Some of the most difficult problems in eschatology involve decoding the symbolism of Revelation 17, specifically Mystery Babylon and the Scarlet-Colored Beast she rides. Expositors have proposed insular theories about parts of the prophecy, but these are often propounded in mutually exclusive terms, conflicting with other theories. Because they are incompatible with one another, the broader eschatology is rendered incoherent. Does the Bible even provide clues to a comprehensive eschatology? Can we know anything specific and lift ourselves from the morass of vague over-generalization? If so and the eschatology is centered around specific truths, what vision coalesces?

The Scarlet Beast has identical features with the Revelation 13 Beast from the Sea, which is identified by Daniel as the Roman Empire. The Eighth King of verse 11 is widely identified in dispensational Christianity as a personal Antichrist, specifically the Antichrist resurrected. He is actually called the “Beast” there. How should we understand the relationship between the Roman Empire and the Antichrist?