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. ABYSSING THE "WILD BEAST". "And I saw the wild beast (1) and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet (2) that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, (3) they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur." (Rev 19:19,20). "As for the lion… this is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept back till the end. He will address those rulers, taxing them openly with their sins, their crimes, and their defiance. He will bring them alive (3) to Judgement; he will convict them and then destroy them." (From 2 Esdras 12:31-33 NEB). "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who… share with the (wild) beast the exercise of royal authority… They will wage war upon the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and his victory will be shared by his followers, called and chosen and faithful." (From Rev 17:12-14 NEB). "If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented... in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb." (From Rev 14:9,10).
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