From Revelation 17 the 7 heads are seven mountains on which the woman Mystery Babylon sits. The seven heads are also said to be in Revelation 17 7 kings with the beast being the 7th king and seven kings have already risen and fallen. Probably the 6 other kings are the rulers of six world empires that were near to and exercised significant influence over Israel. These would be the four parts of the body of the image of Daniel 2 or the 4 beasts of Daniel 7 which are Babylon under Nebudchadnezzar, Persia, Greece including under Alexander the Great and Rome. Each of these empires exercised significant political, econonomic, social and under the mother-child religion and other idolatry originally from Babel religious influence over Israel. The other two nations and kings that are probably represented and that were significant world empires with substantial influence over Israel were Assyria and Egypt. Together this makes 6 kingdoms or kings. Also Revelation 17 says that 5 kings have fallen, one is and one is yet to come. In the Apostle John's day 5 of these world empires and their kings had fallen: namely Babylon, Persia, Greece, Egypt and Assyria, one was namely Rome which was still ruling in the Apostle John's day when he wrote Revelation and one was yet to come which would be the kingdom of the Beast. The mother goddess and boy child god in the respective kings or kingdoms world empires that had influence over Israel and the Jews are the following: Babylon mother goddess Ishtar boy child Tammuz, Persia mother goddess Mithra boy child Zoroaster, Greece mother goddess Aphrodite boy child god Pan Rome mother goddess Venus boy child Cupid Egypt mother goddess Isis boy child Osiris and Assyria mother goddess Mylitta or Melitta boy child Ninus (after whom Ninevah was named). This is also consistant with world history with the Roman Catholic Church and their popes only getting established with the combination of church and state starting with the emperor Constantine just after 300 AD. This continues to the present time and will likely be the seventh head and king under the beast or Antichrist in the Great Triubulation or 70th week of Daniel. Probably the beast who is the 7th king will have similiarity to the other 7 kings including its religious nature with the mother child cult including over Israel. For the last days this could be the mother child cult in the Roman Catholic Church with its unscriptural and excessive attention to the Virigin Mary and the baby Jesus. One of the nicknames of Rome, Italy is "The City on Seven Hills" and this is probably part of the identity of the AntiChrist or Beast out of the Sea. That is that he is the head of the Roman Catholic Church or Pope or Pontiff during the Great Tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. Another possible connection is that the head of the Roman Catholic Church is also called the Pontiff which means "bridge builder" and at least on the back of the 5 Euro bank note and possibly on other Euro denominations there is a bridge which could mean that the last days pope will have power over Europe. After the Roman emperor Constantine in the early 300s, much of the church in the former Roman Empire merged with the worldly power of the Roman emperor or Caesar to form the position of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church which we call the Pope. Their power continued long after the imperial form of the Roman Empire fell in 476AD and even continues today through the Popes' and the Vatican's leadership of the approximately 1 billion Roman Catholics of the world. Also a common name for the Roman Catholic Pope to this day is the Vicar of Christ or Vicarius Christi where Vicar or Vicarius is short for "substitute of" or "in place of" or "against" giving with the word Christ literally in place of Christ, substitute of Christ or against Christ. The real darkness of this term when the Latin term Vicar or Vicarius is replaced by its identical Greek prefix which is "anti" giving "Antichrist" as the Greek equivalent of the Latin term Vicar of Christ or Vicarius Christi for the pope and menaing exactly the same thing. This is an excellent indication that the Roman Catholic Pope ruling the Roman Catholic Church during the Tribulation will be the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea or Man of Sin. They have further but more limited influence on people of other branches of Christianity and other religions and political leaders of other nations that the Vatican often has diplomatic relations with. In Daniel 7:23-24 the scripture says this beast with these ten horns shall devour the whole earth which will probably be especially the case for the second half of the 7 year 70th week of Daniel.
A beast rising out of the sea signifies a beast rising out of the nations and multitudes of people as distinct from the Jewish people. In Daniel 7 verses 2 and 3 it is mentioned that four beasts arose from the Great Sea which is the Mediterranean Sea. These four beasts include the last beast which is the Roman Empire including its last days form with the ten horns. This could indicate that the beast out of the Sea in Revelation 13 will also come from the Mediterranean or be situated on the Mediterranean. This would also make Rome a good candidate for the center of the government of the Antichrist since it is situated on the Mediterranean.This will probably be from Europe especially since there are many indications that the Beast out of the sea or Antichrist will come from Rome which is part of Europe. The consolidation of authority through much of Europe under the present European Union could make it easier for the Beast out of the Sea to rise in political power. There could be further consolidation of power or an easier means to accomplish this if current plans for a Constitution of Europe are achieved by the end of this June(2004) as planned. The adding of 10 nations mostly from Eastern Europe to the European Union on May 1, 2004 considerably increased the reach of the European Union. Different European and other politicians or political observers have noted that the European Parliament, European Commission and other European bureaucracies are already getting quite sluggish, divisive and inefficient with all the different interests, agendas and philosophies of the different member countries and this will only be amplified by the recent major EU expansion into Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Some of these politicians or observers have remarked that it will be now even more neccessary or critical that the European Union gain a fresh and streamlined vision and leadership and method of operating in order not to come to a complete standstill as far as its ability to pass or enforce legislation or other responsibilities. Into this leadership void the Antichrist could and would be quite willing to soon step in. It should also be noted that much of the current European Union as well as its philosophy of uniting Europe is very similiar to the original Roman Empire which especially from the image of Daniel in Daniel chapter 2 the European Union and through it the entire world are a modern day version. This also extends to some of the new additions to the European Union with some of them also being part of the land of the former Roman Empire.
I don't know what it means that on his(the Beast's or Antichrist's heads) there is the name of blasphemy but, it could refer to one of the titles or beliefs of power in the Pope, Pontiff or leader of the Roman Catholic Church that has an effect or influence on people especially Roman Catholics over all the world or over the ten princes over the whole Earth in the last days or Great Tribulation or 70th Week of Daniel. This is the name that the Pope has inscribed is rumoured that he wears at least when he is coronated with the tiara or the triple crown into the office of a Pope or Pontiff. This inscription is "Vicarius Filii Dei". This is Latin for "Substitute of the Son of God". Pope Paul VI was the last pope to to coronated with a tiara or triple crown in 1963. Although no popes have worn tiaras during their papacy since then at their induction or other times there is nothing stopping the next pope after Pope Benedict or even Pope Benedict if he changes his mind to wear a tiara. Pope Paul VI in 1975 wrote a paper or Apostolic Constitution entitled Romano Pontifici Eligendo which I think means Election of Roman Pontiffs in which he stated that future popes are free to wear the tiara when they are inducted or other times except liturgies according to the online information source Wikipedia. Although perhaps the idea that previous popes had the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei on their tiaras as advocated especially by Seventh Day Adventists hasn't been well substantiated it would certainly be consistant with the office, character and background of the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea to use this title on a tiara if he uses the office of pope in some of his claims to power in the tribulation which I think is still very possible. I have also learned that at least one time when the expression vicarius filii dei was used was in connection with the Donation of Constantine when it was used to refer to the Apostle Peter which the Roman Catholic Church considers not very scripturally or historically accurately as the first pope or leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Anyway this also leads to a connection with the Antichrist since another name for his according to the prophecies of Saint Malachy is Peter the Roman. The Antichrist or last pope will probably have some characteristics associated with Saint Peter from a Roman Catholic perspective. This title vicarius filii dei is certainly blasphemy and is nowhere approved of by God directly or in His Word - the Holy Bible and there is much in the Bible that would speak out against this. It is blasphemy because it is a man claiming to be God or to be Jesus Christ who is God. This blasphemy could also relate to the description of the "Man of Sin" or "Son of Perdition" in 2 Thessalonians 2 as he as God showing himself that he is God. This could involve the Antichrist who is the Man of Sin showing himself that he is God by the titles he uses for himself or compels or persuades others to use of him such as possibly "Vicarius Filii Dei" or substitute of the Son of God by the pope in the 70th week of Daniel or the Great Tribulation.
The Beast out of the sea being like a leopard could mean he could move very quickly as Alexander the Great who is referred to as the leopard in Daniel 7 in the beasts representing the different world empires. His feet were like the feet of a bear could mean he will be quite vicious like a bear could be with its claws and with the bear referring also to Daniel 7 to Persia as one of the world empires. The Antichrist's or the Beast out of the Sea's mouth like the mouth of a lion could mean he will have a very loud or intimidating voice or manner of speaking like a roar of a lion and refers to Babylon also in Daniel 7 as one of the world empires. However other applications of these animals that are relevant to these world empires in Bible days and true or western and increasingly world civilization are the leopard referring to Greece as referring to Greek philosophy. The bear as referring to Persia as pluralism or multiculturalism which was certainly true of Persia in Bible times not just to the Jews but to other religions. To the Jews this Persian tolerance allowed the Persian kings to authorize and support the Jews to rebuild their Temple and city walls in Jerusalem. The Antichrist could still allow religious tolerance in the second half of the tribulation as long as he was treated as the supreme god much as was the case in the former Roman empire. The lion speaking of Babylon could speak of their idolatry and astrology. All these characteristics could be used and characterize the rule of the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea. The dragon is Satan the devil who is also called the prince of this world and the god of this world. This is the power seat and authority Satan the dragon will give the Beast out of the Sea. The world or those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour will then worship the dragon or Satan and the Beast out of the Sea or the Antichrist or the Man of Sin. This is described in Revelation 13:1-4 as follows:
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? who is able to make war with him? Revelation 13:1-4
One of the aspects of the beast out of the sea or The Antichrist that is found in Revelation 17 is that he has seven heads. The seven heads are described as seven kings (and their kingdoms or empires). Five are said to have fallen by the time of the Apostle John to whom the contents of the Book of Revelation was originally given by God in the 1st century AD or the end of the apostolic age of the Church. Three of those that had fallen or risen and fallen from power by that time were Babylon, Persia and Greece as described below from Daniel 7 and 2. The other two are not as clear but should also be world class kings and should be near and have significant effects on the nation and people of Israel that is the focus of much of Bible prophecy since they are and will continue to be God's chosen earthly people. The two best candidates for these kings according to both Biblical and secular history are ancient Egypt and Assyria. Shortly after this paragraph I have proposed how the term of having authority over all the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air and people on the earth that is spoken with reference to Egypt and Assyria in Ezekiel 31 as well as Babylon, Persia and Greece in Daniel 7, 2 and 4 could be those other two kings or heads based on this king as tree bible analogy. The scripture reference to Revelation 17 and the seven heads as 7 kings on the beast out of the sea as 7 world rulers in history related to Israel as one of the characteristics of the beast or Antichrist is as follows:
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials (bowls), and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ... And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sayest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Revelation 17:1-3, 6-12
A main description elsewhere than Revelation 17 of some of the heads as kings or world rulers including 5 that had fallen before the time of the apostle John and one that was at that time and one to come is from the beasts of Daniel 7. Three of these beasts are some of the 5 that had fallen before John's time. They are Babylon including under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar as represented by the lion, Persia represented by the bear, and Greece represented by leopard represented at first by Alexander the Great who had his empire later divided into four parts after he died as represented by the four heads of the leopard. The fourth beast is the Roman Empire led by its king the Roman Emperor or Caesar. This was the head of Revelation 17 that was in the time of the Apostle John in the heads of the beast or Antichrist in Revelation 17. The head mentioned in Revelation 17 that was to come in John's day is the revived Roman Empire in the last days under the Beast or Antichrist in the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. It will be led by the European Union and its ruler and rule over 10 regions of the world or earth, probably according to the way the earth has already been divided into ten regions by the globalist group The Club of Rome. The Antichrist being killed or wounded and seemed to be killed in the tribulation half way through and then rising from the dead or seeming to as mentioned in Revelation 12 and 13 will be the eighth king of the seventh and that was and was not and will be again. As mentioned elsewhere in this web page the other two heads are likely Egypt and Assyria from Ezekiel 31. The scripture reference from Daniel 7 or four beasts the fourth with ten horns as some of the seven heads associated with the beast or Antichrist as mentioned in Revelation 17 is as follows:
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea (Mediterranean Sea). And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After that I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3 1/2 years). But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations (thoughts) much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Daniel 7:1-28
A main statement in God's word the Holy Bible about the worldwide extent of the empires of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, Persia, Greece (under Alexander the Great), Rome and the Revived Roman Empire is the word picture about the leaders of those empires as a tree in whose branches rest all the fowls (birds) of the air and under whose shade are all the beasts of the field in the Earth. This means they were given by God authority over all nations or people of the Earth and is related to God giving authority to all the literal birds (fowls), beasts (land animals) of the Earth and fish (marine animals of the sea) in Genesis 1:26-31. These empires that were or are given all authority over all people or nations (and all animals) on Earth are also the majority (5) of the heads of the beast or antichrist or man of sin. Of course the Antichrist will be the Satanically energized ruler over all the world in the 7 year tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. The scripture reference in Genesis 1 of the authority by God over all the animals of the Earth to the first man (and woman) Adam and Eve and the the authority by God over all the animals of the Earth and over all the people and nations on Earth to the main Earthly kings or emperors of Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and the Revived Roman Empires in terms of having authority over all the animals of the Earth is as follows:
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king, Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of the clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation sure. Daniel 2:36-45
In Daniel 4 there is a fuller picture, than in Daniel 2, of Nebuchadnezzar as a tree with the beasts of the field under its shade and the fowls of heaven in its branches. This indicates the worldwide dominion God allowed to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (and to following kings mentioned in Daniel 2 of Persia, Greece, Rome and the Revived Roman Empire. However, because of Nebuchadnezzar's pride it taking the glory of Babylon to his own credit, God humbled him to make him like a beast to live outside in a crude way for seven years until his sanity returned to him. This was pictured in the dream in Daniel 4 as the cutting down of the tree representing Nebuchadnezzar by a watcher (holy angel). However the angel did leave a stump of the tree representing that for some time the rule of Babylon was still reserved for Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of seven years when his sanity was restored he was fully restored to be the chief ruler of Babylon which could be pictured as him fully being restored to a tree with all the fowls of heaven in his branches and the beasts of the field of the earth under his shade although this extension of the analogy of the dream doesn't seem to be part of the dream. This tree analogy of Nebuchnezzar would also relate to him and those kings following him in Daniel 2 and 7 as some of the seven heads of the beast or antichrist in Revelation 13 and 17 with worldwide authority given by God. The scripture reference from Daniel 4 of the potentially worldwide authority or dominion God gave to Nebuchadnezzar and related to Daniel 2 to following kings of Persia, Greece, Rome and the Revived Roman Empire and as some of the seven heads in Revelation 13 and 17 as a tree with the fowls of heaven in its branches and the beasts of the field sheltered by it extending over all the earth is as follows:
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof of all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times (years) shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; they kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility. Daniel 4:19-27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food). And to very beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:26-31
In the explanation above for the antichrist mentioned in Revelation 13 and 17 having 7 heads of which by the Apostle John's time in the 1st century AD 5 had fallen or been overthrown or removed from power. In apostle John's time he was under the king that was in his time namely that mentioned as of iron in Daniel 2 the Roman Empire and 1 had yet to come the feet and toes of iron of clay representing the revived Roman Empire which is the European Union and the whole world that will be led by them especially in the 70th week of Daniel or the tribulation when the Antichrist comes to power after the very soon rapture and removing of the true Church from Earth. Three of those kings that had fallen are mentioned in Daniel 2 and 7 as Babylon, Persia and Greece and were spoken of as given all the fowls of the air (heaven) and all the beasts of the field meaning all the animals of those areas and their territory and all the people and nations of the world that the animals and fowls represent. The other two kings and kingdoms I believe are Egypt and Assyria as they also were major empires or kingdoms in those times are had relations with God's chosen earthly people Israel. I also believe this because in Ezekiel 31 Egypt and Assyria are spoken about also as a tree that were given authority over all the beasts of the field and fowls of the air and all people on Earth. Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar was the mighty one of the heathen (nations) that defeated the tree represented by Egypt and its king (Pharaoh) as Babylon also defeated Assyria. The scripture reference from Ezekiel 31 of God giving authority also to Egypt and Assyria over all the animals and people of the Earth as similiar to the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and the revived Roman Empire and as also some of the other of the seven heads of the Beast or Antichrist of the tribulation in Revelation 17 and that will be part of his characteristics is as follows:
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Behold, the Assyrian ws a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. Ezekiel 31:1-11
One of the main things about the Antichrist is that he will be proud including that he will exalt himself above the gods of all the religions and will speak marvellous things or blasphemy against the God of gods or the God of the Bible and one true God. This passage of the Antichrist mentions that he will be an apostate although I don't know whether that refers to Christianity or Judaism or both. He also won't regard the desire of women which probably means he won't care for children. The Antichrist will regard the God of forces which possibly means he will support New Age or nature worship ideas or religion. He will set up an idol which he will offer precious metals and stones to. This idol could be the image of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13 or some other idol. The Antichrist will also divide the land for gain. This means that in the tribulation he will divide the land of Israel for material gain or for power. This should be an indication to those who would like to divide the land of Israel from the Jews now that it is not God's will to do this but that this type of action is more compatible with the devil and the Antichrist and brings God's displeasure. In the time of the end the king of the south will come against him. The king of the south will be the leader of Arab countries. I believe this reference to the king of the south, the leader of the Arabs, coming against the antichrist means that the Antichrist can't have his throne or power base in rebuilt Babylon in Iraq or other Arab territory as it popular with some Bible teachers these days. The king of the north will also come against the Antichrist suddenly. The king of the north is the leader of Russia and allied countries. The current conflict in Ukraine is probably settling the final part of the division line that will exist in the tribulation between the kingdom of the Antichrist which will be the revived roman empire and the kingdom of the north that will be Russia and allied countries. The scripture reference in Daniel 11 of the king that is the Antichrist is as follows:
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself against every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Daniel 11:36-40
From the immediately preceding scripture it is clear that there are ten horns on the beast which are symbols or power and will be associated with the ten kings that will reign with him in the second half of the tribulation. However it is also implied this will be part of the power of the beast or Antichrist himself. From Daniel 7 we are taught that the little horn that is another name for the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea will subjugate three of these horns to himself and his own power. These three horns will be some of the ten horns that are each adorned with a crown in Revelation 13. I think this could be a reference to the resumption of the use of the tiara or triregnum which traditionally consisted of three crowns. The scripture in Daniel 7 also says this little horn that subdues the three horns has a mouth that speaks great things or great things against the most High later in the chapter. I think there could be a blasphemous title inscribed on the tiara on its three crowns perhaps vicarius filii dei which means substitute of the son of God or of the Lord Jesus Christ. This would certainly be great words against the most High and a name of blasphemy as in Revelation 13. This would also be consistant with the number of the name of the beast being six hundred sixty six or 666. In this case the three crowns would represent the three regions the Antichrist or Little Horn or Beast out of the Sea will rule directly probably Western Europe, Eastern Europe including Russia and English North America. The scripture reference of the Little Horn, Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea usurping power from 3 of the ten kings and their crowns and seizing those crowns for himself and his power from Daniel 7 is as follows:
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3 1/2 years). Daniel 7:7-8, 24-25
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:5-10
In the parable of the sheep and the goats by the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of Matthew 25 the Lord Jesus Christ sets out in His specific words a description of the second half of the tribulation and how the response of those who profess to believe in Him to persecuted believers in Him will determine how He judges them at the judgment of the sheep and the goats that I believe will be from around the temple mount in Jerusalem just after Jesus' second coming to judge the world and set up His and God the Father's Millennial or Messianic Kingdom. These professed believers in Jesus mentioned in this parable are not the Church or Christians of this present Church Age that started almost 2000 years ago with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the company of believers in Jesus in the upper room 50 days after Jesus' resurrection in Acts 2 until the very soon coming rapture or catching up to heaven of all true Christians or Church Age saints including changing to eternal state and bodies of physically alive Christians on earth and resurrection to life and eternal bodies of physically deceased Church Age saints. The professed Christians in Matthew 25 will all be people who had not become true Christians before the rapture of the Church and who remained on Earth after the rapture and then became believers in Jesus or at least became professed believers in Jesus sometime in the tribulation after the rapture of the Church. The scripture about visting in prison will likely be very risky for tribulation believers or saints or professed believers in Jesus or professed tribulation saints at the Antichrist's authorities will probably then mark them as underibles who haven't acknowledged rule of the Antichrist either and this might open these visitors to more persecution by the Antichrist and his police or forces for the remainder of the tribulation. Among other things this visiting or not visiting tribulation believers or Jesus' brethren in prison will be a test of tribulation saints' faith in Jesus during that time and a main thing considered at the judgment of the sheep and the goats at the end of the tribulation around Jesusalem after Jesus' second coming to Earth at Jerusalem and will be the basis of whether surviving believers or professed believers in Jesus will be rewarded with blessing of God and Jesus in the Millennial or Messianic (and then eternal) Kingdom of God the Father and Jesus Christ (and the Holy Spirit) or whether they be judged and brought down to hell to eventually appear at the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20 and sent into the lake of fire forever. Although the least of Christ or Messiah Jesus' brethren could have special emphasis on Jewish believers in the tribulation I think to some extent it will included Gentile or non-Jewish believers in Him as well. The scripture reference from Matthew 25 of whether professsing saints or believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the tribulation show faithfulness to Him and God the Father by visiting tribulation believers in Jesus in prison as part of the basis of God's judgment through Jesus of them at the end of the tribulation for their eternal destiny and imprisonment of believers in the Lord Jesus as an alternate likely means that the Antichrist will use of persecution of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that refuse the Antichrist's mark in Matthew 25 is as follows:
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shal the King say unto them on the right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shal the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirst, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46
Again I will repeat as it will be very important in the Great Tribulation which I hope none of the readers will experience by your avoiding this by placing your whole- hearted faith and yielding your life before the rapture and start of the Great Tribulation in/to the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour that He died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead to give you new, eternal and abundant and God's life. However those who don't now trust in Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour or during the tribulation will most likely worship the Beast and his image and receive the Mark of the Beast in their forehead or right hand. To receive the mark of the beast or the number of his name or worhsip him or his image by anyone in the tribulation is extremely serious in that God considers this as the last step in forsaking Him and His Son Jesus Christ and instead siding with the devil or dragon and the Antichrist or Beast as in Revelation 14:9-12. This not worshipping the Beast or his image or taking the mark of the beast in their forehead or in their right hand will be the main reason those who become the saints will be fiercely persecuted as well as their firm and open faith in God and Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of the world and in His Word - the Holy Bible. Those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast will be rewarded by being allowed to live and reign with Christ on Earth for a thousand years after He sets up His Kingdom. Revelation 20:4
All people without respect to economic class, part of the earth, religious background or other factors will be compelled to receive the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead. A strong motivating factor to receive the mark of the beast at that time(the 3 and a half year second half of the Great Tribulation or 70th week of Daniel) is that they won't be able to buy or sell food, things for shelter, clothes or any other product or service without receiving the mark of the beast (unless they can do it in more wilderness or frontier areas more away from the Antichrist's control and surveillance.)
What will likely be the technology for the Mark of the Beast? RFID technology or Radio Frequency Identification Technology. There were good introductory articles about this technology from a secular viewpoint in one of the August 2003 issues of Time magazine and an issue a couple months later of Scientific American. There are also often articles about this technology from a Christian perspective in Bible prophecy magazines or newsletters identifying it as the technology that will be used for the Mark of the Beast. The RFID technology basic components are a microchip, that is about the size of an ant's head, attached to a miniature transmitter. The basic application for this technology is to replace the Universal Product Codes or Bar codes on supermarket or food items and other products. It also will be used by the US military for shipping goods and probably interfaced with paper in the new Euro bills of the European Union. Many of these groups say they want to have their applications in place by 2005. This RFID technology could also place the microchip and antenaes under the skin of the forehead or right hand in human beings to track them or control them in the reign of the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea in his reign especially in the 3 1/2 year second half of the Great Tribulation or 70th week of Daniel.
With all the talk in the news for some time about personal and national debts and deficits I got thinking I think with God's leading about what the Bible might say on this topic. I found that in the very reputable Strong's Concordance the word doulos for bond or servant means a slave literally or figuratively voluntarily or involuntarily.Frequently used to mean subjection or subserviency. Now this could still mean there will be slavery in the tribulation but it could also mean in a general sense of employees especially those under bad working conditions. However one other thing that is allowed under this definition in the figurative sense is those in debt either personally or as a nation as this would mean financially subjective or enslaved and of course is very relevant in the west now including in Canada where I live. Other scriptures in Revelation and in the tribulation that use free and bond in the same sense are Revelation 6:15 and Revelation 19:18. In this case free would mean slave owners, employers or lenders and creditors. The scripture reference for people bond as well as free including possibly debtors and creditors in the tribulation being forced to receive the mark of the beast or face consequences in Revelation 13 is as follows:
In Revelation 13 the Bible says this Mark of the Beast and the related name or number of his name will all be of the man that will be the beast and that those with wisdom could be able to identify this number(and name). As I have suggested before with some reasons although I can't prove it, I think the name of the beast could be "Vicarius Filii Dei" or Substitute of the Son of God. A main reason I say this in addition to the fact that this is clearly a name of blasphemy for any man to have and use is that I read a most compelling article in the December 1999 issue of the Gospel Catholic from the Conversion Center from North Carolina, USA of born again Christians that were formerly Roman Catholic priests, monks and nuns that some of the letters in the Latin title "Vicarius Filii Dei" have Roman numeral equivalents. As a means of refreshing for the reader in Roman numerals i=1, v or u=5, x=10, l=50, c=100, d=500, m=1000 etc. Using these Roman numeral equivalents and the word Vicarius we get v=5 + i=1 + c=100 +i=1 + u=5 which gives a total of 112 and for the second word filii we get i=1 + l=50 +i=1 + i=1 which gives a total of 53 for the Roman numeral equivalents for the second word filii of Vicarius Filii Dei. This leaves the third word Dei. In this word we have d=500 + i=1 which gives 501 for the Roman numeral equivalents of this word. Altogether the Roman numeral equivalents for the title or name Vicarius Filii Dei then are 112+53+501=666!!! I don't think this is just coincidence. I know there are many alternate ideas about explanations of the number 666, even some other good alternate ideas of numbers of a man as the Bible says. However I know few or other alternate numbers of a man that comes out to 666 that are based on a name of blasphemy especially with someone in a position that has persectued Bible believing Christians and could do so in the future like the Popes with their title Vicarius Filii Dei which means Substitute of the Son of God. However I will acknowledge some Popes have been kinder to Bible believing Christians and the Bible than others. I would view Pope John Paul 2 fairly favourably is this way but am very apprehensive not for myself but for those who will be left behind on Earth after the rapture concerning the Pope(s) that will immediately follow Pope John Paul 2. However this all might not be relevant if it is true that the number of the beast is actually 600 60 and 6 which wouldn't be the same as 6 6 6. The reference to the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13 is as follows:
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:16-18
The RFID technology, although it is more directly related to the description of the Mark of the Beast mentioned in Revelation 13, is likely not the only technology that will be used by the Antichrist in his worldwide dictatorship in the tribulation especially the second half of the tribulation. I just heard on the news that as of this writing on March 29, 2006 this is the 10th anniversary of the Palm Pilot mobile communication device or PDA I think Personal Digital Assistant. These and similiar devices by other companies are merging with state of the art miniturized computer technology to provide mobile computers and internet access. This of course would also be useful to the Antichrist or his security forces that could on the field access databases or web sites that could be used to access information about people or places where these security guards are stationed. Although I doubt there would be enough computer power available in these mobile devices at this time if microchips and computer circuits continue to be miniturized and become more powerful and efficient, probably fairly soon technology such as that on Google Earth, which lets the user now with a Microsoft Windows 2000 or more recent computer, download their software that allows the user to supply an address I think anywhere in the world and immediately get the live detailed view from space of that immediate neighbourhood in which buildings and cars and perhaps even humans can be spotted. If in the near future this technology could be available in mobile form in a device such as an enhanced Palm Pilot this would be very desirable for security guards of a worldwide dictator such as the Antichrist and his forces in order to conduct surveillance of believers in Jesus Christ or others the Antichrist and his security forces know or suspect are resisting taking the mark of the beast or worshipping him or his image by watching their suspected hiding place from a remote location and then creeping up to while watching on their mobile devices. I can't say for sure this technology will develop soon and that it will be used by the Antichrist and his forces against his opponents but I think both these points are quite likely and are good reasons to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ now that even though he knows much more about you died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead to give you new and eternal life if you acknowledge you can't do anything to save yourself or earn eternal life and that Jesus did everthing for you and offers eternal life and a home in heaven for you and his grace and the opportunity for you to reign with him as a free gift by faith in him. The increasing information the world ruler or Antichrist has at his disposal will instead be used against people left on earth to try to destroy them or you but Jesus offers deliverance including now by avoiding the tribulation with the rapture or catching up of believers in Jesus before the tribulation.
The last ungodly act or act of rebellion against God and Jesus Christ of the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea will be to gather all the kings of the Earth and their armies against the Lord Jesus Christ and believers coming from Heaven to rescue Earthly Jerusalem. The true Church of born again believers in Jesus Christ will comprise a significant part of His armies from Heaven but our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will do most of the fighting against the kings of the Earth and their armies through the sword that comes out of Jesus' mouth which is the Word of God the Holy Bible or other things Jesus might say. A significant reason for God's judgment on the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea is because He deceived and caused the condemnation of people of all nations and languages and tribes or kindreds who worshipped his image or received the mark of the beast. The Bible here states that he was cast alive at the Lord Jesus Christ's Second Coming in power and great glory to the lake of fire that burns with brimstone a form of sulfur or sulfur compound. This lake of fire won't be merely a place of judgment or torture mentally or emotionally but also a physical place where there will be physical suffering. In Revelation 20 the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea is mentioned still suffering or being tormented in the Lake of Fire after the end of the 1000 year Messianic Age or Millenial Kingdom and that this suffering will continue for ever. The scripture references for the destiny and doom of the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea from Revelation 19 and 20 are as follows:
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse(the Lord Jesus Christ), and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:19-21.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. ... And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:7,10.
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