Revelation 17:7-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:11

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition; and the beast (neuter, θηρίον ) that was and is not, he himself is also an eighth (masculine), and is of ( ἐκ , out of ) the seven, etc. We may note read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:12

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet. The horns, as we have seen, are symbolical of power (see on Revelation 13:1 ), and ten signifies completeness and sufficiency ( Revelation 13:1 ). By the ten horns, therefore, is expressed widespread, complete power. But this power, says the seer, has not come into existence as yet. He thus points to a coming power, hostile to God, such as is described in that part of the account of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:7

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? - He was doubtless struck with the appearance of John as he stood fixed in astonishment. The question asked him, “why” he wondered, was designed to show him that the cause of his surprise would be removed or lessened, for that he would proceed so to explain this that he might have a correct view of its design.I will tell thee the mystery of the woman - On the word “mystery,” see the notes on Revelation 17:5. The sense is, “I will explain... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:8

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not - In the close of the verse it is added, “and yet is” - “the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” There are three things affirmed here: first, that there is a sense in which it might be said of the power here referred to, that it “was,” or that, before this, it had an existence; second, that there was a sense in which it might be said that it is “not,” that is, that it had become practically extinct; and third, that there is a sense in which that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:9

And here is the mind which hath wisdom - Here is what requires wisdom to interpret it; or, here is a case in which the mind that shows itself able to explain it will evince true sagacity. So in Revelation 13:18. See the notes on that place. Prof. Stuart renders this, “Here is a meaning which compriseth wisdom.” It is undoubtedly implied that the symbol might be understood - whether in the time of John, or afterward, he does not say; but it was a matter which could not be determined by ordinary... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:10

And there are seven kings - That is, seven in all, as they are enumerated in this verse and the next. An eighth is mentioned in Revelation 17:11, but it is, at the same time, said that this one so pertains to the seven, or is so properly in one sense of the number seven, though, in another sense, to be regarded as an eighth, that it may be properly reckoned as the seventh. The word “kings” - βασιλεῖς basileis - may be understood, so far as the meaning of the word is concerned:(a)Literally, as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:11

And the beast that was, and is not - That is, the one power that was formerly mighty; that died away so that it might be said to be extinct; and yet Revelation 17:8 that “still is,” or has a prolonged existence. It is evident that, by the “beast” here, there is some one power, dominion, empire, or rule, whose essential identity is preserved through all these changes, and to which it is proper to give the same name. It finds its termination, or its last form, in what is here called the “eighth”;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:12

And the ten horns which thou sawest - On the scarlet-colored beast, Revelation 17:3.Are ten kings - Represent or denote ten kings - that is, kingdoms or powers. See the notes on Daniel 7:24.Which have received no kingdom as yet - That is, they were not in existence when John wrote. It is implied, that during the period under review they would arise, and would become connected, in an important sense, with the power here represented by the “beast.” For a full illustration respecting the ten... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 17:6-7

Revelation 17:6-7. I saw the woman, &c. Infamous as the woman is for her idolatry, she is no less detestable for her cruelty, which are the two principal characters of the antichristian empire. She is drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs Or witnesses; of Jesus So that Rome may well be called, the slaughter-house of the martyrs. “This may indeed be applied both to pagan and to Christian Rome, for both have in their turns cruelly persecuted the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 17:8-14

Revelation 17:8-14. The beast that thou sawest, &c. The mystery of the beast is first explained, and the beast is considered first in general, (Revelation 17:8,) under a threefold state or succession, as existing, and then ceasing to be, and then reviving again, so as to become another and the same. He was, and is not Καιπερ εστιν , and yet is, or, according to other copies, και παρεσται , and shall come, shall ascend out of the bottomless pit A beast in the prophetic style,... read more

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