In the book of Revelation, we have one of the most mysterious of passages. Revelation chapter 17 describes the character known as The Beast, or in his more familiar title, the Antichrist:

"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, and is not, and yet is. 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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition." _1.

    Using the layered approach to prophecy where we find more than one "layer" of identification, we see the 7 heads are Empires as well as individuals. The five that were fallen are the first five Empires that preceded the Empire in power at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation. Because John the Apostle wrote The Revelation Of Jesus Christ about 90 AD, it is a demonstrable fact that there were indeed five world empires that preceded the then reigning Roman Empire. These five Empires had already ceased to dominate world affairs.

    The five historical Empires I'm referring are all documented in Scripture, and each have the same common denominator - an intense interaction with Israel. They are the Egyptian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Persian Union, and Grecian Empires. The Roman Empire was in full control of world affairs at the time of Jesus and the writing of the New Testament, so it represented the 6th king - the one that "is" in the prophetic text.

    After the Roman Empire disintegrated, the temporal power associated with the Caesars shifted to an ecclesiastical power base in the form of the Popes, and the hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church. When Revelation 17 says "five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come," _2. it segregates the first six kings from the seventh. This is a hint that there could be a gap between the first six kings and the incarnation of the seventh king - or seventh Empire.

    I have repeatedly stated and written that the seventh King/Empire is associated with the national security state phase of America, for it is to continue for only a short time. In terms of sheer longevity, the ancient nations represented in the first six dominions are extremely old.

    Egypt has been around from almost the very beginning. While the Assyrian kingdom is gone, the people survive in the the nations of Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Medes of the Persian Union have been traced to the Turkish Kurds, and the Persians are widely known to be Iran. Obviously, Greece is still a nation as is Italy, so all of these people go back thousands of years. The same cannot be said for America.

    Our nation is, at this writing, 226 years old. This is a very short period of time relative to virtually all the other nation/states in the world. I believe this helps to identify America as the seventh king/empire that "must continue a short space." _3. Furthermore, as what is commonly called the sole remaining world superpower, America currently dominates world affairs in an unprecedented political, economic, and cultural sense.

    "The beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth..." _4. describes the final world Empire that will host the power of the Antichrist. As we have identified America as the seventh king, the eighth must follow America and be truly global in reach - even surpassing the power of the United States of America. While the blind guides continue to crow about the fictional "Revived Roman Empire," the conclusion that the United Nations fulfills the role of the eighth, and final Empire is inescapable for those with ears to hear.

    The prophecy carries a couple of seeming contradictions with the mysterious way that it is phrased. Because we know that the "scripture cannot be broken," _5. we know that the Word of God cannot contradict itself - therefore, the text is seeking to impart a very deep truth that requires "a mind which hath wisdom" _6. to understand. Even though the prophecy speaks of an eighth king, there are actually only seven. The text does say "...there are seven kings." _7. Indeed, when the same verse says that "five have fallen and one is," it states that the OTHER is not yet come. It did not say the others have not yet come. If there were two kings after the first six, the text should have used a plural term because the seventh and eighth kings would total two more. Instead, after the first six kingdoms are referred to, it says "the other is not yet come." _8.

    It is clear that the eighth Empire must be associated with the previous seven for the prophecy states that the eighth king "is of the seven." _9. Because America is the seventh Empire, if the eighth encompasses all of the previous seven, we have a solid description of a multi-national political entity in this verse. The United Nations counts among its members every single one of the previously mentioned seven nation states and peoples. Egypt is a member of the UN. Syria is a member, and so is Iraq. Persia, Greece, and Italy are members. Obviously, America is at the very center of power of the UN.

    The implication that the eighth Empire is not actually a distinct separate nation like the previous seven is also hinted at. Remember, the United Nations has no sovereign homeland or nation other than its member states. The prophecy clearly and succinctly indicates that the eighth king is actually composed "of the seven."

    But this is only the beginning of the incredible understanding imbedded in this wonderful book of the Bible. These passages also provide us with a series of statements that identify the nation that the Antichrist will come from, as well as enough evidence to reveal his actual identity.

    Back in the parallel prophetic book of Daniel, we get a brief glimpse of the spiritual battle that is going on behind the political empires of our temporal realm. In chapter ten, a powerful angel tells Daniel that he has been engaged in a continuing struggle with "...the prince of the kingdom of Persia (who) withstood me one and twenty days." _10. Because the angels of God have more power than earthly rulers, it would seem that this "prince" of Persia that Daniel's angel wrestled with is a dark spiritual entity in the employ of Lucifer and the legions of fallen angels that serve the Devil.

    Later in the same chapter, this unnamed angel of God states that he will return to "fight with the prince of Persia." _11. He further states that "...when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come." _12. In this most informative series of statements, we see the angel engaged in a battle that is so ferocious that he required the help of the great Archangel Michael in order to prevail against this prince. _13.

    In this very same passage, the angel refers to the "kings of Persia" as distinct from this "prince" he is in combat with, thereby providing an additional confirmation that this "prince" is a hostile angelic presence among the kings of Persia. In fact, the Archangel Michael is also referred to as a prince in the very next verse. Because the angel also states that the "prince of Grecia shall come," _14. it would seem that there is a specific Satanic personality at work seeking to influence the political leadership of each successive empire. It's also worth noting that this verse provides us with precisely the sequential order confirmed by history as we know the Grecian empire replaced the Persian.

    It is extremely likely that the various Pharaohs, Kings, Emperors, and Caesars in charge of each successive world empire were closely aligned with the "rulers of the darkness of this world." _15. It is even possible that some of these earthly rulers were actually possessed or indwelled by these "angels which kept not their first estate." _16.

    Actually, it's easily established that many of the ancient cultures held their kings to be part man and part god, or sustained in their office through the will of the "gods." The Pharaohs of Egypt and the Caesars of Rome were both widely held to be gods - indeed they proclaimed themselves as such. This pattern is seen in most of the Middle Eastern cultures including Babylon and Assyria. For example, the evil Syrian king Antiochus IV took the title Antiochus Epiphanes - which literally means god manifest.

    When one of the judgment angels of Revelation tells the Apostle John about "the beast that was, and is not, and yet is," _17. he is definitely speaking about supernatural entities that have been manifested in a recurring role relative to the Empires of the age. Furthermore, these spirits are most certainly associated with the Devil and his angels for the beast is said to "...ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition." _18. In other words, even though each of these various kings has come and gone, the spirit behind them continues. Thus it may be said the evil prince or evil angel behind the various thrones "...was, and is not, and yet is." _19.

    The beast with seven heads passage also gives us a definitive clue relative to the ethnicity of the eighth and final head. Although some prophecy teachers say the Beast will be a Jew, there is not one verse in the Bible that even infers this. What the prophecy does state is he will somehow be "of the seven." I take this to mean that he must be Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, Iranian, Grecian, Italian, or American, because those are the seven nationalities that correspond to the Empires that precede the eighth king.

    Because we have a number of other scriptural accounts that are descriptive of the Antichrist, we can narrow this list relatively quickly. For example, the Antichrist is thought be a great peacemaker that will evidently be trusted by the Jews (as well as the other nations) as they seek to negotiate a settlement with their Islamic territorial rivals concerning the final status of Jerusalem. This immediately eliminates Iraq and Iran for both these states continue to be avowed enemies of Israel.

    The modern states of Greece and Italy have no standing in virtually any political negotiations or interaction between Israel and her Moslem opponents, so they would appear to be unlikely candidates. That would leave Egypt, Syria, or America as the most likely candidates. However, another prophecy in Daniel clearly seems to identify the Antichrist as the Little Horn that comes up out of the Middle Eastern territory occupied by the four generals that succeeded Alexander the Great. _20.

    If this passage in Daniel applies to the Antichrist, this geographic requirement would eliminate an American Antichrist - leaving Syria or Egypt as the only two possibilities for the nationality of the future son of perdition.

    As I write this essay, the Syrian dictator Bashir Assad (the recently installed son of longtime brutal dictator Hafez-Al-Assad) continues to build military capabilities in what can only be characterized as preparations for yet another unprovoked attack on Israel. Concurrently, Egypt has enjoyed a state of peace with Israel for the last 25 years due to the Camp David accords pioneered by the late Anwar Sadat. Which of these two nations do you think is most likely to generate a great peacemaker that is trusted by Israel?

    When one takes into account the fact that the entire plan of God's final redemptive program through JESUS CHRIST was anticipated through the incredible series of miraculous confrontations we know as the Passover and the Exodus, we begin to see the office of Pharaoh is far more significant than previously thought. Pharaoh was the first of the so-called god-kings to exploit and oppress the ancient chosen people of the LORD. He was also the first to peacefully absorb the people of Israel into his ancient kingdom through the efforts of Joseph.

    The devastating plagues that fell on Egypt but spared the Israelites in their midst provides a perfect picture of the Tribulation judgments. Moses and Aaron opposing the might of Pharaoh's court clearly foreshadows the two witnesses of Revelation standing before the dominion of Antichrist. The blood on the door-posts beautifully signifies the safety of being under the blood of Jesus Christ.

    The Exodus is the finale that demonstrates how God will miraculously deliver his people from the final pursuit of Egypt and the power of the world. In short, the Antichrist is a modern day Pharaoh - an Egyptian - and because the United Nations is clearly the world government that has been prophesied to come to power in the last days, we look to the leadership of the UN for a Secretary-General that fits all of these criteria. There has only been one Secretary-General from the Middle East - the Egyptian Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

    In my previous works, I've unwaveringly stated my belief that Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations actually IS the Antichrist. Writing in early 1992 in my book Beyond Babylon, I emphatically asserted that Ghali fits every prophetic expectation that I could find. Now, 10 years later, I see that the Revelation prophecy concerning the beast with seven heads has additional layers of fulfillment that I did not then see.

    Boutros-Ghali was the sixth Secretary-General of the UN. Surprisingly, after serving only one term as the head of the world body, he was precluded from a desired second term by a veto from the United States. The other members of the UN leadership so energetically supported a second term for Ghali, they even offered several compromises to the American government - all to no avail. In humiliation, Ghali withdrew his candidacy, aborted his bid for re-election, and subsequently returned to Egypt. He now lives in Europe where he is the Secretary-General of the Francophone (French speaking) alliance of nations.

    As I write this essay, the 7th Secretary-General, an African man named Kofi Annan, has been in power about 6 years. He is the Seventh king who "must continue a short space." _21. I believe this verse is telling us that Mr.Annan's term in the Secretary-General's office will be interrupted. I originally believed that this would happen during Annan's first term, but it is now clear that it is to occur in his 2nd term. I predict something will occur that will cause Mr. Annan to fail to complete his present term (his second) as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

    When Mr. Annan is removed from the office, almost certainly through his death, I believe Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali will be returned as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. This will be the first time in history that a past leader of the UN will be returned to power. Furthermore, I believe that one of the other events that I've repeatedly predicted, the destruction of New York (as well as other significant portions of America), will be concurrent with the removal of Annan, and the return of Ghali.

    I have also repeatedly prophesied that the United Nations headquarters will be moved to Jerusalem. This reconfiguration of the world body will will occur as the result of the devastation and world crisis associated with World War III - and the beginning of the Tribulation. In order for this to occur, something must happen to change the position of the American leadership concerning Ghali, for our last president Bill Clinton, was Dr. Ghali's primary obstacle to re-election.

    There is a fascinating possibility that portions of Daniel chapter 11 are referring to the first term, ouster, and political resurrection of Dr. Ghali:

"...but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own. reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." _22.

    In Daniel 11:18, the text refers to a prince that shall "cause the reproach offered by him to cease...." _23. The word reproach primarily means to blame, usually accompanied by a rebuke, in a humiliating fashion. History records that Dr.Ghali had discreetly blamed the United States leadership for our continuing failure to pay the agreed upon membership dues of the UN. For several years, the US has withheld payment of over a billion dollars - in an effort to pressure the UN to cut costs. This funding shortfall has created an administrative disaster as the UN keeps running out of money.

    We now know that Ghali privately reproached the Clinton administration for Clinton's failure to forward the promised financial support of the UN - even though he had publicly promised to do so. The conflict between Ghali and Clinton reached a plateau just before the UN Security Council met to consider Ghali's re-election to the office of Secretary-General. The 'straw that broke the camel's back' came just before the election. According to the New York Times, "On November 9, for the only time in the half-century history of the UN, the US was itself dumped - from the important panel of financial experts of the UN's budgetary committee." _24. This reproach of America in general and Clinton in particular, was absolutely unprecedented.

    When Ghali formally came up for re-election, the Clinton administration then publicly reproached Dr.Ghali. Their excuse was his reputed failure to reform the financial structure of the enormous bureaucracy inherent in the global administration. The reproach of Ghali was such an affront that a New York Times article opined that Clinton and the US had "taken leave of common sense" with the "insult and humiliation" _25. of Dr. Ghali.

    Daniel's prophecy says "...a prince for his own behalf [Clinton] shall cause the reproach offered by him [Ghali] to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him." _26. This likely refers to President Clinton's public humiliation of Ghali after Ghali's reproach of the American financial manipulation.

    It is also interesting to see that this �prince' does this for "his own behalf." Bill Clinton is a political sociopath who is addicted to power and takes every reproach personally. He responded to all challenges with rancor and vindictiveness. The text then says "without his own reproach" he strikes back at his opponent. Here we see Clinton's continued refusal to acknowledge his own part in the assorted UN policy failures - instead lashing out and blaming Ghali.

    The prophecy in Daniel says the successor to the one removed due to a reproach is referred to as "a raiser of taxes." _27. This epithet is a strikingly accurate description of Kofi Annan, the present Secretary-General, for at one time he held the title of Budget Director for the United Nations. Indeed, a recent news item in the Washington Post states that Annan's "top priority...(is) planning and executing a far-reaching reform of the world body." _28. This stated goal provides an additional confirmation of the "reproach" of Ghali for his perceived failure to financially reform the UN. .

    In another recent article from the Associated Press Kofi Annan said "I hope...we will see a changed attitude and that the US will commit to paying its dues." _29. At this point, the 185 member UN is almost bankrupt (along with the rest of the world) because of several member's refusal to pay their back membership dues. The United States owes about $1.3 billion. It would seem that Annan is perfectly positioned to fulfill the prophecy by attempting to finalize a world support system to support the burgeoning bureaucracy that would administer the resources of the entire planet.

    Because this aspect of Daniel's prophecy seems to apply to Ghali's successor, the 7th Secretary- General, it is a further confirmation of his projected short lived (or interrupted) rule, for the very next phrase states "but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle." _30. In short, this "raiser of taxes" won't last very long.

    In Daniel 11:21 we arrive at the eighth king - the one who is actually one of the previous seven. "And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." _31.

    This verse further seems to follow the fact that Ghali was not given "the honour of the kingdom" in that he was rejected in the formal election for the post of Secretary-General. Because the verse says that he "shall stand up" in the estate or office of his predecessor, it may be hinting at Ghali volunteering to serve in some form of interim capacity in the wake of the sudden loss of Kofi Annan - as opposed to actually being re-elected to the post. This interpretation is further enhanced by the fact that he takes power "peaceably" and through "flatteries."

    When the crisis brought about by the destruction of New York occurs, it will mandate a state of emergency and enable the martial law and tyrannical suspension of liberties that New World Order planners have surreptitiously sought for many years. Couple this with the fact that the military doctrine of most of America's enemies has always been to execute a first strike when their enemy is in a temporary position of disarray, and you have the potential for a rapid slide into Apocalyptic chaos - in short, the beginning of the Tribulation.

    There is a further point of identification relative to the beast with seven heads. In Revelation the Apostle says "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." _32. Could not this verse be referring to the political resurrection of Dr.Ghali?

    As of this writing, virtually no-one believes Dr.Ghali will be returned to office. In fact, it appears certain that his political career was mortally wounded by the reproach of the American president. He has just turned 80, he has been publicly humiliated, and another man holds the office he so desperately wanted to retain. In other words, this is a real long shot. If he did actually return to power against all the odds, the world would indeed "wonder."

    The prophetic expectation that the Antichrist will literally receive a mortal head wound and be resurrected is tradition - not an established prophetic truth. After all, the text I'm writing about speaks of a seven-headed monster with 10 crowns - hardly something we can take literally. Furthermore, there is nothing to preclude a literal assassination once he does return to power. The strange turn of events that will bring him back simply presages his uncanny ability to "prosper till the indignation be accomplished." _33.

    One final point should be stressed. Because it is extremely likely that the resurrection of Ghali's political fortunes will coincide with a chaotic crisis, his return to power should signal the timing for the beginning of the Great Tribulation. This crisis could be the predicted global famine and/or the inevitable financial crash, but it is more likely that it's related to the inauguration of military hostilities in the Middle East.

    Furthermore, because both passages relating to the seventh king in Revelation speak of his tenure as being very brief, these events will be upon is in a very short period of time. Remember, Revelation says "he must continue a short space" _34. while Daniel writes that "within few days he shall be destroyed." _35. A "short" space and a "few" days are relative terms, but clearly Kofi Annan cannot complete his present term as the 7th head of the UN. The bottom line in this entire scenario is that the dominoes are being stacked up and large numbers of prophecies will be fulfilled in a very tight sequence of events.

    This brings us to the actual timing. Regarding the son of perdition, Revelation tells us that "power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." _36. One cannot help but wonder why the text did not simply say that 'power was given to him for forty two months.' Indeed, the word "continue" is an additional witness to this understanding as it requires that the Beast previously held power.

    While the Rapture Cult tradition of a broken 7 year treaty with 42 months left in it is widely propagated, there is no scripture whatsoever to support that false prophetic expectation. What is in view is an abrupt change in power, wherein the prior head of the UN is reinstated for 42 months. At the end of June 2003, Kofi Annan, the 7th head of the UN will have 42 months left to his term of office.

    As we already believe the UN will be destroyed based upon the deadly wound that is scheduled to "wound" the "head" of the beast, and since we know the actual "beast" is the government, the "head" that is to be destroyed is New York. Thus, after the devastating strike on America, Dr.Ghali will be returned to office under a state of emergency to complete Kofi Annan's term (that will then have 42 months left) and re-establish the UN in another city. That city will be Jerusalem.

    With this thought in mind, the time for the Remnant to make their preparations is fading fast - or to put it another way, "...the night cometh, when no man can work." _37. Through the prophet Ezekiel The Lord speaks of this very time:

"Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision...behold they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God." _39.

    The days are indeed at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision is just around the corner.

December 21, 2002 - James Lloyd

Copyright © 2002 Christian Media Network

See Also

The Beast With 7 Heads Revisited Again (Updated In Late 2007)

Even He Is The Eighth

FOOTNOTES

1. Revelation 17:8,10,11

2. Revelation 17:10

3. ibid; the National Security Act began the 7th phase in 1947

4. Revelation 17:11

5. John 10:35.

6. Revelation 17:9

7. Revelation 17:10

8. ibid.

9. Revelation 17:11

10. Daniel 10:13

11. Daniel 10:20

12. ibid

13. ibid

14. ibid

15. Ephesians 6:12

16. Jude 1:6

17. Revelation 17:8

18. ibid

19. ibid

20. Daniel 8:9

21. Revelation 17:10

22. Daniel 11:18-21

23. Daniel 11:18

24. The No Win Gamble, A M Rosenthal, New York Times, 11/12/96

25. ibid

26. Daniel 11:18

27. Daniel 11:20

28. UN Chief appoints Canadian to help with reform, Denver Post (from the Washington Post) 1/17/97

29. Secretary-General says some in Congress fear UN takeover, Associated Press, London Evening Observer, 2/10/97

30. Daniel 11:20

31. Daniel 11:21

32. Revelation 13:3

33. Daniel 11:36

34. Revelation 17:10

35. Daniel 11:20

36. Revelation 13:5

37. John 9:4

38. Ezekiel 12:22, 23, 27, 28