Revelation 17 · a question people ask
"which has the seven heads and the ten horns" (17:7). What does the angel say the heads and the horns are?
Here is what the angel says. Of the heads: "Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." (17:9) "They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while." (17:10). Of the beast: "The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction." (17:11). Of the horns: "The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour." (17:12) "These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast." (17:13). These notes say no more of the heads, the mountains, the kings, the eighth or the horns than these words.
The verses
“The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.”
“Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.”