The Perfect Storm is the title of a recent popular movie, based on a true story about a hapless crew on a fishing vessel that sailed into the combined force of two hurricane.... Not surprisingly, the ship capsized and all the crew perished. Perhaps if they had faced only one hurricane, they could have survived, but the power of two deadly hurricanes was simply too much for the crew to handle.

The movie stressed the unusual combination of factors that led to this tragedy. The fishing crew had plenty of experience and the ship had weathered many storms in the past. They felt their well-equipped craft could ride out just about anything nature threw their way. But, when they faced the combined fury of two hurricanes, all their efforts proved futile.

This is an apt analogy for what the Bible has prophesied will one day occur when a combination of forces is unleashed on the entire world. Just as the seasoned fishing crew assumed it could handle whatever came its way, many people assume that society can handle any crisis the future brings, through scientific achievement, economic growth, military prowess and political cunning.

Many political and religious leaders want their followers to believe they are amply equipped to solve any grave danger ahead. They reason: "We have been through two World Wars, disease epidemics, a great economic depression, numerous social upheavals, and have survived them all. Now that we have even more technological tools at our disposal, we can prevail over any crisis that comes our way."

Thus, society can be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking the world will never face "a perfect storm" of world event....

Biblical prophecy enters the scene

Yet, biblical prophecy clearly foretells "the perfect prophetic storm." It will be a time when two great world events will converge to overwhelm all of man's efforts to resolve them.

Jesus Christ prophesied a combination of these forces would eventually lead to what He called "great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). Paul also described this same period: "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).

These two main events will combine to bring about "the perfect prophetic storm." What are they? Is there a way to avoid suffering the brunt of their consequences?

Thankfully, God's Word not only describes these coming world systems in order to warn us of the dangers, but also shows us how to spiritually prepare for them.

As Paul explains: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.... For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:4-9).

What are the two "prophetic storms" that are destined to unite and unleash the end-time events from which mankind, as a whole, will not escape?

The first prophetic storm

In Revelation 13:1-3, Christ revealed to John the first "prophetic storm system."

"Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast" (emphasis added throughout).

The symbolism is explained in other parts of Revelation. A similar prophetic beast appears in Revelation 17, but now is ridden by a fallen woman. "And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns" (verse 3).

What does this beast represent? "Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads [of the beast] are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.... And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.... These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them" (Revelation 17:9-14, New American Standard Bible).

Here it explains each of the seven heads is a symbol of a king and his kingdom (Revelation 17:9-10). In other parts of the Bible, a mountain is also used as a symbol of a kingdom and its king (Isaiah 2:1-3; Daniel 2:35, 45). The last head, or the seventh kingdom, is destined to be of short duration.

As the final clash between the seventh head of the beast power nears, the Bible says, "Five [kings] have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come" (Revelation 17:10). Since the last head of this beast, along with 10 rulers, "will make war with the Lamb [Jesus Christ]," the previous six kings must have ruled in former ages (verse 14). As the end time approaches, the seventh head of the beast that has 10 horns is symbolic of the kingdom that will be headed by a mighty ruler with 10 kings that will "receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast" (verse 14).

This first "prophetic storm system" is prophesied to astound the whole world by its enormous power, which comes not so much from human might or cunning, as from "the dragon," another name for Satan (Revelation 12:9). As Revelation 13:2 explains, "The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority." As the Bible describes, God will allow this final rebellion of mankind to take place prior to sending His Son to reign on this earth: "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17).

The second prophetic storm system

The second "prophetic storm system" is a second beast system, described in Revelation 13, after speaking of the first beast.

"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived" (Revelation 13:11-14).

Just as with the first system, the devil is behind the power of this second beast, and gives its leader miraculous powers to deceive the world. Impressive miracles by the second beast will help persuade people to support and obey the first beast.

This second beast has horns like a lamb—that is, it seems to be meek like a lamb, but speaks "like a dragon" (Revelation 13:11), thus revealing the satanic origin of its power.

The two beasts are called "the beast" and "the false prophet," respectively. They are allies at the end time, with the first one governing and warring while the other manipulates the public through religion.

"And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast" (Revelation 19:19-20).

What type of a system does this false prophet head? Biblically, a false prophet refers to a religious figure deceitfully claiming to represent God (see Deuteronomy 13:1-5 for the difference between a true and a false prophet).

Moreover, the woman who rides the beast is the symbol of a false religious system located in a great city that governs much of the earth. "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth" (17:18). So, this false religious system has carefully orchestrated an alliance to rule with the kings of the earth.

In order to have this power and influence, it must be of enormous size and wealth, since this world's rulers permit her to rule with them. This is precisely what the Bible reveals: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" (Revelation 17:15). It is truly an international religious, political and economic system spanning many nations and language....

Protection for some, persecution for others

When these two leaders appear on the world scene, they will astonish the entire world, and time will be short. Soon after their appearance, the persecution against the Church of God will increase. The Bible reveals with its symbols that some of the faithful will be miraculously protected, while others will not.

Christ warned His disciples that some would be martyred (Matthew 24:9). So, although there is a promise of protection, some brethren are also destined to die as faithful witnesses of Christ.

There is clearly a promise of protection for some in the Church of God (Revelation 12:13-14). On the other hand, verse 17 shows us that Satan wars against "the woman, and her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ"—a clear reference to believers having to endure Satan's wrath.

Christ knows it will be very difficult to remain faithful during the end time, and so He encourages the Church to hold steady. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (Revelation 3:11).

Paul also indicates maintaining "the love of the truth" is very important in the last days and warns some will be lost in the coming prophetic storm, "because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Another prophecy advises us that when the prophetic storm finally arrives, it will be too late to prepare for it. "And he said to me, 'Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.... Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:10-14).

According to this scripture, the world will eventually be divided into two main groups—those who are obedient to God and keep His Commandments to the end, and those who will remain disobedient. Christ wanted His people to be spiritually prepared, watching world events, so the perfect prophetic storm will not take God's faithful people by surprise.

Jesus said, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

Let's heed God's counsel and be prepared to weather the coming "perfect prophetic storm." WNP