In an effort to cope with these new global challenges, the nations confer increasing authority on the United Nations.

Accurately foreseeing this development, Bible prophecy reveals this international organization to be “an eighth king” that springs from the seven preceding “kings” or world powers that successively dominated Bible history. (Rev. 17:10, 11, Berkeley Version; NW) The Bible often uses animals or their “horns” to represent governments. (Dan. 7:17, 23, 24; 8:20-22) Thus this composite political power is here represented by a “beast,” this one having “seven heads,” to represent the seven previous world-dominating “kings” from which it has sprung.

Thus the stage is set. Those who believe that human diplomatic and technological efforts will solve the multiplying crises of the world are due for a rude awakening. “They willfully ignore the fact that long ago,” warns the Bible, “the then existing world was destroyed” in Noah’s day by forces at God’s command. Today’s crises provide abundant proof that “the heavens and earth are by the same word stored up for . . . the destruction of godless people.”​—2 Pet. 3:3-7, Berkeley.

If the escalating differences so obvious in today’s crises do not convince such persons, then they will soon be shaken awake to what is happening. Their short-lived cry of “Peace and security!” will be suddenly interrupted by a “great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” (1 Thess. 5:2, 3; Matt. 24:21) That is certainly not the time for us to face up to the fact that today’s crises are different.