"The Whore of Babylon; sitting on the seven-headed beast, St John and the angel looking on from a cloud in top right corner.”
Author: Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473-1531)
Licensing: This is a faithful reproduction of a public domain artifact and so is also public domain. This photographic reproduction is also considered to be in the public domain in the United States.
In the spring of 2009, I was taking a course on the Book of Revelation with Dr. Gordon Fee, one of the great New Testament scholars of our time, as part of my Masters degree. What I didn't know was that this was the last course he would be teaching. He struggled with a chronic illness and finally passed away October 25, 2022. He was an excellent thinker and teacher, especially in the realm of exegesis (determining the original meaning of the text to the original audience). When we got to Chapter 17 and 18, I asked him what he thought this harlot and beast meant. He replied, "Some think it represents the French Revolution." Being a persistent student, I asked him what he thought. He went silent for awhile, and then said, "It represents Western culture." I had to think about that for a long time, but have come to believe that he was absolutely correct.
Culture, according to the online Oxford Languages Dictionary, is defined as:
the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
A harlot sitting on a beast, in a corrupt relationship with kings and merchants, an abundance of wealth and goods for sale, craftsmen, musical instruments and musicians, as well as the spilt blood of the saints, aptly describes Western culture historically, and Western Empire in particular. But let's proceed to the details in the text for confirmation. Note all biblical references are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
In Revelation 17, there is a harlot sitting atop a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. The woman holds a wine cup and is drunk on the blood of the saints. There are kings and merchants who corruptly partner with her for profit and power. And "upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, 'Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.'" We know in Scripture a harlot is a symbol for God's people who have turned against him in apostasy (Ez 23:1-4). So this harlot must represent false Christian churches who have partnered with corrupt kings (political rulers and oligarchs) and corrupt merchants (corporations and the super-rich in our time). But what of the beast that "was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction" (Revelation 17:11)? We will have to briefly review the beasts of Revelation 12 and 13 to answer this question.
A key to understanding Revelation is to integrate it with Daniel. Revelation 10:8-11 seems to confirm this. Like Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:3, John is told to take the "little scroll" and eat it, and "prophesy again." I believe that this "little scroll" is the book of Daniel, now being fully revealed in this time of the end as it is integrated with the Book of Revelation (Dan 12:8-10). The connections between the prophecies in Daniel and those in Revelation are many. One example is Daniel Chapter 2, where King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a giant statue. The gold head represents Babylon, the silver arms Medo-Persia, the bronze belly Greece, and the legs of iron, Rome. The statue represents this sequence of world powers. The feet of iron and clay represent the major powers of our time: iron means Roman-like, and clay means God's people--in this case, God's people who have apostatized (Isaiah 64:8). The phrase "they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery," I believe is an unclean sexual reference, not marriage, as many translations render it (Dan 2:43, NASB 1995). These apostates have aligned themselves with iron-like political powers in order to rule over others. And so we see this is exactly the situation today. Conservative political parties across the Western Empire have aligned themselves with apostate religious leaders (think of MAGA in the USA), but the two will not form a lasting partnership. And it is this unclean relationship that is further described in Revelation 17: a harlot (apostate Christianity) riding a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns (Roman-like political power). The sequence of world powers that are described in Revelation and Daniel I believe, are as follows. Note the last four powers are all Rome in some form, since Rome (iron) must be active when Jesus returns in judgement and the stone demolishes the entire statue of Daniel 2.
Babylon
Medo-Persia
Greece
Imperial Rome
European Monarchies, ruled by the Papacy
French Republic, British Empire, Anglo-America
Western Empire, ruled by America
This chart, which tracks the development of religious freedom in the West, may help you in understanding these various prophecies and their timelines. I have written about this in detail here.
Daniel Chapter 7 describes four beasts that parallel the metals of the statue in Chapter 2. The lion is Babylon (gold), the bear is Medo-Persia (silver), the leopard is Greece (bronze) and the terrifying last beast is Rome (iron). If we add up the heads of these beasts we get: Babylon (1 head), Medo-Persia (1 head), Greece (4 heads), and Rome (1 head) for a total of 7 heads. The beasts of Revelation 12:3, 13:1, and 17:7 all have 7 heads, so the connection is explicit. These Revelation beasts also have ten horns, which the terrifying last beast of Daniel Chapter 7 also has. We also note that the beast of Revelation 13:1-10 has the "feet of a bear (Medo-Persia), the body of a leopard (Greece), and the mouth of a lion (Babylon). When Alexander the Great (Greece) conquered Medo-Persia, he allowed local governments and customs to remain. Rome did the same with respect to Greece. That is why this Dragon Beast is represented by a composite of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8. The beast of Revelation 12:3, the Dragon Beast, must be Imperial Rome, since it is this beast that tries to kill the "child," which is "caught up to heaven." Obviously the child is Jesus Christ, who was crucified by Imperial Rome, but who was resurrected and returned to heaven.
Time moves vertically with beasts, from feet to horns. We know this from the fourth beast in Daniel 7. It has "claws of bronze," which means Greece, the previous power that Rome conquered. It has ten horns representing the ten (give or take) Germanic tribes that destroyed Imperial Rome in the 5th century and which would become the European powers in the middle ages. The "little horn" that arises and displaces three horns is the early Papacy, which attacked and destroyed three Arian (non-Trinitarian) tribes and became dominant over Europe. The beast in Revelation 13:1-10 begins with Medo-Persia (feet of a bear), which is conquered by Greece (body of a leopard), which in turn is conquered by Rome (the whole beast with 7 heads and 10 horns). The "mouth of a lion" means that this beast has absorbed Babylon into itself. It speaks Babylonian, if you will, and is therefore concurrent with the beast: it is the mouth of the beast, which is Rome in some form. Because this beast begins with the "feet of a bear," it should be read alongside Daniel 8 (as well as Daniel 7), since Daniel 8 begins with a two-horned Ram, representing the partnership of Medea and Persia. Horns, therefore, represent contemporaneous, constituent powers in a partnership. Daniel Chapters 2, 7 and 8 should all be referenced while interpreting the beasts in Revelation, and every feature of these beasts is significant.
I believe Revelation Chapters 12, 13, 16 and 17 are in chronological order. In Chapter 12, we have the Dragon Beast with 7 heads and 10 horns, which tries to kill the "child," which is caught up to heaven. Seeing the child has escaped, he becomes enraged and "went off to make war with..[those who] keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 12:17). The child is obviously Jesus Christ, and it was Imperial Rome that tried to get rid of him, egged on by the Jewish religious leaders, and it was Rome that persecuted his followers. So a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns is a symbol for Rome in some form, which Satan the "Dragon" controls. To the Dragon's great surprise however, Jesus rose from the dead, gave his disciples final instructions, and returned to heaven. The 7 heads are the total number of heads from the four beasts described in Daniel Chapter 7: Babylon (1), Medo-Persia (1), Greece (4), and Imperial Rome (1). In other words, the beasts in Revelation are composites of the beasts in Daniel. That is why Revelation must be read alongside Daniel to be understood, and both these books can only be fully comprehended during the time of the end--our time (Daniel 12:9, Revelation 10:9). The ten horns are the ten Germanic tribes, some of which would destroy Imperial Rome in the 5th century and would eventually become the countries of Europe. Although the number of Germanic tribes and European countries would vary over time, the "ten horns" would continue to represent them, as Sir Isaac Newton noted. But they are not ruling yet: The crowns, symbols for rulership, are on the heads of the Dragon Beast, not on its horns. In John's time, it is the crown on the 7th head, Imperial Rome, that is ruling.
Revelation Chapter 13 describes two beasts. The first, described in verses 1-10, is similar to the Dragon Beast. It also has 7 heads and ten horns, so we know it represents Rome in some form, but the crowns are now on the horns, not the heads as with the Dragon Beast. This beast is further ahead in time. These horns and crowns represent the monarchies of Europe that arose from the ten Germanic tribes after the demise of Imperial Rome, the Dragon Beast. This beast has the body of a leopard, feet like those of a bear, and the mouth of a lion (Rev 13:2). I believe this beast is a composite of Daniel 7 and 8. Daniel 8 begins with Medo-Persia (the ram), which loses in battle to Greece (the hairy he goat) and does not mention Babylon as a political power. The Papal Beast begins as the "feet like a bear", which from Daniel 7, is Medo-Persia (time moves vertically for beasts). Moving upward from the feet we see the "body of a leopard" (Greece). The overall beast is Papal Rome. The ten horns represent the monarchies of Europe that the Papacy, the little horn with the loud, blasphemous mouth, ruled over.
The Dragon gives the Papal Beast "his power and his throne and great authority" (Rev 13:2). The beast has a loud, blasphemous mouth, and makes war with the saints and overcomes them (v 5-7). It becomes a widespread object of worship (v8). This describes the Papacy, which arose from the ashes of Imperial Rome. The Papal Beast made war on the saints by persecuting them via the Spanish Inquisition and by other means. Even owning a personal bible was forbidden: one had to ask the local priest if you had questions about what the bible taught. In Daniel 8 Babylon is not represented as a separate power, but as the loud, blasphemous mouth of the "little horn" which seems to come out of nowhere but grows rapidly (Rome began as an insignificant small town on the West coast of Italy). In other words, Babylon is now absorbed into the Papal Roman Beast, as the "mouth of a lion." The Papal Beast of Revelation 13, and the terrifying beast of Daniel 7, and the "little horn" of Daniel 8 all have a loud, blasphemous mouth, which accurately describes the Papacy. The difference is Daniel 7:19-27 and Revelation 13:1-10 describe the Papacy when firmly established over the monarchies of Europe (represented by crowns on the ten horns), and Daniel 8 describes the transition from Imperial Rome, the "little horn," to Constantine, and then Justinian, who were prototypes of the later Papacy and who subverted Christianity and incorporated it into the Roman Empire. After the destruction of Imperial Rome in the 5th century, it would be Justinian, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, in the early 6th century, that would lay the groundwork for the Papacy, which would reign until the French Revolution in the late 18th century.
The 7 heads in this Papal Beast are: Medo-Persia (1), Greece (4), Imperial Rome (1), and Papal Rome (1). The lion's mouth means the beast speaks Babylonian, if you will, where Babylon was a mighty, arrogant superpower full of false worship and opposed to God. The mouth of a lion is represented in Daniel 8 as the loud, blasphemous mouth of the "little horn," the early Papacy. Babylon is now absorbed into the Papal Roman Beast. In Revelation Chapter 17, the beast and harlot together are called Babylon the Great. The meaning of the "mouth of a lion" then, is that the beast has become a mixture of Papal Rome and Babylon reborn. The Papacy arose in the 6th century CE and eventually secured control over the monarchies of Europe (the ten horns with crowns). The Papacy continued for 1260 prophetic years until the French Revolution, when its power was ended, and the power of the monarchies was replaced with republics across Europe (Rev 12:6). The 2300 "evenings and mornings," in Daniel 8:14 is equivalent to exactly 2300 prophetic years, spanning the formation of the Republic of Rome, in 509 BCE to the formation of the French Republic, in 1792 CE, which ended Papacy's political power. The healing of one of its heads refers to the demise of Imperial Rome, head 6, and the rise of the Papacy in its place, head 7, to become the new Rome.
The Lamb Beast arises next and this beast is not found in the book of Daniel--it is new information pertaining to the time of the end. However, it "has all the authority of the first beast," Papacy, and so is an extension of Rome's power (Rev 13:12). In other words, it becomes the Roman Empire of the last days. It "had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon...And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast whose fatal wound was healed (Rev 13:11-12). It was Britain, originally a Roman Catholic nation, that arose as a superpower as Papacy's reign was ending at the French Revolution, and it was Britain, prior to King Henry VIII that directed worship to the Papal Beast. Post-revolutionary France, now a republic, arose to replace Papacy as the ruling power in that country. However, it was Britain, with its unmatched navy, that became the greatest empire in history. One of its colonies, America, wanted to be free from foreign domination. After the revolutionary war, 1775-1783, America seceded from Britain but surprisingly, the two became partners. Thus the Lamb Beast with two horns was born. Two horns means two powers in a partnership, such as the Ram beast of Daniel Chapter 8 (Medea and Persia). The Lamb Beast is the Anglo-American superpower partnership of the modern age. At first, Britain was the dominant power, but after World War II, America took that role. And so it is today.
The Anglo-American power makes an "image of the beast" and commands all to worship it (Rev 13:14-15). This is a reference to King Henry VIII creating the Church of England in order to end the Papacy's control over Britain. This was a harlot church and looked much like the Catholic Church, with its priests in robes, incense, holy water, an altar, and an Archbishop instead of a Pope. However, it was beholden to King Henry VIII, not King Jesus exclusively, and persecuted those that did not bow to its authority. Other false Christian churches that are corruptly tied to political authority are also included in this image. The white MAGA evangelicals in America are a modern example. They have claimed that Trump is "anointed like Cyrus" by God to "Make America Great Again." This is blasphemous. Jesus has no part in worldly politics. His Kingdom is "no part of this world," and he has subjects in every country (John 18:36).
The Lamb Beast, Anglo-America, causes all to be given a mark, so they cannot buy or sell without it (Rev 13:16-17). This refers to sanctions, which America can place on any individual, business, or country, and bring them to their knees economically. No other country has this wide ranging power. It is also a symbol of slavery. Those with the mark "worship" the beast and defend it by supporting its wars and parroting its Imperial propaganda. "American exceptionalism," "founded on Christian values," "a city on a hill," "sweet land of liberty," "a light to the nations," and "the indispensable nation" are examples of this lying propaganda. The famous 666 man is prophesied to come out of this beast system (Rev 13:18). It will be someone like King James Stuart I, who implemented the Divine Right of Kings in Britain. He claimed to be God's representative on earth, which like the Papacy's claim to be the Vicar of Christ, is blasphemous and a lie. If Trump is elected on November 5th, 2024, he will likely be the final 666 man. He checks all the boxes. We will find out very soon.
Still in time sequence, Revelation 16:12-13, tells us that the Euphrates would dry up to make way for the kings from the east. Waters in Revelation mean peoples, tribes, and nations (Rev 17:15). When ancient Babylon, the world superpower of that time, was destroyed by Cyrus the Persian and his partner Darius the Mede, he had the Euphrates waters diverted so the armies could march into the city and conquer it. This prophecy is telling us that modern Babylon the Great will lose support and be defeated by the "kings from the east," likely the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with new members (Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.) and many more that have applied to join. We are also told that expressions inspired by demons, emerging from the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet, would go out to the kings of the earth to gather them together for the "great war of the great day of God, the Almighty" (Rev 16:13-14). We have discussed the Dragon Beast, the Papal Beast, the Lamb Beast, and the Harlot Beast, but not the False Prophet. I believe the False Prophet represents the Zionist state of Israel, which rejects Yahweh's Son, the Messiah Jesus Christ, but claims to have special blessings from God as his "chosen people" anyway.
The False Prophet works closely with Anglo-America, the Lamb Beast, to deceive earth's peoples; especially those in the West. Far right Jewish rabbis in Israel stir up its people with false claims of God's blessing and with false prophecies: telling them that the land, "from the river to the sea," occupied by Palestinians, is theirs to take; that God has given it to them, and they have the right to massacre or expel all non-Jews from it. Conservative pastors in America falsely teach that Jews in Israel are God's chosen people and must be protected militarily by America--even if Israel commits genocide against the Palestinians and steals their land. But Jesus is clear: No one comes to the father except through him, and, you will know them [true worshipers of God] by their fruits (John 14:6; Matthew 7:15-20). I have discussed the False Prophet in detail here. But what does this all mean for our time?
Since the election of Joe Biden and the US-provoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia (the US knew offering Ukraine NATO membership would precipitate war, and sought to destroy Russia with sanctions), the world has been torn into two camps: the West (USA, EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, plus several new members and many more expressing interest in joining). America has now secured iron-fisted rule over western nations. It controls the media and society in these lands to such an extent that Noam Chomsky, the great linguist and activist, said he has never seen such a fierce crackdown in his lifetime, and he is 95 years old! The EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand now function as colonies of America. I believe this is the meaning of the propaganda "frogs" that proceed out of the mouth of the Dragon (Satan), the Beast (Western powers led by America), and the False Prophet (Zionist Israel). The entire West is now saturated with American and Zionist propaganda. Those who resist or who are critics of Israel are accused of antisemitism, sidelined, or persecuted. For example, American college students who demonstrate against Israel's mass slaughter of Palestinians have been beaten, arrested, expelled, and prevented from graduating. Those in support of Israel are generally protected by law enforcement. And that brings us to the Harlot Beast of Revelation 17.
The Harlot Beast is the Papal Beast of Revelation Chapter 13:1-10 but further ahead in time, near the end of the French Revolution but extending to our time and the return of Christ. The first thing to notice is that the "kings of the earth," that is, political rulers and oligarchs, and merchants, corporations and the super-rich, are corruptly intertwined with her (Rev 17:2; 18:11-19). She is responsible for the "blood of the saints" (Rev 17:6). In other words, false Christian churches along with corrupt governments have been foremost in persecuting sincere Christians throughout history (think of the Spanish Inquisition). She sits on seven mountains. Rome was known as the city on seven hills. She is Rome incarnated, but she is also Babylon reborn, thus her name: Babylon the Great. She is a mixture of both (v9). "The seven mountains are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come" (v10). John, the writer of Revelation, is first viewing this from his time, the first century CE. The five heads that have fallen at that time are the same first five from the Papal Beast: Medo-Persia (1), and Greece (4). The one that "is," is Imperial Rome, the 6th head, which was reigning in John's time. The one to come, viewed from the first century, is Papal Rome, the 7th head, which would arise after Imperial Rome's demise in the 5th century CE.
In Revelation 17:11, John's perspective changes to the future: The beast "which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction." Viewed from our time, the beast which was, was Imperial Rome. It is not when it is destroyed and replaced by Papal Rome in the 5th century. But it emerges again after the French Revolution when the Papal Beast is removed from power. The rising of the Republic of France signifies the rising again of Imperial Rome out of the abyss, as it were. The eighth head, therefore, is Imperial Rome, the sixth head, reborn as the eighth head: "one of the seven." It first emerges as the French Republic. Afterwards, taking their cue from France, republics spread across Europe, removing monarchies from power. America would also become a republic from its founding. Britain, although technically a monarchy, behaves as a republic via representational government and laws, where religion is excluded from power. The Monarch is a figurehead only in Britain. And in our time, America leads all countries of the West in a reborn Imperial Roman Empire, the 8th head of the Harlot Beast. Are there any other prophecies that would locate America and Britain as the Lamb Beast, and America as leader of the Western Empire in our time: Babylon the Great? Indeed there are.
In Daniel 12, the prophet asks the angelic messenger what the final outcome of these prophetic utterances will be (Dan 12:8). The angel replies with a cryptic prophesy: "And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days” (Dan 12:11-13). I believe the "regular burnt offering," representing regular, free and open, sincere Christian worship, was taken away in 313 CE, with Constantine's Edict of Milan, which gave Christianity legal status but which implicitly made the Church subject to him, rather than Christ. Sincere Christians would now have to acknowledge the Emperor Constantine's ultimate authority over their churches or face persecution. Since "a day for a year" is a common prophetic rule, we can add 1290 years to 313 CE to determine when the "Abomination of Desolation" is set up (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34).
We arrive at the year 1603 CE and the inauguration of King James Stuart I in Britain, one of the two horns of the Lamb Beast of Rev 13:11-18 (the second horn, America, has not yet arisen as a major power). Although married to Queen Anne of Denmark to produce heirs, he was openly homosexual, paraded his young male lovers in the royal court, and declared that his rule was by Divine Right--that he only reported to God himself. He was an Abomination by the biblical definition: God does not approve of immorality and does not share his throne with any mere mortal; especially one of such low moral character. Adding 1335 years to 313 CE gets us to 1648 CE, 45 years later, and the year his son Charles, who also ruled by 'Divine Right', was arrested and found guilty of treason. He would be executed in January of the new year ending this Abomination of [that brings] Desolation. This Abomination is also described in Daniel 11:31-32: "Forces from him [King James I] shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." James I and his son Charles I ruled Britain and its church, the Church of England. Those that did not attend its services could be fined, imprisoned, or even executed. This was an abomination. God does not force people to worship Him.
In Daniel 5:25-28, King Belshazzar of Babylon is having a drinking party, using the holy utensils stolen from the Jerusalem Temple, when he sees a hand appear and write the following words on the wall, interpreted by the prophet Daniel: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” That very night Babylon was conquered by the Persian King Cyrus the Great, and Belshazzar was executed.
I believe these prophecies are meant to show us events in our time in the Lamb Beast. The fact that "Mene", (God has numbered your days), is written twice suggests that there are two fulfillments of this prophecy. The first was the Abomination of James I and his son Charles I, and the second would be in our time, near the time of the end. Ronald Reagan, a divorcee and Hollywood actor, was elected largely by a partnership with American white evangelicals and inaugurated as President in 1981. I believe this signified the beginning of the American Abomination of Desolation--the last one before Christ's return. Reagan was the modern version of King James Stuart I, and it would be Trump that would take up the torch, as the modern version of King Charles I, in 2016, and who likely will be President again in 2024. Like Belshazzar, Trump makes a mockery of Christian values, even selling his own "God Bless America" bible, and manipulating Christians for his own political advantage. His moral failings far surpass that of James I: he's a compulsive liar, convicted and multiple accused sexual abuser, narcissist, lover of money, racist--a horrible, evil man overall. And yet white MAGA evangelicals call him "anointed like Cyrus," "sent by God to make America great again," "to bring America back to its Christian roots," and so on. But sincere, biblical Christians know that God's Kingdom is "no part of this world," and He certainly would not use a person of such low moral character for His righteous purposes (John 18:36; Galatians 5:22-23). If this last Abomination of the Lamb Beast also lasts 45 years, we would expect it to end in 2026 with the midterm elections in the United States, which will bring Desolation to the Abomination of Trump and his MAGA horde of God-dishonoring worshipers.
Another relevant prophecy is Nebuchadnezzar's Tree Prophecy of Daniel 4. He dreams of a large tree that "reached to the heavens," was "seen by the whole world," and provided "food for all." It is chopped down, and banded with rings of iron and bronze for "seven times." Daniel interprets the dream to mean that Nebuchadnezzar, the King, would go mad and lose his throne, but would be restored in 7 years (Dan 4:20-27). This was fulfilled exactly as prophesied (Dan 4:28-37). However, I believe there is a greater fulfillment. If "seven times" is seven prophetic years of 360 days each (according to the Hebrew calendar), that amounts to 2520 days. We recall from the statue in Daniel Chapter 2, that bronze means Greece and iron means Rome, and so the tree, in its larger sense representing a greater Babylon, would not grow again until these bands were removed. In other words, the Greek and Roman (Imperial and Papal) empires would have to come and go before this greater Babylon could reemerge.
If we apply the "day for a year" rule, that amounts to 2520 years. Babylon fell in 539 BCE. Greece, the bronze band of the tree stump, was conquered by Rome in 146 BCE. Imperial Rome fell in 476 CE but Papal Rome took its place. The French Revolution, 1789-1794 ended Papal Rome's political power. Now both the bronze and iron bands of the tree stump were removed, allowing a greater Babylon to emerge. If we add 2520 years to the date Babylon fell, 539 BCE, we get 1982 CE. Was there a significant event in the Lamb Beast, Anglo-America, during that year? Indeed there was. For the first time in history, an American President, Ronald Reagan, gave a speech to the British Parliament outlining his vision for "democracy," "freedom," the "rule of law," and the defeat of the Soviet Union. Most of the speech consists of lies. The real intention of America was to establish itself as world hegemon and leader of the so-called "free world": that is, the Western Empire. Reagan's partnership with white evangelicals made it an abomination. His speech to the British Parliament signified the return of Babylon, and was pictured by a harlot riding on a beast with 7 heads and ten horns in Revelation 17. "And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations” (Rev 17:5).
In Daniel Chapter 11, there is a long, detailed conflict between the King of the North and the King of the South, whose identities change over time. I have written in detail about it here. The final verses describe the conquest of the Middle East for control of oil reserves by the Lamb Beast, the partnership of Britain and America. Britain controlled most of the oil reserves prior to WWII but America took that role afterwards. The final two verses, I believe, describe the situation today:
He [the Lamb Beast, Anglo-America] shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train [i.e. he will control Middle East oil supplies]. But news from the east and the north [the BRICS nations, but especially Russia, China and Iran] shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction [The US has gone to war with, and has bombed, many countries in the Middle East either alone or through its proxy Israel]. And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. (Dan 11:43-45)
I have highlighted the last part of the prophecy because it is critical for our time. "Palatial tents" refers to the entourage and supplies a political leader brought with him when visiting another country or when traveling during a time of war. The modern equivalent of a "palatial tent" is an embassy. President Trump, against all advice, moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, which lies exactly "between the sea" [Mediterranean] and the "glorious holy mountain" [Mount Zion]. Therefore, we can expect the end of the Lamb beast, the American-British partnership, American leadership of the Western Empire, personified by Babylon the Great, soon. If the 45 years of the American Abomination begins with Reagan's inauguration in 1981, we can expect its end in 2026. And if Trump is reelected on November 4, 2024, he will likely be the final 666 man prophesied in Revelation 13:18 and will likely meet his end in 2026, exactly 45 years after Reagan.
The ten kings of the Harlot Beast in our time represent the EU. They "have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast" (Rev 17:13). This describes the EU bowing to the authority of America. There is only one Beast now: the West, led by America, and to a much lesser extent, its now junior partner Britain, and represented by the Harlot Beast of Revelation 17. This beast wages war against the Lamb but he, along with his faithful disciples, conquers them (Rev 17:13-14). The ten horns will turn on Babylon the Great. They will "hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute his purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled." (Rev 17:16-17) Thus Babylon the Great, representing Western empire and culture--business, arts, political, and religious--will be destroyed.
But why does God single out the West for such extreme punishment? Because the West has been given so much, and knew the Bible and Christian principles, but instead of being thankful, speaking truth, and exercising justice, it has abused other countries through endless wars, undermined their governments, and stolen their resources. Many of its churches, especially megachurches, are led by greedy, immoral conmen who have sullied the good name of Jesus. The white evangelical MAGA Christians run after the deeply immoral Trump as if he was their messiah. The West has amassed great wealth for itself by impoverishing the Global South. The West has damaged the environment more than other powers but it is the Global South that suffers the most. And yet the West claims to be motivated by Christian principles. This is a lie. Her "sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (Rev 18:5). The misery America has inflicted on the rest of the world is clearly seen in the following chart.
I presented this chart at a bible conference at Gordon College in the Boston area several years ago, and the audience, mostly Americans, was aghast. They had no idea that their own country's government had done these things in their name using their tax dollars. This is why Americans, in general, cannot interpret prophecy. They have no idea what their own country has been up to and are unaware of its actual nature and they believe its lying propaganda. God will deal with the other powers as well, like the BRICS, because in the Kingdom of God, there is only one King, Jesus Christ. The other powers will either submit or be destroyed, but the West will be judged first because it is the greatest affront to God and his people and represents Rome in our time: ruled by Satan and opposed to God.
"And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur" (Revelation 19:20). Later, the devil himself and his angels will be thrown into the lake of fire, signifying permanent annihilation (Rev 20:10).
Given the above, what should we do as sincere Christians? We must not be fooled by imperial propaganda. The West is opposed to God and is now being judged by him. Do not believe its lies. Do not get involved with professed Christians who crave political power, such as the white evangelical MAGAs. Pray for God's Kingdom to come soon. Pray that our political leaders will pursue peace not war, truth not lies, justice not favoritism, and empathy not abuse. Perhaps, like Nineveh, the West will repent: all things are possible with God. Pray that the Gospel will be freely and widely proclaimed, despite these uncertain and treacherous times. Pray that many more will come to Christ while the door is still open, and that we may joyfully provide spiritual refreshment and support for these ones. Finally, pray that we may be faithful servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus, doing God's will to the best of our ability, while we await his return.
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