Chapter Thirty-Five/Executing Babylon the Great

 By the 15th century, however, some countries were building brand-new empires. While some of these new imperial powers were found in the territory of former colonies of Rome, their empires were not mere continuations of the Roman Empire. Portugal, France, and Holland all became seats of far-flung domains. But the most successful was Britain, which came to preside over a huge empire on which the sun never set.' This empire spread at different times over much of North America, Africa, India, and Southwest Asia, as well as the expanse of the South Pacific. 

By the 19th century, some of the colonies in North America had already broken away from Britain to form the independent United States of America. Politically, some conflict between the new nation and the former motherland continued. Nevertheless, the first world war forced both countries to recognize their common interests and cemented a special relationship between them. Thus, a kind of dual world power came to exist, made up of the United States of America, now the world's wealthiest nation, and Great Britain, seat of the world's largest empire. Here, then, is the seventh 'head,' or world power, that continues into the time of the end and the territories of which the modern-day witnesses of Jehovah first got established. Compared with the long reign of the sixth head, the seventh remains only "a short while, " until God's Kingdom destroys all national entities. 

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Chapter Thirty-Five/Executing Babylon the Great

 Rome's Eastern Empire, centered at Constantinople, endured in a somewhat uneasy relationship with the Western Empire. In the sixth century, Eastern emperor Justinian I was able to reconquer much of North Africa, and he also intervened in Spain and Italy. In the seventh century, Justinian II recovered for the Empire areas of Macedonia that had been conquered by Slavic tribesmen. By the eighth century, however, much of the former territory of ancient Rome in North Africa, Spain, and Syria had come under the new empire of Islam and thus passed from the control of Constantinople and Rome.

The city of Constantinople itself endured somewhat longer. It survived frequent attacks from Persians, Arabs, Bulgars, and Russians until in 1203 It finally fell-not to Muslims or Crusaders from the West. In 1453, though, it came under the power of the Muslim Ottoman ruler Mechmed II and soon became capital of the Ottoman or Turkish Empire. Thus. although the city of Rome fell in 410 C.E., it took many more centuries for all traces of the Roman Empire to pass from the world scene. And even then, its influence was still discernible in religious empires based on the papacy of Rome and Eastern Orthodox churches.

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Chapter Thirty-Five/Executing Babylon the Great

 The Roman Empire endured and even expanded for hundreds of years after John's day.  In 330 C.E., Emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. In 395 C.E., the Roman Empire was split into Eastern and Western parts. In 410 C.E. Rome itself fell to Alaric, king of the Visigoths (a Germanic tribe that had converted to the Arian brand of "Christianity"). Germanic tribes (also "Christian") conquered Spain and much of the territory of Rome in North Africa. There were centuries of upheaval, unrest, and readjustment in Europe. Notable emperors arose in the West, such as Charlemagne, who formed an alliance with Pope Leo III in the 9th century, and Frederick II, who reigned in the 13th century. But their domain, though named the Holy Roman Empire, was much smaller than that of the earlier Roman Empire at its zenith. It was more of a restoration or continuation of this ancient power than a new empire. 

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Chapter Thirty-Five/Executing Babylon the Great

 The seven heads of that ferocious beast stand for seven "mountains or seven "kings." Both terms are used Scripturally to refer to governmental powers. (Jeremiah 51:24, 25; Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, 45) In the Bible, six world powers are mentioned as having an impact on the affairs of God's people: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Of these, fiver had already come and gone by the time John received Revelation, whereas Rome was still very much a world power. This corresponds well with the words, "five have fallen, one is. But what of "the other" that was due to come?

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Chapter Thirty-Five/Executing Babylon the Great

 IN FURTHER describing the scarlet-colored wild beast of Revelation 17:3, the angel tells John: "Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean mountains, where the woman sits on top. And there are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while. (Revelation 17:9, 10) The angel is here conveying wisdom fr0m above, the only wisdom that can give understanding of the symbols in Revelation. (James 3:17) This wisdom enlightens the John class and its companions as the seriousness of the time in which we live. It builds in devoted hearts appreciation of Jehovah's judgments, now about to be carried out, and inculcates a healthy fear of Jehovah. As Provers 9:10 states: "The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge  of the Most Holy One is what understanding is." What does divine wisdom reveal to about the wild beast?

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Chapter Thirty-Four/An Awesome Solved - Peace and Security-A Vain Hope - Conclusion

 What form will this significant cry of "Peace and security!" take? It is here mentioned as being outstanding just before the sudden destruction of those making the cry. Hence, it will have to be something more pronounced than any previous declarations by world leaders. No doubt it will be on an earth-wide scale. Yet, it will be no more than a facade. Underneath, nothing will really have changed. Selfishness, hatred, crime, family breakdown, immorality, sickness, sorrow, and death will still be here. That is why the coming cry will mislead you, if you have been awake to the meaning of the world events and have heeded the prophetic warnings in God's Word. - MARK 13:32-37; LUKE 21:34-36.

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Chapter Thirty-Four/An Awesome Mystery Solved - Peace and Security - A Vain Hope -Continue-

 Further, it is deeply significant that the world's religious leaders should join hands with the United Nations in calling for peace at this time. They would like to influence the UN to their own advantage, especially in this modern age when so many of their people are abandoning religion. Like the unfaithful leaders in Israel, they call out, "There is peace!' when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14) No doubt their cries for peace will continue, rising in support of the climax concerning which the apostle Paul prophesied: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security! then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape." - 1 THESSALONIANS 5:2, 3.

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Chapter Thirty-Four/An Awesome Mystery Solved - Peace and Security - A Vain Hope - Continue

 In contrast with those who "walk in the name of Jehovah," not one of those religionists was praying to Jehovah, the living God, who name appears 7,000 times in the original text of the Bible. (Micah4:5; Isaiah 42:8, 12) As a group, they did not approach God in the name of Jesus, the majority of them not even believing in Jesus Christ.  (John 14:13; 15:16) None of them are doing God's will for our day, which is to proclaim worldwide God's incoming Kingdom-not the UN-as the real hope for mankind. (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:14; Mark 13:10) For the most part, the religious organizations have been involved in the bloody wars of history, including two world wars of this century. To such, God says: "Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening with bloodshed on your very hands have become filled. - ISAIAH 1:15; 59:1-3. 

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Chapter Thirty-Four/An Awesome Mystery Solved - Peace and Security - A Vain Hope - Contnue

 Does God answer such prayers for peace? Well, to which God were those religious leaders praying? If you asked them, each group would give a different answer. Is there a pantheon of millions of gods that can hear and grant petitions made in many different ways? Many of the participants worshiped Christendom's Trinity. Buddhists, Hindus, and others chanted prayers to gods without number. In all, 12 "religious families" assembled being represented by such notables and the archbishop of Canterbury, Buddhism's Dalai Lama, a Russian Orthodox metropolitan, the president of Tokyo's Shinto Shrine Association and two American Indians decked out in plumed headdresses. It was colorful group, to say the least, making for a spectacular TV coverage. On group prayed unceasingly for 12 hours at one time. (Compare Luke 20:45-37.) But did any of those prayers reach beyond the rain clouds that hovered over the gathering? No, for the following reasons: 

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Chapter Thirty-Four/An Awesome Mystery Solved - Peace and Security-A Vain Hope

 In a effort to bolster the hopes of mankind, the United Nations proclaimed 186 to be as an "International year of peace with the theme "To Safeguard Peace and the Future of Humanity." Warring nations were called upon to lay down their weapons, at least for one year. What was their response? According to the report by the International Peac Research Institute, more than five million soldiers were killed in combat during 1986 alone! Though some special coins and commemorative stamps were issued, most of the nations did little about pursuing the idea of peace in that year. Nevertheless, the world's religions -always anxious for a fine rapport with the UN-set about publicizing the year in various ways. On January 1, 1986, Pope Joh Paul II praised the work of the UN and dedicated the new year to peace. And on October 27, he assembled the leaders of many of world's religions as Assisi, Italy, to pray for peace. 

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