Civil Government (20) - Dangerous Democracy
The idea that the beast of Revelation represents restored democracy is confirmed in several ways. The beast comes out of the sea (Rev 13:1). Throughout Revelation, the sea represents the people of the world.
Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw…. are peoples, multitudes,nations and languages” (Rev 17:15).Most empires come into being when a few men seize control. The Beast is different; it emerges as the people government themselves. The only way a great multitude of people can govern themselves through democracy.
There is not much mystery about the number of the beast: 666. We aretold what it means.This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the numberof the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666 (Rev 13:8).The number does not represent a particular man but mankind in general. The number is “man's number”. Six represents humanness. Three represents God, so three lots of six represent man trying to be God. In the context of government this means man governing himself without God. That can only happen in a democracy. In other forms of human government, most people do not govern themselves, but they are governed by other men.
Men worshipped the Beast and said, “Who is like the Beast?” (Rev13:4).
This is already happening. People of the modern world have enormous faith in the democratic state. Most people have more faith in the state than Christians have in God. They say that democracy is the best form of government. Very few people are interested in government by God.
The statue in Nebuchadnezzar's vision had feet and toes that were a mixture of iron and clay. Iron represents strength, so it describes strong government. Clay represents humanity, as we were created from the earth (Gen 2:7). The clay represents human government. A mixture of iron and clay represents a powerful democratic state.
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2 comments:
Ron,
I find your interpretation of Scripture most interesting here. And I have to admit, a little too much reading into it, though maybe I'm amiss.
I thought of you, in view of your comment elsewhere, and was interested in your take on my post in regard to a blog conversation and critique going on of Gregory Boyd's new book, in which is your comment I refer to: http://communityofjesus.blogspot.com/2006/08/christians-and-world-of-politics_14.html
Thanks for reading it, and any input you might give.
Thanks Ted
You might be right in suggesting that I have read to much in, but I do not think my to basic arguments can be refuted.
1. Democracy cannot be justified from the scriptures. It is the opposite of the Kingdom of God.
2. Democracy has resulted in an absolutely enormous increase in state power.
For these two reasons we should watch democracy very very carefully. It might prove to be more dangerous than we think.
I will comment on you post on Greg Boyd on your blog.
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