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12-2013 The eveS n Heads of in 17 Ranko Stefanovic Andrews University

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Recommended Citation Stefanovic, Ranko, "The eS ven Heads of the Beast in " (2013). Faculty Publications. 16. http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/new-testament-pubs/16

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the New Testament at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ranko Stefanovic

Ranko Stefanovic, PhD, is professor of New Testament studies, Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States.

The seven heads of the beast in Revelation 17

n past months, the resignation of Where have such ideas come from? The prostitute riding the Benedict XVI and the elec- Unfortunately, they have not been beast tion of his successor, Pope Francis, derived from careful study of the bib- Revelation 17 is delineated into Ipreoccupied the news media and lical text, but rather from past and two parts: (1) the vision (17:1–6a), in Internet. The news sparked a renewed current news headlines that have been which John the revelator observes a interest in the enigmatic of twisted into fictitious and sensational woman who is depicted as a prostitute Revelation 17:9–11 among students biblical predictions. Historical facts riding the beast; and (2) the audition of prophecy, resulting in some and biblical texts were creatively inter- (17:6b–18), in which the interpreting creative interpretive proposals. twined in order to fit an established explains to John the meaning Revelation 17 vividly describes interpretation, which is unfortunately of the vision of the prostitute and the a beast with seven heads (v. 3). not supported by textual evidence. beast that carries her. Subsequently, an interpreting angel In reality, the view that the healing In the vision, John is invited to explains to John the revelator that of the papal deadly wound occurred in witness the judgment of the great these heads represent seven consecu- 1929 is only an assumption rather than prostitute who sits on many waters, tive kings: five have fallen, the sixth is, a historical fact. The act of granting seductively deceiving the inhabitants and the seventh king is yet to come (v. the papacy a small, independently of the (vv. 1, 2). This woman is 10). When he comes, he will remain sovereign can hardly be viewed as subsequently identified as “ ‘ only for a short . Along with an the fulfillment of this prophecy, whose the great, the mother of harlots’ ” (v. 5).1 eighth king, the whole beast will go to scope is worldwide, as described in In the Hebrew Scriptures, a prostitute destruction (v. 11). :11–18. While the year symbolically refers to ’s people in During the last several decades, 1929 may have marked the beginning their apostasy (Isa. 1:21; Jer. 3:1; Ezek. some Adventist interpreters have of the healing of the deadly wound, the 16; 23; Hosea 3; 4). The portrayal of the associated these seven heads/kings fact that 84 years have passed since the prostitute in Revelation 17 shows that with the seven successive since Lateran Treaty contradicts any evidence she represents an entity that was once 1929—the year in which the Lateran that supports the view that the papal faithful to God before aligning herself Treaty recognized Vatican City as an deadly wound has been healed. with the end-time opponent of God independent sovereign state. For some Furthermore, the application of the and His faithful remnant. Babylon is time, John Paul II, pontiff from 1978 to “ ‘short time’ ” of the rule of the seventh thus a corporate name for an end-time 2005, had been regarded as the last king to the eight-year rule of Benedict apostate entity. pope. However, his prompted a XVI ignores the even shorter pontificate Note that the prostitute is first reinterpretation of this prophecy. The of John Paul I, who ruled for only 34 referenced to as sitting on “ ‘many fact that Benedict XVI is the seventh days before he died in 1978 (Rev. 17:10, waters’ ” (v. 1); however, when John elected pope since 1929 and his pon- NKJV). Many other such inconsistencies actually sees her, she is seen as sitting tificate lasted for only a relatively short render this adaptation of the biblical on a scarlet beast (v. 3). This should not period of time (some eight years), has prophecy as spurious and inconclusive. come as a surprise due to such a literary led some to associate him with the Therefore, I invite you to join me in feature occurring regularly in the book seventh king; thus, the newly elected a closer look at Revelation 17:9–11 in an (see Rev. 5:5, 6). Therefore, the waters Pope Francis is viewed as the last pope effort to discover the meaning that God and the beast are two symbols that in the office before the end comes. intended for this enigmatic passage. represent the same reality. According to

Ministry® DECEMBER 2013 Revelation 17:5, the waters upon which The “was” phase of the beast refers church, was a religious-political power, the prostitute was seen symbolize the to its activities during the prophetic the scarlet beast is exclusively a politi- civil, secular, and political powers of period of 1,260 days or years (Rev. 13:5). cal power. These two are distinct at the the world. Jeremiah 51:13 shows that The year a.d. 538 marked the beginning end of time. “many waters” refers to the Euphrates of this prophetic period when the River. Just as the ancient Babylon church of western Europe, led by the The seven heads of the depended on the Euphrates River for its Roman papacy, established itself as beast existence, so will the end-time Babylon an ecclesiastical power and dominated This brings us to our key passage depend on the civil, secular, and politi- the Western world throughout the of Revelation 17:9–11: “ ‘Here is the cal powers of the world to enforce its Middle Ages. In our time characterized mind which has wisdom. The seven plans and purposes. by religious tolerance, such statements heads are seven mountains on which Furthermore, the beast stands as a can be regarded as harsh and unfair; the woman sits, and they are seven symbol of a political power or system. but the reality cannot erase the kings; five have fallen, one is, the other That the prostitute Babylon sits (or historical facts. has not yet come; and when he comes, rides) on the beast shows that this Furthermore, the beast came into he must remain a little while. The beast religious system will have control over its “is not” phase of existence in 1798 which was and is not, is himself also an these worldwide political powers at the when, as a result of the events of the eighth and is one of the seven, and he end of time. Thus, the prophecy shows French Revolution, it sustained its goes to destruction.’ ” us that at the end of time, there will deadly wound (Rev. 13:3). This brought The text opens with a call for be a religious-political union when the an end to the church’s oppressive “wisdom” as a prerequisite to under- political powers of the earth will unite political power. The beast disappeared standing the meaning of the heads with the end-time apostate religious for some time from the world’s scene, of the beast. The wisdom that John system named Babylon. yet it survived. calls for here is the same wisdom that Third, with the healing of the was spoken of in connection with the The three phases of the deadly wound, the beast will resur- (Rev. 13:18). This beast rect to life in full satanic rage against wisdom refers to spiritual discern- In the second part of the chapter, God’s faithful people. The prophecy ment that can only be imparted by John is described as greatly aston- thus shows that the religious-political the Holy Spirit, rather than through ished when he sees the prostitute. He oppressive system that dominated brilliant mental and intellectual ability recognizes in her the woman that had the world during the Middle Ages will (James 1:5). Only through this divinely fled into the wilderness in order to be revived at the time of the end and imparted wisdom will the faithful be escape the persecution of the dragon will dominate the world as it did in the able to discern the true character of during the prophetic 1,260-day period past. This revival of the beast will fill this end-time satanic power. of the Middle Ages (Rev. 12:13, 14). In the inhabitants of the world with awe Moving forward, we may see that response to John’s astonishment, the and admiration (Rev. 13:8; 17:8b). the beast has seven heads like the red interpreting angel promises to disclose Therefore, Revelation 17 clearly dragon (or ) of :3. the “ ‘mystery’ ” of the prostitute and describes the sea beast of Revelation The existence of the beast remains of the scarlet beast that carries her as 13 at the time when its deadly wound inseparable from its heads. Throughout well as their function at the time of the has been healed. Upon this resur- history, the beast has solely ruled and end (Rev. 17:7). rected beast, John sees the end-time been active through the agency of its John describes the beast as the one prostitute Babylon sitting. Thus, the heads. When one of the heads receives that “ ‘was, and is not, and is about to end-time religious system that will a deadly blow, the whole beast dies (cf. come up out of the ’ ” (v. 8). This play a key role in the final conflict is a Rev. 13:12–14). This brings us to a need identification of the beast brings to continuation of the religious-political for a closer look as to what these heads mind the divine title “ ‘who was and power that harmed and oppressed represent. who is and who is to come’ ” (Rev. 4:8). God’s people during the prophetic “ ‘The seven heads are seven Thus, this title identifies the beast as a 1,260-day period of the Middle Ages. mountains on which the woman sits’ ” parody of God. However, this tripartite Revelation thus tells us that reli- (Rev. 17:9). We see a new symbol added formula also shows that the beast has gion will once again dominate and here. At first, we were told that the passed through three phases of exis- control politics as it did in the past, woman sat on “ ‘many waters’ ” (v. tence. This, in turn, links the scarlet albeit for a short time. However, there 1), and then, on the scarlet beast (v. beast of Revelation 17 with the sea beast is a noticeable difference between 3); now, the angel explains that she of Revelation 13 (cf. Rev. 13:1 with 17:3).2 its power during the medieval period actually sits on seven mountains. The First, the beast “was.” In other and the time of the end. While the waters, the beast, and the mountains words, this beast existed in the past. sea beast, representing the medieval are different symbols for the civic,

DECEMBER 2013 Ministry® Ranko Stefanovic

secular, and political powers (cf. v. five of these kingdoms have fallen, beast carries the prostitute Babylon. 15) that will provide popular support one is, and the seventh one would We now live in the era of the seventh to Babylon as the end-time apostate appear sometime in the . As head, for the eighth head has not religious system. We must keep in mind previously explained, this cryptic text yet gained its power. However, it will that Revelation does not deal with has generated numerous speculative appear on the world scene at the time individual personalities, whether past interpretations, primarily due to the of the end and will impose its rule on or present, but rather with systems interpreters’ failure to note that the the inhabitants of the earth. and world powers—whether political meaning of these successive kingdoms or religious. was explained to John in the context “He must remain a short The Greek word oros means “moun- of his own time—not ours. Nowhere in time” tain,” not “hill,” as some translators the text does it indicate that John was Current misinterpretations of this suggest in order to show that the city transported to another time; the angel phrase have construed the phrase of , situated on seven hills, is in simply explains to him what he had to mean that the seventh pope will view here. However, since the seven already seen previously in the vision. rule for a short amount of time. The mountains in Revelation 17 are suc- Therefore, the key to decoding the Greek adjectival word for the temporal cessive, they cannot be interpreted in meaning of these seven heads lies in phrase “a short time” used here is a literal manner. In the , the sixth kingdom, which is described oligon, which means “a short time” or mountains often represent world pow- as “is.” This “is” refers to John’s time. “a little while.” This word is different ers or empires (Jer. 51:25; Ezek. 35:2–5; John lived in the time of the sixth from micron, used in Revelation to Dan. 2:35). For instance, the kingdom head—the . The five that indicate shortness of time (see Rev. of in the Old Testament is often had fallen were thus the empires that 6:11; 20:3). In contrast, oligon does referred to as Mount (Ps. 48:1–3; ruled the world and caused harm to not indicate a length of time but is Isa. 29:8). God’s people prior to the time of John: rather used in a qualitative sense. For The angel clearly does not refer to (1) was the world power that instance, Revelation 12:12 states that literal mountains since he immediately enslaved and oppressed , seeking having been cast out of , Satan explains to John that these seven to destroy her; (2) Assyria destroyed realizes that he has only “ ‘a short time mountains actually represent “seven and scattered the ten tribes of Israel; [oligon kairon].’ ” This “short time” does kings” (Rev. 17:10). However, these can- (3) Babylon destroyed and not refer to a length of time for it has not be interpreted as individual kings, exiled Judah; (4) Persia almost annihi- been thousands of years since Satan’s for at least three reasons. First of all, lated the Jews at the time of Esther; (5) expulsion from heaven—another way we have established that Revelation Greece oppressed and tried to destroy of saying that Satan’s time is limited, does not deal with individual per- the Jews through Antiochus Epiphanes. just as a person sentenced to death sonalities but systems. Second, these The seventh kingdom that “has not yet realizes that he or she only has “a short seven kings are equated with the seven come” refers to the medieval papacy time” despite the fact that the execu- mountains—a symbol of kingdoms or that, from John’s time perspective, tion may take place many years later. empires. Third, in the Old Testament, would be manifested in the future This same meaning for the Greek “kings” is another expression for king- from John’s time—after the fall of the word oligon is also found in Revelation doms or empires (Dan. 2:37–39; 7:17). Roman Empire. 17:10. That the seventh power must The angel further explained that remain for a short time does not point The seven heads as the scarlet beast itself is a part of the to the length of time—a short period successive empires phase of the eighth head, the world of existence; rather, it is a different Based on biblical evidence, the power that is to come at the time of way of stating that the existence of interpretation that makes the most the end. Yet, it is one of the previ- this power is determined by God (“it sense is that the seven mountains, ously noted seven heads. Although must remain”) and that it will come upon which the prostitute Babylon this eighth head is one of the previous to its end, as is in the case of Satan in sits, stand for the seven successive seven, it is considered a new power. Revelation 12:12. The seventh power empires that dominated the world Which of the seven? Most likely the will receive a deadly wound: an event throughout history and through which seventh head, which previously expe- that took place with the events of the Satan worked to oppose God.3 These rienced the deadly wound but comes French Revolution in 1798. empires possessed common traits of back to life after its wound has healed. religious-political governance and This seventh power will reappear Conclusion coercion, which they used to cause as the eighth head at the end of time This brief analysis shows that the harm and persecute God’s people. and will exercise the same authority seven successive heads of the beast As the angel further explains to as it did during the Middle Ages. During of Revelation 17 represent the seven John from his time’s perspective, the time of the eighth head, the scarlet kingdoms or empires that existed in

Ministry® DECEMBER 2013 Years history rather than individual kings: consequences—eternal loss. To those based on headline news or current five were in existence prior to the time who add to the prophetic words of events for the purpose of date setting of John, the sixth was Rome (according the book, God will add to them the and popular excitement is speculative to John’s time), and the seventh was plagues described in the book. This and subjective. Such interpretations the medieval papacy that was to come warning does not refer to a tampering never result in the strengthening of in the future from John’s perspective. with the actual words of Revelation—as our faith in prophecy; in actuality, they Such an understanding is based on if some concept of verbal inspiration weaken our confidence in it. When careful textual analysis, founded upon was at stake. Adding to the words of understood properly, the of the principles of biblical hermeneutics. Revelation’s prophecies has to do with Revelation have practical purposes: to The idea that the seven heads refer distorting and misinterpreting the teach us how to live today and prepare to individual kings, which are to rep- prophecies of Revelation to suit one’s us for the future. A right understanding resent the seven popes since 1929, is own purposes. This also has to do with of prophecy will also inspire and motiv- not in agreement with the text. Such enforcing speculative ideas and views ate us to try to reach others with the an interpretation is speculative and not warranted by the text. We must message. superimposed upon the biblical text. stay with what John clearly states in Revelation itself gives a warning the text and shun any speculations not 1 Unless otherwise noted, scripture references are from the NASB. against adding or removing from the warranted by the text. 2 For a different view, see Ekkehardt Mueller, “The Beast of Revelation 17: A Suggestion (Part I),” Journal of Asia Adventist words of the prophecy of the book In dealing with the prophecies of Seminary 10, no.1 (2007): 38–40. (Rev. 22:18, 19). The Revelation, we must let the Bible inter- 3 William Johnsson, “The ’ End-Time Victory Over the Forces of is the word of God given by pret itself. We must be careful not to Evil,” in Symposium on Revelation—Book 2, Daniel and Revelation (Rev. 1:2). Tampering with the prophe- speculate beyond what the prophecy Committee Series 7 (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, cies of Revelation carries far-reaching has revealed to us. Any interpretation 1992), 17.

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