The Beast and the False Prophet –The Revival of Radical Islam–Chapter 2. 1 CHAPTER TWO A VISION OF THE BEAST Introduction In the early 1990’s as a result of the Holy Spirit’s quickening, and the media reports of the collapse of the U.S.S.R., I found that an old interest in Bible prophecy was renewed and I read widely on the subject in the following years. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, brought further revelation in understanding the “times in which we live”, and on 14 th October 2001, I preached a morning sermon at Church called “The Day That Changed the World” referring to the att ack on the World Trade Centre towers and the Pentagon. I realize now that I didn’t have a full understanding of events then, but as time went on, I sorted some things out in my mind and some of the events I was witnessing began to fit into place in a rather different end-time scenario, than that which I had pre viously understood. On 16 th December 2001, I was again asked to do a “post-script” evening sermon which I called “Enigma”. This focused on the apocalyptic end -time Beast from the Sea in Revelation 13:1-4. I was interested in the description of this “Leopard/Bear/Lion like” Beast, compared to the “animal -like” Beasts mentioned in Daniel chapter 7, which relate to ancient, historical world Empires - Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. In my research on the subject I read some Historical Political World Atlases from the local library, and whilst plotting the rise and fall of Daniel’s 4 Gentile “beast” Empires on the maps, it seemed my eyes were opened, and instead of seeing the shape of the ancient Empire of Persia, I saw a big “animal-like” creature with a twisted body, with two horns on its head. It was a map of the Persian Empire under Darius – about 500 B.C. Its body seemed to be raised up on one side, and I was i ntrigued with its two horns, situated on the European side of the Bosporus Strait near the Golden Horn (Istanbul’s harbour). This was one of the 4 Beast Empires described in Daniel 7, seen firstly by Daniel as a “bear raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth” and in its later manifestation as a “ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other...” Dan. 7:5 and 8:3-4.Both “clues” to this Bear/Ram beast can be seen in the following Map of the Persian Empire, (outlined in green) i.e. the raised up side to the North-East, and the two horns to the West intruding into Eastern Europe, situated on the head of the beast which is now Modern Turkey. The Beast’s front feet are planted in Egypt and Libya, and it appears to be crouching, ready to leap fo rward. As well as the interpretation of the “textual descriptions” of the Beast Empires and the symboli sm and meaning behind the names of the Beasts – Lion, Bear, Leopard, and “dreadful and terrible”; I then understood that they could be pictorially seen on geographical maps. In Daniel 7:3-8 the 4 beast Empires come up out of the sea. Previously I had understood that “the sea” meant that these beast empires had leaders
The Beast and the False Prophet – The Revival of Radical Islam – Chapter 2. 1
CHAPTER TWOA VISION OF THE BEAST
IntroductionIn the early 1990’s as a result of the Holy Spirit’s quickening, and the media reports of the collapse ofthe U.S.S.R., I found that an old interest in Bible prophecy was renewed and I read widely on thesubject in the following years.
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, brought further revelation in understanding the “times in which we live”,and on 14th October 2001, I preached a morning sermon at Church called “The Day That Changed theWorld” referring to the attack on the World Trade Centre towers and the Pentagon. I realize now that Ididn’t have a full understanding of events then, but as time went on, I sorted some things out in mymind and some of the events I was witnessing began to fit into place in a rather different end-timescenario, than that which I had previously understood. On 16th December 2001, I was again asked todo a “post-script” evening sermon which I called “Enigma”. This focused on the apocalyptic end-timeBeast from the Sea in Revelation 13:1-4. I was interested in the description of this “Leopard/Bear/Lionlike” Beast, compared to the “animal-like” Beasts mentioned in Daniel chapter 7, which relate toancient, historical world Empires - Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.
In my research on the subject I read some Historical Political World Atlases from the local library, andwhilst plotting the rise and fall of Daniel’s 4 Gentile “beast” Empires on the maps, it seemed my eyeswere opened, and instead of seeing the shape of the ancient Empireof Persia, I saw a big “animal-like”creature with a twisted body, with two horns on its head. It was a map of the Persian Empire underDarius – about 500 B.C. Its body seemed to be raised up on one side, and I was intrigued with its two
horns, situated on the European side of the Bosporus Strait near the Golden Horn (Istanbul’s harbour).This was one of the 4 Beast Empires described in Daniel 7, seen firstly by Daniel as a“bear raised up onone side with three ribs in its mouth” and in its later manifestation as a“ram which had two horns, andthe two horns were high; but one was higher than the other...” Dan. 7:5 and 8:3-4.
Both “clues” to this Bear/Ram beast can be seen in the following Map of the Persian Empire, (outlinedin green) i.e. the raised up side to the North-East, and the two horns to the West intruding into EasternEurope, situated on the head of the beast which is now Modern Turkey. The Beast’s front feet areplanted in Egypt and Libya, and it appears to be crouching, ready to leap forward.
As well as the interpretation of the “textual
descriptions” of the Beast Empires and thesymbolism and meaning behind the namesof the Beasts – Lion, Bear, Leopard, and“dreadful and terrible”; I then understoodthat they could be pictorially seen ongeographical maps.
In Daniel 7:3-8 the 4 beast Empires comeup out of the sea.
who come out of the people masses, i.e. the “sea of humanity”. Other commentators refer to the “sea”as the “abyss” from which the sea monster rises.
I now see that each successive beast Empire as portrayed by Daniel, is simply a contiguous “animalshaped” land mass that is bordered by the sea on a geographical map. Geography dictates that “land”
rises up out of the sea, whereas “people” rise up out of the land, (i.e. live on the land). Thisinterpretation would also explain why, because of its amorphous and disconnected shape, the vast andranging “dreadful and terrible” intercontinental Roman Empire was given no “animal” name.
See maps in previous chapter.
If this idea of a “land-mass” is applied to John’s1st beast of Revelation 13:1-10 which he seescoming upout of the sea , then it can be seen to be a God-opposing, anti-Christian composite empire with specificfeatures, including “a mouth” which rules over an area covered by its historical “name-sake” beastEmpires Lion/Babylon, Bear/Media-Persia, Leopard/Macedon-Greece in the Middle East.
As a contrast, the 2nd beast of Revelation 13:11-16 whichrises up out of the land, is deemed in thisstudy to be a man who exercises all the powers of the composite Beast Empire as he embarks on sometype of fascist religious dictatorship. He is later called the False Prophet in Rev. 16:13, 20 and 20:10,and the description of this man will be explored in Chapter Four of this book.
John‟s vision of the 7 headed Beast from the SeaRevelation 13:1-10 In this study the setting of Revelation 13 is based on the view that the great red dragon of Revelationchapter 12, symbolizes Satan in his failed attempt to destroy both the “man-child” who was caught up
to the throne of God at His ascension, and the woman who brought him forth who fled into thewilderness to be nourished and protected from Satan’s attempts to destroy her. i Thwarted in hisattacks he then makes war with the “remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God andbear testimony to Jesus.” (i.e., Jews, Messianic Jews and Christians) Rev. 12:17.
The R.V. indicates that it is Satan who stood on the sand of the sea, seemingly calling forth into theearthly sphere the next manifestation of his evil influence. It is John who sees“... a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon hisheads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his
feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion ...” Rev. 13:1-2a
This first beast of Revelation 13 therefore represents a“last days” type of empireii
which is empoweredby Satan and has a definite connection to Daniel’s first three Beasts.(LION, BEAR, LEOPARD i.e.,Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece.) Additionally this “beast from the sea” is given a mouth by which itmay utter blasphemies against God.
Rev. 13:5 “ 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.”
John describes this rising beast in reverse order to Daniel. From his perspective, looking backwards inhistory, he no doubt recognized the “leopard part of the Beast” as the Macedon/Grecian Empire ofAlexander the Great, as the most recent Empire in the not too distant past.
To understand the apocalyptic imagery of this passage, we must remember that this final (composite)Beast Empire is superimposed on top of the previous 7 “head” Empires which ruled the Fertile Crescentin the Middle East and also around the Mediterranean, i.e.when John sees the Beast it is alreadycomplete with its 7 heads.
These 7 Empires are of paramount interest to God because they ruled over Jerusalem in the Holy Land -in opposition to God and his chosen Jewish people– substituting the theocracy initiated by God, withtheir own gods and idols and rebellious idolatrous governments.
Because John sees the Beast already complete with 7 heads, one of which had a deadly wound, it musttherefore be the next stage of its existence that John is describing, i.e., the 8th manifestation of Satan’s
God-opposing Empires, made up from three earlier Empires that had their dominion taken away, i.e.Babylon - Lion, Media/Persia – Bear, and Macedon/Greece – Leopard, but which as a single compositeEmpire is now being revived in this futuristic vision.
Remember what Daniel said in referring to the remaining three of his four empires–
Daniel 7:12 AS CONCERNING THE REST OF THE BEASTS, THEY HAD THEIR DOMINION TAKEN AWAY: YET THEIR LIVES WERE PROLONGED FOR A SEASON AND TIME.”
Whereas Daniel’s view was limited to 4 future major Old Testament era Empires; John, from the NewTestament perspective in which he is looking, (seeing both historical past and projected future), sees
and describes atotal of seven kings or heads, on top of which the healed and revived “composite beast”is the eighth.
Rev. 17:10-11says “And there are 7 kings; 5 are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; andwhen he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is theeighth, and is of the seven and goeth into perdition.”
According to this verse, there were two more manifestations of the God-opposing Beast Empires tocome after the Roman Empire of John’s day beforethe sequence finally comes to an end.
It might be more correct to say that this 8th manifestation of the God opposing empires is actually thehealed and resurrected 2nd Coming of the 7th Empire. (More on this later.)
The premise in this book is that John is looking at the complete range of historical empires which ruledin the Fertile Crescent, and influenced or persecuted Israel and Judah up to the time when God finallybrings in the cataclysmic last stage of His “great stone mountain” Messianic Kingdom that eventuallyfills the whole earth.
There are differing opinions as to who the early 5 fallen Kingdoms are. Some people suggest Egypt isone. However, when you look at the particular land area of Daniel’s early Empires; (Babylon, Persia,Greece) they are stacked one on top of each other on the same topography in the Fertile Crescent whichwas the central area of the Old Biblical World, whereas Egypt was somewhat on the perimeter. Thepoint could be made that Egypt’s oppression of Israel was largely perpetrated because Israel went
Some points to note about the Fertile Crescent– minus Egypt The Fertile Crescent “theatre” was the biblical base for the creation of Adam and Eve, and the
events following the Fall. It was also the theatre for the ensuing wickedness which resulted in the Flood, and for the survival
of Noah and his family who established themselves there. Babel the centre of idolatrous rebellion against God was situated right in the centre of the FertileCrescent. Babel’s founder Nimrod was the first King to wear a crown and he established the firstpost-flood Empire in Mesopotamia.
At about the same time, Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees (Babylonia) into the HolyLand. Eventually his Grandson Jacob and family went down into Egypt as described in Genesis 42– 47:12.
Following the Exodus, it included the area of conquest when the 12 tribes of Israel settled in thePromised Land.
It covers the theatre for the captivity of the 10 Northern Tribes of Israel by Assyria, and the 2
Southern Tribes of Judah by Babylon. It includes the areas of conflict and subjugation affecting Judah during the Diaspora by the 4 GreatEmpires of Daniel 7.
It covers the areas of the Crusades, part of the theatre of the Two World Wars, and it will be thetheatre for the final war of this age, called Armageddon.
If John, the writer of Revelation, is describing a broad picture of Worldly Empires from first to last inthe Fertile Crescent which are hostile to God, (hence the blasphemous names of their pagan gods ontheir heads – see Appendix A ) , then these could be the Empires chosen. They are described as “Kings”and “Heads”.
We know from the above that prior to John’s time there have been five Kings/Empires thathave fallen– my choice would be -
1. Babel (Old Babylonia - 1st rebellion) founded by Nimrod. 2050 to 1740 B.C.
2. Assyria - Capital Nineveh about 1270 – 625 B.C. Under Shalmaneser III and Tiglath-pileser
3. Neo-Babylon Capital Babylon – about 625 B.C. until conquered by Persia 539 B.C. UnderNabopollassar and Nebuchadnezzar
4. Media/Persia - 550 - 330 B.C. Cyrus and Darius
5. Greece - 336-323 B.C. Alexander and 4General‟s Divisions – The largest of the 4 Greek
divisions was Seleucid 312 to 64 B.C. which ruled over greater Syria and Palestine.One of the common denominators between these first five empires was that the City of Babylon andMesopotamian cities featured as the Capital and central core of the ruling establishment. The lastSeleucid ruler established himself in Babylon in 312 B.C, until conquered by Rome which assumedascendancy, and by 141 B.C. the ancient city of Babylon was desolate and abandoned.
As a contrast the sixth empire had its origins in Europe -
6. Rome 64 B.C– 1453 A.D. at the fall of Constantinople.
Rome was in existence in John’s time, (i.e.,“and one is”) from 64 B.C., and during its Imperial Period
from 27 B.C. until 476 A.D., when the Eastern Capital in Constantinople became New Rome.
Empires Nos. 2– 6 in one form or another had all conquered and subjugated the people of the Land ofIsrael from 858 B.C., onwards until the 1st Century A.D., when John wrote Revelation.
7. The one to come after Rome was the one which conquered the Eastern Capital of the RomanEmpire, Constantinople (“ ... and the other is not yet come ...” i.e. the Islamic Turkish
Ottoman Empire led by the Caliph.) This Eastern Islamic Empire began to rise as the 7th head on the Beast Empire in the 7th Century whenMuhammad “The Prophet of Allah” burst out ofArabia with his converts to establish an IslamicCaliphate which quickly spread throughout three Continents.
After they conquered Constantinople in 1453, (the Capital for the Imperial Insignia of the EasternRoman Empire since 330 A.D.) the Turkish Ottoman Empire finally succeeded “NewRome/Byzantium” in the East. With its capture, the Eastern Roman era of the Metallic Man vision,finally came to an end in the area known today as the Balkans.
The Islamic Caliphates, Muslim Sultanates, the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, the Mughals, theSafavids, and finally the Ottoman Empire eventually stretched from the Persian Gulf in the East toHungary in the Northwest, and from Egypt in the south to the Caucasus in the North. It endured for 6centuries, interacting with both East and the West.
This Turkish/Ottoman Islamic Empire is the one that was to come after the Roman Empire in the East,superimposing itself on the previous Fertile Crescent Empires which ruled over Palestine and theEastern Mediterranean hinterland. It became the 7th Beast Empire.
Maps showing the expansion and decline of the Ottoman Empire can be seen at the link below...
http://www.naqshbandi.org/ottomans/maps/
“The Islamic Golden Age, also sometimes known as the Islamic Renaissance, was traditionally datedfrom 700 A.D. to 1200 A.D.” 1
It should be noted at this point, that all of the above empires had their operational base on the EasternContinent of Asia, except for the Roman Empire, which ruled from Rome on the Italian Peninsula inEurope and later from Constantinople which straddled the two continents. This fact sets the RomanEmpire apart, as a “different” or “diverse” type of Empire; a topic that is explored in greater depth inBook 3 of this volume.
In concluding this part of the description of the composite beast Empire in Rev. 13:1-10, we have seenthat its seven heads represent those historical post-flood Empires which rebelled against Yawheh, theGod of the Bible, and subjugated both the Holy Land and the people of God within it, to the tyranny oftheir rule, i.e. Babel, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome, and Ottoman Empires.
Because it had only seven heads, we must further explore the reason for the disappearance of thismulti-headed “God-opposing” Beast Empire, prior to its end-time resuscitation and revival ...
Rev. 17:8a “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not...”
2. The Beast receives a deadly wound to its head.Rev. 13:3a“ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; ...”
By comparing the pictorial maps of the Persian and Grecian Empires we see that the Ottoman Empireembraced the same territorial “head” i.e., the geographical area of Turkey as those previous empires.
This is the “7th head” empire of Revelation 13:3 that received the “deadly wound” at the end of its life.Remember, the “head” stands for an empire! The head of this particular 7th Beast Empire wasdecapitated when it was subsequently defeated by the Allies in the Balkans at the end of World War I.(1914-1918)
General Allenby’s (British) victory at Megiddo (September, 1918) and capture of Damascus and Aleppofinally crushed the Turks. Allenby took Jerusalem on 9th December, 1917.
[This was an auspicious date in bible prophecy, 24th Kislev (9th month) Cf. Haggai 2:18-19
“...from this day will I bless you.” Israel would eventually be granted the right to go backinto the Holy Land via the Balfour Declaration etc., (per the favour of Britain) at the end ofthe 2nd World War. The conquest of Jerusalem by the British on this date was an important“foundation stone” in the process that eventually restored the Jews as a Nation to theirancient land of Israel.]
After the end of the 1st World War the victorious allies divided up the Ottoman Empire into individualstates; including Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Transjordan. The 7th Beast Empire thereforebecame fragmented into various Islamic Republics; part went to Russia/U.S.S.R. (1922) and becameCommunist States, whilst the old Empire was completely dismembered. Of the remnants of the fallen7th empire, only the severed “head” remained, and the Republic of Turkey was founded on “secular”
principles on 29th October 1923 as a result of the nationalist revolution under Kemal Ataturk.Shortly after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, moves were made to abolish the Ottoman Sultanate, andthe title “Caliph” was written out of existence with the stroke of a pen and has lain dormant and largelyunclaimed since 1924. That was over 80 years ago. The “Caliph” was the title of the Islamic leader ofthe Ottoman Empire – it means “successor to Muhammad”, or “Prince of the Faithful”. Towards theend of the Ottoman Empire period from 1908 onwards, the Caliph becamemore of a “constitutionalmonarch” or “head of state” without executive powers.
Because of the Ottomans support of Germany during the 1st World War their defeat brought them theloss of all their territory outside of Asia Minor. The winning triple entente Empires2 (Britain, France
and Russia) divided the Ottoman territories among themselves and ruled them by mandates fromEngland, (i.e., Palestine, Jordan and Iraq): and France, (Syria and Lebanon).
France’s mandate over Syria extended from 1920–1946France’s mandate over Lebanon extended from 1920-1941Britain’s (U.K.) mandate over Palestine extended from 1918–1948Britain’s (U.K.) mandate over Jordan extended from 1916–1946Britain’s (U.K.) protectorate over Egypt extended from 1914-1922
Russia took some of the Balkan provinces and other territories as payment for the war. The ensuingperiod up to and including the 2nd World War and aftermath, saw the rise of Nationalism throughout
the World and the neighbouring and mandated areas eventually achieved independent Nationhood– Syria 1941– Iraq 1932– Jordan 1946– Lebanon 1941– Egypt 1936– Libya 1951– and Israel in 1948.
The reorganisation after the 2nd World War by Allies – U.K., U.S.A. and Russia (Yalta and PotsdamConferences 19453) and the rise of nationalism in the Middle East spurred an additional rise in the
number of independent Nations. In fact, the two World Wars have been described as “the graveyard ofEmpires”.
Today the move towards nationalism continues apace, as various people groups break into evensmaller factions and independent nations.
The table of independent nations now stands at about 1954 and there is not a single Empire in sight.According to the United Nations there are 192 member countries throughout the World (June 2009). The 7 headed beast therefore does not exist in any shape or form at the present time on two counts–
1. The Ottoman Empire 7th head was severed at the end of the 1st World War, and
2.
By the end of the 2nd
World War the great European Empires and the Russian Empire had alsoceased to exist. There was a “new world in which empires had given way to their nation statesuccessors.”iii
Turkey, the Ottoman Empire “head” with the “deadly wound” is at present just a “secular” Islamicstate among many others. However, in view of the history of the Ottoman Empire, we can understandwhy Turkey did not want the U.S.A. and coalition forces to use its territory to enter into Iraq, an IslamicNation in 2003. They have also indicated their unwillingness to get involved in the current impassewith Iran over their nuclear programme. Turkish FM Abdullah Gul has stated that Ankara (Turkey)will not be drawn into any U.S.A. or Israeli military operations against Iran, nor will they allow theirIncirlik airbase to be used for an American strike against Iranian nuclear installations.
On 3rd October 2005 (the eve of Rosh Hashana - Jewish New Year 5766) the European Union andTurkey began talks about Turkey joining the E.U. by 2014. It is debateable in this age of Islamistresurgence whether Turkey will pursue this move towards the West for very long, perhaps insteadreverting to its Sharia Islamic roots.
The statement inDaniel 2:41-43reminds us – regarding the iron and clay toes at the end of the MetallicMan statue “...they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, but they shall not cleave to oneanother.” The Eastern leg/Western leg “terminal nations” of the old Roman Empire are notprophesied to join together.
It is interesting to note that the end of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century which sawthe decline of all historic Empires, also saw the rise of Zionism5 described as a “branch of the broaderphenomenon of modern nationalism ”iv which eventually resulted in the re-establishment of a JewishState in Palestine. It would therefore seem that all of the “biblical” Empires would haveto die out andlie dormant, before the final manifestation of the composite Beast Empire could possibly rise to fulfil its
destiny on the “end-time” stage. Therefore at present no manifestation of Empire exists, i.e.“The beastthat was, and is not ...”
Although Rome expelled the Jews in a 2nd Diaspora and destroyed Jerusalem their religious Capital in70 A.D., 1860 plus years later, Germany’s 3rd Reich (the last “manifestation” of the 4th Beast Roman
Empire), also tried to exterminate the Jewish communities in Europe. However, the disasterperpetrated on the Jewish people had a surprising consequence when, on Nov. 29th 1947, by U.N.Resolution No. 181; a total of 33 Nations voted to establish a Jewish Homeland in Palestine.
These events, and the repercussions of Two World Wars including the death of Empires, became majorsteps in the process by which a National home for the Jews was re-established in Palestine. This wasthe chaotic preparation and “birth-pangs” for the very time that the Nation of Israel was to be born in aday, on the 14th May 1948, just as the British Mandate over Palestine came to an end.
3. The Beast‟s deadly wound is healed Rev. 17:8 “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not: and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit...”
Rev. 13:1-2a. R.S.V. “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with tendiadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. And the beast that I saw was like aleopard, its feet were like abear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth ....”
Rev. 13:3b. “ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound washealed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
The Islamic Ottoman Empire has been seen to be the 7th head with the “deadly wound” and is thereforea “type” or pattern of the 8th manifestation which rises as a “composite” entity made up of parts of thethree Eastern Old Testament Empires previously identified in Daniel asBabylon , Media/Persia , andGreece.
Daniel 7:12 says the first three Beast Empires had their“...dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.”
Although diminished in influence for a time by subsequent invasions and conquest; apparently inGod’s scheme of things the spiritualpowers underlying these three empires are not completelydestroyed; suddenly parts of these same Beast Empires appear in the New Testament book ofRevelation in a fresh 8th combination/manifestation as the Leopard/Bear/Lion Beast.
The picture that John gives of this composite beast appears to focus on its 8th and final appearance andstructure in its second manifestation because the 7th head (Ottoman Empire) with the deadly wound isalready present on the beast.
The ascending 8th manifestation of this Islamic God-opposing Empire began to make its presenceknown during the establishment of the Jewish State in Palestine in 1948. The Palestinians called thecreation of the State of Israel on 15th May 1948– Nakba Day – meaning – “Day of catastrophe”. Thismarked the beginning of the Palestinian exodus in the middle of the Civil War which followed in themandated area of Palestine (1947-1948) and the Palestinians subsequent defeat.6
The Palestinians kept their plight to the forefront of the international community, and in May 1964 theArab League founded an organisation called the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) whichaimed to liberate Palestine through armed struggle. The original PLO Charter (issued on 28 May 1964)stated that "Palestine with its boundaries that existed at the time of theBritish mandate is an integralregional unit" and sought to "prohibit... the existence and activity" of Zionism. It also called for arightof return and self-determination for Palestinians. The group usedguerrilla tactics to attack Israel fromtheir bases inJordan,Lebanon,and Syria,as well as from within theGaza Stripand West Bank.
7
This “ascent” of the Muslims in a fresh configuration is happening in our own generation as we haveseen the revival of radical Islam beginning with the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution led by AyatollahRuhollah Khomeini which overthrew the Iranian Monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi andreplaced it with a theocratic Islamic Republic. “It has been called an event that made Islamicfundamentalism a political force... from Morocco to Malaysia.”8
Since that time we have seen a proliferation of terrorist organisations led byOsama bin Laden of alQaeda (The Base) which is a “well-known Islamist group founded sometime between August 1988 andlate 1989/early 1990. It operates as a terrorist network, comprised of both amultinational arm and anextremist Sunni movement. Al-Qaeda's objectivesinclude the end of foreign influence inMuslimcountries and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate . Reported beliefs include that a Christian-Jewishalliance is conspiring to destroy Islam, and that the killing of bystanders and civilians is justified inIslamicjihad.” 9
Together with al Qaeda, “the Taliban is a pro-Wahhabi Sunni Islamist, predominately Pashtunfundamentalist religious and political movement that governedAfghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when its leaders were scattered and removed from power byNorthern Allianceand NATO forces. Itspro-Wahhabi Sunni Islamist Mullah Mohammed Omar is intent on destabilising Middle Eastern
governments and establishing Sharia law in Islamic countries .” 10 These two terrorist groups presently believed to be based on the northern conjoined borders ofAfghanistan and Pakistan are, among others, prime candidates f or the “ascent” of a revived radicalIslamist empire seeking to restore an Islamic World-wide Caliphate based on Sharia law.
Their renewed call to Jihad (Holy War) which was intrinsic to the Ottoman Empire is commanded invarious chapters (suras) in the Muslim Koran. Unfortunately these practices, perpetrated by Islamicterrorists in the name of Allah, are becoming more frequent and widespread throughout the World.
4. The Beast has 10 horns
Rev. 13:1 “… and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon hishorns ten crowns…” Rev. 17:3 “... I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having sevenheads and ten horns .”
Rev. 17:12-13 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received nokingdom 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.” Rev. 17:16-17 “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, (i.e., conquer herterritory) and burn her with fire . For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and
give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”
A difficulty arises in understanding these verses, because the horns are first described as being“crowned”, and then described as being “without kingdoms” and finally they “give their kingdom” tothe beast.
John describes the 7 heads and 10 horns of the Beast as if that was what he first saw as the beast rose upfrom the sea, i.e. it arrives on the scene already equipped with its 7 heads and 10 horns which arecrowned. Although the scriptures about the horns have been grouped together above, it is possible thatRev. 13 is actually referring to an earlier stage in the evolutionary career of this 8th beast empire where itis firstly comprised of 10 sovereign nations (i.e. the horns which are crowned). Subsequent to that stage,the Rev. 17 verses might indicate a later scenario when 10 powerful “stateless” leaders or factions arisefrom within the 10 sovereign nations who are not the legitimate leaders of the 10 nations, but who form“stateless” insurgent power bases which eventually deliver their power to the singular Beast Empire for“a moment in time” –one horrific hour!
Therefore there are two possible scenarios which might explain the progressive way in which the versesabove are structured.
a. The “crowned horns” could be “sovereign Countries” within the Beast Empire.We could consider that perhaps the horns are actually separate “crowned” or “sovereign” nationswithin the beast itself.
Rev.13:1 “…having …ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns…” Horns symbolise power, eithernationally or individually according to previous examples in Daniel’s book. In this case the fact thatthey are “crowned” indicates that the areas we are looking at are probably “sovereign” states, withtheir own Governments inside the actual geographical area, from where the leopard/bear/lion Beastarose. “Ten” in this context, may not necessarily mean that the number is limited to “ten”, but ratherthat it indicates multiple entities. However, there are presently 10 major sovereign nations that existwithin the borders of the 8th Beast Empire.
As an aside, we could note that in the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s Metallic Man Statue vision, weautomatically think of ten in relation to toes because that is the natural number for toes; but in the actualpassage of scripture there is no mention of a number. (Cf. 1 Chron. 20:6 re 12 toes!) In this“general/ overall” vision, the fact that the iron and clay toes did not cleave to one another, would indicatethat the intercontinental Roman Empire eventually devolved into many individual nations, each with itsown authority, and that they will never again combine under one “head” Empire, i.e., the two legs wereseparate (West and East) and will always remain so under mans’ rule. Many historical attempts to makethem adhere have failed, e.g., succeeding Roman Emperors, the Papacy, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Hitler etc.
We also know from history that the Roman Empire (4th Beast in Daniel 7:7 and the 6th “head” in Rev. 17:10)after its zenith of power subsequently disintegrated into more provinces/countries in the East and West
than a mere ten. Currently there are more than 50 states in the European Continent alone, but the use of thenumber 10 would identify a “particularenclave of 10 Nations” which would be of “prophetic” interest.(InBook 2 of this volume it is pointed out that there were 10 European“toe” nations that rose out of the areapreviously ruled by the Western leg of the Roman Empire, from the 16th Century until the 20th Century,which conquered the whole World, breaking it into Colonial sized “pieces”.)
When considering the 21st Century and the rising Composite Beast 8th Empire, it appears that there is adifferent enclave of 10 Islamic“horn” Nations that rise in the East out of the area ruled by the oldBabylonian/Persian/Grecian Empires based in the Fertile Crescent.
Some prophetic writers might claim that these 10 Nations originate from the old Eastern leg of theRoman Empire, but that is not how John identifies this composite Beast, which is based in Asia. Romewas the “different” Empire which was based in Europe. Rome did not extend as far to the East as didthe Media/Persian or Grecian Empires. Daniel 7:11-12 indicates that the last manifestation of Rome isdestroyed before the 3 earlier Empires have their lives prolonged ready to rise in a fresh configurationin John’s composite Beast, as the revived and healed Islamic Empire.
Finally, when we come to the verses below, they seem rather enigmatic about the latter stage of theBeast’s tenure on earth, because the 10 horns which were originally seen to be “crowned” in the firstvision of the Beast; in Rev. 17 “have received no kingdom as yet” in this later vision. Are they even thesame 10 horns or do they form a different, associated group? It is also clear that although these latterhorns have no kingdoms, they do have the kind of power that kings or nations exercise.
Rev. 17:12-13“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom asyet; 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 two verses above, might also indicate that there has been a schism or separation of ideologybetween the Beast and the latter 10 “kingdomless” horns until now, but eventuallythey become of onemind in their intention to make war with the Lamb , and later to oppose, destroy and conquer the“apostate whore woman” who is “sitting on the beast” repressing it.
This brings us to a second possibility which could then be combined with the first.
b. The 10 horns without kingdoms could be terrorist leaders.
These horns align themselves with the “greater” vision of the “crowned horns” that make up thedomain of the Beast Empire/Leader, i.e. out of the “10 crowned horn/sovereign states” which make upthe beast’s empire, come “pseudo leaders” who are not the same as the leaders of the “sovereign states”but who are given power and “backing” to act as such, with the Beast. It is also possible to detectthe“hint of a promise” that if they are successful in their aim and vision, then as a result, they will indeedreceive a “kingdom” in which to rule –probably part of the conquered territory previously belonging tothe whore of Rev. 17.
Although the “10 horns without kingdoms” wield power, they are not (at present) the official leaders ofthe States, although they act like it - e.g. Hezballah in Lebanon; Hamas in Gaza; Muslim Brotherhood inEgypt; Islamic Jihad in Syria; al Qaeda in Iraq, etc., and the numerous other Islamic terroristorganisations embedded in the Middle East and around the World. The important thing to notice
however, is that they “receive power as kings one hour with the beast” and “have one mind and givetheir power and strength unto the Beast” which indicates that although the Beast’s base of “10 crowned
sovereign horn nations” and the “10 horns without kingdoms” might be separate entities, they areunited briefly in a single “cause”, and that is to make war with “the Lamb”, and todestroy the whore -“Babylon”- the Great City.
Rev. 17:12-13 “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 overcomethem…”
These two scenarios seem to answer all the requirements of the verses in Rev. 13:1 regarding the 10“crowned horns” and 17:12-13 above which relate to the 10 horns who have no kingdoms, but havepower. They could come out of the 10 “Sovereign” states either within the Beast’s domain, or possiblyoutside it from other Islamic States (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Yemen etc.,) like the foreign terroristinsurgents that are waging war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan today.
Perhaps the origin of the 10 horns without kingdoms doesn’t need to be that specific because when they
give their power and allegiance to the Beast that is healed from the deadly wound in Rev. 13; it is the 10horned/Beast alliance and the False Prophet that actually “does the damage”, and we could note thatunlike Daniel 7 and 8, there is no reference here to a “little horn” at all.
5. The Beast is given a “mouth” Rev. 13:5 “ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies ...”
I have always been mystified as to why this reviving Beast Empire should need to be given an
additional “mouth”, when we have already been told that it had the mouth of a lion in Rev. 13:2. It isfeasible that this earlier reference applies only to the geographical area of ancient Babylon/Lion andwhen added together with the other geographical areas of Media/Persia/Bear and Greece/Leopard,they form the territory of this final composite Beast Empire, and give the outline of its borders.
However, when the 7th Head/Beast Ottoman Empire is investigated this enigmatic scripture about a 2nd mouth becomes very clear. It was the custom in the era of the Ottoman Empire for the Caliph to be arather reclusive figure who was rarely seen in public. The interface between the Caliph and his subjectswas through an intermediary or “speaker”. Such a speaker during the rule of the Ottoman Caliphs wascalled the Grand Vizier. He bore the duties actually incumbent upon the ruler i.e., the Caliph/Sultan,hence...
“The vizier stood between sovereign and subjects, representing the former in all matterstouching the latter.”v
“It was the custom for the Caliph to remain in imperial seclusion, and only the very highestranking Officers of the Ulema (council or cabinet) could actually speak to him directly. Even ifforeign ambassadors and the Caliph/Sultan could converse in the same language, allconversation was with the grand vizier. The Sultan would not deign to speak to a foreigner.Any gifts or offerings brought to the Sultan were passed through a small doorway into anadjoining room for his inspection.” vi
The “gifted” mouth therefore represents the person who fulfils the role of “vizier” (or “press secretary”in American terms) and also directs us to the vile propaganda and blasphemies coming from this
“spokes-person” for the Beast Empire who opposes God, blasphemes against Him, His name, Histabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven. (Rev. 13:5-6)It is this “mouth-piece” who dispenses theideology of the revived titular Beast leader, and the revived Beast Empire, i.e. the Caliph and Caliphate.As to the location from which this diatribe issues forth– the Beast Empire already has a geographicalidentification with “the mouth of a lion”, which infers that it comes out of the territory of ancientBabylon, (today’s Iraq, Lebanon, Syria or Southern Turkey).Cf. Map p. 29
It is the custom in the writings of Daniel and John in Revelation to equate the individual Beast Empireand its leader as being one Beast. (Hence in Daniel 7:11 it is the “little horn” and Empire that aredestroyed together.) Here the term “Beast Empire” encompasses all of its political componentsincluding the Caliph and Vizier.
After research, I conclude that the “mouth” (of Revelation 13:5) might be modelled on the“little horn”of Daniel 7 (i.e., Hitler and Germany) which was the last attempted manifestation of the “dreadful andterrible” 4th Beast Roman Empire (3rd Reich) which was finally destroyed in 1945. (This topic isexplored in Book 2 of this volume.)
The reason for stating this is that although“the mouth” and the “little horn” descend from totallydifferent Empires, and appear at different historical periods; theysay the same sort of things , theirtenure is for roughly the same period of time , and the same group of people are persecuted – (followthe colour links).
Compare John’s Revelation 13 scripture with the two Daniel references below –
Rev. 13:5-6“And ther e was given unto him (the Beast Empire) 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 . And it was given unto him to make war with the saints …” Daniel 7:8b “and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things .”
Daniel 7:24-25“And he (the “different” horn)shall speak great words against the most High , andshall wear out the saints of the most High , and think to change times and laws; and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Notwithstanding the differences, (See end notevii ) the similarities between the two “entities” and theiroperational strategy (mentioned in the scripture passages above), might help us to recognise (from pastexperience with the Nazi 3rd Reich); the propaganda patterns of the future composite Beast Empire’s
“spokesman” or “vizier” as they are revealed through the mouth of this man. The fact that the“mouth” is given to this Beast Empire means that without it, (with its closeted or hidden Caliph), theEmpire can’t speak of itself and therefore needs an intermediary such as a “grand vizier”. It alsoreinforces my belief that this Beast Empire as described in the scriptures is actually a geographicalEmpire area with a reclusive leader which cannot speak of itself, therefore it needs “a mouth” i.e., aperson to speak for it. The use of “mouth” in apocalyptic literature is usually ascribed to a politicalleader and his propagandaviii.
This was particularly applicable in the case of the Germanic “little horn” ofDaniel 7:8, 11, 20, 25 – whohas been described as “almostAnti-Christ” - (where the mouth is seen to be that of Adolph Hitler),when historical facts (times) and laws were changed to facilitate power, as described in Book Two -“The Little horn of Daniel’s 4th Empire and the Kingdom of the Jews.”
However, there is a subtle difference in the modus operandi of these two different entities. The Beast ofRev. 13 actually “makes war with the saints for forty-two months”, and “blasphemes against God” etc.,but there is no mention of his ability to change times or laws;whereas the “little horn” of Daniel 7“wore out the saints”, “changed times and laws” i.e. altered historical events and used judicial laws toaccomplish his aims of persecution, subjugation and absolute control over the saints as“they weregiven into his hand” (i.e. within his controlled territory) for almost three and a half years.
We could also note that there is no mention of blasphemy; possibly because Hitler was a Catholic andtherefore a believer in God; although he also spoke“great things” against God, and most certainlyagainst His Jewish people.
6. The Beast “continues” only for a short time. Rev. 13:5
“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 .”
Rev. 17:10-11says “And there are 7 kings; 5 are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; andwhen he cometh, he must continue a short space. “ “And the beast that was and is not, even he isthe eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”
Rev. 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earthand of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that hehath but a short time .”
In recognizing theIslamic Ottoman Empire as the 7th Kingdom which was to come after Rome, it has
been difficult to reconcile the words underlined above, with the historical fact that Islam has been inexistence for 13 Centuries, and operated as the Ottoman Empire for over 6 Centuries; hardly a shortspace of time!
Many writers choose to view the “short space” from God’s “eternal” perspective, but this does notcompare well with the other Empires some of which existed for only a few hundred years; the NaziThird Reich being the shortest manifestation of the terminal era of the Roman Empire as the “littlehorn” for only 12 years.
Although the English word “continue ” is used in translating the two verses above, the underlyingGreek words carry a slightly different meaning. InRev. 13:5 the beast is given power “to continue”
(Strongs No. 4160“poieo” )“
which is a generic term of action or performance” – literally meaning “todo” or “to act”. This would convey the idea that the resurrected 8 th Beast Empire is limited in itsability “to do” or “to act” for a period of only forty-two months. This of course relates to the periodof its 2nd Coming only, and not to its first manifestation.
In the reference inRev. 17:10where “continue” is again the translation, the Greek word is Strongs No.3306“meno” which means “to be in a state that begins and continues, yet may or may not end orstop”.
In both of these instances the Greek words behind the translated word “continue” give a slightlydifferent slant on the activity of the Beastempire, and yet the word “continue” is probably the right
word to use regarding the historic Islamic Ottoman 7th
Empire, in the context of its previous life, itsdemise, and future reappearance after a period of time as the Islamic composite beast 8th Empire.
[Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “Continue” meaning No.5 – “to go on again after aninterruption”.]
Although the Muslim faith has been in existence continually since its inception by Muhammad in 610A.D., in its political expression as the Ottoman 7th Empire it ceased to exist in 1922. Using the word
“continue” actually fits with the idea of a revived or resurrected entity, which carries on where it left offprior to its demise, but it only has a short time in which to perform or to act as the 8th Empire.
This adequately describes the context of the verses above which endorse the meaning of “to continueafter an interruption”, in relation to the entities that make up the satanic 8th Empire. The “mouth” given to the beast empire“continues forty and two months” Rev. 13:5 The 7th head revived as the 8th manifestation“must continue a short space”. Rev. 17:10 The devil comes down to earth because he“hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:12
Certainly, it does not appear as if this“7 headed Leopard/Bear/Lion Beast” has much of a tenure on
earth in its 2nd manifestation as a revived 8th Empire, compared with its first appearance as the “longlived” Islamic Ottoman Empire. The scriptures indicate that although it was initially destroyed by adeadly wound to its head by a sword (war), it will reappear and “continue to act” for a “short space” oftime in a new configuration, before its final destruction when it goes into perdition.
The forty and two months therefore is the “short space” allocated in scripture to the satanicallyempowered composite beast Empire described in Revelation 13 and 17 during which time it is abletocontinue to act through its totalitarian ideology, policies and practices, following the healing of thedeadly wound.
The “million dollar question” is- WHEN DOES THE “SHORT SPACE” OF TIME START? The answer
appears to be when the 2nd Beast, the False Prophet, who comes up out of the earth is possessed by anevil spirit and begins to“exercise all the power of the first beast before him, doing great wonders andmaking “fire” come down from heaven on earth in the sight of men.”
7. The underlying power is SatanicRev. 17:8 “The Beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit... ”
Additionally, we can see that this revived, active and composite beast Empire has a spirit that comes
out of the “bottomless pit” referring to the abyss where demonic forces exist.Rev. 13:2 “... and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ”
According to the scriptures this rising composite Beast Empire is empowered by the great dragon ofRevelation 12:9(“... that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan ...” ) who was cast out into theearth with his angels.
Rev. 16:13-14a “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of thedragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles ...”
Later in Rev. 17:3 we are told that the Beast from the Sea is a “scarlet” coloured beast. Since the book ofRevelation is colour coded, and consistent in its symbolism, (see appendix C – Revelation is Colour-
coded) we see that this “scarlet” Beast from the Sea in Rev. 13 and 17 is closely associated with the“red” dragon Satan, the entity which under-girds and empowers it; and which is described as alsohaving 7 heads, and 10 horns. (Rev. 12:3-4, 13, 15-17, and 13:2)
The similarity of description would indicate that the great red dragon is actually clothed with its earthly
host - the composite Beast Empire and its “possessed” wicked leaders. In this end-time “show-down,”the satanic dragon has but one evil purpose and that is to annihilate anyone and everything that standsin the way of his goal of World dominion through his chosen earthly vessels.
In its revitalised state, as the 2nd manifestation of the 7th head, the Beast Empire continues what it wasdoing in its first manifestation, but this time it is empowered by the dragon to–
“make war with the saints” who are now restored in their national home– Israel (Rev. 13:7); “Persecute the woman which brought forth the man child” (i.e., true Israel and the Church -
Rev.12:13); and
“make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have thetestimony of Jesus Christ.” (Jews, Messianic Jews, Christians and Christian Nations based onthe 10 commandments)- (Rev. 12:17).
“The dragon is identified in Rev. 12:9 with Satan. His seven heads and ten horns (12:3) showhim to b e the Antichrist of the spiritual world, just as his agent, „the beast‟ (13:1) is the earthlyAntichrist sharing his characteristics.” ix
We conclude therefore, that the Beast from the Sea is the 8th manifestation of the earthly God-opposingEmpires to appear in the course of history which, in this end-time apocalyptic scenario, issupernaturally empowered to be the final representative of the great red dragon, Satan.
It is likely that this “scarlet” coloured composite beast can also be identified with theearlier rider on the“red” horse in Revelation 6:4 who takes peace from the earth by means of the great sword he is given.All of these entities embody the “God-opposing” powers in the end-time conflict and are marked assuch by the use of the colour “red”. See Book Four in this volume – “The White Horse and the RedHorse.”
This 8th Beast Empire has power "and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, andnations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the bookof life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”Rev. 13:7b-8
Non-Christians will be deceived into believing and worshipping this Beast Empire and it’s lying leaders
for 42 months.At the end of this period Rev. 19:20 "... the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet thatwrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, andthem that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded outof his mouth..."
Because the Beast and the False Prophet are indwelt by“frog like” demons (Rev. 16:13), it seems thattheir punishment is unique and eternal. They are assigned to a place of everlasting torment prior to theMillennial rule of Christ (Rev. 19:20) while Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for that period of time
It is after that millennial period called the Messianic Kingdom, when Satan attempts a final andterminal deception via his servants Gog and Magog, (Rev. 20:7-8) that he is finally defeated (Rev. 20:10)and he too suffers the same torment and everlasting fate.
8. The Beast blasphemes against God.Rev. 13:1“And upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”
The reference to the names of blasphemy on the 7 heads of the Scarlet Beast (Rev. 13:1) indicates theunderlying evil satanic origin and inherent wickedness of this multi-headed, persistent enemy of God,which was present in all of the previous Empires, while attempting to usurp the worship of the God ofthe Bible (YaHWeh).
The sin of blasphemy was always directed against God in disrespect and contempt of anything that is
considered divine, hence the blasphemous comments by this final Beast Empire made against Godhimself, His name, His dwelling place, and all the heavenly hosts connected with Him.
Rev. 13:5-6“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies ... And heopened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them thatdwell in heaven.”
We could note that there is no reference here to blasphemy against Jesus Christ, the Son of God; whichabsence might indicate the Islamic belief that God “has no son” and that Jesus Christ was not divine butsimply the “son of Mary” and a prophet –like Moses. Written on the walls of the Dome of the Rock onthe Temple Mount is the following translated inscription–
“God is only One God. Far be it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should havea son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth.” x
The formula“God has no companion” is repeated 5 times.”xi
Logically, it would therefore be impossible for Muslims to blaspheme against the Son of God if in theIslamic view of God, there were no such being! The Shiite Islamic view of Jesus, is that as the “son ofMary” he will return to earth to rule with, and give deference to their hidden 12th Imam (Mahdi).
The ultimate pinnacle of blasphemy is that God should be deposed and replaced by a “man” elevatinghimself above the creator God. The Muslim’s veneration of Muhammad –The Prophet - comes veryclose to that position, and the Bible indicates that when the “man of sin” is finally “revealed” heactually “steps over the line” and declares himself to be God. This is the ultimate blasphemy. II Thessalonians 2:3-4“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except therecome a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposethand exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
It is widely debated whether Paul was referring tothis wicked and deceitful person being “enthroned”by worship in the hearts of mankind which belongs only to almighty God, or whether this refers to anactual physically reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem.
However, elsewhere Paul refers to Christians and the Church as being the “temple of God” through theindwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 3:16-17) In both references the same word is used
(Strongs Greek No. 3485“naos” ) also translated as temples or shrines. Other New Testamentreferences referring to the real physical temple in Jerusalem use Strongs Greek word No. 2411“heiron” referring to the sanctuary or the whole temple complex.
It is feasible therefore that the reference to “the man of sin” sitting in the temple of God, may simply
refer to any temple building or shrine on the Holy Mountain in Jerusalem, and could therefore refereither to the Dome of the Rock, or else to the Muslims Al-Aqsa Mosque, both of which are alreadyensconced on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem, awaiting their ruler.
Rev. 13:4 “ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and theyworshipped the beast ...”
Together with Satan “the great red dragon”, the Beast and the False Prophet make a truly evilcounterfeit demon-possessed trinity, which opposes and blasphemes God, and persecutes and kills by“beheading” those who will not bow down to worship the dragon and the beast.
Rev. 13:15b “... and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”
Rev. 20:4b “... and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for theword of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his markupon their foreheads, or in their hands; ...”
It has always been the practise of the God-opposing Empires to persecute and destroy those who wouldnot submit to the worship of their “god-like” rulers and the multitude of idols they elevated in place ofthe one true God. In this final manifestation their chosen weapon for terminating the opposition is thesword – the Sword of Islam.
Rev. 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of theearth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because heknoweth that he hath but a short time.”
These verses and those below, indicate that Satan is the inspiration and spiritual force speaking throughthe blaspheming “mouth” of the beast and the “mouth” of the false prophet.
Rev. 16:13-14a “And I saw thre e unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, andout of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles...”
(Details about the “names of blasphemy” on the Empireheads are dealt with in greater detail inAppendix A )
It is interesting to note that whereas the earthly Beast from the Sea has crowned horns, withblasphemous names on its multiple heads, in comparison, the dragon from the spiritual world hascrowned heads and speaks his blasphemies through the “mouth” that was given to the Beast from theSea (Rev. 13:5), and through the mouth of the 2nd Beast the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11), who speaks like adragon.
These are the two end-time propaganda vessels that Satan, the dragon uses in his attempt to deceive theWorld into worshipping him – through the Beast Empire with its “spokes-person” and through the“mouth” of the False Prophet.
were as the feet of a bear , and his mouth as the mouth of a lion ; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
These ten horns are not the same horns as those connected to Daniel’s 4th Beast, (Rome– Dan 7:7) butare relevant only to the territorial areas covered by the three ancient beast empires named above, i.e.
Babylon, Media/Persia and Macedon/Greece. This is also a totally different scenario to that which isdescribed in Daniel 7 where the 4th Empire devolves into 10 horn Nations; or that described in Daniel 8where the “notable horn” of Alexander the Greatis later replaced by “4 notable horns” which face infour different directions.
We may conclude therefore that the composite Beast Empire when “revealed” to John has alreadymanifested as 7 previous head/empires and is currently composed of 10 horns/power bases orindividual Nations which, in combination, make up the 8th Beast.
If we take Daniel’s descriptions of the three remaining Beasts Empires and look at the shape ofthem on a map; then apply what John saw and described, and impose them on a modern map,then we get a very interesting picture.
Remember, when John saw the vision, and wrote Revelation he was on the island of Patmos. Patmos isa very small Island situated near and opposite (Turkey) which according to this study is part of theresurrected future 8th Beast Empire. Somehow “in the Spirit”, in the vision, he saw the shape of thiscomposite Beast Empire/land mass rising out of the Aegean Sea in the Mediterranean.
John’s records that it looked like aleopard (Greece),therefore it must have had a leopard’s head andbody, (complete with the 4 wings of a fowl on its back which have not been revoked in scripture - cf.Daniel 7:6.) It had the feet of a bear (Media/Persia) - Dan 7:5; and it had a Lion’s mouth (Babylon) –
Daniel 7:4.When all the “mentioned” parts of the three old geographical empires “whose lives were prolonged fora season and a time” (Dan. 7:12) are put together and plotted on a modern map we get a clear picture ofa composite beast, forming an outline of a crouching cat like beast with 10 divisions, mouth of a lion,head and body of the leopard with 4 wings on its back, and with the large flat feet of a bear. The factthat this Beast is given an additional mouth with which to speak propaganda and great blasphemiesagainst God would indicate that this “mouth” is a person,whereas the other parts of the beast are not.
Trying to describe this composite beast by means of written text has been quite difficult. However, allis revealed when it is plotted on a modern map and the outline can be seen. This 8th beast is crouching
over Israel, which is situated right where a feline holds its prey.The 10 divisions or “crowned horn” power bases on this future composite beast are the modern“sovereign” nations of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt andLibya– all independent Islamic nations.
The shape of the body and wings of this beast are formed from the territorial shape of theMacedonian/Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great which remains complete with the “4 wings of afowl” i.e. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgystan– all of which are predominantlyMuslim. These areas were all conquered by Alexander the Great.
The legs and feet are composed of the territorial areas conquered by the Medes/Persians in thesouthern Levant - Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa - and are seen as the long flat feet of a bear.
Looking at the map we see the areas conquered by Alexander the Great are to the North and Eastcovering the areas of Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan– the Babylonian heart of the beast coversSyria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, while the legs and feet of the Media/Persian conquest are seen inEgypt and Libya.
These shapes can be confirmed by comparing the Beast map with those shown in Chapter 1b. whichshow the shapes of the ancient Empires. xii
The shape of the Composite, tripartite Beast Empire -
Assessment of the vision of the 1 st BeastThe Beast from the Sea inRevelation 13:1-2 KJV.
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads andten horns, and upon his horns, ten crowns , and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beastwhich I saw was like unto a leopard , and his feet were as the feet of a bear , and his mouth as the mouthof a lion ; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
It is the premise of this study that the “beast” which John sees rising up out of the sea is a geographicalland mass that assumes a particular beast shaped outline. It is, in fact, the final and future 8th GentileEmpire to arise prior to the establishment of God’s millennial kingdom on earth.
The 7 heads on this 8th Beast are the 7 Empires that ruled over, or arose out of, the Fertile Crescent in theMiddle East from the time of the rebellion in Babel (post-flood) until modern times. They are
Babel/Babylon, Assyria, Neo-Babylon, Media/Persia, Macedon/Greece, Rome, and the OttomanEmpire which fell at the end of World War I in 1918, and was finally “signed out of existence” in 1923.All of the Empires from Assyria onwards have conquered the Holy Land of Israel; each succeedingKingdom/Empire has been overlaid on the previous one, (totally, or in part) in the “areas” defined inthe Map above.
The geographical area and location of this Beast Empire is ascertained by putting together its detaileddescription in John’s vision of the composite beast in Revelation 13:1-9 with the clues in Daniel 7:3-8and 7:12, relating to theBabylonian (Lion), Media/Persian (Bear) and Macedonian/Grecian (Leopard)empires. This coming “Beast from the Sea”- 8th Empire - is composed out of the three empires whichhad their lives prolonged “for a season and time”, as described in Daniel 7:4-6, 12. It is made up of 10horns or divisions (modern Nations), which are included in the body, feet and head features of thecomposite Beast. These 10 horns have crowns which would indicate that they are sovereign nations.
The “leopard body” area of the Grecian Empire, which in Daniel‟s description had four heads; (thefour heads are actually within the geographical beast itself, and relate to the 4 generals whoeventually subdivided the Grecian Empire after Alexander‟s death); plus the four “fowl” wingsattached to its back. These “four fowl wings” have not been revoked in scripture as opposed to thewings on the “lion beast” which were “plucked off” ( Cf. Dan 7:4).
The four wings have been shown as separate geographical areas; they are also the areas in the previous“bear” vision (Media/Persian Empire) that was “raised up on one side”, and which were laterconquered by Alexander the Great. Since they became part of the “leopard beast” as described in Dan7:6 they have been retained as a separate feature.
The 8th Empire also includes the “bear‟s feet” area from the Persian Empire which extended intoNorthern Africa, and the last of all,the beast has a Lion‟s mouth from the Babylonian Empire. Thefact that it is a Lion’s mouth imposed on the “leopard’s head” indicates that its source is the areacovered by Nimrod’s first Empire after the flood where rebellion against Yahweh God was its nature,(i.e. Babel) and which was later ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The King of Babylon isfrequently referred to in scripture as symbolising the arch-enemy of God.
At its greatest extent, the “possible” geographical area covered by the three animal beasts which makeup the composite Beast Empire is seenin the divisions of Alexander’s Empirewhich incorporates thefour areas of the divided Grecian Empire, the north-western-most areas of which actually extend intoEurope. See map page 2– Chapter 1c.
However, in this study a decision had to be made regarding the “horn areas” shown in that map, whichextend into the Balkans on the European continent. The rationale behind the decision to leave theseareas out of the shape of the final composite beast was that John uses specific parts of the old Empiresto describe this future beast andhe does not mention “horns” in relation to either of the parts of the“leopard” or the “bear” that he used, but only in relation to the whole beast as he sees it in its “healed”state. (In his vision in Daniel 9 of the two other descriptions of the Media/Persian andMacedon/Grecian Empires, Daniel describes them as a Ram and a Goat respectively– it was these thathad the horns – not in their form as the bear and the leopard.)
Another consideration in leaving the Balkan areas out of the composite beast shape is the fact that theywere a part of the Roman Empire from the 2nd Century B.C. and also of the Byzantine (Roman) Empirefrom the 5th Century A.D., until conquered by the rising Islamic Caliphates. Daniel 7:11-12 indicatesthat the last manifestation of the Roman Empire is destroyed prior to the revival of the three priorempires which rise in John’s new configuration, so it seemed logical to leave them out of the final
shape. Even though these areas eventually became part of the 7th
head Ottoman Empire, it is clear fromDaniel 7:4-6 and Revelation 13:2 that the area under review is limited to that covered by the Leopard,Bear and Lion empires only, which today are all major Islamic nations, whereas the areas in the Balkansare predominantly Orthodox Christian.
Using ones imagination...A difficulty arises in visualising how 10 horns would fit on 7 heads, if that is indeed where they were tobe sited. However, we should remember that it was the horns that were crowned, not the heads! It iseasier to conceive of 10 crowned horns running down the length of the back of this scarlet coloured
composite creature which carries blasphemous names on its 7 heads, as it flies swiftly on 4 fowl wings;empowered by the great red dragon of Rev. 12:3-4, and 13:2. In this sense, if it was portrayed
pictorially, it would actually look like a 7 headed winged dragon “illustration” out of some medievalpicture book.
It is concluded therefore that the 10 crowned horns are national divisions, intrinsic to the completebody shape of the composite beast and therefore exist only within the parts of the “leopard/bear/lion”
geographical empire borders that are used by John.This future 8th empire has borders which delineate several world-recognised separate Nations, out ofwhich arises a God-opposing rebellious “movement” which is not able to be “fought with” in aconventional “Nation to Nation” confrontational war- Cf. Rev. 13:4 ”...who is like unto the beast?Who is able to make war with him?”
The latter description of the scarlet beast referred to in Rev. 17:3 and emphasised in Rev. 17:12-13indicates that within the 10 horn divisions there exists“ten kings which have received no kingdom asyet; but receive power as kings; one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their
power and strength unto the beast.”
From these verses we see thatit is a “stateless movement” that arises from within the 10 horn area,comprised of 10 “defacto” leaders who assume all the destructive wickedness and power of leadership,complete with substantial networks and resources; but with no particular National identity anddomicile which can be attacked and destroyed. It is composed of numerous factions, desiring a“religious empire” with an Islamo-fascist heart which seeks to reinstate the Caliphate, subjugate andreform its own people through terrorism, and eventually to conquer and rule the rest of the Worldthrough Islamic (Sharia) Law.
The spiritual source of this evil Beast which John sees symbolically rising out of the Great Sea, has beenpresent in the World since the “Fall” in the Garden of Eden. Satan’s aim is, and always has been, to
usurp and to occupy the throne of YHWH, the God of Heaven, and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and tosubstitute his own earthly rule from Jerusalem. To this end, Jerusalem, the Holy Land, its people, andthe Temple Mount in particular have been subject to occupation, persecution, destruction anddesolation by most of the 7 past Empires.
Finally in his last efforts, through the manifestation of the composite Islamic 8th Beast Empire, Rev. 12:4tells us that “the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Although these verses have been applied to the 1st advent of Jesus Christ,(when Satan through the services of Herod attempted to destroy the young Christ child), it is feasiblethat they may also be applied to the 2nd advent (as is the case with other messianic prophecies), justprior to the establishment of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom on earth.
The strategic position expressed in the verse above certainly applies to the position in which the nationof Israel finds herself today, with her back to the Mediterranean; within the “grasp” of this monstrousrising Islamic Beast Empire which “stands before” and surrounds her on all sides; as it salivates overtheprospect of devouring her God-given “Kingdom land”, whilst securing the Temple Mount and Jerusalem for its own World-domineering purposes.
Unlocking the Seal on the book of DanielThis beast has been hidden, and Daniel’s clues “sealed” until recenttimes when it can be seen in our
modern maps. I understand the “seal” to represent a historical “time lock” i.e. when the “event”happens it is no longer sealed, because the prophecy is understood.
The body shape and 10 horn power bases of the Beast could not be revealed until after the 1st WorldWar ended in 1918, when the Middle Eastern Ottoman Empire was dismembered and most of theIslamic States (except for Iran 1502) were set up following their mandates by either Britain or France, i.e.Turkey in 1923; Syria 1941; Iraq 1932; Afghanistan 1919; Pakistan 1947; Jordan 1946; Lebanon 1941;Egypt 1936; and Libya 1951.
These 10 horned/power-base divisions are represented by the 10 Nations that make up the body of thisbeast Empire. These are all Islamic states, republics or dictatorships although Turkey (the head) whichis 99% Muslim has a “politically” secular Government at present!
The 4 wings on the leopard body could not be revealed until after 1991 when the U.S.S.R. dissolved,and these became independent states, part of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Further details regarding the various nations can be found inAppendix E.
I have no doubt that there are other Islamic Nations who will align themselves with this 10 hornedbeast, particularly the four “fowl wing” nations (read- “turkey wings”- shown on page 21 map ) whichwere originally contained within the old Persian and Grecian Empires, i.e., Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, which in the “bear” (Persian Kingdom) symbolism, was described as “liftedup on one side”. However, most of the other Islamic Nations are situated south of Israel on the Africancontinent and they do not lie within the areas of the previous 7 empires, as defined in the Biblicalvisions.
Daniel’s three named (lion/bear/leopard) “beast Empires” and John’s vision have revealed the shapeof the future 8th Beast out of the seven historical empires, which will rise up for a “short time” beforethe end of the Gentile age.
This great land mass has been the stage for most of the Biblical struggles for dominion in our World. It
began with the temptation in the Garden of Eden, the rebellion of Babel, the deluge in the time of Noah,and the calling of Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. It wascentral to the struggle for “birthright” and“land-rights” by Isaac and Jacob versus Ishmael and Esau; the very same age-long struggle which hasreignited in the Holy Land today.
Israel, the Nation, has been “at home” for 60 years where she has struggled and fought for her existenceagainst formidable opposition from Islamic and Arab Nations to the North, East and South.
Dispersed by Rome since 70 A.D. Israel came back to life again in 1948 after the end of the Roman era.The parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24 mirrors the experience of Israel as a Nation; i.e. while she wasyoung – “when the branch is yet tender”, (i.e., 19 years old in 1967) – she “put forth leaves”, winning
the 6-day War, when she annexed the Golan Heights, West Bank, Gaza and Sinai, and took back East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. However, Israel failed to “possess” the Temple Mount, leaving themanagement of the site in Jordanian hands, and has since withdrawn from the Sinai, and Gaza. It isgenerally believed that the generation that saw Jerusalem’s unification in 1967 will also live to seeChrist’s 2nd Coming. Today, we are seeing renewed pressure on Israel to relinquish more of thoseannexed land areas.
The fact that this beast is now “revealed” must mean the time is near for the conclusion of the strugglefor inheritance between Abraham’s descendants- the Son of Hagar (Ismael) and the Son of Sarah (Isaac)- as well as the dispute over the “birthright/blessing” and possession of the promised land between thetwo Sons of Isaac; Esau (Edom) and Jacob.
To view the shape of the Beast Empire on a modern map, vindicates above all else the fact that,“Allscripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; (2 Tim 3:16) and (2 Peter 1:21) “For the prophecy came not in old time bythe will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The same Holy Spirit who instructed them what to write in apocalyptic terminology, is the same HolySpirit who is now interpreting the meaning to us, who are at the end of the age. We should bethankful that the Word of God is a pure word and nothing has been taken away from the books ofprophecy – no matter how strange and enigmatic their message might have seemed to those who havegone before us.
Rev. 22:18-19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If anyman shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; Andif any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his partout of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Hewhich testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly…”
1 Cor. 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
We are not yet at the end of the age, but we are nearing the time when the age of the Gentiles will cometo a conclusion in the prophesied battle of Armageddon, after which the afflictions that have fallen onIsrael will cease. Then the Kingdom land, held in trust by the Nation of Israel since 1948, will be usedby God to establish his Messianic Kingdom rule on earth in power and glory from Jerusalem during theMillennium.
Searching out the clues to this scenario and applying them, has entailed a paradigm shift in focus and,
because of that, many other features of the end-time prophetic visions must fit into place to confirm thisinterpretation of John’s vision of the Beast from the Sea.
End Notes
i This may in fact refer to the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem following Stephen‟s martyrdom about 34 A.D.when persecution was applied to this new Christian sect of Judaism. Within 12 years of Christ‟ s death and resurrectiononly the Jewish Apostles remained in Jerusalem. It may also refer.to the flight of the Jewish and Gentile Christians fromJerusalem prior to the siege by the Romans in 67 A.D. when they fled to Pella in Paraea (East of the Jordan). The 2 nd expulsion of the Jews from the Holy Land occurred during this period 67 – 73 A.D. following the destruction of theTemple, and a 3 rd occurred in 135 A.D. when Emperor Hadrian put down the Bar Kochba revolt and Jerusalem was razed.The land wa s renamed “Palestina”, Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman city “AElia Capitolina” and Jews were forbidden toenter the city. During these events, Jews and Christians were scattered throughout the World (i.e. the wilderness outsideof the Holy Land) whe re they have been kept safe from “wholesale” destruction.
ii The KJV refers to the 1st beast “entity” as “HE –HIS – HIM”, whereas the RSV and new RSV gives “IT – IT’S” which is aneutral gender. I think therefore it probably applies to both the rising Empire and its titular head or civil leader.
iii Gelvin, James L. “The Israel -Palestine Conflict – One Hundred Years of War. Second Edition – Cambridge UniversityPress – 2007 – page 34.
iv Brandeis, Louis. "The Jewish Problem: How To Solve It", Speech given at a conference of Rabbis, April 25, 1915
v The Muslim office of vizier, which spread from the Persians to the Arabs, Turks, Mongols and neighboring peoples(regardless of the style of the ruler), arose under the first Abbasid caliphs and took shape during its tenure by the
Barmecides as the chief minister or representative of the caliph. The vizier stood between sovereign and subjects,representing the former in all matters touching the latter. This withdrawal of the head of the state from direct contact withhis people was unknown to the Omayyads, and was certainly an imitation of Persianusage .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vizier Accessed July 2008
vi Lonely Planet Travel Guide – Istanbul – Topkapi Palace -“An exception to the imperial seclusion was the ceremony celebrating a new sultan's accession to the throne. After girdingthe Sword of Osman, which symbolised imperial power, the new monarch would sit enthroned before the Gate of Felicityand receive the obeisance, allegiance and congratulations of the empire's high and mighty.Before the annual military campaigns in summertime, the sultan would also appear before this gate bearing the standard of the Prophet Mohammed to inspire his generals to go out and conquer all for Islam.The sultan, seated on the divans whose cushions are embroidered with over 15,000 seed pearls, inspected the ambassador'sgifts and offerings as they were passed through the small doorway on the left. Even if the sultan and the ambassador couldconverse in the same language (sultans in the later years knew French and ambassadors often learned Turkish), allconversation was with the grand vizier. The sultan would not deign to speak to a foreigner and only the very highestOttoman officers were allowed to address the monarch directly. ”Refer to APPENDIX C – Book 4 - The White Horse and the Red Horse regarding New York Times Article (11 May 1909)re Coronation of Mehmed V by means of Osman‟s Sword.
vii The first difference to note is that it is “the mouth” given to the composite Beast Empire that does the speaking, not theEmpire or its leader, whereas in Daniel 7 it is the “little horn” that does the speaking. The main difference between the tw oscenarios compared in this instance is the fact that the Rev. 13 Beast Empire is able to “make war with the saints and toovercome them...” This infers that “the saints” are able to make war in return and therefore logically must have a base andinfrastructure by which they may do so, i.e. Israel is once again a “Nation state” as well as Christian based nation s. Incomparison, the “little horn” of Daniel 7:25 is able to “wear out the saints...” who are “given into his hand...” which means that the O.T. Saints (Judah) have no resources to make war and the “little horn” has complete control over their destiny, aswas the case with Hitler and Nazi Germany and the Jewish enclaves over which they had control. These matters are dealtwith in Book 2 of this volume – “The Little Horn of Daniel‟s 4 th Empire and the Kingdom of the Jews”.
viii Isaac Newton in his interpretation of Daniel 7 believed the “speaking mouth” referred to the political/judicial system
and ability to manipulate changes in Parliamentary laws.ix The New Bible Commentary, Inter-varsity Fellowship – London - „Revelation‟ p.1183
x http://www.islamic-awareness.org/History/Islam/Inscription/DoTR.html
xi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
xii A useful help in understanding the early history mentioned in this study up until 1000 A.D., is a web-site showing therise and fall of these empires, and the areas under their dominion. It doesn‟t take long to download and it can be pausedwheneve r necessary. Unfortunately it stops at 1000 A.D., so doesn‟t show the Ottoman Empire and its subsequent decline.www.atlasofworldhistory.com A 90 second display of the rise and fall of Nations in the Middle East and Europe can also be seen at –
