The Beast and the Bay

Spring has come early to the Bay Area--I came to work in shirtsleeves today, and read Thomas Cahill's description of John the Revelator's visions of good and evil (in Cahill's Desire of the Everlasting Hills, on my Now Reading list) as I zoomed toward the City by the Bay. Reading visions of the Beast while headed for the city named after a Catholic saint, St. Francis (I'm guessing it's this one, but could be this one or even this one). Cahill summarizes the standard view that the number of the Beast, which John says refers to a man, clearly points to Nero and Rome, as do most of his other rather transparent symbols. But he thinks John also critiques power in general, tyranny and empire, as equivalently evil. From Nero to Hitler, Rome to the Nazis, symbols from John's Apocalypse seem to fit every Evil Empire. Even American power, if you're on the receiving end of things, doesn't feel much different (go rent the director's cut of Apocalypse Now to see that jarring "we're not really the good guys" perspective depicted in a different set of unforgettable images). Maybe I'll try some lighter reading on the way home today.

Comments

[Joel Martin]

I have always found it interesting that people like Dave Hunt always identify the "city on seven hills" with Rome. San Francisco is also built on seven hills, and it seems like a much better place for the Beast. Heck, an Anti-Christ probably wouldn't even stick out in that city. :)

Incidentally, the city is named, I'm pretty sure, for St. Francis of Assisi. The Carmelite missionaries that founded the missions up and down California named them after the saint whose feast day is was when the mission was established. That's why so many California cities have San(ta) names.

An exception is Santa Cruz, which was supposedly named for a miraculous cross that appeared to the local Indians BEFORE the Carmelites arrived. Made the Indians more than willing to listen to the missionaries' explanation of the symbol.

More than you ever wanted to know, I'm sure. :)

[Dave]

Thanks for the info, Joel. I figured someone would know. When I lived in Europe I visited the monastery/church where St. Francis of Sales (St. Francois de Sales), third of the three above, is buried. Since then I haven't been able to keep my Francises straight.