Description of the Beast Revelation 17:11

After showing John the apostle the “great whore” who was sitting upon a “scarlet colored beast” and was “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls”, the angel asked him, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space.” In chapter seventeen and verse eleven of Revelation John is given a description of the beast where we read:

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth,

and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.

The verse reads, “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, ...” John began with the words, “and the beast” which means “and the ferocious living being which is the antichrist” “that was” or “who used to exist”, “and is not” which means “and does not exist”, “even he” which refers to “is the certain king who” “is the eighth or “is the eighth king”. The “angel” told John the “eighth king” was the antichrist who lived, was as dead and was living again.

The verse goes on to say, “... and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.” John continued with the words “and is of the seven” which means “this eighth king comes from the same kingly lineage of the seven previous rulers”, “and goes” or “and departs and is lead away” “into perdition” which means “into destruction, ruin and perishing”. John was informed by the “angel” that this “eighth king” was in the “ruler lineage” of the seven previous to him, and his destiny was to be “ruined and destroyed”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how the antichrist will be from the lineage of the seven previous rulers. Though this may not be according to generation, it is certain that his rule shall be like unto his predecessors. “Caesars” ruled in the days of the Roman Empire, and the antichrist shall rule and reign even as they. Though this might be a frightening thought concerning an absolute ruler, we must keep in mind that God rules over all. Daniel the prophet declared concerning God in chapter two and verse twenty-one of his book, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” Those who have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ submit to the “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords”, and though this “eighth king” shall rule like the seven before him, he shall have no power but that which is extended to him by Almighty God.

Next time John shares about the “ten horns”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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