The Seven Empires

[The following excerpt was taken from Who's ? Right: Mankind, Religions & The End Times by Kelly Warman-Stallings]

While there are many people of various faiths and creeds who believe in an “End Times” scenario and base their opinions upon individual views, the theory of the “Seven Empires” are also based upon personal interpretation and open for debate.

John of Patmos informed mankind, through his visions, that humanity would be granted seven empires during their reign on the earth. “And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” (Revelation 17:10)

Six major empires have come and gone and, according to some intellectuals of religion, the seventh empire is currently rising. During the ancient era of St. John the Divine [John of Patmos] the five empires that had already fallen were:

1) Egyptian Empire – according to some scholars, the history of the empire extends back to 3500 B.C., long before Noah and the Great Flood. The Pharaoh ruled the dynasty until the Egyptians were conquered by Cambyses I, King of Persia, in 520. While Rameses II was probably one of the most well-known rulers (noted for his horrid oppression of the Hebrew nation), it was his successor, Merneptah, who was pharaoh during the exodus of the Hebrews [led by Moses]. The Egyptian Empire ruled the then-known world for over 3,000 years.

2) Assyrian Empire – was established around 1320 B.C. by Tiglath Pileser I, who expanded the dominion over western Asia. This empire was at its greatest during the reign of Esar-Haddon in 681, who further extended the kingdom to include Egypt and large parts of northern Africa. The Assyrian Empire is credited with dividing the year into twelve months and dividing the week into seven days. In 606, the fall of Nineveh (taken by the Medes and Babylonians) became the downfall of the empire. Sarakos was the last emperor of this dynasty. This ancient empire ruled for 714 years.

3) Babylonian Empire – some scholars claim this ancient empire came about before 2500 B.C., yet no documentation survives to authenticate the actual rise of this kingdom. One of the earlier leaders was purported to be Nimrod (from the lineage of Ham, Noah's son). The empire’s greatest prosperity included Assyria, Mesopotamia and a big portion of western Asia. The most well-known king of the Babylonian Empire was Nebuchadnezzar (604-561), who challenged the prophet Daniel to interpret his strange dreams. The empire flourished for at least 2,000 years and the world capital was Babylon the Great for 1,700 years. The kingdom was conquered by Cyrus II, King of Persia, in 538.

4) Persian Empire – also referred to as the Medo-Persian Empire, was officially established by King Cyrus II in 538 B.C., but was considered a nation as early as 708. In 558, King Cyrus rebelled against the Medes and his successive wars may have destroyed the kingdom’s former glory, but it made Persia a mighty empire. The boundaries of this ancient dynasty included Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt, Macedonia, Cyprus and Tyre. Darius III, who began his reign in 336, was the last king of Persia. Alexander the Great overthrew the empire in 330 (which resulted from the slaying of King Darius III) and made it a part of the Grecian Empire. The Persian Empire last 208 years.

5) Grecian Empire – dates back to 3rd century B.C. when Alexander the Great conquered the Persians and made his kingdom larger by annexing parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. While this empire attained its height of prosperity under Alexander, his reign was a short one (330-323). After the death of Alexander the Great the vast empire was divided among his generals. Ptolemy I, most famous of his commanders, founded a dynasty in Egypt. In 279, the Gauls invaded and threatened the kingdom’s stance when states rose in the West. It wasn’t until 146 [and the capture of Corinth] when the Grecian Empire fell and became part of a Roman province. The empire endured for 184 years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The established empire that was reigning during St. John’s ancient era of the 1st century A.D. was:

6) Roman Empire – officially declared an empire in 31 B.C., it was a vast dominion as early as 753 B.C. The grand kingdom extended from the Euphrates River to the east to the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and from the deserts of Africa to the south to the Danube and Rhine Rivers to the north. Romulus (founder of Rome) was the first of its many emperors and the dominion remained a kingdom until 509. From 509-31 this land was considered a republic. Ancient Rome was completely destroyed by the Gauls in 390, but soon after rebuilt the grand city. Rome reached the height of its glory and became an empire under the reign of Augustus Caesar (30 B.C.-14 A.D.) The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. occurred when the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, yielded to the Byzantium nation and brought about the great kingdom’s collapse. Rome remained the capital under Byzantium rule until 800 A.D. when it reverted to Italy. While the Roman Empire lasted 507 years, the dominion of Rome ruled for 1,229 years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

These six mighty empires have long since come and gone. The last empire to rule upon Earth is commonly referred to as:

7) Revived Roman Empire – will rise out of ten nations and become a great one-world power. Many scholars and philosophers believe this final empire has been making a gradual entry into our modern day world since the mid 20th century. 

Some view the United Nations (UN), which was formally organized in 1945 to maintain peace and security, as being the forerunner for the Revived Roman Empire. Others believe the European Union (EU), which came about through the “Treaty of Rome” in 1957, will rise to that great one-world power.

In the Christian Bible, the book of Daniel (7:7-8) reveals that the last empire will be exceedingly strong, as well as diverse, and consist of ten kingdoms (referred to as “horns”). Both the UN and EU are strong international organizations with much ethnic diversity among its members. While the EU consists of more than 27 countries, the ten nations of the Western European Alliance have a completely separate status as “permanent members.” The other nations who joined after the permanent (or original) members have only an associate membership or observer status. Likewise, the UN is made up of ten bio-regions that have been established around the world. Daniel’s prophecy of the Revived Roman Empire states that the Anti-Christ will rise to great power from out of the ten “kingdoms”.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”– Revelation 17:12-13 (KJV)

The last and final kingdom to reign on Earth will ultimately fall and evil will be obliterated. Then, according to Christian, Islamic and Jewish religions, a judgment day for all mankind will be conducted by the great Creator, followed by the Messianic Era. 

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy works thou shalt be condemned.” - Matthew 12:35-37 (New Testament)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.” - Surat 3:185 (Qur'an)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“The Davar that Yeshayah ben Amotz saw concerning Yehudah and Yerushalayim. And it shall come to pass in the acharit hayamim, that the Har Beis Hashem shall be established as the rosh of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all the Goyim shall flow unto it. And amim rabbim (many peoples) shall come and say, Come ye, and let us go up to Har Hashem, to the Beis Elohei Ya’akov; and He will teach us of His Derakhim, and we will walk in His Orakhot; for out of Tziyon shall go forth the torah, and the Devar Hashem from Yerushalayim. And He shall judge among the Goyim, and shall arbitrate for amim rabbim; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Goy shall not lift up cherev against Goy, neither shall they train for milchamah any more. O Bais Ya’akov, come ye, and let us walk in the Ohr Hashem.” - Nevi'im: Isaiah 2:1-5 (Tanakh)

The prophets and oracles of antiquity forewarned of the “End Times” so long ago. Today, the scholars, theologians and philosophers (who believe mankind is currently living during the time of the end) continue to implore us [mankind] to take into consideration the Holy Books of the world encourages humanity to not only be aware of the signs of the times, but to diligently watch for them. In doing so, mankind adheres to the warnings and thus prepares for a great holocaust that will one day affect the entire race of humanity.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” - Luke 21:28 (KJV)