Say Hello to the Beast

After more than a decade of analyzing The Revelation, I finally came up with an interpretation that makes sense and can be remembered. Over the years, I've gotten standing ovations from groups who think John's Apocalypse makes sense for the very first time. My approach allows the Old Testament to explain the mysterious images of the Bible's closing book. There's not nearly enough space here to unpack the whole approach, but I simply have to share one idea.

The evidence has convinced me that the Beast, the end times super villain whose logo is 666, is government trying to be God. It was the government who sought to crush the church at the time John committed his vision to writing. It was the government, a church run government at that, which nailed Christ to the cross. And through the centuries, it has been out of control government that spawned Nazi concentration camps, dominated Eastern Europe, and stamped out freedom in China.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution is designed to protect the church from the government- not the other way around! That's why history and our founding fathers have a powerful message for believers: Be suspicious of big government. Be very suspicious.

With that warning in mind, take a look at the events that dominate serious news today:

• There is a widespread effort underway to give Big Government control of our healthcare system. This is happening despite horror stories from Canada and the United Kingdom.


• The advocates of Manmade Global Warming- and they are many- are calling for massive government control of what we drive, how we set our thermostats, how we travel. The term "Big Brother" comes strangely to mind.


• Last week, a prominent US Senator called for "nationalization" of the US oil industry. Yes, let's do for the price of oil what the Pentagon did to the price of military spare parts.


• This morning's Washington Post featured an editorial calling for government control of the entire mortgage industry. Does anyone remember the disaster we called the Soviet Union?


• At least one political party is calling for higher taxes next year if they win the presidential election. Say what you like about overbearing right-wing Christians. Only the government can reach into your pocket and take your money legally without your permission.

Someone has observed that a government that has the power to give you anything you want, also has the power to take away everything you have. Bad News, America. Uncle Sam is quickly morphing into something our forefathers and the prophets always warned us about. Uncertain times always prompt citizens to demand some kind of Big Government Lifeguard. But we should all read Revelation 13. There's someone in the sea swimming toward us, but he has a dorsal fin, not a life preserver. Can anyone spell 666?