Pieces of the Puzzle: Convergence of End Time Prophecies

   Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isaiah 46:10  

   In my humble opinion, man likes to rush God, in order to 'adjust God's time clock' and 'move things along.' Impatience is a human character flaw, contrasting with the fruit of the spirit: Galatians 5:22. But, in the end, our God, who is infinite, beyond the constraints of time and space, is the one in control, and all things are done according to His will.  

   His timing is not our timing, for his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are higher than our understanding. For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts: Isaiah 55:9. 

   Delays can be seen as preparations, preparing for events that will soon transpire and come to pass. Some delays are things that affect us personally, while others are part of a bigger picture, pointing to future prophetic events. 

   One of these future events is the convergence of prophecies found in Revelation 13, 17 and 18, which lay out a series of events that transpire at the end of days, the final few years before the second coming, the glorious return of Christ. Revelation 13 presents an overview of the Antichrist kingdom, the beast of ten horns (iron) who rises from the sea R 13:1-4, with its religious system - a beast of two horns who rises from the earth (clay). These two systems rise to seize world power, in the latter days: 

Revelation 17:7 - Mystery of the Woman and the Beast that Carries Her

 Revelation 17:7

   And the angel said unto me, wherefore did thou marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 

   This verse can be broken down into 4 characters: John, the angel, the woman and the beast. The verse reflects a mystery which surrounds the woman, followed by another mystery which surrounds the beast of ten horns. The mystery of the woman is fairly simple, the woman is a commercially corrupt trader, a great city which rules over the kings of the earth in the latter days. The mystery of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns is a bit more complex. 

   The angel: the angel is one of the seven angels with one of the seven vials. His mission was to carry John into the wilderness and show him the judgement of the great (English: prostitute / harlot: - Greek: πόρνης ..... commercially corrupt one) who sits on many waters, fornicating with the kings of the earth: 17:1. 

Code Words in Bible Prophecy

 The Use of Code Words? Are They Scriptural?: 

     ...  Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath: Revelation 16:19b.... And the woman whom you saw is that great city, which has kingship over the kings of the earth.

   In the end of days, there is a destruction of Babylon, the great city who sits on many waters, ruling over the kings of the earth. In order for a destruction to occur, there needs to be a great city - Rev 17, which is also a merchant port - Rev 18. 

   Babylon aka: Babel, the land of Nimrod, is located in the land of Shinar, the land between the rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. In Zechariah 5:5-11 a woman named Wickedness is sealed inside an ephah (measuring basket for commerce) and transported to the land of Shinar where a temple is built for her. Inside the temple, the woman and the ephah are  placed upon a pedestal: for worship. It is easy to see where the woman and the ephah are going by reading scripture as written - the land of Shinar, the region of Babylonia. 

   The Bible is consistent with the location of Babylon, man, not so much. In scripture, Babylon is always Babylon. But when we get to the prophetic significance of Babylon found in Revelation 14:8; 16:19b; 17:1-18; 18:1-24, something changes; Babylon is no longer  Babylon. The prophetic significance of Babylon in the last days has been removed, and Babylon becomes a 'code word', indicating that Babylon is somewhere other than Babylon.

Babylon the Great: Rome or Babylon?

   The prophecy of Revelation 17 details a great city, metaphorically depicted as a woman, who sits in the wilderness with her companion; a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The woman, dressed in scarlet and purple is a bastion of spiritual depravity, who has kingship over the kings of the earth in the last days. She is economically corrupt, a habitation of foul spirits, regulating a religious merchant system of buying and selling. 

   During the time period of great tribulation, those who wonder after the beast: R 13:3b; 17:8b, will bow in submission before its image, its name, or the number of the name of it, and receive a mark. The mark is worn on the right hand or the forehead, granting special privileges to buy and sell: 13:15-17. Those who refuse this global ordinance will be killed. 

   The woman, that great city who rules over the kings of the earth, is an economic powerhouse, regulating the flow of merchandise tied to the spiritual harlotry of buying and selling.... in the last days: 17:1; 18:3,11-19. And, for this harlotry, she faces judgement.

   ...  Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath: Revelation 16:19b

    John is in the midst of great tribulation, serving as a witness, watching it unfold, when an Angel appears. The Angel arrives to explain why Babylon has been singled out for  judgement. The Angel shows John the judgement of the woman arrayed in scarlet and purple, adorned with the riches of the world. The name written upon her forehead: Babylon the Great indicates a middle eastern location, in the heart of the ancient Babylonian kingdom. In order for a judgement to occur, there needs to be a merchant city in the land of Shinar, the land between the rivers, home of the ancient Babylonian kingdom. 

   Revelation 17 - 18 details a great city which will exist in the future. But over the course of history,  Babylon has been removed from prophecy, and exchanged with Rome. Not only has Babylon been replaced by Rome, but, the prophetic significance of the entire middle east in the end of days, has been replaced by Europe. 

   Somewhere down the line, Rome replaced Babylon; removing the prophetic significance of Babylon in the last days.  

That Great City: Revelation 17:18

   But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days: 2 Timothy 3:1.

   Revelation: Greek  ἀποκάλυψις - Apokalypsis - to uncover or unveil.  

   Some of the most compelling prophecies in the Bible are found in the Book of Revelation. Revelation is the unveiling of end time events which will occur during a time of tribulation; global war, famine, pestilence, divine judgements, natural catastrophes, cosmic disturbances, the third temple and two witnesses, the rise of a global leader and his kingdom; the beast out of the sea with a religious system, the beast out of the earth. 

   This will be a time of great tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen. These events mark a time period which must occur before the return of Christ Jesus who defeats evil, claims ultimate victory, and rules from the throne of David. 

   Knowledge of these future events help us identify tribulation markers as they become visible. One of these future events is the prophecy found in Revelation 13  - the rise of the beast out of the sea: a vicious and brutal kingdom which has seven heads (seven kingdoms) and ten horns (ten kings): R 13:1-4. There is also a second beast which rises from the earth: R 13:11, which has two horns 'like a lamb' and speaks the words of the red dragon. This Beast out of the earth (clay) is the religious system of the first beast - the beast out of the sea - the tribulation kingdom of antichrist (iron). 

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account, detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used gives us a clearer picture of what John was witnessing while in the spirit. 

   In verse 7 the angel tells John that he will tell him the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her. The angel begins to explain a succession of events surrounding the beast who carries the woman upon his seven heads. The angel begins with the beast in verse 8, but does not give John much more information concerning the woman  until the very last verse,  Here, the angel tells John that the woman which he saw was that great (μεγας) city (πολις) which reigns over the kings of the earth. Revelation 17:18. This verse transitions chapter 17 into chapter 18.

   In the Greek, μεγας, mega translates into English as great, huge, enormous by volume, overtly large by physical size. 

   πολις or, polis for city is defined in the Greek as a walled city, mother city, magistrate city of many that dominates well defined territory: Babylon the Great.

   So now we know that the woman is a metaphor for a extremely large city. 

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:1

   And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither, I will show you the judgment of the great whore πόρνης that sits upon many waters. Revelation 17:1

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations (in my opinion) were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used offers a clearer picture of what John was witnessing, while in the spirit. 

   For example the Greek word translated into the English as great (megas) 'prostitute' is  πόρνης which means commercially corrupt one, to export or sell products or commodities immorally for profit or gain. This is generally defined or translated into English by its root πόρνη which is simply pornēs, prostitute or prostitution. This is where the term harlot, wh0re or, prostitute originated from, the root of πόρνης. 

Revelation 13:3 King or Kingdom?

    I was a little late to the Revelation 13:3 social media party and almost missed it completely. After the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald J Trump, social media lit up with Revelation 13:3 quotes. This was mostly from those who don't study scripture but, are quick to use it to serve their purposes or, fit a specific narrative which has become common practice. Most comments were quite misguided, even delusional, misquoting scripture. 

   "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast" 

   The bullet grazed former President Trump's ear, whereas, the alleged shooter received a deadly head wound which ended his life and no, he will not rise again. But, the scriptural reference was directed at former President Trump and his wounded ear. Heads represent kingdoms, horns represent kings, Is Trump a kingdom? Is he a kingdom that belongs to the beast that rises from the sea, mid-tribulation? Is he even a sitting President right now? Is he a leader (king) of a middle eastern world kingdom? No, of course not. 

   Why doesn't scripture say one of the horns was wounded as to death if this verse represents a deadly head wound upon a man; a king? Because it's not a man, it's a kingdom. 

   Let me explain: 

   Revelation 13:1-4 details the rise of the antichrist-tribulation kingdom aka: the beast of ten horns, who parallels the feet and toes of iron and clay.  

Dreams of a King Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar's Prophetic Dream

   Upon claiming the throne (605 BC) after the death of his father, King Nabopolassar, King Nebuchadnezzar II inherited a bunch of mystic advisors that had once served his father. These wise men were collaborators of the dark arts who worked in service to the King. The mystic advisors were the best the kingdom had to offer, Egyptian magicians, Canaanite fortunetellers, Aramaic astrologers, and Chaldean dream interpreters. There were also soothsayers, diviners,  sorcerers, enchanters, conjurers, and illusionist available to provide counsel unto the new king.  

   But none would come close to doing what the king requested.

   King Nebuchadnezzar II was haunted by a dream that mesmerized his soul. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, the details of his dream evaporating as soon as he woke. It intrigued  him so deeply that he called upon his court of dream translators, sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians to reveal his dream, and the meaning of it.   

   He was desperate to know the interpretation of the mysterious dream that evaded his waking moments. 

Hislop and the Mother Child Religion

   The argument used by Alexander Hislop to explain the mystery religion or, the mother - child worship predominant in the Catholic church is that every false religion in the world is connected to the worship of a woman named Semiramis and her child, Tammuz, the reincarnation of Nimrod. His argument is that the mother-child religion flooded the entire world after the fall of Babel to honor or replicate the worship of Semiramis and Tammuz. He claims that these are the same beings with different names since the languages had changed. 

    His argument is that Mary and Jesus are simply imitations of Semiramis and Tammuz reintroduced into religion, and the birth of Christ Jesus, was a replacement for this ancient Babylonian mystery religion. He ignores any reference to the rise of fertility cults consisting of a variety of deities that dominated the Mesopotamia. 

   History shows that the Mesopotamia was filled with a mixed combination of occult  rituals, idol worshipers and a saturation of fertility religions post-flood. History has no mention of a woman named Semiramis until the 8th century BC, long after the tower of Babel fell and, Nimrod no longer walked the earth. Her memory was expounded upon, and included in the writings of many Greek historians, beginning with Greek physician and historian, Ctesias (5-4th C BC) who connected her to a mythological character, King Ninus. 

   According to Greek mythology, King Ninus ruled Assyria in 3000 BC. These myths and legends are what many historians, including Alexander Hislop, based their research on. 

Debunking Alexander Hislop?

    Hislop did a fantastic job selling his bizarre hypothesis of Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz and the Babylon mystery religion; as it continues to be a primary teaching in many  churches today. Hislop's theory is used to explain the prophecy of the 'harlot woman' of Revelation 17. This is the only chapter in the entirety of the Bible, that many Bible teachers use an outside source for interpretation.

   The majority of parishioners aren't even aware that these tales are based upon mythology, mythical figures and fictional characters. but, we were told that this would happen: 2 Tim 4:3,4. Those who are aware, just don't care. It is taught in church and that is good enough for them. Afterall, who would question their favorite Bible teacher?  

  Surely Bible teachers had done their research on this, investing in a full analysis of Hislop's claims, before teaching it as a historical and biblical narrative? One would think so,  but it is impossible to fully analyze the conjuncture of Hislop, and still teach it as a historical or biblical narrative, with a clear conscience. Many are being misled by these teachings. 

   The interpretation of Alexander Hislop is the most protected non-Biblical source in modern history. The truth in the Bible supports itself, both historically and scripturally.  When you have doubts or questions, the Bible defends itself as scripture is interconnected, and scripture defines scripture. Not so with Hislop. When you have doubts or questions as to the logic of reincarnation, time travel or, mythical characters there are no discussions or debates. You become an outcast, verbally attacked as a 'crazy troublemaker', your questions or comments ignored as folly. It is something you cannot question or criticize in many churches today. The insanity of it all just boggles my mind. But, it is what it is. In the age of mass deception, truth, logic and reason become the first victims. 

   Beginning sometime around  2012 or 13, something quite uncanny occurred. Someone taught the Hislop narrative of the mystery religion of Semiramis, and before too long nearly every bible teacher was teaching it. As a result, you couldn't find a sermon on Revelation 17 without it. Almost all use the same Hislop narrative that includes Nimrod, a fabled mother / wife, named Semiramis and a son named Tammuz. 

Daniels Fourth Beast from the Sea

   The interpretation of Daniel 7 can be a bit perplexing. I thought I would attempt a quick and hopefully simple breakdown of Daniels four beasts that rise from the sea. It will aid in the interpretation of the beast kingdom in Revelation 13, and 17, and perhaps offer some clarity concerning the fourth kingdom which rises in the latter days, prior to the second coming of Christ Jesus - Yeshua Hamashiach.

    The writing below is simply a reiteration of scripture. The Bible is interconnecting as  scripture defines scripture. Daniels night vision interconnects with Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar was perplexed by a dream that prophesized the future of his kingdom. His dream began with his role as the king of Babylon, the kingdom which ruled the middle east. This kingdom was  followed by two additional kingdoms, one of silver and another of brass. These future kingdoms would rise to rule the middle east - the kingdom of Babylon. The dream ended with a fourth and final kingdom that would rise to seize world power in the latter days. The Bible doesn't require outside sources to interpret scripture but, we often find that historical events fill in the gaps. 

   Daniel 7 adds additional information that parallels the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The kings dream revolved around four metals found in the dream image which represented the king, and the future of his kingdom. The four beasts parallel four metals from the dream image: 

   Four Beast: 1) Lion - Babylon 2) Bear- Mede-Persian 3) Leopard - Greek, Grecian 4) Beast of ten horns - Tribulation-Antichrist kingdom. 

   Four Metals: 1) Gold - Babylon, 2) Silver - Mede-Persian, 3) Brass - Grecian, 4a) Iron - God's judgement, fall of Babylon, 4b) Iron mixed with clay - Tribulation - Antichrist. 

The Woman in the Ephah Zechariah 5

Unfulfilled Prophecy in the Land of Shinar: Zechariah 5, the Woman in the Ephah 

   It was 738 B.C., the second year of Darius the Mede, when the first remnant returned to Judah after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The prophet Zechariah was born there and returned to Judah with this first remnant. 

   After a series of failed and forgotten attempts; Zechariah was instrumental in stirring the hearts of the Israeli people to complete the rebuilding of the temple: 516 - 515 B.C.  Construction began around 536 B.C., two years after the first remnant returned, but faltered many times. Before the temple could be completed, the wickedness of Babylon had to be removed from the hearts and minds of the people and the land. 

   Yahweh called Zechariah as a messenger to receive visions of prophecies in the year 520 – 519 B.C., twenty years after the fall of Babylon. Zechariah is in Judah when he received several visions from the angel. The Woman in the Ephah was the seventh vision. After this vision, the temple was finally dedicated in 516 B.C. 

Mystery Woman of Revelation 17

Mystery Woman: 

    Who is this woman that has enchanted and mystified prophecy students for nearly 2,000 years? She sits in the wilderness with her companion, the scarlet beast at the end of world history, spreading her filth into the earth. She is even given royal treatment, carried upon  seven heads of the beast; seven world kingdoms.  

   And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me saying, come hither; I will show you the judgement of the great whore πόρνης (Greek: commercially corrupt one) that sits upon many waters. Revelation 17:1

   So, who or what is this great prostitute; the commercially corrupt one? 

    To partially answer this question, we need to look at the final verse in Revelation 17, which summarizes the entire chapter. This is the final 'clue' that the angel gave John; "I will tell you the mystery of the woman"... It is the ‘big’ picture that will define the woman and  chapter 17 with more clarity. We may not be able to identify her at this time in history but, there are many clues; so while she is being prepared, we will be able to recognize her for what she will become.  

    This interpretation is based upon scripture and the writings of the prophets which will omit the interpretation presented by Alexander Hislop taught within the church today.

    If you are not familiar with Alexander Hislop but have listened to modern Bible teachers interpret Revelation 17 as a harlot church, you are listening to, and learning the teachings of Alexander Hislop. Hislop's theory is based upon fables, mythology, reincarnation and the various gods and goddesses that ruled the Mesopotamia, and later, the Greek and Roman cultures. These teachings are taught as actual historical and biblical narratives in the majority of churches today. These are the same teachings that Paul warned about: 

   For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they will turn away their ears from the Truth and (truth) shall be turned into fables (myths). 2 Timothy 4:3,4 

    When Revelation 17 is reiterated using authentic historical context and scripture, it reveals something completely different. Modern day bible teachers are misleading the flock by teaching the Nimrod, Semiramis, Tammuz fables as historical and biblical doctrine. There is a major blind spot in biblical theology when it comes to the theories of Alexander Hislop. 

Nimrod Semiramis and Tammuz Deception

    The legend of Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz is the biggest con in the majority of  Christian churches today.  This teaching uses mythology and fables as authentic sources when they are anything but authentic. This bizarre teaching had literally caught fire in the online churches beginning sometime around 2012; but is now creeping into community churches throughout America. 

This is an extremely dangerous teaching. 

   The myths are literally taught as historical events and Christian theology. These fables are  presented as an alternative narrative to explain the mystery of the woman in Revelation 17, dating back to the time of Babel. 

   These fables replace the antichrist - tribulation city with a harlot religion, that allegedly rose from Babel and consumed the earth with a mother-child mystery religion.  The narrative suggests that the .02% rise of mother-child cults tied to the spread of fertility religions after Babel was scattered, is the underlying factor that explains the 'mystery of the woman' in Revelation 17. The reality is: from hundreds of fertility religions that saturated the Mesopotamia, perhaps four actual mother-child cults spread to other regions of the world. That leaves 196 that did not. Not very good odds if you ask me. 

   The mastermind behind these fabrications was Scottish minister, Alexander Hislop. 

   History shows that the spread of witchcraft and, demon possession was rampant after the flood, not mother-child religions.  

   If you are familiar with the Genesis story of Nimrod, and the authentic histories of the ancient gods and goddesses of the Mesopotamia, reading the bizarre writings of Alexander Hislop will literally make your brain crawl.