We have previously offered several suggestions relative to the members of the future confederation of nations.
Inasmuch as the confederation will consist of two legs and ten toes, it was suggested that the eastern leg will be Asia (predominately Muslim countries) while the western leg will consist of European nations. There would be 5 nations from each leg.
The Bible states that the leader of the confederation would ascend to power, but only for a short time. His given rule will last for 7 years.
The future king of the 7th kingdom will be cunning and deceitful. He offers a treaty of peace for the troubled world, especially between the seeds of Isaac and Ishmael.
Daniel spoke of the pseudo peace treaty in the 6th century BC.
“Then he shall confirm a covenant (treaty) with many for one week (7 years); but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate…” Daniel 9:27
This prophecy was so significant that Jesus warned His disciples about it before His death. After describing many of the conditions prevailing during the latter days, He specifically told of what would happen at the midpoint of the 7 year peace treaty.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24:15-16
The great ‘peace maker’ will reveal himself for who he really is. He will enter the new Jewish temple, put an end to worship, and claim to be God.
Incidentally, the Jews are preparing to build the 3rd temple in the near future.
So then, what will happen at the end of the 7 years?
Recall, only Daniel could restate and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metal image. Consider Daniel’s explanation of the feet and toes.
“And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile…they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.” Daniel 2:42-43
The ten nation confederation will have military strength to subdue other nations, but their ideologies are irreconcilable.
But the confederation will join together to fulfill God’s plan devised from the foundation of the world.
“And the ten horns which you saw on the beast (same as the ten toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s metal image) these will hate the harlot, make her desolate…and burn her with fire…For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”
Revelation 17:16-17
Thus, the anti-Christ and his 10 nation confederation will be of one mind to destroy the harlot.
Another angel described to John why the harlot had to be destroyed.
“Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication…And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:1b-2
The great city in the above passage is the rebuilt city of Babylon. Note the similarities of this passage and the one following.
“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” Revelation 18:3
And when the harlot is destroyed along with the great city, who will miss her the most?
“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her for no one buys their merchandise anymore…” Revelation 18:11
Christ will return to end the 7 year tribulation, the ‘beast’ will be cast into the lake of fire, and Christ will set up His kingdom and rule from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.