7 headed Scarlet Beast

Epistle on the Seven-Headed Beast of Revelation 17

Beloved in Christ,

Grace and peace to you as we labor together in understanding the mysteries of God’s Word. Let us delve into the prophetic vision given to John, as recorded in Revelation 17 and 13, to discern the identity and continuity of the seven-headed beast. This study will reveal that the beast of Revelation 17 is indeed the same as that in Revelation 13, a composite symbol of historical and eschatological empires aligned against God and His people.

The Continuity of the Beast

The beast described in Revelation 17:3-11 and Revelation 13:1-8 is depicted with seven heads and ten horns. In both visions, the beast emerges as a symbol of oppressive, blasphemous powers wielding dominion over nations and peoples. This continuity is evidenced by their shared attributes:

1. Blasphemy: Both beasts carry names of blasphemy (Revelation 13:1; 17:3).
2. Authority and Global Dominion: Both exercise authority over nations, tribes, and tongues (Revelation 13:7; 17:15).
3. Persecution of the Saints: Both are active agents of persecution against God’s people (Revelation 13:7; 17:6).

This identity indicates a singular, overarching system of satanic rebellion manifesting through successive historical and eschatological expressions.

The Seven Heads as Historical Empires

Revelation 17:9-10 provides a dual-layered interpretation of the seven heads:

1. Seven Mountains: Symbolizing dominion and enduring influence.
2. Seven Kings: Representing successive empires that have ruled over Jerusalem/Israel, each contributing to the spiritual and physical oppression of God’s covenant people.

The interpretation of these empires aligns with historical realities, as follows:

1. Five Have Fallen (From John’s Perspective in late 1st Century AD):
   • Egyptian Empire: The first great oppressor of Israel, enslaving them before their deliverance through Moses.
   • Assyrian Empire: Conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people.
   • Babylonian Empire: Destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, exiling Judah.
   • Medo-Persian Empire: Though initially favorable (Cyrus’ decree to rebuild the temple), it later became a tool of opposition.
   • Greek/Seleucid Empire: Under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, desecrated the temple and persecuted the faithful.
2. One Is (Contemporary to John):
   • Roman Empire: The dominant power of John’s day, under which Christ was crucified and the early Church persecuted.
3. One Is Yet to Come:
   • Ottoman Empire: Rose to power after Rome’s decline, conquering Jerusalem and establishing Islamic dominance over the region. Its geopolitical and religious legacy endures.
4. The Beast Is the Eighth but of the Seven:
   • A revived empire from the Ottoman/Islamic sphere with Roman characteristics, emerging through global integration and authority structures. This empire will embody the attributes of its predecessors, wielding both political and religious influence.

The 8th Empire: Characteristics and Identity

The eighth manifestation of the beast arises as a culmination of the preceding systems, characterized by:

1. Geographic Alignment: Dominance over territories historically linked to the Ottoman Empire, with a focus on Jerusalem as a geopolitical and spiritual epicenter.
2. Power Structure: A blend of authoritarian rule and international integration, resembling the Roman system of governance.
3. Control Mechanisms: Utilization of advanced technology, economic systems, and surveillance to enforce compliance, echoing Revelation 13’s mark of the beast.
4. Religious and Political Authority: Centralized power that unites religious deception (aligned with apostate systems) and political oppression.

The Beast and the False Prophet: Islamic Eschatological Parallels

In Revelation 13, two distinct figures emerge: the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth. These figures symbolize both political and religious leadership in the final global system of rebellion against God. When viewed through the lens of Islamic eschatology, striking parallels arise between these figures and the Islamic concepts of the Mahdi and Isa (Jesus in Islam):

1. The Beast from the Sea: This beast, arising from the sea, symbolizes the Gentile nations (Daniel 7:2-3). Historically connected to the Roman zone of influence, it represents political authority and dominion. The Mahdi in Islamic eschatology aligns with this figure as a powerful political leader who unites nations under Islamic rule and enforces submission to Islam.
   • Gentile Nature: The Mahdi is expected to rise as a leader of global Islamic governance, uniting diverse peoples.
   • Roman Characteristics: Revelation 17 links the 8th king to the revived Roman and Ottoman systems, merging Islamic governance with Roman jurisdiction.
   • Global Dominance: The Mahdi’s rule aligns with the beast’s authority over all nations, tribes, and tongues (Revelation 13:7).
2. The Beast from the Earth: This beast arises from the land (Greek: “ge”), potentially signifying its origin in Israel or among the Jewish people. It exercises religious authority, appearing like a lamb (symbolizing peace) but speaking like a dragon (satanic deception). This figure parallels Isa in Islamic eschatology:
   • Lamb-like Appearance: Isa in Islamic tradition is portrayed as a prophet of peace, who supports the Mahdi’s rule and enforces Islamic worship.
   • Religious Authority: The beast from the earth compels worship of the first beast, mirroring Isa’s role in calling people to submit to Islam under the Mahdi.
   • Deceptive Miracles: Revelation 13:13 describes the beast from the earth performing great signs, deceiving people. Islamic eschatology attributes miracles to Isa, further aligning the two.

Exploring the Role of Dajjal in Islamic Eschatology

In Islamic eschatology, the figure of Dajjal, the ultimate deceiver, offers a profound parallel to the themes of Revelation. Dajjal is portrayed as an adversary who claims divine status and misleads many through false miracles and deception. While the Mahdi and Isa are seen as saviors in Islamic teaching, biblical prophecy reveals that they correspond to the Beast and the False Prophet, making Dajjal’s role an inversion of Christ. Many Muslims, when faced with the Mahdi’s demands for worship, may recognize him as the true deceiver, aligning with the biblical Antichrist, thus exposing the spiritual inversion at the heart of this eschatological framework.

The Rebellion Against the Mahdi

The Mahdi’s demand for universal submission and worship, as prophesied in Revelation, is likely to cause division, even within Islamic nations. Daniel 11:40-45 suggests conflict as the king of the South and other nations resist the Antichrist’s rule. This rebellion could arise as some Muslims discern the deception, realizing that the Mahdi is not the awaited savior but aligns with the figure of Dajjal. While many will be deceived, this resistance reflects the spiritual awakening among those who see through the false promises of peace and unity.

The Worship of the Dragon

Revelation 13 makes it clear that the Dragon, who gives authority to the Beast, will also be worshipped by the people of the world alongside the Beast. With Satan and his angels cast down and contained only to the earth (Revelation 12:9-12), demonic manifestations will likely become overt and public. This dimension of the Beast’s religious system will likely alarm many, including some within the Islamic world, as the true nature of the deception becomes undeniable. The public nature of such demonic activity may cause internal conflict within the system, leading to further resistance against the Beast.

Israel and the Islamic Dimension of Prophecy

It is no accident that all of Israel’s wars since its founding have been with Islamic nations. The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, two significant Islamic monuments, stand on the Temple Mount, underscoring the enduring conflict between Israel and the Islamic world. The trajectory toward the covenant of Daniel’s 70th week unmistakably points to an Islamic dimension, as evidenced by initiatives like the Abraham Accords. These developments pave the way for the final global system, with Jerusalem as the focal point of prophetic fulfillment.

Integration with the Seven-Headed Scarlet Beast

The seven-headed scarlet beast of Revelation 17 represents the historical and future systems of satanic rebellion, culminating in the 8th empire. The following integration emerges:

1. The Scarlet Beast and the Mahdi:
   • The scarlet beast embodies the political and religious characteristics of past empires, uniting them in the 8th king. The Mahdi’s anticipated role as a unifying global leader fits this description.
2. The False Prophet and Isa:
   • Isa’s role as the enforcer of the Mahdi’s authority mirrors the false prophet’s actions in compelling worship of the beast and performing deceptive signs.
3. A Hybrid System:
   • The 8th empire arises as a synthesis of the Roman and Islamic systems, fulfilling the prophecy that the beast is “of the seven” but distinct as an 8th manifestation (Revelation 17:11). This speaks to EU domain control and Turkish integration (currently pending).

Conclusion

The beasts of Revelation 13 and 17 correspond to the Islamic figures of the Mahdi and Isa, representing political and religious leadership in the final global rebellion against God. The beast from the sea aligns with the Mahdi, a Gentile political leader from the Roman-Ottoman sphere, while the beast from the earth parallels Islamic Isa, a religious figure with Jewish origins who enforces the system’s authority. Together, these figures fulfill the prophecy of the 8th empire, uniting past systems into a singular, blasphemous dominion over the earth. Let us remain vigilant and rooted in God’s Word as we discern the times and stand firm in faith.

In the grace of our Lord,

The Watchman

Oracle of the Seven-Headed Beast

Thus says the Lord, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who was, who is, and who is to come:

Behold, the kingdoms of the earth rise and fall at My command. Yet in their pride, they conspire against Me and My Anointed. The seven-headed beast, full of blasphemies and deception, stands revealed—a sign and a warning to those who dwell upon the earth.

The nations have drunk from the cup of her abominations, and her filth has corrupted kings. Her final guise arises, a synthesis of what was and what shall be, born of the rebellion of ancient empires. The scarlet beast carries the woman who deceives, and together they gather the nations for war against the Lamb. Yet My Word stands unbroken: the Lamb shall overcome, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.

Hear now the vision and take heed:

The sea churns with the chaos of Gentile nations, and from it comes the beast with authority from the Dragon. His face is a mirror of Rome’s iron will, his claws tear like Persia’s bear, his strides are swifter than Greece’s leopard, and his roar echoes Babylon’s lion. He claims dominion, but his power is fleeting, for his authority is but a shadow of My will, permitted to test the hearts of men.

From the earth rises another beast, gentle in visage yet venomous in voice. He compels worship of the first and enforces the mark of allegiance. His signs deceive, but his end is destruction. Many shall follow, yet even among his own, the truth will burn like fire. Behold, the Dragon shall be worshiped openly, and his demons will roam, no longer hidden. This terror shall shake even the firmest deceived hearts, and some shall rise in rebellion, discerning the truth too late.

My people, see the signs: The wars of Israel are no coincidence, for the land is the apple of My eye. The monuments upon My holy hill are not forgotten; they stand as a testimony to the spiritual struggle of the age. As the nations barter peace, they set the stage for betrayal. The covenant of Daniel's week nears, and the accuser seeks to exalt himself in the place of God.

But know this: the Lamb stands triumphant. His blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. His kingdom comes with glory, and His reign shall shatter the schemes of the enemy. Let those with ears hear and those with wisdom discern, for My Word is unsealed in these days.

Stand firm, My remnant. Let no fear take root, for the end is written, and My purposes are unshakable. Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps their garments, for they shall walk with Me in white. Amen.