WEIRD CREATURES IN THE BIBLE 1: BEASTS IN PROPHETIC VISIONS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Weird creatures in the Bible
a) The Bible mentions different kinds of weird creatures. Some descriptions are symbolic and are simply meant to represent certain nations, people, or ideas in prophetic visions; these creatures were never intended to be taken literally. Other passages are indeed describing a real beast, although the names provided by translators were sometimes taken from mythology.The King James Version, translated in 1611, contains several mentions of mythological creatures, including the satyrs, unicorns, the fearsome cockatrices and dragons.
2. Beasts in prophetic visions
a) The apocalyptic portions of Daniel and Revelation contain famous visions of strange creatures. Both books describe four creatures with the heads, bodies, limbs, and wings of different combinations of animals—heads of lions with wings of eagles, etc. These are not mythological but symbolic descriptions of angelic beings.
b) Revelation predicts “locusts” with human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, and scorpions’ tails, topped off with wings.
c) Also, in Revelation 9:13–19, an army of 200 million horsemen ride horses with the heads of lions, breathing fire and sulfur, and sporting tails like serpents with heads.
d) The descriptions of these strange creatures are figurative—in other words, the visions are symbolic of real beings, nations, or judgments in the future.
The End ...
1. Weird creatures in the Biblea) The Bible mentions different kinds of weird creatures. Some descriptions are symbolic and are simply meant to represent certain nations, people, or ideas in prophetic visions; these creatures were never intended to be taken literally. Other passages are indeed describing a real beast, although the names provided by translators were sometimes taken from mythology.The King James Version, translated in 1611, contains several mentions of mythological creatures, including the satyrs, unicorns, the fearsome cockatrices and dragons.
2. Beasts in prophetic visions
a) The apocalyptic portions of Daniel and Revelation contain famous visions of strange creatures. Both books describe four creatures with the heads, bodies, limbs, and wings of different combinations of animals—heads of lions with wings of eagles, etc. These are not mythological but symbolic descriptions of angelic beings.
b) Revelation predicts “locusts” with human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, and scorpions’ tails, topped off with wings.
c) Also, in Revelation 9:13–19, an army of 200 million horsemen ride horses with the heads of lions, breathing fire and sulfur, and sporting tails like serpents with heads.
d) The descriptions of these strange creatures are figurative—in other words, the visions are symbolic of real beings, nations, or judgments in the future.
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