The Chief Personages in the Last Days

From: Things Which Must Shortly Come to Pass By: Algernon James Pollock

• 2 min. read • grade level: 9

1. “A beast rise up out of the sea” (Rev. 13:1¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)) refers to the Roman Empire; the head wounded to death being healed, its revival. The Empire and its ruler are often referred to in the same terms. The beast, then, is the political and military head of the revived Roman Empire—the last and greatest of its Emperors. His doom is narrated in Daniel 7:11¹¹I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. (Daniel 7:11) and Revelation 19:20²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20).

2. The “beast coming up out of the earth” (Rev. 13:11¹¹And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)) is called “the false prophet,” proving his religious character; he is called “that man of sin,” “the son of perdition,” “that Wicked” (2 Thess. 2:3³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and 8); “antichrist” (1 John 2:18¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1 John 2:18)); and his doom is foretold in Revelation 19:20²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20). In the Old Testament he is described as “THE King” (Dan. 11:36-40³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. ³⁷Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. ³⁸But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. ³⁹Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. ⁴⁰And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:36‑40)).

3. “The King of the North” in the Old Testament is the Assyrian. He will be revived in future days and may prove to be the Turk driven into Asia, for the Turks are an Asiatic race, and probably come from the very region of the ancient Assyrians. His doom is given in Daniel 11:40-45⁴⁰And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. ⁴⁴But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40‑45).

4. “The King of the South” is Egypt, and his chief antagonism is with the King of the North. Daniel 11, verse 40, gives us plainly the three kings: kings: “And at the time of the end shall the King of the South push at him [the King of verses 36-39, the Antichrist]: and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind.”

5. “Gog and Magog” stand for the Russian ruler and his people. “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rosh (Russia), Meshech (Moscow), and Tubal (Tobolsk)” (Ezek. 38:2²Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (Ezekiel 38:2), JND).

For Russia, who has been a bitter persecutor of the Jews, a great role in the future is assured.

We append a separate note on the subject: page 261.

6. “A great red dragon” (Rev. 12:3³And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3)). He is called in verse 9, “that old serpent,” “the Devil,” “Satan.” Here we get THE supernatural agent behind the scenes, energizing the forces of evil already described.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.