December 10: THE MAGNIFICENT SWORD AND SHIELD
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. Revelation 17:10
Today we will view overlapping symbolism. John is under the Holy Spirit’s direction to convey this message to followers of Christ without further incurring the wrath of the oppressive Roman power. We saw in verse one the support upholding the apostate church (still future from John’s first-century perspective), or great harlot; this support being many waters, a prophetic symbol for many different peoples and nations. Today we will see that, even in the geography of seven hills (v.9) beneath the city of Rome, there is symbolism for the succession of nations through which Satan has worked to oppress God’s people since the days of Moses.
Jeremiah had prophesied the fall of ancient Babylon, calling that nation a burnt mountain (Jeremiah 51:25), also a foreshadowing of eschatological Babylon’s sure demise. Much of Babylonian philosophy resurfaced in pagan Rome, and when the Lord sent the trumpet judgments, Rome’s fall was described by John as something like a great mountain burning with fire (Revelation 8:8). So we see that many waters represents various nations collectively, and a mountain is a specific nation. Another symbol for a king or a kingdom is beast.
The seven kings in today’s verse represent successive kingdoms through which Satan has enacted severe oppression. The five [that] have fallen are the empires that ruled before John’s time: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. Number six is pagan Rome of John’s day, the one [that] is. From John’s perspective, the other [that] has not yet come is still a future manifestation, that is, papal Rome.
Some detective-like deductions can be made here, hence yesterday’s opener: “Here is the mind which has wisdom…” Because a beast is a symbol for a king or kingdom (see Daniel 7:17,23), we deduce that the seven-headed beast ridden by the harlot represents the seven kings of today’s verse. The common denominator of the beasts throughout Scripture is the persecution of God’s people. History corroborates the Biblical record, including the prophetic recording by John of the activities of the beast that is eschatological Babylon. The 1,260-year period of papal domination came to its end in 1798, but we must be prepared for its full re-emergence as a massive conglomerate of political and religious power with military backing and a positive spin through social media. Those who are deceived by this ecumenical movement will apply peer pressure as well. A personal relationship with Christ can be — at your invitation — a magnificent sword and shield during the great tribulation of the last days. Only His second coming will bring in the ultimate worldwide victory over the collaborative forces of darkness being actively collected today under the direction of popery. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him. Daniel 7:26-27
Reminder: Ephesians 6:11-13