Who are the seven heads of Revelation 17?

[hch]

17 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

EXCUSE ME.  The image of the Beast IS THE 8TH HEAD !!!!!!

8thdqy,

I see it but...

The beast that was is the dragon-beast in Rev 12.

The dragon-beast that was not (Rev 13) is the papacy because "they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Rev 13:4).

And the dragon-beast that was is the image of the dragon-Beast/THE 8TH HEAD because Satan personates a human being/pope who is one of the 7 heads on the beast in Revelation 13

Christian regards

[8thdaypriest]

7 minutes ago, hch said:

8thday,

in the heart of  JerUSAlem is the identity of the earth beast.

And an identifying feature within the prophecy is that it calls fire down from heaven in the sight of men.

An eyewitness reported: “After the flash, she saw a brilliant orange orb, the color of the sun as it sets in the ocean, erupt in the sky - and she hit the ground. When she looked up, the buildings around her and much of the city were on fire… West was stunned by the hellish ruins of Hiroshima.” http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2005/08/05/2005-08-05_hiroshima_survivor_saw_hell_nyer_tells_o.html

Over Nagasaki when Bockscar’s bombardier, Captain Kermit Beahan, visually sighted the target; the Fat Man was “exploded…above the ground… The explosion generated heat estimated at 3,900 degrees Celsius (… 7,000 F)” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki#The_bombing_2

Christian regards

I'm thinking more of the "fire" that came out from the Most Holy Place, to light the "fire" on the Alter of Sacrifice, at the dedication of the original wilderness Tabernacle, and at the dedication of Solomon's Temple.  This WOULD be a sign to world religious leaders that "GOD" has affirmed this Temple as HIS place of residence on earth.   

[8thdaypriest]

Joe,

I'm NOT discounting the idea that Islam is "the 7th head" on the Beast, but I'm also not discounting the idea that the last Pope will have a large role - probably as the "false prophet".  A prophet is one who speaks for God.  This is what the popes have claimed for 1500 years.

[8thdaypriest]

6 minutes ago, hch said:

8thdqy,

I see it but...

The beast that was is the dragon-beast in Rev 12.

The dragon-beast that was not (Rev 13) is the papacy because "they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Rev 13:4).

And the dragon-beast that was is the image of the dragon-Beast/THE 8TH HEAD because Satan personates a human being/pope who is one of the 7 heads on the beast in Revelation 13

Christian regards

Yes - the "8th head" is the resurrection of the dead Beast.  This "head" allows the Beast to speak once again. 

What I don't see, is that "the 8th head", is the same as "the little horn", is the same as "the harlot" who rides the Beast, is the same as the Papacy.  I can't put all those together. 

[8thdaypriest]

There is a study at my website, reviewing the different "religions" of the world.  For anyone interested, the link is http://www.prophecyviewpoint.com/htdocs/5-World%20Religions%20Compared.pdf

[hch]

On ‎3‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 3:25 PM, hch said:

Also, you don't mention Francis I as the eighth pope. Why not?

Alchemy 

I did not intend to not answer your question. I focused on other points and it got by me.

In Revelation 13 the seven heads on the healed papal-beast are from Pius XI to Benedict XVI. They fulfil the count of the post-1929 popes that ruled the Vatican when its political wound was healed. Thus Pope Francis is not mentioned in that prophecy much like Babylon is not mentioned in Daniel 8 when the goat and ram do battle.

In Revelation 17, Pope Francis is the 8th pope from 1929, but he is not the pope described in the prophecy as being one of the 7. The 7 post 1929 popes were solo popes. The 7 were the only living popes that ruled as solo kings. When Benedict left office alive he was the last solo pope; Francis became pope in what could be thought of as a dual monarchy. Though he claims to be the pope, he takes Benedict into consultation and when Francis officiates at events, Benedict is his shadow (canonization of John-Paul II and opening the door of mercy to name a few) .

Christian regards

[hch]

29 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

You believe that the current nation of Israel WILL explode a nuclear bomb.  Where?  What would be the TARGET?

That never entered my imagination.

When you look at JerUSAlem, see USA in the heart of the word.

There would be no Jewish state around JerUSAlem if it were not for America.

But America is the beast from the earth that followed the papacy. America fulfilled Bible prophecy Revelation 13:13 by calling fire down from heaven on Japan twice "in the sight of men" i.e., in the sight of eyewitnesses.

Christian regards,

[8thdaypriest]

Would it be far off, to say that "the Beast" IS Satan's kingdom? 

At the conclusion of the Judgment scene of Daniel 7, the "dominion" of Satan (that is Satan's kingdom) is taken from him, to be destroyed forever. 

Daniel 7:26 "But when the court goes into session, he (speaking of the 8th head of the Beast - that persecutes the saints) will be stripped of his rulership, which will be consumed and completely destroyed" (CJB).

WHICH MEANS that Satan's kingdom is now DEAD - the last "head" being destroyed. 

Satan has no kingdom during the 8th millennium.  He may have followers, but he has no "kingdom" or "dominion".  THAT was given to Christ. 

 

 

[8thdaypriest]

1 minute ago, hch said:

That never entered my imagination.

When you look at JerUSAlem, see USA in the heart of the word.

There would be no Jewish state around JerUSAlem if it were not for America.

But America is the beast from the earth that followed the papacy. America fulfilled Bible prophecy Revelation 13:13 by calling fire down from heaven on Japan twice "in the sight of men" i.e., in the sight of eyewitnesses.

Christian regards,

SEE- I don't buy that one - that the USA is the beast from "the land".  That's EGW, many of whose interpretations I seriously doubt.

I do see the "eagle's wings" on the "lion" as the USA.  The lion was the symbol for Judah.  And the eagle is the symbol for the USA.  The wings are "torn off" when the USA is bankrupted, and cannot militarily support Israel any longer, or perhaps will not ideologically support her. 

All four beasts of Daniel Chapter 7 are END TIME.  The wickedness of all four beasts must "reach its fullness" (which only happens at the end of time) - before the "little horn" comes up.   The forth kingdom will consume the entire earth.  Ancient Rome never did that.   

The lion, bear, and leopard beasts re-emerge AFTER the 4th terrible beast is destroyed (with all its heads and horns).  This means they cannot be ancient Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Rome. 

[8thdaypriest]

In the wilderness temptation:

Luke 4:5-6 "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish." (NKJ)

The "kingdoms of the world" would therefore BE Satan's dominion.

Satan gives this rule to the fourth - terrible beast of Daniel Cpt 7.  

The fourth - terrible beast of Daniel Cpt 7 will rule over "all the kingdoms of the world".  It will "devour the whole earth". 

Daniel 7:23 "Thus he said:`The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces."  Hmmmmm.  Maybe dividing it into 10 regions, ruled by 10 "kings" who rule for "the Beast". 

THEN - the 8th horn comes up, and rules over all the other "horns".  The 8th horn persecutes the saints for 3.5 years, after it is empowered by "the beast from the land". 

The lamb-like beast from "the land" (also known as the false prophet who does "wonders") AND the first beast - the terrible beast of Revelation 13 (that rules the whole world), are the ONLY TWO thrown into the "lake of fire" at the Second Coming.  This is Satan's dominion - destroyed!!!

[hch]

On ‎3‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 6:16 AM, Thomas the Doubter said:

Eastern Roman Empire. This lasted all the way to 1453.

Doubter,

The pagan Roman Empire was carved up like Daniel 2 foretold that the image had two legs. When it split in 2 it ceased to be the Roman Empire as it had been.

Thus the designation Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire.

The Western Roman Empire was carved up by 10-germanic tribes. And the Eastern Roman Empire was carved up by 10-germanic tribes:

628: the Romans retake Syria from the Sassanids
636: Arabs invade Syria and Palestine

896: Symeon of Bulgaria defeats the Byzantine army for the first time

922: Symeon of Bulgaria defeats the Byzantine army for the fourth and last time

1071: the Byzantine army of Romanus IV Diogenes is defeated by the Seljuks at Manzikert in Armenia, who establish a sultanate in Anatolia
1071: Normans led by Robert Guiscard conquer southern Italy from the eastern Roman empire

1345: Serbia defeats the eastern Roman empire and annexes Macedonia and Thrace

1348: Serbia defeats the eastern Roman empire and annexes Thessaly and Epirus

Before the Eastern Roman Empire fell as you claim in 1453, it was carved up by 10-germanic tribes as this partial timeline begins to show. And the Eastern Roman Emperor was powerless long before the date you cite. The city of Constantinople was about all he had left of his empire.

And I still await your correlation of Bible prophecy fulfilled with your rendition of history . I have given my presentation to show how Bible prophecy predicted that Pope Benedict would not be pope in 2013 from a study of Rev 17. From Bible prophecy I predicted that Benedict would not be pope in 2013 before it happened. And it happened as I understood that it would from Bible study. But you have yet to give any concrete proof that you know what you are talking about.

Personal opinions and abstract beliefs are not sufficient

(no matter how skillful the presentation appears).

Where's the evidence of prophecy fulfilled in all of your many words?

Christian regards

[hch]

19 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

19 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

The harlot's name is Babylon the Great (Rev. 17:5). 

The harlot  is the "great city" which rules over the kings of the earth (17:15).  

8thday,

you have some very correct positions in my considered opinion.

But please show the reason why a woman wearing an Atlanta Braves ball cap has to be the Atlanta Braves just because she has their name on her head - it's on the cap on her head.

If the harlot is not the "great city" then she is on its team, clinging to its teachings.

The harlot is clinging to the beast, the "great city" which rules over the kings of the earth (17:15). 

The conclusion: rightly dividing the word of truth makes all the difference when it comes to correctly understanding Bible prophecy

Christian regards

[skyblue888]

Revelation 17 gives us a complete picture of the history of this world reaching all the way from ancient Babylon to the drying up of the River Euphrates after the close of probation prior to the return of Jesus in the "clouds" of Heaven.

 

 

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Laval Picard THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE

 

Part 1

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked to me, saying to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. " Rev.17:1,2.

The next verse starts with the word, "So." What does the word "so" indicate? That what is now going to follow is the fulfillment of the statement made by the angel: "I will show you the judgment of the great whore." So, to accomplish this promise, he now carries him away in the Spirit into the "wilderness."

"So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw the woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." Rev.17:3.

"And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of The Abominations of the Earth." Rev.17:5.

For the first time, we find a symbolic name, an actual symbolic name, not just a symbol but a symbolic name. A woman is a symbol of a church but Babylon is a symbolic name for it.

We now have a symbolic name for the whore or the woman. We should expect very obviously that there would be a symbolic name provided for the waters or that scarlet beast upon which the whore sits.

Now, we are looking for a symbolic name not mentioned in the chapter. And we are expected to understand what that symbolic name is because here is that whore whose symbolic name is Great Babylon sitting upon those waters, the symbolic name of which must be Euphrates!

Back in the Old Testament times, what did Babylon sit on? Euphrates. We can't separate Euphrates from Babylon. Just as ancient Babylon sat on and was supported by the great river Euphrates, which kept that great city alive, so, modern Babylon sits upon the peoples of this earth because waters symbolize peoples and therefore, if Babylon sits upon waters, the waters must have a symbolic name, and that symbolic name must come from the type in the Old Testament. In other words, here was typical Babylon and here was a typical river!

"And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." Rev.17:18.

Therefore, the waters, the beast, and the kings of the earth are three different symbols representing the same thing, the peoples of the earth. The day will come when all the peoples of this earth will support Babylon the Great but that support will be "dried up" suddenly at the time of the fifth plague. This we shall see in the next posts.

 

 

[skyblue888]

Part 2 

Just as the ancient River was dried up to make way for the kings of the east, (Medo-Persian kings) so the waters upon which the whore sits in these last days will be "dried up" to bring about the downfall of Babylon The Great and thus make way for the Kings of the East, Christ and the saints who are with Him, to return! See Ezekiel 43:2.

If we think type and antitype, we will have no problem identifying symbolic names in the book of Revelation.

In verse 6 we read:

"And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marvelled with great amazement."

Back in verse 3 the angel promised to give John the interpretation of the vision which previously had been given. The angel said, "I will tell you the mystery of the woman."

When you start to read the angel's explanation, your first reaction is that he has made the mystery more mysterious! Let us read it in verse 8:

"The beast (whore) that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, is not, and yet is."

Do you feel you were given a good explanation? Verse 9:

"Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other is yet to come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition."

A little bit of careful study will soon begin to unravel this mystery and you will be surprised how simple the prophecy really is. First of all in verse 8:

"The beast that you saw and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition."

When we have an expression like, "was", "is not", and "is again", it indicates that we need to have a reference point in time. The reference point chosen determines what was, what is not and what will be as the case may be.

In order for us to understand what beast is spoken of as being in the past, and also being not present, and shall be again, we have to make up our minds on the basis of the evidence given. What was the reference point from which John was observing these facts? That is very very important to know!

Some have taken the position that John is speaking from his own point of time, but when we study the works of a prophet, do we find that they all spoke from their own point of time? Or were they sometimes moved far away into the future and spoke from that point of time?

A prophet is very often picked up from his own time and projected far into the future and from that future point of time, he then begins to describe things that were and are and will be. And if we are to understand what the prophet is saying, what must we determine? That reference point. It is not very difficult.

 

[skyblue888]

Part 3

In verse 3 we are told that in order to see the judgment of the great whore, John had to be carried in the Spirit into the wilderness. When he got there, what did he see? He saw the whore sitting upon the scarlet beast. Now if he had to go to the wilderness to see the whore, where must she have been? In the wilderness.

What does it mean for the woman to be in the wilderness? Is she always there or is it a temporary sojourn and not a permanent one? If we go back to Revelation 12, we find that when the woman (pure church) brought forth the man child (Jesus) where did she flee after the man child was taken up to Heaven? To the wilderness. Between 538 and 1798, the true church of God was in the wilderness. She went there in obscurity as a result of the persecuting powers that sought to destroy her.

Therefore, the true church was not "in the wilderness" when Jesus Christ was living upon the earth nor during the Apostolic period but when the persecution began, that is when she found herself driven into the wilderness. So, obviously, what does it mean to be in the wilderness? It means to be oppressed, persecuted; it means to be the tail and not the head, to be under, and not above.

[skyblue888]

Part 4

During the time when the true church of God was "in the wilderness," was Papal Rome also in the same place? No. She was on top. She was sitting as a queen! Now, what about John's own day? Was Pagan Rome persecuted and driven away from her own natural habitat or was she likewise on top of the world? On top!

So, when did the papal power go "into the wilderness?" In 1798! In 1798 the papacy was driven "into the wilderness" in a position of oppression and obscurity. But that did not stop the papacy from doing her work to regain the supremacy of the world. Since then she has been working in obscurity, working behind the scenes, pulling the strings, politically and religiously. Therefore, what was John's point of reference? After 1798.

Verses 9 and 10: "Here is the mind which has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time."

In prophecy, what does a "mountain" symbolize? A kingdom. In Jeremiah 51:25, Babylon is described as being a "destroying mountain." Daniel 2 mentions two mountains. The one from which the stone was cut and the one under which the stone grew. What do these "mountains" symbolize? God's Kingdom.

"The seven heads are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come and when he comes, he must continue a short time."

To identify those kings, what must we have? Again, a point of reference before which five have fallen, one still remained, and the other had not yet come.

If we take John's own day as the point of reference this is what we get:

five have fallen

1. Egypt
2. Assyria
3. Babylon
4. Medo-Persia
5. Greece
__________

6. Pagan Rome (POINT OF REFERENCE)
___the one that is in John's day_____

7. Papal Rome---yet to come

But then, we have a problem because we have one that is, and in John's day, that one was Pagan Rome and the other one which had not yet come was Papal Rome. But what about the beast of Revelation 11, Atheistic France, and the lamb-like beast of Rev.13, Apostate Protestantism? So if we take John's day as the point of reference, we have to say, 5 have fallen, one is, and THREE are yet to come! But does the Bible say that? It doesn't.

But if we take the point of reference given us directly from verse 3 of chapter 17, which is the time after 1798, we now ask the question: which are the five which have fallen? It is, very obviously:

1. Babylon
2. Medo-Persia
3. Greece
4. Pagan Rome
5. Papal Rome

6. Atheism in France (King of the south) after 1798... (POINT OF REFERENCE) the one that is since 1798 pushing at the king of the north.

7. Apostate Protestantism (the one which is yet to come)

What was the satanic form which took over from Papal Rome after 1798? Atheism. Revelation 11:7; The Great Controversy, p.269,270. And what is the other one which has not yet come? The lamb-like beast of Revelation 13, Apostate Protestantism.

Papal Rome is the eighth being of the seven which was before 1798, is not after 1798 (going into obscurity), and yet is again when her deadly wound is finally healed with the help of Apostate Protestantism.

[skyblue888]

 Part 5

Verse 12: "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as king with the beast. They are one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast."

What is the popular interpretation of what these 10 horns or ten kings are? The common market countries of ancient Europe: Norway, Sweeden, Germany, Denmark, England, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.

But this conclusion we cannot accept for one important reason. What is it in the text itself which would make it an impossibility for those ancient European kings to be the ten horns or the ten kings of Revelation 17:12? The text says that THESE KINGS HAVE RECEIVED NO POWER AS KINGS YET and they will not receive power as kings until one hour with the beast.

So, at what point of time alone in human history will the ten horns receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast? At the very end. Not before the Papacy comes back to universal dominion, and that time has not yet come.

Does England have power as a kingdom today? Certainly. Does France have power as a kingdom today? It does. Does Germany have power as a kingdom today? Yes, it does. So do all the European countries. Therefore, not one of those countries are the powers mentioned here in Revelation 17:12.

One more thing, we cannot limit the ten horns (kings) on this beast to anything less than the territory occupied by this beast which is the entire world. The ten countries of Europe are only a small part of that territory today. Whatever territory is occupied by the beast is occupied by the horns on the beast. Therefore, the ten kings occupy how much of the world? All of it.

Verse 13: "These have one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast."

"In the warfare to be waged in the last days, there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of God. There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. 'And shall give their power and strength to the beast.'"

"What is it that gives its kingdom to this power? Protestantism, a power which, while professing to have the temper and spirit of a lamb and to be allied to Heaven, speaks with the voice of a dragon. It is moved by a power from beneath." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p.983.

Does Apostate Protestantism have a power as a kingdom today? No, but when it receives the power of the State, it will be a kingdom then for one hour (short time) with the beast. The ten kings (horns) are the peoples of this earth distributed in the ten major world religions:

1. Protestantism
2. Catholicism
3. Greek Orthodox
4. Judaism
5. Islam
6. Buddhism
7. Shintuism
8. Confucianism
9. Hinduism
10. Communism

These will receive power from the state to make an image to the beast and they will give their power and authority to the papacy and reign with her for a short time.

[skyblue888]

Part 6

Here is that one statement from the pen of inspiration which shows that the ten horns (future kings) of Revelation 17 are "churches" or the major religions of the world when they shall unite with the state to enforce Sunday worship in their respective countries:

"In the seventeenth of Revelation is foretold the destruction of all the CHURCHES--Rev.17:1-4 quoted--who corrupt themselves by idolatrous devotion to the service of the papacy, those who have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." E.G.White, Bible Commentary, vol.7, p.983.

These are the major religions of this world who will receive a kingdom for a short time with the papacy. This is the union of church and state in every country of the globe with the popular religion having the ascendancy thus making an image to the papacy.

"And the woman which you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." Rev.17:18.

"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honour the false Sabbath, the people of every country of the globe will be led to follow her example." 6 T 18.

Verse 17: "For God has put it in their hearts to fulfil His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."

"Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world." 6 T 395.

These will give their power to the papacy which was, is not, and is again. It is then that the papal power becomes the eighth:

"Thus is represented the papal power which with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, by outside attraction and gorgeous display, deceives all nations; promising them, as did Satan our first parents, all good to those who receive its mark, and all harm to those who oppose its fallacies...

"The power which has the deepest inward corruption will make the greatest display, and will clothe itself with the most elaborate signs of power. The Bible plainly declares this covers a corrupt and deceiving wickedness. 'Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the Earth.'" E.G. White, 7 B.C.983.

Verse 14: "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, faithful. And He said to me, 'The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

This is the drying up of the River Euphrates in these last days at the time of the sixth plague as described in Revelation 16:18-20; 19:17-21.

[skyblue888]

Part 7

At the time of the fifth plague, "A dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. THE ANGRY MULTITUDES ARE SUDDENLY ARRESTED. Their mocking cries die away (this is the drying up of the River Euphrates proper). The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness...

"The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception...

"The multitudes (waters of Rev.17:15, River Euphrates of these last days) are filled with fury. 'We are lost!' they cry, 'and you are the cause of our ruin,' and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords that were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed." The Great Controversy, pp.636,635,654,655.

This is the judgment of the great whore at the time of the drying up of her support. This is the "angel of death" of Ezekiel 9.

The prophet Daniel spoke of this in those words: "He--the king of the north-- shall come to his end, and no one shall help him." Daniel 11:45.

This is the complete and final drying up of the River Euphrates followed by the great earthquake and hail (seventh last plague) which brings the total destruction of Babylon the Great and this prepares the way for Christ to return with ten thousands of His saints! Jude 14; Ezekiel 43:2.

These are the true Kings of the East!

[Pickle]

Since (a) no one in John's day would have had any question that the woman named Babylon sitting on the 7 mountains was the city of Rome, (b) Rome was ruled by 7 legendary kings before the republic was founded, but really there was an 8th, and (c) in John's day Rome's walls surrounded 7 hills, 5 of which were officially called mountains, but the Vatican, an 8th, was added later on the other side of the Tiber from the other 7, I favor the Protestant reformation view, that the 7 heads are 7 heads of state within Rome.

1. Consuls.
2. Dictators.
3. Military tribunes with consular power.
4. Decemvirs.
5. Triumvirs.
6. Emperors.
7. Popes.

Note that in John's day the first 5 were already fallen. I think a solid point is that the 5 have to be fallen in John's day, or else we have no solid way to date when the 5 are fallen.

The popes filled the office of Pontifex Maximus, which during the Dark Ages was the head of state of the Roman beast. Since Rev. 12 says that the devil has a short time after the cross, which short time is now almost 2000 years long, I don't think there is a problem with saying that the 7th lasts a short time.

The beast which is an 8th would be a revival of Republicanism in the end of time, which corresponds to the first 5 heads of the beast, and thus is of the 7, though a separate 8th. Joseph Bates viewed the scarlet beast as a revival of the Roman Republic.

Since there are no crowns on the horns or heads of the scarlet beast, similar to the 2nd beast of Rev. 13, what we see here is a confederacy of republics and democracies in the end of time that will give their power, strength, and kingdom to the papacy, which is symbolized by the woman of Rev. 17.

[hch]

1 hour ago, 8thdaypriest said:

SEE- I don't buy that one - that the USA is the beast from "the land".  That's EGW, many of whose interpretations I seriously doubt.

Mrs. White died in  1915, 30-years before the USA fire bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. History speaks well for her prophetic understanding on this point.

1 hour ago, 8thdaypriest said:

I do see the "eagle's wings" on the "lion" as the USA. 

So you partially see the USA. That is progressive.

1 hour ago, 8thdaypriest said:

All four beasts of Daniel Chapter 7 are END TIME. 

Now the paradox. Daniel saw the 4-beasts arise from the earth. But Heaven explained them:

"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth" (Daniel 7:17), which according to White's view of the earth makes them American Presidents.

And from Daniel's writing style, he narrates and then he pauses to explain something that led up to what he had just said.

Christian regards

[hch]

50 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

The lamb-like beast from "the land"

8thday

From my study, the first beast in Rev 13 is the papacy: Popes Pius XI through Benedict xvi.

Then the second (earth-beast) is from the USA. It is identifiable because it rained fire from heaven in WWII; and it rained fire (American drone fire) during the reign of Benedict XVI as the first beast transitions to GW (the first horn) and BO (the second horn).

Christian regards

[hch]

38 minutes ago, skyblue888 said:

Revelation 17 gives us a complete picture of the history of this world reaching all the way from ancient Babylon to the drying up of the River Euphrates after the close of probation prior to the return of Jesus in the "clouds" of Heaven.

Skyblue888,

Does Rev. 17 give us a complete pic of ancient Babylon? Or does Rev 17 repeat the history of ancient Babylon to depict endtime events?

39 minutes ago, skyblue888 said:

Therefore, the waters, the beast, and the kings of the earth are three different symbols representing the same thing

That makes no sense as it has been presented

Christian regards

[JoeMo]

"40 minutes ago, hch said:

But please show the reason why a woman wearing an Atlanta Braves ball cap has to be the Atlanta Braves just because she has their name on her head - it's on the cap on her head.

 ^"The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great; the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." (Rev. 17:5)

Since when is a forehead equivalent to a hat?  I could see your point if scripture said "name written on her crown".  If the writing is a tattoo on her forehead, it sounds like an identification mark to me.

1 hour ago, hch said:

I have given my presentation to show how Bible prophecy predicted that Pope Benedict would not be pope in 2013 from a study of Rev 17.

I don't recall seeing any explicit  bible verses to back up your assertions.  I just see your assertions.

[hch]

43 minutes ago, skyblue888 said:

"In the seventeenth of Revelation is foretold the destruction of all the CHURCHES--Rev.17:1-4 quoted--who corrupt themselves by idolatrous devotion to the service of the papacy, those who have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." E.G.White, Bible Commentary, vol.7, p.983.

This is a keeper thanks for sharing it. But the majority of the 5 posts that you shared that I have read so far is lacking in evidence.

Christian regards