Identifying Empires
The identification of 7 historical empires used by Satan to accomplish his strategic purposes has been a central focus in this series of posts. In 3 different visions recorded in Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 17, John references a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns.
As the symbolism and significance of these heads and horns are revealed in the light of the prophetic Scriptures, the darkness that enshrouds Satan’s evil and mysterious strategy is dispelled.
To this point, we have identified the first 7 heads depicted on the dragon. In this post, my intent is to present what I believe Scripture reveals concerning the identity of the 8th and final beast empire of the future Antichrist.
The towering importance of this identification cannot be overstated as the world rockets toward the events of the Last Days, the rise of Satan’s end-time empire, and the triumphant return of Jesus, the Messiah.
First, however, we must briefly review the foundational issues essential to a proper identification of the final beast empire.
Immediately after Adam and Eve succumbed to the seduction and treachery of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, God pronounced a curse upon Satan. The Seed of the woman would one day bruise (crush) the serpent’s head.
From the moment of God’s declaration against Satan, the obsession of the Wicked One has been to destroy the vessel (the nation) through which the Promised Seed (Jesus Christ) would be born to bring redemption to humanity.
This sovereignly chosen nation is Israel; therefore, Satan has relentlessly targeted the woman (Israel) through history as well as the Seed to whom she gave birth more than 2,000 years ago. Seven different historic empires, along with their associated kings, have been unwitting pawns in the scheme of Satan in his effort to annihilate or assimilate the Jews.
The identification of 7 historical empires used by Satan to accomplish his strategic purposes has been a central focus in this series of posts. In 3 different visions recorded in Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 17, John references a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns.
As the symbolism and significance of these heads and horns are revealed in the light of the prophetic Scriptures, the darkness that enshrouds Satan’s evil and mysterious strategy is dispelled.
To this point, we have identified the first 7 heads depicted on the dragon. In this post, my intent is to present what I believe Scripture reveals concerning the identity of the 8th and final beast empire of the future Antichrist.
The towering importance of this identification cannot be overstated as the world rockets toward the events of the Last Days, the rise of Satan’s end-time empire, and the triumphant return of Jesus, the Messiah.
First, however, we must briefly review the foundational issues essential to a proper identification of the final beast empire.
Immediately after Adam and Eve succumbed to the seduction and treachery of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, God pronounced a curse upon Satan. The Seed of the woman would one day bruise (crush) the serpent’s head.
From the moment of God’s declaration against Satan, the obsession of the Wicked One has been to destroy the vessel (the nation) through which the Promised Seed (Jesus Christ) would be born to bring redemption to humanity.
This sovereignly chosen nation is Israel; therefore, Satan has relentlessly targeted the woman (Israel) through history as well as the Seed to whom she gave birth more than 2,000 years ago. Seven different historic empires, along with their associated kings, have been unwitting pawns in the scheme of Satan in his effort to annihilate or assimilate the Jews.
The Sequence of the 7 Empires
One of the key Scripture passages essential in the quest to identify these 7n empires is Revelation 17:9-10:
One of the key Scripture passages essential in the quest to identify these 7n empires is Revelation 17:9-10:
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains [kingdoms/empires], on which the woman [the mysterious harlot of Babylon] sitteth. And there are seven kings, five are fallen [Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece], and one is, [Rome, which was the empire in power at the time of John’s vision], and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”
Based on Scripture and the chronological narrative of history, it seems clear the 7th empire in the list – the “other” that was “not yet come” at the time of John’s writing – was the Ottoman Caliphate. I believe it best fits the biblical criteria. In the previous article I detailed 4 key factors essential for making this determination.
1. The Chronology of Empires: The 7th kingdom had not yet risen to power in John’s day. Since Rome was ruling at the time of John’s writing, the potential candidates are restricted to the empires that ruled over the land of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, after the fall of the Roman Empire.
2. The Continuity of Empires: The first 6 empires were successive, rising one after the other, without interruption. Egypt rose to power and was defeated by the Assyrians. In turn, Assyria fell to the Babylonians. The Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medo-Persians. The Medo-Persian Empire succumbed to the hand of Alexander the Great as the Grecian Empire rose to power.
The Greeks then fell to the Romans. Emperor Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) and renamed it Constantinople. Thus, when the Ottoman Empire rose to power and conquered Constantinople, it brought the Roman Empire to an end.
3. The Natural Grouping of the First 7 Empires: In John’s description, he uses very few words when alluding to the 7th empire. It’s as if he assumes his readers will understand the natural progression from the first 6 to the 7th empire. In this regard, it seems he is grouping these first 7 together due to their similar nature.
1. The Chronology of Empires: The 7th kingdom had not yet risen to power in John’s day. Since Rome was ruling at the time of John’s writing, the potential candidates are restricted to the empires that ruled over the land of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, after the fall of the Roman Empire.
2. The Continuity of Empires: The first 6 empires were successive, rising one after the other, without interruption. Egypt rose to power and was defeated by the Assyrians. In turn, Assyria fell to the Babylonians. The Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medo-Persians. The Medo-Persian Empire succumbed to the hand of Alexander the Great as the Grecian Empire rose to power.
The Greeks then fell to the Romans. Emperor Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) and renamed it Constantinople. Thus, when the Ottoman Empire rose to power and conquered Constantinople, it brought the Roman Empire to an end.
3. The Natural Grouping of the First 7 Empires: In John’s description, he uses very few words when alluding to the 7th empire. It’s as if he assumes his readers will understand the natural progression from the first 6 to the 7th empire. In this regard, it seems he is grouping these first 7 together due to their similar nature.
The Ottoman Caliphate, as the 7th, fits neatly within the grouping of the previous 6. In contrast, the 8th empire – the empire of the Antichrist – is distinct and set apart from the previous 7 empires.
4. The Geographic Relationship of the First 7 Empires: The territorial areas controlled by the Islamic Ottoman Empire at the height of its power have a consistent geographic relationship with the previous 6 empires. Essentially, any empire outside of the geographic region of the Middle East would seem to be an unlikely candidate for the 7th empire.
All of this brings us to the threshold of identifying the 8th and final beast empire. This will be the empire of Satan’s last stand at the end of this age as he seeks to wrest control of planet Earth from the Creator of the Universe.
Satan will empower his progeny, the Antichrist, to rule over it. With dominating power and ferocious brutality, the detestable dictator of this final beast empire will trample Earth with a vengeance.
Read the precise words of the Apostle John regarding the mysterious identity of this future empire:
4. The Geographic Relationship of the First 7 Empires: The territorial areas controlled by the Islamic Ottoman Empire at the height of its power have a consistent geographic relationship with the previous 6 empires. Essentially, any empire outside of the geographic region of the Middle East would seem to be an unlikely candidate for the 7th empire.
All of this brings us to the threshold of identifying the 8th and final beast empire. This will be the empire of Satan’s last stand at the end of this age as he seeks to wrest control of planet Earth from the Creator of the Universe.
Satan will empower his progeny, the Antichrist, to rule over it. With dominating power and ferocious brutality, the detestable dictator of this final beast empire will trample Earth with a vengeance.
Read the precise words of the Apostle John regarding the mysterious identity of this future empire:
“And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (Revelation 17:11).
The essence of what John reveals is this: The beast that existed before – that is no longer in existence – will emerge again as an 8th empire from the previous 7 – and will eventually be consigned to judgment.
How should we interpret these mysterious words? Allow me to draw your attention to the phrase, “and is of the seven.” It is this phrase that holds the key to understanding the deeper significance of this passage, yet it has confounded students of Scripture for centuries.
I too have personally wrestled with the intended meaning of this phrase. Until recently, I would unassumingly insert the word “one” into the phrase and read it this way:
OPTION 1: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is [one] of the seven.”
Reading the word “one” into the text in this manner leads to the conclusion that only one of the beast’s 7 heads [that is, one of the previous empires] will be revived as an 8th and final empire.
Many students of biblical prophecy are familiar with a prevalent interpretation that holds to the idea that the 8th and final beast empire will be “a revived Roman Empire.” This idea stems from what I believe to be a misunderstanding of Daniel’s vision of the 4 beasts recorded in Daniel 7.
However, this conclusion should be understood that when this interpretation is viewed in conjunction with the phrase under our consideration here in Revelation 17, it results in a flawed conclusion – that the 8th and final beast empire of the Antichrist is Rome – and thus, it will be the one empire that will “come back to life” before the return of Jesus Christ.
How should we interpret these mysterious words? Allow me to draw your attention to the phrase, “and is of the seven.” It is this phrase that holds the key to understanding the deeper significance of this passage, yet it has confounded students of Scripture for centuries.
I too have personally wrestled with the intended meaning of this phrase. Until recently, I would unassumingly insert the word “one” into the phrase and read it this way:
OPTION 1: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is [one] of the seven.”
Reading the word “one” into the text in this manner leads to the conclusion that only one of the beast’s 7 heads [that is, one of the previous empires] will be revived as an 8th and final empire.
Many students of biblical prophecy are familiar with a prevalent interpretation that holds to the idea that the 8th and final beast empire will be “a revived Roman Empire.” This idea stems from what I believe to be a misunderstanding of Daniel’s vision of the 4 beasts recorded in Daniel 7.
However, this conclusion should be understood that when this interpretation is viewed in conjunction with the phrase under our consideration here in Revelation 17, it results in a flawed conclusion – that the 8th and final beast empire of the Antichrist is Rome – and thus, it will be the one empire that will “come back to life” before the return of Jesus Christ.
There is also another way in which to view the phrase under consideration in Revelation 17:11; and that is to read the verse in the following manner:
OPTION 2: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the [seventh].”
Reading the text in this way leads to the conclusion that the 8th and final beast empire of the Antichrist will be a revival of the 7th empire, which would mean that the Ottoman Caliphate would be the exclusive empire that re-emerges in the Last Days.
Though I am not unbendable on this issue, I believe both miss the sobering reality of John’s words. It is not simply “one” of the former beast empires that will rise again to power in the Last Days. And it is not exclusively the “seventh” (the Ottoman Empire) that will rise again.
It is “all seven” of the previous beast empires that will be revived to collectively form the empire of the Antichrist.
Look again at the initial part of John’s words while keeping in mind that John, when seeing this vision, had already been taken to a future point in time to witness this epic scene. As you read his words carefully, it becomes clear John is describing what he sees from an end-time vantage point:
OPTION 3: “And the beast that was [referring back to the entire beast with its 7 former historic empires], and is not [affirming that the reign of all 7 empires has ended], even he [the entire 7-headed beast] is the eighth, and is [comprised] of [all] the [previous] seven.”
If this is the intended meaning of John’s words – and I believe it is – then a sobering reality must be understood.
The 8th and final beast empire of Satan will not simply be the re-emergence of the Egyptian, or the Assyrian, or the Babylonian, or the Medo-Persian, or the Greek, or the Roman, or the Ottoman Empire. It will be an earth-shaking, simultaneous revival of them all! The implications for the nation of Israel, for Christians, and for humanity are staggering.
OPTION 2: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the [seventh].”
Reading the text in this way leads to the conclusion that the 8th and final beast empire of the Antichrist will be a revival of the 7th empire, which would mean that the Ottoman Caliphate would be the exclusive empire that re-emerges in the Last Days.
Though I am not unbendable on this issue, I believe both miss the sobering reality of John’s words. It is not simply “one” of the former beast empires that will rise again to power in the Last Days. And it is not exclusively the “seventh” (the Ottoman Empire) that will rise again.
It is “all seven” of the previous beast empires that will be revived to collectively form the empire of the Antichrist.
Look again at the initial part of John’s words while keeping in mind that John, when seeing this vision, had already been taken to a future point in time to witness this epic scene. As you read his words carefully, it becomes clear John is describing what he sees from an end-time vantage point:
OPTION 3: “And the beast that was [referring back to the entire beast with its 7 former historic empires], and is not [affirming that the reign of all 7 empires has ended], even he [the entire 7-headed beast] is the eighth, and is [comprised] of [all] the [previous] seven.”
If this is the intended meaning of John’s words – and I believe it is – then a sobering reality must be understood.
The 8th and final beast empire of Satan will not simply be the re-emergence of the Egyptian, or the Assyrian, or the Babylonian, or the Medo-Persian, or the Greek, or the Roman, or the Ottoman Empire. It will be an earth-shaking, simultaneous revival of them all! The implications for the nation of Israel, for Christians, and for humanity are staggering.
Living in the Gap Between the 7th and 8th Beast Empires
For nearly 4,000 years Satan has empowered these 7 beast empires in the Middle East to persecute the Jews and dominate Jerusalem. This all came to an end in 1922 when the last of the 7 beast empires fell from power with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
The year 2022 marked the 100th year since the world entered the period of time referenced by John when he said, “And the beast that was … is not …” What this means for us today is that we are living in the period of the “is not.”
This is the gap in time between the 7th and 8th empires. But in the near future, the world will enter the time that corresponds to what John terms, “… yet is,” when the entire beast comes back to life.
As I previously explained, the rise and fall of the first 7 empires were all consecutive and uninterrupted. So why is there now a gap in time between the 7th and 8th beast empires?
In the providence of God, something else of major significance took place in 1922. The Balfour Declaration was formally approved by the newly created League of Nations and ratified by treaty at the San Remo conference.
The famous document called for a national home for the Jewish people in what was then referred to as “Palestine” (their ancient historic homeland) and was the legal impetus for the eventual rise of the modern Jewish state.
However, over the next decade a madman by the name of Adolf Hitler rose to power and began his ruthless, satanically- inspired campaign against the Jews, where he systematically murdered more than 6 million Jewish people.
For nearly 4,000 years Satan has empowered these 7 beast empires in the Middle East to persecute the Jews and dominate Jerusalem. This all came to an end in 1922 when the last of the 7 beast empires fell from power with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
The year 2022 marked the 100th year since the world entered the period of time referenced by John when he said, “And the beast that was … is not …” What this means for us today is that we are living in the period of the “is not.”
This is the gap in time between the 7th and 8th empires. But in the near future, the world will enter the time that corresponds to what John terms, “… yet is,” when the entire beast comes back to life.
As I previously explained, the rise and fall of the first 7 empires were all consecutive and uninterrupted. So why is there now a gap in time between the 7th and 8th beast empires?
In the providence of God, something else of major significance took place in 1922. The Balfour Declaration was formally approved by the newly created League of Nations and ratified by treaty at the San Remo conference.
The famous document called for a national home for the Jewish people in what was then referred to as “Palestine” (their ancient historic homeland) and was the legal impetus for the eventual rise of the modern Jewish state.
However, over the next decade a madman by the name of Adolf Hitler rose to power and began his ruthless, satanically- inspired campaign against the Jews, where he systematically murdered more than 6 million Jewish people.
It is impossible to fathom such horror apart from seeing the larger narrative of Satan’s strategy against the Jews.
But once again, through God’s sovereign providence, something of wondrous importance arose from the tears and ashes of the Holocaust. In fulfillment of biblical prophecy, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn after her people had wandered the earth in exile for nearly 2,000 years.
In 1948, Israel declared her independence as a nation – and was immediately forced to fight for her survival. Then in 1967, through a miraculous series of military battles, the Jews regained control of their ancient capital, Jerusalem.
This gap in time between the 7th and 8th empires, however, is also being utilized by Satan to prepare for one last stand against God, His Chosen People, and the faithful Church.
In the plan and program of God, Jesus Christ will ultimately emerge victorious over Satan and his minions. But at present, Satan’s 7 ancient empires are also re-growing and re-forming. They are rising, once again, to take center stage on Earth.
But once again, through God’s sovereign providence, something of wondrous importance arose from the tears and ashes of the Holocaust. In fulfillment of biblical prophecy, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn after her people had wandered the earth in exile for nearly 2,000 years.
In 1948, Israel declared her independence as a nation – and was immediately forced to fight for her survival. Then in 1967, through a miraculous series of military battles, the Jews regained control of their ancient capital, Jerusalem.
This gap in time between the 7th and 8th empires, however, is also being utilized by Satan to prepare for one last stand against God, His Chosen People, and the faithful Church.
In the plan and program of God, Jesus Christ will ultimately emerge victorious over Satan and his minions. But at present, Satan’s 7 ancient empires are also re-growing and re-forming. They are rising, once again, to take center stage on Earth.
Modern Day Equivalents
Today, each of these 7 empires are embodied in a modern-day equivalent with the exception of Assyria. The ancient Egyptian empire is obviously one-and-the-same as the nation that bears its name today, Egypt. Babylon today is Iraq. Medo-Persia equates to Iran.
Greece is a little more challenging at first glance. But remember that after the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek (Hellenistic) Empire was divided among his 4 generals. The most important of the 4 in relation to Israel was the Seleucid Dynasty to the north of Israel.
Antiochus Epiphanes, who hailed from Syria, attempted to assimilate the Jews into the Greek Hellenistic culture, religion, and philosophy before he attacked Jerusalem, desecrated the Temple, and demanded the worship of himself in the form of Zeus on the Temple Mount.
In terms of the 5th empire used by Satan against Israel, it is clear that the Greek Hellenistic Empire equates to Syria.
Regarding Rome, consider that Emperor Constantine moved the capital of Rome to Byzantium, and renamed it Constantinople. What historians label as the Byzantine Empire was, in reality, the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East. And its capital city was what we know today as Istanbul. In terms of the 6th empire, it is clear that Rome equates to Turkey.
The Ottoman Islamic Caliphate covered a large swath of territory spanning much of the Middle East. As the 7th empire, it equates to many of today’s Middle Eastern nations.
However, it also correlates with Sunni political Islam embodied in a growing transnational organization, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Today, each of these 7 empires are embodied in a modern-day equivalent with the exception of Assyria. The ancient Egyptian empire is obviously one-and-the-same as the nation that bears its name today, Egypt. Babylon today is Iraq. Medo-Persia equates to Iran.
Greece is a little more challenging at first glance. But remember that after the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek (Hellenistic) Empire was divided among his 4 generals. The most important of the 4 in relation to Israel was the Seleucid Dynasty to the north of Israel.
Antiochus Epiphanes, who hailed from Syria, attempted to assimilate the Jews into the Greek Hellenistic culture, religion, and philosophy before he attacked Jerusalem, desecrated the Temple, and demanded the worship of himself in the form of Zeus on the Temple Mount.
In terms of the 5th empire used by Satan against Israel, it is clear that the Greek Hellenistic Empire equates to Syria.
Regarding Rome, consider that Emperor Constantine moved the capital of Rome to Byzantium, and renamed it Constantinople. What historians label as the Byzantine Empire was, in reality, the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East. And its capital city was what we know today as Istanbul. In terms of the 6th empire, it is clear that Rome equates to Turkey.
The Ottoman Islamic Caliphate covered a large swath of territory spanning much of the Middle East. As the 7th empire, it equates to many of today’s Middle Eastern nations.
However, it also correlates with Sunni political Islam embodied in a growing transnational organization, the Muslim Brotherhood.
I believe it is entirely possible that within our lifetime, we may see these 7 unite to form the 8th and final beast empire of the Antichrist – exactly as the Apostle John saw in his vision.
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea [out of the nations], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Revelation 13:1).
In light of this sobering reality, I encourage you to rest in the comforting words of John as recorded in another New Testament book that bears his name:
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:3-4).
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
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