‘And he exercises all the authority of the first wild beast in his sight. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first wild beast whose death stroke was healed.'

Initially the false prophet exalts Caligula. But the second wild beast continues to exalt the Roman beast as emperor replaces emperor, and has the authority of Rome behind him. ‘He' is the proclaimer of the Emperor's divinity and the religious enforcer of his worship. Later Domitian will demand to be called ‘dominus et deus noster', ‘our Lord and God', and the second beast, the officials, priests and seers in charge of Emperor worship, will enforce it.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising