in the Temple for all to see and remember. What did they remember? They remembered how the bronze image saved them and worshiped it; thus, they turned God’s symbolism of their sinfulness into a god to worship in place of God. This violated their moral law. King Hezekiah had the bronze serpent broken into pieces demonstrating its powerlessness (2Ki 18:4).
This image tells us that people are willing to worship images of sin and Satan rather than grasp the concept of their own sinfulness and need of redemption. This is essential in understanding the beast’s image.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Image Represented Himself
King of All and Worthy of All Worship; or Die
Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian king that defeated Jerusalem and carried its wealthier and smarter inhabitants back to Babylon for use in his administration; among these was Daniel the prophet. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and summoned his wise men to both tell him the dream and its interpretation; an unheard of feat (Da 2). The king remembered his dream so he would know who was speaking truth; hence, everyone declined and faced a death sentence. Daniel was being arrested in the dragnet to rid himself of all so-called wise men. Daniel was able to both tell the king his dream and its meaning. Daniel described a tall statute with the king as its head made of gold; first of four great kingdoms to come. This is essential because rather than lead the king to consider the coming termination of his kingdom; he gloried being its head and of gold. This led him to build an interpretation of this image all clad in gold representing only himself (Da 3).
God gives us the dimensions of this image with a 10:1 ratio. In the Bible ten, composed of four and six, represents man’s government. The one showed the omnipotence of the ruler of this overarching government; in this case, Nebuchadnezzar. The king set this image, probably an obelisk, in a plain so as to eliminate any distractions from hills or mountains dwarfing the great king’s image. At the sound of the music all had to bow and worship or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Daniel’s three compatriots refused to bow, Daniel was not present, and were thrown into the furnace. Three went in but four were seen; presumably they were being protected by Christ and walked out of the furnace unsinged. The king had to acknowledge there was a god mightier than himself. However, this was not an admission of saving faith; yet.
Our second lesson then it that a mighty ruler will set himself up as deity and those who refuse to worship will die, presumably by fire. However, those who refuse to worship will be protected from Hell by Christ, even if their bodies are destroyed (Da 3:14-18). Notice that the king admitted that he only represented other gods which will be important to our understanding.
Ouroboros: Snake Surrounding Death
Shutting Out ALL Contact with God and Life
Satan is the Great Dragon, worm or snake, with ten horns of governments ruled by seven kings deceived even angels to follow him (Da 7:19-27; Re 12:3-4). While standing on the sea, picture of raging sin, shore Satan calls forth two special beings to represent him before people (Re 12:17). The Antichrist directly represents the Dragon and resembles him (Re 13:1-10). Like Pharaoh, he could exercise certain powers unavailable to most people (Ex 7:8-13). The second beast is a lamb, the priest of a unifying belief system that will absorb all other belief systems and point to worship of Satan and the Antichrist via this image (Re 13:11-18). All who do not worship Satan and the Antichrist via this image will die. God tells us that all who do worship this image will die a fiery death: Hell then the Lake of Fire (Re 14:9-11; 20:11-15).
We know there is nothing new. Satan is the counterfeiter of God, deceiving those who look to governments for salvation (Ec 1:10-11). Antichrist mimics Christ even by appearing to die and rise again as the Lamb mimics Elijah by calling fire from the sky to deceive those not strong in the Word. The beast’s image will be demanded by the world and when made they will worship and eat (Ex 32:1-6). It will be a familiar object representing that which all lost people already believe in: man. Though events prove them powerless, they worship themselves as triumphant over God and kill those who refuse to worship the same; who worship Christ. This image will symbolize man’s knowledge to control nature even as nature repeats Noah’s Cataclysm demonstrating their impotence; i.e., Great Tribulation.
In today’s Covid-19 pandemic, mild though it is compared to ancient pandemics, people demonstrate their powerlessness yet call on governments for protection. Governments are run by people. Purpose of governments is to coalesce into one government, with force if necessary. This government will eliminate all who believe in Christ. This is just another in a series of ever increasing crises designed to give power to government. The head of government will demand obedience in fairness to all or face death. The lost will believe this delusion (2Th 2:3-12). Everyone dies. Choice is dying in Christ or dying apart from Christ for eternity. Would you exchange your eternal life for a roll of toilet paper or a cup of rice?