Welcome back to our eight-part series on the vision of the whore of Babylon. In our last post, we began our study of the three-part riddle. These riddles, at first, seem complicated, but when you break it down phrase by phrase, the interpretation comes to light. In this seventh post, we’re going to look at the “seven heads, seven kings, and the beast that is the eighth.” It sounds complicated, but it’s not. There’s a lot of details and information so make sure you’re not tired when you read this. Stay alert so you don’t miss anything! Let’s get into this!  

Chapter 17: The Whore of Babylon

Seventh in an Eight-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

Seven Heads, Seven Kings, and the Beast That Is the Eighth

Rev. 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Rev. 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Rev. 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

In verses 9–11, we learn about seven heads, seven kings, and a most unusual clue about the beast. Over and over in both the book of Daniel and in Revelation, we have heard about the seven heads. Now all of a sudden, we are told there is an “eighth head!” And it is the beast himself that becomes the eighth head.

The Woman Described as Sitting

To help identify the seven heads on the beast, the angel gave John yet another riddle similar to the beast riddle: “Here is the mind which hath wisdom.The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” First of all, this is the third time we are told about the women sitting. In verse one, the angel told John he was going to show him the whore of Babylon, and he identified her as sitting on many waters. Then in verse three, the angel took John into the wilderness where he was shown the harlot, and this time, John described her as sitting upon the scarlet colored beast with its seven heads and ten horns. Lastly, here in verse nine, the woman is described again as sitting: “The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” Now the woman is sitting on seven mountains! The phrases “many waters,” the “beast with its seven heads and ten horns,” and the “seven mountains” all symbolize the same thing—nations/kings, peoples, and languages. As was already determined earlier about the harlot, these are the nations with whom the woman had committed fornication. Her sitting on them symbolizes she had a relationship with them. The nations being talked about are the nations Jerusalem had relationships with throughout her entire history as a nation.

The Seven Mountains Are Not Literal

Let’s talk about the symbolism of the seven heads on the beast. The angel said the seven heads are seven mountains. These mountains are not literal mountains that one would climb like Mount Everest. However, for a very long time, some eschatologists interpreted these seven mountains as literal. This interpretation originated from the time of the Reformation, which dates back to 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 97 theses to the church door.⁹ The Reformation was a time of great schism in the Roman Catholic Church when many people wanted to break away from it. Great violence was perpetrated against the reformers by the corrupt leaders in the church at Rome. Many reformers and those that followed them were arrested and put to death. The time of the Reformation was a violent and bloody time. For that reason, eschatologists of that time interpreted the whore of Babylon to be Rome. To them, the seven mountains confirmed that Rome was the whore of Babylon because the topography of Rome shows it is surrounded by seven mountains. When you read about the Reformation, it’s easy to understand why they would view Rome to be the whore of Babylon. However, this could not possibly be the interpretation because in no way does Rome configure in with end time events. As stated before, Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks is about the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. It’s not about Rome or the Catholic Church. Consequently, this is an erroneous interpretation. I mention this because when an interpretation has been embraced for 100s of years, it’s sometimes difficult for people to let it go. I’m hoping that by revealing its origin, it will be dispelled as truth.

The Mountains Symbolize Empires

So what do the mountains symbolize? If you recall, in Revelation chapter 12, we went over the verses that reveal mountains symbolize empires. Let’s go over it again to refresh our memories. The book of Jeremiah is where we see the word mountain used to symbolize an empire, not simply a nation. What is the difference between a nation and an empire? A nation becomes an empire when its king invades and conquers other nations. The conquered nations then become vassals of the conquering nation. Vassal nations usually paid a yearly tribute to the conquering nation. The king that conquers other nations is called a “king of kings.” King Nebuchadnezzar ruled over the Babylonian Empire, and he was called a king of kings (Eze. 26:7).

The Riddle of the Seven Kings

Let’s continue to the next verse which talks about the kings. This verse confirms we’re talking about empires and not literal mountains. Verse 10 says, “And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” There are seven kings. Every empire has a king that rules over it. A king doesn’t rule over literal mountains; they rule over nations. Literal mountains have no use for kings. Therefore, this is another confirmation the mountains are symbolic and not literal.

About the kings, the angel said, “five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come.” This riddle is talking about seven literal men, not beings from the unseen realm. Again, the key to interpreting this phrase is remembering that this was written during John’s time. So when it says “five are fallen,” it’s talking about five kings that ruled before John’s time, before the Roman Empire. They are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo/Persia, and Greece. And, yes, they were all empires, and their kings were all a king of kings. The kings of these past empires are fallen, meaning these empires were no longer empires and all these kings have long been dead.

The next phrase, “one is,” refers to the king that ruled the Roman Empire during John’s time. The Roman Empire is symbolized as the sixth head on the beast. Rome is the sixth empire that ruled over and oppressed Israel.

The last phrase, “the other is not yet come,” refers to the future end time Antichrist, the man Daniel referred to as the little horn. He is symbolized as the seventh head, and he will be the last king to rule over and oppress Israel. The last part of verse 10 says about the future end time Antichrist that “when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” The seventh king, Antichrist, will only rule for a very short time. That’s why the prophet Daniel always referred to the end time Antichrist as the “little horn.” The word little doesn’t refer to his stature; it refers to the length of time he will rule. It’s important to note that all these seven kings are men, not beings from the unseen realm like the beast from the bottomless pit.

An Additional Clue to the Beast Riddle

Now we come to verse 11 where we are told another clue about the beast: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” This verse is again talking about the beast that will go into perdition, the same beast in verse eight: “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition….” The beast is the fallen angel called Apollyon that comes out of the bottomless pit, a ruling principality in the unseen realm. The last time we read about him in Revelation, he is being thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20) which fulfills the phrase, “and go into perdition.” He is again described as “was and is not.” That means he was in power before John’s time, but he was not in power during John’s time. The new clue is that he is “the eighth and is of the seven.” The phrase that he “is of the seven” means that he was in power during the time of one of these empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo/Persia, and Greece. Rome is excluded because John already told us that he was not in power during his time. The beast, Apollyon, was in power during the time of one of the empires before the Roman Empire. That empire was, in fact, the Grecian Empire. That will be proven scripturally later on.

The Ten Horns

Rev. 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now we come to the ten horns, which we already know symbolize ten kings. The angel said to John, “The ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” Once again, in order to rightly divide this passage, we must remember this was written during John’s time. So when it says these kings had “no kingdom as yet,” it’s because they were not even alive during John’s time. They would be kings in the future end times.

One Hour Symbolizes a Period of Seven Years

Let’s look at the last portion of verse 12: “but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” There are two important elements in this phrase: “one hour” and “as kings.” Let’s first talk about the “one hour” element. The kings will receive power as kings for one hour with the beast. Obviously, this hour is not a literal hour. This one hour symbolizes the full length of Daniel’s 70th week, a period of seven years. If you recall, this symbolism of “one hour” stems from the opening of the seventh seal. About the seventh seal, Revelation 8:1 says, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” When the seventh seal was opened, all of heaven was silent for the space of one-half hour. Heaven wasn’t silent because no one was speaking. Heaven was silent due to inactivity. Heaven’s silence was a reflection of what was happening on earth. The little horn and the ten kings will have entered into a covenant of peace which will result in peace among these nations. Peace on earth brought about silence in heaven. No warfare on earth means heaven’s war machine was shut down. The book of Daniel tells us the peace will only last for three- and one-half years. It will end when the little horn breaks the covenant and invades Jerusalem.

Peace among these 10 nations will last for only three- and one-half years. That time of peace was symbolized in heaven as one-half hour. So one-half hour in heaven is the equivalent of three- and one-half years on earth. If the first half of the 70th week is one-half hour, then the last half of the 70th week must also be one-half hour. Two half hours combined make one full hour. So the phrase “receive power as kings one hour with the beast” can be interpreted to mean “receive power as kings for seven years with the beast.” The kings will receive power with Antichrist when they enter into a covenant together, a covenant of seven years.

The Kings Rule as Kings With Antichrist

Now let’s talk about the words “as kings” in the phrase, “but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” They receive power “as kings” with the beast. That tells us something about the Antichrist kingdom. In their association with Antichrist, these ten kings never lose their status as kings. Antichrist may be their leader, but these ten kings are still kings with kingdoms. This is the kingdom portrayed on Nebuchadnezzar’s metal man as feet made up of both iron and clay. It is a kingdom described as both partly strong and partly broken (Daniel 2:41–42).

As already discussed, this kingdom is something more akin to an alliance. Perhaps the strength of their alliance is due to the fact that they are like minded and united in their goals, and their brokenness is due to the fact that the ten nations are still sovereign. Antichrist will be the leader of their alliance and most likely its progenitor. But these kings and their kingdoms are still autonomous. Antichrist does not rule their nations. He’s just the leader of their union. That would explain this kingdom’s description as both strong and broken. And it would explain the phrase “receive power as kings with the beast.”

When the Beast Becomes the Eighth Head

Now we come to the verse 13. It’s the verse that explains why there were no crowns on the horns in the description of the beast: “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” This is extraordinary. After being in an alliance with the beast for seven years as kings, for some reason, they all decide to give their power and strength to the beast at the end of the seven years! That surrender of power is symbolized by the absence of crowns on the horns. At this point, the ten-toed kingdom coalition has come to an end. The ten horns are no longer kings, because they have given their power, or authority, to the beast. Their relationship with the beast changes. It is at that time the beast becomes “the eighth” head that we read about in verse 11: “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”

The beast will not enjoy the title of the “eighth head” for very long, because as soon as the kings yield their power to him, he leads them into a war that will result in not only their defeat but their deaths as well. Verse 14 describes that war: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” The beast leads them into a war with the Lamb, who is Messiah. He leads them into the most famous battle in all the Bible—Armageddon!

If you remember, Revelation chapter 16 told us about preparations that will be made for the battle of Armageddon: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. … And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Rev. 16:12–16).

The first preparation we are told about is the drying up of the Euphrates River. This will make it possible for the kings who are located east of the Euphrates to march their armies to the designated place called Armageddon. The other preparation that takes place is the mission of the three frog-like unclean spirits that will come out of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The mission of these unclean spirits is to draw the kings to the battle of the “great day of God Almighty.” Verse 16 says they will be gathered to the place called Armageddon (city of Megiddo). This is the place where the beast and his great army loses the battle with the Messiah and His army.

The Ten Horns Hate the Whore and Burn Her With Fire

Now let’s look at verse 15; it’s the verse where the angel gave John the interpretation of the term “many waters”: “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” As noted before, this is to say Jerusalem had relationships with many nations that displeased the Lord.

In the last three verses of chapter 17, the angel tells John about the hatred the horns will have for Jerusalem and how they destroy her. The angel said, “the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (vv. 16–18). Of course, by now, you know the ten horns are ten Middle Eastern kings who hate Jerusalem. They want to destroy her. They’re going to make her desolate, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. This is language that denotes a complete destruction of Jerusalem. 

It’s the Lord that inspires these ten kings to give their kingdoms to the beast: “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast.” It’s part of His plan. The Lord will use these ten kings to judge the faithless city that played the harlot with the Gentile nations and ruthlessly killed her own prophets. But before any destruction befalls the city, the Lord will call His people out of Jerusalem so they are not harmed: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4). The next event that takes place after Jerusalem’s destruction is Armageddon.

In our next and last post in this series, we’re going to look at the events that will lead to the ten kings yielding their power to the beast, making him the eighth head!

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