Seven Heads and Ten Horns
By James C. Taylor
In the Book of Revelation, John is shown a woman described in four different ways. The number four is symbolic of the world, or creation; and this woman is clearly of the world.
She’s described first as “the great whore.” Second, she sits on a “scarlet colored beast.” Third, she is clothed in “purple and scarlet.” And lastly, her name is “Mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:1-5). She is the essence of evil; and much more. She stands in direct contrast to the woman of Revelation 12.
In Revelation 12, we see a woman who is “clothed with the sun” (Rev. 12:1) which, I believe, symbolizes the glorious, brilliant light of the “only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). She needs no other clothing or attire. The light of the sun is sufficient. She symbolizes the good, the righteous: the Overcomers.
The woman that sees now, however, personifies evil. She is a harlot: the direct opposite of the woman of Revelation 12. She is not clothed with the sun; she’s clothed in colors of the world; and in embellishments of earthly splendor. We’re told she is “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (Rev. 17:4).
She has power over much of the world’s population. She is “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Rev. 17:1) which indicates she has power and control over those waters. And, we’re told that the waters are “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev. 17:15). She is evil within; and to spread her evil out into the world – to cause the evil within to become the evil without – she needs a world empire she can direct and control.
The world empire she controls is the first beast of Revelation 13: the nation-beast that rises “up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Rev. 13:1). In Revelation 17, we’re told she sits upon that beast: “upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 17:3).
This is the world empire of the Antichrist.
As we will see, the woman directs and controls the movement of that world empire through her close, intimate relationship with it: that of a rider and her horse. The rider directs and controls where the horse will go. The horse provides the power, the motion, and all that’s needed to move forward or backward; but the rider holds the reins. Unless the rider takes control, the horse is left pretty much on its own: without direction.
So, the beast with “seven heads and ten horns” is an empire: a nation, or a coalition of nations. In the Revelation, an angel tells John “the mystery of the beast which hath the seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 17:7). So, let’s pay attention to what the angel told John and us. He says, “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings” (Rev. 17:9-10). “Mountains” symbolize places of power, either political or religious. In this verse, I take the word to indicate a power structure made up of seven nations or kingdoms: most likely of an international nature. And, those “seven mountains” have “seven kings.”
The beast also has “ten horns” and the angel says, “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” (Rev. 17:12). These ten kings are different in their level of power and authority from the kings of the seven heads. These ten kings “have received no kingdom as yet;” but are given power for a short time by the nation-beast, or its ruler, the Antichrist.
This combination of heads and horns - of mountains and kings - symbolizes a power structure, and the rulers of that power structure, that will be in existence in the time of the end. I believe that’s what is being prophesied here in the Book of Revelation. This power structure will be motivated and controlled by the evil of the world: by the “great whore” that sits upon “the scarlet colored beast having seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 17:3). The beast itself will be the underlying carriage: the horse with the power to put it all into effect.
Searching for the Beast
In the world today, there are many powerful political and religious organizations and alliances; and in looking for the seven heads and ten horns in the world around us, some of them deserve our attention. They are “mountains” in the truest symbolic sense of the word. I believe they deserve to be watched to see if they play a role in the time of the end: to see if they contribute somehow to the fulfillment of prophecy. Let’s look at some of them to see if they fulfill the elements of the prophecy of the beast of Revelation.
At this time in history, some of the political, economic coalitions that deserve watching are the European Common Market, currently called the European Union; the United Nations with its headquarters in New York City; and the World Economic Summit that meets in different cities of the world annually. In the religious arena, there’s the World Council of Churches with branches on every continent of the globe.
The nations of the world that make up these organizations are many; and some are among the wealthiest and most powerful nations on earth. The European Union currently has 27 member nations; and a number of others, mostly Western Balkan nations, are seeking membership. The United Nations has 191 member nations. Its Security Council that holds the final decision-making power consists of 15 members: five permanent members and ten that are elected for two-year terms. The permanent members of the Security Council, with veto power over any decision, are, in alphabetical order, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
The World Economic Summit, currently called the G8, presently has eight member nations. Listed in the order of their becoming members, they are: France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia. In addition, the European Union now sends its president to the annual meetings.
The World Council of Churches is not made up of nations as such; but has a worldwide membership of 340 churches and religious denominations with nine Regional Councils that represent every continent in the world, and more.
Seven Heads
As mentioned before, an angel tells John that, “the seven heads (of the beast) are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings” (Rev. 17:9-10). The seven mountains symbolize places of high power, either political or religious. In this case, I believe they’re symbolic of seven nations within a coalition of nations.
In looking at the makeup of the international organizations we have listed: the European Union, the United Nations, the World Economic Summit, and the World Council of Churches, it’s seems that none of them have “seven heads.”
But, let’s pay special attention to what the angel goes on to say about the seven heads. Speaking of them, he says, “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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (Rev. 17:10-11).
Please note that, strangely, he’s added an eighth king to the prophecy. And, he’s also told us a number of things about them. He has said five of them are fallen, which, in scripture, usually refers to falling in death or falling in sin. Then, he says a sixth king “is;” which indicates that he is present on the scene. The seventh comes along later and continues for a short time. And finally, the eighth king that has been added to the prophecy, is a king who “was, and is not, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (Rev. 17:11).
Of the European Union, the United Nations, the World Economic Summit, or the World Council of Churches, only the Economic Summit is worth looking at further. It lists eight member nations; and as we know, nations have leaders whether they’re called kings, presidents, prime ministers, or something else. And, as we will see, the history of the World Economic Summit appears to fulfill this prophecy.
Let’s look at it. In 1975, French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing invited the leaders of five other nations: Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States to a meeting in a chateau near Paris. His purpose was to discuss world issues of the day, primarily the oil crisis of the mid-70s. At that meeting, they decided to meet once a year; and invited a seventh nation, Canada, to join them in 1976 to form what was then called the G7. Some time later, in 1998, an eighth nation, Russia, joined the group.
On the surface of it, it looks like these could be the seven kings to which an eighth has been added. However, a closer look will show that the history of the G8, the World Economic Summit, fulfills some - but not all - of the elements of the prophecy. For example, the summit did begin with one “king” inviting five others; so the sixth king “is;” because he’s already on the scene. A seventh was “not yet come,” but was added a year after the first meeting. Some years later then, an eighth king was included. All of these elements seem to fit. But, as far as we know, five kings have not “fallen” either to death or into sin. And, the seventh, Canada, didn’t only “continue only a short space;” it’s still a member of the G8 today.
Even though the G8 doesn’t seem to fulfill all the elements of the prophecy, what we do understand about its history makes it well worth watching as time goes on. So, let’s stay alert, keep watching, and continue to study the scriptures while we wait on the Lord to reveal the truth of his Word.
Ten Horns
Babylon rides on the beast; and “the beast that carrieth her hath seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 17:7). We’re also told, “The ten horns are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:12-13).
These ten kings are subject to the beast, and as I’ve said before, have a different level of authority than the kings of the seven heads. They have no kingdom or power of their own; but are dependent upon the beast to give them power as kings for “one hour:” a short time, apparently to fulfill his purpose. They “receive power as kings one hour with the beast” which indicates their authority is delegated, or allowed in some way by the beast. They’re described as having “one mind:” a united purpose; and that purpose, at least at first, is to fulfill the will of the beast because they “give their power and strength” to him.
One interpretation is that they could be political subdivisions, sections, or administrative arms of a nation. As such, they’re not independent nations in their own right because they have no power until they’re given authority by the head of a nation or other administrator. So, let’s look inside some of the nations we’ve mentioned for the ten kings who have “no kingdom as yet.”
Britain, also called the United Kingdom, consists of four political subdivisions: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England is divided into nine political regions, each of which is divided counties and unitary authorities. Scotland consists of 32 council areas. Wales has 22 unitary authorities; and Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts.
France is divided into 22 provinces that are further divided into departments. Present day Germany is made up of 16 states. Italy is administratively sub-divided 20 regions and 103 provinces. Japan consists of nine political regions that are divided into prefectures.
Russia has 89 republics and regions altogether. The United States is made up of 50 states; each divided into counties or similar subdivisions. Canada is made up of ten provinces; and, on the surface appears to be the only nation to meet the criteria of the prophecy of the “ten horns.”
But, we need more information before we come to a conclusion of that magnitude. So, let’s look even deeper. Let’s look at the administrative structure of the United States. In April, 1974, ten standard Federal Regions were established within the United States for use in times of emergency or major crisis. Through these 10 standard regions, the Executive Branch of the U.S., headed up by the president, has a system of administrative power that can be used outside the normal political structure of the United States. There is also a plan in the United States that can give the president far-reaching powers through a series of Executive Orders.
Those Executive Orders are numbers 10995 through 11051. Executive Order 11051 allows the president to implement the other Executive Orders in the series in a time of “increased international tension or economic or financial crisis.”
Among other things, this series of orders allows the government to take over all communications media such as radio, television and newspapers. They allow the government to control all means of production; and to control all methods of transportation including highways, railroads, airports, seaports and inland waterways. Using them, the president can order a nationwide registration of all persons in the country; and regulate and control all wages, prices and financial transactions.
The president can delegate those powers to administrators of the ten Federal Regions for as long as he deems necessary; and those administrators would then “receive power for one hour (a short time).” The administrators would, by following the directions of the president, be of “one mind” and “give their power and strength” to the president.