The Composition of the Last Beast Empire

For whatever reason, God did not include sufficient information in his Word to identify explicitly whom Antichrist will be prior to the beginning of events connected with end-times, and even now remain unclear. Of course, this has not dampened the endless prognostic speculation regarding possible fulfillment by “so-called” prophets in our own day. With each new generation, candidates multiply if a person with a name, a body part, or an inordinate evil inclination seems to echo certain characteristics found in Scripture as to Antichrist’s identity.

A few recent examples will highlight my point. Mikhail Gorbachev has a red birthmark on his forehead. Given that the Greek term for “lightning” is “astrape”, and the Hebrew equivalent is “Baraq”, and since Jesus said he saw Satan fall like “lightning” (Luke 10:18), clearly Barak Obama has been pinpointed. Prince Charles’ name adds up to 666 in both Hebrew and English, so it must be he. Wow! Those who advocate for these types of sophomoric speculations will not listen to calls to abandon this behavior.

It remains our desire to gather exegetically only those facts that Scripture makes explicit. One area of concern is the composition of the last beast empire. Daniel addresses this matter in Daniel 7, 8, 9, and 11, together with Matthew 24, I Thessalonians 2, and the book of Revelation. The final beast empire will eventually consist of  eight nations (Dan 7:20), and just prior to the last great battle of God, it will be composed of 10 kings who have no kingdoms (Rev 17:12) and Antichrist, who was driven off Mt. Zion (Rev 14:1), will act as their leader.

One factor that has contributed to a lack of understanding regarding the final beast empire has been the doggedness on the part of many Bible scholars to identify the beast empires of Daniel 2 with the beast empires of Daniel 7. Previously, we attempted to show that the beast empires of Daniel 2 (Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman) are not the eschatological beast empires found in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. In this article, we hope to move this position another step forward.

In Daniel 7, we see four empires that “come up out of the great sea.” Notice the description of the beasts:

1. The first beast is “like a lion and had eagles’ wings” that becomes a man.
2. The second beast is a “bear” with “three ribs in its mouth.”
3. The third beast is “a leopard with four wings and four heads.”
4. The fourth beast is almost indescribable with “ten horns.” Another small horn comes up after the ten and plucks up three, leaving an eight-horn empire.

The author gives no information concerning the identity of the first three beast empires of Daniel 7, unlike Daniel 2 and the fourth beast empire of Daniel 7, which the author explicitly identifies. However, because of certain similarities, this has led some scholars to postulate that Daniel 2 and 7 describe the same four beast empires, but that is unwarranted. It makes better sense to see the fourth beast empire of Daniel 7 as the eventual combination of the 15 kings/kingdoms detailed in Daniel 7:4-6:

The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

The first beast empire – a lion with two wings – represents three kingdoms that forcibly merge to become one kingdom. The second beast empire is one kingdom that forces three additional kingdoms to submit to his will. Four kings/kingdoms will become one. The third beast empire is a conglomeration of eight more kings/kingdoms. Thus far, we initially have 15 kings/kingdoms that later will become 10 kings/kingdoms. The fourth beast empire consists of 10 kings/kingdoms. Another king (the eleventh) will arise and pluck up three of the kings/kingdoms, leaving eight kings/kingdoms. Antichrist is the head of this resulting conglomeration of kings/kingdoms. Therefore, the first three beast empires go through wars and rumors of wars that result in 15 kings/kingdoms becoming 10 kings/kingdoms. Antichrist will further reduce that number to eight kings/kingdoms.

In Daniel 8, the horns represent kings/kingdoms on both the ram (Medo-Persia) and the male goat (Greece) and form the exegetical basis of our interpretation of the “wings,” “ribs,” and “heads” of Daniel 7 as kings/kingdoms. The pattern that kings/kingdoms are the primary focus of the book of Daniel is established clearly in chapters 2-8. In Daniel 2, the metals gold, silver, bronze, and iron mixed with clay represent kings/kingdoms. In Daniel 3, a gold statute represents a king. Daniel 4 has the king represented by both a great tree and an ox. Daniel 7:17 states emphatically that the four beasts are four kings.

The decision to see “wings,” “ribs,” and “heads” as kings/kingdoms seems to be a logical conclusion in light of the primary emphasis of Daniel 2-8 and 11. It is also our conviction that Revelation 13 strongly confirms this conclusion. This last chapter states that the beast that comes up out of the sea is a composite beast, which has the overall composition of a leopard (the third beast empire of Daniel 7). It also has feet like a bear (the second beast empire of Daniel 7) and a mouth like a lion (the first beast empire of Daniel 7). This description of Antichrist only applies to the second half of Daniel’s final week (Rev 13:5). These facts are not coincidental.

Only Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 chronicle the career of Antichrist from the sea to his defeat by God’s Royal Representative; this proves the connection between these two chapters. Therefore, given that both Daniel’s and John’s characterization of the beast as lion, bear, and leopard, seals our conviction. The role of the first beast empire in Daniel 7 is quite interesting. It begins as a lion with wings, but experiences a transformation that results in the creation of a man. Revelation 13 gives the additional fact that although this beast thinks like a man; he continues to speak like a lion.

It is clear that the beast/Antichrist will have a conflicted nature. He will be a man, but a man energized by Satan. Just how this will work is not clear. That he comes up out of the abyss (Rev 11:7) may explain this cryptic fact. We shall look at it again in our next article.

Robert Van Kampen’s contributions to eschatology in general will remain uncertain for years to come. As with  many others in the past, the value of his work in this area reveals itself only with the passing of time. History will evaluate Van Kampen’s role. His book, The Sign, has and will continue to have an impact on laypeople who take time to study the Scriptures for themselves. Yet, it has already been clearly proven that Van Kampen’s decision to presume the identity of Antichrist (without proof) has significantly hurt the adoption of the PreWrath position among many who follow Jesus Christ. The most critical point is that the identity of Antichrist is not an essential pillar of the PreWrath position.

Having worked very closely with Bob Van Kampen, I know what he was willing to die for and what he was not willing to die for with regard to the PreWrath position. On many occasions during our discussions, he would state as a matter of fact, “I would die for that.” Regarding his view about who the Antichrist might prove to be, he was not willing to die for his position. By taking the position he did, he violated one of his own tenets. Bob regularly insisted that one should avoid sensationalism. Yet, to insist that Adolf Hitler will be the Antichrist is decidedly sensational. The idea is fanciful, causing many to have a real problem with the position. The case that Van Kampen built for this position is circumstantial at best. While there have been many who have offered speculation about the identity of Antichrist, it is best to leave the matter as the Bible teaches it. We know what Antichrist will do, but we do not know his identity.

In The Sign, Van Kampen argues that Scripture outlines five critical criteria that help identify Antichrist:

1. He must have been a leader of a former beast empire (Rev. 13:3; 17:11)….
2. He must have died by a “wound of the sword” (Rev. 13:14)….
3. He will be from “the land of Magog” (Ezek. 38:2)….
4. He will be a notorious anti-Semite….
5. He will be immediately recognized….(See The Sign, Undated Edition, page 224.

The case that Van Kampen makes to support his conclusion deserves a very careful analysis. His first point that Antichrist must have been a leader of a former beast empire is correct. Revelation 17:11 specifically says, “As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth.” Few will argue with the point of this passage. However, the question is worthy of great debate as to whether Hitler meets this criterion. Van Kampen insists that he does.

There is no biblical basis for the position that Germany and the evil perpetrated against the Jewish people during World War II was the work of a beast empire. Van Kampen’s case is substantially weak. He argues that Nazi Germany (the Third Reich) was the seventh beast empire, which fits between the Roman Empire and the eighth beast empire that will rule on the earth during Daniel’s final week. Van Kampen argues that there is a gap between the legs of iron and the ten toes of iron and clay in the statute presented in Daniel 2. Van Kampen insists that the legs of iron in Daniel’s prophecy do not extend all the way down the leg to the feet. In Van Kampen’s diagram of the prophecy in Daniel 2, the distance between the knees and the ankles was not included in Daniel’s original prophecy. Van Kampen is then able to insert the events of World War II into Daniel’s statute. Van Kampen’s whole line of reasoning stands or falls on the notion that when the Hebrew writers refer to the “leg,” they do not refer to the entire leg from the knee to the ankles. Notice our diagram. Van Kampen would argue that the “legs of iron” only extends to the knees. From the knees to the ankles covers the period connected with World War II.

In Daniel’s description of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he writes, “The head of this image was of fine gold.” The statute had “chest and arms of silver.” The statute had “its middle and thighs of bronze.” The statute had “legs of iron.” The statue had “its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.” So Daniel describes what he saw, as follows:

Head – Gold
Chest and Arms – Silver
Middle and Thighs – Bronze
Legs – Iron
Feet – Iron and Clay

For Van Kampen’s theory to work there must be a gap between the legs and the feet. Yet, Daniel’s depiction of the statue is very detailed. How far down the trunk of the body, did Daniel intend for the word “thigh” to cover? Unfortunately, this term only occurs once in the Old Testament. However, it is plural, which suggest that there is more than one of them. Therefore, this term must refer to some aspect of the upper legs. The Hebrew term for “leg,” refers to the lower leg (the calf) i.e. “the part of the human body between the knee and ankle.”^[1] Therefore, middle, thighs, and legs taken together extend from the hips to the ankles. This would seemingly make Van Kampen’s conclusion untenable.

Antichrist must have died by a “wound of the sword,” is Van Kampen’s second criterion. In The Sign, Van Kampen writes, “Neither Nero nor Hitler died literally by the sword.” (The Sign, Updated Edition, page 224). Thus, by his own admission, Van Kampen recognizes that this detail does not fit Hitler as a possible candidate for Antichrist.

How the beast dies is a very important point in the book of Revelation. The wound is critical. It establishes the uniqueness of Antichrist. He received a wound by a sword that took his life yet he lives and the wound is evident. The text goes out of it way to make the point and thus we should take it literally. This point alone makes Hitler’s candidacy untenable, since he shot himself with a gun in his right temple.

The third of Van Kampen’s criteria concerns the birthplace of Antichrist. Van Kampen insists that Antichrist will be from the land of Magog. He goes to great length to prove that Ezekiel 38-39 detail the career of Antichrist. Thus, Van Kampen’s arguments stand or fall with his interpretation of Ezekiel 38-39. Is Gog the Antichrist? I am 99.9 percent certain he is not.

Revelation 19:20 states, “These two (Antichrist and the false prophet) were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” Thus, Antichrist will not die. The text is very clear. On the other hand, Gog of Magog dies in the land of Israel. Ezekiel 39:10 states, “On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel…for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.” Earlier, Ezekiel informs his readers that Gog “will fall on the mountains of Israel.” There is no uncertainty about the death of Gog. Therefore, it is clear that Gog and Antichrist cannot be the same individual. One dies and the other one does not.

It is Van Kampen’s belief that Antichrist will be a notorious anti-Semite. While this may be true in some sense, the ultimate hatred of Satan and his Antichrist is focused upon God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He will hate those who believe and trust in God. It is only in this sense that the Jews will experience persecution by Antichrist. While Hitler hated the Jewish people, there is no sense in which he saw his fight primarily focused against God almighty.

Van Kampen’s final point that Antichrist will be immediately recognized by the world is true. However, the reason Antichrist will be so recognizable to the world is not that he is Hitler, but because of his recent death and “resurrection.” It is our conviction that Antichrist will live, die, and live again during Daniel’s final week.

The career of Antichrist is not clear. In Revelation 11:7, we are told, “the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on [the two witnesses] and conquer and kill them”. This obviously requires that his rise precedes the midpoint of Daniel’s final week. It is our conviction that Antichrist begins his career in connection with Daniel’s final week as a man empowered by Satan. Near the midpoint, Antichrist will be killed. Satan will raise the body of Antichrist with another spirit. That spirit will be distinct from the first. He will move against Jerusalem and proclaim himself as God. These matters we shall look at in out next article.