The Antichrist
The Dark Prince
By Clarence Andrews
Here is wisdom. He that has understanding let him count the number of the beast: for it is a man's number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:18
The Antichrist is someone you most likely have seen portrayed in movies such as, the omen, and the omega code. But how much do you really know about this antichrist, and how he comes to power; and how does all this affect you as a Christian?
Q. How will the Antichrist come to power?
A. Revelation 13:1 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 horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
A beast rise up out of the sea, meaning that the sea represents the world, and the Antichrist will come to power through political means, during a time when nations are looking for a deliver to bring order to a chaotic system.
Q. Who is the Antichrist?
A. Most scholars believe that the antichrist is a man, and this may be so, but I believe that it is not just a man, but possibly a super computer system and program, that will be unleashed upon the world. Although, this will be a computer system, it will be promoted and sponsored by a man, possibly, the Antichrist, and the false prophet that the scriptures speak of in Revelation13: 11-12, And I saw another beast rising out of the earth; and it had two horns like to a lamb, and spoke as a dragon;
And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before it, and causes the earth and those that dwell in it to do homage to the first beast, whose wound of death was healed. This false prophet lies to the world, and lift’s this system and man up before all the peoples of the earth, that they might recognized and accept this new system of things. but this Antichrist, Satan himself will send, to deceive the whole world one last time.
Over the years I have heard from people who thought that the Antichrist would be a pope. I never gave it much consideration, until now. After reading some research work done by 666beast.net , I can now see how the papacy fit’s in Bible prophecy. I cannot say for sure that this is accurate, but it comes closer than anything else I have studied. So read carefully, and use your bible as a study guide.
A Thesis on Revelation 13: 18 and Revelation 17: 9 -11 and the True Count of the 666 Beast.
By examining the template of prophecy that was written by John the Revelator, and comparing it to the recent historical record of the Catholic church, I see a clear and complete alignment. I ask that all who read this document to examine carefully all the evidence, study the book of Revelation, and watch and pray.
October 16, 1998 marked a major milestone in the continuing developments of the Catholic church; it was the 20th anniversary of pope John Paul II, the longest reigning pope of the 20th century. And the more I look at how the recent Catholic history fits the prophecy, and of what I have written, the more certain I am that it is true. The prophecy appears just like a rubber stamp of the Catholic church's historical record.
From my initial point of inspiration, around 1994-95, in a flash of insight, I perceived that the set of the numbers of the popes, when added up would total somewhere near 666. I then examined the scriptures in regard to what is the wisdom in the counting of the beast whose number is 666. In Rev 13: 18, it reads; "Here is wisdom..."and again in Rev 17: 9; "And here is the mind which hath wisdom..." Both verses are referring to the same beast.
I discerned the approximate values by counting the numbers from what little information I could find, though I knew it would only be an approximation. I sought then from the internet, to see what is the official Catholic position is, in regard to the seven mountains of Revelation 17: 9, and for the official list of the popes and antipopes. This same list of popes has been published in Compton's Encyclopedia, and I presume most sources have this same list. It was after I had started gathering the list of the popes' names that I realized that there are the same number of the names of the popes since 1798 to the present as there are heads and mountains. From this, I knew that if I had the exact information, it would produce the truth. So I was not surprised to see that when I finished the mathematics, it did.
The 666 beast is real.
God denotes His church as a woman and even His bride, but a corrupt church as a whore or harlot. The great whore, Babylon, the mother of harlots, sits on many waters, which are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
The use of the term "mountains" to denote heads, led me to count the numbers of the names of the whole mountain of each head. The first of the seven heads is Pope Pius VII, following the transition that occurred in 1798 at the end of the 1260 year period allotted to the beast's rule over the kings of the earth; the beast "that was, and is not." From 1798, the beast continues; "and yet is," and each name used for the popes, constitutes one of the seven heads of the beast.
While it has been surmised by Protestants for a long time that the 666 antichrist will arise from within the papacy, and even feared by Catholics alike, the available knowledge of its fulfillment is limited to the end time perspective. Neither John the Revelator nor our early church pioneers predicted the papal line so as to know their names and their count. Only since the time given in Revelation 17: 10 with the observer at the time of the sixth head (1963 - 1978), do we perceive the papal line, and the count that is represented.
The seven heads are seven names of the popes.
Revelation 13: 1 "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 horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."
13: 2 "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."
13: 3 "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."
13: 4 "And 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?"
We see today, an unprecedented worldwide admiration being given to pope John Paul II, He also has entered into the political arena with calls for peace and attempts to influence foreign policy. Of him the scripture says "who is able to make war with him." His fight is being done without the instruments of war.
13: 5 "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."
The Catholic church held power from 538 AD to 1798 when French General Berthier took Pope Pius VI prisoner.
13: 7 "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."
Only the ecclesiastical entity of the Catholic church has enjoyed this world wide control over the affairs of the world. During this period of power for 1260 years up to 1798, form the beast "that was" and in 1798 became the "is not" and since, has become the "yet is."
13: 10 "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."
13: 18 "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."
While many have referred to a counting of the letters of the "title" of the papacy, as done by assigning numerical values to the letters, the Bible does not specifically indicate that this is the correct application. It does state that it is the number of a beast and a man. To apply it to the title of the papacy, may be more than a coincidence, but it does not completely fulfill the description in Scripture. Certainly, it points to the "beast" which possesses the spirit of antichrist, but only one man will be the Antichrist at the time appointed, not the whole system of the papacy. (The papacy is already represented by a beast, of which, only the last head or pope will become the one antichrist.) Pictured here is a woman, in this case a whore, who is seated upon seven mountains. The whore woman is the people of this papal church. So whatever the heads as mountains are to be, this whore woman who is found sitting on them is closely linked to them. The seven Mountains are seven Heads on the Beast. The Beast is the papacy, and the heads of the papacy are the popes.
Considering also that the popes have each taken on a different name than their own, and of these names, they have repeatedly used the same name, and have added " numbers" to them. To myself I thought; "If the popes do not want to be associated with the 666 beast, then why do they put numbers on their name?"
I then set out to add up these numbers and see how many popes there are. Here are the math figures as I have derived from the Vatican's own Official Lateran Record taken from the New Advent Catholic Supersite on the internet; New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: LIST OF POPES
There are 79 different names used by the popes.
There have been only 7 names of popes used since 1798.
The beast's number is 666, and is the number of a man.
The beast has 7 heads, and are 7 mountains and are 7 kings.
With these 7 names or "heads," the cumulative count comes to 665 with John Paul II.
The table 1 below is derived by adding up each number of their names in a "mountain" fashion. Pope Paul for example contributes 21 to the count by adding the numbers of all the popes named Paul; 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6. Thus the mountain of a head consists of all the numbers of the valid popes of that name added up. The names of the seven heads are beside their respective number.
Table 1
1 = 1 .......1 The Antichrist 1
+2 = 3 .....2 John Paul + 3
+3 = 6
+4 = 10
+5 = 15
+6 = 21 .....6 Paul + 21
+7 = 28
+8 = 36
+9 = 45
+10 = 55
+11 = 66
+12 = 78 .....12 Pius + 78
+13 = 91 .....13 Leo + 91
+14 = 105 ....14 Benedict +105
+15 = 120
+16 = 136 ....16 Gregory +136
+17 = 153
+18 = 171
+19 = 190
+20 = 210
+21 = 231 ....21 John +231
1 + 3 + 21 + 78 + 91 + 105 + 136 + 231 = 666The popes of these `mountains,' throughout the papal reign are represented.
Count the numbers of all the names of all the seven heads. That man whose number completes the count to 666 is the Antichrist. The numbers were predetermined to equal the count of 666 at the appointed time.The commencing of the beast after it was "not," in 1798 began after the death of Pope Pius VI, in prison. Holding the pope hostage, lasts only as long as the life of the pope being held in prison. After that, the leading Cardinals elect a new free pope.
The rule which governs the counting of their numbers is as follows:
The papal numbers are corrected to reflect their respective count as though no errors were made. Thus, antipopes are not counted nor do their numbers affect the count in any way. If their number has been skipped, then their number is applied to the next legitimate pope. The official papal record has failed to maintain this rule in all instances and thus they have introduced error into the papal record. These errors are corrected.The count is thus adjusted to eliminate the errors. There was no John XX in the Official Catholic Lateran record, and John XVI and Benedict X (1058-1059) were deposed, so the "actual" number is reduced by the same amount. This corrects the count to the true number that was naturally done by the following antipopes not listed in the record:
Benedict XIII (1394-1423), Gregory VIII (1118-1121) and John XXIII (1410-1415) were deposed and their count continues with the true Benedict XIII (1724-1730), Gregory VIII (1187) and John XXIII (1958-1963). Gregory (1012) and John (844) were deposed and were not even numbered, and therefore the count was not affected by them.
A further explanation as to the discrepancies in the numbers assigned to the name John; "It should be observed that there is no John XX in the catalogue. This is due to the fact that, in the `Liber Pontificalis,' two dates are given in connection with the life of John XIV (983). This introduced confusion into some of the papal catalogues, and a separate pope was assigned to each of these dates. Thus three popes named John were made to appear between Benedict VII and Gregory V. The error led the pope of the thirteenth century who should have been called John XX to style himself John XXI (Duchesne, "Lib. Pont." 2:17). Reference: Chronological List of Popes
Pope Benedict IX had ascended to the papacy three times and was deposed twice. In spite of his vile life and having been deposed, he is still listed as an official pope and is supposed to have died penitent.
"Historians are unanimous that the supremacy of the papacy occurred between the years 538 AD and 1798 AD. The Roman Emperor Constantine had made Roman Catholicism the state religion circa 312 AD, and passed the first Sunday-keeping law in 321 AD, and elevated the ecclesiastics to a sovereign role as arbiters of disputes. By 538 AD the papacy was the only sovereign power left in the Western Roman Empire, and historians are agreed that the Church became the world's court. From 1929 until today, the papacy has been on its second biblically predicted rise in the world community. Time magazine ran a cover story detailing just how powerful and important John Paul II has been for the demise of the communist block - he holds weekly intelligence briefings via telephone with the US President. Not to get advice, but to GIVE it. Not to get intelligence info --- but to GIVE IT!!" From Del Washburn of Theomatics.
"Continuing in Revelation, the angel begins to explain to John the woman's symbolism: `This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while.' (Rev. 17: 9-10)
"Fundamentalists argue that these seven mountains must be the seven hills of ancient Rome. However the Greek word here, horos, is almost always translated `mountain' rather than `hill.'
"This passage gives us a key rule of Bible interpretation which is often denied by Fundamentalists: that a symbol does not have to refer to one and only one thing. Here the heads refer to both seven mountains and seven kings, meaning the symbol has multiple fulfillments. Thus there is not a one-to-one correspondence in the Bible between symbols and their referents. According to her, the papacy is the seven-headed beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. Accompanying this beast is a lamb-like beast."
"(Note that the Whore also sits on many waters, which we are told are many peoples, cf. 17:15-- the context makes it clear that here her sitting on something does not refer to a geographical location)." 1996 Catholic Answers, Inc.
Even the Catholic theologians were duped by the notion that Rome was built on seven hills, and are trying to use the Scripture to prove that the geographical location of Rome is not what the Bible meant in that passage. However, neither do they identify these in that answer, but in other locations they teach that the seven mountains are seven kingdoms, which have been listed as;
From the Douay Rheims bible, the footnote for Rev 13:
13: 1. And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy.
A beast... This first beast with seven heads and ten horns, is probably the whole company of infidels, enemies and persecutors of the people of God, from the beginning to the end of the world. The seven heads are seven kings, that is, seven principal kingdoms or empires, which have exercised, or shall exercise, tyrannical power over the people of God; of these, five were then fallen, viz.: the Egyptian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Persian, and Grecian monarchies: one was present, viz., the empire of Rome: and the seventh and chiefest was to come, viz., the great Antichrist and his empire. The ten horns may be understood of ten lesser persecutors.Revelation 17: 1 "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, 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:"
17: 3 "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."
17: 5 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
In Revelation, the Church is symbolized by a Woman. As the Apostolic faith became corrupted through the centuries, it is then called a whore, and the mother of harlots. But God still has a people in it and in Revelation 18, God implores His people to come out of her. As Jesus explained in His parable; let the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest...
Rev. 17: 7 "...I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."
Rev. 17: 8 "The beast that thou sawest 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."
Rev. 17: 9 "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."
Rev. 17: 10 "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."
Rev. 17: 11 "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."
The Catholic church, "sits" on the papacy, being the largest, and most global religion, fits the specifications of the prophecy most accurately.
The woman sits on 7 mountains, (Greek = horos) Through the central rule of the papacy, one pope-king is enabled to rule over many people in most of the world. The Catholic Church boasts of being the largest Christian faith, and oldest, spanning from the beginning of Christian belief. It also bears a long history of holding corrupt doctrines.
The seven heads are identified as the seven names of the popes from 1798. Table 2, shows the complete chronological list of popes since 1798.
Table 2
Pius VI (1775-1799)
Pius VII (1800-1823)
Leo XII (1823-1829)
Pius VIII (1829- 1830)
Gregory XVI (1831-1846)
Ven. Pius IX (1846-1878)
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
Pius X (1903-1914)
Benedict XV (1914-1922)
Pius XI (1922-1939)
Pius XII (1939- 1958)
John XXIII (1958-1963)
Paul VI (1963-1978)
John Paul I (August -September 1978)
John Paul II (1978-2004+?)Table 3
Calculation Table of Consecutive count;
Pius VII ................ 28 ........[ 28 ]
Leo XII ...........adds 78 ......[ 106 ]
Pius VIII ..........adds 8 .......[ 114 ]
Gregory XVI ....adds 136 ....[ 250 ]
Pius IX ............adds 9 .......[ 259 ]
Leo XIII ............adds 13 .....[ 272 ]
Pius X .............adds 10 .....[ 282 ]
Benedict XV ....adds 105 ....[ 387 ]
Pius XI ........... adds 11 ......[ 398 ]
Pius XII .......... adds 12 ......[ 410 ]
John XXIII .... ..adds 231 ......[ 641 ]
Paul VI ............adds 21 ......[ 662 ]
John Paul I ....... adds 1 ......[ 663 ]
John Paul II ...... adds 2 ......[ 665 ]
An antipope, ......adds 0 ......[ 665 ]
The 8th, name of 1 adds 1 ..[ 666 ]
By counting the numbers of each of the names of these seven heads, we arrive at the count of the beast. Thus, when the total comes to 666, the count will have become complete, and the man of sin revealed.It takes us to the conclusion that with the current pope, John Paul II, the count of the beast stands at 665. The one introduced as the "eighth" who comes in his own name, will be the antichrist. The Catholic Church will then be embroiled in turmoil and many will separate from it, as the man of sin is revealed.
Table 4
Calculation Table of cumulative count
Head .......... last.... actual... adds... totals
1 Pius.......... 12....... 12....... 78....... 78
2 Leo........... 13....... 13....... 91...... 169
3 Gregory..... 16....... 16...... 136..... 305
4 Benedict....15........ 14..... 105...... 410
5 John.......... 23....... 21..... 231...... 641
6 Paul........... 6......... 6....... 21....... 662
7 John Paul... 2......... 2........ 3........ 665
8 The Eighth.. 1......... 1........ 1....... 666The antichrist will be the Eighth, and uses his own name and thereby introduces the final identifying 1 to the count making him 666, and takes the Seat of the Holy See.
John Paul II, stands as the seventh head.
A seventh-head antipope would not be necessary to fulfill the prophecy. The conclusive proof will depend on what the name is, that is given to the next pope. If the name is new and therefore singular, then it is he who is the Antichrist. An antipope then, would only provide an interim waiting period before the arrival of the Antichrist. The bottom line is this; the next pope whose number produces a count of "one" is the Antichrist.
Today's religious groups filled with erroneous and diverse beliefs. But God calls all of these Babylon. God's true people are identified by those who give their homage to the institution that was made to honor the relationship between man and God; the Sabbath day. This is independent of any denomination.
Upon the final act of separating out of God's people from this Babylon, salvation is complete and the wrath of judgment is poured out in the form of the seven last plagues.
God sends us these prophecies to reveal what is soon to transpire. Pope John Paul II is aged and feeble. Watch the count change, note the name and follow after God's lead.
Agreeing with the Catholic explanation of what the seven mountains are not, we have Uriah Smith who has arrived at the same conclusion;
"The Seven Heads. -- The seven heads are explained to be, first, seven mountains, and then seven kings. The expression in verse 10, `and there are seven kings,' reads in the original' `and are seven kings.' This makes the sentence read: `The seven heads are seven mountains... and are seven kings,' thus identifying heads, mountains, and kings." Daniel and Revelation p. 711
The "City of Seven Hills" in Rome is often cited as the interpretation given to Revelation 17: 9, but Uriah Smith has presented clear Biblical evidence showing that there is no validity to it, and that the mountains are distinctly symbolic. It is written in his book "Daniel & Revelation." The seven mountains are not the seven hills of the city of Rome, as many have thought. In the original Greek, the text reads;
"The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth, and 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."
The mountains here cannot be literal, because they are first called seven heads, and then as seven kings. These mountains are consecutive in nature as it reads; "five are fallen..."
"Babylon is not the city of Rome. The argument relied upon to show that the city of Rome is the Babylon of the Apocalypse runs thus: The angel told John that the woman which he had seen was the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth, and that the seven heads of the beast are seven mountains upon which the woman sits. Then, by taking the city and the mountains to be literal, and finding Rome built upon seven hills, the application is made at once to literal Rome.
"The principle upon which this interpretation rests is the assumption that the explanation of a symbol must always be literal. It falls to the ground the moment it can be shown that symbols are sometimes explained by substituting for them other symbols, and then explaining the latter... So in the case before us. `The seven heads are seven mountains,' and `the woman is that great city;' and it will not be difficult to show that the mountains and the city are used symbolically. The reader's attention is directed to the following;
"We are informed in Revelation 13 that one of the seven heads (is) wounded to death. This head therefore cannot be a literal mountain, for it would be folly to speak of wounding a mountain to death.
"Each of the seven heads has a crown upon it. But who ever saw a literal mountain with a crown upon it? The seven heads are evidently successive in order of time, for we read, `Five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come.' Revelation 17: 10. But the seven hills on which Rome is built are not successive, and it would be absurd to apply such language to them.
"According to these facts, a literal translation of Rev. 17: 9, 10 removes all obscurity: `The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth, and are seven kings.' It will thus be seen that the angel represents the heads as mountains, and then explains the mountains to be seven successive kings. The meaning is transferred from one symbol to another, and then an explanation is given of the second symbol.
"From the foregoing argument, it follows that the `woman' cannot represent a literal city, for the mountains upon which the woman sits being symbolic, a literal city cannot sit upon symbolic mountains. Again, Rome was the seat of the dragon of Revelation 12, and transferred it to the beast; but it would be a singular mixture of figures to make the seat, which is sat upon by the beast, and a woman sitting upon the beast refer to the same thing." Daniel and Revelation pp 644 - 645
Further evidence of identifying the whore Babylon is found in Revelation, chapters 13 and 17. God tells His people to count the number of the beast. He elaborates more on the nature of this beast with a description of its having seven heads, being also seven mountains and seven kings. Narrowing the count to that of one man, there must be established a connection between the seven heads and the count of the 666 man. As seen in table 2, the period of the time of this beast starts in 1798. Since that time, there have been seven different names of the heads of the Catholic church. Add the numbers of all the popes of these seven heads and the count stands at 665. When the count reaches 666, that man whose count is "one" is the antichrist.
The Abomination of Desolation has been setting up beginning from the end of the 1,290 year prophecy in Daniel 12: 11, and continuing to the end, thus the seven heads begin in 1798, and ends with the return of the beast as the eighth head.
In preparation for the events yet to come, the beast is increasing in power. Pope Pius VI was the head of the beast that was wounded, and it was pope Pius XI who was the head that was healed in 1929. The Vatican has since received the approval of the Israeli government, in autonomy of its religious affairs within Jerusalem, enabling for the first time the right of the Vatican to own property within Jerusalem, and to share in managing select Holy sites, that are so regarded by the three major faiths; Muslims, Jews and Christians. The Accord granting this was signed on November 10, 1997. This follows the Vatican having established diplomatic ties with Israel on December 30, 1993.This brings to pass the prophecy that foretells of the rise of the Antichrist, his manner of rise and his identity.
It is clearly evident that the time is imminently upon us and the message of salvation needs to go forward more urgently, to finish the harvest of souls.
In review of the prophecies of Revelation, is written the description of the true followers of the Church and of Jesus, and also of the false body of Christ, also symbolized by a woman. The time spans of the prophecies reach from 457 BC to 1844, and then following this, conditional prophecies that are not set within specific periods of time, but await the conditional sequences of certain events. When these things are fulfilled, they will be revealed to the true followers of Christ. The final events largely surround the world's largest ecclesiastical body; the Catholic Church. Even while God denounces this system, identifying it precisely and calling it Babylon, He still recognizes that amidst the followers of this false system of worship, there are still many who truly belong to Him, and just before He pours out His wrath on the world, He calls His people out of her.
...Other sheep have I, not of this fold... God has His people scattered among all the various denominations, including the Catholic faith. And in the final throes of this world, before God sends His judgments to destroy it, He first implores His people to come out of her.
My sheep hear my voice... When God calls His own, He empowers them to understand. He will send home His message, and He will expose the `man of sin,' and the corruptions within the churches so His people can see and depart, and not be partakers of the 7 last plagues soon to be poured out. Many people fear the inevitable battle of Armageddon, however, seeing it is the seventh and last plague, the destiny of each soul will have already been determined. With a true saving faith, the people of God will not be disturbed at the judgments that fall on the beast and her adherents; they will remain steadfast while those around them are slain by them, and by the Second Coming of Christ.
17: 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."
These ten kingdoms are for the purpose of first, to enforce by civil power, the dictates of the antichrist, then when it is apparent that the judgment of God is upon them, they turn on the papal beast to destroy it. Therefore, since none of these ten kingdoms have been enlisted yet to enforce the papal decrees, then we cannot yet know who these ten are until the time appointed.
Rev. 17: 13 "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."
Rev. 17: 14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."
Rev. 17: 15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
Rev. 17: 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."
Rev. 17: 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."
From the New Commentary on Revelation, from Andrews University
Comments on Vol 7 of the Daniel & Revelation Committee Series; Symposium on Revelation - Book 2, Frank B Holbrook, Editor. Kenneth Strand wrote the chapter on the Seven Heads.
This book does not exclude that which I have found. The content of the chapter on the 7 mountains consists almost entirely of debunking the preterists view; that the 7 mountains are the emperors of Rome, and has no definitive conclusion at all to say exactly what the 7 mountains or the seven heads are, except that the sea-beast and its heads and horns are all future to John.
The conclusion of the 1996 Symposium on Revelation, is that there is no defined interpretation on the seven mountains of Revelation 17: 9.
As preterists have defined them, they are the Roman Emperors;
1. Augustus
2. Tiberias
3. Caligula
4. Claudius
5. Nero
6. Domitian
7. Antichrist
8 (missing in this interpretation)The problem with this interpretation is that it must ignore the 5 other valid emperors;
1. Augustus
2. Tiberias
3. Caligula
4. Claudius
5. Nero
6. Galba
7. Otho
8. Vitellius
9. Vespatian
10. Titus
11. Domitian
12. AntichristDid anyone note here that Nero is listed as number five and not the eighth in order to be the one that is counted as the 666 man? Yet they count the letters of this name up to be the antichrist. Another observation is that the antichrist is listed as the seventh, and they have no eighth head as the Scripture reads.
In another commentary these mountains are defined as the seven great world kingdoms;1 Babylon,
2 Persia,
3 Grecia,
4 Pagan Rome,
5 Papal Rome,
6 Republicanism or Democracy,
7 The Last Great Confederacy of Evil.
8 (missing in this interpretation)Another commentary lists;
1 Egypt
2 Assyria
3 Babylon
4 Persia
5 Grecia
6 Rome
7 Antichrist
8 (missing in this interpretation)Again, there are many other great world kingdoms that are not included in the list, and the problem applying the seven mountains to mean the ancient kingdoms, puts the first five or six of these world kingdoms prior to 1798, when Pius VI was taken captive (it even places them prior to John). The problem in this interpretation is that the woman depicted here is the whore, and not the true bride of Christ, and the tenure of the whore is at its earliest 1798, where she is first portrayed, to the time of perdition, which is still in the future. Further interpretive problems arise in trying to apply these ancient kingdoms to also being "kings."
The argument put forth then is that Satan is governing these world powers in antagonistic war against God's people. Yet, the confusion lies in the application of antagonism between Satan and God's people being depicted in the image that this beast should convey. But it does not. The picture clearly is not the "woman of the true church of God" sitting upon seven mountains, but of the "whore."
"The problem lies in the foundational center of the preterist stance, and therefore, is one that afflicts all preterist interpretations in spite of any and all idiosyncrasies that may exist among individual writers. That "root problem" is the perspective that limits the scope of Revelation's message to John's own era. The Biblical evidence reveals, as we have seen, that the leopard-bodied sea beast, its seven heads, and its ten horns relate to things that were still future for John." Symposium on Revelation, book 2 pg 205.
This excludes then the application of the seven mountains to any kingdom that precedes 95 AD.
Since the word "mountains" is obviously symbolic in (Rev) 17: 9, proper principles of interpretation would require that we look for the scriptural usage of the term "mountain" in cases where the term is employed as a symbol. When we do so, we never find "mountain" used to symbolize an individual monarch or ruler." Symposium on Revelation, book 2 pg 186**
"This biblical usage of "mountain" as a symbol should lead us to look for a similar identity of the seven heads in Revelation, since they are called "mountains." The second identifying term in (Rev) 17: 9-10, namely, "kings," can be understood in the same way, as "rulerships," "kingdoms," or "empires." Symposium on Revelation, book 2 pg 186, 187.
The interpretation given to the beast is that of a specific identity; the papacy. This is in agreement with the Symposium on Revelation (book 2). Therefore it is in the papacy where we are to look for the seven `heads / mountains / kings.'"
Given that the beast that was and is not and yet is, as meaning that the 1260 year period of papal supremacy, was terminated in 1798, and is now in the period of being "is not," and after John Paul, will become the "yet is".
The beast is described in Rev 12: 3 "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads."
And in Rev 17: 3, "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."
Some try to add to it; saying that there is some relevance to the time that the prophecy was given to John, based on the present tense of the words "and one is," claiming that the time that the five fallen kingdoms had fallen before the prophecy was uttered to John. This interpretation ignores the fact that the seven heads are the heads of the beast, and they try to place them outside of and beyond that of the time of beast that is symbolized here.
Some of the prophecies that were given to Daniel and John, refer to time periods spanning from their inception when they were given. But most that he wrote refers specifically to the end; the focus being set within the lifetime of those living in the end. So it does not make any sense to apply it to any other period; the context of the seven mountains is from 1798 to the present, so any rulers, or kingdoms outside of this period are irrelevant. The whore as it appears in Rev 17: 9 - 11 is depicted by the contemporaneous presence of the two-horned beast. This is all set within the final end period. Therefore, for this whore woman to sit upon seven mountains, and to be the worship target of the two-horned beast, it must be that these mountains are contemporary, and in the same period of time as the two-horned beast. Besides the writing of the book of Revelation, none of these events depicted have any relevance to John himself, nor any other purpose than to be the truth for the people of God at the time of the end.
Rev 13: 3, "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."
Does the papal church have "heads?"
Yes, the popes are called the heads of the church.
Are there "seven" of them?
Yes; Pius, Leo, Gregory, Benedict, John, Paul, and John Paul.
Are these "heads" represented also as mountains?
Yes, they are listed under their adopted names and numbered just as it is done in a monarchy.
Did any of these heads receive a deadly wound, and was this deadly wound healed?
Yes, Pius VI This also lends to defining what the heads of this beast are; Papal.
13: 12 "And he (the two-horned beast) exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
Another specific statement given in Revelation 17: 5; "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." The harlots are the various Protestant churches, each claiming to be Christ's true bride, but instead bear the image of their mother church; in the keeping of its false first day Sabbath.The papal whore woman never sat upon the ancient kingdom of Babylon, Medo-Persia, or Greece. It would be unnatural to have the whore, also called BABYLON THE GREAT, to also be sitting upon Babylon. Or if one of its heads were to be represented as Papal Rome, then this whore which is interpreted as the papal church, again would be sitting upon itself.
If one were to ascribe one of these heads as being the papacy, then they would first have to divest the beast from also representing the papacy, and assign the interpretation of the beast to be something else. Yet I have not seen anyone identify the beast as being anything else than the papacy, and demonstrate it as having seven heads.
The various characteristics given, are to describe the appearance or structure of the power that is symbolized.
The great whore, Babylon, the mother of harlots, and sits on many waters, which are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. The argument then that interprets these seven kingdoms as being of the ancient kingdoms, relies on the premise that the woman (whore) is represented to be the people of God, being persecuted by these various world powers. However, this is not the case; True, God's people throughout the ages, have suffered persecution by the world's governments, but that scenario is NOT depicted here. The whore woman "SITS" upon these seven mountains.
Their argument falls short in two ways; first, the woman's sitting upon the seven mountains does not in any way connote antagonism between herself and them, rather, it connotes an agreement. There is no hint of any antagonistic relationship between the whore and the mountains. It is only at the end that the ten horns turn on the whore. Prior to that, they are in agreement to give their power to the beast. And second, the woman described here is not the Bride of Christ, but the whore, and in no wise does this whore, reside upon ancient kingdoms, while assuming the identity of the persecuted Bride. The application then of interpreting these mountains must be applied to the correct period of time; to the papacy after 1798.
Rightly did Daniel say "To us belongs confusion of faces." (Dan 9) As we approach the end, all of God's people will come into unity as the call goes out for God's people to come out of Babylon. Heretofore, God's people are among all of the multitude of Christian faiths, but as the purifying truths of the Third Angel's Message prepare those for the time of the end, they will have set aside all their differences and will be keeping a unified faith, being unified with each other as they are all in unity with their relationship to Christ.
"Our sins are continually before us and we have not been as vigilant in our walk in Righteousness as we ought to have been. There is a way of victory and a way of overcoming, that the final work of God may be done and effectual."
"In (Revelation) chapter 13 (verses 1-10) is described another beast, `like unto a leopard,' to which the dragon gave `his power, and his seat, and great authority.' This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once held by the ancient Roman empire. Of the leopardlike beast it is declared: `There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies... 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.' This prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7, unquestionably points to the papacy." Great Controversy pg 439
Revelation 13: 12 "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13: 13 "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,"
13: 14 "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."
Rev. 17: 3 "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."
The scarlet colored beast is the same seven headed, ten horned beast that lived after it was wounded in 1798.
Christ has symbolized the true church as a woman and His Bride. But that which constitutes His true people, are taken from all the various churches. In Revelation, God symbolizes all these diverse and corrupt churches as harlots of their mother the whore. The whore woman riding on the beast of Revelation 17 is the symbol for the people of the Catholic Church. The beast is the Papacy, and the harlots are the many Protestant faiths, that share in the false doctrines of the mother church. While many descriptors are written in the prophecies that identify the Catholic faith, very few realize that the symbol is more encompassing, to include the many Protestant faiths. In Revelation 18, God implores; "come out of her, My people."
This topic is more pressing now, because of the time at hand. The verses in chapter 17 further clarify the specific conditions of the prophecy. Once all these are converged, the whole picture becomes more clear.
June 27, 1850.
"My accompanying angel said, 'Time is almost finished. Get ready, get ready, get ready.' " A little further on she says: "Some of us have had time to get the truth, and to advance step by step, and every step we have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now time is almost finished. . . and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months" (Early Writings, pp.64-67).The conclusion is this; Pope John Paul II is old and feeble. We are near the end of the short space. The Bible and recent history presents clear evidence that the Second Coming is almost here.
Original thesis written 1997 For more information go to: 666beast.net
Q. Where will the Antichrist get
His power, and authority from?
A. The Antichrist power and authority will come from Satan. We read in Revelation 13: 4 And they did homage to the dragon, because he gave the authority to the beast; and they did homage to the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? and who can make war with it? The Antichrist and false prophet will work false miracles that will deceive the world. Again we read in Revelation 13: 13-14, And it works great signs, that it should cause even fire to come down from heaven to the earth before men.
And it deceives those that dwell upon the earth by reason of the signs which it was given to it to work before the beast, saying to those that dwell upon the earth to make an image to the beast, which has the wound of the sword, and lived. The Antichrist will receive some kind of head wound that will cause the whole world to be amazed. Let’s read what the scriptures has to say about this. Revelation 13:3, and one of his heads was as slain to death, and his wound of death had been healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast. If we read carefully, you will see that it says, “one of his heads was as slain to death.” Remember, that this beast has seven heads, meaning that, there is more than one part to him, most likely seven nations, or organizations, or persons. And scripture never says that he actually receives a mortal head wound, but says, as if. So we can see that one of his organizations or persons will be damaged, and what was thought to be a dead person or organization will be healed, given life again, or remade. But the whole world will take notice and be amazed by it.
Q. Who will worship the Antichrist?
A. Everyone whose name is not written in the book of life. For it says in Revelation 13: 8, and all that dwell on the earth shall do it homage, every one whose name had not been written from the founding of the world in the book of life of the slain Lamb. If you have not accepted Christ as your personal savior by that time, most likely, you will be worshipping the Antichrist, but we will discuss this more in part two. And in Revelation 13: 16, And it causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bondmen, that they should give them a mark upon their right hand or upon their forehead;
Look for part two soon:
The Antichrist (The mark of the beast)