THE TEN KINGS IN REVELATION
THE TEN KINGS IN REVELATION
The book of Revelation reveals these Ten Kings in three of its chapters—Revelation 12, 13, and 17. In Revelation 12, we see a Dragon, in Revelation 13 a Beast, and in Revelation 17 an amalgamation that we call the Beast of the Apocalypse.
The Dragon
In Revelation 12 we see a Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns. Remember, heads symbolize governments, and horns represent kingships that rule through those governments. Now, notice how those Seven Heads and Ten Horns are presented in this chapter:
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads”. Revelation 12:3
Here you should notice that the Seven Heads have seven crowns. However, by the mere fact that the heads are governments and exercise a certain amount of power, it is logical for them to have crowns symbolizing that power. However, one would wonder, why don't the Ten Horns have crowns? A principle that you will often hear me repeat is that Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 12 and 13. So we look to chapter 17 to provide context as to why the Ten Horns are crownless. Notice what vs. 12 says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet…”
Here we should see that this text refers to the crownless horns of the Dragon. At the time of John, every kingship from Egypt to Greece had officially been conquered at one time or another.
• The Egyptian horn was conquered by the Assyrian horn.
• The Assyrian horn was conquered by the Babylonian horn.
• The Babylonian horn was conquered by the Median horn.
• The Median horn was conquered by the Persian horn.
• The Persian horn was conquered by the Greek horn.
• The divided Greek horns were ultimately absorbed by the Little Horn.
Thus, at the time of Imperial Rome, they were all seen as crownless horns.
The Beast
In Revelation 13, we see a Beast. This Beast also has Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice how the heads and horns are portrayed in verse 1 of this chapter:
“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.”
Here, you should notice that the Ten Horns now have crowns. Knowing Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 13, we look to the same chapter to provide an understanding of what occurred that now shows the Ten Horns with crowns. Again verse 12 tells us what changed:
“…but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."
Now, you should understand what is happening. Under the dispensation of the Dragon, we have Pagan Rome as the preeminent superpower and those Ten Kings that were conquered were, in a sense, lying dormant on prophecy’s stage.
I want you to view the Dragon and the Beast as if they are dispensations for Satan’s kingdom. The dispensation of the Dragon began with Egypt but culminated with the Roman Empire. It was under the rule of Pagan Rome that the Ten Kings all lay dormant, but it was the same Pagan government that always existed. However, during the Dark Ages, the dispensation of the Dragon transitioned to the dispensation of the Beast. The dispensation of the Beast continues to the end of the world, and it is under this dispensation that the Ten Kings are resurrected in one form or another. And thus, it is under the dispensation of the Beast (Papal Rome) that the Ten Kings regain their crowns.
Now, the text also reveals that under the dispensation of the Beast, the Seven Heads have blasphemy on them. Again, we look at Revelation 17 to gain an understanding. Notice what the text says:
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3
Now we understand why Blasphemy is on the Seven Heads. It is under this dispensation that Satan’s government successfully mixes Paganism with Christianity. This produces an abomination that continues until the end of the world.
The Beast of the Apocalypse
Revelation 17 features a Beast. This Beast is not the same Beast featured in Revelation 13:1. It is an upgrade. It’s Papal Rome 2.0. The Beast of the Apocalypse is an alliance of sorts. Notice it has the scarlet color—a clear reference to the Dragon in Revelation 12. This tells us that Pagan principles are at its core. It has the Harlot sitting on it. She began as Catholicism of the Dark Ages but transitions in the last days to a world order based upon Papal principles. And finally, it is enforced through the United States of America as the world’s final superpower. But this is not the only symbol that is part of this conglomerate. In this Beast is the history of the five fallen heads, which are the governments of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. These five fallen heads are the governments of the Ten Horns. All are joined together in the last days for Satan’s last push to be like the Most High. It is regarding this time, that Ellen White makes the following statement:
“These have one mind.” There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. “And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism.” Last Day Events p. 136
Checking Ellen White against Scripture we find support for her statement in Revelation 17:13 when it says, “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”
The Ten Horns become the Kings of the East!
What you must understand is that the Ten Kings were all based in territories east of the Roman Empire. This reveals to us that the Ten Horns are also represented in the last days as the Kings of the East. According to Revelation 16:12, when “the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”
This prophecy is actually based on a historical event. The historical record reveals that Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon fell because the Persians diverted the Euphrates River; this allowed them to walk on the riverbed into that great city and cause its downfall. In essence, Kings came from the east and dried up the Euphrates resulting in the fall of Babylon. Well, at the end of the world, there is a spiritual Babylon. This Babylon refers to a combination of nations and an amalgamation of religions. However, the Ten Kings join Babylon through spiritual deception as the Kings of the East. The Euphrates refers to their people who become part of the alliance with Babylon and are tricked by its religious deceptions. However, the spiritual Euphrates dries up during the sixth plague when they see Babylon for what it is. I believe Ellen White may have alluded to this series of events in the following statement:
“The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. “We are lost!” they cry, “and you are the cause of our ruin;” and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed.” The Great Controversy p. 655
Once the Kings of the East turn against the false religious system of Babylon. The prophecy of the Ten Kings is fulfilled. Here’s what the prophecy says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:16
We should begin to see the Beast and the Ten Horns as not just referring to Rome in the 6th century, but as a future conglomerate of nations headed by the United States and Rome in the last days. We should understand that these are ten kingships that ruled in the past, but again become relevant at the end of the world and join with Spiritual Babylon in persecuting the Saints. While we can't definitively know which specific nations will make up the ten during the apocalypse, we do know all previous world powers were east of the Roman Empire. We also know that Daniel 11 refers to the Middle East at the end of the world, which is from where the previous world powers ruled. Thus we know that these ten horns will in some form or another still represent Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, and the four divisions of the Greek Empire.
The book of Revelation reveals these Ten Kings in three of its chapters—Revelation 12, 13, and 17. In Revelation 12, we see a Dragon, in Revelation 13 a Beast, and in Revelation 17 an amalgamation that we call the Beast of the Apocalypse.
The Dragon
In Revelation 12 we see a Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns. Remember, heads symbolize governments, and horns represent kingships that rule through those governments. Now, notice how those Seven Heads and Ten Horns are presented in this chapter:
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads”. Revelation 12:3
Here you should notice that the Seven Heads have seven crowns. However, by the mere fact that the heads are governments and exercise a certain amount of power, it is logical for them to have crowns symbolizing that power. However, one would wonder, why don't the Ten Horns have crowns? A principle that you will often hear me repeat is that Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 12 and 13. So we look to chapter 17 to provide context as to why the Ten Horns are crownless. Notice what vs. 12 says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet…”
Here we should see that this text refers to the crownless horns of the Dragon. At the time of John, every kingship from Egypt to Greece had officially been conquered at one time or another.
• The Egyptian horn was conquered by the Assyrian horn.
• The Assyrian horn was conquered by the Babylonian horn.
• The Babylonian horn was conquered by the Median horn.
• The Median horn was conquered by the Persian horn.
• The Persian horn was conquered by the Greek horn.
• The divided Greek horns were ultimately absorbed by the Little Horn.
Thus, at the time of Imperial Rome, they were all seen as crownless horns.
The Beast
In Revelation 13, we see a Beast. This Beast also has Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice how the heads and horns are portrayed in verse 1 of this chapter:
“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.”
Here, you should notice that the Ten Horns now have crowns. Knowing Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 13, we look to the same chapter to provide an understanding of what occurred that now shows the Ten Horns with crowns. Again verse 12 tells us what changed:
“…but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."
Now, you should understand what is happening. Under the dispensation of the Dragon, we have Pagan Rome as the preeminent superpower and those Ten Kings that were conquered were, in a sense, lying dormant on prophecy’s stage.
I want you to view the Dragon and the Beast as if they are dispensations for Satan’s kingdom. The dispensation of the Dragon began with Egypt but culminated with the Roman Empire. It was under the rule of Pagan Rome that the Ten Kings all lay dormant, but it was the same Pagan government that always existed. However, during the Dark Ages, the dispensation of the Dragon transitioned to the dispensation of the Beast. The dispensation of the Beast continues to the end of the world, and it is under this dispensation that the Ten Kings are resurrected in one form or another. And thus, it is under the dispensation of the Beast (Papal Rome) that the Ten Kings regain their crowns.
Now, the text also reveals that under the dispensation of the Beast, the Seven Heads have blasphemy on them. Again, we look at Revelation 17 to gain an understanding. Notice what the text says:
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3
Now we understand why Blasphemy is on the Seven Heads. It is under this dispensation that Satan’s government successfully mixes Paganism with Christianity. This produces an abomination that continues until the end of the world.
The Beast of the Apocalypse
Revelation 17 features a Beast. This Beast is not the same Beast featured in Revelation 13:1. It is an upgrade. It’s Papal Rome 2.0. The Beast of the Apocalypse is an alliance of sorts. Notice it has the scarlet color—a clear reference to the Dragon in Revelation 12. This tells us that Pagan principles are at its core. It has the Harlot sitting on it. She began as Catholicism of the Dark Ages but transitions in the last days to a world order based upon Papal principles. And finally, it is enforced through the United States of America as the world’s final superpower. But this is not the only symbol that is part of this conglomerate. In this Beast is the history of the five fallen heads, which are the governments of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. These five fallen heads are the governments of the Ten Horns. All are joined together in the last days for Satan’s last push to be like the Most High. It is regarding this time, that Ellen White makes the following statement:
“These have one mind.” There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. “And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism.” Last Day Events p. 136
Checking Ellen White against Scripture we find support for her statement in Revelation 17:13 when it says, “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”
The Ten Horns become the Kings of the East!
What you must understand is that the Ten Kings were all based in territories east of the Roman Empire. This reveals to us that the Ten Horns are also represented in the last days as the Kings of the East. According to Revelation 16:12, when “the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”
This prophecy is actually based on a historical event. The historical record reveals that Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon fell because the Persians diverted the Euphrates River; this allowed them to walk on the riverbed into that great city and cause its downfall. In essence, Kings came from the east and dried up the Euphrates resulting in the fall of Babylon. Well, at the end of the world, there is a spiritual Babylon. This Babylon refers to a combination of nations and an amalgamation of religions. However, the Ten Kings join Babylon through spiritual deception as the Kings of the East. The Euphrates refers to their people who become part of the alliance with Babylon and are tricked by its religious deceptions. However, the spiritual Euphrates dries up during the sixth plague when they see Babylon for what it is. I believe Ellen White may have alluded to this series of events in the following statement:
“The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. “We are lost!” they cry, “and you are the cause of our ruin;” and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed.” The Great Controversy p. 655
Once the Kings of the East turn against the false religious system of Babylon. The prophecy of the Ten Kings is fulfilled. Here’s what the prophecy says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:16
We should begin to see the Beast and the Ten Horns as not just referring to Rome in the 6th century, but as a future conglomerate of nations headed by the United States and Rome in the last days. We should understand that these are ten kingships that ruled in the past, but again become relevant at the end of the world and join with Spiritual Babylon in persecuting the Saints. While we can't definitively know which specific nations will make up the ten during the apocalypse, we do know all previous world powers were east of the Roman Empire. We also know that Daniel 11 refers to the Middle East at the end of the world, which is from where the previous world powers ruled. Thus we know that these ten horns will in some form or another still represent Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, and the four divisions of the Greek Empire.
The book of Revelation reveals these Ten Kings in three of its chapters—Revelation 12, 13, and 17. In Revelation 12, we see a Dragon, in Revelation 13 a Beast, and in Revelation 17 an amalgamation that we call the Beast of the Apocalypse.
The Dragon
In Revelation 12 we see a Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns. Remember, heads symbolize governments, and horns represent kingships that rule through those governments. Now, notice how those Seven Heads and Ten Horns are presented in this chapter:
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads”. Revelation 12:3
Here you should notice that the Seven Heads have seven crowns. However, by the mere fact that the heads are governments and exercise a certain amount of power, it is logical for them to have crowns symbolizing that power. However, one would wonder, why don't the Ten Horns have crowns? A principle that you will often hear me repeat is that Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 12 and 13. So we look to chapter 17 to provide context as to why the Ten Horns are crownless. Notice what vs. 12 says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet…”
Here we should see that this text refers to the crownless horns of the Dragon. At the time of John, every kingship from Egypt to Greece had officially been conquered at one time or another.
• The Egyptian horn was conquered by the Assyrian horn.
• The Assyrian horn was conquered by the Babylonian horn.
• The Babylonian horn was conquered by the Median horn.
• The Median horn was conquered by the Persian horn.
• The Persian horn was conquered by the Greek horn.
• The divided Greek horns were ultimately absorbed by the Little Horn.
Thus, at the time of Imperial Rome, they were all seen as crownless horns.
The Beast
In Revelation 13, we see a Beast. This Beast also has Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice how the heads and horns are portrayed in verse 1 of this chapter:
“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.”
Here, you should notice that the Ten Horns now have crowns. Knowing Revelation 17 provides context for Revelation 13, we look to the same chapter to provide an understanding of what occurred that now shows the Ten Horns with crowns. Again verse 12 tells us what changed:
“…but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."
Now, you should understand what is happening. Under the dispensation of the Dragon, we have Pagan Rome as the preeminent superpower and those Ten Kings that were conquered were, in a sense, lying dormant on prophecy’s stage.
I want you to view the Dragon and the Beast as if they are dispensations for Satan’s kingdom. The dispensation of the Dragon began with Egypt but culminated with the Roman Empire. It was under the rule of Pagan Rome that the Ten Kings all lay dormant, but it was the same Pagan government that always existed. However, during the Dark Ages, the dispensation of the Dragon transitioned to the dispensation of the Beast. The dispensation of the Beast continues to the end of the world, and it is under this dispensation that the Ten Kings are resurrected in one form or another. And thus, it is under the dispensation of the Beast (Papal Rome) that the Ten Kings regain their crowns.
Now, the text also reveals that under the dispensation of the Beast, the Seven Heads have blasphemy on them. Again, we look at Revelation 17 to gain an understanding. Notice what the text says:
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3
Now we understand why Blasphemy is on the Seven Heads. It is under this dispensation that Satan’s government successfully mixes Paganism with Christianity. This produces an abomination that continues until the end of the world.
The Beast of the Apocalypse
Revelation 17 features a Beast. This Beast is not the same Beast featured in Revelation 13:1. It is an upgrade. It’s Papal Rome 2.0. The Beast of the Apocalypse is an alliance of sorts. Notice it has the scarlet color—a clear reference to the Dragon in Revelation 12. This tells us that Pagan principles are at its core. It has the Harlot sitting on it. She began as Catholicism of the Dark Ages but transitions in the last days to a world order based upon Papal principles. And finally, it is enforced through the United States of America as the world’s final superpower. But this is not the only symbol that is part of this conglomerate. In this Beast is the history of the five fallen heads, which are the governments of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. These five fallen heads are the governments of the Ten Horns. All are joined together in the last days for Satan’s last push to be like the Most High. It is regarding this time, that Ellen White makes the following statement:
“These have one mind.” There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. “And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism.” Last Day Events p. 136
Checking Ellen White against Scripture we find support for her statement in Revelation 17:13 when it says, “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”
The Ten Horns become the Kings of the East!
What you must understand is that the Ten Kings were all based in territories east of the Roman Empire. This reveals to us that the Ten Horns are also represented in the last days as the Kings of the East. According to Revelation 16:12, when “the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”
This prophecy is actually based on a historical event. The historical record reveals that Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon fell because the Persians diverted the Euphrates River; this allowed them to walk on the riverbed into that great city and cause its downfall. In essence, Kings came from the east and dried up the Euphrates resulting in the fall of Babylon. Well, at the end of the world, there is a spiritual Babylon. This Babylon refers to a combination of nations and an amalgamation of religions. However, the Ten Kings join Babylon through spiritual deception as the Kings of the East. The Euphrates refers to their people who become part of the alliance with Babylon and are tricked by its religious deceptions. However, the spiritual Euphrates dries up during the sixth plague when they see Babylon for what it is. I believe Ellen White may have alluded to this series of events in the following statement:
“The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. “We are lost!” they cry, “and you are the cause of our ruin;” and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed.” The Great Controversy p. 655
Once the Kings of the East turn against the false religious system of Babylon. The prophecy of the Ten Kings is fulfilled. Here’s what the prophecy says:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:16
We should begin to see the Beast and the Ten Horns as not just referring to Rome in the 6th century, but as a future conglomerate of nations headed by the United States and Rome in the last days. We should understand that these are ten kingships that ruled in the past, but again become relevant at the end of the world and join with Spiritual Babylon in persecuting the Saints. While we can't definitively know which specific nations will make up the ten during the apocalypse, we do know all previous world powers were east of the Roman Empire. We also know that Daniel 11 refers to the Middle East at the end of the world, which is from where the previous world powers ruled. Thus we know that these ten horns will in some form or another still represent Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, and the four divisions of the Greek Empire.
