We can see on the prophetic horizon a monstrous beast lumbering in this direction with a woman riding astride its back. Dave Hunt, you might recall, wrote a provocative—even controversial—book on the subject: The Woman Rides a Beast. Most literalists believe (as did Hunt) the “woman” represents the apostate religious system that will be Antichrist’s mistress, as a counterfeit of the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ.

The matters involved present a terrifying specter—a foreshadowing of bloody things to come, given John to record on the Isle of Patmos almost two thousand years ago:

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (Revelation 17:3-6).

Historicists–those who believe that most prophecy, including this one, has been fulfilled historically—say this all took place during the Roman-based persecutions throughout early Church history. The prophecy, they say, has nothing to do with things to come, except in the most general sense. Certainly, the prophecy has nothing specific to do with an end-times persecution leading to the most terrible time in human history. Such a view presents a torturous task for historicist adherents who try to explain the Revelation 17 prophecy of the wicked woman on the hideous beast.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which 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. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:12-14).

This powerful ten-nation entity and the beast have no historical basis as accomplished fact. Any dealing with this part of the prophecy from the perspective of any but the futurist view—that there is much Bible prophecy yet to be literally fulfilled—requires spiritualizing, allegorizing, or else applying pure sophistry to everything to do with these Scriptures.

Contemporary headlines, as they do for so many prophecies yet future, make the case for the Revelation 17 prophecy coming into view in our time. It is literally shaping up for fulfillment before the eyes of those with prophetic discernment. We’ve used these commentaries many times to dissect and examine news stories that show the governments of the world reconfiguring into what George H. W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Barack Obama, and many others have termed “New World Order.” The dire global economic crises that have moved toward critical mass just within the past couple of years have shown the inextricable national fiscal interlinkages.

It has become obvious that the world is being forced into a monetary mold that could easily morph into something like the ten-kingdom power bloc God’s Word says will give its power and authority to the beast. I believe it will be the Rapture of the Church that will quickly bring about that ten-king fiscal power bloc.

So, it’s reasonable to expect the harlot who rides the beast—the agglomerate ten kings and kingdoms of Revelation 17—to be somewhere in the prophetic picture, if indeed we are witnessing that monster in the making.

There has always been much talk, among those who watch for signals of the end times, about a final Catholic pope who might be Antichrist’s False Prophet. I‘m not one who believes a future pope will necessarily become that second beast of Revelation 13.

However, the religious organization the pontiff heads will, I believe, be a major part of the nucleus of the religious amalgamation outlined in Revelation 17.

It’s quite interesting to consider here the perspective of one who came out of the Catholic Church and who I believe is one of the key observers of these profound times we face as we watch for our Lord’s return.

The new pope appears to be well-qualified to be the head of an international organization. He can speak five languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and he can also read Latin and German. He is well-educated, holding advanced degrees in Mathematics and Theology. But is he qualified to be the head of the church that Catholics believe was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ? The short answer is a resounding “No!” Jesus Christ, God’s perfect man and man’s perfect God, is the only one qualified! He is the One who purchased His church with His own blood, and He is its only Head and only foundation (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 3:11).

Catholics have foolishly replaced Christ as Head of the church with the pope. This is why the Reformers referred to the Pope as the antichrist, which means the one who replaces or stands in the place of Christ. The Bible has many warnings concerning antichrists and trusting in mortal men. “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands…. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him” (Jer. 17:5-7). “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3).

Will the Pope Be Liberal, Conservative, or Biblical?

Many Catholics are wondering if Pope Leo XIV will be liberal or conservative on social and political issues. Yet, they should be more concerned with biblical issues that have eternal consequences. If he continues to preach a false gospel that keeps 1.4 billion Catholics on the wide road to destruction, he is accursed (Gal. 1:6-9). (“What Will Catholics Do with Pope Leo XIV?” Mike Gendron, Proclaiming the Gospel, June 2025)

The new pope is at the center of the ongoing reach of the Catholic Church into the European structure from which the Antichrist regime, I believe, will emerge. The following shows that continuing relationship between the EU and the Vatican.

Led by its President, H.E. Mgr Mariano Crociata, the COMECE delegation introduced itself and engaged in discussion with the Holy Father on the current state of the European integration process and the European Union’s role in promoting peace and integral human development in an increasingly uncertain and rapidly evolving world. During the audience, Pope Leo XIV underscored the significance of COMECE’s mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union.

During the meeting, a number of pressing themes were addressed. These included the urgent need to promote dialogue and peace both within Europe and globally; the challenges posed by migration and asylum; the social implications of emerging technologies, particularly those based on Artificial Intelligence (AI); and the erosion of democracy in various regions.

The new pontiff particularly emphasized the Christian roots of Europe and their significance for the European project, while also acknowledging the presence of other cultural and religious traditions, and highlighting the importance of guiding younger generations in their faith and supporting their integral development. (“Pope Leo XIV to Host EU Bishops’ Delegation in First Official [Meeting],” CatholicVote.org, https://catholicvote.org)

This brings home to my thinking how many of the megachurches within Christianity are, similarly to the EU “summits,” contributing to setting up platforms that will produce the woman who will one day ride upon the back of the beast government of Revelation 17. Like in the EU get-together, there is compromise at the heart of these mega-efforts at man-made salvation.

The methodologies employed by such churches include the idea to bring together the saved and unsaved in a sort of “summit.” The idea is one of thesis (Christian faith) and antithesis (the lost or unsaved), with the objective of producing synthesis. The “summits,” in these cases, aim to bring about dialogue between the two opposite worldviews to produce answers (synthesis) that both sides can live with.

The process is satanic at its core, denying that God’s way to redemption and reconciliation is necessary. Apostasy is the result—the Laodicean model for the end of the age.

Be sure that you’re not a part of helping that woman of wickedness climb upon the back of the beast that will one day be scarlet with the blood of the Tribulation saints.