Rev 17:9-12 | Family | STEP | Hath wisdom ; to understand the meaning of this description, and to whom it properly applies. Seven mountains ; on which Rome, the seat of her empire and that of the beast which supported her, was built.

Revelation of John 17:9-12

Hath wisdom; to understand the meaning of this description, and to whom it properly applies.

Seven mountains; on which Rome, the seat of her empire and that of the beast which supported her, was built. And there are seven kings; the seven heads signify also seven kings. This is understood by many as representing the seven forms of civil government which prevailed in Rome--kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, military tribunes, emperors, and the exarchate of Ravenna; for here, as in verse Re 17:12, a king denotes not an individual, but a succession of rulers.

Five are fallen; the first five of the above list; which are those enumerated by the historian Livy, as having existed in his day.

One is; the imperial form.

When he cometh; when the last king cometh, that is, the last form of government. The beast that was, and is not; that is, the beast in his last form ascending out of the bottomless pit, verse Re 17:8.

Is the eighth; in the order of succession, since he comes after the other seven.

Is of the seven; he belongs to them, as being a continuation of the same power which they have exercised before him. Ten kings; ten governments, which should arise out of the ruins of the old Roman empire.

One hour; through one period of time.

With the beast; their rise is coincident with that of the beast. At first they give their power to the beast; but afterwards they turn against it.