Father Mike Schmitz

you recognize that if you begin with these kings or these emperors, these rulers, that the first one being Caesar, that the one they're talking about here, the sixth one would be Nero or Domitian.

And there's an interesting kind of thing because here they are describing this.

And so in some ways we say, oh my gosh, what is this beast?

And what are these hails?

And what is this harlot?

And when's that going to happen?

Well, the author, St.

John, he's saying, no, he's not describing something that necessarily will happen.

He's describing something that has already happened.

And that's why he's speaking in this code.

He's saying, you just figured this out.

This is what we're talking about right now.

And the point is this, where it applies to us.

This persecution is going to be limited.

It is going to be devastating, but it is going to be limited.

That Jesus Christ continues to reign.

It goes on to say, even though all this power here at the end of chapter 17, it says in verse 16, it says,

And the 10 horns you saw, they and the beast will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh and burn up her fire.

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose.

Basically, it's all going to be over.