BBP: 4 The Activities & Attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

Book Navigation

1 Understanding the Beginning of the Endtimes

2 The Beginning Events of the Endtimes

3 The Nature of The Beginning of the Endtimes

4 The Activities & Attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

5 The 10-nation Endtime Coalition & the Battle of Armageddon

6 A Potential Modern Candidate for the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

7 An Introduction to the Antichrist

8 Recognizing the Rising Antichrist

9 Confirming the Rising Antichrist

10 The First Birth Pain

11 The First Seal

12 Antichrist’s Revealing

13 The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on Unbelievers

14 Antichrist’s Religious Covenant & False Prophet

15 The Surprising! Significance of Antichrist’s Religious Covenant for the Last Generation Church

16 The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on False Christians

17 The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on Real Christians

18 The Unprecedented Catastrophes in The Beginning of Birth Pains

19 Descriptive Outline of Endtimes Events

20 Estimated Duration of Endtime events

21 Are You Ready for the Endtimes?

Appendix A Detailed Table of Contents for The Beginning of Birth Pains

Appendix B Summary Sheet for 10-nation Endtime Coalition

Appendix C Summary Sheet for The Rising Antichrist

Appendix D Graphic:  A Biblical Sequence of Endtime Events- web-based version only

Appendix E Will People Get Saved During the Endtimes?

Chapter 4

The Activities & Attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

Contents

A) Introduction to the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

B) The Coalition’s activities

C) The Coalition’s attributes

D) Conclusions regarding the biblical attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

Primary Points

  • The 10-nation Endtime Coalition is mentioned 14 times in Daniel and Revelation. Therefore, it should be obvious that God wants us to understand what it will be.
  • The emergence of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition may be the very first Endtime event that occurs. Therefore, its emergence will be one of the very first signs we are to look for to know that the Endtimes have begun.
  • The 10-nation Endtime Coalition will have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast (Rev 17:13) Antichrist. Therefore, the Coalition will form the beginning and foundation of Antichrist’s Beast Empire which will eventually rule over the Remaining World.
  • It will be argued in the next book, Endtime Babylon, that Revelation 17-18 predicts the destruction of the foremost economic power in the Endtimes (Babylon the Great) with nuclear weapons possessed by members of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition.
  • The culmination of these 10 kings supporting Antichrist will be their uniting with him to attack Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.
  • Biblical prophecy predicts a 10-nation Endtime Coalition that will be divided, diverse, and of varying military strength.
  • There are several biblical reasons to reject the popular view that the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will emerge out of the geographical limits of the ancient Roman Empire and could be fulfilled by the European Union.
  • Scripture gives us at least 7 attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition that will enable us to identify its emergence in the world.
  • The simple fact that the Endtime Coalition will be exactly ten kings disqualifies other modern candidates that have been commonly suggested to fulfill this biblical prophecy.

A) Introduction to the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

In Revelation 17 we read:

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast [Antichrist]. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. (vs. 12-13 NIV)

These ten kings are called the 10-nation Endtime Coalition throughout the Endtimes Essentials series. It is defined as:

The ten leaders/nations who unite with the Antichrist to destroy Endtime Babylon (cf. Rev 17:16-18). They form the base of world-wide power for Antichrist’s Beast Empire (cf. Rev 17:12-14; Dan 2:41-44; 7:7, 23-25). (CET, Appendix B)

There are several things that can be noted here about the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. First, it is a prominent theme of prophetic Scripture, being mentioned at least 14 times in Daniel and Revelation. Therefore, it should be obvious that God wants us to understand what it will be.

Second, throughout Daniel and Revelation these ten kings are portrayed as ten horns (Dan 7:7-8, 20, 24; Rev 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7). In prophetic Scripture, horns are … kings (Dan 7:24; cf. 8:20) and the leaders of nations. [1] Therefore, the 10-nation Coalition will be a group of exactly, literally, and physically ten nations and their leaders. This is why it is also described as having ten kings (Rev 17:12; Dan 2:44; 7:24). [2]

Third, what will be God’s ultimate purpose for this 10-nation Endtime Coalition? As the text above described: They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast Antichrist (Rev 17:12-13). Their unity with the Antichrist is portrayed throughout Scripture. In Daniel 2 their unity is illustrated by ten toes of the two feet symbolizing Antichrist’s Beast Empire (Dan 2:34, 41-43). [3] This is defined as:

The final Beast Empire that will uniquely rule the entire world (cf. Dan 7:23). It will be initially formed by an alliance between the Resurrected Antichrist and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. (CET, Appendix B)

In Daniel 7 Antichrist’s Beast Empire is represented by ten horns on the fourth beast (vs. 7-8, 20, 24). In Revelation 12, the unity of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition even with Satan himself is portrayed as an enormous red dragon with … ten horns (v. 3). In Revelation 13 and 17 this Endtime Empire is depicted as a beast with ten horns (13:1; 17:3, 7). The united activities of the Antichrist and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be outlined in the next section.

B) The Coalition’s Activities

B.1) Where does the emergence of the Coalition fit into the sequence of Endtime events?

It will be argued in this book, The Beginning of Birth Pains (BBP) that the emergence of the Rising Antichrist as a little horn (Dan 7:8) will certainly be one of the very first events of the Endtimes. It seems the Antichrist will be the first and foremost of the False Christs that Jesus predicted would emerge at the very beginning of The Beginning of Birth Pains (cf. Matt 24:5; BBP ch. 10, sec. B). It will also be argued that the opening of the First Seal of Preparation marking the beginning of the Endtimes is portraying the emergence of the Antichrist (cf. Rev 6:1-2; BBP ch. 11). Therefore, it seems the Antichrist’s emergence onto the world scene is among the very first events of the Endtimes.

But Scripture indicates that the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be established before the Antichrist is especially prominent in the world. In Daniel 7:24 we read: The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them, another king [the Antichrist] will arise (NIV). Likewise, earlier in v. 8 Daniel said: While I was thinking about the [ten] horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them (NIV). This too implies the ten horns will exist before the Antichrist emerges even as a little horn … among them.

The Antichrist will probably be present on Earth as a little horn, or leader of a relatively minor nation, even before the 10-nation Endtime Coalition is established. But before he will arise and become especially powerful, it would seem the Coalition will be established. [4] Accordingly, it is suggested that the emergence of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition may be the very first Endtime event that occurs. Therefore, its emergence will be one of the very first signs we are to look for to know that the Endtimes have begun.

B.2) The Coalition will align with the Antichrist to completely burn up Endtime Babylon in one hour (Rev 17-18)

We have read that The ten horns … are ten kings who will have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast [Antichrist] (Rev 17:12-13 NIV). Likewise, it says in verse 17: God will put it into their hearts [the ten kings] to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast [Antichrist] their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled (Rev 17:17 NIV). That one purpose that God has for the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will result in several activities.

It would seem the Coalition’s first activity with the Antichrist will be forming an alliance to annihilate Endtime Babylon. Endtime Babylon is derived from the numerous references of this entity as Babylon the Great in Revelation (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). It has been defined in the Endtimes Essentials series as:

The economic super-power in the world when the Endtimes begin (cf. Rev chs. 17-18). It is a nation, centered in a city, that once served God, but is now a spiritual Prostitute promoting the idolatrous religion of Money in the World. (Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, Appendix B)

Again, Scripture predicts the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will unite with the Antichrist to annihilate Endtime Babylon. In Revelation 17 we read:

The ten horns [Endtime Coalition] that you saw and the beast [Antichrist] will hate the Prostitute [Endtime Babylon] and they will permanently remove all people from her and strip her naked and they will completely devour her body and will completely burn her up with fire… in one hour [such that no one ever lives there again] (Rev 17:16, 18:10, 17, 19 [5]).

After such destruction, the prophecy describes Endtime Babylon as never having people live there again:

No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again… The light of a lamp will never shine in you again… The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. (Rev 18:22-23 NIV)

The best interpretation of an attack that will completely burn up a place with fire … in one hour, such that on one ever lives there again, is the use of nuclear weapons. Therefore, the reference above to the Coalition giving Antichrist their power (Rev 17:17) may include the power of nuclear weapons. The Greek word used here (dynamin) can specifically refer “especially to military forces.” [6] Therefore, dynamin (power) is a good word to describe the Coalition giving the Antichrist the “capability” of “military forces” or even nuclear weapons to destroy Endtime Babylon. All of this will be discussed more in the next book in the Endtimes Essentials series, Endtime Babylon. The important point here is that we should expect some members of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition to possess nuclear weapons.

B.3) The Coalition will be the foundation of Antichrist’s Beast Empire

A second activity of these 10 kings is giving Antichrist their authority (Rev 17:17). This Coalition will be the foundation of the Antichrist’s Beast Empire. This is why when his Empire is described in Scripture, the Coalition is included as ten toes (Dan 2:41-42) or ten horns (Dan 7:7-8, 20, 24; Rev 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7) of the Empire. This beast with ten horns and … with ten crowns on its horns will eventually be given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation (Rev 13:1, 7 NIV) on Earth. Obviously, the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be a part of the Antichrist’s world-wide rule.

B.4) The Coalition will be among the core nations in the Battle of Armageddon

The culmination of these 10 kings supporting Antichrist will be their uniting with him to attack Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. This is what is being referred to when we read:

The ten horns … will wage war against the Lamb [Christ], but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings —and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (Rev 17:12, 14 NIV). [7]

What war will occur between the ten horns (10-nation Endtime Coalition) the Lamb (Jesus Christ)? The Battle of Armageddon. The Coalition will be among the kings that the beast Antichrist will gather … for the battle on the great day of God Almighty and he will gather the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Rev 16:14, 16 NIV).

Likewise, at the Battle of Armageddon, John sees the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse [Jesus Christ] and his army (Rev 19:19 NIV). Again, the kings of the earth will certainly include The ten horns who will wage war against the Lamb (17:12).

It is clear that the Antichrist and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be present at the Battle of Armageddon. Therefore, it seems important that Scripture specifically identifies by name the ancient geographical areas from which the armies at Armageddon will come from (cf. Ezek 38:1-6; Rev 16:12-16). This enables us to identify modern nations that are candidates to be at Armageddon. This then may give us significant biblical data on the identity of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition that will be at the Battle of Armageddon. This will be discussed further in the next chapter (5).

B.5) The Coalition’s duration

Like virtually everything else about the Coalition, its duration is tied to the duration of the Antichrist. It was pointed out above that according to Daniel 7:8, 24, the Coalition will probably exist before the Rising Antichrist is especially prominent in the world. However, their existence and purpose are tied closely together. We read again: The ten horns … are ten kings who will have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast [Antichrist] (Rev 17:12-13 NIV; cf. v. 17). If God’s purpose for the Coalition is simply to give their power and authority to the beast [Antichrist], then it would seem their emergence will occur relatively close in time to one another. Therefore, we should not expect the 10-nation Endtime Coalition to exist for a considerable time before the Antichrist’s Rise.

Likewise, the end of the Coalition and the Antichrist will occur at the same time. Again, They will wage war against the Lamb (Rev 17:14) which refers to their presence at the Battle of Armageddon (cf. Rev 16:14, 16; 19:19). It is there that the beast Antichrist will be captured and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur and the rest, including the armies of the Coalition, will be killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse Jesus Christ (Rev 19:20-21 NIV). Therefore, the end of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition occurs at the Battle of Armageddon along with the end of the Antichrist. [8] [9]

This helps us understand the odd statement in Revelation 17:12:

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast [Antichrist]. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. (vs. 12-13 NIV)

As argued elsewhere, this one hour should be interpreted literally. However, the above demonstrated that the Coalition will receive authority as kings along with the beast Antichrist for several years, not just one hour. It will also be argued elsewhere that this one hour of authority refers specifically to the one hour mentioned three more times in the prophecy in which God gives the Antichrist and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition the authority to destroy Endtime Babylon. [10]

C) The Coalition’s attributes

[Stop & read Daniel chapters 2 & 7]

C.1) The Coalition will be Daniel’s fifth pagan empire

In Daniel 2 God gives Nebuchadnezzar dreams (v. 1 NIV) of a large statue of a man (vs. 31-33). In Daniel 7 we read Daniel had a dream (v. 1) of four great beasts (v. 3). These visions in Daniel depict and predict five pagan rulers and their kingdoms.

The texts explain, and scholars agree, that the head of gold (2:38; cf. v. 32) and the first beast like a lion (7:4) represent Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom of Babylon. The chest and arms of silver (2:32) and the second beast, which looked like a bear (7:5) predicted Cyrus and the Persian Empire. The belly and thighs of bronze (2:32) is a third kingdom (2:39) and a third beast … that looked like a leopard (7:6). This is recognized as Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire. The legs of iron (2:33) is a fourth kingdom (2:40) and a fourth beast (7:7) referring in some ways to the ancient Roman Empire.

But then Daniel reveals a fifth ruler and kingdom, separate from the Roman Empire. [11] However, this can easily be missed. In both Daniel chapters 2 and 7 descriptions of the fourth kingdom and fourth beast (2:40, 7:7) seamlessly merge into describing a fifth ruler and kingdom. This is portraying Antichrist’s Beast Empire in the Endtimes. For example, in Daniel 2 we read:

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. (Dan 2:40-41 NIV)

The difficulty of this statement is that it is describing two different empires, but the one somewhat blurs into the other. On one hand, the fourth kingdom is the ancient Roman Empire symbolized by iron (v. 40) and more specifically by legs of iron (v. 33). But without clearly saying so, the text primarily describes the Antichrist’s Beast Empire depicted by a separate body part, the feet and toes that are partly of baked clay and partly of iron. The fact that this is describing a separate body part on the statue tells us it is a separate kingdom from the legs of iron and the Roman Empire. This is illustrated in Daniel where we read:

The head of the statue was made of pure gold (Babylon), its chest and arms of silver (Persia), its belly and thighs of bronze (Greece), its legs of iron (Rome), its feet [and toes, vs. 41, 42] partly of iron and partly of baked clay [a fifth kingdom] (Dan 2:32-33 NIV).

We see the same phenomenon in Daniel 7. As noted above, it portrays four great beasts (v. 3) predicting future pagan rulers and their kingdoms. After describing his vision of a third beast predicting Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire, Daniel writes:

After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. (Dan 7:7 NIV)

Later it is explained:

The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. (Dan 7:23 NIV)

In one sense this fourth kingdom refers to the ancient Roman Empire because it is clearly portrayed as following the Greek Empire (cf. 7:6-7). But again, this prophecy merges into the Endtimes by predicting that the fourth beast will be different from all the former beasts, have ten horns (or kings) and be a fourth kingdom that will devour the whole earth. None of these things was ever true of the ancient Roman Empire. But it will be true of the Antichrist’s Beast Empire. As explained below, the ten horns of Antichrist’s Beast Empire depict and predict the 10-nation Endtime Coalition that will be the foundation of his world-wide rule.

Daniel’s portrayal of pagan world empires can be summarized in the following table:

Table: Pagan world empires predicted in Daniel

Pagan King & Kingdom

Statue Part in Dan 2

Kind of Beast in Dan 7

Nebuchad-nezzar of Babylon

Head of gold

(vs. 32, 36-38)

Lion with wings like an eagle (v. 4)

Cyrus of Persia

Chest & arms of silver

(vs. 32, 39)

Bear (v. 5)

Alexander of Greece

Belly & thighs of bronze

(vs. 32, 39)

Leopard with four wings and heads (v. 6)

Rome with no distinct king

Legs of iron, fourth kingdom

(vs. 33, 40)

A fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. (v. 7)

Antichrist’s Beast Empire

Feet & toes of iron & clay, fifth kingdom

(vs. 33, 41)

It will be different from all the former beasts, and it will have ten horns and will devour the whole earth. (vs. 7, 19, 23)

C.2) The Coalition will be 10 nations existing in the Endtimes & the foundation of Antichrist’s world-wide Beast Empire

What can we know about this fifth kingdom? First, it will exist in the Endtimes. [12] This is why Daniel described the fifth and last kingdom being destroyed by Christ’s Return:

While you were watching, a rock [Christ] was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay [the fifth and last kingdom] and smashed them… The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock [Christ] that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth [during Christ’s 1,000-year Reign]. (Dan 2:34-35 NIV).

This vision specifically portrayed Christ as smashing the feet of iron and clay. As demonstrated above, this represents Antichrist’s Beast Empire. Therefore, the vision portrays that this will be the last pagan empire on Earth, existing and destroyed at Christ’s Return. This will lead to Christ’s 1,000-year Reign which will fill the whole earth. [13]

Second, this fifth and last pagan empire will rule the entire Earth. Daniel 7 states the Antichrist’s Beast Empire will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it (Dan 7:23; cf. v. 7, 19). How will Antichrist’s Beast Empire be different from all the other kingdoms? Contrary to many commentators, the difference is explained in this very verse. [14] Unlike any other kingdom in human history, the Antichrist’s Beast Empire will devour the whole earth. [15] This is confirmed in Revelation which predicts the Antichrist will be given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation (Rev 13:7 NIV). That is why it will be different from all the other kingdoms (Dan 7:23).

Third, we note that this Endtime kingdom is portrayed by feet and toes that are partly of baked clay and partly of iron (Dan 2:41).

The ten toes seem to predict that a foundational part of Antichrist’s Beast Empire will be ten individual kings (Dan 7:24). Accordingly, the statue in Daniel 2 has ten toes (vs. 41-42) which correspond to the ten horns and ten kings in Daniel 7. The Aramaic word kings (melek) relates to the same word in Hebrew which is used hundreds of times in the OT to refer to the chief ruler of a people group or nation. [16] The imagery of the ten toes refers to the 10-nation Endtime Coalition being made up of 10 distinct countries with individual rulers. [17] Therefore, it is reasonable to expect this prophecy to be fulfilled by the leaders of 10 distinct nations in the modern world.

Accordingly, in Revelation 13 the Antichrist is described as a beast coming out of the sea with ten horns and … ten crowns on its horns (v. 1). Likewise, Revelation 17 describes the Antichrist as a scarlet beast with ten horns (v. 3). All of this suggests that the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be the political, military, and economic foundation of the Antichrist’s Beast Empire.

C.3) The Coalition will be divided, diverse, and of varying military strength

Daniel 2:41-43 describes three more attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition:

Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. (Dan 2:41-43 NIV)

First, there may be internal conflicts within the Coalition because it will be a divided kingdom and will not remain united. A lack of unity should be expected of anything being controlled by demonic forces.

Second, this passage describes the great diversity within these ten nations. The people of this Coalition will be a mixture of cultures, races, and languages. [18] This is another reason it will struggle to remain united. This is why this entity is referred to as a Coalition, rather than a united kingdom throughout the Endtimes Essentials.

Third, the individual nature of these 10 countries will be manifested in their differing military strength. Some of the toes Daniel saw were made of clay and some of them were made of iron (Dan 2:41). This seems better than seeing all the toes being made of a mixture of clay and iron.

This is supported by what the clay and iron refer to. Some of these nations will have the strength of iron in it (v. 41). The meaning of the iron in this fifth and last kingdom is derived from its meaning in the fourth kingdom of Rome. In Daniel 2:40 we read of the fourth kingdom [Roman Empire] that it was strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes … things to pieces. The iron clearly symbolized military strength to defeat and destroy others. Accordingly, the iron of the ancient Roman Empire was its legendary military power. This is portrayed elsewhere when Daniel describes the Roman Empire as a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left (Dan 7:7 NIV; cf. v. 19).

Therefore, the toes in the Endtime Coalition made of iron refer to countries that will have relatively greater military power. Other countries (toes made of clay) will have much less military power. Accordingly, the text says, the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be partly strong [militarily] and partly brittle [weak militarily] (Dan 2:42). More specifically, it would seem the iron and military power of some members of the Coalition may refer to their nuclear warfare capability.

C.4 The Coalition’s relationship to the Roman Empire

By far the most popular interpretation of the prophesied 10-nation Endtime Coalition is that it is a “revived Roman Empire.” This is especially promoted by Pre-tribulationism. Therefore, because ancient Rome controlled some parts of modern Europe, the European Union has long been a favorite candidate among Pre-tribulationists for identifying the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. [19] Another common view among Amillennialists is that this 10-nation Endtime Coalition was fulfilled in the past by the ancient Roman Empire. [20] Obviously, there is a relationship between the Roman Empire and Antichrist’s Beast Empire, but it is not what Pre-tribulationism or Amillennialism claim.

It was noted above that the fourth beast (Dan 7:7) portrayed in Daniel’s vision represented both the ancient Roman Empire and Antichrist’s Beast Empire. The prophetic “blurring” together of these empires seems to be another example of the near/final and partial/complete aspect of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This is discussed further elsewhere. [21] The ancient Roman Empire was a partial fulfillment of the fourth beast, but the Antichrist’s Beast Empire will be the final and complete fulfillment of this prophecy.

Still, the body parts of feet and toes (Dan 2:41) of Antichrist’s Beast Empire clearly define a separate king and kingdom from the iron legs (v. 33) of the Roman Empire.

In addition, the visions make it clear that the pagan kingdoms are portrayed as having a king. We read: The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. (Dan 7:17 NIV). However, Rome never had one king, like a Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, or Alexander portrayed by the other beasts. It had a series of emperors of varying political power. In addition, the fourth beast is repeatedly described as having ten horns that represent ten kings who will simultaneously be ruling (cf. Dan 7:7, 19-20, 23-24). This could never be true of the ancient Roman Empire. [22] This would strongly suggest that the vision of the fourth beast and fourth king was intended to practically skip Rome altogether and project forward to the Antichrist’s Beast Empire that will certainly have one king, and the Coalition which will have ten kings (Dan 7:24).

Therefore, any relationship between the ancient Roman Empire and the Antichrist’s Beast Empire and its 10-nation Endtime Coalition is very limited. In fact, as demonstrated above, the only clear relationship between the ancient Roman Empire and the Antichrist’s Beast Empire portrayed in Daniel’s visions, is the iron in the legs of the former, and the feet and toes of the latter (Dan 2:33, 41). That’s it.

Unfortunately, many scholars claim the iron in Daniel 2 (vs. 33-35, 41-43, 45) refers only or primarily to the ancestry or geographical location of the ancient Roman Empire. Therefore, they conclude that the entire makeup of the 10-nation Coalition is defined by the geographical limits of the Romans. However, it was demonstrated in the previous section that the iron clearly refers to Rome’s military strength, not ancestry or geographical location.

This was true of depicting Babylon as a head of pure gold symbolizing its superior glory (Dan 2:32, 37; cf. v. 39). The gold did not refer to Babylon’s geographical location or ancestry, but its internal attributes. Therefore, it should not be assumed that the iron of the ancient Roman Empire refers to the geographical location of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition.

A second problem with identifying the 10-nation Endtime Coalition with the iron of a revived Roman Empire is that some of the ten toes of the Coalition will be made of clay (Dan 2:33-35, 41-43, 45). The clay has no clear relationship to the Roman Empire at all.

Thirdly, even if the iron of Rome referred to its geography or ancestry, these things are not reflected in the European Union. The extremely varied ancestry of the 28 countries currently in the Union certainly does not clearly derive from Italy or the Roman Empire.

Likewise, the geographical rule of Rome only extended north to the Rhine and Danube Rivers in southern Germany. [23] Therefore, about half of the current European Union was never ruled by Rome, including the great majority of Germany itself. [24]

Again, the only clear relationship between the ancient Roman Empire and the Antichrist’s Beast Empire (and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition it is founded upon), portrayed in Daniel’s visions, is the iron portraying military strength in both. However, there may be some other relationships as well.

First, both the ancient Roman Empire and Antichrist’s Beast Empire have a unique relationship to the Comings of Christ. Rome was ruling at Christ’s First Coming, and the Antichrist will be ruling at Christ’s Second Coming. In a sense, the Roman Empire was destroyed by Christ’s First Coming when it was rather completely converted to Christianity by the 4th century. Likewise, the ten toes of the Endtime Coalition will be smashed by the rock that is Christ when He Returns (Dan 2:34, cf. v. 44).

Secondly, like the Roman Empire, the Antichrist’s Beast Empire and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will be a foremost persecutor of God’s people.

But again, the relationship between these entities should not be exaggerated. The above sections also demonstrated several other attributes that clearly distinguish the 10-nation Endtime Coalition from any relationship to the ancient Roman empire. These included ruling the entire world and being led by 10 kings. These things were never true of the Roman Empire.

Related to this is the prophecy that Antichrist’s Beast Empire will crush and break all the other previous nations (Dan 2:40). Again the Roman Empire never did this. The Persian and Greek Empires that preceded the Roman Empire conquered vast areas in the East including areas of modern day Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Roman Empire never expanded to these areas. Therefore, it is not the Roman Empire that was predicted to crush and break all the others. This will be the Antichrist’s Beast Empire.

Thirdly, the prophecy states the fourth beast will be different from all the former beasts (Dan 7:7 NIV). It would be difficult to say what was different about the Romans from all the former beasts of Greece, Persia, and Babylonia. All of them were powerful and cruel military powers as the text describes. So what will make this fifth kingdom different from all the others? Many of the items described above, but particularly its complete power over the entire world. [25]

All of these biblical attributes of the Antichrist’s Beast Empire and its foundational 10-nation Coalition also refute the Amillennial claim that these things have already been fulfilled.

Finally, an attempt to equate the 10-nation Endtime Coalition with a revived Roman Empire is derived from Daniel 7:23-24. The text reads:

The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. (Dan 7:23-24 NIV)

Scholars commonly suggest this kingdom only or primarily refers to the ancient Roman Empire. Therefore, it is claimed that this text predicts that the ten kings … will come from this Roman kingdom, proving the Endtime Coalition will be derived from the Roman Empire. However, as we saw above, this description of the fourth beast describes things that were never true of that empire, but rather, predicts the Antichrist’s Beast Empire in the Endtimes. It is out of that Endtime empire that the ten kings … will come from, not the ancient Roman Empire.

There is also a potential problem with the NIV translation above that the ten kings … will come from [Aramaic min] this fourth kingdom. Admittedly, virtually all versions, like the NIV, translate it like this. However, the Aramaic allows for another translation, and the book of Daniel strongly suggests one. Daniel 7 is one of the rare parts of Scripture that is written in Aramaic. The Aramaic preposition min has several different meanings including “from, because of, more than, part of.” [26]

In Daniel chapter 2 there are seven instances of cognates of min translated as partly by all English translations. These are in reference to the 10 nations of the Endtime Coalition being partly iron [militarily strong] and partly clay [militarily weak].

Accordingly, a suggested translation of Daniel 7:24 would be The ten horns are ten kings who will be a part of this kingdom. Again, this kingdom refers to the Antichrist’s Beast Empire. Therefore, the prophecy would be stating that the 10-nation Coalition will be a part of the worldwide Antichrist’s Beast Empire. This would reflect the fact that the Coalition itself will not rule the entire world, nor make up all the nations of Antichrist’s Beast Empire. But again, the Coalition’s political, economic, and military strength will comprise the foundation of Antichrist’s world-wide rule.

This translation would also avoid another problem. Again, the NIV and other translations state: The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this [fourth] kingdom. This would imply that the Antichrist’s worldwide Beast Empire will exist before the 10-nation Coalition and the latter will emerge from the former. On the contrary, as noted above, Daniel rather clearly predicts that the Coalition will be established before the Antichrist even emerges as a little horn (cf. Dan 7:8, 24, sec. B.1 above).

Therefore, contrary to much of modern scholarship, and as demonstrated in this chapter and the next two chapters, there are more biblical ways of determining the future countries in the 10-nation Endtime Coalition than simply equating it with the geography of the ancient Roman Empire (or European Union).

D) Conclusions regarding the biblical attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition

The next 2 chapters will discuss the identification of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. The activities and attributes discussed in this chapter will be used to do so. Let us summarize the biblical attributes of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition:

1) The Coalition will be exactly ten kings or ten nations (Dan 2:44; 7:24; Rev 17:12; cf. ch. 4, sec. A).

2) The Coalition will emerge in the world before the Antichrist emerges (cf. Dan 7:8, 24; cf. ch. 4, sec. B.1). Therefore, it may be the first Endtime event to occur.

3) The Coalition will possess nuclear weapons that will be used by the Antichrist to completely burn up in one hour the world’s foremost economic power, Babylon the Great, such that no people ever live there again (cf. Rev 17:5, 16, 18:10, 17, 19, cf. 21-23; cf. ch. 4, sec. B.2).

4) Some of the Coalition’s members will be militarily very strong, and others very weak (cf. Dan 2:42; cf. ch. 4, sec. C).

5) The Coalition’s members will be very diverse in race, culture, and language (Dan 2:43; cf. ch. 4, sec. C).

6) The Coalition’s members will be divided and perhaps have internal conflicts (Dan 2:41, 43; cf. BBP ch. 4, sec. C).

7) The nations of the Coalition will wage war against the Lamb [Christ] at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 17:14; cf. Rev 16:14, 16; 19:19; Ezekiel 38:1-6; cf. ch. 4, sec. B.4 and ch. 5).

The simple fact that the Endtime Coalition will be exactly ten kings (Dan 2:44; 7:24; Rev 17:12) disqualifies other modern candidates that have been commonly suggested to fulfill this biblical prophecy. This is because their membership consists of many more nations than ten, and it is doubtful they will ever return to that number of members. For example, the European Union currently has 28 member nations, NATO has 31, and the United Nations has 193. Even the United Nations Security Council has 15 members.

However, there is a very powerful economic, political, and military coalition forming in our world right now that fulfills all of the seven biblical attributes of the prophesied 10-nation Endtime Coalition in an extraordinary way. This will be discussed in chapter 6. But first, more can be said about the Coalition’s presence at the Battle of Armageddon as a means of identifying modern nations that may be among its members. This will be discussed in the next chapter (5).

  1. Wiersbe says of the image of horns (Dan 7:7), “Often in Scripture, a horn is a symbol of a ruler or of royal authority (1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 132:17) (loc. Dan 7:7). K&D remark regarding the fourth beast (Dan 7:7): “It had ten horns, by which its terrible strength is denoted, because a horn is in Scripture always the universal symbol of armed strength. (loc. Dan 7:7 K&D). Fortunately, as usual in symbolic Scripture, we do not have to guess what the horns mean. We are told in the prophecy that The ten horns are ten kings [melek] (Dan 7:24). ↑

  2. MacArthur seems to doubt the literal meaning of ten regarding Daniel’s references to the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. He writes:

    Ten fits the imagery of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7, 24, and is a symbolic number representing all the world’s political and military might. Antichrist will rise from among these ten (Dan. 7:16–24) and will not rule merely ten nations, but the entire world (cf. Dan. 7:23). (MNTC, Rev, 42.)

    There is truth in his statement, but the possible symbolic meaning of ten does not replace its literal meaning. In fact, he later admits similar prophecies have already been fulfilled in a physical and literal way. He writes:

    In addition to his ten horns, the beast is described by John as having seven heads. As will be seen in the discussion of Revelation 17 later in this volume, those seven heads represent seven [literal, physical] successive world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Antichrist’s final world kingdom. (43)

    The fact that the 7 heads reflect literal, individual rulers suggests the 10 horns do the same. ↑

  3. Young makes the odd and unnecessary remark that, “Nowhere in Scripture is the image said to have ten toes” (160). The description clearly says it has toes which clearly depict the ten horns in Daniel 7. Of course the image Daniel saw had ten toes. ↑

  4. Accordingly, K&D describe the Antichrist as “the king coming after them,” the 10-nation Coalition (at Dan 7:24). Young and Walvoord do not comment on this. ↑

  5. For an explanation of the suggested translation of Rev 17:16 see Endtime Essentials book #3: Endtime Babylon, ch. 1, sec. A. ↑

  6. BDAG #’s 1, 2, & 4. ↑

  7. Osborne agrees that Revelation 17:14, stating that the 10-nation Endtime Coalition will wage war against the Lamb, “refers to the final battle inaugurated in 16:12, 14 and executed in 19:19, where ‘the beast, the kings of the Earth, and their armies gather to make war against the rider on the white horse’ that is ‘Armageddon’ (16:16)” (623). Thomas (1344), Ladd (232), and Mounce (319) agree. ↑

  8. The above arguments correct Young when he writes from merely a metaphorical viewpoint:

    The [ten] kingdoms need not be regarded as strictly contemporary (who will maintain that they must all begin at the same time, as a strict [e.g. literal] interpretation of the symbolism would require?) (160)

    Every indication in Daniel and Revelation is that the nations in the Coalition will exist at the very same time, and there is no evidence to the contrary. This is why the feet of iron and clay including the ten toes is pictured as being simultaneously smashed by Christ at the Battle of Armageddon (Dan 2:34). Accordingly, the Angel explains: “In the time of those [ten] kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those [ten] kingdoms [simultaneously] and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (v. 44).

    Accordingly, Walvoord writes:

    According to Daniel’s prophecy, the ten-toe stage is simultaneous, that is, the kingdoms exist side by side and are destroyed by one catastrophic blow. Nothing like that has yet occurred in history. (Dan, 73; cf. Thomas, 1342) ↑

  9. There is another indication of the Coalition’s relative short duration. Its first mention is in Daniel 2 and 7 where the long lasting Historical Beast Empires like Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome are predicted. These Empires lasted anywhere from 230 to 1,100 years. This is probably one reason they are depicted as consisting of metals, including gold, silver, bronze, and iron.

    In contrast, the 10-nation Endtime Coalition is depicted as toes that will be partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle, and it will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay (Dan 2:42-43). Symbolizing the Coalition as at least partly made of clay implies a significantly shorter duration than the Empires symbolized completely with metals. ↑

  10. For more on the meaning of the one hour in Revelation 17-18 see Endtime Babylon, ch. 8, sec. A.1. ↑

  11. Walvoord also recognizes that Daniel is predicting a fifth kingdom (Dan, 175). ↑

  12. Walvoord writes in support of seeing the 10-nation Coalition as occurring in the Endtimes:

    [T]he ten-toe stage of the image has not been fulfilled in history and is still prophetic. The familiar attempts in many commentaries to find a ten-toe stage of the image in the fifth and sixth centuries A. D. do not correspond to the actual facts of history and do not fulfill the ten-toe stage.

    Thomas agrees and writes:

    We should interpret these as ten kings who with their kingdoms will join in a confederacy under the leadership of the beast in the final Gentile world empire. They will rule simultaneously with one another and with the beast. According to Dan. 7:7, 24, these are rulers who will receive their dominions in the last days (Beckwith, Smith). This is the form which the final world empire will take (Walvoord). (1342) ↑

  13. Christ’s Kingdom is described in Dan 2:44 as eternal. However, Rev 20 describes a 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom. There is no contradiction here. The Millennial Kingdom on this Earth eventually becomes the Eternal Kingdom on the New Earth, with no interruption of Christ’s lordship. ↑

  14. Walvoord says the difference in the fourth beast (Dan 7:23) is that the Romans crushed civilizations instead of preserving them. But this was not so for Israel and the Jews who maintained their own government and religion.

    Hill suggests the difference is: “Unlike the other three creatures, this beast seems to have asserted its independence from the Almighty as the source of dominion and power in its ability wantonly to “crush” and “devour” and “trample” its victims (v. 7c)” (loc. 4852-4853). On the contrary, Scripture is clear that this beast is given its power by God (cf. Rev 6:2; 13:7; 17:16-17). ↑

  15. Admittedly, Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire is described in similar terms when it says a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth (Dan 2:39 NIV). There would seem to be some metaphorical hyperbole here. But as demonstrated in this section, Revelation 13:8 makes it clear that Antichrist’s Beast Empire will literally, in a political, economic, and religious sense, devour the whole earth (Dan 7:23). ↑

  16. The Hebrew word melek referring to the ten kings (Dan 7:24) can mean merely “commandant, governor, chieftan” (TWOT, 507). However, the vast majority of its over 2500 uses in the OT mean king in the sense of a ruler of an empire or nation. This is always the case in Daniel. The fact that melek as king was differentiated from other types of rulers, see the Hebrew text of Prov 8:15-16. ↑

  17. Walvoord (Dan, 175) offers several arguments to support the fact that these ten kings refer to what we define as the 10-nation Endtime Coalition. ↑

  18. The meaning of Dan 2:43b is unclear. The more literal NASB has they will combine with one another in the seed of men. Likewise, the NLT has these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. The NIV more simply has the people will be a mixture. Scholars are divided on the meaning of this obscure statement. It seems best to interpret it as a reference to a mixture (NIV) of cultures, even though it may involve intermarriage (NLT).

    Some try to relate the clay to the Roman Empire by applying Daniel 2:43 which states: And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men (NASB). The interpretation is that because the people’s/nation representing clay intermarry, that Roman ancestry will be present even in the clay. See Van Kampen’s lengthy discussion (117-132).

    However, this seems too obscure to put much confidence in it. For example, the NLT translates the verse: This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. This seems to emphasize the sharing of military might rather than Roman ancestry. Nevertheless, the fact that the 10 nations are partly clay and partly iron clearly indicates that some of the nations are not related to Rome. ↑

  19. The Pre-tribulationist Wiersbe writes of Dan 7: “The scenario seems to look like this. Antichrist will be leading one of ten confederated nations in Europe” (loc. Dan 7:8).

    Likewise, MacArthur is typical of those viewing the 10-nation Endtime Coalition as a revived Roman Empire when he writes:

    The kingdom of the Antichrist will basically comprise the territory once held by the ancient Roman empire, in particular a western confederacy made up of a unified Europe. Daniel mentions that it will be a ten-nation empire (7:24), which cannot help bringing to mind the present European Common Market. (Matt, loc. 42788; cf. Walvoord, Dan, 74, 175; Hitchcock, End, 116)

    Tim Lahaye’s Left Behind Series portrays the 10-nation Endtime Coalition as merely “ambassadors” of mostly unnamed countries. ↑

  20. Walvoord notes that a common interpretation of the fourth beast (Rev 7:7) by “liberal” commentators is that it represents the Greek Empire of Antiochus Epiphanes in the 2nd century B.C. (cf. pp. 159-160). But this is clearly refuted by the fact it is later revealed that the fourth beast … will devour the whole earth (Dan 7:23). Obviously, that never occurred in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. ↑

  21. For more on the near/final and partial/complete aspect of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, see Additional Studies on the Endtimes, chs. 1-3, online at www.trainingtimothys.com. ↑

  22. Thomas writes of another effort to make the 10-nation Endtime Coalition purely Roman:

    The explanation that sees the ten horns as ten Roman emperors of the past (i.e., Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelius, Vespasian, and Titus) and the seven heads as seven of these less the three usurpers (i.e., Galba, Otho, and Vitelius), is so arbitrary that it has little to commend it. (1113-1114) ↑

  23. For a map of the Roman Empire see online at https://visualunit.me/?s=map+of+roman+empire. For an indication of the Rhine and Danube Rivers see online at:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/oslsv6/quick_question_since_the_rhine_and_danube_are/ ↑

  24. For a map of the current countries in the European Union see online at: https://www.polgeonow.com/2016/06/map-which-countries-are-in-the-eu.html ↑

  25. The unprecedented world-wide domination of the Antichrist’s Beast Empire may be depicted in the fact that it is not described as any existing animal. Accordingly, K&D remark: “The beast was of such terrible strength and destructive rage, that the whole animal world could furnish no representative by whose name it might be characterized.” (loc. Dan 7:7) ↑

  26. For the meaning of the Aramaic word min see the Aramaic dictionary online at http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/getlex.php?coord= 32000724&word=2. ↑