This article was first written on 8-29-21.

Table of Contents

→   Prophecy in Scripture – Ezekiel 38 & 39
→   War Against Israel
→   When Will This War Occur?
→   How Will This War End?
→   For More In-Depth Study on Ezekiel 38
→   For More on Revelation and End-Time Events

Prophecy in Scripture – Ezekiel 38-39

Scripture is full of prophecies, both fulfilled and unfulfilled (yet to be fulfilled). There is an Old Testament prophecy found in Ezekiel 38-39 that speaks of a war against Israel in the last days. Some Bible scholars think this war is yet to be fulfilled. We hold that position as well and we will explain why. (Also see Is The War of Ezekiel 38-39 The Same War As The Battle of Armageddon?)

As we discuss Ezekiel 38-39, remember that prophecies are God-given windows of revelation. Even though they are true, they are not always the full picture. God has chosen to reveal only certain specifics in His Word. We may not understand all the details, timing, or how one text might relate to another. So, we should consider them with humility.

War Against Israel

Let’s begin by reading Ezekiel 38:1-23 & Ezekiel 39. Keep in mind that chapters 38 & 39 are speaking of the same war. The beginning of chapter 39 summarizes the actual war in chapter 38 and continues with the aftermath.

According to Ezekiel 38:15-16, there will be a war against Israel in the last days commanded by a chief prince, Gog (symbolic name), who is of the land of Magog. We do not know exactly who Gog is, but the geographical area of Magog is around the Caucasus Mountains and also north/northeast of the Black Sea and northwest of the Caspian Sea.

There are several other names listed in verses 2-6 that are included in this war against Israel. These were people groups of that day. Listing them and the location where they settled will help us understand what areas will be involved in the war. (These areas are general as it is hard to pinpoint their extent.)

• • Magog – Caucasus Mountains, North/East of the Black Sea and West of Caspian Sea
  • Meshech – area above Black Sea; Southern Russia, Georgia, Ukraine
  • Tubal – Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan
  • Persia – Iran
  • Cush – Ethiopia, Sudan
  • Put – Northern Africa, Libya
  • Gomer – Turkey, Southern Russia
  • Togarmah – Turkey, Armenia

For more specific information on the people groups involved and from whom they descended see Who Are Gog and Magog?

When Will This War Occur?

Though the current war with Hamas and Israel could lead to it, the war of Ezekiel 38-39 has not yet occurred in history. To confirm it has not already occurred, we need to know when Ezekiel 38-39 was written so we can identify if it is speaking of any war in the past or not.

The prophecies in Ezekiel 32:1 and 32:17 are said to be in the 12th year of his exile. Ezekiel was one of 10,000 Jews exiled to Babylon in 597 BCE. So the twelfth year of his exile would have been 585 BCE. That date is verified in Ezekiel 33 when he recalls the 586 besieging of Jerusalem the year before. “Now in the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, the survivor from Jerusalem came to me, saying, “The city has been taken.” Ezekiel 33:21. So we can safely assume that Ezekiel 38 & 39 was written sometime after 585 BCE.

Is there anything that has occurred in history since 585 BCE that comes close to fulfilling the prophecies found in Ezekiel 38 & 39? Considering all the details of that war, we believe the answer is “not yet!” Again, this current war in Israel with Hamas may fit the criteria, but we will have to wait and see. There will need to be others from the various areas listed above who get involved.

Further, there are differing opinions as to when this war against Israel occurs relating to the end times. I tend to think it will be a war that is just before the 7-year tribulation period when the beast/antichrist comes to full power (Revelation 13) and confirms a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9).

(Also see Is The War of Ezekiel 38-39 The Same War As The Battle of Armageddon?)

How Will This War End?

According to Ezekiel 38:22-23, this war will end with God Himself destroying Gog and the enemies of Israel, bringing glory to His name among the nations!

“With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 38:22-23 (NASB)

The end of this war might also be the beginning of a revival in Israel where they would “see the face” of their true God, the Son, the Messiah Jesus! “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:29 NASB

As we study unfulfilled prophecies, especially in uncertain times, we can be reassured that God wins in the end! Although God has not revealed how everything will unfold, we can rest on the fact that God has a plan. He is in control and will glorify His name! Our responsibility is to remain faithful and steadfast in proclaiming the truth to a world that is watching.

For More In-Depth Study on Ezekiel 38

Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 37 & 38) By Will Varner

God v. Gog (Ezekiel 38) By Bruce Blakey

For More on Revelation and End-Time Events

Todd Friel on the Israel-Hamas War

End Time Events: A Brief Overview By David Sheldon

Is Revelation in Chronological Order? By David Sheldon

Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be? (Order of End-Time Events) By David Sheldon

The Beast From the Sea (Revelation 13) By David Sheldon

We cover the Beast from the Sea in a three-part article:

1. 1. The Beast From the Sea Part 1: Seven Heads
   2. The Beast From the Sea Part 2: Ten Horns
   3. The Beast From the Sea Part 3: The Antichrist

And you can read all about the Great Harlot’s title, influence, character, status, and demise in The Great Harlot.

We will now discuss the Beast from the Earth, which involves a leader (The False Prophet), a mark, and an image. This article is mostly about the False Prophet. You can also read The Beast From the Earth Part 2: The Image and the Mark.

Table of Contents

→   What is the Beast From the Earth?
→   Why Does This Beast Come ‘From the Earth’?
→   Who is the False Prophet?

What is the Beast From the Earth?

Beasts in the book of Daniel symbolize kings/kingdoms (empires). When it says ‘four great beasts were coming up from the sea’ (Dan. 7:3), it is referring to the four kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome that arose. The ‘Beast from the Earth’ in Revelation 13 also means a kingdom – the final world kingdom – and specifically, one aspect of rule in the final world kingdom. Another aspect of rule is the Beast from the Sea and its leader, the world ruler – the Antichrist. We will see what this means as we continue.

Why Does This Beast Come ‘From the Earth’?

We previously pointed out that the Beast from the Sea is ‘from the sea’ in that it will most likely arise in an unknown, sudden, mysterious, and/or often deadly manner. The Beast from the Earth is ‘from the earth’ in that it will come across as more relatable and somewhat familiar. This is especially seen through its leader, the False Prophet.

Who is the False Prophet?

The leader of the Beast from the Earth will be a particular man with a specific name and distinct characteristics.

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone. Revelation 19:20 NASB

 

This leader will be called the False Prophet, and he will be demonically energized and authoritative. He will actually work together with the dragon (Devil) and the beast (Antichrist) as seen in Revelation 16:13 and 20:10. We might view these three as the “unholy trinity.”

For a detailed description of the False Prophet’s character and doings, we go to Revelation 13:11-18.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. 14 And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:11-18 NASB

 

The False Prophet has “two horns like a lamb” meaning his persona (mask) is mild and gentle, yet he will be extremely forthright and ultimately deadly. He will work in conjunction with the Antichrist and persuade the world to allegiance to the Antichrist.

The False Prophet will be extremely convincing and successful in his pursuits because of the signs he performs. Scripture does not specify the exact nature of these signs. They could be great technological feats that the world (for the most part) does not have knowledge of yet. They could be some fabrication of what appears to be supernatural. They could be actual demonic power, permitted by God, to carry out judgments upon man’s rebellion. We are not sure. Because God does not give us specifics, we should not concern ourselves with it as such. What we should understand is that the signs are seductive (vs 14) and demonic (just like the Beast from the Sea, vs 12), and while Satan will use them for his deception, God uses them for His ultimate purposes. (For further study see Job 1 & 2, 2 Timothy 3:8,9, and Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7. Also see, What is the difference between miracles and magic? by Got Questions)

The False Prophet will also create a very persuasive image of the beast (vs 15) for the purpose of worship. He will kill those who do not worship the image of the beast (Antichrist). He will also provide an identifying mark for people who cannot buy or sell without it. More on the mark and the image in an article to come.

We do know not the exact timing of these things, but any saint alive during them has a clear call to steadfastness found in Revelation 13:10, “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”

For More on the Book of Revelation & End Times

Is Revelation in Chronological Order?
Five Reasons Why Revelation is Hard to Understand
When was the Book of Revelation Written?
The Beast from the Sea Part 1: Seven Heads
The Beast from the Sea Part 2: Ten Horns
The Beast from the Earth Part 1: The False Prophet
End Time Events: A Brief Overview
War on Israel – Ezekiel 38
The Church’s New Agenda
Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?

Table of Contents

→   Babylon in the Book of Revelation
→   #1 Worship of The Antichrist (Revelation 14)
→   #2 End-Time Global System (Revelation 16)
→   #3 False Religion (Revelation 17)
→   #4 Global Economy (Revelation 18)
→   Conclusion
→   For More on Revelation & End Times

Babylon in the Book of Revelation

When the name Babylon is used in the book of Revelation, it is probably not referring to the literal city. This is because the actual city, during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, was prophesied to be destroyed (Isaiah 13,14,21; Jeremiah 25:12-13,50,51; Isaiah 44-47) and Scripture says, “It will never be inhabited nor lived in from generation to generation.” Jeremiah 50:39b NASB. Babylon currently lies in ruins in the country of Iraq about 59 miles southwest of Bagdad near the modern city of Hilla.

When we read about Babylon in Revelation, it expresses figuratively all that is evil and in rebellion to God. Babylon means “gate of the gods” and if we trace the roots of it back to its beginnings we find the city of Babel (Genesis 10 & 11) where mankind had one language and was one people, and they built a tower “to reach to heaven.” Thus, God confused their language and scattered them (Hebrew – Babel). So the term Babylon refers to any and every false religion. It is any and every attempt by man, no matter what, to produce and enter the “gateway” to God on his own.

One example of this is The Great Harlot who was named Babylon because she symbolizes false religion. There are other uses as well which we will see in this article. In total, it is used six times in four different contexts throughout the book of Revelation. The book itself gives us the nuances of the name when interpreted within context. Each use is pertinent in understanding the course of end-time events and all the evil that will come together against God at the end of this present evil age. So, please, follow along closely!

#1 Worship of The Antichrist

We begin with Revelation 14 where the Apostle John is reporting what he saw in a vision. Remember, he uses past tense language, but the events he is describing are future.

And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” Revelation 14:6-13 NASB

There are three angels of God in this passage that each bring a pronouncement.

The first angel signals a call to the entire world to worship the true and living God because the hour of His judgment has come. The second angel announces a judgment on Babylon – “Fallen, Fallen!” The third angel gives the reason and warning for this announcement of judgment on Babylon. It is a judgment upon any who worship the Beast and his image (ie. Antichrist). Within context, this label Babylon concerns itself with the worship of the Antichrist. Please note, it gets down to the individual level – “if anyone worships the Beast.” The Antichrist, and all who bow down to him, will be judged by God. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” (Revelation 13:8) Therefore, we see in Revelation 14, Babylon signifies false worship and specifically that of the Beast, Antichrist. It represents those who worship him.

Notice, the third angel issues another call. It is to those who worship the Lord for perseverance in the midst of what is going on in the world and the blessings of faithfulness to the end. And, there is a voice from heaven that reassures those who die in the Lord of eternal reward!

#2 End-Time Global System

We see another use of the name Babylon in Revelation 16:

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. Revelation 16:17-21 NASB

In the first part of Revelation 16:1-16 we have the first six bowls of God’s wrath described and then the gathering together for the last great battle at Armageddon. Each bowl is a specific kind of judgment that God pours forth in His wrath. The bowl quoted above is the seventh and final bowl of God’s wrath. It is the very end of this present evil age. Here Babylon is referred to as “the great city and the cities of the nations.” It is “the islands…the mountains…the men who blasphemed God.”

This is the final global kingdom of the Beast brought to its terrible judgment. It is allowed to have one corporate fist to shake in God’s face, in rebellion to Him. Then it is judged by His wrath and destroyed. So, Babylon represents the corporate global rebellion (Final Beast) before God that is destroyed at the very end of this present evil age.

#3 False Religion

In Revelation 17, Babylon symbolizes the Great Harlot. She is named “Mystery, Babylon the Great.” She is the epitome of false religion. We won’t go into great detail here, but you can read all about the Great Harlot in our article The Great Harlot.

#4 Global Economy

We now come to chapter 18 of Revelation. We should note that this is a new vision given by a different angel than the one in chapter 17. So, even though we have the same term we will get a different perspective on the characteristics of the term. Look for that reality as you read, starting with the introductory text:

“After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.’” Revelation 18:1-3 NASB

Notice that Babylon here has to do with the sensuality and immorality of living for the fulfillment of human longings for purely selfish satisfaction. As we continue reading, it is yet a different voice speaking than the previous angel, but still referring to Babylon:

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. Revelation 18:4-8 NASB

There is a “sensual woman who sits as a queen” (verse 7) (Babylon is referred to as a “queen” in Isaiah 47:5b) who thinks of herself as invincible. She is the opposite of humble thankfulness and submission to God. She is proud, sensual, self-glorified and self-satisfied. God’s judgment for this particular woman is swift and severe. Continuing on:

“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” Revelation 18:9-20 NASB

The incredibly intertwined world economy is represented as a city, “Queen Babylon,” who everyone “observes” being destroyed and they grieve because of her destruction. Whether this represents a particular geographic local or the whole remains to be seen. The world’s merchants stand weeping over her because they made their living off of her. Even those shipmasters who distributed goods cry because of her ruin. This is a super destruction of global commerce because of the significance this “city” had. The individual hearts of those who loved her fell along with her!

Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.” Revelation 18:9-24 NASB

This then becomes the final description of the judgment of the whole earth as it relates to the love that it has for this “great city” and the idolatry that the world shares in with her.

A very important point needs to be brought up as we have now seen the various aspects of the term Babylon is this: the literal city was a place where religion, commerce, and government authority intertwined as a unit. They did not function separately such as what we might be used to with separation of powers. In history, this is typical of kingdoms. They were ruled by sovereigns who had some hand in the entire fabric of the culture over which they ruled. The final end-time descriptive term of Babylon is used as an over-arching term to reflect this reality. It is used of each aspect of a particular “piece” of the final rebellion of mankind against the Holy God and Creator, described in the Scriptures, who is our only Savior in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ of the gospel!

Conclusion

In summary, Babylon is described in Revelation in four different ways. Each is a form of rebellion against God. God’s judgment will come against each one. His wrath will be unleashed and she will be annihilated.

For More on the Book of Revelation & End Times

What does it mean that Babylon the Great has fallen (Revelation 18:2)?
Five Reasons Why Revelation is Hard to Understand
The Beast from the Sea: Part 1 – Seven Heads
End Time Events: A Brief Overview
War on Israel – Ezekiel 38
The Church’s New Agenda
Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?

The Beast From the Sea in Revelation 13 is one of three main players in the final one-world system. The other two are the Beast From the Earth and the Great Harlot.

We saw the Beast From the Sea consists of seven heads in The Beast from the Sea: Part 1 – Seven Heads. These heads represent kingdoms (Daniel 7:17 & 23). The first five heads/kingdoms – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece – have already fallen. The sixth, the Roman Empire, was present when Revelation was written. The seventh and final world kingdom is still in the future. It will come out of the sixth head, in an unknown/mysterious manner, have as its leader the Antichrist (seventh head), and will devour the whole earth.

We are now going to see that the Beast From the Sea has ten horns and what that means.

Table of Contents

→   Who or What Are the Ten Horns? Chart Download
→   What is the Purpose of the Ten Horns?
→   What Authority Do the Ten Horns Have?
→   What Do the Ten Horns Mean For Us?
→   For More on End Time Events

Who or What are the Ten Horns?

The first glimpse of the ten horns is found in Daniel and Revelation 17 further explains their purpose and relationships. We begin with portions from Daniel 7. Remember the sixth head = the fourth beast in Daniel.

“After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel 7:7 NASB

“Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head.” Daniel 7:19-20a NASB

“This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise;…” Daniel 7:23-24a NASB  [Emphasis mine]

The fourth beast is a revived beast from the Roman Empire. It is different from the previous beasts in several ways. It is more dreadful and devours the whole earth. And, it has ten horns.

So, the ten horns are ten kings that will arise during the final world kingdom and will have great authority. They will rule simultaneously

Side Note: There is another ‘little horn’ that will arise after the ten. We will consider this little horn which is greater than the ten in another article.

Side Note: There is another ‘little horn’ that will arise after the ten. We will consider this little horn (greater than the ten) in another article.

What is the Purpose of the Ten Horns?

Revelation 17 gives some of the specific functions and relationships of the ten horns. The scarlet beast in verse 3 refers to the Beast From the Sea. The beast in verses 10-13 refers specifically to the Antichrist.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3 NASB

10 “And they (the seven heads) are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which was, and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.” Revelation 17:10-13 NASB [Emphasis mine]

Notice the ten horns (kings) are both described as an integral part of the beast but also distinguished from the beast. They give their power and authority to the Antichrist, but the Antichrist has greater authority.

Also notice there is an “eighth” beast in verses 10-11. He is the eighth but he is also one of the seven. It is distinguishing the eighth beast as a “uniquely positioned” beast/king. He is the final king, and he is also a king who “dies and comes back to life” (Rev. 13:3). And he is especially described here as the one who “goes to destruction, just like in Revelation 19:20! The representative heads of the first six beasts were all pagan kings. But this one is different and we will see that in Part 3 – The Antichrist. (Also see Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?)

So these ten horns are upon the final head (seventh) of the beast, but yet can be distinguished from the beast via their powerful and, yet, supportive role.

What Authority Do the Ten Horns Have?

We will now see in Revelation 13 that the ten horns have crowns. What does this mean?

“Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 13:1-2 NASB [Emphasis mine]

Each horn possesses a crown (diadems in Greek). This is probably because they are authoritative. From Rev. 17 they receive kingdoms which more than likely refer to particular regions of the whole.

Now let’s look at the ‘beast coming up out of the earth’ which also has some relation to the beast with the ten horns.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast (i.e. beast from the sea) in his presence….And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:11-12a, 16-17 NASB [Emphasis mine]

We might describe this beast from the earth as the “Chief Implementation Officer” of the beast with ten horns. He exercises, i.e. carries out in practice, the will of the ten horns. He does this in his presence, that is, with seamless interface/interaction. He is in lock-step with the beast from the sea.

The great authority of the ten horns includes total control of a commercial system over the whole earth via a mark on the right hand or forehead. It is centralized, planned, controlled and purposeful administration of monetary power. It only works when both buyers and sellers accept how it is carried out. And the only way to be part of this great beast system is to give oneself in subjection to its requirements.

What Do the Ten Horns Mean For Us?

In the ancient world, kings conquered, plundered, occupied, and set up their rule. It was diverse but local in that it only covered certain geographical territory. And other kingdoms would be able to carry out their reign in other places. But the main thrust of the authority of these two beasts is “over the whole world” and it is not, first and foremost, military or political. It is via a means of commercial submission/stranglehold across the entire face of the earth. This is beyond the scope of normal reasoning in the ancient world. But we have high-speed internet, and a massive banking system and potentially “virtual” money. There have been entities at work like the European Commission, the Club of Rome, the Council on Foreign Relations, Global World System, and the Millenium Development Goals to deal with all things “Global.” And we have instantaneous identification capabilities (QR Code) and “trading regions” (U.N. Regional Groupings) of the world. So it is not beyond normal reasoning in our present world! In our technological, interconnected and large corporation world it would not be out of the question for ten horns to reign monetarily.

Remember, God has ordained that these things happen for the purposes of His coming judgments. But we can ultimately take comfort in our Lord’s words: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

There is yet more to learn about the Beast from the Sea. The “little horn” that will arise after the ten horns is known as the Antichrist, and we will see his purpose and characteristics in Part 3.

For More on the Book of Revelation & End Times

Is Revelation in Chronological Order?
Five Reasons Why Revelation is Hard to Understand
When was the Book of Revelation Written?
The Beast from the Sea Part 1: Seven Heads
The Beast from the Sea Part 2: Ten Horns
The Beast from the Earth Part 1: The False Prophet
End Time Events: A Brief Overview
War on Israel – Ezekiel 38
The Church’s New Agenda
Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?

Understanding the Beast From the Sea in Revelation 13 can seem like an overwhelming task! Much of the book of Revelation includes symbols that convey certain truths, and we are not used to the truths of Scripture being given in word pictures. (See 5 Reasons Revelation is Hard to Understand) But if we key in on one vision/symbol at a time and let the context define it, we will gain much understanding!

This article focuses on The Beast From the Sea. This beast is one of three main players in the end-times, the other two being The Great Harlot and The Beast from the Earth. We will look specifically at one aspect of this Beast From the Sea – the seven heads. You can read about the beast’s ten horns in The Beast From the Sea Part 2: Ten Horns.

Please note: This beast who comes up out of the sea is also called the scarlet beast (Rev. 17).

Before we begin, let’s read Revelation 13:1-2.

“1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” Revelation 13:1-2 NASB

Table of Contents

→   Who or What is the Beast From the Sea?
→   What are the Seven Heads?
→   Why Does the Beast Come Up Out of the Sea?
→   Chart of Seven Heads (Download Available)
→   What Does This Beast Mean For Us?
→   For More on End Time Events

Who or What is the Beast From the Sea?

The first thing we want to do is identify the Beast From the Sea. Who or what is this beast? We need to go back to the Old Testament book of Daniel where beasts are first mentioned. Daniel 7:17 says, “These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.”

So, beasts are kings.

And Daniel 7:23 says, “…the fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom.”

Also, beasts represent entire kingdoms.

So, beasts = kings = kingdoms. Therefore, the Beast From the Sea is some kind of kingdom (empire). The Beast From the Sea will work hand in hand with the Beast From the Earth as well as the Great Harlot in this kingdom. Do we know what kind of kingdom it will be? This is where the beast’s “seven heads” come in.

What are the Seven Heads?

To know what the seven heads are, we need to look at Revelation 17:8-10. This particular vision was given to the Apostle John towards the end of the first century at the time when God’s people were ruled by their enemy, the Roman Empire.

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast that he was and is not and will come. 9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.” Revelation 17:8-10

Verse 10 says the beast’s seven heads are identified as seven kings (kingdoms). We can identify each of them. The four that Daniel spoke of, history tells us, were four earthly kingdoms that were the enemies of God’s people: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. For the other three, let’s work in reverse. It says ‘one is yet to come’ so we will leave that one unidentified. This leaves us with two even earlier kingdoms. We can determine them from the Old Testament. They were two major world empires that persecuted Abraham and his descendants – Egypt and Assyria. So, the “seven heads” look like this:

1. Egypt
2. Assyria
3. Babylon
4. Medo-Persia
5. Greece
6. Rome
7. One Yet to Come – Final Kingdom

The first five kingdoms already came and went as “beasts” over God’s people. They reigned over/persecuted the people of God in history. The sixth one, Rome (the ‘one that is’ meaning it was the empire at the time of the writing) was not only responsible for crucifying Jesus, but according to tradition, put both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul to death and persecuted many more. The seventh one, the Beast From the Sea, is no different. It will be a kingdom (possibly present or near future?) that will also directly persecute God’s people (Rev. 13:7). It will be a “revived Rome” called “Babylon” which you can read more about in Babylon in Revelation.

To recap so far, the Beast From the Sea will be its own kingdom but also represents six earlier kingdoms (heads). The Beast From the Sea has been seen every time it reared one of its ugly heads. The seventh head will be the final head as well as the final culmination of all seven heads. It will be the completion of rebellious kingdoms that God has ordained would be allowed to rise up against Him and His people. The fact that this final kingdom is “from the sea” tells us something even further.

Why Does the Beast Come Up Out of the Sea?

Do we know why this beast ‘comes out of the sea’? What does this mean? Is it a literal sea? With our modern technology, we have satellite pictures of the world’s beautiful geography – oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. We also have deep sea vessels that can take “up close and personal” pictures. They help us view the grandeur of creation!

Ancient mariners, however, probably had a different view of the seas. Many of them did not make it home safely. The seas were most likely a very threatening and scary place to them. The sea represented something deadly and unknown.

Therefore, probably the best way to understand why this beast ‘comes up out of the sea’ is this: this world empire might arise in either an unknown, sudden, mysterious, and/or even deadly manner.

Chart of Seven Heads

Daniel 2:40-45 also speaks of the Beast from the Sea but with different imagery. A dream was given to King Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) of a statue, and God grants to Daniel both the dream and the interpretation of the dream. The statue with corresponding kingdoms is describing the Beast from the Sea. There is much that could be said about this statue, but we just want to see how it corresponds to the beast’s seven heads. This can be seen in the following chart.

What Does This Beast Mean For Us?

God has ordained that there will be a final world empire. It will be similar to the first six empires that persecuted God’s people. It will symbolically be called Babylon just like the Babylonian Empire that led captive Daniel and his friends. (Also see Babylon in Revelation) It is called a “beast” just like the world empires of Daniel 7. It will be global and powerful. But it will also be very short-lived as God executes His purposes rather swiftly during its rule, as well as quite dramatically and finally with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

This article was first written 6/29/20 and last updated 6/28/23.

For more about this beast and its ten horns, read The Beast from the Sea: Part 2 – Ten Horns.

Side Note: some of the descriptive terms in Revelation 13 of the Beast from the Sea also incorporate certain aspects of the first three beasts in Daniel 7. You can learn more about Daniel 7 in Daniel’s End Time Prophecies.

For More on the Book of Revelation & End Times

Is Revelation in Chronological Order?
Five Reasons Why Revelation is Hard to Understand
When was the Book of Revelation Written?
The Beast from the Sea Part 1: Seven Heads
The Beast from the Sea Part 2: Ten Horns
The Beast from the Earth Part 1: The False Prophet
End Time Events: A Brief Overview
War on Israel – Ezekiel 38
The Church’s New Agenda
Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?

Table of Contents

→   The Final Apostasy
→   Worldwide Rebellion
→   Conclusion

The Bible describes many events that will occur at the end-time before the Second Coming of Christ. For this article, we will discuss two that Christians must be aware of:

1) The Final Apostasy of the Church
2) A Worldwide Rebellion of Fallen Mankind

The final apostasy occurs inside the visible church; the worldwide rebellion occurs outside the church. Both happen against God and His Son, Jesus Christ; according to God’s ordained purposes.

The Final Apostasy

The Final Apostasy is the falling away from the faith within the visible church during the end times. Many people who sit in church pews and look like Christians will ultimately prove their allegiance to something other than the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Will Christians Know Who the Antichrist Will Be?) This happens as the offense of the cross and the scandalous nature of following the real Jesus Christ are side-stepped by those in leadership. God’s actual salvation, in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel, will be either watered-down or rejected outright. Those in the church will be self-absorbed and abandon any real love for the truth of God’s Holy Name. This great evangelical compromise of the end time does not happen overnight. It happens slowly and steadily as the pure preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified takes a back seat to other seemingly important things. (1 Corinthians 1:17,18,23,24) (See The Church’s New Agenda)

We can see signs of this happening even now. Once doctrinally sound churches now look just like the world, catering to man’s fallen interests. They pander the Word of God. They use Biblical terms out of context to manipulate people to false conclusions, rather than speak the truth about what it means to be converted to Christ. This will and is happening for the purposes of God’s judgments. His judgments will (and have) come to the visible worldly church due to God abandoning it to its own folly.

Do not be fooled if this Final Apostasy is disguised as a spiritual awakening! It may appear good, but its source will be the spirit of demons, disguising themselves as if they are of the Spirit of God. It will be led by one person, the Antichrist (also known as The Beast From the Sea in Revelation 13). It is “final” in that it will include massive numbers of people and occur before the second coming of Christ.

Those who truly have the Holy Spirit and the Word of Christ dwelling richly in them will see the great deception. True Christians who desire to be true and faithful to Jesus Christ must be prepared for great opposition. We should cling to this hope-filled Scripture in Hebrews:

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 13:12-14 NASB

The worldwide rebellion starts ramping up after the final apostasy. The heart of this rebellion is easily described in Psalm 2:1-6. Rulers, peoples, and nations all defy God. It will happen through state and economic control, as well as worship and religious unity against Him (see Side Note below).

This worldwide rebellion will be led by the same person leading the final apostasy. He is the head of what is known to be “the beast system” (see The Beast From the Sea.) He will be joined by another leader – another beast – the False Prophet (Revelation 13). The Beast from the Sea will use the Great Harlot of Revelation 17 toward his own purposes. This entire rebellion is summed up in the Book of Revelation using the symbol “Babylon” (see Babylon in Revelation).

Conclusion & Further Study

So, rebellion against God will occur inside and outside of the church at the end of this age. As already mentioned, these will happen based on God’s preordained and sovereign reasons. He will still be in complete control (Psalm 2). Each Christian must take heed and make yourself ready! Be sober and on the alert! Don’t be lulled into a false spiritual stupor, a bewitching, but be steadfast in the truth!

*Side Note: Some have said this end-time scenario of Revelation is like a three-legged stool of man’s final rebellion. The over-arching phrase used for this rebellion is called “Babylon” and although it is used figuratively, it is very clear and specific as to its nature in context. The three aspects of this three-legged stool are:

1. State/Economic Control by the Beast/Antichrist and his System: Babylon
2. Worship of the Beast/Image through the False Prophet and his Manipulating Powers and Passion
3. Religious Control through the Great Harlot

For Further Study on End Time Events

The Book of Revelation Articles by David Sheldon
The Book of Daniel Articles by David Sheldon

Table of Contents

→   Prophecies in Daniel Yet Fulfilled
→   Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11, 12
→   Conclusion

Prophecies in Daniel Yet to Be Fulfilled

Are there prophecies in Daniel that are yet to be fulfilled? The answer is yes and we will see this as we go through this study on Daniel.

Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11, 12

If you have never sat down and read these chapters in Daniel in this sequence – 2, 7, 8, 11, 12 – it may be helpful to do so now. They give an overall view of Four World Kingdoms which were to unfold from Daniel’s time forward.

These Four World Kingdoms are given in dreams/visions of both a Great Statue and Beasts. We now know from history that these four kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

A good study Bible or commentary might help you see these kingdoms and the texts associated with each. This could be helpful because the contents of these prophecies overlap at a number of points. So, although it is helpful to keep them separate and distinct, it is also helpful to see how they relate to each other.

Some of the prophecies concerning the fourth kingdom, Rome, are yet to be fulfilled. As we will see in this article, there is a rise of an end-time world kingdom out of this fourth kingdom.

→ Read Daniel 2:31-35, 40-45

The King’s Dream (vs. 31-35)

“You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.”…. (vs. 31-35)

The Interpretation (vs. 40-45)

“Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; just as iron smashes and crushes everything, so, like iron that crushes, it will smash and crush all these things. And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have within it some of the toughness of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with common clay. And just as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be fragile. In that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in their descendants; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Just as you saw that a stone was broken off from the mountain without hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is certain and its interpretation is trustworthy.” (vs. 40-45)

In these texts, Daniel relays to King Nebuchadnezzar both his dream and its interpretation. It reveals how this fourth kingdom of Rome is knit together and then divides. The kingdom that emerges from this fourth kingdom will be mixed and not adhering to one another “in their descendants.” In other words, there will be individual nation-states that will emerge from Rome. This interpretation sets the stage for the revival of this Roman kingdom by use of the ten toes imagery (vs 34 & 42) and the stone (God’s kingdom) striking the statue on its feet of iron and clay, crushing them.

→ Read Daniel 7:7-8, 11

“After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boasts.” (vs. 7-8)

“Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.” (vs. 11)

This describes the fourth beast of Daniel’s dream. The ten horns of this beast would most likely correspond to the ten toes of the statue in Daniel 2. There is another horn that arises. This “other” horn is the final “boastful” world ruler – the Antichrist.

→ Read Daniel 7:19-26

 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

“This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings. And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will convene for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.” Daniel 7:19-26

This text describes the unfolding of the final world kingdom and the “exploits” of a particular “horn” which we refer to as the Antichrist. It would seem, looking back, that the events described here do not relate to any historical figure. Therefore, it is still a future event. God will allow this final world ruler, the Antichrist, to persecute Israel for 3 ½ years (time, times & half time of verse 25) just before he is destroyed by God.

→ Read Daniel 11:36-45

“Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt himself and boast against every god and will speak dreadful things against the God of gods; and he will be successful until the indignation is finished, because that which is determined will be done. And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will boast against them all. But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, precious stones, and treasures. And he will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will make them rulers over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.” 

“And at the end time the king of the South will wage war with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will reach out with his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. But rumors from the East and from the North will terrify him, and he will go out with great wrath to eliminate and annihilate many. And he will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Daniel 11:36-45

This is an even greater unfolding of the description of Antichrist and his exploits, even to the details of his final battle and destruction by God.

→ Read Daniel 12:1-2, 5-7, 11-13

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”…(vs. 1-2)

“Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.”…(vs.5-7)

“And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” (vs.11-13)

This final chapter of Daniel mentions the Archangel Michael rising up for Israel during great distress. There is also reference to both the resurrection of the righteous and the condemned. There are some specific days mentioned as to the timing of putting an end to sacrifices and the abomination of desolation.

Conclusion

As various scholars have looked at these texts of Scripture, they have come up with some varying viewpoints. Some see these prophecies as already having been fulfilled or possibly some having a “recurring” fulfillment. It is indeed difficult to attempt to draw specifics from things that are “visionary” or “symbolic”.

But, if we would interpret symbols in their set biblical contexts and be careful not to surmise, and, if we look at some of the specific and clear teaching about events that occur in didactic rather than symbolic language, I believe we can only come to one conclusion – the events are still in the future.

You may be able to tell from going through this study that the events of Daniel’s life are not placed in chronological order in the book. The Chronology of Daniel will help you see the timeline, and The Main Message of Daniel gives more insight about the book’s themes as well.