Few biblical figures evoke as much fear, fascination, and speculation as the Antichrist—the ultimate embodiment of evil in the Book of Revelation. Described as the Beast (Revelation 13), this end-times tyrant will deceive the world, wage war against God’s people, and establish a global dictatorship before Christ returns to defeat him.
For centuries, Christians have tried to identify who the Antichrist might be—from Roman emperors to modern political leaders. Some believe he will rise to power in a time of global crisis, wielding unmatched influence through politics, religion, and technology.
In this deep dive, we’ll explore:
What (or who) is the Antichrist?
Why do Christians fear his coming?
5 historical figures once believed to be the Antichrist
5 modern candidates who fit the profile
How should Christians respond to Antichrist speculation?
1. Who (or What) Is the Antichrist?
The term “Antichrist” appears only in the letters of John (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), where it refers to anyone who denies Christ. However, in Revelation, the Antichrist is depicted as the Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10), a satanic world leader who:
5. How Should Christians Respond to Antichrist Speculation?
While it’s fascinating to speculate, the Bible warns against date-setting and paranoia. Instead, Christians should:
Focus on Christ’s Return (Acts 1:7 – “It is not for you to know times or seasons”).
Live Righteously (2 Peter 3:11 – “What sort of people ought you to be?”).
Test All Spirits (1 John 4:1 – Not every leader is the Antichrist).
Share the Gospel (Matthew 24:14 – The end will come after the Gospel is preached to all nations).
Conclusion: The Antichrist Is Coming—But Christ Has Already Won
The Antichrist remains one of the Bible’s most mysterious and feared figures. While history is full of tyrants and deceivers, the true Beast will be uniquely empowered by Satan to lead the world into rebellion against God.
Yet, Christians need not fear: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). No matter who rises to power, Christ will return to destroy the Antichrist and establish His eternal kingdom.
What do you think? Could one of these modern figures be the Antichrist, or is he still to come? Share your thoughts below!
The Book of Revelation has fascinated readers for nearly 2,000 years. In this article we’ll delve into the most popular topics related to this famous apocalyptic text. We’ll discuss the most famous verses, key symbols, and noteworthy characters of Revelation. We’ll debate if the Apostle John is really the author of Revelation. We’ll examine popular books that feature themes of Revelation. And we’ll even consider the question – what if the John’s Revelation was coming true today. It promises to be a wild ride – are you ready?
Editor’s Note: This article is a master guide that provides an introduction for each of the topics listed above. For those subjects that require more in-depth research, links to ‘feature articles’ are provided so you can learn even more! Additionally, throughout this article, you’ll see words highlighted in BLUE – all of these are hyperlinks to other quality websites whose content we have curated for you as reference material, specific Bible verses, and further discussion so you can continue your research.
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I. Book of Revelation – Fast Facts
1-Who is the author of the Book of Revelation?
The author identifies himself as John of Patmos. The mainstream view is that this is the Apostle John, however not everyone agrees on this. (See more about this controversy in Section III below – “Debate: Did the Apostle John really write Revelation?”)
2-When was the Book of Revelation written?
The majority of early church fathers believed the Book of Revelation was written sometime between 64-96 AD. Modern scholars tend to pinpoint the date to 81-96 AD. Why 64AD? It was the year of the Great Fire of Rome – allegedly started by the Emperor Nero (but blamed on the Christians). Emperor Nero was the first historical figure to be proclaimed as the Antichrist and it was believed by many that the Beast of Revelation was none other than Nero himself. As for the 81-96 AD range – these dates comprise the reign of Emperor Domitian – allegedly the Roman ruler who exiled the Apostle John to the island of Patmos where the saint is thought to have written this book.
3-What are the other names for the Book of Revelation?
The Book of Revelation is also sometimes called The Revelation to John, The Apocalypse of John, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, The Apocalypse, or just Revelation.
Note that the word “Revelation” is singular and not pluralized in any of the titles.
The book is structured as a letter from John of Patmos writing to the Seven Churches of Asia. In the text, John describes his visions (i.e. his inspired revelations) of a coming apocalypse – a series of cataclysmic catastrophes that will rock the world – and warns his readers about the Antichrist – the incarnate of Satan’s Son who is destined to rule the world during Armageddon. Thankfully John concludes on a positive note – describing the inevitable victory of Good over Evil in the form of Jesus Christ’s glorious return to save the world.
Revelation – Key Definitions
If we truly want to understand what the Book of Revelation is about, we should probably define a couple key words. To begin with we need to know the definition of the word revelation. Next we’ll need to know what people mean when they talk about apocalyptic literature.
What is the definition of the word revelation?
If we want to delve into the meaning of the BOOK of Revelation we first need to start by knowing what the meaning of the WORD revelation is. To that end, Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com give the meaning of the word revelation as follows:
an act of revealing or communicating divine truth
something that is revealed by God to humans
an act of revealing to view or making known
something that is revealed especially : an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
a pleasant often enlightening surprise
Meanwhile, Bible Study Tools talks about the meaning of revelation from a Biblical standpoint, defining a revelation as “an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen… The Scriptures are not merely the “record” of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth.”
Now that we understand what a revelation is, let’s explore what people mean when they talk about apocalyptic literature.
What is Apocalyptic Literature?
Britannica has a great piece about this topic and defines apocalyptic literature as a “literary genre that foretells supernaturally inspired cataclysmic events that will transpire at the end of the world.” The discussion points out a few key elements of this type of writing:
It is a product of the Judeo-Christian tradition.
“Apocalyptic literature is characteristically pseudonymous.
It takes narrative form.
It employs esoteric language.
It expresses a pessimistic view of the present.
It treats the final events as imminent.”
There are well over 30 ancient texts that have been classified as apocalyptic literature, but the most famous are:
And yet, it is the Book of Revelation that is nigh synonymous with the word Apocalypse — and a single reading of the text is enough to let anyone understand why.
III. Debate: Did the Apostle John really write Revelation? (Feature Article)
Did the Apostle John really write The Book of Revelation?
The answer is not as easy as it seems. In this feature article we’ll explore who “John of Patmos” may be. I’ll give you the arguments in favor of St John being the author and also talk about why some experts believe there was “another John” behind this famous book. I’ll also give you my opinion on this age-old question which has now plagued Christians for nearly 2,000 years.
As noted already, the Book of Revelation can be found as the final book of the New Testament in most Christian Bibles. But it wasn’t always that way.
When was The Book of Revelation added to The Bible?
The earliest Christians didn’t have the modern Bible that we know today – in fact those of the first and second centuries often didn’t even agree on which books among early Christian literature should be recognized as ‘canon’ and which should be cast aside – such was the case with the Book of Revelation too. Although we don’t know the exact date the Revelation was formally included into early forms of The Bible, we can pinpoint down to the decade. Writings from early church fathers and various councils of elders discuss the book as follows:
In 348 AD Cyril of Jerusalem did NOT list Revelation as part of scripture.
In 363 the Council of Laodicea did NOT list Revelations as an accepted book.
Given these dates, we can say with some assurance that the Book of Revelation was accepted into formal Christian canon sometime between 364 AD and 367 AD.
Additionally it should be noted that the Book of Revelation was also later affirmed by the synods of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD) and the church elders Philastrius of Brescia (385 AD), Rufinus of Aquileia (404 AD), Jerome (414 AD), and Augustine (426 AD).
As an interesting aside, in addition to the challenges that the Book of Revelation faced in mainstream Christian circles, it should be noted that some Eastern Orthodox churches have never accepted it into their sacred canon.
What is the relationship of Revelation to The Old Testament?
It’s hard to overlook the fact that much of the content, symbols, and imagery of the Book of Revelation can be found in numerous books of the Hebrew Old Testament and other apocryphal literature from the time before Christ. For example, debates rage over the relationship of Revelation to all of the following Old Testament books.
This book is not part of mainstream Christian Bibles but interestingly enough IS accepted as canon by the Eastern Orthodox Church (even though some factions of that faith still don’t accept Revelation).
One thing is for sure, the author of Revelation was very familiar with the Hebrew Old Testament.
The importance of this fact is key for another reason — that the author of Revelation was so influenced by the Old Testament speaks to the author likely being Jewish. And what do we know about St John the Apostle?
He was a Jew from Galilee.
His mentor Jesus was also a Jew, and as an apocalyptic teacher Jesus was quoted many times over in preaching that ‘this generation will not pass away before these things come to pass’ (Matthew 24:34) and similar apocalyptic messages that related back to the Old Testament.
That Saint John was indoctrinated with a heavy dose of apocalyptic thinking is an easy connection to make.
Most importantly, these facts support the case for Saint John as the author of the Book of Revelation. (Keep this in mind when you read the feature article “Who Really Wrote Revelation?”
“The Apocalypse” by Master Bertram, c 1380 AD
V. The 13 Most Famous Verses from Revelation
(Feature Article)
No study of the Book of Revelation would be complete without diving into the most famous verses from the text. We have another feature article that explores this topic in detail and provides some great artwork to accompany the verses. Click here to read “The 13 Most Famous Verses from The Book of Revelation.”
In the interest of space we’ll merely list the most referenced verses from the book. They are:
Given that the Book of Revelation is at one and the same time an apocalyptic, prophetic, and futuristic text, it should come as no surprise that the book is filled with symbols and imagery laced with alternative meaning. Church elders and scholars have debated for nearly 2,000 years about what all the signs and symbols of Revelation mean. We have an in-depth article about this topic called “Understanding the Apocalyptic Imagery & Symbols from the Book of Revelation” that we encourage you to read, but in the meantime, here is a brief introduction to each of the key symbols.
3 Woes: world catastrophes that are triggered by the final 3 trumpets. The 3rd Woe also triggers the release of the 7 Bowls.
The Little Scroll – a ‘bitter’ scroll given to John by a Mighty Angel (Michael?) that is a source of prophetic knowledge about the coming apocalypse.
7 Bowls of Revelation: more disasters are unleashed upon our world as each of the Seven Angels pour out a bowl filled with God’s wrath.
NOTE: The relationship between the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls, and 3 Woes is explored in detail in the feature article.
The New Jerusalem: the climax of Revelation occurs in Revelation 21 when a New Jerusalem emerges where the saved ones will dwell with God.
The River of Life: Revelation 22 describes the return of Eden and the final destruction of the curse of sin.
VII. The Main Characters of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is filled with a colorful cast of characters – some good, some evil, but all interesting. Here are the main characters from Revelation with links to learn more about each one…
The very first verse of Revelation tells us that the visions of the author are in fact the ‘testimony of Jesus Christ.’ Jesus is featured throughout Revelation and the book is the de facto story of Christ’s Second Coming.
Later in Revelation (example 5:5 Jesus is also called “The Conquering Lion of Judah“)
We meet John of Patmos in Revelation 1:9 where he identifies himself as the author of the Book of Revelation. John of Patmos is thus clearly an important figure for our research, and yet, we know so little about him. Is he Saint John the Apostle or another persona entirely? Check out this article to learn more: “Who Really Wrote Revelation?“
Gustav Dore’s “John of Patmos”
The Seven Angels of the 7 Churches
Revelation 1: 20 introduces the Seven Angels of the 7 Churches. As we discussed above, John gives a message to each angel at each of the churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3. The angels are located at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Twenty-Four Elders appear in Revelation 4:4, described as surrounding the Throne of God. Much debates exists about who the elders were: specific people/kings, the heads of churches or cities, or perhaps an allegory for different types of matter, elements, planets, or even our souls.
Also in the throne room that is described in Revelation 4: 8 are 4 ‘living creatures’ described as having six wings and with “eyes all over, front and back. The popular interpretation is that the creatures in Revelations are similar to those described by the prophet Ezekiel in the Old Testament and the most popular theories suggest that the living creatures are either angels or perhaps the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Additionally, because of their many eyes, they are held to be all knowledgeable and it’s said that nothing escapes their notice.
Revelation 6 introduces us to the souls in white robes who had previously died for the faith. For an excellent discussion on these souls and who they may be see this article by Bible.org.
Possibly the most popular of all personalities in Revelation, the 4 Horsemen are introduced to us in Revelation 6 where we meet 4 beings riding on horses of various colors (red, black, white, and pale). At the most basic level they are said to represent Disease, War, Famine, and Death. Because some believe Revelation was an allegorical attack on the Roman empire, others believe the riders represent oppressions by that famed world power. Still others hold a different theory.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, by Victor Vasnetsov, c1887
4 Angels holding the 4 Winds
Revelation 7 showcases the 4 winds being held in check by 4 powerful angels. This event occurs just prior to all hell being unleashed onto the world (literally!) since the next few chapters see the breaking of the Seals, the blowing of Trumpets, and more (all associated with world catastrophes). Some suggest the angels holding back the winds is an allegory for God’s power holding back Satan’s and that the latter can only act when given the OK by God.
Another popular group from Revelation is the famed 144,000. The Book of Life holds the names of those 144,000 lucky people who are apparently marked to be able to avoid the catastrophes that the rest of the world will suffer in Revelation. These raptured people will be redeemed and taken to heaven where they will wait it out while the world is cleansed. Their fate is described in Revelation 7 and 14.
Revelation 8 is when the real action of the book heats up as famed 7 Seals begin to be broken and the Seven Angels begin to blow their trumpets. There is actually an EIGHT angel who pours a golden censer full of wrath upon the world just to add to the fun.
In Revelation 9 we meet Abaddon! He is also known as Apollyon The Destroyer. Some suggest this is Satan, others the devil’s chief demon, and still others the Angel of Death.
Revelation Chapter 10 is actually considered a kind of ‘interlude’ as the people of earth are given a slight reprieve from all the catastrophes caused by the breaking of the Seven Seals and the blowing of the Seven Trumpets. During this break in the action, John of Patmos is given the little scroll by the mighty angel – as instructed, John eats the ‘bitter’ scroll. This will become a source from which he can prophesy what he knows to all peoples and all nations.
This angel is also called the Mighty Angel of the 7 Thunders.
As to WHO the Mighty Angel is we don’t know. Some say Archangel Michael, others Archangel Gabriel, and still others Jesus Christ.
Johannes verschlingt das Buch “Might Angel and Little Scroll” c 1530
Although perhaps not as popular as other figures from Revelation, these two prophets are no less important. We meet them in Revelation 11:14 and their role is to prophecy to the world during the 1,260 days that God’s Temple is ‘being trampled upon’ by Satan’s minions.
As to WHO they are the debate ranges – the most popular theories are that they are Elijah and Enoch of Old Testament fame. This is the case in the Last Temptation of John books where the Two Witnesses play a prominent role.
Revelation 12 introduces the Dragon – a version of ‘the serpent’ that has repeatedly been representative of Lucifer/Satan throughout other books of The Bible. Archangel Michael casts the dragon out of heaven and down to earth, where It then makes war upon the world.
We meet the sea beast in Revelation 13 and 17. After the beast rises from the sea it is given ‘authority and power’ from the dragon. Most theories suggest the sea beast is representative of world governments and/or the old world order (i.e. the Roman government).
Also called The False Prophet, this beast is described in Revelation 13. Although not as famous as the dragon or the beast of the sea, the beast of the earth is no less important, for this is the beast who looks like a lamb but deceives like a dragon. Additionally, this beast will lead the world astray by causing people to get The Mark of the Beast.
Understanding the beast character is critical to grasping the meaning of Revelation. For additional discussions about the Beasts of Revelation see…
The woman who gives birth to a child in Revelation 12 is often misunderstood. She is not to be confused with the ‘other’ woman of Revelation (i.e. Mystery, the whore of Babylon), and her child is not the Antichrist. Despite the Dragon trying to eat the child at birth, the baby is instead taken up to God, while the woman flees into the wilderness and war breaks out in heaven.
Debates rage as to if the woman is The Virgin Mary, the Catholic Church, or another person, and the same goes for the identity of her child (is it Jesus, his teaching, the people of the church or the world).
Although we don’t know if the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10 is Michael, we DO know he appears in Revelation 12 since Michael’s feats of strength are detailed in The War of Heaven where the powerful archangel casts Satan (in the form of The Dragon) and his minions out of God’s kingdom.
Another key figure in Revelation is the Whore of Babylon, AKA “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Abominations of the Earth.”
We meet this woman in Revelation 17 and her story continues through chapter 18. She is the woman clothed in scarlet who rides upon the Beast (of the sea).
The traditional view is that the whore is representative of Rome and many of the details which describe Mystery fit this theory.
To learn more about Mystery, check out these links:
Here are some NON-fiction books that will help you continue your research on Revelation…
For some fun reading, consider these popular FICTIONAL accounts that deal with the events of Revelation…
IX. What if the Book of Revelation was coming true TODAY?
The Antichrist has come.
What if the events detailed in The Book of Revelations were about to occur… this year?
Could anyone save us from certain death? The answer is YES. Hard as it may be to believe, St. John the Apostle is still alive today – having been blessed with the Gift of Immortality so that he could survive to fight against the coming of The Antichrist. Unfortunately, over the course of the last 2,000 years John has lost is faith!
Can John recover his faith in time to stop Armageddon or will Satan’s Son achieve Ultimate Victory? The answer to that question and many more will be revealed in the thrilling new book series The Last Temptation of John.
Given that the Book of Revelation is at one and the same time an apocalyptic, prophetic, and futuristic text, it should come as no surprise that the book is filled with symbols and imagery laced with alternative meaning. Church elders and scholars have debated for nearly 2,000 years about what all the signs and symbols of Revelation mean. We’ll point them out for you and give you links to learn more…
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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a larger series about The Book of Revelation. This article focuses only on the imagery and symbols of Revelation. For more on the diverse characters, the meaning, verses, definitions, and other interesting tidbits about The Book of Revelation, please see Revelation – the Meaning, the Mystery, the Verses, and More…
Symbols & Imagery of Revelation
The symbols and imagery are organized with the flow of the Book of Revelation. The chapters/verses that discuss the symbols are provided for you to learn more.
The Book of Life is essentially the Roll Call of Heaven – if your name is written in the book, then you’ve got a ticket to ride to heaven. If not, you’re doomed to the fires of Hell.
In Revelation, the Book of Life is referenced in the following locations:
In The Last Temptation of John, numerous references are made to The Book of Life and Mary Magdalene is the present keeper of this famous tome. The Book is the cause of great sorrow to Mary for she is repeatedly distressed to see names disappear from the book as it continues to be reduced down to the prophesied number of just 144,000 raptured souls.
Revelations Chapter 4 brings us into the throne room of God, where the Supreme Being is attended to by 24 Elders. Also on hand are the 4 Living Creatures: a lion, an ox, an eagle, and a man. Most importantly, the Lamb of God is given the Scroll with Seven Seals in Revelations Chapter 5 – this is the scroll that will release the various catastrophes of Revelation as each of the seven seals are broken.
Revelations Throne of God – Matthias Gerung
Did you know?
The Throne of God motif is not unique to Revelation — it plays a key role in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Other holy books say it can be found in the Seventh Heaven and that is is also known as is Araboth (Judaism), and al-‘Arsh (Islam).
The 7 Seals as a group are one of the most important symbols in Revelation and they are detailed in Revelation Chapter 6, Chapter 7, and Chapter 8.
A seal is a device used to keep a document shut (for example a wax seal) and the 7 seals of Revelation are just that – protective guards that keep shut portions of a secret scroll that John saw in his visions. The only person that can open the seals is Lion and the Lamb (AKA Jesus).
As the Lamb opens each of the 7 seals a new judgement is released upon the world.
The first 4 seals of Revelation release the dreaded 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Seal 5 calls for the Wrath of God. Seal 6 releases a Day of Wrath (earthquakes, etc around the world).
Seal 7 triggers an entirely new set of catastrophes involving the 7 Trumpets, 7 Golden Bowls, and more.
Did you know?
In the Last Temptation of God book trilogy, the Seals of Revelation are started to be opened as early as Book I – The Pawns of Prophecy – with devastating results for the world.
Links to learn more about The Seven Seals of Revelation
The 7 Trumpets are sounded after the 7th Seal is broken. The catastrophes associated with the various trumpets are described in Revelation Chapter 8, Chapter 9, and Chapter 12.
Trumpets 5, 6, and 7 also signal the coming of the 3 Woes.
Links to learn more about The Seven Trumpets of Revelation
After the seven angels blow their seven trumpets in Revelation Chapter 8, an eight angel brings out a golden censer filled with fire from the heavenly altar, and throws it to the earth – unleashing peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
Revelations Chapter 8 tells how the star called “Wormwood” fell from the sky after the third angel blew his trumpet. The result: “a third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.”
Did you know?
Wormwood is mentioned seven times in the Hebrew Bible, always with the implication of bitterness. The Hebrew term לענה (la’anah), means “curse.”
The 3 Woes are catastrophes and plagues that are triggered by the final 3 of the 7 Trumpets. They are detailed in Revelation Chapter 9 and Chapter 11. The 3rd Woe triggers the beginning of the release of the Bowls (and so the party continues!)
Revelation Chapter 10 is actually considered a kind of ‘interlude’ as the people of earth are given a slight reprieve from all the catastrophes caused by the breaking of the Seven Seals and the blowing of the Seven Trumpets. During this break in the action, John of Patmos is given the little scroll by the mighty angel – as instructed, John eats the ‘bitter’ scroll. This will become a source from which he can prophesy what he knows to all peoples and all nations.
Johannes verschlingt das Buch “Might Angel and Little Scroll” c 1530
Did you know?
In the Last Temptation of John books, this scroll is referred to as The Scroll of the Illuminated Angels. Although tiny in size, it promises to play a major role in helping to defeat the Antichrist.
Links to learn more about The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll
After the Seven Spiritual Figures of Revelation are discussed in chapters 15, humanity is again forced to endure more plagues – this time with the Seven Bowls. Revelation Chapter 16 describes what happens when the 7 Angels of Revelation pour out the contents of their 7 Bowls. The basic gist is that each bowl contains a Wrath of God.
Links to learn more about the Seven Bowls of Revelation
How do the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls, and 3 Woes relate to one another?
Here’s a handy chart that puts it all together for you along with a timeline of events….
I would love to credit the source of the chart but it’s unclear who this is so if anyone knows please contact me so I can update.
See the action unfold as each of the Seven Seals are broken in The Last Temptation of John’s final book – Golgotha Revisited. The Seven Angels, their seals, woes, and trumpets are part of the exciting climax of the entire trilogy. Read it today.
Although there is a brief reference to the New Jerusalem in Revelation 3: 12, it is Revelation Chapter 21 that details how the New Heaven and Earth will replace the old, and tells how God will come to dwell with humanity in the New Jerusalem.
“The New Jerusalem” c1900 Giclee
The importance of Chapter 21 as the key message of hope in Revelation cannot be over-estimated – the emergence of the New Jerusalem is the climax of the entire book.
Revelation Chapter 22, the final chapter of the book, depicts the restoration of Eden – which includes the rebirth of the River of Life and the Tree of Life. All nations and peoples are healed and the curse of sin is destroyed forever.
What if the events detailed in The Book of Revelation were about to occur… this year?
Could anyone save us from certain death? The answer is YES. Hard as it may be to believe, St. John the Apostle is still alive today – having been blessed with the Gift of Immortality so that he could survive to fight against the coming of The Antichrist. Unfortunately, over the course of the last 2,000 years John has lost is faith!
Can John recover his faith in time to stop Armageddon or will Satan’s Son achieve Ultimate Victory? The answer to that question and many more will be revealed in the thrilling new book series The Last Temptation of John.
Read it the trilogy today… if your faith is strong enough.
To be honest, right now I didn’t know what to make of the situation because it appeared The Pope was now openly reveling in the deaths of millions of people!
Alan too was appalled. “How dare you?”
“Oh come off it, man.” Benedict scoffed. “Don’t be a baby. You’ve seen Miriam’s Book of Life. You’ve read your friend John’s Revelation. You know that the wheat must be separated from the chaff. Yes, even among my own Catholic flocks there are many who are not worthy of the coming of our Lord.” And pounding his fists on his desk, “You know that He is not coming back as a Lamb this time, but as a Lion — to cleanse this world of Sin once and for all. Yes, many will perish – and rightly so! Let the evil doers be cast into the Fiery Pit, I say, for that is their destiny!”
Here Pope Joe took a moment to catch his breath, and after a pause, he said in a normal voice, “But, don’t worry, all is not lost. Those of us who are The Chosen will survive and be glorified with Our Lord. That includes you two as well. You have nothing to fear.”
(Gee, that makes me feel so much better – NOT!)
“Just the same,” Miriam grumbled, “You could have done a better job of informing us of your plans.”
“Point well made, dear. Nonetheless, you now know.”
“OK. So what now?” Alan asked.
“Simple – we ensure December 21st goes according to OUR plans.”
Here Miriam stole a glance at Alan – a fact that did not go unnoticed by Joseph who proudly advised, “The whole world is anticipating Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger’s December 21 celebration in Jerusalem. For the first time in thousands of years, our planet will see a peaceful union between Christians, Jews, and Muslims!”
“But do you really believe this is possible?” Alan questioned.
“What? Pshaw – not a chance!” Benedict waved a hand and relaxed back into his chair. “The ceremony is a sham anyway – it’s a bigger farce than Covid. Bates isn’t going to Metzger’s event out of some misguided social calling, but instead to reveal himself to the world – as The Beast!”
“But, Your Grace, if that’s true,” Alan proceeded with caution, “then why would YOU want to be there?”
And Miriam added, “Don’t you realize that Bates plans to kill both you and Metzger? Are you trying to martyr yourself?”
“Of course not.” The Pope laughed long at that. “Do you think I don’t know the man Ma’bus’ plans? The Beast must destroy Peter’s Rock in order to unleash Hell – at least that’s what he thinks will happen. But what he doesn’t know is that I have my own plans.” And he let the bait hang enticingly.
“So where do my friends and I fit into your plans?” Alan broke the silence. “Are we supposed to be present at the ceremony too?”
Miriam was clearly appalled that Alan would so flippantly reveal secret information. However, she was likely more shocked to hear Joe’s reply.
“Don’t worry – you need not be present.” The Pope explained, as if a parent to his children. “If you’ll simply listen to what I’m trying to tell you then you’ll realize that I have a way to save you from the Armageddon Rite! In fact, it’s one of the reasons I am so happy to see you today – to tell you, and Mary, and yes even John – that you have fulfilled your duties. My friends, your mission is over!”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Miriam was annoyed at The Pope’s patronizing tone.
“Just this,” Joseph overlooked Miriam’s insult. “For two thousand years you three have been the pillar of stability – working long and hard to protect Jesus’ Nails. The world thanks you for it. I thank you for it. However, you need not guard The Nail’s any longer. It is time to give them to me.”
(Ah, that gambit again, Joe?)
“I’m not sure I agree.” Miriam said softly, eyes narrowed.
“It just doesn’t make sense.” Alan added.
Joe measured his words, “On the contrary, it makes perfect sense. Consider that John the Baptist had the duty to prepare the way of the Lord. And when the time of destiny arrived – when he met Jesus – John was faced with a choice: hang on to his fame and reject the Lord as his replacement, or understand it was time for History to move ahead. As you know John made the right choice – and went down in history as one of the greatest prophets of all time. In the end, his life was viewed as the bridge between the sorrows of the Old Testament and the hope of the New Testament. And yet, what would have happened had John had not let Jesus take center stage?”
(Now that’s an interesting thought. So you’re telling me that MY mission was merely to be a time wasting lackey all this time? That’s great, just great).
“And so that brings us to you.” Joe continued. “Like John, you are a bridge to the future – in this case, you are the bridge between the New Testament and The Rapture. The question is, will you acc—“
“Wait!” Miriam interrupted. “Why didn’t Gabriel tell me any of this?”
“He told ME, dear.” The Pope averred. “Remember, your time has passed. I know that sounds harsh, but given the dire circumstances we don’t have time to mince words. As The Rock of Peter — as Christ’s chosen representative mind you — I am the One whose destiny is NOW. Again, I am grateful beyond measure for the diligent duty you three have fulfilled. But, you must recognize MY place — I am The Deliverer.”
And rising up from his chair, Joseph Ratzinger proclaimed, “Even if I am all alone, I will stand in the breach against The Beast!! But, I can’t fulfill MY duty – I can’t bring about the Deliverance of Our Lord — unless you first acquiesce to me. In the end, it’s a final test of faith – will you trust in your own designs or will you allow The Lord’s work to be done?”
Mouths agape in disbelief, neither Alan nor Miriam could respond. Sensing his victory was secure, The Pope pushed for a quick close, “Mary, in the vision that John told you about, who is the one to destroy this Ma’bus?”
(Whoa, hold on there, cowboy – how in the Hell did YOU know about that?!?)
Head bowed, Miriam answered, “You.”
“And how did I accomplish this? By what instruments?”
There was a long pause but at last Miriam whispered, “With our Nails.”
“That settles it. So, I will ask you again – will you deliver m–”
“Just a minute here!” Alan stalled. “With all due respect, Your Grace, there is still a most important point that has remained a mystery – pardon my pun – but if you really want to confirm our trust, help us to understand your connection to Teri Abbracciavento. Why are you mixed up with Mystery?”
Joe was visibly taken aback by that question, but as usual, he had an explanation, “Why, I’m surprised that you don’t know the answer already.”
“We don’t.” Miriam grated. “Please enlighten us.”
“It’s simple really. I am using Teri as a double agent against the man Ma’bus.” By now The Pope had recovered his smugness and seemed to enjoy telling about his spy games. “It has always been a given that Mystery worked for The Beast – after all, that is her destiny. But, like a fool, Bates overplayed his hand – sending Mystery to me as a self-proclaimed traitor. Did he really think I would fall for such a ruse? Sure, I let Mystery play her games with me,” and here he looked away in thought, before catching himself, “but only to a point mind you! The fact of the matter is this – Teri has given me valuable information about Bates; and best of all, she believes that I don’t know about her duplicitous dealings.”
“So, in essence, Teri is a double double agent?” Alan was confused.
“Verily — she wants me to think she is working for me as a double agent against Dr. Ma’bus, even though she is still secretly working FOR him – or at least she believes she is. In reality, I’m not sure that Teri really knows WHO holds her true allegiance.”
(But how does JOE know all this???)
“That’s quite a game of reverse psychology.” Miriam grinned — clearly enjoying the vision of a much confused Mystery.
“Well, I do have some small experience in that field.” Joe smiled with Miriam. But turning serious, he re-directed, “Let’s stop stalling. About those Nails…”
Once more Alan and Miriam looked at each other – both still unsure. At last, in his frustration, The Pope reached down to his desk and picked up the small package that Cardinalate Marrollo had delivered to him, “Does your silence have anything to do with THIS?”
Miriam’s eyes lit up at the sight of the scroll, yet before she could comment, Joe had slashed the wax seal and began to read aloud.
As The Pope read Marrollo’s scroll, I watched Miriam work hard to control her emotions — even though I could not read her thoughts, I could tell that her mind was literally screaming…
“And without dying?” Miriam was still in shock herself at my suggestion.
Another long pause followed as they tried to make sense of things. I smiled as they prattled on, enjoying my drink.
Naturally it was Miriam who rained on my parade, “For you, O Lord, are the Most High! Don’t you see, this merely confirms what I’m saying — Benedict will be filled with divine power at the appointed time, so that he CAN hold the Nails in order to destroy Bates as Dr. Ma’bus and thus enable Christ’s return!” And she smiled winsomely at the thought.
(Dammit! I hadn’t thought of it that way — she just might be right).
“Envy rots the bones.” I muttered under my breath, before replying to her, “If that’s true, Mary, then what are WE still doing here? In your theory we three are useless.”
“John.” Alan raised a hand. “You know our mission – we are to guard The Nails until the day they are needed, until The Second Coming. Nobody said our role would be in the spotlight. Isn’t it enough to know that our work will be directly responsible for aiding Christ’s return?”
<SMASH!> I threw my glass against the wall. “No, Laz-a-rus, it is not! Do you think I wanted to wait around here for two thousand years, guarding a worthless piece of iron, only to give it off to someone else at the moment of truth — so THEY can get all the glory? That’s a raw deal!”
“John, you know that’s not true.” Miriam reminded me. “YOU, more than anyone, know the value of Jesus’ love.”
“Two thousand years is a long time — I guess I plumb forgot; just like HE forgot about me.” And before anyone could reply, I continued, “Besides, who cares about all your theories, you’re probably wrong… again.”
“What do you mean?” Alan asked.
“Don’t you see?” I said wearily. “There is no many faced man, there is no antichrist!”
“How can you say that?” Miriam gasped.
“Just how often have you two been wrong about The Beast?” I jabbed back. “Oh let me count the ways. First there was Nero – but that was on me – he’s the one I wrote about in Revelation – or so I thought. So I’ll take the bullet for being wrong there.
“But it was you, Mary, who brought us Attila in the 400’s,” I hastened on. “Now Attila was a ruthless conqueror indeed, but NOT the antichrist. Which brings us to Alan’s theory about Archbishop Arnulf of Rheims in the late 900’s.”
“Well, he was a thinking man’s antichrist.” Alan offered.
“Yet again we were wrong. “ I concluded. “So after that, I stopped trying to guess, but you two plodded ahead. You listened to Charles V when he brought you Martin Luther in the early 1500’s – yet why you two couldn’t see that Charles was playing you for a fool, I’ll never know? Luckily I was able to talk some sense into you. Oh sure, Luther caused some problems for the Church, but on the whole, I think you’ll agree he’s proven to be a catalyst for change which the Church needed.”
“Touche.” Alan nodded. “And your poi—“
“And then there was Adam Weishaupt.” I cut him off. “Or should I say George Washington? Indeed, after he pulled his little identity switcheroo he had the world fooled – and us too. And while he advanced the cause of the Illuminated Ones, and laid the foundation for America to become a world harlot, he was surely NOT the Antichrist either.”
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“How can you be so sure?” Miriam asked.
“Which brings us at last to the one person that you two really had me convinced on – Hitler.” I pressed ahead with my own designs, ignoring Miriam. “Yes, despite my pledge that I was done listening to you two after the Weishaupt Fiasco, even I couldn’t resist your arguments about Ol’ Adolf.”
“Well he DID fit the bill.” Miriam whined.
“And yet, we were wrong about him too.” Alan said. “Oh, he was indeed evil, but… as John pointed out, even Hitler was NOT the antichrist.”
“And so it goes.” I concluded. “There IS no antichrist. Jesus is not coming back. And we three will be forced to rot here in this world forever. Therefore, will you two please just let it be and leave me alone.”
It seemed that my arguments were having the desired effect on Alan, because he was at a loss for words. Yet Miriam continued to protest, “You’re wrong, John. This time is different. Bill Bates as Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus IS The Beast!”
“Mary, why are you so sure this time?” I grimaced. “Just because this Bates fellow meets all your criteria?”
“He does!” Miriam slapped fist to hand.
“But so did all the others!” I retorted, in disbelief at her doggedness. “Hell, Flipflop was just as bad so why don’t you name him the Antichrist?”
Yet Miriam just sat there — jaw jutting out, back straight, unwilling, or unable, to give up.
Knowing she wasn’t going to leave without saying her piece, my shoulders finally sagged. I felt as old as I looked, “OK, let me hear your story. If you must tell it, get it over with so I can get rid of you two and… get back to the business of trying to kill myself.”
“John!” Miriam said. “You’re blaspheming Christ’s work in you.”
“Whatever. Please, just tell your tale and then go. What makes you so sure that Bates is the Beast? Enlighten me.”
“Because The Infernal War has moved to the front lines of the underworld, and Michael himself is leading the troops in this campaign!”
Verses of Revelation – No study of the Book of Revelation would be complete without diving into the most famous verses from the text. We have another article about the Book of Revelations in a broader sense (discussing the meaning, the key symbols and characters, and even the debate over who really wrote the book), but here the focus is on the actual verses from this legendary book.
Here then are the 13 Most Popular Verses of The Book of Revelation…
Editor’s Note: The choice of which specific verses are considered the ‘most famous’ was decided by a review of search engine traffic volume as well as cross-references to other respected sites on this topic. Obviously not everyone may agree on the selection of these verses and if YOU have a different verse you’d like to recommend please let us know in the comments.
“This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Christ made these things known to his servant John by sending his angel to him, and John has told all that he has seen.”
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red…”
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”
“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.”
“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’.”
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Read it the trilogy today… if your faith is strong enough.
Who wrote the Book of Revelation? Did the Apostle John really Revelation? The answer is not as easy as it seems. In this article we’ll explore the arguments in favor of St John being the author and also talk about why some experts believe there was “another John” behind this famous book. I’ll also give you my opinion on this age-old question which has now plagued Christians for nearly 2,000 years.
1. Who was John of Patmos?
“John of Patmos” is the self-identified author in the text of The Book of Revelation.
While it’s helpful that the author named himself for us, the problem we face has always been – WHO exactly was John of Patmos? Was he St John the Apostle or was he perhaps a lesser known “John?”
Let’s explore…
Gustav Dore’s “John of Patmos”
2. Who Wrote the Book of Revelation – What Most People Believe
The mainstream view is that John of Patmos is in fact John the Apostle.
Apostle John was also known as St John the Immortal, John the Beloved, John of Zebedee, John the Revelator, John the Divine, and John the Theologian. Given that he was a man of many names, it’s possible that Saint John was also known as John of Patmos too.
What Books did St John write?
In addition to being credited with The Book of Revelation, Apostle John is also commonly held by many to be the author of The Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and possibly the apocryphal text called The Gospel of the Secret Supper (a text long lost to history but which can now be read in The Gnostic Bible).
When is St John believed to have written The Book of Revelation?
The theory is that the apostle was evangelizing in Rome and was exiled to the island of Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian in 95 AD as punishment because John was perceived as a threat to Roman rule. Recall that during Domitian’s rule Rome didn’t look kindly on Christians and banished a number of alleged practitioners of ‘magic and prophecy.’
Under this theory then John is said to have received visions while on Patmos and that he wrote the Book of Revelation during these later years of his life.
HOWEVER, not everyone agrees that Saint John is the true author of The Book of Revelation…
3. Is there “another John” who could be the real author of Revelation?
Despite the mainstream view that John the Apostle wrote Revelation, many modern scholars do not believe this to be true. Perhaps the most famous in our times is Bart Ehrman. There were also numerous early church elders (among them the famed Eusebius) who believed the author of Revelation was a “different John.”
Who were these other Johns?
Speculation as to who the real John of Patmos was has raged over the centuries. Various other Johns have been put forward as being the author of Revelation. These include:
Why don’t some people believe St. John wrote The Book of Revelation?
The main reasons some early church fathers as well as modern experts don’t buy in to St. John being the author of Revelation has to do with the argument that St. John was NOT (in their view) John of Patmos. Belief in this ‘two-John’ theory has to do with the vast differences between the other texts that St John is alleged to have written compared to the Book of Revelation. These differences can be summarized as follows:
The author of Revelation specifically identifies himself (i.e. as John of Patmos), while whoever wrote the Gospel of John and the Epistles of John does not specifically identify himself (although St John is held to be the author in most mainstream circles).
There are noted differences in language – the original Greek used in the Gospels and Letters of John is more ‘elegant’ and mistake-free while in Revelations it is more crude. (For more on this, read this book on the topic).
The theological outlook of the books are clearly different. To wit: the Gospel of John focuses on establishing Jesus as the Messiah and professes that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. More importantly the Gospel of John is NOT an apocalyptic text and there is little to no discussion of a soon-to-approach end of the age. The Book of Revelation is the very epitome of an apocalyptic text and its primary purpose is to discuss the soon-to-occur End Times.
But there’s yet another problem with The Johns…
We don’t know much about John the Evangelist, John the Presbyter, and John the Elder – in fact, it’s possible that these monikers were actually alternate names for the Apostle John. If so, then this could mean that the apostle actually DID write Revelation. After all, being that St John was known by so many names, it’s highly possible he was John of Patmos too.
4. But did Saint John even write The Gospel of John?
Pondering this question will take you further down the John Rabbit Hole…
Did you know that not all scholars believe that John the Apostle even wrote the Gospel of John?
The biggest reasons for this trace all the way back to John’s roots. Let’s recall that the apostle John was. According to the Bible, Saint John was…
John and his brother were both some of the first disciples Jesus recruited during the early days of his ministry.
While John and James went on to become prominent figures in Jesus’ evangelical mission (both during his life and after), they were also both allegedly poor fisherman from Galilee who likely not even literate.
The language they spoke was Aramaic, but The Gospel of John and the Epistles were all originally written (as far as we know) in Greek – with a highly literate style.
How did an illiterate, Aramaic speaking fisherman from Galilee write in a high form of Greek?
While it’s certainly possible that John learned a new language during his own evangelical missions as he allegedly traveled outside Palestine on his way to Rome, and while it’s possible that he also learned to read and write, some wonder if he would have been able to develop this writing skills to the level displayed in the Gospel and Letters.
HOWEVER – what’s interesting about this knock on John is that this argument (i.e. that basically St John wasn’t educated enough to use the writing style of the Gospel and the Epistles) actually supports St John being the author of Revelation!
Remember, the writing style of the Greek used by John of Patmos in Revelation is said to be riddled with errors and ‘of a cruder nature.’ Isn’t this exactly as one might suspect of say a fisherman who learned Greek later in life?!?
And so the rabbit hole just got deeper, eh?
5. What do I personally believe about who wrote Revelation?
Personally I choose to believe that St John the Apostle actually wrote everything attributed to him – i.e. The Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, AND The Book of Revelations. This means that I therefore also believe that Saint John the Apostle was indeed John of Patmos.
But how do I reconcile the differences in style between the books and that St John was allegedly illiterate?
Just because someone doesn’t know how to read or write early in life doesn’t mean they can’t learn later, right? And isn’t is possible that if John traveled through Greek-speaking lands that he learned to read, speak, and write that language over the years?
Perhaps most importantly of all, I’m willing to ascribe to the theory that God is more than capable of inspiring St John with whatever literary skills he needed to pen these books.
“Hurensohn!” Benedict swore in his native dialect, adjusting his mask and leaning on his cane for support. “Why do we use such strong ash? Not even these masks can filter it out. ” And he pulled down his mask and rubbed hard at his nose with a handkerchief. “Ach, Father, forgive me, but if Cardinal Renoit waves his censor in my direction next time, I’ll excommunicate the toifel!”
In any event, the woman was a gorgeous brunette whose silky hair covered her face yet could not obscure her beauty. Although I couldn’t tell for sure, I was guessing that this was none other than Ms. Teri Abbracciavento.
Interestingly enough, the woman bore a striking resemblance to the older man who sat beside her. The scholarly type, he looked like the classic, European university professor – bushy grey eyebrows, a bulbous Italian nose, brill creamed grey hair, and one of those tweed suits with patched elbows that made him a living cliche.
I noticed Benedict snickering to himself, and I wondered if he was amused at the same thing I was – (assuming this really was Teri A.)…
Did her father know what his daughter had been up to lately?
For his part, the pope scratched his cat Deter behind the ears and quipped, “Blessed is the man whose sin the lord does not count against him. So how is death treating you, Antonio?”
“Pah, Death is quite inconvenient,” The oldster replied. “Were you aware that I can’t get a IdentiChip? Apparently my fingerprints prove I’m dead. How am I supposed to buy anything?”
“Father, I told you that you’d have nothing to worry about.” The woman reached over to pat his hand. “Your death was necessary. We’ve already discussed this. You can still use your silver. Meanwhile, Benedict’s people will see to all your needs – just as they have always done. Correct?”
“Teri is correct.” Benedict agreed (Bingo! It is Teri A. I was right – again). “You have no need to worry, Antonio. Your mind is too valuable to have you waste it on such trifles. Silver and gold still work but if you really want an IdentiChip, we’ll get you one.”
“I should hope so.” Antonio Abbracciavento nodded. “Bitcoin still scares me, there’s nothing backing it. I’d much rather have the IdentiChip Mr. Bates guarantees with the E-Yuans that are in turn backed up by China’s massive gold reserves.”
The pope smiled knowingly to himself, “China’s gold reserves may not be as big as–”
“Father sometimes invents things to worry about.” Teri interrupted. “If his mind is not always at work, he gets frustrated, so he is always thinking of new conspiracies.”
“Figlia mine, I do no such—“ Antonio began.
“In any case,” Benedict glanced down at his watch. “I’ve read your briefing about Lazarus. What is his current status?”
(Hmmm. So Joe was involved with Alan’s recent troubles?)
Teri smiled slyly, “Ah yes, Alan was a nice assignment. Although I didn’t get to consumma-” yet here she glanced at her father. “Well, the important thing is that we have him secured.”
Staring off into space, a pondered, “I wonder, does he suspect anything about me?” And all the while Deter nudged against him, demanding more caresses.
“No, he believes you to still be as innocent as a baby goat.” Teri replied.
“Two millennia is a long time to live for anyone. I’m sure that Bruder Lazarus will thank us for helping him get to the afterlife.”
(Joe, if I thought you could really end our lives, I’d be the first one at your door. But, you can’t do it. So whatever you are planning, it won’t work).
“So long as I get his immortal seed first.” Teri reminded.
“Putta!” Antonio could stand it no more. “Enough of such talk before I smack you!”
“I am what I am.” Teri said defiantly to her father. “Of all people, YOU should know that much.”
“My friends.” Benedict played peace maker. “Let’s keep our eye on the prize. Antonio, the time is near. The End Game is brewing and the first check is about to occur. What is the latest from The Prophets?”
“I have read the transcripts and viewed their video streams numerous times. It’s clear that Elijah and Enoch continue to deteriorate and it’s a sad sight to see such great men destroyed — as if History is being reversed.”
“The Prisoners Of Chillon” By Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix
(Hmm, so this Antonio is in league with the mystery man who captured the prophets? Is Joe that man? If so, I didn’t see that twist coming!)
“I prefer to say corrected.” Benedict smiled.
“Eh?” Antonio was confused (and me as well). “Are you talking about an Orwellian history revision? But I thought the United Nations was already doing that?”
The pope laughed, “I didn’t say History was being revised, Antonio. I saw it was being corrected. There’s a difference. Elijah and Enoch were certainly extraordinary men; but, they’ve had their time. They were taken up body and soul to heaven and then preserved for this very mission. Unfortunately it’s no longer needed – thus the correction. As for the prophets, they knew what they were getting into – nothing in His Universe is free and even WE will have to earn our fare before this ride is over.”
“Well, I should hope my work has been enough to stamp my ticket into the kingdom.” The professor grumbled. “And my daughter’s as well.”
“We shall see. But, who knows what tomorrow may bring.” Benedict shrugged. “In any case, please continue. Has there been a new prophecy?”
“Hmm. Well, it seems…”
“Yes?” Benedict pressed, hungry for news.
The color drained from Antonio’s face, “The Seven Seals will soon… be broken.”
“And so it continues.” Benedict nodded, although he too shuddered at the teacher’s words. “There is no going back now.”
(Actually this news IS a big deal. Trust me or check out this video and see for yourself…)
(This was the first vision in quite some time that had my attention – I wonder what’s gonna happen next?)
The Last Temptation of John 
