The Seventh World Power

Reliable Prophecy

The seventh power began to take shape when England rose out of obscurity in the northwestern corner of the Roman Empire.  By the 1760's, this island nation had become the mighty British Empire. Britain continued to grow in wealth and power, and in the 19th century, it was the richest and most powerful nation on earth.   "The British Empire," states one reference work, "was the largest the world had ever seen."  It "included 372 million inhabitants and extended over 11 million square miles [28 million sq km]." 

However, the first world war (1914-1918)  moved Britain to embark on a special relationship with the United States, a previous colony.  The result?  The British Empire  gave way to the Anglo-American alliance, in  may respects a duel English-speaking world power that has lasted until the present. 

The prophecy at Revelation 17:10 complements another prophecy found in the book  of Daniel. Daniel wrote about an "immense image" that Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar saw in a vision given him by God.  (Daniel 2:28, 31-43) Daniel revealed to the monarch that the sections of the body of the image represented the succession of political empires that began with Babylon, the world power at the time.  (Egypt and Assyria had already come and gone.)  History now confirms the following:  

The head  of gold represented the Babylonian Empire.  

The breasts and arms of silver depicted Medo-Persia. 

The belly and thighs of copper pointed to ancient Greece. 

The legs of iron pictured the Roman Empire.  

The feet, an amalgam of iron and clay, symbolize the politically and socially incohesive state of affairs during the time of the Anglo-American world power.

According to Revelation 17:10, the seventh world power "must remain a short while." How long will that prove to be?  how will it disappear from the world scene? And what will happen thereafter?  Daniel sheds much light on these questions. 

Next time: The Seventh World Power - A Hope You Can Trust

From the Awake! magazine