An Eighth Beast

Jesus revealed to the Apostle John that there would be an eighth beast at the very end of the age (Rev 17:7-18). That prophecy has several strategic implications that must not be overlooked.  Strategic may be an understatement. For me, the eighth beast of Revelation 17 was the key to understanding the beast of Revelation 13, the identity and demise of Babylon the Great in Revelation 17, and the whole purpose of Armageddon and the final battle when King Jesus returns. Also, Paul’s prophecy of the lawless one and the great rebellion can be better understood. The pieces of the “last days” puzzle began to fit together, for me, when this key puzzle piece was put in place. And the picture that began to take shape was different than anything I had ever been taught, and it is quite alarming.

The eighth beast will succeed the seventh beast, and will last for only one hour (Rev 17:12). That merely signifies that its reign will not be like each of the previous seven beasts, a somewhat lengthy world dominion, but will be a short-lived ten-nation alliance to accomplish God’s purposes at the very end of the age. The eighth beast is designated by the ten horns, quite unique from the seven heads. The seven heads are seven nations that have dominated the world and suppressed God’s people. Beasts number 3 through 6 are the four beasts in Daniel’s vision (Dan 7) along with another “beast”, represented by the little horn, which would prove to be the seventh beast. This is all captured in the statement to John, “five have fallen, one is now, the other has not yet come” (Rev 17:10). This explanation of the beast in Revelation 17, both the seven heads and the ten horns, made it crystal clear to me that Revelation 13, the lengthy description of the seven-headed beast, was not picturing the Antichrist, as is so commonly taught. Not at all. The beast of Revelation 13 is a nation, the seventh manifestation of the beast motif down through history. It is the same beast as the little horn of Daniel 7:8, referred to as another “beast” that would follow the four main beasts of the vision (Dan 7:11). The little horn beast should be understood to be America, a new horn that defeated three of the ten horns that grew out of the old Roman empire, namely England, France, and Spain (Dan 7:8, 24).

The eighth beast is an alliance of ten kings who give their power and authority to one last ruler (Rev 17:12-13). This ten-horn beast is a united Arab-Islam alliance, led by the lawless one, an Islamic caliph or Imam. This is confirmed by understanding the cryptic identification of the eighth beast given to John in Revelation 17:8 and 11, “the beast once was, now is not, and yet will come.” The Arabs were a constant enemy of the Jews, shortly after the time of Abraham all through the history of the Old Testament. At the time of John’s writing, though, the Arabs were a non-factor to the Jews. But they would come on the scene again, dramatically, in the 7^th century, and will become the arch enemy of Israel and of Messiah at the battle of Armageddon (Rev 17:14).

If the beast of Revelation 13 is not describing the Antichrist, and the “lawless one” of II Thessalonians 2 is the Arab-Islamic leader, then the picture that emerges is not what we have been taught. The lawless one will not be a world-wide, one-world-government leader. He will not rise from the dead, nor have a wound to his head. He will not make a covenant with Israel, then break that covenant by destroying the temple. All of that has to be dismissed. The lawless one, at the end of the age, is very narrowly focused in his great rebellion.

Lastly, the eighth beast “will hate the prostitute” and “bring her to ruin”, “they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire” (Rev 17:16). The prostitute is the Great Babylon, and is to be identified with the great city that rules over the kings of the earth, sitting over peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages (Rev 17:5, 15, 18). The great Babylon of the end of the age is New York City, the controlling center of the seventh beast, America, and the prostitute of the whole earth. If the eighth beast prophecy is understood rightly, and in correlation with the other prophecies, then the alarming picture that comes into focus is this – New York and America will be destroyed (cf. Daniel 7:11-12), by this eighth beast alliance, for the last hour. The eighth beast hates the prostitute and will bring her to ruin. If we in America are to heed this prophesy, then we should see in it a warning that our beloved America will be brought to ruin.

We are warned, and we must prepare our hearts and bolster our faith, for we will be living through some extreme tribulation, Christians included. That makes it all the more impactful to be alert and ready, and to look forward, desperately and hopefully, for our redemption. We will cry out, “Maranatha, come quickly Lord Jesus.”