“The seven heads are seven mountains… They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes to destruction.” – Revelation 17:9-11
Come boys and girls, lets count them together:
Egypt – First Fallen King
Enslaver of Israel, builder of pyramids and, apparently, God’s patience. “Let my people go,” said Moses, “Let me think about it,” said Pharaoh, right before becoming an anecdote.
Assyria – Second Fallen King
Like bees, you need them, but preferable that they stay over there somewhere. Conquered northern Israel and left nothing but rubble and a few angry prophets.
Babylon – Third Fallen King
Took Jerusalem, burned the temple, and called it Tuesday. Daniel called them the “head of gold” – which is the biblical equivalent of saying, “Yes, he’s evil, but he dresses well.”
Persia (Medo-Persia) – Fourth Fallen King
More tolerable than the last, but still only remembered fondly because of how bad the neighbours were.
Greece – Fifth Fallen King
So much talent, – democracy, philosophy, theater, and the Olympics, but fractured faster than a 2000s boyband.
Rome – “One is” – Sixth
Empire of roads, robes, and recreational crucifixions. Gave us law, language, and large-scale persecution. Casually killed God, shrugged, and carried on with the weekend.
For those still counting, that leaves two:
Future/Not Yet Come – Seventh
“the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain a little while.”
The Beast – Eighth and Final
“the beast is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes to destruction.” – the Antichrist closing the curtains.
Remember the British Empire? – It was immense, spread across the globe, filling its pockets with artifacts, yet it did not endure for centuries in the way Rome did. Its height lasted “a little while” – still kinda lingers, like a teacup stain from the previous occupants.
Regarding the eighth kingdom: “The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven”. This peculiar phrasing – that the eighth is “of the seven” – makes sense in the case of America. The United States grew out of Britain, sharing its language, its laws, and its culture, everything except tea.
It is “of” Britain in origin, but distinct as a separate empire, one that eclipsed its parent. In this reading, Britain’s brief global supremacy becomes the doorway through which the United States rises to dominate the modern world.
Revelation describes the mighty empire, with a mighty military, enriched by global trade, boasting of her wealth, and deceives the nations, making people marvel and follow it (sound like anyone you know?) but will fall in a single hour. Merchants weep as her markets collapse, kings stand far off in fear, and sailors mourn the ruin of the hub that once made them rich.
“God bless America” – sure, and I can see no reason why America would suddenly find itself removed from God’s Christmas card list.
It’s probably fine, I remember the main warning throughout the bible wasn’t this, but was mostly about worshipping people as gods. In Isaiah He says He will not give His glory to another, Herod was struck down when he accepted worship, as was Nebuchadnezzar. Again and again, the Bible warns that worship belongs to God, and God alone.
So long as Americans aren’t lifting up Donald Trump in godlike devotion, treating him as a saviour figure, then America should be fine…
:: REFERENCES ::
- The Bible – King James
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