Image of the Beast

[Loneseer]

Can someone tell me who or what the creature that had 2 horns like a lamb is in Revelations? I'm reading in a book published by SDA that this lamb is the United States. Then in an article by a Christian website, which by the way I find much more credible, that this beast, which is from the earth in both articles, is the revised Roman Empire.

The revised Roman Empire makes a lot more sense to me, since religions are very relevant in the Bible. Would like some feedback.
:confused :confused

[glorydays]

loneseer,

To me, the second beast/false prophet is the false Elijah, a Jew ("arising out of the land" of Israel) to fool Israel who rejected the real Elijah and Moses (2 witnesses) into receiving "him who comes in his own name." John 5:43

Many believe what you found -- that the 2nd beast is AC but that doesn't fit to me. It is AC that is worshipped and this 2nd beast, like an "unholy spirit." directs worship to the 1st beast and not to himself. The 2nd is, thus, the 3rd member of the "unholy trinity."

I think the confusion is in seeing the 2nd beast as a religious leader. Well, so is the first. The 1st beast, I believe, is a Pope. When you read about Thyatira, you will see that it is that "bed" that the world will be thrown into.

[lookingup]

In Christ.

[Ltanner09]

Then in an article by a Christian website, which by the way I find much more credible, that this beast, which is from the earth in both articles, is the revised Roman Empire.

We have a debate on this, going on at this thread:
http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=84679&pagenumber=1

If the 10 horns on the first beast represent kings (kingdoms) then it would seem the two horns on the second beast also represent kings (kingdoms).

One notable difference is the beast with two horns speaks like a lamb.

Just my opinion, but it appears two kings (beast with two horns) will cause the empire of 10 kings (10 horns) to be worshiped.

[Loneseer]

If the papacy was overthrown in 1798 by the French under General Berthier, it makes sense to me that a likeness religion which would be a mirror image of the one that fell before it would be the Image of the Beast. The beast that rose up out of the earth this time. And the RCC has carried over many of the practices from before the fall of the papacy. Actually Rome went from pagan to papal, so they would have a much better image of themselves in this world. What do you all think about this theory?

Here is the definitions to image which isn't necessarily a statue or photo.

Main Entry: 1im·age
Pronunciation: 'i-mij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, short for imagene, from Latin imagin-, imago; perhaps akin to Latin imitari to imitate
Date: 13th century
1 : a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing; especially : an imitation in solid form : STATUE
2 a : the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device b : a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material
3 a : exact likeness : SEMBLANCE <God created man in his own image -- Gen 1:27 (Revised Standard Version)> b : a person strikingly like another person <she is the image of her mother>
4 a : a tangible or visible representation : INCARNATION <the image of filial devotion> b archaic : an illusory form : APPARITION
5 a (1) : a mental picture of something not actually present : IMPRESSION (2) : a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation <a disorderly courtroom can seriously tarnish a community's image of justice -- Herbert Brownell> b : IDEA, CONCEPT
6 : a vivid or graphic representation or description
7 : FIGURE OF SPEECH
8 : a popular conception (as of a person, institution, or nation) projected especially through the mass media <promoting a corporate image of brotherly love and concern -- R. C. Buck>
9 : a set of values given by a mathematical function (as a homomorphism) that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain