The Nation of the Beast

Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was restored to him when he lifted his eyes up to heaven and,

Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar in the 25th verse of this same chapter that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. This is, during the Times of the Gentiles, a rather loose rule, as His purpose dictates, but does extend to the setting up of particular rulers within each empire, with characteristics certain to fulfill His purposes. We shall see this principle delineated more fully and clearly as we progress in this discussion.

In chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed strange dreams of a large image in the form of a man, composed of a variety of materials. He was informed by Daniel that these various materials in the image of the man represented four empires, or kingdoms, which would arise upon the earth in succession. It is widely agreed that the fourth of these empires would be developed in two stages, the first being the Roman Empire and the second being either a revival of that empire or another Mediterranean empire or some later evolution of the Roman Empire. Whatever the case, the spirit of Rome would characterize the final form of the fourth empire.

Later, in chapter seven of the same book, Daniel himself had visions and a dream, detailing this same progression of four world empires. However, Daniel's vision did not portray Gentile world dominion in the same light as did Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. Rather than the glorious outward form of human rule on earth that Nebuchadnezzar saw, Daniel saw the reign of man, not in the things that he produced, not in his material wealth or strength, but in the state of his heart and character. Daniel saw those same four empires as vicious and bloodthirsty beasts, the fourth of which had great iron teeth and great pomposity.

History has clearly revealed the fulfillment of these prophecies of Daniel. As the centuries have unfolded, one empire has given way to the next, each in its appointed order, until the world has witnessed the rise and fall of each of the four empires. There can be little question of the validity of Daniel's prophecies, for we have the archaeological records to prove the rise and fall of these four empires, not to mention Jesus' own validation of them in Matthew 24.

Daniel did not prophesy that God would raise up empires, but that He would raise up specific rulers of those empires, according to His purpose. Daniel foretold the rise of the empires. He did not say that God would create the empires, but merely that those empires would arise, within which He would raise up whom He would. That is, it was through the natural evolution of political events that empires rose and fell. Daniel foretold them, but man worked his own will. Man, working under the power of an unregenerate soul, built the empires that God used according to His purposes. Within those empires, God raised up certain kings who would perform some foreknown act or function. By His permissive will, the empires arose; according to His purpose, He raised up whom He would.

Not once in the annals of history, as relating to these specific prophecies, has it been necessary for God to miraculously intervene in order to work the fulfillment of them. When empires arose and fell, it was not through the intervention of God, though it certainly was according to His purpose. Rather, as the centuries passed, political events would turn in such a fashion as to give rise to that which was foretold. There was always a very literal fulfillment of prophecy, but it was according to the wisdom (or lack thereof) and the will of man that those prophecies came to pass.

Now, that may seem sacrilegious until we consider that not one of those empires has been rightly based or built to glorify God. Each one has failed in its time, as will the final form of the fourth. Had God instituted those kingdoms, they would have been equitable toward all, and would have survived. However, because they have each been based on the wickedness of human nature rather than upon the righteousness of God, each has failed in its time. The miracle in the fulfillment of these prophecies is not in the fulfillments themselves, but in the fact that God was able to use such wicked institutions as we have created in order to serve His own holy purposes. The world system has never been, and is not today, what it appears to reasonable men to be.

In Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, we see that human government is of a single spirit, for the image that he saw was not many, but one, the image of a man, whose spirit must needs inhabit all of the body. In Daniel's dream and visions, we see the differences in the various kingdoms, but never without view of the earlier presentation of all of them being of Gentile human character. That is, while empires may come and go in the Times of the Gentiles, they retain the common weakness of being based upon the greed, rapaciousness and self-glorification of the human spirit. That which is true of Nebuchadnezzar is true also of Caesar. That which is true of Antiochus IV Epiphanies will also be true of the beast of the end times. Government by human reasoning has never been successful, is not now, and will never be until our near Kinsman sits upon His throne. God is not the Author of confusion, though it may be said that in the end times, Satan will be the author of whatever cohesion there is in the New World Order of that Day.

If Daniel's prophecies regarding these four world empires have all been fulfilled literally, and in accordance with the natural evolution of political events, then it seems to follow that the future fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the final form of the fourth world empire will also be literal and will be in accordance with the natural evolution of political events. Thus, we see the rise of the nation of Israel in 1948, not as an act of God, but as the culmination of a long political struggle, though its occurrence was in precise literal fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy in the first half of the prophecy of the valley of dry bones. The nation has arisen, but the breath of the Spirit has not yet entered into it. We know that it shall.

Among conservative literalists - premillennial, pretribulational, dispensational - there remain to this day several views as to the regional or national identity of the little horn of Daniel seven. Most reasonable among this group of interpretations is the suggestion that this person, this willful king, will in some sense be a revival of the Roman Empire of old. Some hold strictly to the view that it is an actual revival of Imperial Rome; others, that it will simply be a Mediterranean leader of unspecified national origin. Still others are persuaded that the beast, Antichrist, will be the leader of a finally evolved political system near the end of the Times of the Gentiles, culminating in a geo-political stage at the time of the end which corresponds exactly to the prescribed conditions, the absolute ruler of which is that same Antichrist. So that, within this conservative position there are three subdivisions which range from conservative to moderate to semi-liberal respectively, yet all being essentially conservative.

This position, a revived Roman Empire, was postulated within a couple of hundred years of the collapse of Imperial Rome, long before there was conceived in the minds of men the notion that there would be a United States of America. It was an important breakthrough in the interpretation of a difficult passage, and it made sense in its day. No other empire had arisen to replace Rome. This position was first postulated before the little horn had arisen, and was no more than an educated guess as to his national identity. It was the best guess of its day, but no longer obtains.

As for a different Mediterranean leader, a fair case might be extrapolated from the current geo-political stage for this possibility by assuming the rise to power of a Mediterranean ruler over the U.N. However, in the current political reality, the U.S. is found to be forceful and dynamic in its leadership at the same time that the U.N. is pandering to all sides with its pantywaist measures. The U.S. is decisive and effective, while the U.N. is vacillating and ineffective. Rome was not an assortment of different governments, all contributing to the common national philosophies and priorities. Rome was an empire, with an emperor who ruled with an iron hand over all the lands that his armies conquered.

Given the present realities, the rise of any Mediterranean ruler to world dominance any time soon would indeed be a cataclysmic event, for it must necessarily require the sudden decline of the nation with the most powerful military and economy in the history of the globe. And not just that, but that the European coalition of nations would also fall apart. That is, that all of the current geo-political stage must become totally realigned in order for a Mediterranean Antichrist to arise. With an American beast, the stage is currently set for the fulfillment of prophecy.

We all remark seriously about what appears to be an acceleration in the pace at which the signs of the end times seem to be coming together. At the same time, we fail to examine the current geo-political stage for evidences of this. Do we believe that the entire stage will be literally set according to the natural evolution of human events, all except the political stage? At every point in history at which the stage became set for the fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel, those prophecies were immediately fulfilled. Can we expect less today? With an American beast, the stage is set, and can the rapture be very distant? Neither a revival of the old Roman Empire or the rise of a Mediterranean leader adequately answers to the need for imminence as does a current examination of geo-politics. No, but as we see all the other signs of the end of this age, we also find that the political stage already coincides. This is as it should be.

Many who hold the revived Rome view contend that the little horn will not be revealed until after the church is translated. That view would seem to be incorrect. Rather, it would seem that he is to be revealed to the church, then the church is to be translated. Then the Holy Spirit is to be removed from the earth, following which Antichrist is revealed to the earth through the ratification of a treaty with Israel, beginning Daniel's seventieth week, and culminating ultimately in the time of Jacob's trouble and the second advent of Christ.

In 2 Th 2:3, the Day referred to is not the Day of the Lord, but the Day of Christ, for it clearly is represented as referring to our gathering together unto Him (2 Th 2:1), and is called the Day of Christ in the 2nd verse. The Day of Christ is decidedly the day of the church, from the rapture until the Second Advent of Christ. It is a Day of unspeakable joy in heaven, in contrast with the Day of the Lord, which is a Day of severe judgment on the earth.

This epistle was written in order to reconfirm the hope of the church at Thessalonica. Paul had just written to these Christians in 1 Th 5:1-11 that they would not be in darkness regarding the Day of the Lord; here he declares that when Antichrist is recognized, the Day of Christ follows closely. These two Days occur simultaneously, but do not occur in the same place.

If this entire passage is literally taken, then the revelation of the man of sin must be in two phases, for we are told that the Day of Christ would not come before the man of sin is revealed, whereas 2:6 tells us that the Holy Spirit will be removed, and then the man of sin will be revealed. The Holy Spirit must be removed either after the church is translated, or simultaneously with that event. The Holy Spirit cannot be removed before the church, for it is promised that He will never leave us. If the beast is revealed to the church before the Day of Christ, but is not revealed to the world until after the removal of the Holy Spirit, then it is necessary for the revelation of the man of sin to be in two phases.

In this same passage we are taught that the Day of Christ will not come until two events have taken place: the falling away, or apostasy of the church and, second, the revealing of the man of sin, the son of perdition. Therefore, any true interpretation must conclude that the apostasy and the revelation of the son of perdition have to occur prior to the rapture, if only an instant before. Indeed, such must be the hope of those who hold to an actual revival of the Roman Empire, for if such an event must evolve naturally, there are clearly many years yet before the rapture. That is, if the Roman Empire is to be revived, and if this event closely follows the rapture of the church, then God must intervene miraculously in order to put Rome in place if there is to be any sense of imminence concerning the rapture.

If Rome is the nation of the beast, then the stage is not set, for Rome clearly lacks the infrastructure and resources today through which to rule the world. There is little hope there. We must hope for the miraculous intervention by God in the affairs of men in order to immediately bring the alignment of world powers into conformity with that which is revealed to occur following the rapture. Short of a miraculous intervention by God in the affairs of men, the doctrine of imminence requires not a revived Roman beast, but some later evolution of the Roman system.

Of course, God certainly has the power and authority to so intervene, but He has not done so in past fulfillments of the prophecies of Daniel. Each of the transitions of empire from Babylon to Rome have occurred as a result of the natural evolution of political events, not as a sudden divine stirring of the political waters. That, of course, is not to say that God does not raise up whom He will, but that He works all things according to His own counsel and purpose, so that the natural evolution of political events corresponds with those divine purposes. It seems more than likely that such will be the case concerning the times of the end of the age.

Thus, we do not and should not look to some future fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the apostasy of the church or the revelation of Antichrist, but it is incumbent upon us to examine the present in the light of given prophecies. In the very here and now, we find great hope for the imminent return of the Lord for His own, and especially if we employ a literal method of interpretation.

Without the time or space herein to prove the apostasy that characterizes the professing church today, it seems nevertheless readily apparent that we find the church demonstrably apostate, permeated by the leaven of false doctrine, diversion from the truth, denial of the faith, one with the world, and without hope in a failing world system. This, with but few exceptions. In accordance with Paul's prophecy, this apostasy has occurred prior to the Day of Christ.

A good case can be made for a literal little horn having already arisen, although its character as the nation of the man of sin is only now being revealed. That revelation will be completed through the medium of a covenant guaranteeing the security of the nation of Israel and making peace between her and her neighbors. When that treaty is ratified, the Antichrist will be effectively revealed to the Jews in accordance with the prophecies of Daniel and Paul. It may well be that the peace negotiations currently in progress will culminate in just that treaty.

In Jesus' day, the leading religious authorities and the political powers did not accept Him as really being that Person who was to come. Had they known, they would not have crucified Him. Yet, they should have known, for Daniel had told them when it would occur in his prophecy of the seventy weeks of years. A philosophical case might be made for their having known it in their heart of hearts.

Today we see many signs of the end of the age, but we blindly overlook the one interpretation of these prophecies which offers the greatest hope and most clearly confirms the imminent return of the Lord for His church. Had the Jews examined the present in light of the Scriptures, they might have known that Jesus was indeed their King, and history would have been radically different. But for the grace of God . . . As we examine these ancient prophecies we find that an American Antichrist fits at least as well into the conservative position as does a Roman. In some places it fits much better.

The question arises as to whether the church must remain on earth until the ratification of that treaty. If so, then imminence loses its character. For if we have to await any development before the Day of Christ, then imminence is out the window. The quality of imminence has always obtained, if only through the sovereign ability of God to have worked a miraculous intervention at any moment of His choosing.

However, such an intervention is no longer necessary if America is the nation of the beast. We stand at the brink of the age. Consider, the church age began in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, when Jesus began to speak the parables of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, the church herself, that living organism, did not come into being until later, at the Day of Pentecost. On just such a principle it is conceivable that the church will depart prior to the actual beginning of the seventieth week, but after the Antichrist will have been effectively revealed by the negotiation of the treaty whose ratification inaugurates the seventieth week.

That is to say, if the treaty now in negotiation is indeed that treaty, then the rapture of the church truly can take place at any moment, though no attempt is made to determine the day or the hour. Whether those negotiations will be successfully completed this year or next, or whether they will be completed in our lifetimes, or if this is indeed THAT set of negotiations remains to be seen. But there is nothing to imply that it will not be very soon. Therefore, there is great reason to be hopeful. Whether it is the current American administration or the next, or one yet farther removed from this present moment, who will complete these negotiations, if that "peace" process has begun, we must look up. It only remains now to show convincingly why it seems right to postulate an American beast.

Laying aside a study of the first three beasts of Daniel seven, let us concede that they are clearly Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. This, to the rational mind, especially to the literalist, is beyond dispute, since they are identified. The fourth empire is not named here, but history attests to its Roman identity.

It might be good here to reiterate somewhat more clearly that God did not cause the natural evolution of political events (though He did raise up whom He would), but He allowed those whom He raised up to do according to their own wills as long as their wills served His purposes. Thus, Nebuchadnezzar was allowed to conquer Israel in conformity to his own greed and vanity, but in accordance with God's purpose to reclaim His lost land sabbaths by removing Israel from the land. God raised up Nebuchadnezzar, knowing exactly what that man would do when told of the wealth and treasures that Hezekiah had shown the ambassador of the Babylonian king before him. In just such a manner did the Babylonians fall under the sword of Darius, and Persia to Greece and Greece to Rome. That is, it was a succession of political circumstances in each case that led to the dissolution of one empire in favor of the next, but that evolution was natural, unforced by the hand of God.

Daniel sees this fourth beast as different in character from the three preceding empires, more rapacious, cruel, intimidating and dominating. And such was Rome. Machiavelli was the quintessential Roman pragmatist, though he hailed from Florence, and that, later than Imperial Rome. And American politics, domestic and foreign, have become more Machiavellian than ever before.

Daniel sees this fourth beast as utterly powerful, and able to work his will on the earth. Strength in excess is the way he put it, more strength than is required to accomplish the task at hand. John speaks of this same strength by saying, "Who is able to make war with him?" (Rev 13:4) We should stand amazed to hear an American president declare the New World Order; and more, to see the world quietly acquiesce to that declaration. It is a stunning development.

That which is said of the final form of the fourth beast can also be said of the United States. Desert Storm clearly showed the world the iron teeth of the monster. And after we crushed our foe with our iron teeth, our feet did in fact trample the residue as we marched inexorably where we would. This is not to imply that this specific war with Iraq was in any way prophesied, but that these characteristics of the beast were manifest and plain in that recent adventure.

When the weaponry of the West so badly crushed that of the East, the Eastern alliance fell apart. Granted, it was in the process of decay anyway, but Desert Storm was the catalyst that brought that pot to a boil. It was the spectacle that firmly established in the mind of the world the specter of the New World Order, as visualized and enunciated by George Bush, not by a Roman or other Mediterranean leader. It is clear that the world is desperate for a leader it can trust.

But under human government, ethics will always take a back seat to economics. The powers that be will not do much that is contrary to their own personal interests. They will promote their own interests, or what they perceive to be their interests, to the detriment of everyone about them, even to the point of crucifying their only Hope. Men are as desperately rebellious today as they were two thousand years ago, and possibly more so. We plainly flaunt our wickedness more openly today, filling the airwaves with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, in perfect obedience to the prince of the power of the air.

All of these things characterize the nations that occupy the land of the Western leg of the Roman Empire. Each in turn has attempted to force its will on its neighbors as it sought to enlarge its borders and build an empire. The history of what we commonly think of as Western Europe is a sad tapestry of aggression. It is immediately apparent from the most cursory study of this brief passage that ten nations within the borders of the old Empire are prominent players in world history.

It is nowhere implied that these ten horns, or kingdoms, either are or are not in league with one another, though it is declared that they are in subjection to the same little horn. That they exist simultaneously is implied in the notion that the image of Daniel 2 had all his toes simultaneously.

In 7:24, we see that the ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. It is apparent that the ten kings arise after the demise of the Roman Empire, on territories that were formerly Roman. That is, according to current conservative usage, the beast did not have the horns until long after its demise - for we hold that they represent the final form of the fourth empire.

However, they do not represent the final form of the fourth empire, but a sort of middle ground from which the final form emerges. That is, the little horn arises after them, and supersedes them, defeating three of them. Thus, it is clear that a new kingdom, or nation, will arise from the sands of Europe, not that an old empire will be resurrected. This little horn is not one of the ten, but is another, and is as different from the ten as the fourth beast is from the preceding three. Whether he defeats three of the ten before or after the beginning of the seventieth week is irrelevant to this discussion, though a case could be made for the U.S. having defeated England, Italy and Germany in rather decisive fashion. It seems more likely to infer that this military defeat takes place during the seventieth week, probably prior to mid-week.

One nation already has arisen from the sands of Europe. And that nation's look is certainly stouter than its fellows. Who is able to make war with the beast? Only one nation has arisen from the sands of Europe and grown great in the eyes of the world. That nation is the United States of America. To postulate that America is about to suffer some catastrophic decline flies in the face of reason. To postulate the meteoric rise of an insignificant nation to world domination when the world is rapidly coming under the domination of the U.S. is to deny reality for the sake of tradition. If the rest of the strands of prophecy are rapidly converging upon the same point in time, then we simply must reassess this issue.

The world sees the U.S. as both a menace and a savior. We have shamelessly exploited those less powerful than ourselves, and so the New World Order is feared somewhat. On the other hand, we are also seen as benefactor to the world. We are still regarded as the mightiest economic power on the globe, though the Orient is dogging our heels.

Had George Bush the charisma of Ross Perot, he might have succeeded in establishing his headship of the New World Order. However, we must remember that it is not the nation, but the person who is to rule, first over his own nation, and then over the world through the resources of his own nation. Unless he is reelected, George Bush cannot be the Antichrist. However, another after him might turn those resources toward world dominion. It would take a man who is subtle and cunning, who may be perceived as more savior than menace. The raw materials of empire are already in the bank, so to speak, and await only the individual who possesses Satan's scope of understanding, that he might use them in accordance with all that is written of him.

It is ironic that America, born of the high ideals of religious freedom, should turn out to be the nation which plays the climactic role in human government on the earth, that role unfolding at the end of the age, just prior to the revelation of Jesus Christ. This nation, where more Bibles are printed and distributed than anywhere else on the planet, is the nation which seeks to change the immutable laws whereunder it is an abomination to murder unborn babies, smacking of Herod. It is this nation which openly embraces homosexuality and the extreme liberation of women. It is this nation which considers itself enlightened because it is free to portray gross sexual immorality and gruesome violence, and to parade these evils before our children, glorifying them rather than God. It is this "righteous" United States of America which leads the world in all that is ugly, mean, selfish and proud.

Mankind has never yet devised an equitable government or an equitable economic system. Nor will it ever do so. Rather, it will become more lustful and proud until the end of Gentile world dominion. Then our Lord and King will inaugurate a Kingdom on earth that will truly display the glory, the love, the mercy, the wisdom, grace and sovereignty of Him who sits upon the throne. But until that glad Day, mankind will not grow better and better, but worse and worse, as we see all about us daily.

This paper does not seek to establish the personal identity of the beast. Its purpose is to begin to establish America, specifically, the United States, as the nation from which the beast is to arise, and over whom he is to rule as he extends his dominion over the entire world.

The beast will be seen more as savior than as menace, for the world will be in such a desperate state of disarray following the cataclysmic removal of all believers from the earth at the rapture that it will gladly accept his reasonable and reassuring leadership. Even his peace plan guaranteeing the security of Israel will finally bear fruit as the world seeks to usher in a new age of peace, recognizing finally that as goes the Middle East, so goes the world.

We do not need to await some future Mediterranean ruler, for there is a nation already here that fits the prophecies concerning the nation of the beast. Many of those things that characterized ancient Rome also characterize the U.S. today. If Rome had her orgies, we more. Look at our movies and our broadcasts. We have our orgies publicly, in living rooms and dens and bedrooms via nationwide broadcasts. Look at our advertising and our values.

If Rome had her corrupt politicians, we more. The S & L scandal was the largest crime in the history of the world, and it came on the watch of the sleaziest administration in our history, the administration who introduced an economic revolution, transferring more money to the hands of the ultra-elite than has ever been effected in the history of the world.

If Rome was a conquering beast, we more. We use warfare not only to effect our will with other nations, but also as a means to cover our political and ethical embarrassments from the view of our own citizens. Less than a week after the U.S. Marine barracks were blown up in Lebanon, we led a poorly planned invasion of Grenada. When the political heat and bad press became too great over the scope of the S & Ls, we invaded Iraq after sucker-punching Hussein.

If Roman politicians were on the take, we more. Lobbying has become a huge industry in the halls of our government. However one looks at the Roman Empire, we more. Engineers and road builders? We more. They built their roads for the movements of their armies; our interstate highways, for the same purpose. Their trust was in the gods of war and the wealth of the world. Ours is no different. Rome and America alike have wallowed in carnality, pride and lust, paying only the tribute of lip service (and that, falsely) to God.

Nebuchadnezzar saw Gentile world dominion from the same perspective from which the world sees it today. The image he saw was glorious. Daniel sees those same four empires from a godly perspective, and he sees them as rapacious and warlike. Just so does the world see the nation of the beast as benevolent, though it retains a sinister side yet unseen. From the perspective of a holy God, America is doubly wicked, for she is doubly blessed.

To whom much is given, much is required. The little horn began with all the blessings that God could bestow upon a nation in a cursed world. We had the opportunity to do either right or wrong. We chose to become what we are, and God's purposes are being served today. If one says that God raises up nations, then to say that America must catastrophically decline is to say that God made a mistake in raising us up in the first place. But to see this nation in its proper light is to recognize that God's purposes are indeed being served, and that this nation fits the bill for all that is required of the nation of the beast. No other nation on earth can claim that distinction, especially given the current geo-political stage.

This willful king will exalt himself above every god, and above God Himself. He will honor a god of fortresses. On every broadcast during Desert Storm, data sheets were shown for the various weapons systems being used. We just weren't told the prices of the hardware. What a sales pitch that neat little war was. What a gross display of the awesome power of American technology and strength, all to establish the New World Order.

What nation on earth has honored its military machine with a greater expenditure of its resources? Nothing in history compares. What wealth the military industrial complex has generated. High paying jobs. Oily fat defense contracts. What largesse we have heaped upon our military. What excess. And have not those who have been enriched by it enjoyed vastly more pleasant things than, say, the starving poor in Somalia and elsewhere who live in mud huts, whose children have hunger-swollen bellies and flies crawling upon their faces? While we have poured untold mountains of money down the rathole of the god of fortresses, we have been unable to find a middle ground between a welfare state and a homeless state.

The land which this willful king is said in the Scriptures to divide is none other than the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants. This he will do in the terms of the covenant that he will make with Israel, as Israel is coerced into trading land for peace.

In Daniel 11:36-45, we see the beast and his allies beset by forces from the north, south and east. What can this mean but that the beast is a western power? One need not stretch reason very far in order to portray the U.S. as the leader of the West. On the other hand, to portray Rome or some other minor player in that role requires an unreasonable leap. To casually dismiss the U.S. as a serious player in end time events seems tantamount to sticking one's head in the prophetic sand.

Again, it could be that God will raise up a Mediterranean leader, or that He will quicken the old Empire, but these passages also can be clearly applied to the United States of America, rendering the two former interpretations unnecessary.

Most conservatives agree that many things indicate that we are near the end of the church age and the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week. It seems then far better to apply the prophetic Scriptures to the world in which we actually live than to deny the present reality in favor of some fanciful tradition that no longer obtains. If a literal rendering of the prophecies can be sensibly applied to the present political realities, why is it then necessary to avoid that application and force upon the Scriptures a situation that does not exist?

This survey of reasons to consider the possibility that America is the nation of the beast is far from exhaustive. However, its purpose is not to prove anything conclusively, but to excite discussion among those more learned and qualified to judge these things than the author. We touched upon the hub passages, but left many peripheral passages unmentioned. Indeed, wherever one turns to substantiate a revived Roman Empire, he will find that it substantiates an American beast with equal weight.

There is a significance in the fact that the fourth empire is the only one not named. That significance lies in the fact that it is not a single empire, but an original empire, a middle ground of ten nations, and a third, a later kingdom which would restore the authority of the first Roman Empire, whose spirit still illuminates the actions and mores and values of both the ten horns and the little horn which follows them.

Far from being a radical approach to the interpretation of the prophetic Scriptures, an American beast approach simply closes the circle of evidence showing that we stand at the brink of cataclysmic events in human history. This approach both satisfies a need to see prophecy unfold as the natural evolution of political events, and it answers the questions regarding America's prominence at the very time that all of the other signs of the times seem to be racing toward a conclusion at an accelerating pace. In the calmer light of reason, this approach appears to make the revived Roman Empire theory seem radical, for the latter is strained to conform, whereas the former fits naturally into both prophecy and current events. Can the candid mind deny these things?

Ultimately the question of the national identity of the beast is of little consequence to the church, for he will not begin his great works until after we have departed. It is a small point in a great body of doctrine, and certainly not one worthy of causing division in the church. On the other hand, an American beast lends a sense of immediacy to the notion of imminence. The prophecies relating to the final form of the fourth empire are not many, and can be as easily interpreted in support of the above view as of any other.

Having watched the development of the world stage for the twenty or so years that I have been studying these prophecies, the case for an American beast seems more compelling than ever, even as virtually every aspect of prophecy concerning the times of the end is accelerating toward a common conclusion, the revelation of Jesus Christ. All of the pieces of the puzzle are rapidly shifting into alignment. When George Bush announced the New World Order, it was almost as if one could hear the footsteps of Antichrist as he walked across the stage of history. Imminence thrills the soul!

The church looks forward with a blessed hope to the Day of Christ, even as the world edges dreadfully nearer the Day of the Lord. Human government is marching blindly and inexorably closer to its doom. It neither knows nor wants to know these things that so vitally concern it, preferring ignorance to knowledge. For knowledge requires a decision that the world is not willing as a whole to make.

How about you? Are you one who sees the future as one of unspeakable hope? Or are you among those who fear the future with an unnameable dread? Why suffer with the latter when you can share the blessings of the former?

It only requires faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate penalty of the law with His own Blood in order that those who trust in the efficacy of His sacrifice on Calvary might have eternal life. A wise man once said that we are not sinners because we sin, but that we sin because we are sinners. It is an important distinction. As sinners, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God with those sins that we commit still unjudged. However, all sin was judged at the cross. The law was fulfilled in the Blood shed thereon.

When Jesus came to His ministry, He said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Mt 5:17-18). The last thing He said on the cross was, "It is finished!" (Jn 19:30). He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. This He did by perfectly keeping the law all His life, and then paying its full price on our behalf, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23).

God loves you. If you were the only sinner on the earth, He would have died to save you. When He died on the cross for you, He knew and was conscious of your name and person. He knew every sin that you ever have or ever will commit, and He took those sins upon Himself, in order that He might die so that you can live. All that is required is that you receive the gift He so freely offers. By faith you can appropriate that sacrifice for yourself, and can have the very righteousness of God Himself charged to your account.

In light of the times in which we find ourselves, won't you join the body of believers, the church, in that blessed hope? Won't you place your faith in that shed blood? Paul tells us that, "having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:1-2). For our salvation does not depend upon our good works, but upon the power and faithfulness of God. Again, Paul says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Eph 2:8-9).