The 8th king is the same as the MOL and when the restraint holding back the MOL comes off at God's time for it, then the MOL/8th king will come to power to rule the NWO and under that rule there will be those proving to be God's true people by refusing the 8th king and there will be those that prove they do not belong to God by their supporting the 8th king.
[ 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his coming.]
Jesus will do away/kill the MOL when he (Jesus) comes. This means that the MOL is on hand, acting in his foretold role, at the time prior to Jesus coming.
It is clearly stated the before Jesus can come that the MOL has to come first.
In regard to the MOL coming and the foretold purpose, it says:
[4 He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god. 9 But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. 11 That is why God lets a deceptive influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.]
Notice that connected to the MOL is a judgment from God. This means that those that believe all the powerful works, lying signs, etc. are misled to believe and support the MOL's claim. These people will perish/not be saved.
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[6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 7 He was saying in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment by him has arrived, so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of water.” 9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name. 12 Here is where it calls for endurance on the part of the holy ones, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.”] [19 And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who worship its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur. 21 But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.]
There it shows that the beast is thrown into the fiery lake/done away with when Jesus comes. That means that that beast had to be on hand doing his foretold role prior to Jesus coming.
Also connected to that beast is a judgment from God and all those that believed the signs etc., so were misled to support/take the MOTB, these will also be killed/perish/not be saved when Jesus comes.
How likely is it that there are two separate entities on hand at the time Jesus comes, that he is said to do away with both at that time of his coming, that are both a cause for judgment by God, that results in the judgment of death for those that believe/mislead to support either entity?
Surely it is not reasonable that they are two separate entities, but instead they are one in the same.
Next, I will show how the KOTN is the same...