Note: They, i.e.: most all of the world, will worshipped the beast, Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8. The beast is a worldwide system and the Head of this worldwide system is also a beast. The worldwide system is the mystery of iniquity (lawlessness,) and is the Roman Catholic 'church,' 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10. The system, the mystery of iniquity (lawlessness,) is both religious AND secular (political) and is completely controlled by the beast. The beast is both the system he rules and controls and he is also a beast as the Head of this beastly system that satan uses which deceives the whole world. All his subjects, those that officially follow him, and all the rest that see him as God's representative on earth are indeed his subjects. Yea, not only do they follow him in a civil way, being subject to him as their temporal 'lord,' to whom they give homage--homage in the form of obedience, and tribute in either a religious or temporal way or both. The 'pope' of Rome IS the beast, the Head of the beast system the Roman Catholic 'church' that he (satan) uses to control the world. The papacy is the Office of the 'pope': It is the the system of government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the 'pope' is its Supreme Head, as a ruler, a monarch, a King. The 'pope' the beast, the antiChrist who sits in the Temple (Church) to be worshipped as God on earth proudly offers himself to the world as though he is Christ Jesus. This substitute, this 'Vicar' this antiChrist, this beast, the 'pope', will eventually proclaim to the world that he IS God. Roman Catholics call him, "Lord God the pope.' He reigns from his throne and receives adoration from most all the world. Those that bow to him include Cardinals and all the rest of Roman Catholics, as well as all that accept the 'pope' as a true 'religious' leader or 'Holy man'. They worshiped the dragon. In following after and obeying the beast, the 'pope,' the antiChrist they really give worship to the dragon, i.e: satan, which had given the beast his power. Their worship was, however, directed to the beast itself. Woe to them, though, that worship this beast; this beast claiming to be, and accepting worship as, God. Revelation 14:9-12.

The beast comes speaking great things and blasphemies. Three kinds of blasphemies are named: (1) against God, where he pretends that he can take the place of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. God the Father by being called 'Holy Father,' John 17:11; God the Son by saying that He, Mary, and His Priests are Mediators, 1 Timothy 2:5, and as the Holy Spirit saying that God had placed him in charge, to be the revealer of all Truth, as infallible, when this is the job of the Holy Spirit, John 16:13. (2) against God's dwelling place, His tabernacle; (3) and against those to whom God has opened his tabernacle. The beast's rule was universal, and in the end it becomes so again, and he rules over every nation, tongue, and tribe.