This podcast explains the symbolism and imagery used by John in Revelation 13:5 to describe the Great Apostasy that began after the fall of Rome in 476 AD and before the start of papal authority in 607 AD. John describes the Great Apostasy saying: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

Many interpret this verse to mean that the Dragon (Satan) gave to HIM (the First Beast) a mouth speaking great things, etc. However, the HIM in verse 5 refers to the Dragon who was given a mouth from God to speak great things and blasphemies throughout the world. The First Beast is a symbol for the Roman Empire as just one geographical location in the world where the much larger Great Apostasy was a universal and worldwide loss of truth and priesthoo ...