Hi John,Please post this reply to Seeker's question.ThanksGod Bless,EAR
Hi Seeker, John, and Doves,__________________________________________________Seeker (13 Aug 2017)
"What is the "one hour " with the beast of Rev. 17:12 ?"___________________________________________________________________________
The answer to your question is contained in the scriptural context of Rev. 17:12, not in some fanciful notion that someone has dreamed up about “one hour with the beast” on a nightly T.V. news channel—(Trump???)!Mind you, what the beast and its accomplices bring about in the future, may well feature on the nightly news.
The passage in Rev. 17:12–18, shows three main aims of the Islamist beast and its allies is to receive power for a short period of time—
First, in the context of the “one hour as kings with the beast” Rev. 17:12-14 shows that ten powerful Islamist terrorist groups, who operate independently, eventually unite and confederate with the eighth beast—a revived radical Caliphate—in order to make “war with the Lamb… and those who are with Him (who are) called, chosen, and faithful.” Thus, the crux of the Islamists’ aggression and hatred is against Christ and Christians (viz., infidels or unbelievers), but the Lamb overcomes them. This may not happen until the eve of the battle of Armageddon, after the evil spirits inherent in the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet have called the kings of the earth to Armageddon (Rev. 16:13–14, 16). It seems Jesus Christ returns at this time (cf. verse 15)!
Second, these so-called “kings who have… no kingdom as yet” (verse 12), attempt to takeover someone else’s real estate for a kingdom/nation/Caliphate for themselves! Presently these terrorist groups can only function as a “state within a state” like Al Qaeda, Al Nusra, and other Middle Eastern, African, and Asian based Islamic terrorist groups. It is interesting to note that when Islamic State declared its presence in Syria in 2014, it claimed it had nine Wilayats or Provinces that belonged to the Caliphate, which were run by its provincial leaders. Isis is not done yet. They may be taken out of Mosul and Raqqa, but the devotees of the radical Sunni Caliphate will only spread worldwide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISIL_territorial_claims
Third, the beast/allies additional purpose is to destroy the “harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” The context of verse 17 says that “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.” The harlot is denounced in verse 18 as “that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Verse 15 states that the harlot city has control over “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (viz., 1.6 billion Muslims on the seven continents, who must bow toward Mecca 5 x day). Thus, the beast/allies intention to destroy the “great mother city” is approved by God (Rev. 17:6), because it is “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (cf. Rev. 18:5–8) This political/religious system (symbolically called Babylon), based in “the wilderness” surrounded by seven mountains, has systematically opposed the Gospel of Christ during the N.T. era; while its forerunner--"actual" Babylon--opposed God from the time of Babel. What the beast and allies intend to do to this “great city” is called Iconoclasm (i.e., the destruction of religious artefacts, mosques, archaeology, etc., by its own acolytes). The fate to be suffered by the great city, according to the purposes of God? "She will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her." (Rev. 18:8b)
God bless you in your search for the truth.