Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 17:8 - 17:14
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_17:8-14
8"The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. 9Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."
Rev_17:8 "the beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up" This chronological description has caused great consternation among commentators.
1. Some of them see it in a historical sense which applies particularly to the legend of Nero's return.
2. Others as a progression of world empires relating to Daniel 2, culminating in an anti-God end-time world system.
3. Others see it as related to the end-time activity of the beast described in Rev_13:3; Rev_13:12; Rev_13:14, which relates to its mimicking or parodying the ministry of Christ.
4. It may relate to 1 John's concept of a spirit of antichrist in every age, which culminates in the Antichrist of the last day (cf. 1Jn_2:18; 1Jn_2:22; 1Jn_4:3; 2Jn_1:7).
It is also another parody on YHWH's name (cf. Rev_1:4; Rev_1:8).
▣ "the abyss" This is the Greek term for "depth" with the alpha privative. It is first mentioned in Rev_9:1; Rev_11:7. It is the figurative abode of evil and the demonic. See note at Rev_9:1.
▣ "the book of life" See notes at Rev_5:1; Rev_13:8.
▣ "from the foundation of the world" See note at Rev_3:5; Rev_13:8.
Rev_17:9
NASB, NKJV "Here is the mind which has wisdom"
NRSV "This calls for a mind that has wisdom"
TEV "This calls for wisdom and understanding"
NJB "This calls for shrewdness"
This phrase is similar to Rev_13:18, which deals with the number of the name of the beast. This little Scripture teaser has caused everyone to put forth his/her own theory! However, the very fact that there is such a multiplicity of interpretations shows that there are not too many wise among us! (cf. 1Co_1:26-31). To me, it is just another way for John to assert the mysterious, symbolic, cryptic nature of his writing (cf. Frank Stagg, New Testament Theology, p. 317).
▣ "the seven heads of the seven mountains on which the woman sits" This is an allusion to Rome. Rome, like Jerusalem, was built on seven hills. This phrase appears in many ancient writings to describe the city of Rome. Therefore, it is incumbent on interpreters to at least see this in light of the Roman Empire, although obviously the whole allusion of chapters 17 and 18 is an anti-God world system that will be in place at the end-time and in reality is in place in every age.
Rev_17:10-11 Some commentators see this as a series of Roman Emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero as "the five who have fallen." Vespasian is "the one who is current" and Titus is "the one who will come for a little while" (cf. F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 141). This interpretation is rather arbitrary; the three relatively minor Emperors (Galba, Otho, and Vitellius) who vied for the throne in A.D. 68-69 have been omitted. However, even with its problems, this seems to be the focus of Rev_17:10-11, with an emphasis on the myth of Nero's resuscitation and return with the Parthian hordes to attack Rome (this may explain Rev_17:16, cf. The Sibyllian Oracles, 5:361-368).
Others see this prophecy as being fulfilled in the persecutions of Domitian. There are some major hindrances to this interpretation:
1. it would require Revelation to have been written during the reign of Vespasian, which is at variance with the ancient church tradition that John wrote during the reign of Domitian
2. the symbolic use of numbers throughout the book
Why make this historically literal? Again, this may have been something that John did intentionally to show the symbolic nature of his visions, which were not meant to be totally locked into any historical period.
Another possible interpretation is that this refers to the series of OT empires who were enemies of God's people: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece ("five have fallen"), Rome ("one is"), end-time anti-God empire ("the other has not yet come"). This interpretation fits into the overall pattern of a series of anti-God world empires from Dan_2:1-8 (cf. George Ladd, Revelation, pp. 227-231).
Still another ancient interpretation is the symbolic nature of all of the numbers and details of Revelation, which would simply turn this chapter into another example of the ultimate conflict between God and the evil one (cf. Alan Johnson's Revelation, pp. 152-153, 157-161).
This is a good example of my inner conflicts as an interpreter. There are so many different interpretations by godly scholars whom I trust. The first theory is by my favorite writer, F. F. Bruce. The next two are by my favorite commentators on Revelation, George Ladd and Alan Johnson. They all disagree! The crucial issue is whether the text is an allusion to first century Rome (F. F. Bruce), the OT (George Ladd), or apocalyptic imagery (Alan Johnson). At this point in my personal study I think Johnson's view is best.
Rev_17:12 "the ten horns which you saw are ten kings" This is an allusion to Dan_7:7; Dan_7:23-24. Daniel 7 is a description of the end-time Antichrist. Some see this as being related historically to ten vassal kings of Rome, while others see it as the demonic hordes of Revelation 9. To many, the symbolic nature of the numbers in the book of the Revelation simply makes Rev_17:12 refer to end-time world leaders, but without a specificity.
Many elaborate, literal interpretations of the book of the Revelation are based on the specific details of Rev_17:10-12. These prophecies are very specific, which tends to imply a literal fulfillment at the end-time. However, the nature of the literary genre points toward a symbolic interpretation of these numbers and details (at least for those of us who are not the last generation of persecuted believers).
Rev_17:13 This verse shows the unity of evil, while Rev_17:15-16 shows the disunity of evil. Evil will ultimately be turned against itself as in Rev_16:12.
Rev_17:14 "these will wage war against the Lamb" The Lamb is identified with His people (cf. Mat_25:35-40; Act_9:4).
▣ "but the Lamb will overcome. . .and those who are with Him" Notice the close identification between the victory of Christ and the victory of His people.
▣ "He is Lord of lords, and King of kings" This same title is mentioned in Rev_19:16 as a characterization of the returning Messiah. Its origins are found in (1) a description of YHWH from Deu_10:17; Psa_136:2-3 or (2) a Babylonian title used for Nebuchadnezzar in Dan_2:37; Dan_2:47. The number value of this phrase equals 777 in Aramaic, although this is not mentioned in the text.
▣ "the called and chosen and faithful" Notice the allusion to predestination found in the terms "chosen" and "called," but also notice they are called to perseverance linked to "faithfulness." We are His by call and faith (both initial and continuing). See Special Topic on Perseverance at Rev_2:2.