We continue our quest for the identities of the 7 Ruler Kings, which represent the geopolitical history of the world in that they circumnavigate the fate of the Hebrews. Why are we pursuing this study? For one, it allows us to determine the seasons and the times. There can be no doubt: We are living in an interesting time, as some major prophetic events are at the very door. These will have an enormous impact upon the world … expressly so also upon America.

In that vein, we must be sure of our interpretations of Scripture. Correct foundations and facts are key, as we pointed out in the previous part of this series. Errant interpretations down through history have been disastrous for the reputation of Bible prophecy. We continue our quest for the identities of the 7 heads of the beasts shown in Revelation 12, 13 and 17.

Importance of Correct Interpretation

But why should the true identity of the 7 heads even matter? Aren’t the visions of the prophets too imprecise and vague to allow for any specific meaning? If we were to argue over their identity, would it not be, as Apostle Paul says, “to devote [oneself] to myths and endless genealogies”? Is it not true that things like these “[…] promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work” (1 Timothy 1:4)?

Of course, we should not “promote controversial speculations.” However, we should be advancing God’s work by rightly dividing the Word. This we want to do, and there is great profit in doing so. Everything in the Bible has been written for a reason. As Paul says, all of it “is useful for teaching [and] correcting” (2 Timothy 3:16) or “as examples […] written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Also, an incorrect interpretation of the Bible is never without consequence. Most certainly, an incorrect eschatology has lured much of Christendom onto the slippery slopes of Reconstructionism, Social Gospel, Amillennialism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism, Relativism, etc. (to name a few distortions).

We offer at least three reasons why it is beneficial to study the meaning behind the “beast images” and the various heads and horns found throughout Scripture. For one, this study definitely speaks to end-time geopolitical trends. These images give Bible-studying Christians—even more so the Jews—an ability to accurately determine the “season” of the world.

For example, were Jews to study Daniel and accept Revelation also as inspired Scripture, they would not be so susceptible to being deceived by the False Messiah when he comes. An understanding of this topic better prepares the Christian to identify the prophetic “season.”

Secondly, a proper understanding of the beasts provides a bulwark against deception. Our enemy is the father of lies and deception (John 8:44). The Last Days are repeatedly characterized as deceptive and a trap … all instigated by the Dragon (Satan). This time is truly treacherous.

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). We are persuaded that those deceptive times are already upon us today.

And thirdly, the visions of the world’s 7 Ruler Kings extend to today. How so? All the ones that Daniel sees will be in existence and on the world scene during the Last Days. The prophet Daniel says that it will be “in the time of those kings [that] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).

Common Characteristics of World Geopolitical Rulers

Are there any commonalities among the 7 Ruler Kings (RKs)? We note at least seven common characteristics shared by all.

1. First, all the Ruler nations are only of primary significance as they have a role in relation to the history of Israel. All of them suppressed Israel and/or Judah.

Said Isaiah: “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us” (26:12-13). Israel was often under the thumb of neighboring countries. However, these were small, and their occupations were relatively short.

Regarding Assyria and Egypt’s role, the Bible says this: “O my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did […]” (see Isaiah 10:24-27).

Further, also referring to Babylon, the Bible states: “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 50:17).

In conclusion, all the original 7 Kings (depicted as heads, plus also the 8th who is the Antichrist) have or yet will intersect with the descendants of Hebrews. All of them will find at least part of their kingdoms geographically and politically extending into the Middle East at one time or another.

2. All seven societies of these Ruler Kings were/are essentially pagan. They are part of an “unreasoning” beast that will perish. Many scholars have produced reliably documented works that connect the pagan religions that underlay all seven kingdoms (including that of our day!). This provides evidence that the same “scarlet whore” (signifying spiritual harlotry and paganism) was common to all kingdoms.
3. The collective times of the 7 RK rule show a Man/Satan conspiratorial insurrection against God. Satan and his “princes” (aka demons or fallen angels) conspire to mislead mankind.
4. All these 7 kingdoms are noted in the Bible for their pride and over-confidence…even rising up to heaven. They are all symbolized as mountains and tall, lofty trees on one or more occasions in the Old Testament.
5. Each successive RK kingdom supersedes the prior RK—each time expanding the realm and influence of the previous kingdom (except, of course, Egypt, which was the first).
6. All seven of the world kingdoms show a merging of religion with prosperity and fertility worship (materialism). All these kingdoms, therefore, merged materialism with religion. Mammon was enjoined by religion as it is today. God and Mammon are worshipped simultaneously, though Christ clearly said this was not possible as they represent two opposite masters.
7. All seven kingdoms have left legacies and influences that are still visible in our time today. Readers will be interested to explore this last point further. Just what legacies have the Ruler Kings left to posterity?

We will explore this answer next.

Prophetic Modernity

The Bible indicates that the ruling world regime of the Last Days bears the characteristics of at least four world empires. Revelation 13 presents a beast that is a composite of the four previous world kingdoms —Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

These are the same four world kingdoms that Daniel saw represented in animal/beast form—the lion, bear, leopard, and the terrible creature. Here in the New Testament, they are shown together in one beastly body (see Daniel 7).

Why are all four shown together as one animal in Revelation 13? There are at least two reasons. First, the prophet Daniel says that it will be “in the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). These are the very same Ruler Kings that Daniel saw both as beasts and parts of the statue headed by Nebuchadnezzar. It is these four RKs only that are shown as part of the beast of Revelation 13.

It only follows that if these historical Ruler Kings are still in existence today, then it would not be surprising that they will have left their influence upon the world. Indeed, this is the case, as we will show.

The Modern-Day Legacies of Past Kingdoms

Our pagan ancestors remain with us under many guises. Accomplished historians, no doubt, will see many more connections than this writer can present. We will review at least one aligning Scripture verse.

Starting with the earliest kingdom that Daniel saw, here are some possible connections. Just what things or conventions do we encounter in our lives today that are of Babylonian origin? These are so embedded into our daily lives, no doubt we no longer notice them anymore.

Research shows that Babylon was the mother of modern-day commercialism and its preoccupation with wealth. Babylon represented the first “gilded age.” After all, it was shown as the head of gold in Daniel’s vision of the tall statue (Daniel 2). Nearly all the documents recovered from that early Babylonian era refer to commerce.

The concepts of banking, compound interest, promissory notes, and even mutual funds derive from that time. Its numerical system is based on the number 60 (the sexagesimal system, which extends back to earlier Sumerian cultures) and is still deeply embedded in our society.

We still count 360 degrees in a circle and in trigonometry. Until not too long ago, a 360-day cycle was still considered the financial year for purposes of calculating interest. The word “dozen” is the Babylonian word for “a fifth,” meaning one-fifth of sixty.

Twelve is a prominent number, probably because it was based upon the 12 moon cycles per year. We still count 60 minutes to the hour, 60 seconds to the minute. From these and other connections, we see that the lion remains the head of gold today. The same “commercial culture” will be (and is) the hallmark of the last-day global society (Zechariah 5:5-11; Revelation 18).

In the next part, we will continue our quest to prove the identities of the 7 Ruler Kings shown in Revelation 12, 13, and 17. As already mentioned, the reign of these heads strikes right into our times.

Just what attributes of ancient Medo-Persia are evident in our modern societies today?

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Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.

Contact Wilfred at: staff@eternalvalue.com