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In the book of Revelation, chapter 17, the apostle John describes a mysterious and fearsome creature—the scarlet-colored beast. Covered in blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns, this symbolic beast has puzzled readers for centuries. Yet, when we look carefully at its features and actions, its identity becomes clear: it represents the world’s collective system of human governments and rulership. Today, this includes powerful political organizations and alliances such as the United Nations (UN), which claim to unite humanity but continue to fail in bringing lasting peace.

The scarlet-colored beast is not a literal creature. It is a prophetic symbol—an image that reveals the imperfection and corruption of human rule. Throughout history, kings, presidents, and world leaders have risen and fallen, each promising progress and peace, yet each leaving behind suffering, inequality, and war. The modern global system, represented by the UN, was established with noble intentions: to prevent conflict and promote cooperation among nations. However, despite its promises, humanity still faces widespread violence, famine, moral decay, and environmental destruction.

Why has this beast failed? Because it does not rely on divine wisdom. Human rulership, in all its forms—whether democratic, socialist, or autocratic—has been guided by human ambition rather than by the principles found in God’s Word, the Bible. The prophet Jeremiah once wrote, “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) In other words, humans were never meant to govern themselves independently of their Creator. The scarlet-colored beast symbolizes this rebellion against divine rule—a system that looks powerful but is doomed to fail.

This beast also supports practices that harm humanity. It allows and even promotes the sale of cigarettes—products that have destroyed millions of lives through addiction and disease. It turns a blind eye to alcohol abuse, a crisis that tears apart families and communities around the world. Governments profit from these industries through taxation while claiming to protect the health and welfare of their citizens. This hypocrisy is another sign of the beast’s corrupt nature.

True peace and security cannot come from any human government, organization, or alliance. They can only come from the light found in the Bible—a guide that teaches love, justice, and respect for life. The message of Scripture points to a future when God’s Kingdom, not the scarlet-colored beast, will rule the earth with righteousness. Under that Kingdom, sickness, violence, and corruption will be no more. Until then, the beast may continue to roar, but its time is limited. The dawn of true peace is drawing near—one not born of politics, but of divine truth.

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