The History of The Next 25 Years
Chapter nine: The Rise and Nature of the Seventh Emperor
The reign of the United States and United Kingdom as the Superpowers of the world is ending and indeed these nations will soon be in conditions so horrific that most cannot even imagine now. 'Tectonic Shifts' in world dominance are underway. God's Word describes the process and the outcome.
As God removes His blessings and protection from the Israelite descended countries of the United Kingdom and the United States and these countries descend into total moral rebellion, social division, and economic and governmental collapse; He will allow another Empire, the Seventh Head of the Beast of Revelation 17, to arise to fill the vacuum. It is important to realize that these two Dynamics work in tandem with each other to bring about God's purpose.
The nations formed by the modern day descendants of ancient Israel: the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel; have dominated the world militarily, economically, in resources, wealth, industrial production, food production and agriculture, inventiveness and advances in knowledge. Over the last 400 years these nations promoted or were founded upon the Judeo Christian values of the Bible. These values influenced the culture, laws, freedoms, structure of society and families, property and ownership rights, health, human rights, and even the manner wars are fought. This influence was promulgated throughout the world. This expansion in wealth and resources fulfilled prophecies God gave to Abraham thousands of years ago.
For more information the reader can request the booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy provided free of charge at tomorrowsworld.org.
Especially though in the last two decades, these nations have increasingly repudiated the values of God's Word and accepted a debased standard conceived by an abhorrence to Divine Moral Law. Our nations are now widely described as 'Post Christian' and in fact are proceeding quickly to anti-Christian. It is primarily these Israel descended nations that are adopting and protecting by law, abominable practices and trying to force other nations to do likewise. We are now nearing the tipping point of God's Anger! Though the initial parts of national demise may be increasing degrees of disease epidemics, social division and violence, 'natural' disasters, economic ruin, and food shortages; God will finally also repudiate our nations and allow the time of Jacob's Trouble.
The Rise of the 'Seventh Head'
The prophecy of Revelation 17 shows a great whore riding and controlling a beast with seven heads and ten horns. A woman in prophetic terms equates with a church. Examples of that are: the true church being described as the bride of Christ, and a chaste virgin. A great whore then is a church that claims to be Christ's but has relationships with others as described in Revelation 17: 2 "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
The seven heads of the beast she rides are described as: Revelation 17: 9 "And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits." Mountains in prophetic terms are governments. An example is Isaiah 2: 2-3.
These seven governments are ruled by seven kings: Revelation 17: 10 "And there are seven kings:"
And these governments are sequential over history: Revelation 17: 10 "five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space."
From the present day vantage point, as we look back in history, we can clearly see a great false church that has exercised control and influence over six resurrections of the governments of the Holy Roman Empire. The Seventh is imminently ahead!
Chapter 5 of this work, Armageddon and the 10 Kings, points out the Biblical description and the nationalities of the Ten Horns of verses 12-17. This present chapter will examine the Biblical descriptions for the ascendancy, nature, and reign of the Seventh Head.
As previous chapters have abundantly shown, the timing of the reign of this seventh king (the time of 'continuing') is during the 'time of Jacob's trouble'. His will be the power God uses to accomplish the Great Tribulation to bring Israel to repentance.
The Nationality of the Beast
God's Word gives understanding of the controlling nationality of the Beast Power (referring to this final seventh resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire).
Isaiah 10: 5-6 "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is my indignation. 6. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets."
Germany, in our modern time, can be shown to be the descendants of the ancient nation of Assyria. Twice in the 20th century, Germany plunged the world into World War. Even as Germany was being pummeled into ruins at the close of World War II, God's servant, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was proclaiming that Germany would rise again. How did he know that? He knew that because God's Word identifies the descendants of Assyria as the power He would use to punish and bring about the repentance of His covenant people, the nations of Israel.
The Seventh Head or successive resurrection of the 'Beast' of Revelation 17 will be a German dominated empire. A free informative booklet on this subject entitled Germany in Prophecy is now available from https://www.tomorrowsworld.org and the link will be provided when it is available.
For background about the Beast, the author recommends the booklet; The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality? by John H. Ogwyn. This booklet is obtainable at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/
What does God mean by the term "rod of my anger"? Compare Isaiah 10: 5 with Ezekiel 20: 37 "And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:" What does it mean to 'pass under the rod'? This derives from a statute in Israel for paying tithes of the increase of the flocks and herds. Leviticus 27: 32 " And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD." When God uses the term, 'the rod of my anger' or 'I will cause you to pass under the rod', He is showing the percentage that will survive. Other verses that back up this understanding are: Amos 5: 3 "For thus says the Lord God; The city that went out a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel." Also Isaiah 6: 11-13 "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12. And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 13. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be consumed: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof."
Jeremiah 30: 14 "...for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased."
God opened understanding of Revelation 17 to His servant Herbert W. Armstrong at the precise timing of the events recorded in verse 10 "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space." This was the time of the Hitler/ Mussolini Third Reich during World War II. He understood Germany's ancestry from ancient Assyria. He also understood the successive 'heads' of the Holy Roman Empire that were controlled and influenced by the Great False Church through history. He knew there would be a final head that would arise from Germany and be controlled by this Great False Church. With this understanding combined with the further information that there were 10 horns or ten final kings which would give their power to the Beast (verses 12-17), he quite reasonably extrapolated forward that these were 10 nations in Europe that would unite to form this seventh head. And indeed it has for a long while seemed to be heading in that direction with the European Common Market which was replaced by the European Union.
God has continually opened and clarified information given in His Word, the Bible, over the entire history of the Church. The Church through the process of 'watching' comes to a better understanding as God deems the time is right. Many of the events Mr. Armstrong predicted by the understanding given him have happened! Eastern Europe has broken free of the iron grip of the former Soviet Union. The Berlin wall of separation of Germany has been torn down and Germany has reunited. Germany is quickly becoming the controlling nation of Europe. The United Kingdom has exited the European Union. The concept that the final 'head' of the Beast would be formed by ten nations or kings in Europe has guided God's Church from Mr. Armstrong's time, and indeed may have provided a more understandable conclusion for those decades. However world events can take courses that seem impossible just years before. What will actually occur will be what God's Word declares regardless whether it seems to fit what we see on the World scene.
Chapter 5 of this writing points to the Biblical description of the nationalities of the final 10 kings. Most of them are not described as European. And a thorough study shows that the timing of their giving their power to the Beast is after the Seventh Head's term of continuing (42 months) has expired and forming the final coalitions of the governments of man that fight against Christ in the battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.
Let's examine the Biblical descriptions of the Seventh Head of the Beast. Some of the descriptions refer specifically to the ruler (who will be referred to as: the Beast), others refer to the kingdom of the seventh head of the Beast (which will be referred to as: the Beast Power) and still others refer to the time of the ten kings.
Extent of the Beast Power
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was quite correct in his understanding that the Beast Power would be a German led Empire. He, however, envisioned it as being formed by the coalition of ten nations in Europe giving their power to the Beast thus forming this empire.
The scope of the final empire as described in God's Word is much larger than Europe alone. Let's examine God's Word.
Daniel chapter 2: This chapter gives an amazingly precisely fulfilled prophecy that describes the great gentile empires that have successively ruled from the time of the Chaldean empire of Nebuchadnezzar when this prophecy was given about 603 BC, to the Persian empire that overthrew it, to the Grecian empire of Alexander the Great, to the Roman empire, to the end time governments of the Beast, to the ten kings that Christ crushes, to the final establishment of Christ's government over all the earth. This prophecy, as all of God's prophecies, has been fulfilled precisely to its current status over the 2624 years since it was given. The remaining last events are imminently before us.
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a large statue or image of a man. The image's head was of gold, its breasts and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet and toes of iron mixed with potter's clay. The head of gold was the Chaldean Empire, the silver was the Persian Empire, the brass was the Grecian Empire, iron was the Roman Empire, and the iron mixed with clay picture the end time governments that Christ destroys at His coming. Notice that these are all empirical governments controlling and influencing many nations.
Notice that each new component element depicted a different successive people. Now notice the Biblical explanation for the iron mixed with clay which depict the final governments of this present era.
Daniel 2: 41-43 "And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, 42. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43. And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."
These three verses are not a repetition of the same point. Each verse is describing a separate attribute of the iron mixed with clay.
V. 41 The kingdom (empire) will be divided yet have the strength of the iron.
V. 42 Some of the toes of the feet (kingdoms) will be iron and strong, and some will be clay and broken.
V. 43 The mixing of two distinct elements is described as "they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men." This did not apply when the legs were of iron only.
What is meant by the phrase, 'they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men'? Just what is the structure and territory of this coming empire? God's Word indicates it to be a world controlling empire.
The emperor himself, is referred to as the Beast in the Bible. Revelation 13: 7 shows the extent of his empire: "... and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
The Bible also shows in Revelation 17: 1-2 this empire will be manipulated and ruled over by the Great Whore Church: "1. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, 'Come here; I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: 2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
How does the bible describe the many waters? Verse 15 "And he said unto me, "The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
Rev. 17: 18 "And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."
In Chapter 5, Armageddon and the 10 Kings, a portion of the large volume of scriptural evidence was given that the 10 kings are of the nationalities given in Ezekiel 38. The timing of their final alliance with the Beast was shown to occur at the timing of the sixth vial plague just prior to gathering at Armageddon. This present chapter will also give biblical description of their association with the Beast during and leading up to the 42 months of 'continuing'.
Governmental Structure
"Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start workable methods were found insofar as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. We have had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh."
The above quote was spoken by General Douglas MacArthur at the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.
The world is now at the brink. Disease Pandemics shut down nations. World Finances are in revolutionary upheaval as nations mount up enormous debts backed only by national debt bonds. World trade is faced with fracturing relationships, tariffs, and trade wars. Peace is tenuous and elusive as nations grapple for their own security or agendas.
Yet the prophecies of God's Word indicate that once more an 'instrument of larger international scope' as General MacArthur phrased it in the above quote, will be devised and initiated by men at the end time. The Bible also gives indications of the types of provisions it will contain.
A starting point of understanding can be obtained by a study of the causes and effects of the curses that come on the Israelite descended countries and the counter effect on the rest of the world. These events are not random. They are the effect of repudiation of God's moral law, bringing the rebuke of God for the purpose of bringing about repentance. The first 2 1/2 years of the end time are referred to in God's Word as "The time of Jacob's trouble" Jeremiah 30: 7. This time is also referred to as "The Great Tribulation" Matthew 24:21. The primary recipients of this 'trouble' or 'great tribulation' will be the descendants of the ancient tribes of Israel.
These peoples inhabit primarily: The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Israel, and Australia along with some western European nations. It is important to understand that these nations themselves are not Israel though they were founded by the descendants of the various tribes, but are the nations formed by the scattering of Israel. See Deut. 4:27, and Jeremiah 30: 11 "For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet will I not make a full end of you: but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished." These nations, though founded by descendants of the scattered tribes of Israel, are changing in demographics, values and control. God's Word describes this in Deut. 28: 43 "The stranger that is within you shall get up above you very high; and you shall come down very low. 44. He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him: he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail." God will bring about 'full end' of these nations as He gathers Israel out of them during the Great Tribulation.
Ezekiel 20: 32-38 "And that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, that you say, 'We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone". 33. As I live, says the LORD God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: 34. And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, says the LORD God. 37. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38. And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the LORD." This 'gathering, causing to pass under the rod, and purging' is the Great Tribulation! Notice, that God says "in the wilderness of the land of Egypt". In the land of Egypt Israel served as captive slaves. The prophesies of God's Word show the descendants of Israel being taken captive from the lands where they have been scattered into foreign lands during the Great Tribulation where God brings about the repentance of their remnant.
The remnant of the tribes of Israel will be reconsolidated after the events of the end time into one nation again. Ezekiel 37: 21-22 "And say unto them, Thus says the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:"
The current demise of these nations sends shockwaves of effects to the whole world both in world stability and finances. It is increasingly evident that there will be winners and losers on the world scene that will determine who will control and prosper and who will serve and hunger. The seventh emperor will capitalize on this situation to rise to power.
The Nature of the Beast
God's Word describes the Seventh Emperor in several scriptures.
Daniel 8: 23-25 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and he shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
Daniel 11: 36-45 (This is the point in this prophecy that begins the end time sequence of events) "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38. But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and precious stones, and with pleasant things. 39. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. 40. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore shall he go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away. 45. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."
Isaiah 10: 5-7 "O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my indignation. 6. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7. Howbeit he means not so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few."
Isaiah 10: 12-14 "Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord has performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks, 13. For he says, 'By the strength of my hand have I done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and I have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14. And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one that gathers eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."
There are many more scriptures that describe this Emperor but these will give us a starting point of understanding. It is obvious from the scriptures above that the events and actions described cover a period of time from the time that this king 'stands up' (or moves into power) until he comes to his end (which is also described in many scriptures). It will be helpful to define this timeline from God's Word so we can relate the described events to their order in the timeline.
The Timeline of the End Time
We see the starting point of this timeline in Daniel 9: 26-27. "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:" (This is referring to Christ's death and sacrifice) "and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; ..." (this refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Titus and the Roman army in 70 AD however it is tying this to the 'prince that will come' that also fulfills verse 27) 27. "And he (the prince that will come) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
This 'week' of the covenant equals seven years. The prophetic principle of each day equals a year applies. This cannot be a confirming of a covenant by Christ because Christ's covenants are forever. Christ did not cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease even though His sacrifice fulfilled those obligations. Neither did He destroy the city or the sanctuary.
This causing of the sacrifice and oblation to cease is referred to again in Daniel 12: 11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days."
Christ himself referred to this event in Matthew 24: 15 "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolations, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) 16. Then let them which are in Judea flee into the mountains: 17. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19. And woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: 21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
It is clear from these scriptures that this event of causing the sacrifices to cease and the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation is immediately prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Daniel 12:11
states that from this event there are 1290 days, and in Verse 13 states that Daniel would stand in his lot at the end of the days. Daniel will "stand in his lot" in the first resurrection which will take place at the last of the seven trumpets. See I Corinthians 15: 52.
So with this information we can begin to construct a timeline.
The end of the timeline for now will be the first resurrection at the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet blast. (See Chapter 4 The Framework and the Templates). 1290 days prior to that point we are given the event of the stopping of the sacrifice and oblation and the abomination of Desolation set up. This event is described in Daniel 9: 27 as occurring in the middle of the week of the covenant made with many by the prince that will come. So this makes an approximate seven year span of time.
Fig. 1 Basic Timeline
So let's get our bearings by sequencing the events of the scriptures above.
1. We are introduced to this individual as 'the prince of the people'. We can see the progression of this individual's grip on power as events play out. Here he is called a 'prince'.
2. He makes a 'covenant' with many. Dan. 9:27 We would recognize this as an international treaty.
3. We see a term applied to this covenant which equals seven years. This implies that he is inaugurated into a 'presiding' position which is meant to be subject to reappointment or election.
4. After the covenant is made he is referred to as 'king of the north' showing that he is sovereign of a region.
5. He becomes 'mighty' by consolidating the power of the many. Dan. 8:24
6. He will 'cause the most strong holds to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.'
Dan. 11: 39 See also Dan. 2: 41 "And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron," This is a regionalization of control as is typical with empires of men.
At this point we will briefly examine motive and agenda. This king will be able to consolidate power by selling his agenda as "peace treaties" and financial stability treaties. These will be guises for the reality of peace through oppressive force and revolt control. See Dan. 8: 25 above. Financial stability will in reality be a guise for the enforced collateralization and payment of national debts. Regions of control and a worldwide system of merchant marine and trade will be developed for this purpose and will make the kings of the empire and the merchants rich as they strip the wealth of the Israelite descended countries.
This king will, through his policy, cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many. And he shall destroy wonderfully, and he shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people (the nations descended from the tribes of Israel).
This king will not be attempting to gain control through military campaigns as the world witnessed in the 20th century. His policy will be to consolidate the strength of 'the most strongholds', regionalization of power, a financial policy of debt collateralization enforced by a merchant commerce system based on the striping of the wealth and resources of the debtor nations. He also 'has it in his heart' to "destroy and cut off nations not a few." He will have the policy and intent to 'cut off and destroy' the nations and governments that are not part of the treaty.
This brokered treaty will continue to consolidate strength with the participating strong countries as the debtor nations are constrained, absorbed and annihilated more and more. The final 10 kings will be participants in this International Treaty in one form or another. Some of the ten kings will have the 'weakness of the clay' but will in some form be considered necessary or contributing to the power of the whole. The initial treaty may include many more nations. The 10 are simply the final form.
Now to continue with the sequencing:
7. At some point during the first three and a half years of the seven year treaty, the 'king of the south' pushes at this king (now called the King of the North) Daniel 11:40. The king of the south has historically been Egypt, and the reference for location is south of Jerusalem. The king of the north has likewise historically been north of Jerusalem and in this case is this seventh emperor. The King of the South will be the ruler of a regional consortium that is south of Jerusalem and that includes Egypt. This regional power will initially participate in the International Treaty but starts to 'push at' the King of the North. We are not told exactly what this 'push' involves but it will be a threat to the consolidation of power the King of the North is building.
8. Another marker on the timeline in this sequence is 1335 days to the seventh trumpet. See Daniel 12:12 We are not specifically given the event which occurs at this time. Somewhere about this time the conclusion of events given in Revelation 12: 7-12 occurs which are the war in heaven and Satan being cast out. verse 12 "Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time." We know this event has not yet occurred because evil conditions will exponentially increase immediately at this event. We also are told that Satan will immediately begin severe persecution against God's true church verse 13; which is quickly followed by the Church being taken to a place of Safety verse 14. These things occur immediately before the Great Tribulation. Because Satan being cast to the earth is such an exponentially catalyst event and the timing in the sequence is right, it is suspected that this is the event at the 1335 day marker. As soon as Satan is cast out of heaven, religious control will become the power behind this king. This religious control is the First Seal of the Framework.
(See Chapter 4: The Framework and The Templates)
The next time marker is 45 days later at 1290 prior to the seventh trumpet. Indications are that this 45 days will mark a severe persecution of the True Church along with the initiation of the partnering of the False Prophet and Beast (this King of the North) and the magnifying himself as god. It is an interesting observation that in almost every empire of man throughout history the emperor has been deified and worshiped as god. This seems to be a necessary element to secure soverenity above the rulers of the nations of the empire. Such will also be the case for this emperor. The events between the 1335 day marker and the beginning of the Great Tribulation describe the king's rise to status of Emperor which the Bible calls the Beast.
Daniel 11: 40-41 describes the King of the North retaliating against the King of the South's push at this time. "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps." This event immediately results in the following time marker.
9. 1290 Days. This is one of the most specific markers on the timeline. Daniel 12: 11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days."
One key element of the international treaty will be designed in an attempt to defuse and control the volatile Middle East. There are several indications in God's Word that Jerusalem will come under international rule. It will definitely be trodden under the foot of the Gentiles fortytwo months, [Rev. 11: 2]. Some have supposed that this treaty will have provision to allow the Jews to build a temple alongside the existing Islamic Dome of the Rock on the temple mount in Jerusalem and allow the daily sacrifice to commence. (It must start in order to be stopped). It is interesting that at this present time after the millennia since these prophesies were written, there are groups of the Jews who have made preparation for such rebuilding of a temple and initiation of sacrifices once again at very short notice. Though events could possibly transpire in this manner, the author has not yet identified the certainty of this specific manner of fulfillment in God's Word. Whether an actual temple must be built to fulfill these prophesies is a topic of much discussion. There are however indications of the internationalization of control of Jerusalem and conditions that precipitate the initiation of the daily sacrifices.
A scripture that ties to this time in the timeline is Hosea chapter 5. Beginning in verse 5 "And the pride of Israel testifies to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. 6. They shall go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord; but shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. 7. They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions."
Judah is the modern nation of Israel. Ephraim is the British peoples of the United Kingdom, the name of Israel was in prophecy ascribed to both tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and then in a larger sense the remaining tribes of Israel. As Ephraim is specifically addressed, Israel in this scripture would be the tribe of Manasseh which is primarily the Caucasian people of the United States.
Verse 7 describes these falling together in a months' time. There has not yet been a time in history in which these three tribes fell in the same month. At the time of the Great Tribulation all of them will begin the "time of Jacob's trouble" simultaneously. The specific month all three will fall together is the 30 days from the 1290 marker to the Great Tribulation. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel will come to complete financial, moral, and governmental collapse during this one month.
In this chapter we are also given an indication of the cause of the initiation of the sacrifices by Judah. Hosea 5: 13 "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound." Jareb is a symbolic name for Assyrian, or contender. Ephraim in their collapse seek help from the very one who will enslave them! Judah suffers a 'wound'. This may be inflicted by the King of the South push or the King of the North's retaliation. Going with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, (or initiating sacrifices) as described in Verse 6, seems to be a move of final desperation and precipitated by the 'wound' it suffers rather than a provision of the initial International Treaty.
Church Flees to Place of Safety
There is another concurrent series of events that is occurring during this month. Daniel 12: 11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." Christ said this event was the sign for those who are in Judea and others to flee just prior to the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 24: 15-21 "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) 16. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18. Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
This fleeing is also described in Revelation 12: 14-16 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (3 1/2 years) from the face of the serpent. 15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." More will be covered in detail about the Place of Safety in the following chapter. However as the sign to flee is this event at the 1290 days and the Church is in the Place of Safety 3 1/2 years which will conclude with the first resurrection at the seventh trumpet blast; we understand that the time period for fleeing is contained within this month prior to the Great Tribulation.
The Establishment of the Empire
One other series of concurrent events that occurs during this month from the 1290 Day marker to the beginning of the Great Tribulation is the final enthroning of power given this Emperor, now referred to as the Beast.
First, because the King of the North (as was his position along with presiding over the consortium of the world government prior to this time) retaliated and overran the countries described as he comes against the King of the South, he will be seen as breaking the seven year covenant. We can see that description of him in Isaiah 33: 8 "The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases: he has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no man."
Daniel 11: 44 gives insight into what is occurring at this point. "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many." Notice that it is 'tidings' or information from the east and north that trouble him. This does not say he attacks the east and the north (which are the regions of the kings and peoples listed as the final kings), but he does attack someone. Which nations are shown by scripture to fall at this timing?
The collapse of the nations of the United States, and United Kingdom will leave a very vulnerable vacuum of power and resource that must be quickly captured before its control goes to the other powerful nations (among whom will be Russia, and China) In other words this King will have to act quickly to seize the power before others can. This campaign for control and the attacks which overrun the holy land is the opening of the Second Seal with the red horse and rider with a great sword that takes peace from the earth.
It is at this time that the King receives his full power and authority. This is inspired and given by Satan.
Revelation 13: 2 ".... and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
This power and authority comes by way of the False Prophet who is described in Rev. 13: 11-15 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 13. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes all the earth and them which dwells therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14. And deceives 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. 15. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." These miracles will not just be for show; they will be for enforcement of power and punishment for those who will not comply. You might notice Amos 4:11 "I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, (Fire from heaven) and you were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning, yet have you not returned to me, says the Lord."
In Revelation 13: 4-5 we see the result and the fear of the subjugated nations, "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? 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." Notice this Term! Satan had already given his power. And Satan would not have put a term limit as his goal would be total destruction of the earth. This is a term given by the nations to continue in office as Emperor. It is also however the predetermined term that God allows this government to continue.
It is certain that this man has no intention of giving up power at the end of this term!
This brings us to the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The sequence from this point will be continued in Chapter 11 which will be added soon.
It may seem strange to many in our modern era that religious control will be such a part of this empire. Religion in empires has always been the element that supplies compliance and common acceptance across national boundaries. The use of religion has been the adhesive factor of all empires throughout history.
Though this work will refrain from setting specific dates by assumed interpretations of God's Word, it will nonetheless give warning to watch specific events. The events themselves will validate and confirm God's Word and timing.
One such warning and observation is as follows: The influence and control exercised by the False Church during the end time is described in many verses as controlling a great merchandising system that strips the wealth of the world to the benefit of the empire.
There is a prophecy that pertains to this final system of "fornication with all the kingdoms of the world" given in Isaiah 23: 15-18 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. 16. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that has been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered. 17. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit
Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the World upon the face of the earth. 18. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the
Lord: it shall not be treasured or laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing." This last verse proves that this is at the end time as will be discussed in Chapter 12 The Kingdom of God. (Compare with Zech. 14:14 "And . . . the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance")
Though the author will refrain from setting specific dates as this is God's right to determine; the prophecies of God as given in His word will also be given as a warning. Three times in these verses the time period of seventy years is given and specifically after the end of seventy years. This seventy year period is "according to the days of one king". The Hebrew word translated 'king' can also be translated as 'ruler' or 'reigning sovereign'. Queen Elisabeth is the only reigning sovereign that is likely to complete 70 years on the throne, and her throne occupies that of the linage of David of Israel. She is now past 68 years on the throne. This warrants a very watchful attention. It is after the 70 years of the rule of one ruler that this prophecy is fulfilled. The rise of influence of this Great False Church for it's seventh and final time and its associated merchandising is imminent!
The Merchants of The Earth
One great dichotomy of the Great Tribulation time is that while some nations are destroyed, dying of famine, and being enslaved, those of the Beast Power ridden by the Great Whore will be living very sumptuously on the spoils and prey stripped from the Israelite descended countries. There are many scriptures that show this.
Revelation 18: 3 "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."
Note that this great merchandising system is controlled by the Great Whore, or great false church.
Rev. 18: 7 "How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously,"
Notice the attitude of the merchants of the earth when this great false church and the city she rules from are destroyed: Rev. 18: 9 "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. 10. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!' for in one hour your judgment is come. 11. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more:"
Rev. 18: 14-19 "And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls! 17. For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"
Notice the description of the types of merchandise: Rev. 18: 12-13 "The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13. And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men."
We can see prophecy of slavery for the Israelite countries in Deut. 28: 66 "And the Lord shall bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spoke unto you, You shall see it no more again: and there you will be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen and no man shall buy you."
After the King of the North retaliates against the King of the South and overruns the holy land and Egypt, Egypt will become the world center for slave merchandising! Slave ships shall once again ply the oceans of this planet. This time it will be the Israelite descended peoples being marketed!
The Great Whore Church will set up and control a great network of shipping by merchant marine. This church will provide the peoples who will become the merchants of the earth, that strip the wealth of the Israelite descended nations. The Beast will give power to and use this system as Isaiah 10: 6 says, "I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets."
More description will be given of this system in Chapter 11, The Sequence.