SHAPE OF THE FUTURE (2F) By John Lyall. endtimeupgrade.org
2 – The Final Empire: Its Physical Geography A. Dual Nature of the Empire B. Economic Superpower: the New Beast C. Who Are the Two Superpowers of the End? D. Is Modern Europe the “Beast from the Earth” E. Eighth Head F. Who Are the “Ten Horns”?
F. Who Are the Ten Horns? Now that we have identified the False Prophet earth-Beast as possibly symbolic of the EU, this can raise the question of who are the “ten horns” ? These horns are supposed to join with the Antichrist sea-Beast and help him in the war against the “great whore”. (Revelation 17-18) A long-held viewpoint on these “ten horns” was that they represent European nations. But if that were the case, then it would be difficult to see how the EU could fit the role of both earth-Beast and ten horns. There was a time in the 1980s when the number of nations in the European Economic Community, as it was called then, had reached ten nations. Many Bible teachers were convinced then that this was the fulfillment of the “ten horns” mentioned in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17. It was quite natural to think this way, not only because of the number of 10 nations, but also because many could foresee that Europe would have a lot to do with the Antichrist kingdom, which is certainly true. But now that the EU has reached a total of 28 members, it is difficult to see how she can fit into the symbolism of the “ten horns”. A little fine-tuning is in order, it would seem. We have just learned how the European superpower teaming up with Russia seems to fit rather well the symbolism in Revelation 13 of the False Prophet earth-Beast teaming up with the Antichrist sea-Beast. As such the EU will be very much a part of the Antichrist kingdom, even if she’s not the ten horns.
But that still leaves the question, who are the “ten horns”? This is a big question, and it will be covered, hopefully soon, in a future study on Revelation 17, a chapter which goes into some detail about them. Suffice it to say for now, there are two very good candidates for the “ten horns” symbolism: 1) In the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.), there are (at present) 11 nations, Russia plus 10 smaller ones. 2) In Ezekiel 38-39 and Daniel 11, there are references to nations that will ally themselves with Russia to help her in the invasion of Israel, Egypt, and other countries of the Mideast. So perhaps a grouping of these nations could fit the “ten horns” role. Of course, it is always possible that some grouping of 10 European nations could yet fulfill the symbolism, and we shouldn’t exclude that possibility while considering these other alternatives. As time goes on and with the benefit of more information and hindsight, no doubt it will become clearer, and we won’t have to resort to as much guesswork on this question as we do now. Continue to 3A: Physical and Spiritual Geography in Daniel 2