'Beginning of Sorrows'
Rev 17:10 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 seven former conquerors of Israel:
1. Egyptian
2. Assyrian
3. Babylonian
4. Persian
5. Grecian
6. Romans (during the writing of Rev)
7. Mohammedan in Palestine (Israel)
Israel is a nation since 1948
8. Eighth conqueror of Israel (after being a nation again) will be the beast, who is also in the seventh (Islam). He is the Antichrist, who will go into perdition.
Rev 17:11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going into perdition.
Dan 11:41 He (king of the North) shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown;
The king of the North (beast) will be the eighth conqueror of Israel (the glorious land)
Dan 11:36 "Then the king (king of the North) shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done."
The beast (king of the North) is the Antichrist, the man of sin and the son of perdition.
2 Thess 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
After the death of Alexander the Great, the Grecian Empire was divided into 4 kingdoms. The king of the North ruled the former Persian Empire comprising of Iran (Persia), Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. These countries are embroiled in civil conflicts and wars at present. The Shia are gaining control of the whole region and will eventually form the 'king of the North' or Persian Empire again.
2 Thess 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The ulterior motive of Satan is to obliterate our faith in the Lord and His words. He will muster all powers, signs and lying wonders to bring about the destruction of God's people.
He frequently tempts us with heresies and the love for things of the world. As a result, many carnal Christians and their spiritual leaders who do not love Him nor His truth have to enter eternal damnation for refusing to heed His commands.
1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Brethren, don't ever pray for your material blessings or prosperity. Instead, pray for your obedience and submission to His commands, His will and His words with joy. If God blesses you with prosperity, then you must give it back to His ministries such as charitable homes and missions. Not forgetting the poor, the needy, the destitute, strangers, widows, and orphans.