Final Years of This Age 

     In Revelation chapters 13-17, John writes of "beasts," "angels" and "God's wrath." These represent conflict during history's final world government. The "beast coming out of the sea" is the antichrist. He will make a covenant with the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27), launching the final seven years. 

     There will be those who worship the beast, and those who refuse at great risk of life. 

     In one last appeal, an angel will pass over, proclaiming the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people. "Fear God," the angel warns, "and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come." 

     A second angel will announce, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great (political, religious and commercial systems of the world), which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries." 

     A third angel will warn, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too will drink of the wine of God's fury." 

     There will be seven plagues and seven bowls of God's wrath. "Kings from the east" - nations from the Orient - will participate in a great conflict - driven by satanic power - the war of Armageddon.

     A "great prostitute" represents religious Babylon. She is all false religions, including apostate Christianity. 

     A "scarlet beast" is world government, or political Babylon, which props up evil spiritual power. "Babylon the Great" symbolizes false religion, sorcery, astrology and rebellion against God. 

Tomorrow: Fall of commercial Babylon