Obama's Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

Via Drudge comes this CNN report of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) reaching for the stars while addressing an evangelical congregation in South Carolina:

"We're going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth."

More here.

I'm not a fan of religiosity in politics (I'm not completely turned off by it either, and I especially savor the irony that it was a super-religious fellow, Roger Williams, who most forcefully argued for fully secularized government, God bless him). But Obama is making noise about reclaiming "faith" and "values" from the GOP and that never turns out well--it just adds another layer of moralizing goo to the seven-layer bean dip that we've already got when it comes to sanctimonious pols telling everyone how they should live. Establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth always means rendering more to Caesar than what was originally due.

Comments

[Pro Libertate]

Will he be smiting his enemies?

[Jake Boone]

Obviously you never read Obama's book, The Audacity of Smiting.

[Pro Libertate]

Well, no, but I did read Hillary Clinton's To Smite a Village.

[Warren]

I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth.

Remember when the American system of government was predicated on NOT being a kingdom? And a candidate for president calling for an American monarchy was just unimaginable.

[Ken Shultz]

"Establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth always means rendering more to Caesar what was originally due."

Amen, Brother Gillespie. ...creating a kingdom on earth seems to directly contradict what the King of kings is supposed to have taught.

I assume Obama knows that as well as we do too. It makes me question his integrity. ...not that I expect campaigning politicians to have any.

[Brian E]

Don't immanentize the eschaton!

[Randolph Carter]

Wait, who was the guy who offered Jesus the whole kingdom of Earth to rule over? Maybe Obama, Huckabee, et. al. can have a forum with him.

[rimchamp77]

Actually when religious values are enforced by government they cease to become religious. Secularization of religion actually destroys true faith. You can't be religious if doing so is dictated by someone else. It becomes a dictated value and one loses ownership.

[Warren]

rimchamp77,
Your ideas intrigue me and I'd like to subscribe to your news letter.

[Taktix?]

I'm getting tired of people finding the Jebus when they speak in front of congregations.

These people are so moved by their theism that they are blinded to the fact that they're being used as sheep.

It's sad, really...

[Max]

Kingdom (with Obama as King)?Instrument of God?

How about a little humility! Pride is a sin, isn't it?

[R C Dean]

I assume Obama knows that as well as we do too.

I wouldn't assume that Obama has any deep familiarity with Biblical teachings.

[VM]

Instrument of God

Jake and ProGLib - you're forgetting the famous, Profiles in Smiting!!

[mediageek]

Most politicians are religious to one extent or another.

However, Obama's statement is deeply indicative of his mental state, and, quite frankly, his using a phrase like that freaks me out.

The last thing this country needs is another president with a messianic complex.

[stephen the goldberger]

I think it's indicative of his desire to say meaningless drivel that gets a huge crowd reaction when he speaks. I doubt he really has any idea what he's truly saying half the time.

[ClubMedSux]

I would argue that Obama's playing the race card more than the religion card. Throughout the race he's faced criticism that he's not black enough, and so he goes before a black congregation to show he's one of them. Here on the South Side of Chicago, it's routine for black politicians speak before the larger black congregations, and the voting records of these politicians bears little in common with your Republican Evangelicals.

[M]

Why didn't he just say "King me!" It would'a been the new Checkers Speech.

[Mad Max]

"it was a super-religious fellow, Roger Williams, who most forcefully argued for fully secularized government, God bless him"

The background to that is interesting. Williams, like most New Englanders at the time, was a good Calvinist who held that God had arbitrarily predestined some people for salvation and others for damnation. The purpose of the church, in Williams' view, was for for all the saved to get together and worship. Williams thought that the true church must not include any of the damned.

All existing ecclesial institutions which Williams tried out turned out (in his view) to contain members who were soteriologically-challenged, or to be linked to other ecclesiastical institutions which had soteriologically-challenged members. Ultimately, I think he ended up quitting every ecclesial institution he joined.

Holding these views, Williams naturally thought that the established churches of England and Massachusetts were not proper churches at all, because they had reprobates as members.

Williams' church/state views were a natural development of this quest for purity.

[joe]

rimchamp writes, It becomes a dictated value and one loses ownership, and in doing do, translates the Second Commandment into Libertarian.

And on the flip side of the coin, the showy sanctification of politics - the "ceremonial deism" of In God We Trust and One Nation Under God - is an attempt to use God like so much crepe paper and mood lighting, and should also be considered the use of God's name in vain.

[BakedPenguin]

Funny, I agree with joe and rimchamp. and I'm an atheist.

[GILMORE]

Warren | October 8, 2007, 9:48am | #
rimchamp77,
Your ideas intrigue me and I'd like to subscribe to your news letter.

Warren, you be biting my quotes!

also, the kid has a point. I usually reserve that smackdown for the people who post 2000 word screeds instead of at least trying some kind of dialogue

[J sub D]

Most politicians are religious to one extent or another

Or claim to be.

[GILMORE]

J sub D | October 8, 2007, 10:39am | #
Most politicians are religious to one extent or another

Or claim to be.

No, claiming and being are the same thing in this case, basically. It's a prerequisite for holding public office, which deep in people's minds is our secular priesthood... our Ephors, if you will 🙂 (THIS IS SPARTAAA!)

(insert my constant quote from Spartacus = re: Crassus' "if there were no gods I'd still revere them")

[mediageek]

And on the flip side of the coin, the showy sanctification of politics - the "ceremonial deism" of In God We Trust and One Nation Under God - is an attempt to use God like so much crepe paper and mood lighting, and should also be considered the use of God's name in vain.

Gee, if only He'd do something about it.

[Gee (the Ambiguous)]

Gee, if only He'd do something about it.

I did. I created reason.

[David E. Gallaher]

Could it be that Obama is thinking a little deeper than all you piling on him believe him capable?
It could be said, could it not, that Julian Simon was calling for a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
Besides, I can't fault any politician for beseeching church-goers to take their eyes off the Heaven in Heaven at least long enough to cast a damn vote here on Earth.

[Warren]

GILMORE,
Yeah I'm sure I'm abusing that quote. I meant to suggest that what he was saying, is established dogma around here, but gets the moonbat treatment elsewhere.

[iih]

I would rather they follow Obama's Kingdom than Huckabee's.

[Rhywun]

claiming and being are the same thing in this case

Good point. How would one even distinguish the two? Which is another reason I am completely disgusted by the insertion of religion into politics--it's just so much suck-up.

[MikeT]

He has no idea how ironic it is to stand before a congregation of evangelicals, claiming that he, a man who isn't Jesus Christ, wants to try to create a kingdom of heaven on Earth. He might as well be saying, "A Vote for Obama, is a Vote for the Anti-Christ." WRT to civil liberties, you can pretty much take either party's front runner and substitute Obama in that sentence with their name, and it won't be far from the truth.

[Calvin Preddie]

The statement about rendering unto Caesar (government) the things that are Caesar's and to God, the things that are God's (faith) does not really refer to religion, which too many people confuse with faith in God.

I believe the Bible promises that there will be a new heaven and a new earth for which there will be no more sea according to the Book of Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1.

Seperation of Church and state refers to separation of religion and state, not separation of faith in God and state.

[Jake Boone]

Gee, if only He'd do something about it.

I did. I created reason.

Lanny Friedlander is God?

[R C Dean]

It could be said, could it not, that Julian Simon was calling for a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Not if Julian Simon did not, in fact, call for a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. I'm not aware that he ever did. You got a quote?

[Aresen]

Seattle did create a Kingdome on Earth.

They blew it up a few years back.

[Jamie Kelly]

another layer of moralizing goo to the seven-layer bean dip

Mmmmm.... seven-layer ecumenical religiosity bean dip ...

[Jamie Kelly]

Seattle did create a Kingdome on Earth.

Good thing they blew it up too. If heaven is a giant taxpayer-subsidized cavernous concrete parking garage, I'd rather get on the monorail straight to hell.

[mediageek]

Could it be that Obama is thinking a little deeper than all you piling on him believe him capable?
It could be said, could it not, that Julian Simon was calling for a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
Besides, I can't fault any politician for beseeching church-goers to take their eyes off the Heaven in Heaven at least long enough to cast a damn vote here on Earth.

Yeah, because someone who claims to have my best interests at heart would never do anything wrong!

Why, Obama has my interests at heart, and my interests are part of establishing a kingdom here on Earth!

Nothing could possibly go wrong!

[Jake Boone]

Not if Julian Simon did not, in fact, call for a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. I'm not aware that he ever did. You got a quote?

I don't know about Julian Simon, but it's indisputable that Belinda Carlisle did, back in the '80s.

[J sub D]

No, claiming and being are the same thing in this case, basically. It's a prerequisite for holding public office,...

Huh? Professsed honesty is a prerequisite for holding office as well. Is claiming and beign honest the same thing? Or do politicians often lie about themselves in order to get votes? I suspect the latter.

[Minion of URKOBOLD]

JAKE BOONE SHALL HAVE HIS TAINT WHITHERED AND TRANSMORPHED INTO HIS BROTHER DANIEL'S COONSKIN CAP.

FROM THE SIDE IT'LL BE HILARIOUS. HE'LL HAVE TWO TAILS. THEN EVEN BELINDA WOULD BE "MAD ABOUT YOU".

[Franklin Harris]

Obama = sanctimonious huckster.

[R C Dean]

I did. I created reason.

Umm, drink?

[Gee-the-not-always-ambiguous]

RC - just the opposite this time.

[Aresen]

Franklin Harris | October 8, 2007, 1:19pm | #

Obama = sanctimonious huckster.

And how, precisely, does this distinguish him from every other candidate?

[iih]

In the meantime, here is Romney confronted on medical marijuana.

[Brandybuck]

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and render unto God what is God's. Jesus was speaking to legalistic Jewish scholars trying to trap him. His audience knew exactly what belonged to God: everything! There is nothing left to render unto Caesar.

[grumpy realist]

Especially since we know that anyone who even comes close to atheism is going to be considered the Antichrist.

I doubt even a Unitarian could qualify at present.

Ah, well--it seems that every N years or so the U.S. goes through one of its fits of inane religiousity--the one I've read about the most is the 1890s mess, where "in their rhetoric the politicians invoked Christ with the freedom of medieval kings in a brawl over the border." (T. Beer--The Mauve Decade)

[iih]

Wrong link, let me try this again:

In the meantime, here is Romney confronted on medical marijuana.

[David E. Gallaher]

R C Dean,
Julian Simon was saying the world was becoming more like Heaven in that people are living longer, and so forth. You know the indicators. Julian never implied that any one of us could speed up the process of improvement in standards, but that politicians can slow it down.
That said, many evangelicals consider Earth nothing but a vale of tears, and see many signs of "end times." Woe is us, etc.
You know one of the biases of voters Bryan Caplan has recently written about is pessimism. Pessimism may be caused by religion....
So I think it was bold of Obama to get them to snap out of that mindset, at least long enough to get his ass elected.

[javier]

"What has always made the state a hell on earth has been precisely that man has tried to make it his heaven." - F. Hoelderlin

a quote that hayek uses in "the road to serfdom"

[Syloson of Samos]

Nick Gillespie,

Data point in your favor:

Cromwell's regime disintegrated after his in part because of the high taxes needed to support the New Model Army.

[prolefeed]

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and render unto God what is God's. Jesus was speaking to legalistic Jewish scholars trying to trap him. His audience knew exactly what belonged to God: everything! There is nothing left to render unto Caesar.

Actually, Jesus first asked whose picture was on the coin, thus allowing him to make an ambiguous statement implying it is OK to give Caesar back his own coins, thus not handing the Jewish scholars a statement that would get him crucified for opposing the temporal authority of the Romans. The point for his followers, though, was that the important thing was living our lives so that we can return to our Heavenly Father, rather than chasing money for its own sake.

This kind of ignores the fact that by building wealth, you can benefit others via Adam Smith's invisible hand, but Jesus was trying to teach ignorant peasants morality rather than school them in the finer points of advanced modern economics.

[Mike Laursen]

We're going to keep on praising together.

"To praise" is a transitive verb. Can we assume he was blowing off proper sentence structure in an effort to sound like a generic freedom of religion supporter?

[ZF]

We must be careful not to overinterpret Obama's statements, finding meaning which is just not there. The best observation about the guy I ever heard was that he is a gasbag.

[negatore]

When politicians pick up the Bible and use it as a prop, I think about all the hell on earth that false prophets like Jim Jones, David Koresh, et. al. brought to their followers.

[David E. Gallaher]

prolefeed,
Thanks for what you said.
What I'm saying is that Obama had a message similar to Jesus': Over the head of those here at H&R, but perfectly appropriate for his immediate audience.

Another thing: Is everyone making the assumption here that religion is the cause of taxes being too high?

[prolefeed]

David -- thanks for your comment. But, I think that the people here get what lies behind Obama's comments, while those implications went over the heads of his immediate audience. What Obama is saying is he wants a larger government and more taxes to "help" people, while ignoring the fact that Jesus never once advocated involuntary "charity" or government-run charity.

Religion doesn't cause higher taxes, but politicians pandering to religious people sure can impose those taxes.

[prolefeed]

David -- P.S. Jesus was trying to confuse the equivalent of politicians while communicating with the common people. Obama is trying to confuse the common people while communicating to politicians who understand what he wants to force upon us.

[R C Dean]

Julian Simon was saying the world was becoming more like Heaven in that people are living longer, and so forth.

Assuming that he did say this (in absence of a link) - what on earth does this have to do with establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Yesterday I told my wife her cream cheese brownies were heaven on earth. I wasn't accusing her of immanentizing the eschaton or of establishing a hierophantic regime.

[Andrew]

I couldn't read all the comments so I don't know if this has been addressed but theologically there is an eschatological view that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. It remains the predominant position of most mainline protestant denominations to which Hilary (United Methodist)and Obama (United Church of Christ) belong. This position maintains that humanity is progressing toward complete perfection and does so by Christainity's influence on all the world's political and social structures by bringing social justice (primarily through economic equality). Slowly these Christians will transform the world into the earthly kingdom to which Jesus will then return and set up his final kingdom. I said above it was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century and was advocated by the Progressive movement of the time; they really thought they were close to achieving it; however, WWI came along and burst their utopian bubble.

[Mason Jahr]

Would you like to know something about the upcoming Obama Kingdom? This is from the web site of the Trinity United Church of Christ where Mr. Obama is a member.

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

[Perry]

Seriously?

this much uproar over a religious man, speaking in front of a church - using the symbolism of the Kingdom to signify creating a better place on earth?

If you actually take the time to think about his comments in context, you see that he is normalizing the expression of religion in a general sense and not just keeping it the domain of the far right to be held only in connection with teaching creation, intolerance of gay marriage and the like.

"At least in politics, the perception was that the Democrats were fearful of talking about faith, and on the other hand you had the Republicans who had a particular brand of faith that oftentimes seemed intolerant or pushed people away."

I wonder how many of these commenters say nothing when Dubya says things like 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq'.

Really? God did, did he? Now THATS the scary stuff...

[Jake Boone]

I wonder how many of these commenters say nothing when Dubya says things like 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq'.

Approximately zero, I think. Folks around these parts like to call bullshit when they see it... no matter which side of the aisle is doing the shoveling.

[Perry]

Jake,

I think there just might be a few more closeted Dubya style conservatives around here than you think..

but thats just me..

[Dubya Lolconservative]

im in ur booth
tappin ur footz

[David E. Gallaher]

Perry,
See?
U wuz rite.

[bigbigslacker]

negatore, (at 3:34) don't give Koresh credit for all the hell on earth he brought his followers. He had government help.

[jkp]

Mason:

Ah, it's all the same old communist horse shit.

[pt68]

You speak the language of the people you address, not those who are listening in . . . The evangelical movement has been grossly negligent in living up to Christian ideal of charity and compassion, being completely me-centered and living for the herafter.
Obama's words are, if you know the traditions, an admonishment, an urge to be truly progressive and caring.
I know some UCC folks, by the way, and they are not only very progressive and active, they have accepted my atheist ways . . .

[papersack]

"We're going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth."

What was so wrong with that statement?

When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, in Luke 20-21, Jesus said in reply, "The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."

I know Obama is no Christ, but why is what he said so wrong?

[RICHARD SCHURZ]

Hi,

Enclosed is a Bible study of the 7 Bible clues which reveal the identity of the coming antichrist of the Great Tribulation and could Obama possibly be the future False Prophet of 666. Jesus is our bestest Friend and only Jesus and His Father gives Endless Love. Hoping for your comments and feedback. My phone is 863-651-4426.

Your eternal friend in Jesus,

Richard

WHAT ARE THE 7 BIBLE CLUES WHICH REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF 666??

Revelation 13:17b,18: "The mark of the beast {Or antichrist}is the *NAME* of the Beast or the number of *HIS NAME*. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, *LET HIM* calculate the number of the Beast {Even in AD 96 when Revelation was written}, for it is a man's number {Or "Number of a MAN"}. *HIS* number is *666*." God has promised in the above inspired passage that any saint {Even in AD 96--which implies that the name was known in AD 96} with spiritual wisdom and insight may calculate the name of the beast which is a *MAN'S NAME* and adds up to 666.

In Thess 2:3 the Beast of the End-Times is called a "*MAN* of sin or lawlessness" or very SINFUL MAN and therefore the name of the Beast which adds up to 666 is a *MAN'S* name which is also confirmed in Rev 13:17b,18 above. Therefore, the NAME of the Beast which adds up to 666 is a sinful *MAN'S NAME* and could not be the name of a woman or a city, country, computer or Satan, etc.. 666 is also identified with a MASCULINE pronoun 28 times in God's Word which we will show later.

Rev 13:16,17: "He {The False Prophet} forced everyone... to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead. No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast {Nero Caesar??} or the number of his name {666}. The antichrist is called a "BEAST" 36 {6x6} times in Revelation and the BEAST is a much better name than antichrist since antichrist is mentioned 4 times in God's Word {I John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7} and each time the word encompasses all who are against Christ. I JOHN 2:18: "Even now many antichrists have come." Surely all who receive the mark of the Beast are antichrists.

666 is referred to in the MASCULINE gender 28 times and the Beast is never referred to in the feminine or neuter gender. It is interesting to note that if the Beast of the end-times will be a religious organization, country or city it would be referred to in the female or neuter gender!!! The masculine pronouns used for the Beast are "HIS" 11 times: Rev 13:1, 5,16b,18b; 14:9,11; 17:7b; 19:2; 20:4(2X) & Daniel 7:26. "HE" 10 times: Rev 13:1;6a,7a,7; 17:8b; 17:11; 2 Thess 2:6; Daniel 7:24,25 & Daniel 9:27. "HIM" 5 times: Rev 13:4b; 19:20; 2 Thess 2:6; Daniel 7:25 & Daniel 9:27. "HIMSELF" 2 times in 2 Thess 2:4.

Actually there are **7 BIBLE CLUES** that show who the BEAST of the future 1260-day Tribulation will be. By an amazing coincidence all 7 Bible clues can be applied to Nero Caesar!!

{{1}} The BEAST will be a "MAN OF SIN" or very sinful MAN as per 2 Thess 2:3 above.

{{2}} The number of this sinful man's name is 666 as per Rev 13:16-18. The Bible was written by 40 divinely inspired Hebrews in Hebrew and Greek so then it is highly probable that this man's name adds up to 666 in Hebrew or Greek. Nero Caesar's name adds up to 666 in Hebrew which we will show later in this Bible study.

{{3}} This sinful man whose name adds up to 666 DIED BEFORE AD 96 when Revelation was written.{See Rev 17:8 below} We will show later why Revelation was written between Sept AD 95 and Sept AD 96. Nero Caesar lived from December 15th, AD 37 to June 9th AD 68.

{{4}} This sinful man who was alive and then died before AD 96 was FATALLY WOUNDED by a sword wound to his head. Nero Caesar committed suicide with a sword wound to his head on June 9th, AD 68. {See Rev 13:3 and Rev 13:14 below}

{{5}} This very sinful man who died before AD 96 was a KING in the Roman Empire as per Daniel 7:24. There were 11 Roman Kings or Caesars who died before AD 96 including the 6th Caesar who killed Paul and Peter in AD 66; and whose name adds up to 666 in Hebrew. Domitian Caesar was the 12th Caesar who was alive when Revelation was written in AD 96.

{{6}} The beast is also called an 8th KING who ruled before AD 96 as one of 7 KINGS crowned by the city on 7 hills. {See Rev 17:9-11} The identity of these 8 KINGS will be discussed later in this article.

{{7}} This very sinful ROMAN KING whose name adds up to 666 and who was fatally wounded by a sword before AD 96, will "COME UP FROM THE *ABYSS* or *HELL* as per Rev 11:7 & Rev 17:8. We know that the ABYSS is HELL by comparing 2 Peter 2:4 with Luke 8:30b,31. We can be sure that Nero Caesar is now in the Abyss or Hell since he killed Paul and Peter and thousands of Christians and sent Vespasian {the father of Titus and Domitian Caesar} to kill the Jews and destroy their Temple. The MAN OF SIN or Nero also killed his own mother and killed his pregnant wife by kicking her in the stomach. Inscriptions have been found in Ephesus in which Nero is called "Almighty God" and "Savior. In Revelation 13:8a we learn that all the unsaved inhabitants of the world will worship the Beast. Nero and Caligula "abandoned all reserve" in promoting emperor worship - they were the only two Roman Caesars who demanded divine honors while still alive. Nero claimed to be the sun-god Apollo. In 2 Thess 2:4 we read that the "Man of Sin" will proclaim that he is God!

Revelation 17:8: The beast, which you saw, once was {alive}, Now {in AD 96} is not {alive} and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book life.. .. will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was {Before AD 96}, now {In AD 96} is not {Alive} and yet will come. Rev 13:14: He {The False Prophet} will order the inhabitants of the earth to set up an image in honor of the beast who was {FATALLY-Rev 13:3} wounded by the sword and yet lived." Rev 13:3: One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound. but the fatal wound had been HEALED!! The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

When I was a missionary in Israel I studied the Hebrew language. One of the first things that you learn when you study the OT Ancient Hebrew language {Which is also the language of Israel today!} is that the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet ALSO represent 22 numbers! When you read Psalm 119 you will note that the 176 sentences are divided into 22 sections; each section with 8 sentences or verses praising the Word of God. These 22 sections are each headed by one of the letters in the hebrew alphabet in the exact same order as shown below. The ancient Hebrew language {Which is exactly the same as the modern Hebrew language} frequently used the letters of their alphabet to designate NUMBERS IN THE OT as follows:

ALEPH=1. BETH=2. GIMEL=3. DALET=4. HE=5. VAV=6. ZAYIN=7. CHETH=8. TETH=9. YODH=10. KAPH=20. LAMED=30. MEM=40. NUN=50. SAMEKH=60. AYIN=70. PE=80. TSADHE=90. KOPH=100. RESH=200. SHIN=300. TAV=400.

NOTE: Most vowel sounds excpt "O" {VAV} are not used as letters in Hebrew. These vowel sounds are designated by dots and dashes under their *PRECEDING* consonants. In Hebrew "N" is added on the end of all foreign names ending in "O". Therefore, the foreign name of Nero would be "NERON" in Hebrew. The name Nero Caesar would be pronounced Neron Kaysar in Hebrew. The "E" in Neron and the 2 "A" sounds in Kaysar {There is no "C" in Hebrew} are designated by dots and dashes under their preceding consonants and therefore are not letters in the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet, and so have no numerical value.

Neron in Hebrew would use 4 letters with numerical value: N-R-O-N and Kaysar in Hebrew would use 3 letters with numerical value: K-S-R. There would be a dot under the first N to show the "E" sound in NEron There would also be 2 dots under the "K" to show the "AY" sound in KAYsar and a dash under the "S" to show the "AH" sound in KaySAHr. The 4 letters with numerical value in NERON would be {SEE TABLE ABOVE} N = 50; R = RESH = 200; O = VAV = 6; and N = NUN = 50 and 50+20+6+50 equals 306. The 3 letters with numerical value in "KAYSAR would be K = KOPH = 100; S = SAMEKH = 60; and R = RESH =200 and 100+60+200 equals 360. And so the numerical value of Nero in Hebrew is 306 and the numerical value of Caesar in Hebrew is 360, and therefore the numerical value of Nero Caesar is 306+360 or exactly *666*!

There is a very interesting footnote in the revised Standard Version concerning the number 666 which states that some ancient manuscripts have the number **616** which *DOUBLY* confirms that Nero Caesar may be the Anti-Christ!! You will note that the Hebrew language adds an "N" to all foreign names eding in "O". Now "N" or "NUN" in Hebrew has a numerical value of **50**!! and so if you decided not to add the last "N" in NERON then Nero Caesar would add up to exactly **616** in Hebrew. I think you will admit that this is an absolutely amazing coincidence!!

Any honest Hebrew language scholar will confirm that the letters of Nero Caesar's name add up to 666 in the Hebrew language whose 22 letters are also 22 numbers as shown above. Since all of the prophecies concerning the antichrist are written in OT Hebrew {Like Daniel 7:8-25} or NT Koine Greek it would then seem logical that God would use one of these 2 Bible languages to identify the Name of the Beast whose letters add up to 666. One of the problems of doing this in NT Koine Greek is that the letters of their alphabet are not also numbers. And therefore you can only assign a numerical value of 22 to the 22nd letter, etc.. Using this formula you could not get any name to add up to over 250, let alone 666. You have the same problem with English and all other languages other than the Hebrew language!

NOTE: The 3 different Greek words used in Revelation 13:18b to arrive at the number 666 are the 3 different Greek words for 600 and 60 and 6 and not 6 + 6 + 6.

Will the 6th Caesar {Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius & the *6th* is NERO who ordered the execution of Paul & Peter in AD *66*} be the Beast who comes up from the Abyss {Or Hell-See Rev 11:7 & Rev 17:8} in the coming Great Tribulation??

Rev 1:8,9: "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos beacuse of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus." We know that the island of Patmos was the site of a Roman prison in the first Century and that the Apostle John was suffering in this prison because of his religious beliefs. {As per Rev 1:8,9 above} The island of Patmos is about 30 miles from the port of Ephesus in Western Turkey. History tells us that the second huge Roman persecution of Christians {The first was NERO'S PERSECUTION OF AD 64-68} occurred in the last year of the reign of Domitian Caesar which would have been from September AD 95 to September AD 96. During the last year of his rule Domitian Caesar decreed that everyone in the Roman Empire must worship idols of former Roman Caesar's or else they would be killed or put in prison. Historical documents show us that the Apostle John lived to about AD 100 and therefore would have been alive during Domitian's evil decree of September AD 95 to September of AD 96. Since we can be sure that the Apostle John would never worship an idol of a Roman Caesar it is then highly probable that John was put in prison on Patmos Isle sometime during Domitian's evil decree from September AD 95 to September AD 96.

Rev 1:10,11: "On the Lord's Day I {John} was in the spirit and I heard a loud voice {Jesus} said, 'Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the 7 churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatria, Sardis, Philadelphis and Laodicea." The last 6 churches are all in Western Turkey within 77 miles of Ephesus. About 50 years earlier Paul had started churches in these 7 cities. Paul always had Jewish converts in the cities where he preached since he had the habit of teaching in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath. It was then highly probable that all 7 of these chuches had Jewish believers who were very familiar with the Hebrew language and of course knew that the 22 letters of the Jewish alphabet are also 22 numbers and also remembered the first Roman persecution by Nero or the "MAN OF SIN" about 30 years earlier when Paul & Peter and thousands of Christians were martyred because of Nero Caesar. Nero also sent Vespasian, the father of Titus and Domitian; to kill the Jews and destroy their Temple. He also killed his mother and killed his pregnant wife by kicking her in the stomach. Christian writings in the early 2nd century AD show that many Christians at that time believed that Nero Caesar {Who adds up to 666 in Hebrew} would return as the BEAST of the End-Times.

Rev 13:18: "This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight {Even in AD 96}, let him {Even in AD 96} calculate the Beast, for it is a man's number. His {Nero Caesar's} number is 666!" And so the above Scripture absolutely guarantees that anyone with spiritual wisdom and insight could figure out who the BEAST of the End-Times would be even when Revelation was first given to the churches in AD 96, and that the number of his name adds up to 666. This would of course mean that the future BEAST must have been alive before AD 96 when this Scripture was given to the churches. Nero Caesar {Whose name adds up to 666 in Hebrew} certainly qualified since he lived from Dec 15th AD 37 to June 9th, AD 68 when he was fatally wounded by his own SWORD.

Revelation 17:8b: "Those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life will be astonished when they see the beast {666}, because he once was {Alive--AD 37-68} now in AD 96 is not {Alive}, and yet will come." {During the Great Tribulation} The Beast once was {Alive before AD 96} now is not {Alive in AD 96}, and will come out of the ABYSS {Or HELL} and go to his destruction." {On the last Day-See Rev 19:20b} The fact that the ABYSS is HELL is confirmed by comparing 2 Peter 2:4 with Luke 8:30b,31: 2 Peter 2:4: "God did not spare the angels when they sinned but sent them into HELL, putting them in gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment." Luke 8:30b,31: "Many demons {Or Hell's Angels} had gone into him {A demon-possessed man}. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them into the ABYSS! {Because they had already been in Hell or the ABYSS before!!} Also in Luke 16:22-24 we read that there was a rich man already in HELL at the time of Jesus. Now we can be absolutely certain that an evil Roman king from the city on 7 hills; who was fatally wounded by a sword *BEFORE* Revelation was written in AD 96; and whose name adds up to 666 is presently in this ABYSS or HELL!! All historical documents agree that Nero Caesar {The 6th Caesar who ordered the execution of Paul & Peter in AD 66 and whose name adds up to 666 in Hebrew} was fatally wounded by his own SWORD on June 9th AD 68. In Revelation 13:14b we learn that the False Prophet of 666 will order the building of a statue of 666 "Who was {FATALLY-See Rev 13:3} wounded by the SWORD and yet lived!" {AGAIN} Nero Caesar {Whose name adds up to 666 in Hebrew} again qualifies for this inspired clue as to the identity of the BEAST. Nero's 4-year Roman persecution began when he blamed the Christians for the burning of Rome in July, AD 64; and ended when Nero was fatally wounded by his own SWORD on June 9th, AD 68.

Almost all conservative Bible theologians agree that the 4th Beast of Daniel 7:7,19 is the *ROMAN* Empire. In Daniel 7:20,21 we learn that a little horn who is also called a *KING* in Daniel 7:24 will come from this *ROMAN* Empire. Daniel 7:24b,25-27: "A *KING* {From the *ROMAN* Empire--Nero Caesar??} will arise?. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints. The saints will be handed over to him for a Time, Times and ? a Time." "But the court will sit, and his {666 or the Roman King or the Beast or Nero Caesar-See Rev 19:20,21 and 2 Thess 2:8} power will be taken away and completelydestroyed forever. *THEN* the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole Heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His Kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom."

Revelation 6:7,8: When the Lamb opened the 4th seal, I heard the voice of the 4th living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death {666 who will cause the death of millions} and Hades {The False Prophet who will cause millions to go to Hades by receiving the mark of 666} was following close behind him. THEY {Nero Caesar and the False Prophet} were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Daniel 7:8,20,24 says that an evil Roman King will conquer 3 of the 10 kingdoms {which will cover one fourth of the earth??}--Russia {Combined with former Soviet Union}, China and India cover one fourth of the earth and have over one fourth of the world's population! These 3 kingdoms may object and become jealous of 666 and his False Prophet ruling every country in the world. It is also possible that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities which will precipitate World War III and Russia China and India will back Iran. The following 10 powerful nations have about 50% of the world's population and about 70 % of the world's military power and certainly have the military, political and "religious" power to control and rule all the nations of the world: #1. United States #2. Russia #3. China {1.3 Billion} #4. Great Britain #5. France #6. India {1.1 Billion} #7. Germany #8. Japan #9. Brazil #10. Egypt. Brazil borders every country in South America except Chile. Egypt is the university, intellectual and theological center of Islam. After appointing 10 kings who have never before ruled {See Rev 17:12,13} in these 10 nations 666 will then have "authority over every tribe, people, language and nation" as per Rev 13:7b, from his headquarters in Rome. 666 and his False prophet will then quickly gain complete control over the radio, tv, internet, newspaper, book and magazine medias. It is interesting to note that Obama is presently trying to control all of these medias in the USA which may be the world's most free country!! There are some who suggest that these 10 nations will all come from Europe and will not include Russia, China, India, Japan and the USA and will therefore only have about 5 % of the world's population and about 20% of the world's military power. Daniel 7:24 confirms that the 10 kings of a revived Roman Empire also mentioned in Rev 17:12 will help 666 rule the world. However to assume that the 10 kings of these 10 end-time kingdoms must come from Europe is a false assumption since a REVIVED Roman Empire could include the Major powers of the world of the future Great Tribulation. Revelation 13:4: Men worshipped the dragon {Satan}, and they also worshipped the beast {666 or Nero Caesar} and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?

The next 5 paragraphs are an interesting SPECULATION about what might happen at the beginning of the 1260-day Great Tribulation and who possibly may be the future False Prophet of 666. The False Prophet is referred to as "HE" {Masculine Gender} 9 times in Rev 13:11-16 & Rev 19:20. And "HE" was a very "DECEPTIVE" False Prophet as shown in Rev 13:11-16 & Rev 19:20.

And so Nero Caesar with the help of the armies of the False Prophet {Obama??} and other nations aligned with him will conquer 1/4 of the world {See Rev 6:8; 13:4b} and then 666 will appoint 10 kings over 10 kingdoms to rule the world who have never before ruled {see Rev 17:12-14} and who will then take orders from 666 and his False Prophet from their headquarters in the evil city on 7 HILLS or Rome.{See Rev 17:9} Revelation 6:6: "A quart of wheat for a day's wages!" This phrase can also be translated "A loaf of bread for a day's wages." This event will occur at the coming of the black horse rider {Rev 6:5} which will take place just before or at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Because of the world's present economic crises the majority of people in the 40 poorest counties now have to pay a full day's wages for a loaf of bread as per Rev 6:6. And if the world experiences a world-wide depression this event could occur in over 100 countries. The world economic crises is rapidly accelarating. Many countries are far worse off than people in the USA during the Great Depression when there was 20 % unemployment. The world economic crises is rapidly accelarating. There are now 40 countries with unemployment rates of over 30 % and this should rapidly increase. And then the world will certainly be looking for an Economic Savior such as 666 and his very deceptive False Prophet. They will be looking for someone who promises CHANGE!! If the Great Tribulation would begin in the near future is there a well-known, powerful world leader that may qualify to be the deceptive False Prophet of 666 who will promise CHANGE you can believe in!! Will this powerful world leader try to bankrupt the USA which will in turn cause a worldwide depression and cause the price of a loaf of bread to cost a full day's wages??? The False Prophet is featured in Revelation 13:11-17; 16:13 19:20 & 20:10.
Do Obama's religious beliefs qualify him as a False Prophet?? Some insight into Obama's "Christianity" comes from an interview he gave in 2004 to Chicago Sun-Times religion editor Cathleen Falsani for her book, "The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People." "I'm rooted in the Christian tradition," said Obama. He then adds something most Christians will see as universalism: "I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people." Jesus says of Himself, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." That sounds exclusive, but Obama says it depends on how this verse is heard. According to Falsani, Obama thinks that "all people of faith -- Christians, Jews, Muslims, animists, everyone -- know the same God. "Obama doesn't believe he, or anyone else, will go to hell. But he's not sure he'll be going to heaven, either." Obama told a crowd at Hocking College that he believes the Sermon on the Mount JUSTIFIES his support for legal recognoition of same-sex unions?? Obama approves of same sex romantic and sexual relationships as do his former church, his pastor, and his former (So-called} Christian denomination?? The False Prophet should be hugely popular world wide. Interesting fact: Obama has greater worldwide popularity than any leader in modern history according to a recent poll in Reader's Digest and was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize even though he did nothing to deserve it. Jesus is our Messiah and the Prince of Peace and is called the LAMB 27 times in the book of Revelation. The False Prophet is someone who is like a LAMB according to Rev 13:11b. People from all over the world including Louis Farrakhan have already given Obama this interesting nickname "THE MESSIAH"!! The False Prophet will certainly teach that you can have your cake and eat it too, and that you will not go to hell if you receive the Mark of the Beast; allowing you to buy or sell everything. However, Rev 14:9-11; 19:20 & 20:10 confirm that he and all who receive the Mark of the Beast will be tormented day and night for ever and ever in Hell!
NOTE: There are many statues of the exact likeness of Nero Caesar including a 151 foot statue in the "Golden House" in Rome. The statue of Liberty {Without pedestal} is also exactly 151 feet high... hmmm. At the beginning of Great Tribulation the False Prophet of 666, Rev 13:14: "Will order the people of the earth to set up a statue in honor of the beast who was wounded {Fatally-Rev 13:3} by the SWORD and yet lived!" {Again} This staue of the Beast will be the "exact likeness" of Nero Caesar and could possibly be seen on World Wide TV so that people of all nations will be able to worship this statue as per Rev 13:15b. Obama's Air Force 1 plane just had a photo op with the Statue of Liberty....Hmmm.... The face of the Statue of Liberty could easily be changed to look like Nero Caesar within a week!
666 is called a BEAST 36 {6X6 times in Revelation and the False Prophet is also called a "BEAST" in Rev 13:11. Obama has nicknamed his presidential limousine "THE BEAST"!! In Revelation 13:11 the False Prophet is called the BEAST of the {PRESENT} EARTH. Whereas all true Christians are looking forward to a new heaven and NEW EARTH as per 2 Peter 3:13: "We are looking forward to a new heaven and a NEW EARTH the home of righteousness." {See Rev 21:1} Obama is the all-time world's greatest champion of EARTH day and saving the PRESENT EARTH from Global Warming, Geeenhouse gasses, coal burning and carbon emissions and he may bankrupt the world in trying to achieve these goals.
In Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15 666 is called an "ABOMINATION". In a recent Middle East tour Obama declared that the USA was "NOT a Christian nation!" I would tend to agree with Obama since with dominating majorities in the House, Senate and Supreme Court Obama is rapidly and surely turning this nation into an "OBAMANATION"!! WARNING: The possible identity of the future False Prophet of 666 is just an interesting SPECULATION.
" Revelation 7:9,14,4: "There before me was a great multitutude that no one could count, from EVERY nation, tribe, people and language {The Full number of Gentiles} standing before the throne in front of the Lamb....These are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."....."Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 {Evangelists} from the 12 tribes of Israel. It is possible that only Jews will be saved during the last months of the Great Tribulation after the Full number of Gentiles has come in.

"Babylon" is called a CITY 7 times in Revelation, chapter 18, and a SEAPORT in Rev 18:17-19. Peter was inspired to call Rome "Babylon" in I Peter 5:13. Rome is a CITY and a SEAPORT built on 7 HILLS! Babylon and Jerusalem are not seaports and are not built on 7 hills!

Rev 13:14-17: The False Prophet deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was {FATALLY-Rev 13:3} wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast {666}, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast {NERO CAESAR} or the number of his name {666}. And God will supply all the needs of His faithful and corageous Tribulation saints just as He miraculously supplied all the needs of the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness. {See Matt 6:31-34}

Rev 13:5-10: The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 {30-day} months {Or 1260 days or time, times and 1/2 a time-See Dan 7:25 & Dan 12:1,2,6b,7b}..... He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb.... This call for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. Matt 24:9-12...Matt 24:29-31: Jesus says, "Then {During the 42-month Great Tribulation} you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by ALL nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved... Immediately after the distress of those {1260} days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the **CLOUDS**{See Rev 1:7; Mark 14:62 & I Thess 4:16,17} of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud **TRUMPET**{See Rev 10:7; 11:15-18; I Cor 15:51,52; I Thess 4:16} call, and they will gather His elect from the 4 winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." {Mark 13:27 adds, "From the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."

There will be 2 Comings of Jesus on the same Last Day: The first above was *FOR* His saints and then after the Marraige Feast of the Lamb Jesus will come *WITH* His saints as per Rev 19:6-8; 11,14,19-21: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns, Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the Wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear.... I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True... The armies of Heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean... Then I saw a beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the Rider on the horse and His army {See Rev 17:14 & Jude 14,15}. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs and his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown ALIVE into the fiery lake of burning sulfur {See 2 Thess 2:8}. The rest of them were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the Rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

WILL THE CITY ON 7 HILLS OR ROME BE THE END-TIME BABYLON?? AND WHO
ARE THE 7 KINGS FROM THE CITY BUILT ON 7 HILLS??

Most Bible scholars believe that the book of First Peter was written shortly after the beginning of Nero's Roman persecution of Christians in AD 64 because of I Peter 4:12,13 & 5:8,9. We know that Peter and his wife were living in Rome at this time. Peter was inspired to write in I Peter 5:13: "She {Peter's wife} who is in *BABYLON* {Nickname for *ROME*!} sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark." Apparently some Christians including Peter were inspired to call ROME "BABYLON" after Nero's terrible persecution of Christians starting in AD 64. This is very interesting since the evil city of the End-Times is called "BABYLON" 6 times in Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10,21.

Ancient Babylon Had destroyed God's Holy Temple and God's Holy City, Jerusalem; and killed, exiled and persecuted God's people for 70 years. Actually all encyclopedias agree that Babylon was completely evacuated in 275 BC and completely destroyed by 141 BC. The Wikipedia encyclopedia states, "By 141 BC, when the Parthian Empire took over the region, Babylon was in complete desolation and obscurity." The only question that remains is: Was Babylon rebuilt so that there could be people living in Babylon around AD 65 when Peter wrote 1 Peter 5:13??? Which leads us to the promises of God in Jeremiah 50:1-3,13: This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah concerning Babylon.."Babylon will be captured... A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it; both men and animals will flee away!" Jeremiah 52:52:61-64: When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. Then say, "O Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither man nor animal will live in it; IT WILL BE DESOLATE FOREVER When you finish readiing this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. Then say, "So will Babylon SINK TO RISE NO MORE because of the disaster I will bring upon her." And God ALWAYS keeps His promises. And God kept His promise for about 2284 years; since Babylon is still a pile of rubble to this very day, and will remain that way until the Last Day of the Planet Earth; for God always keeps His promises. The ruins of ancient Babylon are a tourist attraction in Iraq and the Iraqi government will not allow any of the ruins to be removed or built upon. If you check out the latest Iraqi Tour Guides you will notice the folowing statement: "Today, Babylon lies COMPLETELY in ruins. A large and splendidly carved stone lion is all that remains of its former glories."

"Babylon" {Nicknamed Rome by Peter} is a "GREAT SEAPORT" in Rev18:17-19; JUST LIKE ROME and UNLIKE Babylon whose ruins are NOW 4 miles from the very shallow Euphrates River; or Jerusalem which is 2000 to 3000 feet above sea level and 35 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. Babylon is also completely FLAT whereas the End-Time "Babylon" will be a city built on 7 Hills JUST LIKE ROME!! Rev 17:18: "The woman you saw {Rev 17:3--Who sits with the Beast with 7 heads} is the great *CITY* {Rome--nicknamed Babylon in I Peter 5:13--See Rev 17:5a} that will rule over the kings of the earth." {During the Great Tribulation}

Rev 17:9-11: "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The 7 heads are 7 hills on which the woman {Or city of Rome} sits." Rome is a city built on 7 HILLS!! They {The 7 Heads} are also 7 KINGS {From the city on 7 hills or Rome}. Five {Of these 7 KINGS} have fallen {Or died before AD 96}, one {the 6th KING} *IS* {Or reigning when Revelation was written in AD 96}, the other {or 7th KING} has not yet come, but when he {The 7th KING} does come, he must remain for for a little while. {Possibly the False Prophet of 666 {Or Black Horse Rider} who will be anointed by Satan just before the coming of the 8th KING {Or Pale Horse Rider} who ruled before as one of the 7 Kings} The beast {Nero Caesar who once was {Alive from
Dec 15, AD 37 to June 9, AD 68}, and NOW {In AD 96} is not {Alive} is an 8th KING. He belongs to the 7 {KINGS}, because He once was {Alive-AD 37-68} NOW {In AD 96} is not {Alive}, and yet will come {1260 days before the Last Day}."

WHO ARE OR WILL BE THE 8 KINGS OF REV 17:10,11??

ROME APPOINTED THE JEWISH KINGS AFTER THEY CONQUERED ISRAEL IN 63 BC AND THE 7 KINGS OF REV 13:1B all had "blasphemous names" so we can assume that they were evil kings who had killed or persecuted Jesus and His followers. And so the first 3 EVIL KINGS {Who are all called KINGS in God's Word{See Matt 2:1; Mark 6:25,26 & Acts 12:1} were all Israeli KINGS {who had killed or persecuted Jesus and His followers} appointed by the evil city on 7 hills or Rome.

AND SO THE 8 KINGS WERE OR WILL BE:

** {#1} ** Herod the Great who tried to kill the baby Jesus: Rev 12:3-5: "Another sign appeared in Heaven : An enormous red DRAGON {Or Satan-See Rev 12:9} with 7 heads {Or 7 KINGS-See Rev 17:10a}... and 7 crowns on his {7} heads {Satan crowns the 7 kings whereas 666 crowns the 10 horns}. The DRAGON {Or Satan} stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her Child the moment he was born {Thru his first evil king or Herod the Great as per Matt 2:13b,16!!} She gave birth to a Son {Jesus} a male Child, who will rule the nations with an iron scepter!!"

**{#2}** Herod who killed John the Baptist and ridiculed and tortured Jesus {See Matt 14:1-12; Luke 23:7-11}

**{#3}** Herod Antipas who killed the Apostle James and tried to kill Peter. {See Acts 12:1-5,19-23}

**{#4}** Nero Caesar who will come again as the 8th KING who will be the BEAST of the End-Times.

**{#5}** Titus Caesar who killed thousands of Christians when he destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. Titus is also mentioned as a "Prince" in Daniel 9:26. Titus Caesar was the oldest son of Vespasian Caesar who was Caesar from Dec AD 69 to AD 79; and therefore heir and Crown *PRINCE* to the throne in Rome and was Caesar from AD 79 to AD 81.

**{#6**}** Domitian Caesar the 6th KING {"NOW IS"} was ruling in AD 96, and decreed in the last year of his reign {Sept AD 95 to Sept AD 96} that everyone must worship former Roman Caesars {Like Nero} or be killed and put in prison.{Like the Apostle John who was living in Ephesus at that time.}

**{#7}** Possibly the False Prophet of 666 who will be crowned the 7th evil King of Rome by Satan shortly before the coming of 666.

**{8th}** KING or Nero Caesar {The End-Time Beast or antichrist}; who ruled before as one of the **7 KINGS** The 4TH & 8TH KING will come up up from the Abyss or Hell exactly 1260 days before the last Day to rule from the evil city on 7 hills or Rome.

Rev 17:6: "The woman {ROME} will be drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bear testimony to Jesus." While in Rev 13:7 we learn that the BEAST will be given "power to make war against the saints and to conquer them." And in Rev 13:15b we read that 666 will "cause all who refuse to worship his statue to be killed." We must therefore conclude that the evil city "on 7 hills" or Rome will be the HEADQUARTERS of 666 during the Great Tribulation.

The BEAST will very quickly conquer 1/4th of the world with many miracles {See Rev 6:8; 13:4} and will then appoint 10 Kings who have never before ruled over the 10 most powerful nations of the world {See Rev 17:12-14,17}. The following 10 powerful nations have about 50% of the world's population and ABOUT 70% OF THE WORLD'S MILITARY POWER and certainly have the military, political and "religious" power to control and rule all the nations of the world: #1. United States #2. Russia #3. China {1.3 Billion} #4. Great Britain #5. France #6. India {1.1 Billion} #7. Germany #8. Japan #9. Brazil #10. Egypt. Brazil borders every nation in South America except for Chile. Egypt is the university, intellectual and theological center of Islam. And then 666 will have "authority over every tribe, people, language and nation" as per Rev 13:7b, from his headquarters in the evil city built on 7 hills or Rome.

BIBLE STUDIES ON THE PROPHETIC PORTION OF GOD'S WORD