Unleashing the Beast

T HE K INGDOM OF THE B EAST / 37

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads (Revelation 12:3). And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy (Revelation 13:1) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and l saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (Revelation r7:3). Who are these seven heads? Why are there seven? For centuries, Bible scholars have noted that these heads represent the major empires that have ruled since the beginning of Biblical history and have effected Israel and the Jews. They are:

1. The Egyptian Empire 2. The Assyrian Empire 3. The Babylonian Empire 4. The Media-Persian Empire 5. The Grecian Empire 6. The Roman Empire 7. The final global empire

When John describes this vision of the beast with seven heads, he informs the reader that the sixth head (kingdom)