Once was, now is not

Revelation 17:7-18

The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.

But every age has its 'Babylon', the personification of all the greed and luxury and selfish pleasure-seeking which entice people away from God; the things that promise so much and give so little. And Babylon, the epitome of all that cheats, is doomed!

Why?

All the world will ruin and be destroyed. Even the world of the beast and the great city, Babylon, will be destroyed. The water means the most people, they don't know the truth, they follow the beast and the prostitute. Their name did not write on the book of life, will be discarded from heaven.

What our hope is our name could be written on the book of life.

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獸與大淫婦的異象

獸早已存在，只是在將來的世代才出現。第八個王是以前有現在沒有。之前的五個朝代，埃及、亞述、巴比倫、波斯、希臘，現在的羅馬，還沒有來的是第七王，第八是敵基督。十角是未來出現的十國，也許是歐盟十國授權給當時統治者- 敵基督，與羔羊爭戰。最後是羔羊得勝。

淫婦坐在眾水上，惡人之間會彼此相戰，當有共同目標時會合作，沒有則彼此爭戰，所以要消滅淫婦。淫婦管轄地上一切的大城，淫婦是被獸所利用來統治世界，某個抵擋基督的團體。神使用他們的惡，一起來抵擋淫婦，鳥盡弓藏。淫婦靠敵基督發跡，最後還是被敵基督消滅。惡者只是互相利用。只有倚靠神才能得榮耀！

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How?

All of this world one was, now is not when Jesus comes again.

How?