Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 93 No. 2, 2023.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.93.2.8
»Beast Rising out of the Earth« (Revelation 13:11–18). Religious Propaganda in the Service of the Dragon
Taras Barščevski
orcid.org/0000-0003-2132-1105
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
After the introduction of the Dragon, his conflict with the Woman and defeat by the Archangel Michael (Rev. 12), and following the appearance of the Beast that rises out of the sea (Rev. 13:1-10), the author of the Book of Revelation also presents the second Beast that rises out of the earth (Rev. 13:11-18). Its identity is »hidden« by the author under the number 666 of a man calling the Church community to calculate the number. To identify the Beast that rises out of the earth, the author offers a brief description of its appearance (»two horns like a lamb and it speaks like a Dragon«) and describes its activity in detail, urging readers to apply »wisdom« and »understanding« in identify ing the Beast based mainly on its current activity in history. In the article, primarily through an exegetical analysis of the verbs ποιέω (»to do«) and πλανάω (»to deceive«), the concrete action of the second Beast is described, which »exercises« the authority of the first Beast, forces those who dwell on the earth to worship it, »performs« great signs, »makes come down« fire from heaven on the earth, allows everyone to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, and »deceiving« the earthlings with signs so that they »make« an image of the Beast that both »speaks« and »kills« all who would not worship it. The work of the second Beast is characterised mainly by the religious motives and propaganda used to achieve its political and financial power. The concrete identification of the Beast itself, which is both possible and necessary, must be left to the Church community, which only in the context of the liturgical act, cleansed of sin, has the right and can nominate the »enemy of our souls«.
Ključne riječi
Beast of the Earth; Beast of the Sea; Dragon; Number of the Beast; 666; Image of the Beast.
Hrčak ID:
308072
URI
Datum izdavanja:
21.9.2023.
Posjeta: 828 *