The Russian Beast

Many folks believe that the coming world government will either feature a global caliphate ruled by an Islamic Antichrist or it will be a secular government ruled by a powerful atheist who will outlaw all religious expression on earth.

While both views have become popular in recent years, neither one is correct. The Bible clearly reveals that the coming world government is going to be a partnership of politics and religion.

However, the religious half of this partnership won't be Islamic--it will feature a perverted form of Christianity. This form of Christianity will be based upon supernatural events rather than biblical truth. And the leader of this world religion will be the Antichrist himself who will be a grand counterfeit of Jesus Christ.

How do we know this? The apostle John, who recorded the Bible's final book the Revelation, in about 90 A.D., witnessed an incredible vision of a garishly dressed prostitute riding high atop a scarlet beast that featured seven heads and 10 horns.

Here's what John saw and recorded: "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and 10 horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and was glittering with precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hands, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother of Prostitutes and of The Abominations of The Earth." (Revelation 17:3-5)

What does the scarlet beast represent? It represents the coming world government that will feature 10 nation groups that will be ruled by seven kings.

But what is the identity of the harlot? She represents the world religion that will become partners with this one-world government. What religion is this? This will be a counterfeit form of Christianity that will be ruled by the Roman Catholic Church. But how can we be sure of that?

According to John's vision, the city that this religion is located in is surrounded by seven hills.(Revelation 17:9) Only two cities on earth are surrounded by seven hills: Rio de Janeiro that's located in Brazil and Rome that's located in Italy. The Vatican is located in Rome and is the world headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. When John recorded the Revelation, the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence until the 4th Century A.D.

And here's where things get interesting. Biblical prophecy reveals that the coming dreaded Antichrist will be both a political and religious figure and he will eventually come from Russia. But isn't the Catholic Church virtually nonexistent in Russia? Yes. Then how can the Antichrist come from Russia?

In order for the Antichrist to rise in Russia, one key event needs to happen; the reunification of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches that separated about 1,000 years ago when the eastern churches rejected the Roman papacy and chose the Bishop of Constantinople as their spiritual leader.

Since that time, the two churches have had a strained relationship. But that's changing. The two churches are getting close to reestablishing a common communion.

Last year (November, 2014) Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss that reunification. Speaking from the Church of St. George, the Pope said this: "I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith...The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and I seek as Bishop of Rome, the church which presides in charity is communion with the Orthodox churches." Francis and Bartholomew issue resounding, historic calls for church reunification | National Catholic Reporter

Bartholomew emphatically stated that the reunion is inevitable and is going to take place. He also stated that once it takes place it will be irreversible: "We no longer have the luxury of isolated action. The modern persecutors of Christians do not ask which church their victims belong to. The unity that concerns us is regrettably occurring in certain regions of the world through the blood of martyrdom."

Then Francis revealed the ultimate goal of this coming reunion: "As Christians we are called together to eliminate the globalization of indifference which seems to reign supreme, while building a new civilization of love and solidarity."

When the two churches finally reunite, then the prophetic bridge will be built between Rome and Moscow, and the door will be opened for the eventual appearance of the Antichrist.

But how do we know that the Antichrist is going to come from Russia? Biblical prophecy reveals that a powerful nation will rise in the end times that the Bible describes as a northern kingdom. (Daniel 11) That nation will be ruled by a leader who will eventually assume control of a global government. How can we determine that this kingdom is Russia?

Because the Bible always places Israel at the center of its geographical map. Therefore, a northern kingdom would be located directly north of the Jewish nation. And Russia is located directly north of Israel.

Furthermore, the prophet Ezekiel, who lived during the 6th Century B.C., revealed that this kingdom he named as Gog, would invade Israel at some point in the very last days. (Ezekiel 38-39) Gog was a name for the ancient tribe of Rosh that many modern Russians are descended from.

Though Russia was officially an atheist nation for 70 years under the old Soviet Union, she is now heavily influenced by the Orthodox Church. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin is an Orthodox Christian who believes that he has a responsibility to establish a new Russian empire and impose Orthodox Christianity upon the world.

But how will the Catholic Church factor into this equation? When the Catholic-Orthodox reunion takes place, the Orthodox Church will spread its brand of Christianity throughout Eastern Europe while the Catholic Church will spread it throughout Western Europe. And this revival will spread via counterfeit signs, wonders and miracles.

The apostle Paul revealed this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Ironically, Russia will lead this counterfeit global revival that will unveil the Antichrist at some point in the future. The former head of world atheism is now a "Christian" nation, thanks to the influence of the Orthodox Church. And ironically, Western Europe, once considered a bastion of Christianity, has traded places with Russia.

Putin said this last year during a speech to the Russian Duma: "Many Euro-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values. Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation." http://www.washingtontimes.com

Putin added that "social and religious conservatism is the only way to prevent the world from slipping into chaotic darkness." And Patriarch Kirill I, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, who's been a harsh critic of the West's declining moral values, said this: "The general direction of the Western political elite bears, without a doubt, an anti-Christian and anti-religious character. We have been though an epoch of atheism, and we know what it is to live without God."

However, the "God" that the coming counterfeit Christian world religion will present to the world will not be the true God of the Bible. Rather, he will be a counterfeit who will be Satan. And his "messiah" who will appear and convince the world that he's Jesus Christ will be the Antichrist.

And this is how John described him: "The dragon (Satan) gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:2) John continued: "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 Lamb's (Jesus Christ) Book of Life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:7-8)

When will the Antichrist appear? He will appear several years after a one-world government has been established. Evidently, even a world government will not solve the sectarian violence that has plagued the world since the beginning of time. And so, the Antichrist will appear as a man of peace who will perform powerful miracles to indeed deceive even the elect, or true Christians.

And after he appears in Russia, he will establish his throne in Rome. The world will believe that Christ has returned and peace has finally been achieved. However, the opposite will occur. The apostle Paul warned: "While people are saying 'Peace and Safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

The Antichrist isn't some mythical character. He's real and he's coming. And he won't be Islamic or an American president. He'll come from Russia. But will anyone be paying attention?