What are some fundamental keys to understanding the Bible?
Dr. Reagan and I on our ministry’s television show Christ in Prophecy had the pleasure of asking this question of Eric Barger of Take a Stand! Ministries. Eric is an authority on the cults, the New Age, and rock music today. From his past as a former drug addict and rock n’ roll musician who was deeply involved in the New Age movement, Eric has emerged since he gave his life to Jesus Christ to become a great defender of Christianity in America. He joined us to talk about the validity of the Bible as the foundation of our Christian faith.
Literal Interpretation
Eric Barger: Look for the harmonization of Scriptures. Look at the times in the text where God is validating His Word as the truth. We see this played out so many times throughout Bible prophecy. I read once there are 324 prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible and we see so many of those have already come to pass.
To me, the validation of God’s Word when reading and understanding it comes from a literal interpretation. That’s the most important key. Never be like those people who today spiritualize the text resulting in unintended meanings.
Dr. Reagan: I emphasize interpreting literally over and over again. People get all upset and their noses bent out of shape over the word “literally.” They’ll say to me, “Don’t you realize there is poetry? Don’t you realize there is allegory?” I reply, “Look for the plain sense meaning even when there is an allegory or there is a symbol. Look for the plains sense meaning, but don’t play with it.” Of course, spiritualizers are those who take it and say it never means what it says. Spirtualization is the greatest abuse of the Scriptures because then you make yourself God so that you can make the Bible say anything that you want it to say.
Eric Barger: Yes, exactly. I read a quote by a fellow who has been taken up on apostasy or heresy charges by his denomination. This is the fourth time they have done it. He was a Bishop in his denomination and he finally declared that he didn’t believe the Bible meant anything literal that we think it means.
Dr. Reagan: God knows how to communicate. God wants to communicate. You don’t have to have a degree in hermeneutics or a degree in imagination to understand God’s Word. What you do have to have is a childlike faith, a belief that God really wants to communicate, and you have to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to really understand it in depth.
Eric Barger: God will use versions like the Living Bible, for example. He will use different things to communicate to us. All of us are still trying to make our way along in this life-long journey of Christianity. We are all still learning and all still trying to refine who we are and what we believe. That’s the great thing about the Bible — we can be reading the same passages again and again, but the Bible speaks in different ways to us at different points in our lives.
Starting Point
Dr. Reagan: Okay, assume I’m a new convert who grew up in a non-Christian family and have just been handed my first Bible. Where do I start?
Eric Barger: The book of John.
Dr. Reagan: Why would you recommend starting there rather then starting with Genesis?
Eric Barger: I believe the way the book of John teaches us about the life of Jesus really is the thing we need today. We don’t start back at Genesis, though it’s great to read from Genesis 1:1 and find out about God creating the world, the Fall of mankind, and the beginnings of the trials of Israel.
We first will want to learn about the Messiah, the One who has saved us, though. Once we become a Christian, the very first thing we’ll want to do is find out more about Jesus. The book of John I believe clearly teaches the life of Jesus in a way that virtually everybody can understand.
The second book I would take people to, and I know there is disagreement about this one, is the book of Romans. Its Paul’s great theological book where people can begin to learn what they believe. And, yes, it’s going to take them awhile.
Dr. Reagan: So, you want them to jump into the deep water there? You would need to tell them that even Peter said that there were some things Paul wrote that were difficult to understand.
How about you, Nathan, where would you tell people to go?
Nathan Jones: Well, definitely John. John is the place to first go. I wouldn’t start them in Genesis, because for instance my son who is of elementary age has started to get into Numbers since he’s been working his way from the beginning. He kind of stole my Archaeology Study Bible and he is now getting bogged down in Numbers. That’s when people start giving up on reading their way through the Bible. But, with John, you’ve got the Gospel. Later, as they go back and start reading the Old Testament, they’ll see it all tie together.
For children, and especially because I do a lot with children who are at a young age, there is a wonderful new Bible out now called the Action Bible. It’s an entire comic book or also called a graphic novel Bible. It’s only $25 and it takes the pictures and the stories and the theology and brings them all to life with characters they can see and heroes they can follow. My kids are eating it up! They absolutely love it, and so I would definitely especially for kids start with something that visually makes the Bible come alive for them. Children certainly can read the Bible just as well as adults can as long as it’s from a version that’s in modern English. When they are ready for old King James English, I will give them a King James Bible, but right now the NIV I believe is easier to read.
Eric Barger: We need to teach them to respect the longevity of the King James. It’s a version we can still all enjoy and appreciate and I’m grateful for it. But again, like I said, I read them all and look through them if there’s a verse that I really want to get more depth out of. I will read the passage in three or four different versions and even go to the Greek and look at it via tools like Strong’s Concordance.
Dr. Reagan: Good point! Everytime a new version comes out, I go and take a look at it because I will usually discover something I haven’t discovered before from my favorite version. Just by the little bit of different wording I will get a point that I hadn’t gotten before. So, I recommend folks take a look at all of them. In fact, I’m hungry for them when they come out.
Eric Barger: Me, too, but above all, I think this discussion over which version to use should not bring division between Christians. The Bible no matter the version will inspire in us a hunger for the Word of God. If there’s any single thing the Church needs today, it’s to reignite our hunger for the Word of God.
Nathan!
I love the look of the Comic Bible! K. My other 12 year old grandaughter is taking after her dad and is a great little graphic artist; I shall have to look into this. $25? What's that in squids I wonder – about £20 plus P&P? Thats a bit 'spensive but if it tempts her to read it, and I really think it would… hmm good thinking Batman! 🙂
It is too bad that scholars will not allow the Holy Spirit to give them insight into the proper interpretation of Daniel 2. Modern scholars have speculated that the "Ten Toes" represent a revived Roman Empire and the W.E.U. or the European Union is the fulfillment of this prophecy.
When we examine this prophecy clearly we can see that it is a global entity formulated by 10 regions as proposed by the Club of Rome. The European Union is on the verge of collapse along with the United States and the entire globe economically. The Iron mixed with Clay identifies its strength as well as weakness.
These ten regions that will span the entire globe will have self contained monetary policies and currency, they will have seperate and distinct governance at least until the time that the AntiChrist conquers three of these regions and all ten then relinquish their regional powers into his hands. This is the proper interpretation, not the opinion of scholars still living in the days of the reformation.
While many have sought to demonize the Catholic Church as identifying the Pope as the coming AntiChrist and False Prophet, Rome being Commercial Babylon and the Catholic Church as being the Harlot riding upon the Beast, they have shredded the truth concerning these things. Indeed the Catholic Church is evil and corrupt, yet the Harlot consists of the universal apostate Church whose membership today includes prominent Protestant Churches.
When the E.U. collapses, and it will, the fable of a revived Roman Empire will die along with it!
Hello Rodney
I can accept bits and pieces of your stance, for example the R.C. theory which goes back, as you say, to the reformation but for some time now is largely seen as you describe plus ALL faiths already formed in the Ecumenical movement. Nathan’s recent poll reflects this imo. As a whole your argument doesn’t bear scrutiny based on what God The Holy Spirit has already revealed to us through Daniel imo.
Yes, as it now is, the E.U. as the feet of the image; will disintegrate and its substance will eventually morph into the ten toes made of the same unstable substance of iron and clay. It is the feet (Rome)that are struck by the ‘Stone’ Jesus at His 2nd Coming at the end of the 70th Week.
The ten toes are an extension of the iron and clay feet. The feet are an extension of the iron legs which represent Rome’s Empire which never fell but has continued to this day through the ‘Holy Roman Empire’ which runs through the veins of all the European nations (and their offspring)
The legs of iron proceed from the thighs and belly of bronze Greece which fell to the Romans. The breast and arms made of silver are Media/Persia who fell to Greece. Finally the head of fine Gold wherein is the controlling power –of man and the aspirations of Babylon which fell to the Media/Persians.
I have gone backwards to try and emphasis how the great image is a combination of all the Eurasian Gentile rulers from Babylon, Media Persia, Greece and FINALLY Rome.
FOUR; power bases, emanating one from the other. A fifth, separate power, as your view suggests, is not evidenced in Scripture.
Daniel 2:19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. 23 “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”
These Scriptures make plain what God The Holy Spirit has ALREADY revealed to us by making the interpretation clear to Daniel. So it isn’t necessary to second guess the bounds He has already given.
Cont.
Cont.
The Daniel 2 prophecy does not stand alone (excuse the pun). The image is but the magnificent, outward appearing of what Gentile rule over Euroasia looks like to the viewer. Daniel 7 has corresponding visions of the four beasts which are the hidden, beast like natures of the gold, silver, bronze and iron ‘nations’ represented by the image.
1st Beast – Gold is the Babylon beast like a powerful lion with the heart of MAN.7:4.
2nd Beast – Silver is the strong/weak Media/Persia beast like a lumbering lopsided bear. 7:5
3rd Beast – Bronze is the Greece beast like a swift Leopard. 7:6
4th Beast – Iron is the Roman Empire a strange conglomeration of the previous three beasts 7:7
Just as the image had ten toes, this beast has ten horns out from which emerges an 11th small horn with a big mouth – the antichrist. The 10 are an extension of what already exists and not a separate entity to make five which God does not mention.
Although the city of Rome was defeated; the Roman Empire continued and still exists today and has been ‘revived’ for the end-time scenario. There is no doubt that the last Gentile ruler, the a/c, will rule the whole world via the 10 horns/kings. Rev13:5 and their king will be a Caesar.
Whoever they are, they have never reigned before, and then only for 1hour (Rev.17:12) until the small horn of the a/c, overthrows 3 (Dan7:24) and uses the combined power of the other 7 making a/c the 8th, who will rule the world for 42months (Dan7:23-25. Rev17:12) until Jesus returns in the 2nd coming crushing the image at its iron and clay feet (weakened Rome)
Thus the Times of the Gentiles, as earths rulers are over and replaced by the Jewish Messiah via Israel. Dan7:13,26,27. Rev17:12.
That is as fast a sketch as I could muster but I don’t want to get caught up in another circular argument.
God bless
Sue
The Fall of the Roman Empire is a fact of history any archeologist can attest to this. Though it is true that many nations have adopted it's profane symbols of authority such as the United States in the form of an Eagle which was the standard of Rome. The Roman Empire had long collapsed, there are no more Ceasar's, no more Legion's, this empire that once existed was conquered by barbarian hordes.
The E.U. began as a common market seeking to adopt several symbols of fallen empires such as Greecian and Babylonian heritiage, yet as all those before them, they too have failed, a product of their excesses at the expense of their citizens. The final empire consisting of 10 kings and their perspective kingdoms will not be unified or consist of a economic union as is presented by the European Union.
The evidence submitted by the Club of Rome in their vision of the globe being divided into 10 regions with each having their own or distinct political leadership and currency. Daniel the Prophet identifies this clearly in declaring that they will not cleave one to another, though it appears they may trade among regional powers it is certain they will remain as seperate and distinct kingdoms.
The European Union is what it is, being an economic and political union, the 10 toes will not consist of such a union but seperate and distinct regional powers. Perhaps they will have learned from previous encounters that such unions only create a greater disaster, for when one falls they all fall together. Our present global economy and unified banking and corporate structure built to sustain wealth for the top tier of the globe at the expense of it's citizens will bring the entire global economic structure to it's knees.
E.I. the legs of the image that Daniel was shown, symbolize Rome, the feet and toes however are a seperate entity. The iron here, symbolizes strength it is not identifying Rome. The AntiChrist does bear a title, yet it is not Ceasar, it is "King of Babylon". The AntiChrist will seek to restore the head of the image presented to Daniel the Prophet, and the world will marvel that it's deadly wound was healed.
Once the AntiChrist has received all the 10 kingdoms into his power, he will create a global empire a restoration of Babylon, not Rome. The belief that the Roman Empire will be revived is a fable produced by misinterpreting the scriptures. Rome is history, Babylon however will be restored under the direction of it's King, the AntiChrist.
I had noticed that we don't have any Roman Legions up our Road anymore Rodders.
The nearby Roman Villa doesn't have a roof on it, or any walls for that matter.
The Roman Lavatorium, sited at the fallen East Gate, once frequented by the X Legion stationed in Glos’ straight from The Cross; has the 'vacancy' sign up and can be viewed through a glass roof by the interested.
AND I had a vote regarding the Common Market as well as a vote for the European elections.
Grand-mother – suck eggs comes to mind.
Where in Daniel 2 is there the 'metal' of a fifth Empire Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron and … ?
Daniel 2:40 "And the FOURTH kingdom shall be as strong as IRON, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
41. "Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's CLAY AND partly of IRON, the kingdom shall be divided; YET the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the IRON MIXED with ceramic CLAY.
42. And as the TOES of the FEET were partly of IRON AND partly of CLAY, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
43. "As you saw IRON MIXED with ceramic CLAY, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as IRON does not mix with clay.
44."And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
"Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold–the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
FOUR Gentile empires linked and ruled with the Babylonian ‘heart’ of a man; number 4 relates to the world. The Fifth is to be the Jewish Messianic Kingdom; number 5 relates to God’s Grace. It is at the weakened feet of the amalgamated FOURTH Empire where the Stone of Messiah strikes mans efforts of earthly rule and ends it forever.
Cont.
Cont.
Where in Daniel 7 is there a fifth 'entity' or 'beast' Lion, Bear, Leopard, Terrible Mix and …?
Daniel 7:16 "I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the INTERPRETATION of these things:
17. 'Those great beasts, which are FOUR, are FOUR kings which arise out of the earth.
18. 'BUT the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'
19. "Then I wished to know the truth about the FOURTH beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;
20. "and the TEN horns that were on ITS head, and the OTHER HORN which came up, before which THREE fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21. "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22. "UNTIL the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to POSSESS THE KINGDOM.
23. "Thus he said: 'The FOURTH beast shall be A FOURTH kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the WHOLE EARTH, trample it and break it in pieces.
24. The TEN horns are TEN kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue THREE kings.
25. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME. (3 ½ years)
26. 'BUT the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.
27. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
No FIFTH Gentile entity is mentioned, the beasts and the image remain as FOUR. For this reason, it is the FOURTH; which is the Roman Empire, the two hard Iron legs with its feet weakened with fragile clay are the FOURTH
Terrible beast akin to the two silver arms, the lopsided Bear of Media which was weak and Persia that was strong.
The FOURTH Empire that is a mix of the THREE from which emerges the TEN brand new kings under the control of the little horn of the FOURTH beast; the son of Perdition who is to be the 11th horn and the 8th King.
I see not an inkling of anything like your interpretation. Do you deem the interpreting angel, sent by God to explain to Daniel, was wrong?
8 Kingdoms in total, at the time of the Daniel Rome had not been, yet in Revelation 17 we get a clear breakdown of the Gentile kingdoms to past, present, and future. At the time of the Apostle John the Roman Empire was in full swing. The list of empires is as follows: 1)Egyptian 2)Assyrian 3)Babylonian 4)Medo-Persian 5)Greece 6)Roman 7)10 Kings or Regents spanning the globe 8) Revival of the Babylonian Kingdom under the direction of the AntiChrist.
The Apostle John identifies clearly that the 10 Kings and their perspecitive Kingdoms will not be associated with Rome. Daniel identifies the AntiChrist as the Prince to come, Isaiah identifies the AntiChrist as the King of Babylon. The context of Revelation 17:10 identifies another kingdom that will replace the fallen Roman Empire which is at the time of the Apostle John the sixth Gentile kingdom. This kingdom to come will rule for a short time before handing their power and authority over to the AntiChrist and his kingdom which is the eighth.
The AntiChrist will rise to power from the people that destroyed the Temple and the City Jerusalem, not the territory of Rome, yet its offspring.
Rodney
You haven't got everything wrong, but you are following a totally different picture on the 'jigsaw box' set by the Bible.
Its not one bit of good you looking at me like that from under your cap; I answered you out of a touch of the entente cordiale across the pond and all that! But I fully recogonize the trend you are setting and I am not getting into the old treadmill you SO like to play on.
I'm off – over and out – TTFN.
E.I., I appreciate the fellowship, I guess in the end we will find out either way! I look forward everyday in witnessing to others of the grace of God that many will be joined with us at the time of our gathering in the Rapture.
Amen Rodders! 🙂
Egypt in turmoil. Iraq in turmoil. Lybia in turmoil. Syria in turmoil. Iran close to being nuclear. The Russians…never ceased to be a threat. The EU is collapsing. The USA is collapsing (I hated to type that). The upcoming generation is liberal and without Christian values.
The Rapture, Gog/Magog, the anti-christ and all the rest is almost here. (Forget Israelistine).
I hope we all get Raptured very very very very soon!
Indeed Billy, Gog/Magog is coming, bringing rise to the Third Temple to honor the mighty hand of the Lord and deliverance of his people.
I personally believe that the Rapture of the Church will occur in the aftermath of this battle, propelling the AntiChrist to power at a time when the world is ravaged by war and economic collapse.
Rodney,
I don't know (obviously) the exact timing of the Rapture in end times events.
I don't see the U.S. being a player in end times events. I speculate either the Raputre or a Russian nuclear first strike against the U.S. just prior to Gag/Magog is what will be the nail in the U.S. coffin.
The reason I doubt Israelistine is that if Isreal's military might propels it into a world superpower then it is the NATION OF ISRAEL that gets the credit and the glory. However, with Gog/Magog, a hopless situation and sure defeat will be averted, then it will be clear that GOD will get the credit and the glory. That is what will lead to the Temple as you said.
Then later, at the end of the tribulation, facing not just defeat but total annihilation, the Jews will not just call on God, they will call out for and believe in His Son Jesus.
Hello Billy
This is a 'hit and run' as I only want to say that I more, rather than less, agree your point re. Israel. I don't see her victorious at all – sadly just the opposite but I really don't want a tussle – not today, ok Rodders old chap? 😉
I would most appreciate prayers for my poor boy to be cut free from the deception he is caught in.
Thank you.
"The AntiChrist will rise to power from the people that destroyed the Temple and the City Jerusalem, not the territory of Rome, yet its offspring."
Correct! And who filled the ranks of those three legions that sacked Jerusalem and the Temple? Europeans/Romans.
Both Rome and Babylon return at the end. Both Empires invaded Israel, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Satan will try this one more time.
Daniel is clear as EI pointed out the fourth beast is Rome. It doesn't matter if Rome wasn't around in Daniel's time, this was prophecy, and that is kinda the point of prophecy, to point out future events.
The Roman system is being revived now. We just saw in the news last week that there are now calls from France and Germany for a single Eurozone government. Is this the system? Time will tell.
This is the list of empires as I see it:
1)Egypt 2)Assyria 3)Babylon 4)Medo-Persia 5)Greece 6)Rome 7)Revived Roman system 8) Antichrist global empire, headquartered in Babylon born out of revived Roman Empire.
Hello Gideon
Good to see you 🙂
I agree with your list of Empires. I have been trying to write a comment on the distinct DIVERSITY of the Fourth Beast – but I am losing concentration. Here's bits.
The 3 were Empires but Rome was also 'Imperial' (sent their own to rule like Pontius Pilate vs Herod)
Imperialism of Rome has continued 'hidden in plain site'. When physical Rome fell the politics, scholars etc all fled to FRANCE took over its government and invoked Romes Imperialism so the 'essence' of Rome, not just their symbols carried on. Then by Germany just the same now the EU.
Thats the Western Leg.
The Eastern leg exactly the same. When Constantinople fell to the Turks the same exodus of Imperialism went North into (is it the Balkans? can't quite recall). Now its in Russia with Putin a possible 'Gog' figure?
The feet of Iron and Potters Clay, that will not cleave together – and called partly strong and partly weak, I see as its advantage in these last days. Yes Iron is strong and unyielding, but the Potters Clay is malleable during its formation stage. The clay part has behaved like an amoeba does, stretching itself to first encompass before absorbing into itself, everything in its path. The clay will have 'set' and dried hard and brittle when The Stone strikes it.
Maybe?
EI,
I always enjoy reading your posts! I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on Rome and the 4th Beast.
Thanks for the preview!
Still do not agree with the a revived Roman Empire, Europe is a sinking ship, their call for consolidation is only desperation as they near complete collapse.
Hi Rodney
Are you basing this theory by looking through newspaper glasses? Meaning: are you influenced by current events and what the media "experts" are saying or by the Word Of God?
Yes it MAY appear that the EU is collapsing. This is what is meant by iron mingled with clay. In fact it would require the antichrist to pull it together (after the rapture). Scripture says that is exactly what will happen.
Nathan wrote an article which included something which I think will explain it better:
"With the more christianized nations in tatters due to a Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the Islamic world in ruins from the Gog-Magog Battle, the remaining European world power could fill the vacuum in the Middle East. By making a peace treaty with Israel and easily conquering the lands of the once Middle-Eastern Muslim countries, the Roman Empire could truly be revived once more. The only remaining world powers would be East-Asian, and the Bible records their continued existence (though under the control of the Antichrist) until the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 16:12)."
Europe is impotent, they do not even contribute significantly to N.A.T.O. missions, the U.S. must constantly bear the weight. The E.U. is no power broker, nor could they ever guarantee any peace agreement, their military is in shambles. Even former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates admitted that N.A.T.O. is becoming obsolete, the European partners can not even supply adequate ammunition for their troops. The E.U. is history, and so is the fable of a revived Roman Empire, you will see this clearly very soon.
By the way it is current events that provide the scope for fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, it was the same for the creation of the Jewish State of Israel in May of 1948, and the consolidation of Jerusalem in June of 1967, lest we forget. It seems that at every moment when obvious fables are attacked the "newspaper exegis" label comes out.
The Bible identifies the AntiChrist as the "Prince that shall come", it also identifies him as the "King of Babylon", not the "King of Rome". I think it is pretty clear what kingdom the AntiChrist will establish!
Rodney,
Babylon and Rome are one in the same. The early church referred to Rome as Babylon, and for good reason. Babylon and Rome were the only empires to invade Israel, destroy Jerusalem and the temple, and take the Jews out of the land. It is the same system. It has happened twice, and Satan will try it for a third time. Again, both come back. Rome re-emerges, and when the antichrist comes to power he sets up his global empire headquarters in Babylon.
Your arguments seem to be based solely on current events. Scripture tells us a different story. I again, will use the example of the collapse of the Weimar Republic. Germany was in deep depression, their money was worthless, and their people were starving. Hitler comes to power, issues a new currency and puts people immediately to work building a military the world had never seen in a matter of a few years. The moral of this story: don't look at Europe in the sense that it is all going to fall apart.
Every nation on earth is in financial trouble at this time. Power is about to shift from the US to Europe. The elimination of hundreds of world currency to a single world currency will solve numerous economic problems. Scripture says this will happen.
The antichrist is also called the King of Tyre, Pharaoh, The Assyrian, King of the North, etc. These are titles he gains from conquest.
I do believe he will wield his power out of Babylon, but these are titles, not his ethnicity or where he originates from.
Hi Rodney
Please remember that the Book Of Revelation says "MYSTERY Babylon". If it was referring to "literal" location of Babylon, it would have said "in Babylon" full stop!!!
Paul talks about the "mystery" of iniquity as already beginning to have influence in the Roman Empire 2 Thes 2:7.
MYSTERY BABYLON is surely referring to the satanic evils behind the Babylonic religion and systems – not the location. Besides is Babylon a City on 7 hills?
Daniel refers to the demonic powers behind the kings of Persia and Greece. So I would say that the king of Babylon is probably referring to the spiritual forces behind Babylonic religion which will re-emerge with great power in the Last Days – headquarters ROME
God bless