We cannot have the accomplishment of prophecy as long as the Church is the platform of God's activity in grace. But when it is taken up to heaven, then God's suspended dealings with Israel and the nations are resumed. The Church—Christ's body and bride—is an election out of both, and is not itself a subject of prophecy, but of New Testament revelation (Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 3).
Political and religious events, which are the growth and result of centuries, are transpiring before our eyes. But in the prophetic week of 7 years (Dan. 9:27), changes of the most startling character are witnessed. The whole political government of Europe is then rearranged under Satan's prime minister, the beast of the Revelation—a gigantic confederation of 10 powers.
The old Roman Empire will reappear under new conditions, guided and controlled by its active, blaspheming and persecuting head, the little horn of Dan. 7. His partner in crime and sharer in everlasting ruin is the Antichrist who guides religiously in Christendom, as the beast does politically.
The whore, or the mystical Babylon, is the concentration of everything religiously vile. Her political dethronement in the revived empire is effected instrumentally by the 10 kings (Rev. 17:12, 16), who at first upheld her. Her ruin is mourned over by kings, merchants, and peoples outside the Roman earth (ch. 18:9-19), and she is subsequently destroyed by God Himself (vv. 21-24) a short time before the destruction of the beast. This latter is effected by the Lord in Person, and at His coming in power (ch. 19). The destruction of Babylon and the beast are separate events. The former precedes the latter.
There can be no public development of these and other events of a like character so long as the Church is on the earth. Evil at present is a mystery, though actively at work, but it is restrained or kept in check by two powers. What restrains (2 Thess. 2:6) is the Church on earth, and He who restrains (v. 7) is the Holy Spirit. Hence there cannot be the public abandonment of the faith till the Church and the Spirit leave the earth. But the principles are at work which are surely and rapidly undermining the moral foundations of the professing Church and of society in general. W. Scott
I am the LORD: I wilt speak,
and the word that I shall speak
shall come to pass.
Ezekiel 12:25