Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

The Beast Is Wounded

What was to happen to one of the heads of this beast? BR-ASI9 190.5

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3. BR-ASI9 190.6

Note.—The wound to the papal head of this beast was inflicted when the French, in 1798, entered Rome, and took the pope prisoner, temporarily eclipsing the power of the Papacy and depriving it of its temporalities. Again in 1870 temporal dominion was taken from the Papacy, and the pope looked upon himself as the prisoner of the Vatican. By 1929 the situation had changed to the extent that Cardinal Gasparri met Premier Mussolini in the historical palace of Saint John Lateran to settle a long quarrel—returning temporal power to the Papacy, to “heal a wound of 59 years” (The Catholic Advocate [Australia], April 18, 1929, p. 16). BR-ASI9 190.7

The front page of the San Francisco Chronicle of February 12, 1929, carries pictures of Cardinal Gasparri and Mussolini, signers of the Concordat, with the headline “Heal Wound of Many Years.” The Associated Press dispatch says: “In affixing the autographs to the memorable document, healing the wound which has festered since 1870, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides.” To such a position of influence over the nations is the Papacy finally to attain that just before her complete overthrow and destruction she will say, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” Revelation 18:7. (See Isaiah 47:7-15; Revelation 17:18.) BR-ASI9 190.8

What is said of the Papacy’s captivity and downfall? BR-ASI9 191.1

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” Revelation 13:10. BR-ASI9 191.2

What questions indicate the high position of this beast-power? BR-ASI9 192.1

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4. BR-ASI9 192.2

How universal is the worship of this power to become? BR-ASI9 192.3

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8. BR-ASI9 192.4