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Rev. 17:11 the seven beasts, who are they?
Stephen Bohr addresses this question well and here it follows. The Seven-Headed Scarlet Dragon: John N. Andrews, had this to say about the seven-headed scarlet dragon of Revelation 17: “The seven heads are seven forms of civil power which successively bear rule. These seven heads belong alike to the dragon of Revelation 12, the beast of chapter 13, and that of Revelation 17. This shows conclusively that the dragon and these two beasts are symbols of the same power under different heads; for there are not three sets of seven heads, but it is evident that the heads are successive forms of its power, one of them bearing rule at a time, and then giving place to another (Revelation 17:9, 10). The proper period of each seems to be this: The dragon before the 1260 years, the beast of chapter 13 during that period, and the beast of chapter 17 since the deadly wound and captivity at the close of that period.†(J. N. Andrews, The Three Messages of Revelation XIV, 6-12, pp. 77, 78. It will be noticed that the seven heads of the dragon beast are also described as seven mountains. In Bible prophecy, mountains represent kingdoms, not individual kings (Daniel 2:34, 35, 44; Jeremiah 51:25; Micah 4:1; Revelation 17:9 in the light of Daniel 2:38, 39; 7:17, 23). This means that the seven heads must represent seven kingdoms that have ruled upon the earth and have been controlled by the harlot or apostate religion. The River Dragon: In order to comprehend the meaning of the seven-headed dragon upon which the harlot sits, we must first understand how the ancients perceived river dragons. The ancients believed that mountains were heads of a great cosmic river serpent/dragon. According to their world view, the mountains/heads would spew out waters (headwaters) which would flow down into the valley. As the river twisted and turned tortuously in the valley it looked like the body of a great river serpent/dragon. According to their view, when the river was at flood stage it overflowed its banks and sprouted wings (Isaiah 8:7, 8). It is of the utmost importance to keep in mind that Revelation 12:15-16 and 17:15, 9, 15 is drawing on this ancient concept. But in Revelation, the river dragon takes on a symbolic meaning. The mountains symbolize kingdoms and the waters represent multitudes, nations, tongues, and peoples. It is important to understand that the nations, multitudes, tongues, and peoples actually form the body of the dragon beast. This is the reason why the harlot is described as sitting on a scarlet beast as well as on the waters. In other words, the waters and the scarlet beast are interchangeable. And the waters/dragon are scarlet because it is filled with the blood of God’s people (17:6). The reliability of this ancient view as it applies to Revelation 17 is seen in the fact that the seven heads are identified also as seven mountains. As we have already seen, in antiquity, the mountains were conceived as the heads of a dragon beast. It is crucially important to realize that while the heads/mountains are spewing out waters, the dragon beast is alive. When the heads/mountains, however, cease to spew out waters, the dragon beast is dead. Thus the beast is alive or dead depending on whether the harlot is able to use the head to persecute God’s people. That is to say when the harlot commands the kings to order their multitudes to persecute God’s people, the dragon beast is alive. When the civil powers uphold democratic principles and keep aloof from the church, the dragon beast is dead! Three Seven-headed Beasts The three seven-headed beasts [all representing successive stages of Rome] originate in different places: • When the seven-headed dragon attempted to slay the man child, a sign was seen in heaven (Revelation 12:1). • The seven-headed beast of Revelation 13:1 arose from the sea. • The seven-headed scarlet beast of Revelation 17:8 will arise from the abyss. Parallels between Revelation 12, 13 and 17 Seven heads and ten horns (12:3; 13:1) Names of blasphemy (13:1) Woman (12:1) Call for wisdom (13:18) Nations, tongues, peoples (13:7) Persecution (12:6, 13-15) Waters (12:15) Waters dried up (12:16) Was (1260 years—12:6; 13:5) Is not (deadly wound—12:16; 13:3) Wound healed (12:17; 13:3) Beast & false prophet (13:1-18) From the Abyss Seven heads and ten horns (17:3) Names of blasphemy (17:3) Woman (17:1) Call for wisdom (17:9 Nations, tongues, peoples (17:15) Persecution (17:6) Waters (17:1) Waters dried up (16:12) ‘Was’ (1260 years—17:8) ‘Is not’ (deadly wound—17:8) ‘Shall be’ (wound healed—17:8) Harlot and daughters (17:5) This dragon beast ascends from the abyss (Revelation 17:8). The abyss is the abode of the dead: Romans 10:7: “Or, Who shall descend into the deep [abyss in Greek]? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)†In Revelation 20:1 Satan is cast into the abyss when his wicked followers are dead and he is released once more when they are raised from the dead (Revelation 20:5, 7-9). Seven Heads The seven heads represent seven kings (17:10), but the word ‘kings’ in Bible prophecy is interchangeable with ‘kingdoms’ (17:10; Dan. 7:17, 23; 2:37-39). The seven heads are actually seven successive kingdoms. Some have thought that Egypt and Assyria are the first two heads of the scarlet beast. In this scenario, the seven heads would be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, Rome, Papal Rome, and resurrected Papal Rome (the eighth kingdom). The problem with this concept is that Egypt and Assyria are not found in any of the lines of prophecy in Daniel or Revelation. Daniel 2, Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 all begin with Babylon as the first kingdom and Daniel 8 and 11 begin with the kingdom of Persia. Are the Seven Heads Seven Popes? Others have thought that the seven heads represent the successive popes who have ruled since 1929. In this scenario, as of 2005, the five heads which had fallen since 1929 were: • Pius XI (1922-1939) • Pius XII (1939-1958) • John XXIII (1958-1963) • Paul VI (1963-1978) • John Paul I (1978) The head who is (or sixth head) would be John Paul II (1978-2005) and the one who is to come and will rule a short time is Benedict XVI (the seventh head) who served as pope from 2005- 2013. But Benedict resigned his post as of February 28, 2013, so the present pope, Francis I, is # 8 in the series of popes since 1929. So, as the speculation goes, Francis, I will be the last pope because Revelation 17:11 refers to an eighth, and Pope Francis I is the eighth pope since 1929! But this view can be discarded because Pope Francis I, is not one of the seven previous ones as is required by the prophecy of Revelation 17:11. In summary, this is what the list of popes would look like: #1: Pius XI (1922-1939) #2: Pius XII (1939-1958) #3: John XXIII (1958-1963) #4: Paul VI (1963-1978) #5: John Paul I (1978) #6: John Paul II (1978-2005) #7: Benedict XVI (2005-2013) #8: Francis I (2013-?) A novel interpretation was put forth before the election of Benedict XVI. It was suggested that the eighth in the series would be a demon disguised as John Paul II because the prophecy states that the eighth is of the seven. This view can be discarded for two reasons: First, at this point, a demon disguised as Pope John Paul II would be # 9 in the series. Second, it did not happen!! Francis I is already the eighth pope since 1929, not a demon disguised as John Paul II. Before the election of Francis I, evangelicals and even some Adventists had referred to a prophecy by St. Malachy to the effect that the next pope would be the last, that he would be black (a euphemism for the head of the Jesuit Order who is called the ‘black pope’) and his name would be Petrus Romanus. None of these things are true of Francis I. All of this speculation detracts from the power of this prophecy. The fact is that this prophecy has nothing to do with individual popes. The seven heads are not seven individuals but rather seven kingdoms. All this speculation about the seven heads should be discarded for the following reasons: First of all, it comes pretty near to set specific dates for the final prophetic movements. In this scenario, the successor of Pope Benedict XVI would be the last pope. Is this not setting a definite time frame for end-time events? Second, these speculative views sever Revelation 17 from the previous prophetic lines of Daniel 7 and Revelation 12 and 13. As we have seen above, Revelation 12, 13, and 17 are indissolubly linked! Ellen White understood the common thread between Revelation 12, 13, and 17: “God has warned His people of the perils before them. John beholds the things which will be in the last days and he sees a people working counter to God.†Then she says: “Read Revelation 12:17; 14:10-13, and chapters 17 and 13.†Manuscript Releases, volume 17, p. 18 Third, although the seven heads of this dragon beast are said to be seven kings, the words ‘kings’ and ‘kingdoms’ are used interchangeably in prophecy (see Daniel 2:39; 7:17, 23). In prophecy ‘mountains’ represent kingdoms, not individual rulers. The popes on the list above are actually not rulers of seven distinct kingdoms but rather leaders of the same kingdom. Finally, there is little or no evidence that 1929 should be chosen as the beginning date for the sequence of the seven heads. As I have clearly shown in another place, the deadly wound was not healed in 1929 because in Revelation 13:11-18 we are explicitly told that the United States will be instrumental in the healing of the deadly wound, not Italy. The Beast’s Three Final Stages The beast (notice that it is not the harlot who has three stages but rather the beast) has three consecutive stages of existence: • It “was [past] and is [present] not and shall be [future]†(17:8) • It “was and is not and yet is [better translation is: “shall be presentâ€] (17:8) • These same time periods are described as “five are fallen [past], one is [present] and the other is not yet come [future]†(17:10) • The time periods are also explained as the beast who “was [past], and is not [present], even he is the eighth [future]†(17:11). Note: The beast “was†during the 1260 years of Papal dominion. It “is not†because the beast presently has a deadly wound. It “shall be†because the deadly wound will be healed and the whole world will wonder after the beast. The heads of the dragon beast do not rule simultaneously but rather consecutively. The heads are wounded one by one. We know this for at least two reasons: • First, archeological digs in ancient Tell Amar Note: A cylinder seal from Tell Amar in Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) depicts a seven-headed dragon engaged in conflict with two deities, one before him and the other behind. Four of the heads, pierced by a spear, are shown drooping and are no longer in conflict. But the other three heads are still erect, maintaining the struggle. • Second, the testimony of Revelation 12:15 and 13:3, 5, 6 where we are told that only one mouth is spewing out waters at any given time. The Meaning of the Seven Heads To the best of our present knowledge, the seven heads represent the following kingdoms: • #1: Babylon • #2: Medes and Persians • #3: Greece • #4: Roman Empire • #5: Civil powers of Europe under the control of the Papacy • #6: The civil power of the United States under apostate Protestantism • #7: Resurrected Papal Rome allied with the kings of the whole world It will be observed that in this scenario three of the last four heads of this scarlet beast are Roman (and even the United States will become an ally of the dragon or Rome because she will speak like a dragon; see the material on Matthew 24 for the connection between the United States and its fascination with Rome). The question that begs to be asked is: Why would three of the seven heads apply to Rome? Isn’t one head enough to represent the various stages of Rome? The answer to these questions is quite simple. The books of Daniel and Revelation themselves take up the three stages of Rome separately. In Daniel 2 the legs of iron [imperial Rome] are distinguished from the feet of iron and clay [divided Rome and papal Rome]. In Daniel 7:23, 24 we find a clear distinction between the dragon ruling by itself and the dragon ruling with the ten horns and the dragon with the little horn. Furthermore, Revelation 12 portrays a dragon in heaven as a symbol for Pagan Rome, Revelation 13 uses a composite beast from the sea to represent Papal Rome during the 1260 years and Revelation 17 employs yet a third beast from the abyss to represent the papacy when its deadly wound is healed. If three beasts that arise in three different places are used to represent the different stages of Rome, then it should not surprise us that separate heads are used to depict those same stages. It is important to underline that the sixth head (the United States under apostate Protestantism) is symbolized by a separate beast and is related to Rome because it speaks like a dragon and the dragon represents Satan working through Rome. Ellen White clearly identifies the last three persecuting powers in their proper historical sequence: “Under the symbols of the great red dragon, a leopard-like beast, and a beast with lamblike horns, the earthly governments which would be especially engaged in trampling upon God's law and persecuting His people were presented to John. Their war is to be carried on till the close of time. The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children [Revelation 12:6, 17), are represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days, only a remnant still exists. John speaks of them as those that ‘keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ Signs of the Times, February 8, 1910 Regarding the last head in the sequence of seven, Ellen White has stated: “As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist among the Lord's instrumentalities. The world is filled with storms and wars and variance. Yet under one head--the papal power--the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses.†Testimonies for the Church, volume 7, p. 182 “When the land which the Lord provided as an asylum for his people, that they might worship him according to the dictates of their own consciences, the land over which for long years the shield of Omnipotence has been spread, the land which God has favored by making it the depository of the pure religion of Christ,--when that land shall, through its legislators, abjure the principles of Protestantism, and give countenance to Romish apostasy in tampering with God's law,--it is then that the final work of the man of sin will be revealed. Protestants will throw their whole influence and strength on the side of the Papacy; by a national act enforcing the false Sabbath, they will give life and vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, reviving her tyranny and oppression of conscience. Then it will be time for God to work in mighty power for the vindication of his truth.†Signs of the Times, June 12, 1893. Some have wondered about the eighth head of the dragon beast. The simple fact is that this beast does not have eight heads—it has only seven but the seventh headcounts as an eighth; that is to say that head number 7 bears the number 8. Time and again Revelation 17 tells us that there are only seven heads on the dragon beast (17:3, 7, 9, 10). Louis Were has shown in his book, The Woman and the Resurrected Beast, eight is the number of the resurrection. Dragon Wings Though Revelation 17 does not use the symbolism of wings, it would be well to notice that in Isaiah 8:7, 8 the invasion of King Sennacherib into the land of Judah is compared to the flooding of the mighty river Euphrates. The river at flood stage is compared to a dragon with wings: “Now, therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty—the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, He will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.†The Ten Horns The ten horns are found on the head of the dragon beast of Revelation 12, on the head of the sea beast of Revelation 13 and on the head of the scarlet beast of Revelation 17. Whereas the seven heads are consecutive, the ten horns are contemporaneous. This is made clear by the fact that all ten horns will rule (when they receive the kingdom) simultaneously on the seventh head when the beast resurrects from its death-wound (Revelation 17:12) The ten horns are symbolic of ten kings (17:12). The ten kings represent ‘the kings of the earth and the whole world’ (16:14; see also 17:18). During the 1260 days/years, the ten toes and the ten horns of Daniel 2 and 7 represented the nations of Western Europe but at the end, the ten toes and ten horns represent the kings of the earth and the whole world. These kings will have one mind until the words of God are fulfilled (16:17; 17:17). The kings represent the rulers of the Christian world who, under the leadership of apostate Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, will influence the state to enact and enforce a Sunday law. When this happens, they will all be on the same page. Are we to understand that there will be just ten nations in this universal union? No. The number 10 is symbolic of ‘all’. This can be seen in several Biblical texts: • Genesis 24:10: Ten camels are symbolic of all of Abraham’s goods • Luke 19:13: Ten servants are symbolic of all of Christ’s professed followers • I Samuel 1:8: Ten sons • Ecclesiastes 7:19: More than ten rulers of the city • Daniel 1:14, 15: The young men were tested for ten days • Daniel 1:20: The young men were ten times better • Matthew 25:1: Ten virgins represent all of God’s professed people • When we return 10% of our income we are confessing that all belongs to God • The Ten Commandments express the whole duty of man. The whole law and prophets are summarized in the ten. God added no more to them (Deuteronomy 5:22; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 22:40) They give their power, authority, and kingdom to the beast (17:12, 13). “The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this time John the Revelator declares: [Rev. 18:3-7; 17:13, 14, quoted]. "These have one mind." There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. "And shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty--freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience--as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism.†Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, volume 3, p. 392 They will be kings with the beast for one hour (17:12). They will make war with the lamb (19:19; 16:14) in the person of His witnesses: “As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist among the Lord's instrumentalities. The world is filled with storms and wars and variance. Yet under one head--the papal power--the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate.†7T, p. 183 In Matthew 25 Jesus said to His faithful followers: “In that, you have done it unto one of these the least my brothers you have done it unto me.†And when Jesus spoke to Saul of Tarsus He said: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?†Jesus will overcome the kings of the earth and the whole world because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (17:14; 19:19-20). Those who are allied with Jesus are called, chosen, and faithful (17:14). The ten kings will not always have a love affair with the harlot who controls them. The kings will hate the harlot and turn against her (17:15-16). Not only will the kings turn against the religious leaders but the multitudes which composed these kingdoms will turn against the harlot. The kings will hate her and the waters will dry upon her. A scene similar to the French Revolution will be witnessed but on a global scale. Ellen White describes the time when the waters of the great river Euphrates will dry up (16:12) “With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. Their mocking cries die away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful forebodings, they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness.†GC, pp. 635, 636 “The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction, but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. "We are lost!" they cry, "and you are the cause of our ruin;" and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed. GC, p. 656. • We are told in Revelation 17:11 that the beast will go to perdition. • In II Thessalonians 2:3 we are told that the man of sin will go to perdition. • In John 17:12 Judas Iscariot is called the son of perdition. The Final Drying up of the Waters The seven-headed dragon of Revelation 17 is reminiscent of Leviathan. There are three key passages in the Old Testament that depict this seven-headed monster: Psalm 74:10-14; Job 41 and Isaiah 27:1. We discover several interesting details about leviathan in these passages: • Leviathan is a sea creature with multiple heads. He rules over the waters. • Leviathan is also called the fleeting serpent and the great dragon. In fact, the Hebrew • word “Leviathan†means “twisted, coiled.†• Leviathan is at enmity with God and His people. • Leviathan is the king of the children of pride. • Ultimately God will pull out Leviathan from its natural habitat, cast it onto dry land and crush its heads Though the book of Revelation does not use the name “Leviathan†it is clear that the dragon beast of Revelation 12 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 is Leviathan. All of the details about Leviathan in the Old Testament coalesce in the portrait of Revelation. After the millennium the waters will revive once again—because the wicked from all the ages will resurrect from the dead (Revelation 20:5, 7-9). Satan will reign for a season over the multitudes. Satan will entice them to surround the New Jerusalem and they will be like the river Euphrates at flood stage (this is the imagery behind Psalm 46). As they are about attempt to drown the city, the final drying up of the waters will take place. Notice how Ellen White describes this final drying up of the waters after the millennium: “He [Satan] rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them.†GC, p. 671.