From: dht@cs.mu.oz.au (Joyous Dave baby)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: A different view of the Ten Horns in the Revelation
Date: 30 Sep 92 05:30:12 GMT
Organization: University Of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Hi,

It seems to me that most people, when trying to interpret the ten horns
in Revelation, have concentrated their attentions at Western Europe.

However, I'd like to put forth a different view.  Of course, I do not
know for sure what the ten horns or prostitute or beast symbolize,
but I think it is helpful and important to put forth a different
viewpoint.  Anyway, see what you can get out of it.

Chapter 17 of Revelation describes a Prostitute which sits on a beast
with 7 heads and 10 horns.

If you remember, more than half a year ago, I suggested that *maybe*
the Prostitute symbols the United Nations, as it is "the one with
whom all the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and who
has made all the population of the world drunk with the wine of her
adultery.".  And I also suggested that *maybe* the 7 horns are the
original 5 permanent members of the Security Council, and two new
permanent members which I mentioned *might* be Japan and Germany.

I watched News today, and it mentioned that indeed, Japan and Germany
want to join the Permanent Members of the Security Council.

---

Rev 17:10 "The seven heads are also seven emperors.  Five of them have
already gone,"

The five heads that have already gone may be the 5 permanent members.
China ceased to be a major player since the loss of the Civil War to
the Communist Party.  Russia has sank from a superpower to a third
world country at the end of the Cold War.  USA is losing its role and
importance in the world.  And many prophesies have predicted a
revolution in France and UK.  All of the above lead to a loss of
influence of the Big Five.

"one is here now, and one is yet to come; once here, he must stay for
a short while."

The two other heads may be two new members, and are probably Germany
and Japan, and they are getting supports from the rest of the world
right now, to join the Security Council.  But their influences are
limited.

"The beast, who once was and now is not, is at the same time the eighth
and one of the seven, and he is going to his destruction."

one of the original seven will come back again.  it said "once was and
now is not", so it's probably one of the original five who has ceased
to be a major influence, and is making a come back.  It might be
interpreted as Russia or China.  Russia was a superpower, but is
now a struggling country.  Capitalist China was kicked out two decades
ago, but might come back if unification of China goes ahead.  I think
it's probably refering to the comeback of a capitalist China, as "the
eighth and one of the seven" shows that it's a new country and yet
one of the original 7.  If Russia suddenly rose to be a "beast", it
can hardly be refered to as a new country, unless it suddenly goes
through a major change; and a major change is happening in China
in terms of economy, and closer ties with the capitalist side of
China (Taiwan and HK).

"The ten horns are ten kings who have not yet been given their royal
power but will have royal authority only for a single hour and in
association with the beast."

"They are all of one mind in putting their strength and their powers
at the beast's disposal,"

I don't think the ten horns refer to European Community as there are
12 members, and supposedly, Masstricht Treaty or any other treaty cannot
go ahead without the consent of all 12 members.  Unless 2 members choose
to leave or are kicked out, it's unlikely to have a ten members Europe,
especially when Sweden, Austria, and Swiss are all close to joining as
full members.

Also, according to many Catholic Prophesies, Western Europe will go
through a very bloody revolution and a very bad flood.  It's doubtful
that it can lead the world.

If the beast is indeed China, I guess the ten horns are East Asian
economic powers, namely the Six members of ASEAN, Japan, Korea,
[new] China (including Taiwan and HK), and Vietnam (and/or others).  It's
also more likely that those ten countries "putting their .... at the
beast's disposal" than Western Europe "putting their ..... at" Russia's
disposal.  As China is single most powerful military in the region,
and has a big and strong economy (if you take Taiwan and HK into
account), and is growing at a rapid rate.  Whereas, UK, France,
and Germany are all military superpowers, and all have nuclear
weapons or nuclear technology... their economies are currently
strong, and Russia's economy is right now, not going anywhere.
It's unlikely for Russia to lead Western Europe.  Afterall, USSR
wanted Western Europe, but failed.  And it's unlikely for Russia
to control Western Europe when it's so far away, and if Russia is
to control Western Europe, it must control Eastern Europe as well,
and that automatically means more than 10 countries.

"...."

"But the time will come when the ten horns and the beast will turn
against the prostitute,"

East Asia will turn against United Nations?  Why?  I don't know,
maybe USA and other European members don't want to see China (along
with East Asia) to lead the world, and use UN to compete with China,
and so China decides to destroy New York.

"The woman you saw is the great city which has authority over all
the rulers on earth"

This again shows it's New York, which is the headquarters of United
Nations.  And there are prophesies which suggest that New York will
be destroyed.

"...."

"There will be mourning and weeping for her by the kings of the earth
who have fornicated with her and lived with her in luxury. .... There
will be weeping and distress over her among all the traders of the
earth when there is nobody left to buy their cargoes of goods; ...."

It shows the city is a big financial centre.  Amongst the four biggest
financial markets of the world:  New York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo,
New York is by far the biggest, and USA is by far the richest consumer
market compared to the other three.  Many countries' economies depend
on US aids and imports.  The feeling of distress is not surprised.  Also,
New York is the only city amongst the four that "has authority over
all the rulers on earth" because it hosts the United Nations.

---

Anyway, I get the motivation to write the above article when I heard
on news today that Australia officially supports Japan and Germany
to join the permanent members of the Security Council.

I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I think it's important to
look at the Revelation from a different angle, rather than concentrate
on the tranditional belief that the 10 horns are Western Europe.

Bear an open mind, flame if you must (e-mail), but I personally
suspect that maybe the devil wants everyone to concentrate on
Europe, and neglect the development of the beast somewhere else
in the world.  maybe it wasn't China, and it might turn out to
be Brazil or India.... but it's important to bear an open mind,
and look at the issue from different points of views.

don't flame me saying that I'm speaking crap.  What I said might
be completely wrong, but my point is to look at the issue from
different points of views.

God bless,

dave

disclaimer, none of the above interpretations are results of any
Visions or dreams, and are purely fictional products of my thinking
mind.

-- 
1)-----------------------Rev 6:8 "... They were given authority over a quarter
of the Earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and wild beasts."