gdemetz wrote:My rationale? Even Satan was able to speak through a serpent, and the account of Baalam is a literal story which gives a running account of events. However, I don't believe that John saw a literal beast which has seven heads and ten horns coming up out of the earth's sea! Also, as I stated before, weird beasts were often used to describe kingdoms, and that is seen often in the Book of Daniel. For example; the goat with one notable horn (representing Alexander's Greek kingdom) tramples the ram with two horns (the ram representing Media-Persia, and the two horns representing Media and Persia). It goes on to state that the great horn was broken and four horns took it's place. Alexander had five generals, and after his death four of them divided the kingdom.
Daniel 2:
44
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Head of Gold is the Babylonian Empire
Breasts and arms of silver is the Medo-Persian Empire
Belly and thighs of brass is the Macedonian Empire
Legs of Iron is the Roman Empire
Feet of iron and clay is Rome broken into Ten Kingdoms
1. Alemanni - Germany.
2. Franks - France.
3. Burgundians - Switzerland.
4. Suevi - Portugal.
5. Vandals - Exterminated.
6. Visigoths - Spain.
7. Anglo-Saxons - England.
8. Ostrogoths - Exterminated.
9. Lombards - Italy.
10. Heruli - Exterminated.
That kingdom set up was the Gospel Age, the time period between Jesus' leaving and his returned. Also called the Church Age