The Seven Head Puzzle
Most of us who study Revelation extensively have wrestled with the identity of the seven heads on the dragon of Revelation 12, the composite beast of Revelation 13, and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17. We notice that in chapter 12, the seven heads have crowns. In chapter 13, the crowns are on the ten horns rather than the seven heads. In chapter 17, there are no crowns. It has been thought that when the dragon appeared in chapter twelve, the crowns on the heads indicate that the events took place during the dominion of the seven powers. By the same token, the crowns on the heads in chapter 13 indicate that the events described take place during the period signified by the 10 horns. If this pattern holds true, then the lack of crowns in chapter 17, places the events at the end of the millennium, just as I have written in my book, Revelation Decoded.
So, who or what do the seven heads represent? Revelation 17:9-10, gives us some clues in the form of a riddle: “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven, and he goes to destruction.”
Notice that the heads are mountains, which are kings. Are these literal kings? In Daniel chapter 2, as Daniel interprets the dream to Nebuchadnezzar, he said, “You, O king, are the head of gold…and after you will arise another kingdom…” Daniel told the king that he was the head of gold. But after him would come another “kingdom,” not “king.” Clearly, Daniel meant that Nebuchadnezzar represented Babylon. Daniel 8:17 says, “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth.” Here again, the four kingdoms—Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome—are called “kings.” So there is a precedent for the term “king” to stand for “kingdom.”
“Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come…” We must calculate this riddle at the time that John was given the vision. He lived under the kingdom of Rome. Counting back from Rome, you would include Greece, Persia and Babylon. What these kingdoms have in common is that they suppressed controlled or reigned over God’s people Israel. Taking this principle back farther than the four kingdoms of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7, we could include Egypt and Assyria. Both were world- class powers in their day that tangled with Israel. So the five that had fallen were: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. The one that was at that time was Rome. Many commentators see the one that is yet to come as Papal Rome as opposed to Pagan Rome which existed in John’s day. Actually, in the visions of Daniel 2, 7 and 8, Pagan and Papal Rome are not treated as two separate powers. That leaves us with wondering what power is yet to come that “must remain for a little while.”
Some believe that it is the Papacy after the deadly would is healed. Still others believe that it is the United States. Neither really works well. The United States is already represented by a different symbol in Revelation 13, so it cannot also be one of the heads. The Papacy is already a head with Rome, so should not be counted again, or the continuum would be broken.
Let’s look at the phrase, “must remain a little while.” Is the emphasis here on the shortness of its reign? Or is the emphasis on the “must remain” for some reason? It is hard to tell.
There is one other kingdom, or empire that reigned and is largely lost sight of in today’s studies. It is the Ottoman Empire. This empire was considered widely in the commentaries of the past. It has largely been lost sight of. The Ottoman Empire had its capitol in Constantinople, Turkey, which was also the ancient seat of the Roman Empire after Constantine changed it from Rome. It was one of the greatest and most significant cities for hundreds of years. The Ottoman Empire was made up of Moslems. At their zenith they reached from Europe on the northwest to Persia on the east and Egypt in the South. There influence and dread reached across Europe and especially all the way to Spain. Because of their strategic location, the Empire held control of the trade between Europe and India. It was because they cut off the flow of trade that Columbus was motivated to find a route to India the other direction, and accidentally discovered America. At times, the Christian European nations feared the Ottomans more than anyone else. The Ottoman Empire endured for many centuries. During its last 100 years or more, it was called the “Sick Man of the East.” This was because of its weakened condition. Several times when it was just about to meet its demise, other nations would come to its rescue, which makes little sense if it had been a threat to the Christian world.
In 1825, Clarke wrote in his commentary on Daniel 11 that the Ottoman Empire was the one pointed out in verses 40 through 45. He stated that verse 44 would be fulfilled when Persia and Russia threaten the Ottomans and they fight a war. In fact, about 30 years latter that is exactly what happened. We call it the “Crimean War.” England and France came to the aid of the Turks, and they survived. Why were other Christian nations fearful of the demise of the Ottoman Empire? Simply because of Daniel 11:45. “He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Many believed that when the Ottoman Empire ended, Christ would come and the world would end.
So, what happened? By the time World War I broke out, the Ottoman Empire had pulled back from its once larger territory to include only Turkey and Palestine. (Turkey lies between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Palestine includes the “Holy Mountain” of old, which is Jerusalem) The Ottomans sided with the Germans in the war, were defeated and signed surrender to the British in October of 1918.
The Ottoman Empire was the last of a continual succession of powers that controlled Palestine. It became a British protectorate after the war and until it was partitioned into the present state of Israel in 1948.
Canaan (Palestine) was a territory of Egypt when the Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus. Assyria took control of the ten northern tribes of Israel, and then Babylon defeated Judah. Palestine was under the control of Persia, Greece and Rome. Then the Ottoman Empire had control of the area. That is why there is a Moslem Mosque on the “Holy Mountain” today.
Could the seven heads of the dragon and beasts be: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and the Ottoman Empire? It fits the pattern. If that is so, and if the Ottoman Empire’s end was the fulfillment of Daniel 11:45, we will have to take another look at Daniel 12:1.
That we will attempt to do next week.
Until then, have a good and prosperous week.
Dennis
dennispumford.com
convert this post to pdf.
Related Articles
No user responded in this post