Apocalipse 17

Apocalipse 17

MacArthur - The first aspect of the vision that needs to be understood is that the seven heads of the beast (v. 3) are seven mountains or hills on which the woman sits. Some commentators associate the seven mountains with Rome, famous for being built on seven hills, and identify the woman as the Roman Catholic Church. But such an interpretation is too narrow; something more than just Rome must be in view, because Antichrist’s empire is worldwide. Nor can the woman be the Roman Catholic Church, since, as noted above, verse 18 identifies her as the city of Babylon. Also “when the woman sits on the ‘many waters’ (v. 1) this must be taken as metaphorical since it is interpreted in Rev 17:15; when the woman sits upon ‘a scarlet coloured beast’ this again is symbolic; thus when she sits upon the ‘seven mountains’ this too must be figurative” (James Allen, What the Bible Teaches: Revelation [Kilmarnock, Scotland: John Ritchie Ltd., 1997], 424). Finally, the angel’s call for spiritual discernment would have been pointless if the seven mountains were an obvious geographical reference to Rome. (Revelation Commentary) (Bolding Added) Hampton Keathley on Revelation 17:9 - This system of the beast also has “seven heads. This is explained for us in 17:9–10. “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits and they are seven kings…” The seven heads are seven mountains and seven kings. Some see this as a reference first to the seven hill city of Rome, and then to seven dynasties or rulers of the old Roman empire, as kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, military tribunes and emperors, or as seven successive emperors of Imperial Rome, as Nero (A.D. 54-68), Galba (A.D. 68), Otho (A.D. 69), Vitellius (A.D. 69), Vespasian (A.D. 69-79), Titus (A.D. 79-81), and Domitian (A.D. 81-91) under whom great persecution of the church occurred. So it would thus refer to the city and to those who ruled in Rome. Quite clearly the beast is not only a kingdom or an empire, but also a man (cf. 2 Thess. 2:8–9; Dan. 9:27; 11:36; 7:24–25). But another and I believe a better interpretation of the seven heads is that the seven heads represent seven phases of Gentile powers or nations which find their culmination in the beast. The ten horns look at the future history of the beast and the seven heads, the past history. The seven heads are mountains, seven successive historic Gentile kingdoms, who are represented by seven kings or rulers. This is supported by the following: (1) Revelation 17:10 tells us the seven mountains are kings. This could indicate that the mountains are symbolical for the kingdoms these seven kings represent. (2) Rome is known as the city of seven hills, but the hills of Rome are not mountains. (3) The term mountain is commonly used in Scripture as an image of a kingdom (Psalm 30:7; Isaiah 2:3; Dan. 2:35, 45; Jer. 51:5). (4) But more importantly, chapter 17 deals with the harlot system of Babylon which goes all the way back to the time of Nimrod and all these Gentile world powers have been her lovers and supporters, not Rome alone (cf. 17:1–2, 15). It is more likely that the seven mountains refer to seven successive Gentile kingdoms which go way back, far beyond Rome. Preacher's Outline Study Bible (POSB) on Revelation 17:9 - the seven mountains or seven heads are said by many to refer to Rome. That is, in the end time religious Babylon or false religion will sit in Rome. This is because Rome was known in ancient times as the city on seven hills. But note: this is not what John says. He clearly says that the seven heads represent seven kings or governments (Rev 17:10). By seven mountains he means that false religion sits upon seven kingdoms or empires that have complete and full rule and power. Note that the seven mountains and seven heads mean seven kings of kingdoms and empires. Note that this is what Scripture says. Rod Mattoon - The seven heads of the beast's kingdom are seven mountains. Some scholars have concluded that the seven mountains represent Rome because it is a city built on seven hills. They also believe the woman referred to here is the Roman Catholic Church. Technically speaking, Rome was built upon nine hills along the Tiber River: Palatine, Aventine, Caelian, Equiline, Viminal, Quirimal, Capitoline, and later, Janiculum, and Pincian. I believe there is a better interpretation to this passage. John states that the seven mountains are seven kings or kingdoms. Mountains in the Bible can be a symbol for kingdoms. Isaiah 2:2—And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. Jeremiah 51:25—Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. Daniel 2:35—Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. When John wrote the Revelation, five world empires or kingdoms had already fallen in history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. Rome was the major power in John's time. The seventh kingdom was yet to come which I believe will be the Revived Roman Empire. The eighth kingdom is possibly a reference to the AntiChrist himself and his own kingdom in which he demands the worship of the world. Others feel that the reference to the seven heads refer to the Roman emperors. When John had recorded the Revelation, five emperors were already dead: Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. The Emperor of John's day was Domitian. The seventh emperor was believed to be the AntiChrist. I don't hold to this position, but it is one that is being presented. Warren