Scripture clearly indicates that a 10-king power coalition will take form near the start of the Tribulation period. At least five separate visions in the Bible depict these 10 kings. We find these in Daniel 2:41-42 in the form of 10 toes, and as 10 horns representing 10 kings in 7:7, 20, 24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 12. As already explained in previous parts, the Bible’s use of the terms “kings” and “kingdoms” is equivalent to a male sovereign nation leader in our day.

Another important conclusion was that the 10 kings take form prior to the appearance of the Antichrist. This sequence is often ignored … many still looking for the Antichrist first. As such, the emergence of a 10-nation coalition is one of the most important signs of the times, though the world will likely not know the exact configuration of these 10 kings until the Antichrist actually arrives.

A power coalition of the type prophesied here is a unique arrangement in world geopolitical history. Ten sovereign kings (nation rulers) will pool their power together and then agree to put it at the disposal of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:13).

The general pattern throughout world history has been that only one nation would dominate the known world or its regions. Even in our modern age, this has been the case. It has been a long, long time since the world has not been dominated by one prominent and powerful country.

That said, it also is true that much of the world remains heavily influenced by the Roman Empire. In fact, as demonstrated in previous parts of this series, the Bible considers our era a definite offshoot of the Roman Empire.

It has never before occurred that the entire world has been firmly ruled by a voluntary coalition of power-sharing countries. That is still not the case, though movement has clearly been in that direction.

Today, we have nation assemblies such as the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and many other international agencies … all coming into existence over the last 150 years or so. However, an obstacle to further collective globalism is that there are at least one or more geopolitical nation-states that are too powerful or independent to join such a coalition. These may be reluctant to cede their sovereignty to a smaller group of nations.

These mega-countries would have to recede in terms of influence or be superseded in some way or outdistanced before the 10-nation coalition can assume world-spanning power.

Significance of 10 Toes

Let’s again return to our laymen’s podiatry—the study and treatment of feet. We recall that Daniel saw 10 toes in the prophetic image of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. As reviewed in previous parts of this series, we know that the 10 toes are a parallel symbol to that of the 10 horns, shown in both Daniel and Revelation.

As such, it is a prophecy through symbol. Symbols must have literal meanings, as is the case with all symbols in Scripture. This being so, we can then draw meaningful conclusions by simply looking at symbols.

Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of a large human statue made of various materials (Daniel 2) contains a very important clue.

Studying this picture, one is likely to uncover an ill-fitting fact. Were Nebuchadnezzar’s vision to apply to our day, we would note that the feet would be quite lopsided and deformed. Why? There would be a big, outsized toe if the United States were a member of this group.

Consider that a foot has one big toe and four progressively smaller ones. While there are size differences in our toes, none are so large that it is bigger than the foot itself, for instance. Proportionality must be observed.

Every indication that the Bible gives us about the final, last-day, 10-king power coalition is that each member is roughly proportionate in size. First, in Daniel 2, we are shown a normal set of 10 toes. In Daniel 7, as well as Revelation 12, 13 and 17, they are shown as 10 typical horns.

However, a little later—continuing the “horn” imagery—the 10 horns are implicitly compared to an emerging 11th horn, which is said to have been small and which then uproots three of the existing horns (Daniel 7:8).

As such, we are led to recognize that the final 10 kings will not be small in size, nor is there any indication that the size of the horns will not be normal. We can reasonably conclude that the visions do not allow for outsized toes and feet, nor any grotesquely enlarged horns. The size differences would be normal … just as the big toe is bigger than the smallest of the toes.

But that is not what we would observe were Nebuchadnezzar’s vision to apply to our era. Presently, significant size differences would be noted. Consider that only one hugely outsized big toe would be visible. It certainly could not fit into the endtime glass slipper.

Viewed through the lens of current geopolitics, we see that there is one prophesied global political condition that does not yet exist. It is minilateralism. That arrangement will arrive when a small group of relatively powerful nations come together to form a world-ruling coalition.

These ten kings/nations will have global power. Grouped together, they will assuredly be more powerful than any other nation or group of nations.

Many national leaders look forward to the day when world affairs will not be so dominated by a select few … and certainly not by any one superpower, as America still may be today.

What do these conditions imply for America in the future? Could the US, therefore, be a future member of the 10-nation coalition … or not? Before we provide our viewpoints on these questions, we must first examine several other Bible prophecies that may play a role in endtime geopolitics. What does the Bible say about Asian countries such as China or Iran? As it happens, at this time, relations between America and China are tense.

China vs. America: Who Will Prevail?

Today, there is a fast-growing counterweight to the United States globally. It is China. This country has already made some great advances in global influence. Will its progression continue? Where will the growing geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China lead? Does the Bible have anything to say on this matter?

Will China leap-frog America … or not? The Bible provides a partial answer.

Unlike America, the Bible does mention this nation in the last days by name. China is identified specifically as Sinim. In fact, Scripture also prophesies about China.

Consider this prophetic verse: “Behold, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim” (Isaiah 49:12, KJV).

Just what and where is Sinim?

Most sources agree that Sinim refers to the far eastern region of China today.¹ Things related to China are still referred to as “Sino.” For example, the word “sinology” means the study of China. Sinim is likely the most eastern nation mentioned in the Bible.

In the Arabic language, China is still referred to as “Sin.” The word “Sin” likely comes from the word Ch’in (or Tsin), as in the Ch’in Dynasty, which ruled China between 221 and 206 BC. The word “Sinim” in Hebrew would, therefore simply be the plural form of “Sin.”

Returning to the quoted verse, we can deduce from Isaiah’s words—written some 2,700 years ago—that Sinim (China) will most certainly exist in the last days and will carry into the following Millennial period. Isaiah here speaks of the nations that will recognize Israel and worship the Lord.

Moreover, we can also reasonably deduce that China must be a substantial entity at that time since it is actually named in the prophecy. Also, instead of naming the “east,” the prophet simply assumes that this is the direction of Sinim.

Isaiah indicates that the people of Sinim will also be in that number that will eventually go to worship in the new Israel during the 1,000-year Millennial Period.

What about the “kings of the east” that are mentioned in Revelation 16:12? What role might they have? Will China be counted in this group? This verse reads: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.”

This judgment occurs in the second half of the Tribulation Period. As a result, the “kings of the east” head west across the Euphrates. We can only speculate as to what their motives may be. Possibly (though this is sheer speculation), eastern nations may wish to get out from under the thumb of the Antichrist.

We must then turn to this crucial question: Will China play a significant geopolitical role in the last days, perhaps being a key member of a final world order? The answer, we believe, is both yes and no. Yes, in our opinion, China (and some other select Asian nations) will play a prominent role in the last-day geopolitical developments mentioned in Revelation 16:12. An aggressive action of some kind seems to be suggested.

While that may be the case, the Bible at the same time also rules out any role for China in the post-globalism, minilateralism period of a “10-king” ruling order.

How can we be sure of this view? Scripture reveals the answer.

Revelation 17:12 supports an important deduction. It reads: “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” Just how does this verse connect to China and some other Asian countries today?

The verse we have quoted from Revelation specifically refers to these last-day 10 kings and reveals a crucial clue. John the Revelator tells us here that these 10 kings “have not yet received a kingdom.” This means that neither the kings nor their kingdoms referred to in this verse had yet existed, either at or by the time the Apostle John wrote Revelation (approx. 90-95 AD).

As such, we can draw some clear conclusions from Revelation 17:12. Any nation today that existed at or prior to the time of John’s prophecy, therefore, cannot qualify as one of the 10 final kings … in other words, one of the final influential 10 nations.

If we apply this rule, it reveals that such nations as China, India, Iran (Persia) and others will not be part of the final, 10-king world power coalition. Why? Because they already had kingdoms by the time of John’s prophecies.

Consider that China already existed in New Testament times. According to historians, the Han Dynasty, a predecessor to modern-day China, was in power at the time of John’s prophecies.

The same may be concluded for the nation of Japan today. As already mentioned, the nation of “Hodu” (India) had already existed, as the Book of Esther confirms. Crucially, therefore, we discover here that none of these large and influential Asian nations will be part of the last-day rulership represented by the 10-king coalition.

What light could these perspectives possibly shed upon our times?

Beyond the certainty that these nations will not be part of the world-ruling order at the time the Antichrist takes global control, we can only attempt a few additional speculative conclusions.

A scenario that appears plausible is that the formation of the final 10 kings may very well be a counterstrategy to the perceived threats or non-aligned perspectives of other global players, these very possibly being the “kings of the east,” who are growing in power before the 10-king coalition emerges.

There is no doubt that China is strategically placed geographically, allowing it to become a naval and economic power that can control and coordinate much of Asia. A number of geographers and geo-strategists have long thought this to be the case. As it happens, China today has sharply increased its naval capabilities.

Thoughts to Ponder

We can deduce that China will not qualify as one of the 10 horns on the head of the 7th Ruler King. It will not be part of the world-ruling 10 kings. Nor is it likely to gain total dominance over the world.

What would these conclusions mean for the outcome of the China/America rivalry that we see today? As almost always, interpretations of Bible prophecy are often colored or biased by recency. Events or trends of our time tend to be read into the prophetic Scriptures. As such, the reader beware.

It seems reasonable to conclude that if both China and America (at this time, anyway) do not qualify to be part of the world’s last power structure, that therefore the China/American rivalry will move to backstage geopolitically.

For the time being, combative postures may continue. Aggressive actions may yet escalate. Time will tell.

A wonderful conclusion to this segment is the message of Isaiah 49:12 (quoted earlier). Despite the distrust and different values that the two nations may have, in the end, the supposedly “big, bad Red China” will acknowledge Jesus Christ and enter the Millennial period.

In the next issue—the last one of this series—we will outline the final conclusions about America’s geopolitical future in light of Scripture. Does God have America in His eye? Was this nation created for a purpose?

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Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.

Contact Wilfred at: staff@eternalvalue.com

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1 James H. Strong, Exhaustive Concordance, p. 5515: “Sinim is a distant Oriental region.”

We continue our quest for the identities of the 7 Ruler Kings, which represent the geopolitical history of the world in that they circumnavigate the fate of the Hebrews. Why are we pursuing this study? For one, it allows us to determine the seasons and the times. There can be no doubt: We are living in an interesting time, as some major prophetic events are at the very door. These will have an enormous impact upon the world … expressly so also upon America.

In that vein, we must be sure of our interpretations of Scripture. Correct foundations and facts are key, as we pointed out in the previous part of this series. Errant interpretations down through history have been disastrous for the reputation of Bible prophecy. We continue our quest for the identities of the 7 heads of the beasts shown in Revelation 12, 13 and 17.

Importance of Correct Interpretation

But why should the true identity of the 7 heads even matter? Aren’t the visions of the prophets too imprecise and vague to allow for any specific meaning? If we were to argue over their identity, would it not be, as Apostle Paul says, “to devote [oneself] to myths and endless genealogies”? Is it not true that things like these “[…] promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work” (1 Timothy 1:4)?

Of course, we should not “promote controversial speculations.” However, we should be advancing God’s work by rightly dividing the Word. This we want to do, and there is great profit in doing so. Everything in the Bible has been written for a reason. As Paul says, all of it “is useful for teaching [and] correcting” (2 Timothy 3:16) or “as examples […] written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Also, an incorrect interpretation of the Bible is never without consequence. Most certainly, an incorrect eschatology has lured much of Christendom onto the slippery slopes of Reconstructionism, Social Gospel, Amillennialism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism, Relativism, etc. (to name a few distortions).

We offer at least three reasons why it is beneficial to study the meaning behind the “beast images” and the various heads and horns found throughout Scripture. For one, this study definitely speaks to end-time geopolitical trends. These images give Bible-studying Christians—even more so the Jews—an ability to accurately determine the “season” of the world.

For example, were Jews to study Daniel and accept Revelation also as inspired Scripture, they would not be so susceptible to being deceived by the False Messiah when he comes. An understanding of this topic better prepares the Christian to identify the prophetic “season.”

Secondly, a proper understanding of the beasts provides a bulwark against deception. Our enemy is the father of lies and deception (John 8:44). The Last Days are repeatedly characterized as deceptive and a trap … all instigated by the Dragon (Satan). This time is truly treacherous.

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). We are persuaded that those deceptive times are already upon us today.

And thirdly, the visions of the world’s 7 Ruler Kings extend to today. How so? All the ones that Daniel sees will be in existence and on the world scene during the Last Days. The prophet Daniel says that it will be “in the time of those kings [that] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).

Common Characteristics of World Geopolitical Rulers

Are there any commonalities among the 7 Ruler Kings (RKs)? We note at least seven common characteristics shared by all.

1. First, all the Ruler nations are only of primary significance as they have a role in relation to the history of Israel. All of them suppressed Israel and/or Judah.

Said Isaiah: “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us” (26:12-13). Israel was often under the thumb of neighboring countries. However, these were small, and their occupations were relatively short.

Regarding Assyria and Egypt’s role, the Bible says this: “O my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did […]” (see Isaiah 10:24-27).

Further, also referring to Babylon, the Bible states: “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 50:17).

In conclusion, all the original 7 Kings (depicted as heads, plus also the 8th who is the Antichrist) have or yet will intersect with the descendants of Hebrews. All of them will find at least part of their kingdoms geographically and politically extending into the Middle East at one time or another.

2. All seven societies of these Ruler Kings were/are essentially pagan. They are part of an “unreasoning” beast that will perish. Many scholars have produced reliably documented works that connect the pagan religions that underlay all seven kingdoms (including that of our day!). This provides evidence that the same “scarlet whore” (signifying spiritual harlotry and paganism) was common to all kingdoms.
3. The collective times of the 7 RK rule show a Man/Satan conspiratorial insurrection against God. Satan and his “princes” (aka demons or fallen angels) conspire to mislead mankind.
4. All these 7 kingdoms are noted in the Bible for their pride and over-confidence…even rising up to heaven. They are all symbolized as mountains and tall, lofty trees on one or more occasions in the Old Testament.
5. Each successive RK kingdom supersedes the prior RK—each time expanding the realm and influence of the previous kingdom (except, of course, Egypt, which was the first).
6. All seven of the world kingdoms show a merging of religion with prosperity and fertility worship (materialism). All these kingdoms, therefore, merged materialism with religion. Mammon was enjoined by religion as it is today. God and Mammon are worshipped simultaneously, though Christ clearly said this was not possible as they represent two opposite masters.
7. All seven kingdoms have left legacies and influences that are still visible in our time today. Readers will be interested to explore this last point further. Just what legacies have the Ruler Kings left to posterity?

We will explore this answer next.

Prophetic Modernity

The Bible indicates that the ruling world regime of the Last Days bears the characteristics of at least four world empires. Revelation 13 presents a beast that is a composite of the four previous world kingdoms —Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

These are the same four world kingdoms that Daniel saw represented in animal/beast form—the lion, bear, leopard, and the terrible creature. Here in the New Testament, they are shown together in one beastly body (see Daniel 7).

Why are all four shown together as one animal in Revelation 13? There are at least two reasons. First, the prophet Daniel says that it will be “in the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). These are the very same Ruler Kings that Daniel saw both as beasts and parts of the statue headed by Nebuchadnezzar. It is these four RKs only that are shown as part of the beast of Revelation 13.

It only follows that if these historical Ruler Kings are still in existence today, then it would not be surprising that they will have left their influence upon the world. Indeed, this is the case, as we will show.

The Modern-Day Legacies of Past Kingdoms

Our pagan ancestors remain with us under many guises. Accomplished historians, no doubt, will see many more connections than this writer can present. We will review at least one aligning Scripture verse.

Starting with the earliest kingdom that Daniel saw, here are some possible connections. Just what things or conventions do we encounter in our lives today that are of Babylonian origin? These are so embedded into our daily lives, no doubt we no longer notice them anymore.

Research shows that Babylon was the mother of modern-day commercialism and its preoccupation with wealth. Babylon represented the first “gilded age.” After all, it was shown as the head of gold in Daniel’s vision of the tall statue (Daniel 2). Nearly all the documents recovered from that early Babylonian era refer to commerce.

The concepts of banking, compound interest, promissory notes, and even mutual funds derive from that time. Its numerical system is based on the number 60 (the sexagesimal system, which extends back to earlier Sumerian cultures) and is still deeply embedded in our society.

We still count 360 degrees in a circle and in trigonometry. Until not too long ago, a 360-day cycle was still considered the financial year for purposes of calculating interest. The word “dozen” is the Babylonian word for “a fifth,” meaning one-fifth of sixty.

Twelve is a prominent number, probably because it was based upon the 12 moon cycles per year. We still count 60 minutes to the hour, 60 seconds to the minute. From these and other connections, we see that the lion remains the head of gold today. The same “commercial culture” will be (and is) the hallmark of the last-day global society (Zechariah 5:5-11; Revelation 18).

In the next part, we will continue our quest to prove the identities of the 7 Ruler Kings shown in Revelation 12, 13, and 17. As already mentioned, the reign of these heads strikes right into our times.

Just what attributes of ancient Medo-Persia are evident in our modern societies today?

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Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.

Contact Wilfred at: staff@eternalvalue.com