Ten Kings & Ten Toes

To see the above on a larger screen go (here)

Who are the "ten toes" of Daniel's image? That they are the same as the "ten horns" of the Apocalyptic "beast," or "ten kings" with their ten "kingdoms" (Rev. 13 etc.), none deny. Those ten kings are intimately connected with the beast, with Antichrist and his empire, and with his rule over all the nations of the world. They give their sovereignties to the beast. They also have a love hate relationship with Babylon, both with the literal commercial city and center and also with Babylon in "mystery" (mother of all false and confused religions).  

When I was converted as a teenager and first studied the prophecies of Daniel the prophet they had a great impact on my faith. They were oracles that God gave of the future through Daniel's visions and hearing the voice of God speak to him. Only God knows the future. That was God's message as given by Daniel to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord demonstrated his sole attribute in foreknowledge by these remarks:

“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob. “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods..." (Isa. 41: 21-23)

The first view I heard as a young student of prophecy and eschatology about who were the ten kings was that they were to find their fulfillment in what was back then (1970s) called "the common market." It was originally formed by certain European countries with a number less than ten. Many bible teachers taught that they would become ten in number and that they would then become the ten kings under the empire and rule of the Antichrist. They reasoned that since the "ten toes" are what were directly attached to the two legs of Daniel's image that the toes must signify those countries which were once part of the Roman Empire (which is the significance of the two iron legs), and therefore the European nations fit that accepted criteria. However, the common market was replaced by "The European Union" which now encompasses 27 countries (Great Britain has existed via "Brexit") and this throws a monkey wrench into this interpretation. I rejected it several years ago. And, having rejected that view, I began (like others) to look elsewhere. 

I believe like many others that the ten kingdoms will be ten divisions of the world that will come into being in the near future under "the new world order," when there is a strengthened United Nations, when all countries give up their military weapons and individual sovereignties to this international governing body, and there is then created ten "global economic zones" each ruled over by a governor (king). The map above shows a UN map suggesting ten zones. I believe this is coming, although I believe the borders of each will not be exactly as shown, with some countries being in another region other than in the one shown in the above. 

Since these ten kings give their ten kingdoms to the beast (the last world empire and emperor) it would seem that they come into existence first, before Antichrist appears along with the world government that is created under him. Until they give their sovereignties to the beast, the new world order or global governmental entity (UN) will be a ten region confederacy, not an empire with a single ruler. 

In this it is "the Dragon," or Satan who is "mastermind" behind the workings of the ten kings and the worldly infidel elite that they represent. He is the mastermind behind all that is going on in the world now to bring this all about (all under the watchful eye of God of course who has foreseen it and planned for it). 

This all being true, and I believe it is, then when is Babylon, the megalopolis of Revelation 18 to be built? It clearly will be built and become the world's commercial center in the new world order under the ten kings and under Antichrist. I have followed this for many years. Saddam Hussein began rebuilding the ancient city and did much. But, it is a far cry from being yet the city described in Rev. 18! The wars in Iraq and what is going on there now has had my interest for several years. It seems that the area is being set up for the construction of this world center of trade. I could talk on this a long time. But, will forbear. I do believe it will be built in the near future, especially when the new global economic system is installed everywhere, probably during the time of the ten kings. Maybe under the reign of Antichrist.

Again, all this being true, when is that time when all the world is crying "peace and safety"? This crying of peace and safety immediately precedes the judgments of the Apocalypse, before the "sudden destruction." (See I Thess. 5: 3) Does this time of perceived "peace and safety" come before the first judgment of the Apocalypse or is it something that comes to pass during the time of the ten kings and the reign of Antichrist? It seems that at the time when Babylon is destroyed (as part of the Lord's coming in judgment) that commerce is flourishing and it is her destruction that brings economic ruin. 

Just my thoughts. What think ye?