Jesus Christ demonstrates His unfathomable love by warning His people of two powers that will soon combine into a demonic confederacy. This confederacy will seek to draw people away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ into the worship of what the Bible calls “Babylon.” This scenario seems impossible to us now. But a study of Bible prophecy shows that this terrible confederacy is fast approaching.
To understand the great deception that is coming, you must study the Word of God for yourself. Only then will you be able to pass the test that looms before humanity.
Two books of the Bible play a central role in revealing the truth that is the key to survival—Daniel and Revelation. Those who are eager to know the truth will be led to the truth. You do not have to be a scholar, pastor, or priest to understand these two books. You have to yearn to follow Jesus no matter the cost. These books are among the most ignored in all the Bible! And for good reason. The evil one desires to deceive the nations, so he has obscured and confused the truth deliberately.
The Book of Revelation is written in an apocalyptic style. This kind of writing is loaded with sometimes bizarre symbolism and figures of speech. Revelation must be read in the context of the other great apocalyptic book found in the Old Testament, the Book of Daniel. Coming to a clear understanding of coming events demands prayer for guidance and a determined study of God’s Word.
Daniel and Revelation view human history from 30,000 feet, as they say. One verse, one phrase, may cover hundreds of years of time. On the other hand, these books contain specific time prophecies rooted in known historical events. Both books contain difficult elements interspersed with historical fact. This aspect of the books keeps readers rooted in reality.
Apocalyptic prophecy is actually pre-history; that is, these prophecies predict the future.
But the predictions are not meant to provide unfair advantage to politicians, stock investors, gamblers, or military leaders. Apocalyptic prophecies are warnings. Jesus referred to Daniel to help His followers avoid the destruction of Jerusalem. He said, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matt. 24:15-16).
The time of the fall of Jerusalem was not foretold by Daniel—only the event. However, Daniel did predict the exact time of the first coming of Jesus in the seventy-week prophecy of Daniel 9. The last symbolic week of that prophecy was from 27 AD to 34 AD. Jesus was baptized in 27 AD and crucified in 31 AD. In 34 AD, the gospel began its spread to the Gentiles. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. Jesus had warned that this would occur, but He provided no date. He described events!
Revelation 13 also contains time prophecies that connect us to history. The warning about the coming demonic confederacy concerns events in our future! But no date is given. We don’t know when this confederacy will arrive, but we know that when certain events begin to appear, the fulfillment of the prophecy is at hand. The truth of the prophecies will appear before our eyes. But you must know the prophecies to see their fulfillment. We must watch and be ready!
In vision, John saw a beast (an earthly power) rise from the sea and act with authority for 42 symbolic months (that is, 1260 days, or a time, times, and half a time). This beast power was the Roman papacy, which dominated Western Europe from 538 AD to 1798. The papacy was firmly established in 538 AD. In 1798, the pope was taken captive by Napoleon, and the papacy appeared to be at an end, right on time! It received a “mortal wound.” These dates are historical facts.
But John sees the beast with a “mortal wound” after the wound has been healed and the “whole world marveled and followed the beast” (Rev. 13:3). From 1798 until today, the wounded papacy has slowly regained its authority. Soon, the beast will wage war against the people of God just as it did for 1260 days/years. This time, however, the beast will have become a world power and be worshiped by the whole earth. If you understand the Scriptures, you will not be fooled by the deceptions of Babylon.
The second beast of Revelation 13 causes the healing of the first beast. The second beast is clearly the United States of America, because the United States began as a lamb-like beast in 1776, near the end of the papal supremacy, but America is fast becoming a dragon. It is the United States that will provide civil power to the Roman papacy and cause the world to worship this first beast.
We must understand the warning of Rev. 13 in order to avoid the horrific consequences of misunderstanding (explained in Rev. 14). If you knew that your next airline flight would end in disaster, you would not board the aircraft! Through apocalyptic prophecy God is warning His people to “come out of her, my people.” That is, God is saying, come out of Babylon to avoid the destruction of Babylon. (See Rev. 18:4.)
Here’s what is coming on the world, according to Scripture: Protestant America will cease to be Protestant and will embrace the Roman Church, eventually enforcing her mark. American civil and religious liberties will end.
The mark of the authority of Rome is Sunday sacredness. Without authority from the Bible, Rome changed the weekly Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Rome also brought into Christianity belief in the pagan concept of immortal souls, opening Christians to the deceptions of Spiritualism.
Current Protestantism is in a state of apostasy, and the various churches remain the children of their mother, the Great Prostitute (Rev. 17). It is they that help the Roman Church regain her power.
With that recovered power, Rome will once again return to persecution of the Remnant Church, those “who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17). The fourth commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Ex. 20:8).
The Remnant Church will honor the Sabbath of the Bible and honor the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10 says, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”) In other words, the final church keeps all ten of God’s commandments and values prophecy. Apostate Christianity does neither.
The Scripture does not indicate when the final events will occur, but they will occur! You must watch for the evidence of the coming threat to God’s faithful people. And the evidence is mounting. Catholicism and Protestantism are seeking spiritual unity, not only with each other, but with all humanity! Doctrinal differences are downplayed. Church and state will unite.
Many Christians around the world, in concert with secular social forces, such as labor unions, now embrace Sunday laws. A national Sunday law is currently part of the goal of the American government. Sunday laws are supported by the papacy and the European Union. Legislation for a national Sunday law could appear at any time, just as it did in 1888 (the Blair bill).
The American government is determined to return the United States to traditional Christian values such as the nuclear family and church attendance. This goal is tied to continued American military and economic dominance. The forces for a return to the spiritual headship of Rome are in place.
It is vital to our eternal destinies to watch and be ready. Jesus has warned in His Word that those who can hear must take heed. Jesus must be our foundation. He is the Rock that will keep us safe in the storm that lies ahead. His mighty, unfathomable love will endure forever.
Those who value this world over the next, those who obey man rather than God, are soon to experience the wrath of God, unmixed with mercy. The thousands of years of God’s forgiving mercies will come to an end.
As in the days of the world-wide flood, God’s warnings will eventually cease. At some unexpected time, the cup of earth’s evil will be full, and nothing more can be done for the salvation of human beings. Flood-like destruction will begin, but God’s people will be firmly in His hands, safe and secure from the collapse of the earth itself. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Look around at this world, and then look up! Jesus is coming soon.
Marcus Sheffield here. All content is free on Babylon Uncovered. Though my expenses are small, the money I spend on advertising could always be increased. Right now, I spend $10 per day. Donations would allow me to expand that amount. A recent donation allows me to spend twice that on this post.
