He Was, He Is Not, and He Is Ready to Rise from the Abyss”

“He Was, He Is Not, and He Is Ready to Rise from the Abyss”

Who is this figure described as “He was, he is not, and he is ready to rise from the abyss”?

Shalom! May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be continually blessed. Every new day is an opportunity to move closer to God’s ultimate plan for humanity. The major signs of the end times, as outlined in Scripture, have already been fulfilled. This means that at any moment, we could witness the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV). Those who remain will also witness the works of the Antichrist and the judgments of God described in Revelation 16, including wars, famine, and plagues.

We must remain vigilant, alert, and discerning, understanding the schemes of Satan (Ephesians 6:11-12, ESV). Many mistakenly imagine the Antichrist as a sudden, extraordinary figure appearing only during the Great Tribulation. In truth, this is a spirit that has been active for centuries, gradually spreading destruction through empires and systems of power. This same spirit will bring the final Tribulation, employing the same strategies it has always used.

As Scripture reminds us:

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Even the works of the Antichrist are not new—they began long ago. He acted in the past and will act again in the future, using the same worldly powers to bring destruction. This contrasts with the Second Coming of Christ, who will come in glory from heaven (Matthew 24:30, ESV).

The Woman and the Scarlet Beast

In Revelation 17, John sees the harlot woman sitting on a scarlet beast:

Revelation 17:1-6 (NIV)
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
2 With her, the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
5 On her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The angel explains:

Revelation 17:7-14 (ESV)
7 “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
8 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—will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
10 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 a little while.
11 The beast that was and is not is the eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.
12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.”

Theological Insights

1. Drunk with Blood:
   The woman represents a system of spiritual and political power that has persecuted God’s people throughout history. She is described as “drunk with the blood of the saints” (Rev. 17:6) because she acts in alliance with the beast, which empowers her to carry out these atrocities.

2. The Beast:
   The beast is described as “was, is not, and is about to rise from the abyss” (Rev. 17:8). Historically, this refers to the Roman Empire, which persecuted early Christians and destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70 (Matthew 24:2, NIV). Over centuries, this system has continued to oppress true believers. The same spirit will rise again in the end times as the Antichrist.

3. The Ten Horns:
   The ten horns represent ten kingdoms or nations that will empower the Antichrist for a short period (Rev. 17:12-13). This is consistent with Daniel’s prophecy regarding end-time kingdoms and their alliance with the beast (Daniel 7:23-24, ESV).

4. End-Time Deception:
   Satan’s schemes accelerate as time shortens (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, NIV). False prophets, political deception, and spiritual seduction are widespread. Understanding these spiritual realities is crucial for remaining faithful.

5. Call to Salvation:
   The remedy is clear: repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, ESV). Only through Christ can believers be protected from the deception and persecution of the end times.

Conclusion: Urgency of the Times

“He was, he is not, and He is ready to rise from the abyss.”

This describes a spirit that has already acted historically, is present now (though dormant), and will rise again in the end times. Those who remain unrepentant are at risk of falling into the Antichrist’s deception. Every believer must remain vigilant, be grounded in Scripture, and be ready for the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, ESV).

May the Lord bless you and empower you to share this truth with others.

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