A terrible, unhappy picture?
Yes it is, but nevertheless biblical. It depicts
what will happen to those who give their allegiance
to the "scarlet-colored" World Government that is
yet to make the scene ... thereby worshiping an
idol, a false god. These ones will have made a
very unwise CHOICE by allowing themselves to be
symbolically marked either "in their right hand
or upon their forehead". (Re 13:16-17) The irony
of it, is that if they instead were to make the
proper choice THEN they would be privileged to be
among those of that day who won't EVER have to
taste death at all ... certainly a unique
opportunity considering that everyone since Adam
(except for Elijah etc.) has had to go through
that unpleasant experience. What a terrible
mistake to make at that time! You see, it's not
a choice that God himself makes for them ...
their fate is dictated by a choice that they
themselves each make in that day of testing.
This is the "test" which Revelation 3:10 speaks about:
"Because you kept the word about my endurance,
I will also keep you from the hour of test, which
is to come upon the whole inhabited earth, to put
a test upon those dwelling on the earth."
(Actually, I like the NIV better here.)*
Now, more clearly than ever before it can be
understood exactly why the nations "thought" (idea)
of "giving their kingdom to the wild beast" is
agreeable with God -- in other words his thought too.
(See Re 17:13, 17) Yes, the "ten kings" agreeing
that a World Government is needed all adds up to
providing the basis for determining specifically
who can be trusted so as to be preserved over into
the new system. So we see how it is that the
"thought" which the "ten kings" have in common
(hence the "one thought") serves a most
useful purpose for God in making it clear where
peoples stand. Knowing all of this takes away
the mystery and confusion regarding the question
of what would determine whether a person would
survive Armageddon or not if it were to strike
today. /Yadirf.
* The NIV words it this way: "Since you have
kept my command to endure patiently, I will also
keep you from the hour of trial that is going
to come upon the whole world to test those who
live on the earth." -- Revelation 3:10.
Daniel 11:35 ... a prophecy that must be fulfilled before the "time of the end" gets underway.