End Times Truth
Prophecies of the Second Coming of Christ
End Times News
Terrorism News
New World Order and Globalism
European Union News
Smart Card News
Biometrics & Identification Technology
RFID & Surveillance Technology
Nuclear Weapons and Advanced Military Systems
Escape to Safety
Principles of Prophecy
The Test of a Prophet
The Purpose of a Prophet
The Blessing and Curse
The Scattering of Israel
The Scattering of Judah and Jerusalem
The Final Scattering of Israel
The Regathering of Israel
Gathered in Unbelief
Prophecies of 1948
Restored with Fury
Trembling and Fear
Wars and Battles of Israel
Success Teetering On the Brink of Disaster
The Palestinian Problem
Daniel's Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
The Start Date for the Seventy Weeks
Calculating the Time of Messiah
Daniel's Seventieth Week
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
The Final Empire
Daniel's Four Beasts
The Dreadful and Terrible Beast
The Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
The Empire-Beast Arises
The Empire-Beast Today
Rise of the European Community
A New World Order Arises
The Group of Seven
Globalist Movements
The Antichrist
The Persona of Pride
The Antichrist is Revealed
The Second Beast of Revelation
Power, Signs, and Wonders
Branded for Death
The Cashless Society
Plastic Money
A Wired Society
ATM and POS
Rise of the Internet
The Identification Problem
The Final Mark
Surveillance and Control
The Imagery of 666
Barcode Technology and 666
Security Permissions Setting 666
The Abomination of Desolation
The Time of the End
The Attack of Russia
The Battle Begins
The Attack of China
Nuclear War and the Great Tribulation
The Effects of Nuclear Weapons
The Mushroom Cloud
The Fireball and Thermal Pulse
Firestorms and Conflagrations
The Blast Wave
Radioactive Fallout and Clouds of Dust
Collapse of the Ecosystem
The Seventh Trumpet
Christ's Predictions
The Sign of the Son of Man
The Testimony of the Disciples
The Trumpet Sounds
Delivered from God's Wrath
The Witness of the Old Testament
The Importance of Knowing When
Characteristics of Christ's Return and the Rapture
The People of the Kingdom
The Redemption of Israel
Israel in the Kingdom
End Times Chronology
The Sign Posts of History
Israel in the Last Days
Events Signaling the End
You are here: Home / New World Order / The Empire-Beast Arises
The Deadly Wound
If we now continue with John's description of the rise of this final world power, the Empire-Beast, we see that his vision continues to parallel Daniel's almost exactly. John, however adds the additional detail concerning a deadly wound to the Beast that would be healed.
"And I saw one of his heads as though it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast.
"And they worshiped the dragon who gave power unto the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
"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.
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."
Rev. 13:3-6
Before we can fully interpret this passage we must remember from the prophecy of Revelation chapter seventeen that the seven heads of the vision correspond to the seven empires of Biblical history. John now tells us that he sees one of these heads endure a deadly wound and then subsequently be healed. He further says that after the healing of this "head" takes place, the entire world will begin to "wonder after" or literally worship the Empire-Beast. It also is no small coincidence that concurrent with these events John sees within the image of the beast, "a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies". This entire scenario correlates very well with the previous interpretation of Daniel's vision of the fourth beast. Daniel had originally said that the fourth beast would manifest itself at the end as a group of ten nations (ten horns). He also said that at some point in its brief history, a leader would come out of the ten and uproot a portion of the empire in his rise to absolute power. The Apostle John subsequently predicts that this "uprooting" process of three of the first ten nations will be so devastating for the empire that the confederation will appear to suffer a fatal blow. According to the symbolism within the book of Revelation, this wound will fall upon the seventh "head" of world political history, or in other words, upon the ten-horned confederated form of the fourth world empire. John tells us that it will not only survive the wound but become more powerful than anyone ever dreamed possible. What will seem to be at first a "partly strong and partly broken", loose association of ten nations will, after being wounded and healed, become a unified empire with the Antichrist himself at its helm. This is exactly what the Lord goes on to tell us in Revelation chapter seventeen. After he provides John with the interpretation for the seven heads upon the Empire-Beast, saying that "five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come", he continues the prophecy in this manner…
"And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."
Since we have previously identified all the kingdoms corresponding to the seven "heads" of Biblical history, how is it that suddenly this prophecy now mentions an "eighth head"? What could the eighth head possibly signify if the seven heads on the beast supposedly represent all the empires that were to exist from Egypt's time all the way up to the time of the end? The answer to this question can be found in the above interpretation of the "death" and "resurrection" of the Empire-Beast. When the final ten-horned beast rises to power, that initial form of the empire will completely fulfill John's prophecy in Revelation 13:1-2. In its own right, it will be both the fulfillment of the final form of the fourth world empire as described by Daniel's vision and at the same time it will fulfill the symbolism of the seventh head of John's prophecy. In reality, then, this evil empire is seen to arise even before the advent of the Antichrist. This is important to understand, because as this Empire-Beast arises out of the raging sea it has 7 heads and 10 horns, but the little horn has not yet come. However, sometime after the beast's rise, the empire will undergo a radical change. With the revealing of the Antichrist, it actually will be considered a separate kingdom. Instead of a partly strong and partly broken alliance of nations, it will then become a unified monster that will devour the entire earth. In this respect, the final form of the fourth beast (or the seventh head) will actually exist in two very different states—the second stage coming forth out of the former. That is why the Lord says that the eighth "head" (or kingdom) is to be "of the seven". The second, more powerful stage of the empire will come forth out of the partly strong/partly broken and "wounded" first stage. The seventh head, therefore, represents the ten-horned empire before the Antichrist arrives, and the eighth head is the unified kingdom that results after he comes on the scene. This is a critical aspect of this prophecy to understand because it relates to the transition of the kingdom as it moves to world prominence. The "death" and "resurrection" of the empire will ultimately help pave the way to establishing the absolute dictatorship of the Antichrist. The lack of unity that is predicted to be present in the empire before the Antichrist comes on the scene will suddenly be replaced by a true world-devouring beast after he appears. The next two verses confirm this concept:
"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
"These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."
The transformation that occurs among the ten nations after the coming of the Antichrist will be the key to establishing the Empire-Beast as a power to be reckoned with on a world scale. Some commentators who have incorrectly identified the first beast of Revelation 13 as the Antichrist have also wrongly concluded that the prophecy of its mortal wounding somehow indicates that the leader himself will die and subsequently rise from the dead. However, it is the empire which receives the deadly wound, not the man. Conversely, it is the Antichrist who succeeds in "healing" the empire and molding it into one political unit. His seemingly miraculous leadership will be the greatest single force in causing the entire world to "wonder" after the Empire-Beast and swear allegiance to it when it finally arises in new-found unity.
The Duration of the Beast's Reign
The Bible also is very specific as to how long the Empire-Beast will be allowed to continue after the Antichrist comes on the scene. In Revelation 13:5, John says that the empire will be able to reign supreme and unabated in its power for a period of only 3.5 years ("…and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months"). For those who think the Bible is not specific about anything, you will soon see that the predictions concerning the last seven years of this age are extremely precise. Forty-two months is exactly how long God is going to permit the evil of this blasphemous empire to continue before he does something about it. In the book of Daniel there is even a reference which also hints at this same time period for the life expectancy of the empire. However, in that early prophecy God had him use such figurative language that it would have been difficult if not impossible to interpret it without John's explanation in the book of Revelation. Daniel had simply said,
"…they shall be given into his hand [i.e. the Antichrist's] until a time and times and the dividing of time"
Dan. 7:25
One can interpret that statement as meaning that there will be a period of three and one-half "times" representing the reigning history of this last empire. In other words, one "time", two "times", and one-half "time" (or the "dividing of time" in the language used here; Daniel however does say "half" a time in Dan. 12:7). Now, from the discussion of Daniel's prophecy of the "seventieth week" (see Israel Tomorrow) we know that the final seven years of history are often presented as being divided into two equal halves consisting of three and one-half years each (the years being 360 days long to match the Jewish calendar). The three and one-half "times" that Daniel saw as governing the lifespan of the fourth Empire-Beast was therefore a symbolic description for three and one-half years. In this respect, exactly half of the final "seventieth week" correlates perfectly with the 42-month period given by John as well as the three and one-half years given by Daniel. It is amazing how these prophecies fit together so precisely even though they were written down hundreds of years apart. One should be careful to keep in mind that up to this point in John's prophecy, chapter thirteen of Revelation has primarily focused upon the empire as a whole. The Antichrist has appeared in these passages (and similarly in Daniel's vision) as merely a significant personage within the Empire-Beast itself (i.e., Rev. 13:1-10). This aspect of the interpretation is important, because many people have incorrectly tried to apply the first ten verses of this chapter specifically to the Antichrist. When this approach is used, the prophecy quickly becomes confusing and the last half of the chapter barely makes any sense. On the other hand, when the beast arising out of the sea in verse one is properly recognized to be an empire appearing after the manner of Daniel's prophecies, then everything in this prediction begins to fall into place perfectly.
Next: The Empire-Beast Today
Recent News and Posts on End Times Prophecy
The Globalist Plot to Change the World System In the wake of the Wuhan virus and the disruptions caused to the health, political, and economic systems of the world, many powerful leaders are now taking advantage of the pandemic in an attempt to bring about a New World Order. The advocates of globalism are calling […]
Chinese Coronavirus Fears Lead to Greater Surveillance and Control
In 2020, the world suddenly moved closer to a global surveillance system under the auspices of public "health and safety". The Chinese coronavirus fears stemming from a global pandemic has provided all the excuse that leaders needed to increase societal controls and implement high tech solutions to monitor entire populations. Even in countries with relative […]
The Coronavirus Pandemic and the End Times
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 [also called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (or SARS-CoV-2)] is continuing to spread around the globe from its origin in the Wuhan region in China. It is now threatening the health and the economy of all countries, as normal life shuts down to contain the infection. Thousands of people have […]
The Tyranny of Technocracy
A new type of global governance is taking form, and it's threatening to become a monster. It is based not upon traditional political theories such as capitalism, socialism, communism, or fascism. This new system transcends all previous political systems to create something far more dangerous. Instead of being based upon a ruling class operating within […]
Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria
News reports from Israel on Sunday, May 12, 2019, indicated that the US won't oppose Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, which would involve Israeli annexation of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. This region has been known to the Jews as the territories of Judea and Samaria, and it has been a hot […]
Russia, Iran, and Israel Battle for Military Advantage in Syria
The very nations that are predicted in the Bible to fight within the Middle East at the Time of the End now battle for military advantage in Syria. Throughout 2018, Iranian forces have been setting up bases in Syria, and several times they have prompted Israel to respond militarily. On May 10th, during the early […]
Israel's 70th Anniversary
Israel's 70th anniversary has occurred, which memorialized and celebrated their sudden rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948. Israel's rebirth was the most momentous prophetic fulfillment in recent history as they became an independent nation again in their former homeland against all odds. After being scattered throughout the world since their rejection of Christ […]
The War in Syria and the End Times
The war in Syria that began in 2011 as a civil war between government forces and various factions seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, has now become a battleground for many opposing forces. The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, previously revealed to the UN Security Council that Iran had amassed a surrogate […]
Chaos in Wake of Trump's Recognition of Jerusalem
A massive, Hezbollah-inspired protest involving tens of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians occurred in Beirut shortly after Trump announced he would move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. The protesters could be heard chanting that America was "the Great Satan" and Israel "the little Satan". The Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech at the rally […]
Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital
President Trump said this week that the U.S. for the first time now fully recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and he also said that he will order the State Department to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Trump had promised since the presidential campaign in 2016 that he would move […]
Recent In-Depth Articles on End Times Prophecy
Bible prophecy predicts that there will be several significant events signaling the End of the Age. These seminal events will occur just prior to the beginning of a period … [more]
The final aspect of the prophecies that relate to the effects of nuclear war is the widespread pollution of land and water by radioactive fallout, dust from the explosions and … [more]
The incredible prophecies of Israel in the Last Days are the key to understanding just how close we are to the End of the Age. The Bible predicts virtually everything that … [more]
One of the first events predicted to occur in the early years of the Kingdom Age is the fulfillment of the final ingathering of all the scattered Jews back to the land of … [more]
Two of the most important events for the Jewish people that are predicted to occur near the start of the Kingdom Age include the redemption of Israel and the restoration of … [more]
In the previous sections, we have seen that everything the Bible describes as being a characteristic of the Great Tribulation also correlates precisely to what is now expected … [more]
Scorpions of Death As we have seen in previous sections, one of the main consequences of a nuclear explosion happening at or near ground level is that millions of tons of … [more]
The Trumpet Judgments In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John records terrible visions of nuclear weapons causing vast destruction at the end of the age through the … [more]
Although the formation of a mushroom cloud has become the most recognizable feature of a nuclear explosion (see previous section), it is actually not the generation of smoke … [more]
The effects of nuclear weapons have been studied extensively since the initial use of atomic bombs upon Japan in 1945. As the pillars of smoke rose above the decimated cities … [more]
Fire, Smoke, and Brimstone The Battle of Armageddon is predicted to be the last and greatest conflict of mankind. Even the non-believing world has adopted this Biblical term … [more]
End Times Truth Site Map
End Times Truth Home
Escape to Safety in the End Times
The Bible provides the only solution to the evil of this world. While the world is heading for a judgment day as a result of sin and rejecting God's love through Christ, an individual can escape that fate through a simple act of faith. In fact, you can be as certain of making it through the end times and of being saved from judgment as the Lord's predictions are assured of coming true. For those that can see the truth in God's Word through prophecy, know also that the Bible provides a simple and guaranteed alternative to judgment, which is vital for every person to understand. Read more...
Bible Copyright Notices
Biblical quotations used throughout this web site may come from one of several authoritative translations:
1. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
2. The New Scofield Reference Bible, Authorized King James Version, Copyright 1967 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Bible text in public domain.
3. The King James Version of the Bible, in the public domain.
4. NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2021 End Times Truth