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Antichrist is both a political and religious power.
Revelation 17:3, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
In prophecy, a woman is defined as a church...
Jeremiah 6:2 says, "I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman."
We also understand the Church of Jesus Christ is considered to be the "Bride of Christ" because of many areas of Scriptures that describe her as such. It is also commonly understood that prophecy defines a beast to be a nation.
Daniel 7:17, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth."
Daniel 7:23, "Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces."
Even in today's world, nations are described as beasts? The USA is seen as an eagle. Russia is likened unto a bear, and China even carries the image of a dragon.
Many years ago Daniel was given a great vision about all the nations of the earth till the end of time. In this vision he saw the last beast to be "diverse from all the others." (Daniel 7:19) But how diverse would it be? According to Revelation 17:3 as we have already seen, this beast will have a woman riding it. Since prophecy defines a woman as a church, and a beast as a nation. Is there such an entity described in history? Is there a church and state mixed together as one some place today? Yes there is. Only one place on earth has ever done this. The Vatican of the Roman Catholic church has been established upon this type of union, and is now finalizing plans to use this prophecied church & state structure to obtain global rule in the place of pagan Rome.
Antichrist will have his church & state sit on 7 hills
Revelation 17:3, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
Now before I define these seven heads I would like to remind you that I am not giving my "private interpretation" of this prophetic symbol. The Word of God states we are never to do this. (See 2Peter 1:20) According to Revelation, that beast the woman is sitting on, that we already defined as the Vatican church & state conglomerate, will have seven heads. But how does prophecy define those seven heads? Look just a few verses lower to find out. The Angel that is showing John this vision actually tells him point blank what those heads actually mean.
Revelation 17:9, "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."...
Originally posted by endisnighe
Being raised in the Catholic church where my father removed us during the change he saw a few decades back, I have found more spirituality amongst my brethren than any Church going could ever have done.
As for the rapture, I have a feeling the delusion will not be as some have pondered. Not instantaneous, but a gradual transition. I do not know why I say this, maybe because the Lord is all forgiving, and the Lord will give all those in the world a last chance.
We are all his children. One must only except his word and they will be forgiven all sins.
I am not a huge bible reader or spreader of my spirituality. I spent several periods devouring the different books. As I am a devourer of knowledge, I find I have erred on not reading exclusively his word enough. I am sure I will pay penance for this.
I also have a problem with wrath, oh how I have problems with wanting to spread his vengeance. I know this is a sin, let those cast the first stone. I know, I know, working on it!
Anyway, P and GB.
The wrath part In past history was always for rebellion against his will and word. But he always gave them away out. And of course the rapture is the way out of the Great Tribulation yet to come.