Skip to main content
revelation 17:11-13

Explore the Bible Online

Revelation 17:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

11. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 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. 13. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Revelation 17:11-13 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 17:11

Theological / Devotional

The beast that was. See on v. 8.

Even he is the eighth. Literally, “also himself is an eighth.” This is the beast in its revived state, in the “yet is” period following its ascent out of the “bottomless pit” (see on vs. 8, 10). Some consider the eighth power to be the papacy alone; others suggest that it represents Satan. Those who take the latter view point out that at the time here indicated Satan attempts to impersonate Christ (see on 2 Thess. 2:8).

Of the seven. Literally, “out of the seven.” The beast itself—“the eighth”—was, it would seem, the same beast to which the seven heads had been attached (cf. ch. 13:11, 12). Absence in the Greek of the definite article before the word “eighth” suggests that the beast itself was the real authority back of the seven heads, and that it is therefore more than merely another head, the eighth in a series. It is their summation and climax—the beast itself. In the Greek the word for “eighth” is masculine and hence cannot refer to a head, the word for which is feminine.

Perdition. See on v. 8.

By SdaBc