Revelation 17:6b-8 – When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the Beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The Beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the Beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
“which has the seven heads and ten horns.” Recalling that the seven heads refers to seven hills that the woman sits on (V9) and also to seven kings (V10). Throughout history, in the ancient world, the place famously identified as that which has seven hills has been Rome. To verify this, just google “seven hills of Rome.” In the ancient world, during the time that John wrote Revelation, to refer to the city of seven hills would be instantly recognizable as referring to Rome.
In regards to the seven kings V10 states that “Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.” Being that location where the woman sits is Rome, many scholars believe that the kings, the authorities being referred to are seven Roman emperors. Commonly they are named to be: Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Tiberias, Caligula, Claudius, Nero and Domitian. When John wrote this book Domitian was ruling.
Another widely held interpretation of who the seven kings are begins with the five powers that have ruled the known world: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece (There are variations). These all ruled before John’s time. The sixth king, described as “one is,” would be the present kingdom of John’s time, Rome. The seventh king would be the future kingdoms which unite to form under the Antichrist. Some believe the seventh king is a revival of the Roman empire.
V12 describes the ten horns as “ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” In the Bible horns are symbols of strength, power and authority. V13 describes the purpose for their united kingdoms will be to build the power of the Beast as they relinquish their power and authority and cede it over to him. These ten kings, as of the writing of Revelation, did not yet exist, but would be kingdoms that rise up in the future. Many believe that these ten nations will arise from a European conglomeration from which the Antichrist will come. However, John does not specifically name these nations, and in fact, as the V12 states, they did not exist during John’s times. These nations will, with the Beast, wage war against Jesus when He returns. Although, it is not much of a war, since Jesus is returning with His divinity fully intact, He defeats those who oppose Him with merely the words that He speaks (Revelation 19:15).
In the End Times Satan brings all the forces he can to attempt to overthrow God. Yes, he is still trying to do that. Along with him and his demons are many people who choose to align with him and not with God. All who align with the devil and his demons will share their fate of eternal fire (Matthew 25:41). However, for us who believe, we shall be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.