In the classic story of Beauty and the Beast, “Beauty” was genuinely beautiful inside and out, while the Beast looked like a monster but was beautiful within. Revelation chapter 17 describes two mysterious creatures who rise to world power, but both are monsters. Most people looking at Revelation with all its beasts and creatures back away, saying, “I can’t make heads or tails of this.” But these two important creatures aren’t all that mysterious when we understand who they are. I call them “Beauty and the Beast.” 


As we get closer to the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the age, Christians can’t afford to be ignorant of prophecy. Shadows are lengthening, and we stand on the threshold of the Rapture of the Church. A beast—the Antichrist—will be ready to take over.


In Revelation 17, the Rapture has already happened, and the Church is in Heaven.  But on Earth, it’s the time known as the “Tribulation.” 


Who is the “Beauty”?


“Beauty” represents an apostate, false, worldwide religion. John describes her in Revelation 17:1-5.


She is the false church. The Antichrist is going to have an antichurch. You see, Satan is not against religion. Satan wants a worldwide religion, as long as it’s not true faith in Jesus Christ.


During the Tribulation, the world will unify under the Antichrist (the Beast). His partner to achieve that unity will be “Beauty”—false religion. Together with Babylon, they’ll achieve worldwide domination. 


What is “Babylon”?


Babylon, like Beauty, also stands for false religion. Just as there’s coming a one-world government, there’s coming a one-world religion. The Beast will use both Babylon and “Beauty” to gain control through them. 


Babylon will be a ruling power oppressing believers and literally going to war with God.


When the Bible links the woman (false religion) with Babylon, the mystery is unlocked. She’s “the mother of harlots”, false religions like Satan worship, Mother Earth worship, pantheism, globalism, Hinduism, Islam, apostate Christianity, and “New Age” religions. 


Who is “the Beast”?


“Beauty” has a consort, a “special friend.” This is the Antichrist and his kingdom. Revelation 17:3 says, “And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”


Together, the Beast—with the Woman and Babylon representing false religion—form the ultimate diabolical alliance of church and state to deceive earth’s population into total submission (v. 8).


Antichrist will concentrate his power in Rome, the city built on seven hills (v. 9), ruling over a one-world government. The world will yield to the Beast.

 

What happens to the woman, to apostate religion? The beast she rode to power on will turn and destroy her (v. 16). Antichrist doesn’t want any competition, not even religion. 


Since Antichrist is on a collision course with God, war is inevitable (v.14). The devil in his insanity will still think he can overthrow the Lamb of God. But at the Battle of Armageddon, it will be “The Triumph of the Lamb.”


Why do we need to know the story of “Beauty and the Beast”? 


So we can pray as never before. So we can win souls and get our loved ones saved, preparing them for what’s coming. So we can comfort one another as events occur. So we can see things fitting into their places in history. 


We cannot afford to be ignorant. Though we’re not yet in the Tribulation, coming events cast their shadows. Current events confirm Bible prophecy. Get a bulldog grip on the truth. If you’re not saved, give your heart to Jesus Christ. Not later today, but right now.


He’s King of kings and Lord of lords. You don’t belong to one-world government or the harlot church. 


You may think things are coming apart, but let me assure you, everything is falling into place.


Read more about The Beauty, the Beast, and Babylon.