REGISTRATION NO. 333-31131
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 811-07659

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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                   FORM N-4
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                   UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                        [X]
                        PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                        [_]
                      POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 78                      [X]
                                   AND/OR
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                   UNDER
                     THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940                    [X]
                             AMENDMENT NO. 435                             [X]
                       (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX OR BOXES)

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                            SEPARATE ACCOUNT NO. 49
                                      OF
                     AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                          (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT)

                               -----------------

                     AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                              (NAME OF DEPOSITOR)

             1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10104
             (ADDRESS OF DEPOSITOR'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

       DEPOSITOR'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 554-1234

                               -----------------

                                  SHANE DALY
                 VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL
                     AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
             1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10104
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                               -----------------

It is proposed that this filing will become effective immediately upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(d).

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                               EXPLANATORY NOTE:

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 ("PEA") to the Form N-4 Registration
Statement No. 333-31131 ("Registration Statement") of AXA Equitable Life
Insurance Company ("AXA Equitable") and its Separate Account No. 49 is being
filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), solely for the purpose of filing exhibits to the
Registration Statement. Accordingly, this PEA consists only of a facing page,
this explanatory note and Item 24(10)(a) of Part C of the Registration
Statement on Form N-4 setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement.
This PEA does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant
to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this PEA shall become effective
immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.



                                    PART C

                               OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24. The PEA does not amend or delete the currently effective
         Prospectus(es) or Statement(s) of Additional Information or
         supplements to the Prospectus(es), or any other part of the
         Registration Statement except as specifically noted herein. (Parts A,
         B and C of Post Effective Amendment Nos. 74 and 75 to the Form N-4
         Registration Statement (File No. 333-31131), filed with the Commission
         on April 19, 2017 and on December 21, 2017 respectively, are
         incorporated by reference.)

         (b)    Exhibits.

                The following exhibits correspond to those required by
                paragraph (b) of item 24 as to exhibits in Form N-4:

         10.    Other Opinions.

                (a)    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, filed herewith.



                                  SIGNATURES

       As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf, in the City and State of New York, on
this 11th day of April, 2018.

                              SEPARATE ACCOUNT NO. 49 OF
                              AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                        (Registrant)

                              By:  AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
                                                   (Depositor)

                              By:  /s/ Shane Daly
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Shane Daly
                                   Vice President and Associate General Counsel



                                  SIGNATURES

       As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the Depositor has caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf, by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City and State of
New York, on this 11th day of April, 2018.

                                         AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                                      (Depositor)

                                         By:  /s/ Shane Daly
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Shane Daly
                                              Vice President and Associate
                                              General Counsel

       As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the date indicated:

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:

*Mark Pearson                  Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
                               Director and President

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER:

*Anders B. Malmstrom           Senior Executive Director
                               and Chief Financial Officer

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER:

*Andrea M. Nitzan              Executive Director, Chief Accounting Officer
                               and Controller

*DIRECTORS:

Thomas Buberl                Bertram L. Scott
Barbara Fallon-Walsh         George Stansfield
Daniel G. Kaye               Richard C. Vaughan
Kristi A. Matus              Ramon de Oliveira
Mark Pearson

*By:  /s/ Shane Daly
      --------------------------
      Shane Daly
      Attorney-in-Fact
      April 11, 2018



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                                                           TAG VALUE
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10(a)             Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP               EX-99.10a