Hi everyone,

I wanted to share something that I feel the Holy Spirit has just shown me, and frankly blew my mind!

 In Rev 17, John writes about the harlet and the beast that carries her.  I have not heard or read my interpretation before, so I am extremely curious to hear your thoughts.

But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. (Revelation 17:7-11 NKJV)

Here's what is EXTREMELY interesting to me - Greek definition of "perdition":

from 5259 and 71; to lead (oneself) under, i.e. withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight), literally or figuratively: 

=>  depart, get hence, go (a-)way. 

(From Strong's Greek)

Here's what I believe I was led to understand after re-studying this passage this afternoon:

-The woman is the Roman Catholic Church (I realize this isn't news to most of us)

-The 7 kings are 7 popes

- pope Francis is the 7th pope counting back to when the vatican regained control and became a country in 1929 (I do not count the pope who signed the declaration...he was just the pope, the following popes would be the kings)

-5 popes have fallen (since the declaration of the vatican becoming a country), 1 pope is (Benedict), and the other has not yet come (Francis)

-The beast that WAS and IS NOT, is himself ALSO THE EIGHTH - Benedict WAS a pope, and IS NOT a pope.   

- The beast is going to perdition (withdraw/retire/depart/sink out of sight) - Benedict did exactly that!

I believe the Holy Spirit has led me to understand that pope Benedict will be the beast of Revelation 17!  

Please pray about this; I would love to hear your thoughts.

Your brother in Christ,

Jason