"The implication of the Greek word used is of a wild beast — untamed, unruly, and violent-natured. Now we know that we are not speaking of a literal animal — for what does a wild animal have to do with the great mysteries of God? Internally, this wild beast is the bestial nature of the natural man, the carnal mind and the fleshly nature of the unregenerate self. Externally, this wild beast is the world — the institutions, systems, and authorities created in human society by the fleshly wisdom and soulical power of natural-minded men. Thus, this woman, the false church, is carried — underwritten, supported, maintained, and sustained internally by the flesh, and externally by the world!"
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"Now, against this backdrop of how terms such as was, is, is not, and is to come are used in the Revelation, let us return to our text. “And the beast which thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition (destruction)…and they shall wonder…when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Rev. 17:8). Once we clear away all the speculations, imaginations, and absurdities that men add to this scene the meaning becomes very simple and wonderfully clear. Christ is the One who was, and is, and is to come! The beast is the one who was, is not, yet is, and shall go into destruction! What an amazing contrast! Christ and the beast are opposites — the one is eternal, the other is passing away no matter how diligently he seeks to survive! Christ is our spirit, the beast is our flesh! Christ was, is, and is ever coming — always shall be! The flesh was, is not, yet is, and shall finally be destroyed! What a message that is!"