France is Burning: What Does It Mean?

The book of Revelation is filled with colorful imagery relating to prophetic events that will occur before the return of Christ. One of these is found in chapter 17, where we read about a woman riding a scarlet-colored beast with seven heads and ten horns. This woman and the beast are symbolic of the false religion and political power that will rule over the earth at the end time. This unholy alliance will oppose Christ at His return and will be responsible for the death of many of His faithful followers.

That’s very startling news, to say the least. Yet God shares through His word that it will happen.  

If you are a faithful follower of Christ, it can be tempting to try and run and hide to avoid this frightening future. Yet, that’s not what our Savior commands us to do. Instead, He tells us to watch. In Matthew 24, where Christ also speaks about frightening events just before His return, He commands: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (verse 42).

Knowing that the command for us is to watch during the end times, there’s an additional detail found there in Revelation 17: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (verses 12-14).

These ten kings are understood to refer to ten nations or regions that will unite under a mega power referred to as the beast. What’s intriguing is that we’re told “they will give their power and authority to the beast.” Not that the beast would take it by conquering them, but that they would willingly give their power over to another ruler.

This isn’t the mindset of most world leaders either today or throughout history. Most are reluctant to share power, let alone give it away. Yet the Bible says that ten will willingly give their authority. Why?

The answer will likely have to do with the fact that they cannot offer a solution to their respective nation’s problems. Faced with economic hard times, a lack of opportunities to work, expensive or scarce food and shelter, future world leaders will jump at the chance to save themselves and their countries if a mega power can offer them a way out.

While this might sound far-fetched, it is precisely what Scripture foretells. Revelation 13:1-4 tells us: “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. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’”

It won’t just be ten future kings looking to this beast power for stability. It will be the whole world. This stands in stark contrast to the faithful saints of Jesus Christ who will be martyred for their refusal to do so.  

The problem of course is that those who align with this seemingly unconquerable power are putting their trust in the wrong place. The dragon that receives the worship of the whole world is Satan the devil. And while the faithful followers of Christ will face persecution and even death, they will ultimately obtain victory with Christ as noted earlier in Revelation 17:14 (compare also Revelation 19:2, 7, 19-20).

With that understanding, consider the riots in France at the moment. What are they about? The high cost of living, unemployment and a growing dissatisfaction among the people with their leadership. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in protest. Thousands have been arrested. Yet, up to this point, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders have yet to offer a satisfactory solution.

While a full-scale handoff of power—as Scripture foretells—might not be in the immediate future, it’s worth noting how events like these unfold. In Limoges, France, the 143-year-old town hall was burned, causing its clock tower to collapse. It’s clear that those rioting are becoming indifferent to traditions and institutions of the past, opening the door to solutions from elsewhere.

How these riots will end and the resulting long-term fallout remain to be seen. But understanding that Scripture foretells of ten future leaders willingly giving their power to a satanically-led authority, we should watch intently as more cities in Europe burn with unrest.

As human leaders struggle with no clear solution in sight, the meaning behind the fantastic imagery in the book of Revelation comes into sharper focus. Those who do not put their trust in the leadership of Jesus Christ will ultimately and find themselves worshipping the beast power and Satan the devil.