D. What About the Seven Heads and Ten Horns?

D. What About the Seven Heads and Ten Horns?
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Revelation 13:1)
a. Doctrinal Fact 1. The “sea” is used to illustrate two doctrinal facts. The first is in reference to the one-world religion, except Judaism, during the first 3 ½ years after the Rapture.
“And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15)
It is also inclusive of the one-world government which controls all the people on Earth. Many of you may have stood on the shore of a large lake, or ocean, and you could not see the other side. The size of a sea (ocean) only illustrates the size of the one church and one government. Both will be world-wide.
b. Doctrinal Fact 2. The second doctrinal illustration is, the head of each organization will be a human being. Satan, himself, will indwell this beast; exercising his will and power through this man.
c. The Seven Heads. These seven men are in a power struggle for leadership. Men seem to always want to be in power. After the Rapture, every Christian will be gone from all over the world. Now, who is going to be the leader of the federation of nations? After some time, with no other details given; five men are no longer in the running, as five are fallen.
“And 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.” (Revelation 17:10
As of this writing, several Republicans have entered the political arena to be the one to oppose the democratic incumbent for the Presidency of the United States. All have fallen out except four, and two of them appear to be standing on thin ice; which would leave but two. This illustrates what will happen in the first 3 ½ years after the Rapture.
Number Six steps up for a time as the middle of the Tribulation approaches. Then, Number Seven, who is the Antichrist and Satan incarnated arises, declaring himself to be God. Number Six is then “history” as far as his leadership of the federation of nations is concerned.
“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
He then mocks the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Diagram: The Power Struggle of the Seven Kings.

26. Diagram: The Power Struggle of the Seven Kings “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3)
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:3-4)
In Revelation, Chapter 17, we find additional information about the Antichrist (the first “beast” of Revelation 13) concerning his resurrection.
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (Revelation 17:9)
The woman is the one-world church, with her headquarters in Babylon during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period.
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5)
“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (Revelation 17:5-6)
The Apostle John is addressed by an angel who will explain the “mystery” of the “woman,” the “seven heads,” and the “ten horns.” This is a perfect example of what the word “mystery” means in Scripture. It is not something hidden; but, is a “truth revealed at the proper time.”
“And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I WILL TELL THEE THE MYSTERY of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” (Revelation 17:7)
“And 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. (Revelation 17:10)
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (Revelation 17:11)
And 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. (Revelation 17:12)
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” (Revelation 17:10-13)
(1). Revelation 17:10. The word “THERE” in the phrase “there are seven kings,” should be translated as “THESE,” or “THEY” are seven kings. The reason is that the “seven heads” in Revelation 17:9 are the same as the “seven kings” in Revelation 17:10. “Kings” illustrates their authority and rule over the people. In Revelation 17:9, “HEADS” is from the Greek “kephale,” meaning “these” seven heads were ruling in authority over the people. The same Greek word is used in reference to Christ being over the Church.
“And hath put all things under his (Christ’s) feet, and gave him (Christ) to be the HEAD over all things to the church,” (Ephesians 1:22)
Ephesians 1:9 illustrates very simply that, as the mountains are higher than the ground, the seven rulers are higher in authority in ruling over the people.
(2). Revelation 17:10 Continued.
“...five are fallen...”(out of contention as head of the federation of nations.
“...and one is...” (This is Number Six).
“...and the other is not yet come...” (This is Number Seven.)
“...and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” (After his death and resurrection, he will continue for 3 ½ years until the Battle of Armageddon.)
(3). Revelation 17:11. Ephesians 1:11 describes his death and resurrection.
“And the beast...” (the Anti-Messiah**).
“...that was...” (alive).
“...and is not,...” (his death).
“...even he is the eighth...” (his resurrection).
“...and is of the seven,...” (A reminder that this was a human being, indwelt by Satan, who literally died and had a resurrection!).
“...and goeth into PERDITION.”
Note: “Perdition” is the Greek “apollumi.” “The idea is not extinction; but, ruin, loss, not of being, but of well-being. The loss of well-being in the case of the unsaved hereafter.” (Word)
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.” (Revelation 20:10
One cannot be “tormented day and night forever,” if you cease to exist! All human beings will someday exit their bodies and spend eternity in Heaven or Hell.)
Note: ** Anti-Messiah. This is simply another name for the Antichrist, and is used for the Jewish Nation. They rejected the real Messiah and have accepted many false ones since that time. The Antichrist will allow the Jews to rebuild their temple and resume their sacrifices, in order to convince them he is the “real” Messiah. The name “Antichrist” is for the world in general. Both names indicate the same individual, a man indwelt by Satan, and are used according to the context.
d. Revelation 17:12. The Ten Horns.
“And 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.” (Revelation 17:12)
We are now in the middle of the Tribulation Period. The Antichrist will appoint ten men and give them the power as kings, with the authority to rule the world under his leadership as the “God of this world.” “One hour” indicates this will not take long to accomplish.
Picture them all in a conference room as the Anti-Messiah reveals his plans to appoint each of the ten a kingdom over which to rule. Their responsibility will be to get everyone they can to take the mark of “666.” Those who refuse will not be able to buy or sell, use services of any kind; or, have any access to any needed medical treatment or medicine. If apprehended, they will be killed! Everything is now ready to move forward, as we shall see.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” – Revelation 17:13
(1). Revelation 17:14. Here is a wave of truth into the future that reveals that these ten kings will follow the Antichrist into the Battle of Armageddon when Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation Period.
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14