David Read's recent thought provoking article on the legacy of WWI in Advindicate stimulated me to revisit the final verses of Daniel 11. I thought I'd offer my view here not only to influence the collective opinion but to test the soundness of my own.

In the mid to late 1990's Jeff Pippenger and others popularized the view among conservative Adventists that the 1989 fall of communism fulfilled the prediction of the overrunning of the King of the South in Daniel 11:40 above. But this passage describes an armed military conflict and that didn't happen at the fall of the Berlin Wall, a bloodless event, thank the Lord. Later, in the aftermath of 9/11 when the allied forces invaded Iraq and Afghanistan we have a better match: The King of the South (if it is Islam) pushes at the King of the North (if this is NATO and it's allies) by bringing down the twin towers and the King of the North responds by overrunning parts of the middle east. But again this view also does not fulfill all of the particulars. The complete fulfillment of the text must be future.

The identity of the kings of the north and south isn't a fixed doctrine in Adventism. Opinions vary and that's healthy. I give my view below but again friends, please let me know your thoughts.

The statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 has legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. The legs represent the Roman empire and the successor of Rome, the beast and the image of it. Revelation 13 tells us that the world wonders after the beast and then endorses and worships the image of it. The final manifestation of the dragon is the image beast, Babylon, empowered by the lamb-like beast.

But Babylon is judged by her neighbors, the ten kings of the east (Rev. 16:12 and 17:12) which have their parallel in the ten toes in the feet of the image of Daniel 2 and the ten horns of the beast (Rev. 17:3 and 13:1). These ten kings burn her with fire and her destruction is so terrible and complete that the great men of the earth, the world's business leaders, withdraw far from Babylon to watch it burn from a distance. The ten kings from the east that humble Babylon are a coalition of the Asiatic powers. Time will tell which ones but we have some idea today of who they might be: Those holding enough power to unseat the whore, Babylon the Great.

So let's consider whether these ten kings are the same as the King of the South that also challenges Babylon, King of the North: Daniel 11 tells us that at the end the King of the South pushes at the King of the North but is overwhelmed and overrun by the King of the North. In contrast the ten kings of the East prevail against Babylon, King of the North. At the sixth plague they are the Divine instrument of wrath fulfilling the prophetic word that “he (the King of the North) shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Dan. 11:45). Here is the parallel description in Revelation 16 where the King of the North is defeated at Armageddon:



Notice that the Euphrates is dried up and this is what fully unleashes the the winds of strife. Compare the above passage with the parallel passage below:



The terrible description above is of a global incendiary conflict that will unseat the whore. Shortly before this point Babylon, King of the North has overrun the King of the South, drying up the buffer of the ancient Islamic states that occupied the Euphrates valley. As an occupying force the King of the North has planted his tabernacle between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. (See Daniel 11:45 above.)

For these and other reasons Islam is a front running candidate for the King of the South. Yet, the King of the South if not completely overwhelmed by the King of the North, could be part of the final 10 king coalition, the ten toes and horns, that destroy Babylon.

The climax of the story however is when the kingdoms of earth are restored to Christ. The stone cut out without hands pulverizes the feet and the entire image, the wind sweeps the dust away and the stone becomes a mighty mountain filling the earth.

PS. Above I've focused on the literal application of Armageddon and the literal fulfillment of the King of the North placing his seat of government between the sea and the Holy Mount. Both of these events have important parallel spiritual applications that I haven't covered above. For example Ellen White repeatedly speaks of Armageddon as the spiritual battle that is the result of the enraging of the wicked by the outpouring of the latter rain.

Mark, please fill in the blanks:

1) Babylon symbolizes . . .
2) The kings of the east symbolize . . .
3) The king of the north symbolizes . . .
4) The king of the south symbolizes . . .
5) The battle of Armageddon symbolizes . . .
6) The Euphrates drying up symbolizes . . .

Brother, good suggestion to summarize what I wrote above in a nutshell:

1) Babylon symbolizes . . . the whore, the impure church, the man of sin, the coalition of the dragon, beast and false prophet, and the image beast empowered by the lamb-like beast.
2) The kings of the east symbolize . . . a coalition of certain Asiatic nations yet unknown.
3) The king of the north symbolizes . . . the political manifestation of Babylon (which is a combination of church and state.)
4) The king of the south symbolizes . . . radical Islam.
5) The battle of Armageddon symbolizes . . . a)the literal battle between the militaries of Babylon and the ten Asiatic powers and b) the spiritual battle between Babylon and the pure woman, the remnant church.
6) The Euphrates drying up symbolizes . . . the over-running of radical Islam by the King of the North, especially in the Euphrates valley.

Interesting.

I can agree with
King of the north (the political manifestation of Babylon-- the whore, the impure church, the man of sin, the coalition of the dragon, beast and false prophet, and the image beast empowered by the lamb-like beast.

And
King of the south representing Islamic nations

Though I have some problem seeing the kings of the east as Asian nations.

Here's why --

1. "the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."

Here we need to ask -- what does the beast which produces and empowers the ten horns represent?
This beast also supports and carries Babylon?

Yet the ten horns "give their kingdom unto the beast," they "give their power and strength unto the beast"

The question always arises --
What does the "whore" Babylon represent?
What does Rev. 17's beast represent?


Personally, I don't believe the ten horns are the "kings of the east" at all. The ten are kings aligned with the beast.

Another question:
When do does the beast, false prophet, etc, meet their end?
See Rev. 19 --

In Revelation 19 we see the armies of heaven riding forth.
The beast and the false prophet and the kings of the earth are still fighting but can't stand against the armies of heaven.

So who are the kings of the EAST?
They are the armies of heaven led by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Matt. 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Rev. 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God:
EGW affirms that Christ's coming is "from the east". (Early Writings p. 15 and GC 641)

So how does it all fit?

The beast and woman in Revelation 17 identifies the union of state supporting the church. The woman representing the religious power, the beast with it's ten horns representing the political power, and together they form the last day coalition.
They are the ones to subdue and overrun the Islamic nations, setting up something in the so called "holy land" thus appearing to fulfil the prophetic understanding many Christians have adopted that Christ's kingdom will be set up in Palestine. I also believe the 8th head is Satan impersonating Christ, thus rounding out the expectation of Christ setting up a kingdom in in present day Palestine.

The news from the east that greatly upsets the king of the north, is the message that the REAL Christ is coming from the east. Like Herod of old, when he hears the true king is coming, he seeks to destroy the very idea. With great fury the death decree is issued against all who do not accept the counterfeit kingdom with its worship of the counterfeit Christ, who is supported by the beast, false prophet et al.

But before the death decree is carried out, God delivers His people. (This is not yet the second coming) but a great exhibition of God's power as everything in nature is turned out of its course, and God speaks and blesses His faithful and reveals His law from the heavens.

This is when the HORNS turn on the religious leaders. The beast with its horns devour the religious leaders. (See GC 656)

Then that cloud from the east appears. Earth's warring is ended as the unsaved perish, while the saved are caught up in the clouds to be forever with Jesus.

Very very good Dedication. Your view of the ten horns/ten kings of the beast of chapter 17 is more scriptural. I agree with it at this point.

I liked this statement:

I'm still studying your commentary. I'm very close to your view. . . More later today, Lord willing. Thank you again!

Mark, thank you for sharing. As always I appreciate your insights and ideas. I will share more later.

The one hour reign of the ten kings is brief, but long enough to destroy the whore. This one hour period, a prophetic hour of about 15 literal days, (in my view) is mentioned twice underscoring the certainty of the duration: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” “The merchants of the earth," that have "waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies," "shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” Revelation 17:12, 13,16; 18:11, 3, 15-17.

My reservation with equating the ten horns/kings of Revelation 17 to merely a popular movement against the false religious leaders of the Babylon is that it breaks the symbolism of the horns as kings or nations. If it was simply an anarchy of every man for himself what would be the point of representing them as 10 horns? Apparently even though the final rule of the ten kings is brief, there will be some strong leadership at a national and international level that provides cohesion to the movement to unseat the whore. This may help explain why it is done so swiftly and effectively – it's managed by 10 well coordinated powers.

The other reservation I have is putting the reign of the ten horns after the close of probation. It seems odd to have probation close and then have another blood bath but that may be just my own prejudice - it's so novel to me that I have to struggle a little to get my mind around it. Overall I'm in favor of that view because we know that the death decree will close probation for Babylon. It makes sense that Babylon is in power when she closes her own probation. By pronouncing death on the innocent she condemns herself and commits the abomination of her own desolation.