REVELATION 17:7,9,12,13:
7 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.
9 And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
12 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.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
INTRODUCTION
The apostle John wrote this Book of revelation by divine direction to record a vision he had experienced, just as the prophet Daniel did several centuries before as recorded in the Bible's Book of Daniel. The Book of Revelation is really a sequel to the Book of Daniel which should be read first for a better appreciation of Revelation. Daniel's vision was experienced several centuries earlier during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews and before the rise of the Greek Empire. St. John’s vision was experienced after the fall of the Greek Empire and during the era of the Roman Empire. It confirms the prefiguration of a European empire in the end time by describing a similar beast for the future. Specific verses describing this beast are quoted below for ease of reference.
THE BEAST AND THE WOMAN
Since the beast of Revelation has heads that represent kings, it can be readily deduced that the beast itself represents a kingdom, as were the beasts of the Book of Daniel that represented kingdoms that ruled over Babylonia. In addition, this beast of Revelation incorporates the features of all four of the beasts of Daniel meaning that it will have all the characteristics represented by each. One of its cities will also have the characteristic of Babylon symbolized by the woman sitting on the beast with the name Babylon the Great, mother of harlotries and the abominations of the earth. Babylonia and the kingdoms that ruled over it were particularly noted for their idolatries that were an abomination to God. In Christian tradition the harlot or prostitute symbolizes idolatry (Ezekiel 23 and Isaiah 57:7-8). This symbolism would then indicate that the woman sitting on the beast represents an idolatrous city that rests upon the seven hills represented by the beast’s seven heads.
SEVEN HILLS OF ROME
A city resting on seven hills represented by the beast’s seven heads would in all probability be a capital, as the word “capital” comes from the Latin word “capitalis” meaning “head”. Further, it would be the capital of the kingdom represented by the beast. It can also be said that the capital of this kingdom is indicated to be the city of Rome. This city was built on seven hills, ruled over the kings of the earth, and was responsible for the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. She killed almost 63 million Protestants during the most un-holy inquisition of the "Dark Ages". Brother Branham said and I quote him, "Show me one city in the world that's reigning over the kings of the earth, and in any way that you want to, outside of the Catholic hierarchy in Rome, setting on seven hills. She's setting on seven hills, clothed in scarlet, decked the richest in the world. There she is, the Roman Catholic Church". "Now, there's not no need of pushing around; we know that is the Catholic hierarchy. There's no need of anybody... I--I believe that just as firm as I believe that I have receive the Holy Spirit. I believe that just as good as I believe that I'm a Christian standing here today, that that Catholic hierarchy is the--the... The Vatican city is the city that sets on the seven hills. The hierarchy of the church is the beast which was, which is not, and she's Babylon. It's everything pictured just exactly, just perfectly all the way through the Scriptures... the Catholic church." (WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927 )
MYSTERY BABYLON
Religious Babylon is Rome, the great harlot. In the Bible, harlotry stands for false gods, false worship, false religion, and false devotion. It stand for idolatry. A person commits spiritual harlotry or prostitution when he follows an earthly religion through its rituals, ceremonies, and creeds and dogmas, instead of following Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. Religious Babylon sits upon many waters, that's peoples, multitudes and nations. Many races and multitudes and nations and languages are caught up under the "wine" of her spiritual fornication. This false religion of the end time is extremely wealthy. That is what is meant by the purple and scarlet clothing and the gold and precious stones and pearls which none else but the Vatican possess. Rome almost owns the gold of the world. "Religious Babylon" is undoubtedly the Roman Catholic Church. She has enticed the people of the earth under her "spell", and in her was found the "blood of the martyrs of Jesus".
The beast is none other but Rome. Rome’s seven heads also represent seven kings. When Revelation was first written, five of these kings had already reigned, the sixth was reigning, and the seventh was yet to come; but his reign will be short. The comment that the sixth king was reigning at the time of the Revelation vision serves to further identify the beast. He would have been reigning in “the great city that has kingship over the kings of the earth.” Such was the case for the city of Rome at that time. It was also idolatrous and had such great influence that even then could be considered as “Babylon the Great”. An idolatrous Roman Church can then be envisioned as the "woman" resting on the "beast" in the end time as well.
ROMAN EMPERORS
The seven heads of the beast are also said to represent seven Roman emperors. Five of them are said to be fallen. They are Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. The year of Nero's death is 68. The text goes on to say "One is", namely, Vespasian (70–79). He is the sixth emperor. The seventh "is not yet come. But when he comes his reign will be short." Titus is meant, who reigned but two years (79–81). The eighth emperor is Domitian (81–96); he is identified with the beast. He is described as the one that "was and is not and shall come up out of the bottomless pit" (xvii, 8). In verse 11 it is added: "And the beast which was and is not: the same also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction." It was after the reign of this eighth emperor that pagan Imperial Rome shifted to Papal Rome. The people of the world will “wonder” and be surprised at the reappearance of this "emperor" after being dead. His power is resurrected in the form of the papacy. The mortal wound that Imperial Rome suffered has been healed and had put on a new look in the form of the papacy. The pope is both a king and a spiritual leader ruling the Vatican, which is an autonomous nation within the nation of Italy. He is one "which is, which is not; and yet he is, and is not; yet he is, and is not". What is it? It's a "succession of popes".
Here's a direct quote from Brother Branham, the prophet of God, regarding the "pope" as a king:
"Now watch, listen to this just a minute. "Five kings, which it was fallen, five kings." If you want that on--on--from the history, I'll show it to you. "And one is, and one's to come." Now watch, "the beast." Now, the beast wasn't a king. He was one which is, which is not; and yet he is, and is not; yet he is, and is not. What is it? Succession of the popes, a power, a beast ruling. That's when pagan Rome was converted to make papal Rome. Pagan Rome was converted, and then it become the papacy, which, they had a pope in the stead of a king, and the pope is the spiritual king. That's the reason he's a crowned spiritual king, claims to be the vicar of Jesus Christ. There you are." (WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927 )
THE TEN HORNS
According to Strong's Hebrew lexicon, the first meaning of "horn" is as a symbol of "power". Horns in the Bible, represent "powers" and "kings" with kingdoms. The ten horns in the above Scriptures refer to ten powerful nations that will be under Rome's control in the end time, specifically during the Tribulation Period. The beast’s ten horns with crowns represent ten kings who had not yet risen to power. They will be appointed as kings for a brief moment to reign with the end time "pope-king" as allies, and will give their power and authority to him to control the world's religion, politics, economy and military. The pope will have the power of these ten nations to support him in enforcing the agenda of a one-world religion and a one-world government.
Rome will propose a very enticing scheme to the world seemingly of a worthy cause to promote global peace, speed-up socio-economic recovery, to counter terrorism, and to promote worldwide harmony among all nations, just to get the cooperation of the whole world. Apparently, when Pope John Paul-11 was still alive, he had gone to Israel in April of 2000 to meet with the Jewish Rabbis and the Muslim world asking them for reconciliation and to make ready for the great gathering and consolidation of political, religious and economic forces of the world. Today, Pope Benedict XVI is working hard for this "inevitable unity" among Catholics, Protestants, Mohammedans, and all to set up the final stage of the great apostasy.
TEN MAGNUM REGIONS OF THE WORLD
Majority of the people in the world today are unaware that our world was already divided into TEN (10) MAGNUM REGIONS which are referred to as 'kingdoms'. Some forty-five years ago, the United Nations formulated the charter and by gradual process of regionalization, they have outlined the eventual regionalization of the planet today. UN was successful in moving and placing nations through regionalization into a future one-world government. The ten magnum regions are divided as follows:
REGION 1 - U.S.A, Canada and Mexico
REGION 2 - Western Europe
REGION 3 - Japan
REGION 4 - Australia and New Zealand
REGION 5 - Eastern Europe
REGION 6 - Latin America
REGION 7 - North Africa and Middle East
REGION 8 - Mainland Africa
REGION 9 - North and southeast Asia
REGION 10- Central Asia
David Rockefeller one time addressed the Council of Foreign Relations conference delegates and said, "We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right man for the crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order. Dr. Henry Spaak, former secretary general of the NATO, once said, "What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiances of all people and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man. And he be God or Devil, we will receive him."
ONE WORLD CONSTITUTION
Of course and obviously, the first thing that the new political order will have to do is to adopt a new constitution for the world, in order that it can legally force its will upon the people of the magum regions. A world constitution has now been drafted for that purpose by the World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA) in Lakewood, Colorado. It is called the "Constitution for the Federation of the Earth". (For your copy, write to WCPA, 1480 Hoyt St., Suite 31, Lake Colorado 80215 USA (Enclose US$ 10).
This Constitution for the Federation of the Earth was first adopted during a meeting of the World Constituent Assembly in June 1977 at Innsbruck, Austria. The document was signed by approximately 135 participants from twenty-five countries and is intended to replace the U.N. Charter to become the centerpiece of the New World Order. Dr. Kurt Koch, professor, writes that his assessment of the coming New World Order under the United Nations will reduce everything to ONE common denominator - "The system will be made up of single currency, single language, single political system, single world court of justice, single head, and single state religion. Any one who refuses to take part in this universal system will have no right to exist."
Today, there is a move to transfer the United Nations to Jerusalem, making Jerusalem as the central pivotal point for the historic One World Religion and the One World Government. When that thing happens, the pope will make Jerusalem as his headquarters. He will make a pact with the Jews, with the support of the U.S. and the World Council of Churches, in that international city. Once the pope sits and takes over the temple worship in Israel, it will fulfill II Thessalonians 2:3-4 which says: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first and that MAN of SIN be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God...”
Brother Branham saw these events even in the early sixties, and said, "For the church system of the Roman Catholic and the Protestant in coming together will control the whole wealth of the world system and force the whole earth into its religious trap, or will kill them, by refusing them the privilege of buying and selling whereby they would make a living. This will be accomplished simply, for the harlot's daughters are all but gone back to her. In the meantime, Rome has acquired nearly all the supplies of gold. The Jews have the bonds and all the paper. At the right time, the harlot will destroy the present day money system by calling in all the paper, and demanding gold. With no gold, the system falls. The Jews will be trapped and come into the alliance, and the harlot church will take over the whole world. ( 314-1 PHILADELPHIAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.8)
"Now, when he gets the money all under control, then he will break this covenant with the Jews, as Daniel here said he would do it, in the midst of the last half of the seventy weeks of Daniel. And then, brother, what will he do? He will have all of the world trade and the commerce, a pact with the world, 'cause he will hold the wealth of the world completely. And during that time, them two prophets will rise on the scene and call that hundred and forty-four thousand. Then what will take place? Then the mark of the beast of Revelations 13 will set in, 'cause he holds all the commerce, trade and everything of the world. And what will take place then? The mark of the beast will come in that no man can buy or sell except him that has the mark of the beast. Thank God, the Church will be enjoying a great three and a half years in glory. Don't have to go through that." (THE.FIRST.SEAL_ JEFF.IN MONDAY_ 63-0318)
TEN DICTATORS WILL BOMB THE VATICAN
After Rome gets the wealth of the Jews after the three-and-a-half years of Tribulation Period, she will break her pact of peace with Israel and the world, and will subject all people under her iron-clad rulership. She will persecute Israel's 144,000 Christian Jews and will kill their prophets, Moses and Elijah, which are the two olive trees of Revelation chapter 11. Rome will kill them and leave their dead bodies on the streets of Jerusalem (Read Rev. 11:3-12). All nations will have to take the mark of the beast and obey the pope or be at his mercy. The beast shall dominate the whole world for three and one-half years, during which time its rule will be more brutal than any before it. It will defy the Most High God, persecute all people, and try to change all law and custom. God’s faithful (the foolish virgins) will be helpless in its hands. But not everybody will be happy about it. The ten heads or ten kings from these ten regions of the worlds that gave their support to Rome will turn to communism and will hate the whore, Rome, and will destroy her with their nuclear weapons. This event is plainly prophesied in the following verses:
REVELATION 17:16-18
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Here are some outstanding prophetic quotes from Brother Branham regarding this issue:
"Now watch, "They have one mind, give their power." I'm below that now. "The ten horns..." Yes, now.
For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will,... (There you go.)... and to agree, and give their kingdoms unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. Now, And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which reigns over all the kings of the earth.
Now, there's not no need of pushing around; we know that is the Catholic hierarchy. There's no need of anybody... I--I believe that just as firm as I believe that I have receive the Holy Spirit. I believe that just as good as I believe that I'm a Christian standing here today, that that Catholic hierarchy is the--the... The Vatican city is the city that sets on the seven hills. The hierarchy of the church is the beast which was, which is not, and she's Babylon. It's everything pictured just exactly, just perfectly all the way through the Scriptures... the Catholic church." WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927
"And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings,... (Now watch here. If you want to see something striking, watch this.)... are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. They're not crowned kings; they're dictators. See, they never was crowned king, but they received power as kings one hour in the reign of the beast. That's just in this little shadowy time right now where dictators are rising up (See?), "Received power as king one hour with the beast." Now, all right. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them:... (Glory.)... for he is Lord of lord, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, the chosen, and faithful." WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927
COMMUNISM: A TOOL OF GOD?
"And this great communism--communism move we got today, don't worry about that. That's working exactly into the hands of God. I can prove it by this Bible. He's going to make her suffer for every martyr she ever killed. Yes, sir. You watch these kings all agree together and will hate her. And the whole nation, the whole world sweeping communism. Why, it's got to be a move of God to punish it. You say, "Wait a minute, Brother Branham, communism a move of God?" Absolutely, certainly, it is a move of God. The Bible said so. But it's moving in to pronounce judgment upon a ungodly and disgracefully illegitimate people. What's left in this world? What have we got? Watch that now, these ten horns, these ten kingdoms. See, that's everything falling in, what these dictators are. Watch the way dictators lean to. Where's it leaning to? Just--just look--tell me a dictator that doesn't lean towards communism. See? And they shall what? "Hate the whore," the woman, the church. But watch. Watch what's going to do it.... these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. They'll blow that thing off the map, just as certain as I'm standing here. We just had time to take up that subject there of that church, and run it on down through the Scripture, where It said, read, "all the kings of this earth, and all the shipmasters, and all wail, for great Babylon met her desolation in an hour." One hour, her time had come. And, oh, how he said, "Rejoice, you saints, and all you holy prophets, for God has revenged the blood of the saints and your brethren upon her." See, that's right. Sure, communism playing right into the hands of God. Just like King Nebuchadnezzar played right in the hands, to come take them Jews when they walked away naked. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth,...Pagan Rome brought into papal Rome, when the incarnate antichrist spirit become incarnate and was crowned, he was made a crowned king of Rome, both in state and church together. Oh, brother. See? It's just full of it. See?" WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927
"Tell me one... Russia don't reign over all; we don't reign over all. There's only one king that reigns over every... like that Nebuchadnezzar's iron running out to every one of them toes, that it's Rome. Rome don't do it as a nation; it does it as a church. Every nation under heaven is to Rome. No wonder he said, "Who can make war with him?" He can say "peace" that settles it. Every Catholic says "Don't fight." and he... They don't fight. That's all. Who is able to do what he can do? Nobody. That's right. So they wondered at the miracles he could do. He can stop war. The only thing he has to do is just say, "Stop." That's all. But you think he will do it? Certainly not. And the beast... (Oh. Look at this. Now, the power is going to take the pagan place.) And the beast that was, and is not, even... is the eighth,... (now watch)... and is of the seventh. You all know what a terrible king he was. He hate... He hooked his mother to a single tree of a horse and drug her through the streets, and set the city a fire, and fiddled up on the hill. That's the same kind of a spirit that's dominating the church that sets in the place of pagan. "The eighth, which is of the seventh. And then he is, and is not; and is, and is not; and is, and is not," on down. ... and goeth into perdition. Plumb till the time of the coming of the Lord and he's cast into hell. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdoms as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Oh, if we just had... "Received no power as yet." They're not kings. They didn't have... They ten... The horns didn't have crowns. "They received power like kings." What is it? Dictators; not crowned kings, dictators. Oh, my." THE.SECOND.SEAL_ JEFF.IN TUESDAY_ 63-0319
"I want anybody to tell me, any theologian here or anywhere else, where the Bible ever predicts that Communism will rule the world. Don't you fear Communism; there's nothing to it. It's a bogus thing that God's a-using to chasten the nations with it, chasten the nations. Sure. The Bible says Rome will rule the world. Look at King Nebuchadnezzar, his dream, his vision, Daniel's interpretation, how every one of them's kingdoms and dispensations hit just perfect, and right down to the end there was Rome. So it's going to be Rome. It isn't going to be Communism; they're just--they're just figureheads. That's all. They'll never go nowhere. No, they won't." END.TIME.EVANGELISM.title JEFF.IN V-10 N-5 62-0603
RESTORATION.OF.BRIDE.TREE.title JEFF.IN V-3 N-15 62-0422
"Don't you fear communism; you fear Catholicism."
CONFERENCE.title SHREVEPORT.LA 60-1125
"I predict three curtains. In the Name of the Lord, there's one called the Iron Curtain, which will be Russia. Watch Red China. That'll be the Bamboo Curtain. They're horrible, but watch that Purple Curtain that's rising in the United States and over the world, the Roman Empire, the cruelest of all of them."
PERGAMEAN.CHURCH.AGE.title JEFF.IN ROJC 229-285 60-1207
"The beast was scarlet, but the woman was arrayed in purple. Now, have I not warned you the other day, there's three curtains? I don't know how long I'll live, but remember this. As I've told you many years ago, "Watch Russia."... There's three curtains; remember this. There is the iron curtain. There is the bamboo curtain (Red China and so). And there's a purple curtain; you watch that curtain; that's the deceiver. "
THE DESTRUCTION OF ROME
The final account of the destruction of Rome by a nuclear weapon is stipulated in Revelation Chapter 18. The Bible itself is God's record of this future event:
REVELATION 18:1-24
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
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Mystery Babylon | America in Prophesy | Mark of the Beast
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