THE FINAL EMPIRE: A FUTURE CONFEDERACY OF TEN KINGS, NOT BARBAROUS TRIBES

Grace unto you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we continue to write to you all concerning these things that shall shortly come to pass for the time is now at hand. Some in the body of Christ have taught that the 10 toes and 10 horns of Dan 2 & 7 are ten barbarous tribes which overran the old Roman Empire between 351-474 A.D. They interpret the little horn of Dan 7 & 8 and the beast of Rev 13 & 17 to be the papacy. According to the word of the Lord, this cannot be. Many today look at current events in the world and try to line up the word of God by twisting it to these events. Little by little, these men begin to speak out of their own hearts and depart from the counsel of the Lord. But then what shall stand in the end? Is it not only the counsel of the Lord according to His Word? It is wrong to twist the Word of God so that it lines up with current events. The Word of God is what it is. It is independent of any event. At the appointed time it will always come to pass such that all events at that time will line up with the Word. Not the Word twisted to the event. God gives the Word far ahead of time and many times there are signs to warn those that will listen that God’s words are about to be fulfilled. So then, why do we say that the 10 kings mentioned by Daniel are not the barbarous tribes of the past? By the following, this is established:

• The 10 toes and 10 horns are explained by God Himself in Rev 17:12-17 to be “ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as KINGS one hour (a season) with the beast”. According to the word of the Lord as it written, “ these kings shall make war on the LAMB (Christ, at His return)…for God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give THEIR KINGDOM unto the beast, UNTIL the word of God shall be fulfilled” (Dan 2:44, 7:24, Rev 17:8-17). From these scriptures, we understand that these kings are 10 mortal persons who will rule 10 kingdoms for 42 months, give their power unto the beast, and help the beast make war against Christ and His saints at His second coming (Dan 7:24-27, 8:25, Rev 13:5, 17:14-17, 19:19-21). These kings MUST and WILL be in existence at the second coming of Christ and His saints, an event that SHALL be at least 7 years after the rapture of the church. So then, if these kings must exist in the days of the coming of Christ which is yet future, then it is most certain that these kings are not the 10 tribes of the 4 th and 5 th centuries A.D of the past.

• These 10 kings will reign over 10 future kingdoms that are yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territories, which in the distant past encompassed the Middle East and Parts of Europe. They are not some 10 tribes of the past (Dan 2:44, 7:23-24, Rev 17:12-17, 19:19-21).

• As it is written in Dan 2:44-45 “the God of Heaven is to set up a literal kingdom on the EARTH in the days of these kings” ( Rev 19:11-20:7). God did not set up such a kingdom in 351-474 A.D. and has not yet done so today. This is to be a LITERAL kingdom. Not a spiritual kingdom as we believers currently profess the kingdom of God. This is a literal kingdom that shall have no end, for it is eternal. It is the millennial kingdom of Christ and His saints on the earth. Are these things not also written in Rev 20:4? The kingdom of God is in our midst today in the realm of PROFESSION. We profess and pray in the manner “let thy Kingdom come”. But the literal kingdom itself is not yet come for there is still rebellion on the earth today against God and His Word. This, the Lord shall quell and subdue at His second coming to establish His Millennial Kingdom on the earth. This is why the “Lord’s prayer” wherein He (the Lord) said “thy (the Father) Kingdom come” is a perfect prayer. God Himself swore to this that He will make His (Christ) enemies to be under His feet (Psa 110:1, Matt 22:44) and make all knees bow and all tongue confess Him as Lord. This God shall still do; for in those days the whole earth shall be at peace.

• The 10 kings will all be in existence at the same time, and continue the same length of time (Dan 2:44, 7:7-8, 19-27; Rev 13:1-3, 17:12-17). They will be in existence and reigning over 10 kingdoms before the beast comes (Dan 7:7-8, 19-27). They will make the 7 th of the 7 kingdoms that precede the beast who forms the 8 th kingdom (Rev 17:8-11). All these things are yet future, so it could not be 10 tribes of the past ( Rev 17:12-17; 19:19-21).

• Not one detail of Daniel or Revelation has ever been fulfilled with the papacy or 10 barbarous tribes outside the empire that overran the Roman Empire centuries ago. These 10 tribes could NEVER be 10 personal kings as it is required of the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation. No 10 tribes ever did exist at the same time and place, making an agreement to give their power to the papacy to rule for 31/2 years. More so, God did not set up His kingdom in 351-474 A.D. So this theory is FALSE.

• There were 21 tribes or more which overran the Roman Empire and not 10, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica under the subjects “Lombards” and “Suevi (also called “Suebi”).” Any group of 10 of these could not exist together to make war with Christ at His second coming as required in Rev 17:14, 19:19-21, for this is yet future.

• The papacy did not overthrow 3 of these 10 tribes of the past and force the others to submit, as prophesied of the little horn and the beast of Dan 7:8, 19-24, and Rev 17:12-17.

With these reasons and even much more, we say without any reservation that the idea that the 10 toes and 10 horns of Dan 2 & 7, who are 10 future kings that shall arise from within the old Roman Empire, after the rapture of the church, are the 10 barbarous tribes which overran the old Roman Empire 351-474 A.D. is contrary to the word of God, unbiblical, unhistorical, and therefore FALSE. The Spirit of the Lord bears witness that what we have said is TRUE.

Saints of God, watch and pray, for the time of these things is at hand. This the Spirit speaks expressly. Understand and know that he who now hinders will hinder until he be taken out of the way. Then shall these things be fully revealed. And many that shall remain on that day shall be pierced with many sorrows. Alas! For that day is great that none is like it! It is even a time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Who then is he that hinders lawlessness? Who is he that shall be taken out of the way? It is the blessed, the chosen, and the faithful; a holy people that are called by the name of the Lord. Praise ye the Lord Brethren! Praise ye the Lord! Praise our God, all ye his children, and ye that fear and tremble at His Word. Al-le-lu-ia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the Day of Christ is at hand. Let His Saints rejoice, for the glory that shall be revealed in them. Let him that fear Him leap for joy; for now the Lord cometh to take His own. Praise ye the Lord! And let all that abide in Him say “Come Lord Jesus” Amen.