‘Day 301

Revelation does not tell us the exact identity of the 10 kingdoms that will give their authority to the beast in the end. We have seen that the number in the past has been applied to the descendants of the Iron kingdom (Rome). All we can derive from the text is that they are a short-lived political confederacy appearing right before the end and supporting the harlot. Their number signifies that the world powers will render total, unwavering allegiance to the beast.

Rev.17:13-14 reiterates, in a nutshell, the battle of Armageddon – introduced in Rev.16:12-16. Induced by miracle-working demonic powers in conjunction with the dragon, the sea beast, and the false prophet, the worldwide political confederacy will make war with the Lamb. In other words, the battle of Armageddon is not a military battle in the Middle East but the final conflict of the Second Coming in which satan and his confederacy fight against Christ and His angelic host.

Eventually, the ten horns, which are the successor powers to the divided nations of Europe, filled with hatred, suddenly turn against the harlot Babylon, making her desolate and naked; they symbolically will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. In writing about what will happen to the harlot Babylon, John employs language similar to what God said would happen to adulterous Jerusalem (Jer.4:30). Burning by fire was the punishment for a priest’s daughter who was involved in sexual immorality (Lev.21:9). The deceived political powers have become disillusioned because of the inability of Babylon to protect them from the plagues. They feel deceived and, in hostility, attack her. This end-time apostate religious system, together with all those who choose to identify themselves with it, experience the fullness of divine judgment.

The multiple symbols of Revelations end time merge into 3 great, worldwide alliances that take place in the following arenas: 1) Religion – a bewildering array of images are used to describe (on careful analysis) the same thing. 2) Government or secular/ political powers forming alliances. These are also described in various ways to depict the same thing, and 3) the collective body of God’s people (not a denomination.) These are also described by various images.