New World Order Coming
Somewhat concealed in the 17th chapter of the book of Revelation is a mystery that lists numerically all the kingdoms that have had controlling authority over Israel, from Pharaoh in Egypt (1876-1446 B.C.), when Israel (Jacob) led his family down to Egypt because of the famine (Gen. 46:1—47:12), until the coming of Antichrist, who will usurp authority over all the nations and kingdoms of the world (Dan. 7:19-25; Rev. 13:1-18, 17:10-14).
Are we beginning to see the formation of a worldwide government that was revealed to John on the island of Patmos when he wrote down “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” almost 2,000 years ago? (Rev. 1:1, 19, 17:10-11). Did John’s vision about eight kings mention the “seventh” and “eighth” historical kingdoms that would exist at “the time of the end” when the final Gentile kingdom would be in existence, just before Christ returned to establish his millennial kingdom? (Dan. 2:44-45, 7:14, 18, 22, 27, 12:4-10; Rev. 17:7-14, 19:11-21).
“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:9-14).
There are eight major kings (and kingdoms) alluded to in the book of Revelation that have in the past ruled over the Middle East and specifically the nation of Israel (also Judah) when they were in their land; or, they will have dominion over Israel and their territory in the future (Rev. 17:10-11). Those kingdoms are (1) Egypt, (2) Assyria, (3) Babylon, (4) Medo-Persia, (5) Greece, (6) Rome, and two future kingdoms (seventh and eighth) (Rev. 17:10-13). The words “king” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably since the two terms are interconnected.
Rome, under the leadership of Pompey, gained control of Jerusalem in 63 B.C., and the Roman Empire was still in control of Jerusalem over a hundred and fifty years later during the time when John penned the book of Revelation on Patmos (c. 95 A.D.). [1] The western leg of the Roman Empire, with its capital in Rome, collapsed around 476 A.D., and the eastern leg, with its capital in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), survived till 1453 A.D. [2]
After the Roman Empire ended (sixth kingdom), a long period of time transpired that will not end until the two future “end time” kingdoms (seventh and eighth) begin to make their appearance on the world scene (Rev. 13:1-18, 17:10-14). Another way of looking at this: We are living during the time period between the legs of iron (sixth kingdom) and feet and toes composed of iron and clay (seventh kingdom) that made up the “Great Image” (statue) in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which the Prophet Daniel interpreted for the king in 603 B.C. (Dan. 2:1-49).
The coming global government, which appears to be forming in the world today (seventh kingdom), will once again result in Israel’s being subjected to global influence by their adversaries (Rev. 17:10-13). These two coming kingdoms (seventh and eighth) will be worldwide in scope, and they will both be active in the “end times” (Dan. 12:4-10; Rev. 17:10-11).
According to the Scriptures (Rev. 13:1-2, 17:10-11), the development of a global government system (seventh) will need to be operational at some point in the future because, soon after it becomes functional, it will provide a platform for the Antichrist and False Prophet to rise to power (eighth kingdom) (Rev. 17:10-11).
The Mystery of the Eight Kingdoms
An interesting clue from “The Revelation” that was given by Jesus through His angel to the Apostle John, in chapter 17 of the book of Revelation, reveals the two final kings and kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that will usher in a global government system that will one day rule the whole world (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 7-8, 11-12, 17).
“There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition” (Rev. 17:10-11).
The “five fallen” are (1) Egypt, (2) Assyria, (3) Babylon, (4) Medo-Persia, and (5) Grecian empires. The “one is” was the (6) Roman Empire present during John’s vision. The other “that has not yet come” will be short-lived and is the (7) current global government (New World Order) we may see beginning to form today (10 horns, 10 kings, 10 regions, etc). The “beast that was, and is not…and is” will be the future (8) Antichrist’s kingdom that will take control of the seventh kingdom (New World Order) that will be merged (Dan. 7:4-7) to form the “composite beast” described in Rev. 13:1-2 that has “seven heads and 10 horns” (Rev. 17:8, 11).
Who are the Eight Kings?
The five kings or kingdoms (five have fallen) — The five kings or kingdoms that were “fallen” when John received his vision around 95 A.D. are Egypt (Pharaoh?), Assyria (Ashurbanipal?), Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar), Medo-Persia (Cyrus) and the Grecian Empires (Alexander the Great) (1876-1446, 740-301 B.C.). [3]
The sixth king or kingdom (one is) — The sixth king (kingdom) that was present during John’s life span (Domitian) when he was writing the book of Revelation was the Roman Empire, which included parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East (189 B.C.-476 A.D.—Western leg; 1453 A.D. —Eastern leg) [4]
The seventh king or kingdom (and the other has not yet come [while John was alive]. And when he comes [still future today], he must continue a short time.) — The seventh king or kingdom appears to be the world government we see beginning to form today (New World Order, The Great Reset, Fourth Industrial Revolution, etc.).
If that is the case, we may be seeing the initial formation of the 10 regions (10 horns, also 10 kings) (European Union (E.U.), North American Union, etc.) that will rule for a short time and have limited authority in the world before Antichrist rises to consolidate his power.
The identity of the 10 horns (10 kings) is still not certain since other competing groups have formed.
BRICS, a geo-political group made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is also meeting regularly, and other countries are expected to join their consortium in the future.
The eighth king or kingdom (The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition) The eighth king (little horn, Antichrist, etc.) who starts out as a prince (Ezek. 21:25, Dan. 9:26, 11:22), will rise in authority and power to become a king (Dan. 8:23-25). After defeating three of the 10 kings, he will take control of the seventh kingdom (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24; Rev. 13:1-8, 17:8, 11).
“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast [Antichrist]. These [10 kings] are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” [Antichrist] (Rev. 17:12-13).
The 10 horns (10 kings), which we may see forming today that do not have kingdoms, will be given some regional authority that is global in nature, and they may become active shortly before the 7-year tribulation begins, but especially after the tribulation begins.
After the 10 kings (without kingdoms) give “their power and authority to the beast” (Antichrist), sometime during the first half (3 and ½ years) of the 7-year Tribulation, “they (10 kings) receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast” (Rev. 17:12). One hour with the beast, whether literal or symbolic, is probably a short period of time.
After the 10 kings have destroyed the world’s religious system, described as a woman riding on the back of a beast (seventh global government) (Rev. 17:15-16), Antichrist takes control of the world’s religious and political system from the 10 kings (10 horns) and quickly consolidates all 10 regions of the globe into his worldwide kingdom (Rev. 17:12-13). The time when these events take place is probably around the middle of the 7-year Tribulation.
From that time forward, Antichrist (the beast, eighth king and kingdom) will serve as the main global, political and religious leader for the last three and ½ years, and he will rule and subject the whole earth to a period of tyranny where “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:16-17). The Antichrist (first human beast) will demand worship from everyone in the world and will be assisted by the False Prophet (second human beast), who will force everyone to worship the first beast or the image of the beast or be killed (Rev. 13:8, 11-15).
The Quest for a World Leader
Are we close to seeing the implementation of the two final “end times” kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that will usher in a one-world government system and a one-world ruler who historically has been referred to as the “man of sin” and the “Antichrist?” (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 John 2:18).
Paul-Henri Spaak (1899 – 1972), a former Belgian Prime Minister who was one of the principal architects and founding fathers of the European Union (E.U.), when faced with serious economic problems that had mushroomed within the E.U., made the following, chillingly “prophetic” remark about the need for a new European leader:
“We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he god or devil, we will receive him.” [5]
Paul-Henri Spaak’s prognostication about the future will one day eerily come true; however, it will not be what he expected; rather, it will result in a Pandora’s box full of war, enslavement, subjugation, and worship of the “man of sin” and the devil that Mr. Spaak longed for (2 Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:3-17).
As problems in the world intensify in number and frequency and become more complex (Psalm 2:1-12; Luke 21:34-36), like birth pangs on a woman with child (Matt. 24:6-8; 1 Thess. 5:1-3), the world will not seek after God (Jesus Christ); rather, they will choose the devil’s man of the hour (little horn, man of sin, beast, Antichrist, etc.). The “dragon” will “give him his power, and his seal, and great authority” (Rev. 12:3, 9, 13:2).
The pervasive use of artificial intelligence (A.I.), digital currencies (CBDC), digital passports, global I.D.s, and other technologies that are being developed today will allow the infamous world leader, who is probably alive today, to create a virtual digital prison from which no one will be able to escape. The fate and consequences of those who choose to follow the beast (Antichrist) and False Prophet can be found in John’s apocalyptic book (Rev. 14:9-13).
Many prophecies that will take place during “the day of the Lord” are beginning to assemble themselves on the world stage and cast their shadows backward into today’s news headlines. As the day of our redemption draws near, each of us should be asking ourselves: Am I “watching” for the Lord’s return, and will I “be ready” when He returns “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump?” (Luke 21:34-36, 1 Cor. 15:52, Rev. 3:3).
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
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(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New King James Version—NKJV)
Endnotes:
[1] Debate on the Date of the Book of Revelation, Dr. Mark Hitchcock and Mr. Hank Hanegraaff, December 10, 2007, https://www.pre-trib.org/item/14-debate-on-the-date-of-the-book-of-revelation)
[2] A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Gleason L. Archer, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, c. 2007, page 140.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] E.U. architect would welcome God or the Devil, https://www.christianstogether.net/Articles/319656/Christians_Together_in/Christian_Life/Christians_and_Politics/EU_architect_would.aspx