Isaac Newton | Protestant History | 3 Interpretations | Daniel | Revelation | Armageddon | Audio Links | Site Index | |
Home ¬ Previous Page ¬ A Woman Rides the Beast |
All over the ancient Middle East we find reference to the bull which is used as a symbol of strength and fertility as well as to bull gods. El, the supreme deity of the decadent Canaanite pantheon, was often called the Bull El (he was a fertility god). Baal, the god of fertility, storms, rain and vegetation is also called the Bull. Similarly among the Hittites, Aramaeans and Babylonians, the bull gods were a dominant feature of their religions, not to mention the many bull and calf-cults linked closely to the Egyptian god Horus. Cattle cults among the Cushitic peoples of Ethiopia and India may be found to this day! In Mithraism, bull worship was an important aspect of their beliefs.
In Babylonia, figures of bull gods guarded the entrance into temples, houses and gardens (in contrast the lion of Judah was utilised extensively in the British Empire). During the Assyrian period a human face was added: at Khorsabad colossal human-headed winged bulls were found at the palace of Sargon II. To the Babylonians these bulls were actually spirits which brought both good and evil upon mankind (demons sometimes bring good upon someone to deceive and to lead astray) and which filled the air and they produced storms and thunderbolts. Demons may indeed bring good to deceive, followed by evil. Their practices and ministers may appear to be of the light, but in reality they represent the darkness (II Cor 11:13-15). Note also that these bull gods or extremely powerful demons, filled the air which is one of the thoughts Paul may have had in mind when he condemned the prince of the power of the air and spiritual wickedness in high places (Gr the heavenlies) in the letter to the Ephesians (Eph 2:2; 6:12). There may also be another connection to the heavenlies: the bull was in reality the constellation of Taurus of the star Gud-ana the bull of heaven.
Such bull-worshipping practices were condemned and outlawed in the Bible: Ex 32; Josh 24:2; IKings 12:28; Hos 8:5; 13:2. The sexual perversions, false doctrines and weird practices were such a stench to God that Israel was to wipe out these religions from their land. Unfortunately this was never successfully accomplished.
In pagan Rome, a bull was killed for the baptism of blood at the Roman Taurobolium in honour of the deities such as Mithra. In a trench, the blood of the bull dripped over (or baptised) the initiate and drenched his body. He even drank the warm blood. Afterwards he came from this literally bloody baptism, believing that he was purified from sins and born again for eternity. In contrast, a Christian is covered in water at his or her baptism, washed clean metaphorically by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, and must then absorb Christs flesh and blood by symbolically eating and drinking of it (John 6:53-56), undertaking a process of spiritual growth until finally being born again at the resurrection.
In any event, the mythology surrounding one bull is fascinating. The supreme deity of Greek mythology was Zeus. He had various other names such as Ombrios (rain god), Keraunos (lightning), Pater (father), and Soter (Saviour). In the myths he fell in love with Europa, a beautiful daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia. Entranced by her, he assumed the shape of an animal or beast - a white bull, and mingled with the herds of Agenor while Europa was gathering flowers. When she came upon him she gently caressed him and had the courage to sit upon his back. Taking advantage of this situation, they went to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea where he whisked her over the sea off to Crete at which point he took on his normal form and she bore him 3 sons. This Hellenic tradition, was, however, derived from pre-Hellenic ideas of the moon-priestess triumphantly riding on the sun-bull. Figurines of this lady riding the bull beast may be found throughout the eastern Mediterranean region.
Europa, according to one tradition, was the Great Goddess as mother of the continent of Europe. This is where prophecy fits in. Turn to the book of Revelation, chapter 17, verse 2. Here we are told about a great whore who sat upon many waters and in verse 3 she also sat upon a scarlet coloured beast. It may well be that what is meant is that she sat on the beast on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in similitude to Europa. God inspired these words and it seems likely that John borrowed the basic imagery or broad concept, at least in part, from this Hellenistic legend. Why? Because in so doing He is indicating how thoroughly pagan the roots of the whore and the beast are. Further, as they spring from Phoenicia (land of the Canaanites), it shows us a little more of the origin and mind of the religion symbolised by the whore. The Canaanites were the original Babylonians, and as such the carriers of their religion. And the name of Europa shows us that the continent of Europe is deceived and seduced by her.
There is a great false church which has dominated Europe for centuries. She is the mother of many other whores which have sprung from her in protest. It may be no coincidence that this imagery is now being utilised by the great European Union a revival of and the continuum of the Roman Empires successor power the Holy Roman Empire. The Roman beast system was ridden by an ancient church which roots are clearly Babylonian/Canaanite.
On the cover of Europe magazine (May 1984) a stamp to celebrate European Community landmarks, portray the beautiful Europa riding the bull, over the sea, assisted by a cherub. Seven years later, in the 9 December 1991 Time magazine (page 13) a women riding the bull while she is holding aloft the European flag is used to picture the European movement. In The Australian 16 September 1996 an article appeared on the approaching European currency (Europes Currency of Hope). The currency unit symbol of the Bank of Europe is portrayed as a winged bull surrounded by the European stars from the European flag. Winged bull? This was an Assyrian symbol and for those that understand history and prophecy, it may be no coincidence that the Bank of Europe will be based in Germany wherein dwell the militaristic descendants of ancient Assur (Gen 10:22). And finally, the new European Currency Unit prototype shows a woman riding a bull beast. It may also be more than passing interest to observe that the goddess Inana, more ancient than Europa, was often portrayed as riding on the back of a lion, signifying her co-operation with this terrible beast - this is an indication of how far back the legend may originate.
Eventually, 10 horns of the beast (these may be bull horns) turn upon the whore and devour her (Rev 17:16). Note the following old poem:
There once was a lady from Niger,
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger;
They returned from the ride
With the lady inside,
And a smile on the face of the tiger
Later the beast will be destroyed by Jesus Christ Himself. Thus ends the whore and the beastEuropa and the bull imagery finding its final end.
Europa Rides Again. (See the Greek Euro coin below)
The Greek word "Europa" (and EURO) appears on this coin which also
shows a woman riding a bull.
Europa is an earth goddess of Babylonian origin having blue eyes and golden
hair. The bull is the form and disguise taken by Jupiter, who carried her away.
Anciently, the bull represented commerce. This could be where we get the 'Wall
St' term, "a bull market".
Would anyone like to comment on what these symbols mean today; if and how they
relate to the book of Revelation (ch. 17). What is Europa holding in her hand?
Why is she naked? If Jupiter can take the form of a bull, could he take another
form,-- so who is Jupiter anyway?
.