THE EXPLANATION

It would help to begin by carefully reading through Revelation 17, before continuing.

THE WOMAN

1)     In verse one; a certain woman is identified as a great whore "that sitteth upon many waters".  This is explained in V 15; where the many waters are explained as a great multitude of many peoples, nations and languages.  So this woman sits upon or dominates many nations.

2)     V 2; the kings or rulers have committed fornication with her.  She has close and intimate relationships with the rulers of this world, and the nations are intoxicated by their relationships with her.

3)     V3; In spirit (in a vision);  v 4;  I saw her arrayed in purple and scarlet and decked with precious stones and holding a cup filled with abominations and fornications (relationships with the nations).  V5, she is called Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots. V6; she was drunk with the blood of the saints. V9; the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  This woman is a symbol of a great City that rules over the kings of the earth v 18. 

In scripture, a virgin is symbolic of purity, loyalty and true Godliness; symbolic of the Called of God 2 Cor 11:2.  Therefor a whore or harlot symbolizes a fallen or unfaithful woman or church.  This fallen church is not faithful to God, rather she stands on her own traditions instead of the Word of God.  She exalts her leaders ABOVE GOD'S WORD through the Primacy of Peter heresy.  Rather than being faithful to the Word of God, she thinks to; change times and laws.  Changing the Sabbath from the Seventh Day to Sunday, the first day of the week.  Listen to our: THE GREAT DECEPTION tape for more.

CONCLUSION

There is only one woman or church which; organized the crusades, most of which were against dissenters within Europe; only one church who organized Inquisitions against truth seekers, who slaughtered the saints of God.  Only one who dwells in a city of seven hills (mountains) (governments) both literally and also symbolically by dominating seven historic empires.  Only one who adorns it's leaders with scarlet and purple and jewels; and maintains relationships with the governments and rulers of this earth.  Only one who has many daughters (other churches coming out of her in protest, yet still clinging to many of her teachings). The very first one to adopt the Primacy of Peter heresy to exalt herself above God's word. And together with all these things dominates many multitudes and nations.  She is the one who claims to be Christian, who uses the name of Christ while substituting her own traditions for the Word of God.

THE BEAST

Verse 3; the woman sits upon (dominates, controls) a scarlet colored beast, full of the names of blasphemy (calling itself Holy when it is not), having seven heads and ten horns.  Verse 8; this beast (not one of the kings, the beast itself)  was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to destruction.  First line v 10;  and there are seven kings: now verse 11;  and the beast  "that was, and is not, even he is the EIGHTH, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition".

CONCLUSION

This beast itself is the EIGHTH after seven kings have come and gone.  This beast is of the seven, therefore it is the final summation of the seven,  the climax, all seven rolled into one; in power and evil. As the heads and horns are only a PART of this beast, the beast itself pictures the whole evil system, from beginning to the end!

THE SEVEN HEADS

Verse 3; the beast has seven heads. Verse 9; the seven heads are seven mountains (mountains often symbolizes governments). Verse 10; and there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

CONCLUSION

The Roman Emperor CONSTANTINE began this system of Church/State relationship that became known as; THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.  This Empire eventually collapsed and was revived by  Justinian. This was repeated another five times by Otto the Great, Charlemagne, Napoleon,, The Hapsburg's and Mussolini.  The sixth revival, the Hapsburg Dynasty; fell at the end of World War One. At that time; the Mussolini period was still future (the seventh king, to continue for only a short time).  Up till now we have historically seen only one head of this beast at a time. Now we are about to see; not just one of the heads, but the whole vile creature, the whole beast itself; rise up to torment all who will not submit to it.  He is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Rev 17:11

THE TEN HORNS

Verse 3; this beast has ten horns. Verse 12; And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. V 13; these have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast (NOT to the seventh king, but to the beast itself). V 14; These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them. V 16: finally these kings shall realize that they have been had, they have been deceived and they shall turn against and destroy this False Religion that has deceived them.

CONCLUSION

These ten kings set up a new system together with the beast, Rev 17:12-13.  This will be a new government structure based on the Roman model in Europe.  They will rule for one hour (a short time) which is defined as 42 months in Rev 11:2.  Their empire along with the beast, will end with the return of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  At that time they shall turn against the False Church, the great whore and destroy her, v 16-17.

SUMMATION

The Great Whore is the dominant Church of Rome and her daughter churches who reject the Commandments and Laws of Almighty God in favour of their own traditions and opinions.  The Great Church that exalts itself above God by sitting in judgement of His Word.  The Great Church which decides for itself what is right or wrong, in defiance of the Commandments of Almighty God.

The Scarlet Beast is the Holy Roman Empire.

The seven heads are seven revivals of this Holy Roman Empire, while the eighth is the completed beast itself. revealed in all its fullness.

The ten horns are ten rulers who will come together to form this Scarlet Beast at the end of the age reviving this system one LAST time.