PJ HanleyCorresponding Prophecies of Revelation 13, 17 & 18
There are two beasts that emerge in Revelation Chapter 13. The first is the political system which is the Revived Roman Empire under Antichrist. Then there is a second beast called the False Prophet which represents a religious system that is pictured in Revelation Chapter 17 as a harlot riding the beast.
“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. And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered greatly.” Rev 17:3-6
The apostle John wondered greatly when he saw this woman. But the angel admonished him saying, “Why do you wonder?” It’s as though he expected John to know who she was. The woman is a harlot and yet she represents Babylon where false religion began. The term “harlot” is used biblically to refer to spiritual apostasy and adultery. It is used that way throughout Scripture as the term “virgin” is used of spiritual purity. Thus this woman represents a backslidden religious system – a world religious system full of abominations as it rides atop the political system that gives it prominence. However, we are given more information about the woman and the beast that carries her.
“Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 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. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. And 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. These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful. And he said to me, ‘The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these 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. And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.’” Rev 17:9-18
We are told that the woman sits on seven hills. This of course is the city of Rome since it was built on seven hills and verse 18 is emphatic that the woman is the “great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” This can only be Rome at the time the book of Revelation was written. Therefore, there is no escaping the fact that the Vatican, a Roman city state in the heart of the EU at the end of the age, will lead the harlot religious system.
The Seven Heads
“Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes he must remain a little while (short time). The Beast which was and is not is himself also an eight and is one of the seven and goes to destruction.”
We understand from our studies in Daniel that the ten horns are ten kingdoms or nations that empower the individual who represents them with a specific purpose for a short time. But now we understand that this beast has seven heads. The woman sits on seven hills but she rides a beast (political system) with seven heads. If we try to understand the seven heads as kings or Roman Emperors that existed, it does not fit since there were many Emperors after this time. However if we understand that kings may also mean kingdoms, as it does in Daniel 7, the meaning becomes clear.
Thus, we conclude that the seven kings of Revelation 17 are seven kingdoms which have and will include Israel. One thing they all have in common is their control of Israel – the land and the people. These are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome and Antichrist’s Kingdom (EU). At the time of John, five have come and gone (fallen from power). These are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia and Greece. One is left – Rome. One is yet to come which remains a little while (EU with Israel – very short – 3 ½ years) and then the eighth which is one of the seven (Antichrist’s Kingdom).
The Seventh Head Forming
The seventh head is clearly the EU which is the embodiment of the Revived Roman Empire. However, until the EU incorporates Israel it is not the completed seventh head. The European Neighborhood Policy[17] is the beginning of the process of bringing Israel into the EU with a treaty. Since all of the nations are being aligned in regional unions, Israel will also become part of this alignment and its only option is the EU. Thus the covenant or treaty signed by Israel and the leader of the EU, together with the neighboring countries, will not only be a peace treaty but will also be an alignment of Israel with the EU. This will be the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27. Then the seventh head or kingdom will be complete and it will remain for a “little while” (Rev 17:10). When this EU/world leader breaks the covenant three and a half years later he is revealed as the Antichrist (man of lawlessness – 2Thess 2:8) and he will take control of the world and usher in the eight kingdom which is really the seventh that has radically changed its dominion and character (Rev 17:11).
Excerpt from “The 7 Lost Keys of End-Time Prophecy: Unlocking the mysteries and dispelling the myths surrounding the Coming of Christ” by PJ Hanley.
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