Seven Kings, Five Fallen and One Not come Revelation 17:10

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.” In chapter seventeen and verse ten of Revelation the angel tells John, “there are seven kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come;” John began with the words, “and there are seven kings” which means “there exists seven leaders, princes, commanders and lords of the land”: “five are fallen” or “five of the kings have descended, fallen under condemnation, perished and cast down into ruin”, “and one is” which means “and one certain of the kings exists”, “and the other” which means “and one other of the kings” “is not yet come” or “has not arrived or appeared”. John was told how there are “seven kings” total, and “five of the kings” have been cast down into ruin, and “one” of the kings continues, and the other king has not arrived as yet.

The verse continues, “and when he comes, he must continue a short space.” John continued with the words “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he comes” or “the king who has not arrived yet actually appears”, “he must continue” which means “that king needs to remain, tarry, sojourn and abide” “a short space” which means “for a little or small time”. The “angel” told John when this “king” who has yet to arrive “comes” on the scene, he will “remain and tarry” for a little while.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how this is a description of a succession of “kings” over the city that sits upon “seven mountains”. “Five” of those “kings” have already been removed from their position of power, and one of them was ruling during the time of the angel's message. There is to be another “king” or “ruler” who shall only be in charge for a short period of time. Let us keep in mind that God already knew and knows all these things, and He is the One who has offered “salvation” through His Son Jesus. Though kingdoms come and kingdoms fall, and though rulers reign and rulers lose their power, only God outlasts and is greater than them all. He is the “King of Kings” and the “Lord of Lords”, and those who are wise shall put their faith and trust in Him.

Next time John declares, “the beast that was, and is not, even he it the eighth, and is of the seven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.