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.
12. the ten horns &c.] Comparing Daniel 7, 8, we can hardly doubt that these horns represent kingdoms related to the Roman Empire as the kingdoms of the Diadochi to that of Alexander. Such are the principal kingdoms of modern Europe: and in the recognition of this fact lies the key to mediaeval and to much of modern history. (See Sir F. Palgrave’s Normandy and England, Intr. ch. 1, English Commonwealth, chh. 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, and Dr Bryce’s Holy Roman Empire, passim). The number ten is probably to be taken as exact, but we cannot yet point to it as being definitely realised. It is remarkable that the kingdoms of Europe have (as is pointed out by Elliot, Horae Apoc. Part IV. ch. 4 2) tended at many periods to that number: but there are now more than ten sovereign states in Christendom, or even in Europe only. Judging from the analogy of the Macedonian kingdoms (see on Rev 16:12) we may guess that only those are included which are of considerable size and power, and have some claim to continue the imperial tradition of the common predecessor. The existing states of Germany, France, Austria, and Russia have such a claim (which they assert, more or less constantly and more or less legitimately, by the use of the imperial title): so has our own country, which has claimed rank as an empire coordinate with continental ones since the days of Edgar the Peaceable: so (more doubtfully) have Spain and Portugal in virtue of their memories, and so have the new kingdoms of Greece and Italy in virtue of their hopes. A tenth can hardly be named, for Sweden though powerful was not imperial even under Gustavus Adolphus or Charles XII., and Turkey could hardly be thus coupled with the states of Christendom: but believers will watch the developement of “the Eastern Question” with a solemn interest.
receive power as kings ] It is extraordinary that St Hippolytus, ( On Christ and Antichrist, ch. 27) inferred, apparently not from this passage, but from Dan 2:42, that the ten powers of the last days, among which the Roman empire is partitioned, will pass from monarchies into democracies. Few things were humanly speaking less likely in his days, few more so in ours.
one hour ] Presumably for a very short time: the end will be very near when the ten horns appear in their final and unmistakeable form. It therefore ought not to surprise us, that we cannot identify them all yet, that we only see them in process of developement.
Another explanation of the horns has been suggested (Renan, L’Antechrist, pp. 433, 4) that they are the claimants of the Empire who appeared in the “long year” (Tac. Dial. 17) after the death of Nero. It is possible to enumerate ten of these, but unfortunately not without including both Galba and Vespasian, one of whom must be reckoned among the heads, and therefore not the horns. Else, both Rome and the Roman Empire were so severely shaken in the civil wars between the rival emperors, and their actual fall in the fifth century so nearly anticipated, that this interpretation harmonises well enough with Rev 17:16. On the other hand, it fails to give meaning to Rev 17:13, or to agree with the undoubted meaning of the same symbol in Daniel.
with the beast ] Yet in Dan 7:7-8 the ten horns appear before the little horn (which seems to correspond with this appearance of the Beast, no longer merely as a polity but as a person), and three of them are destroyed by him. I do not pretend to be able to reconcile the two.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the ten horns which thou sawest – On the scarlet-colored beast, Rev 17:3.
Are ten kings – Represent or denote ten kings – that is, kingdoms or powers. See the notes on Dan 7:24.
Which have received no kingdom as yet – That is, they were not in existence when John wrote. It is implied, that during the period under review they would arise, and would become connected, in an important sense, with the power here represented by the beast. For a full illustration respecting the ten kings, or kingdoms here referred to, see the notes on Dan. 7, at the close of the chapter, II. (2).
But receive power – It is not said from what source this power is received, but it is simply implied that it would in fact be conferred on them.
As kings – That is, the power would be what is usually exercised by kings.
One hour – It cannot be supposed that this is to be taken literally. The meaning clearly is, that this would be brief and temporary; that is, it was a form of administration which would be succeeded by one more fixed and permanent. Anyone can see that, in fact, this is strictly applicable to the governments, as referred to in the notes on Daniel, which sprang up after the incursion of the northern barbarians, and which were finally succeeded by the permanent forms of government in Europe. Most of them were very brief in their duration, and they were soon remodelled in the forms of permanent administration. Thus, to take the arrangement proposed by Sir Isaac Newton:
(1)The kingdom of the Vandals and Alans in Spain and Africa;
(2)The kingdom of the Suevians in Spain;
(3)The kingdom of the Visigoths;
(4)The kingdom of the Alans in Gallia;
(5)The kingdom of the Burgundians;
(6)The kingdom of the Franks;
(7)The kingdom of the Britons;
(8)The kingdom of the Huns;
(9)The kingdom of the Lombards;
(10)The kingdom of Ravenna – how temporary were most of these; how soon they passed into the more permanent forms of administration which succeeded them in Europe!
With the beast – With that rising papal power. They would exercise their authority in connection with that, and under its influence.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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.] The meaning of horns has already been defined when speaking of those of the dragon. The meaning is therefore as follows: Though the Latin empire be now in existence, the ten horns refer to ten Latin kingdoms yet in futurity, and consequently they have received no dominion AS YET; for that part of the Latin domination now in power is the sixth head, or imperial government of the heathen Caesars. But the ten states of the Latins receive dominion as monarchies , one time, (as it may be properly translated,) i.e., at the same time with the beast, or that which ascendeth out of the bottomless pit; consequently, the Latin empire here intended is the one which was in futurity in the apostolic age.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings: possibly by ten kings here are not meant monarchs, but governments.
Which have received no kingdom as yet; which were not in being in Johns time, nor in many years after.
But receive power as kings one hour with the beast; but should, during some time of the beasts reign, have power with the papacy, employing their power with his to establish his idolatry. But who these ten monarchs are, or what these ten governmts are, I must confess myself at a loss to determine. It is plain they should be:
1. Such as should be contemporaneous with the reign of the beast.
2. Such as employed their power in conjunction with his.
3. Such as should afterwards be instruments to ruin the papacy, Rev 17:16,17.
The beasts reign being twelve hundred and sixty years, there hath been, and will be, such a variety of princes and governments, as it is very hard to determine who they shall be. But their being contemporaneous with the beast, makes me think it cannot be understood either of any that were in the world before the year 606, when the beasts reign began (though the mystery of iniquity was working, and the image of the beast was making, long before); as also that the ten barbarous nations that disturbed Italy from the year 410 till near 600 could not be meant, being all before antichrist came to any reign; nor did they ever show any great love or hatred to the pope; sometimes serving, sometimes opposing him, as suited their respective civil interests. I am very inclinable to think the prophecy to concern some kings nearer the end of antichrists reign, who though for a while they served the papacy, yet shall at last be instruments to ruin him; but who they are shall do this, or when it shall be, I cannot determine.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. ten kings . . . received nokingdom as yet; but receive power as kings . . . with the beastHenceand from Rev 17:14; Rev 17:16,it seems that these ten kings or kingdoms, are to be contemporarieswith the beast in its last or eighth form, namely, Antichrist.Compare Dan 2:34; Dan 2:44,”the stone smote the image upon his feet,” that is,upon the ten toes, which are, in Da2:41-44, interpreted to be “kings.” The tenkingdoms are not, therefore, ten which arose in the overthrow of Rome(heathen), but are to rise out of the last state of the fourthkingdom under the eighth head. I agree with ALFORDthat the phrase “as kings,” implies that theyreserve their kingly rights in their alliance with the beast, wherein”they give their power and strength unto” him (Re17:13). They have the name of kings, but not withundivided kingly power [WORDSWORTH].See AUBERLEN’S not soprobable view, see on Re 17:3.
one houra definitetime of short duration, during which “the devil iscome down to the inhabitant of the earth and of the sea, having greatwrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.“Probably the three and a half years (Rev 11:2;Rev 11:3; Rev 13:5).Antichrist is in existence long before the fall of Babylon; but it isonly at its fail he obtains the vassalage of the ten kings. He in thefirst instance imposes on the Jews as the Messiah, coming in his ownname; then persecutes those of them who refuse his blasphemouspretensions. Not until the sixth vial, in the latter part of hisreign, does he associate the ten kings with him in war with the Lamb,having gained them over by the aid of the spirits of devils workingmiracles. His connection with Israel appears from his sitting “inthe temple of God” (2Th 2:4),and as the antitypical “abomination of desolation standing inthe Holy place” (Dan 9:27;Dan 12:11; Mat 24:15),and “in the city where our Lord was crucified” (Re11:8). It is remarkable that IRENUS[Against Heresies, 5:25] and CYRILOF JERUSALEM[RUFINUS, HistoriaMonachorum, 10.37] prophesied that Antichrist would have his seatat Jerusalem and would restore the kingdom of the Jews. JULIANthe apostate, long after, took part with the Jews, and aided inbuilding their temple, herein being Antichrist’s forerunner.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings,…. Not ten Christian emperors, which are reckoned up by Brightman from Constantine to Theodosius; for these did not reign with the beast, or give their kingdoms to him, and much less did they make war with the Lamb; they are rather the angels of Michael, that fought for him, the Lamb, against the dragon, and his angels, Re 12:7 nor ten kings that will rise up and divide the Roman empire between them, towards the end of the world, which is a sense devised by Papists to obscure and hide from men the true meaning of the passage; but the ten kingdoms which rose up, and into which the Roman empire was divided upon its being ruined, and torn to pieces by the Goths, Huns, and Vandals. They are the same with the “ten toes” of Nebuchadnezzar’s image, and the “ten horns” of the fourth beast, or kingdom, in Da 2:42. These are differently reckoned up by interpreters: by Napier thus; Spain, France, Lombardy, England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and the exarchate of Ravenna: by Mr. Mede after this manner; the Britains in Britain, under Vortimer their king; the Saxons in the same place, under Hengist; the Franks in Gallia Belgica, or Celtics, under Childeric; the Burgundians in another part of France, under Gunderic; the Wisigoths in Aquitain, and part of Spain, under Theodoric; the Sueves and Alans in Gallaecia and Portugal, under Riciarius; the Vandals in Spain and Africa, under Genseric; the Almains in that part of Germany called Rhetia, under Sumanus; the Ostrogoths in Pannonia, and after in Italy, under Theodomir; and the Greeks in the rest of the empire, under Marcianus: and by another u writer they are accounted for in this way; the Almains in both the Rhetia, and in Pannonia, who rose in the year 356; the Ostrogoths, first in Pannonia, and then in Italy, in 377; the Wisigoths in Pannonia, and then in Italy, afterwards in France, and last of all in Spain, in 378; the Huns in Pannonia, and for some time throughout all Europe, in 378; the Britian Romans in Britain, and afterwards the Saxons, in 406; the Sueves, first in France, and then in Spain, in 407; the Alans, first in France, and then in Spain, in 407; the Vandals, first in France, then in Spain, afterwards in Africa, in 407; the Burgundians in France, in 407; the Franks in France, in 410. And it is generally thought all these ten kingdoms were up by the year 450 at least. Though Dr. Allix makes the epocha of them A. D. 486, when the western empire was taken from the Romans, and fixes them in the following order; the Almains in Rhetia and Pannonia; the Franks in Belgica; the Anglo-Saxons in Britain; the Wisigoths in Gallia Aquitania and Hispania Tarraconensis; the Sueves and Alans in Portugal; the Vandals in Africa; the Burgundians in Gallia Sequanensis; the Ostrogoths in Pannonia, and afterwards in Italy; the Lombards in Pannonia, and the Heruli and Turcilingi, who conquered Augustulus: and though these kingdoms were thrown into different forms and shapes afterwards, yet it is remarkable they were just of this number; as, 1. Italy and Germany; 2. France; 3. Spain; 4. England with Ireland; 5. Scotland; 6. Hungary; 7. Poland with Lithuania; 8. Denmark, with Sweden and Norway, Sweden being since divided; 9. Portugal; 10. The Grecian empire seized by the Ottomans. And as these kings cannot be understood of single persons at the head of these kingdoms, or of so many kings succeeding one another; so neither is it necessary to consider these kingdoms as being in the same state, and made up of the same sort of people always; it is enough that they are in the same place, and within the empire; for we, may observe, that different things, at different times, are ascribed to them, or at least to some. They all are at first of one mind, and give their kingdom to the beast; then they, at least some of them, hate the whore, and burn her with fire; and yet others lament the destruction and burning of Rome, Re 17:16.
Which have received no kingdom as yet: in John’s time, when the Pagan empire was in being, and the beast was not risen, with whom they were to reign; hence these horns have no crowns on them,
Re 12:3.
But receive power as kings one hour with the beast; as soon as he was risen; and therefore the horns are represented with crowns upon them, Re 13:1. Their rise was with the Papal beast, who rose not to his supreme power and dignity until the western emperor, which let and hindered, was removed out of the way; which was done by the barbarous nations, who set up these kingdoms, which made way for the lordly and tyrannical government of the pope of Rome; so that he and they rose up together: and this may he meant by the “one hour”; namely, that at one and the same hour or season he came to his supreme authority and grandeur, and they received their kingly power with him; or this may denote the time of their continuance in their honour and greatness; it was but for an hour, or a short time, as that phrase sometimes signifies, Phm 1:15 and so the Ethiopic version renders it, “for one hour”; to which agrees the Arabic version,
and their power shall be of one hour: and this shall be “as kings”; for they only have the title of kings, but not sovereign power; they are vassals to the beast, the pope, who reigns over them, Re 17:18 and sets up kings in these kingdoms, and deposes them at pleasure; exalting himself above all that is called God, or above all civil magistrates; so that these have only the name, not the thing; they are as kings, and look like such, but are not really so; though what power they have, they receive not from the beast, but from God; the beast receives his power and authority, as well as seat, from the dragon; but civil power and magistracy is from God, who suffers these princes, and gives them up to such stupidity as to give their kingdom to the beast, and to exercise their power as he directs.
u De Excidio Antichristi apud Poli Synops. in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Which have received no kingdom as yet ( ). Second aorist (proleptic and prophetic) active indicative of . The heads are emperors and the horns are kings (both called ).
As kings ( ). Compared to kings (see in Rev 1:10; Rev 4:6; Rev 9:7; Rev 13:3; Rev 14:3; Rev 16:21) without identification with the emperors, though succeeding them with “quasi-imperial powers” with the beast.
For one hour ( ). Accusative of extent of time, and that a brief time (Rev 18:10; Rev 18:16; Rev 18:19) in comparison with the beast (13:2).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Kings which [] . The compound relative classifying : “of the kind which.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the ten horns which thou sawest,” (kai ta deka kerata ha eides) “and the ten horns which thou didst see the Gentile Satellite rulers in consort with the beast (the antichrist), reflecting the moral, ethical and spiritual, corruption and idolatry of Rome and Babylon.
2) “Are ten kings,” (deka basileis eisin) “exist as or are ten kings (royal rulers),” peon princedom that are yet to combine and confederate with the beast in the future.
3) “Which have received no kingdom as yet,” (oitines basileian aupo elabon) “who have not yet received or (taken to themselves) a kingdom,” an administrative government of a province under the final one world ruler who apes the coming King of Kings as ruler of the world, Luk 1:31-35.
4) “But receive power as kings one hour,” (alla eksousian hos basileis mian horan lambanousin) “but they receive administrative authority as (like) kings for a period (one hour),” for a short period of time, during the latter forty-two months of the time of Jacob’s trouble or the tribulation the great, Dan 7:20-28.
5) “With the beast,” (meta tou theriou) “with (as associates with) the beast; These ten kings are bound together with slave-like chains of allegiance to the beast, the final Gentile world Empire and her antichrist leader; Zec 1:18-19; Zec 1:21; Rev 13:1. Note that all the cohorts, consorts, and those in collusion with the beast are blasphemers against God – going like swine to the slaughter, willingly.
A GANG OF ROYAL GALLEY-SLAVES
A gang of royal galley slaves. We have seen more than once, in the neighborhood of convict settlements,, men yoked together, and working under the supervision of armed taskmasters. Here we have ten kings – I. Of royal title without royal liberty; II. Independent monarchs yet tributary to a sovereign; Ill. Proud of Divine right, yet ruled by Satan’s might; IV. Unfaithful stewards, using their power and strength not for the popular weal, but to advance the power of the popular oppressor.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(12) And the ten horns . . .The explanation of the ten horns. They are the kings, not necessarily, as we have seen, personal kings, but rather kingdoms or nationalities, who received not a kingdom as yet; as they are on the seventh head, the hour of their power is not yet, but comes at the fall of the sixth head: then they receive power one hour. (Comp. short time in Rev. 17:10.) But though these are sundered powers, they are one in their subjection to the wild beast. They have one mind or judgment, and their power and authority they give to the wild beast. The universal empire idea may disappear, but the spirit and principle of mere earthliness will remain; it needs no vast power like Rome to illustrate its spirit. The ten horns are united in one mind; they move as the wild beast directs; their work and tendency of their power is hostile to Christ. They shall make war with the Lamb; and the Lamb shall conquer them because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. When do these powers make war with the Lamb? The answer is, they make war when the direction of their policy and morals is in favour of oppression, wrong, worldliness; whenever nations or peoples allow the secular spirit to breathe through all they do, they are not with Christ, they are against Him. There are hints that some special outbreak of hostility may take place on the eve of the full manifestation of the righteous King and His kingdom (Rev. 19:16-19); busy evil spirits, lawless utterances, unbrotherly federations, unspiritual conceptions, may pave the way for such; the great crisis will then come, when the issue will be secularity and spirituality. It is not necessary to define the ten kings; the number does not need to be pressed as literal; for in Hebrew, when a whole was to be divided into parts, ten was the number commonly adopted (Bhr, quoted by Dr. Currey). The war of the ten kings against the Lamb is brought out more fully in Revelation 19. There the King of kings is seen victorious; in His victory they who are with Him, the called, and chosen, and faithful, shall share. This threefold description is a brief summary of the Christian life. This is the only place where St. John employs the word translated called. (Comp. Mat. 20:16.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Ten kings That is, kingdoms.
No kingdom as yet They exist, as yet, (that is, in John’s time,) as sections of the empire, and are not developed into nationalized independencies. But (will) receive power Or, become sovereignties.
One hour One season. The Greek word may signify a season of the year; a period of human life, as manhood; and in Joh 4:23, it covers the whole period of the duration of a spiritual christianity on earth. Alford insists that it shall here mean, literally, an hour; but how absurd to suppose that the concurrence of the nations with Rome should be precisely sixty minutes! The national magnitude of the matter requires a correspondent magnitude of the season.
With the beast For a period the European sovereignties will act in alliance with, and in obedience to, the Romish spiritual empire. The bishop of bishops will be king of kings. Though a large share of these ten kings have, since the Reformation, withdrawn from Romanism, yet Pius IX, in an address to the Italians, once said, “We three millions of subjects have two hundred millions of brethren of every language and of every nation.” Wordsworth.
‘And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.’
The idea of the ten horns is taken from Dan 7:7 where they represent ten rulers that arise from the great and terrible fourth beast before the judgment sits (Dan 7:26). Thus they are ten rulers who arise in the end days. They receive authority for ‘one hour’ their period of reign is minimal and they are contemporary with each other as in Daniel. Ten is a number regularly signifying completeness so that in the end all the rulers under the beast are finally in mind. We can compare the lines of ten patriarchs in Genesis 5, 11 which represented all the patriarchs, and how ten ‘rulers’ are described in Psa 83:6-8 incorporating the nations surrounding Israel and including Assyria in their vendetta against Israel.
So we have in these verses the arising of a ‘Beast’ (a bestial leader over a bestial empire) who will arise towards the end of time and will establish an alliance of powerful rulers. All is building up to man’s final confrontation with God.
Rev 17:12-17 . The interpretation of the ten horns, also (Rev 17:15 ) of the waters, on which the harlot sits. In conclusion, the interpretation of the harlot herself, Rev 17:18 , follows the interpretation of the special points.
. Hengstenb. errs in two ways by regarding the number ten , which is analogous to the number seven , Rev 17:9 sqq., as inaccurate, and the , again, as reigns. See, besides, on Rev 17:18 .
. The limitation of in Grot., viz., “in the parts of the Roman Empire,” is more explicit than the closing words of Rev 17:12 . The text says that the ten kings in general have received no dominion at all; but they obtained authority as kings, and that, too, as associates and aids of the beast ( . .; cf. Rev 17:13 sq.), for “one hour;” for they shall be immediately abandoned by the Lord. The very brief duration ( . accus., as Rev 9:5 ) of their rule, designated in a schematic way, [3884] appears to correspond with the circumstance that of one of these kings it is said: . . The of these would then appear, not as a complete sovereignty, but as a quickly evanescent power, which, however, because of its temporary greatness, is represented as one that is royal. [3885]
. The words immediately following give [3886] the statement that the unanimity of these kings is intended to act in concert with the beast, and that, too, first of all, against the Lord (Rev 17:14 ), but then also against the harlot (Rev 17:16 ).
. Here, however, there immediately follows as the reverse of Rev 11:7 , Rev 13:7 the statement that not only the Lamb, because he is the Lord of all lords and King of kings, [3887] but even believers, shall conquer those kings. The . suggests for the further designation of subject, , . . ., [3888] the idea of a . [3889] The threefold designation, according to which the saints [3890] appear as those who have been called and chosen on the part of their Lord, and have, on their part, maintained their fidelity, [3891] emphasizes the inner foundation of the victory, confirming the promise, and likewise calling to mind the condition of the victory.
[3884] Cf. Rev 18:10 .
[3885] Cf. Rev 9:3 .
[3886] Cf. also Rev 17:17
[3887] Cf. Rev 19:16 .
[3888] The of the Lord, Rev 19:14 ; Rev 19:19 .
[3889] Unnaturally, Beng.: “Those who are with him are the elect,” who are only to look on.
[3890] Cf. Rev 13:7 .
[3891] Cf. Rev 2:10 .
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.
Ver. 12. Are ten kings ] Of ten different kingdoms, Naples, Spain, Portugal, France, Polony, Bohemia, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, and this of England, which as it was the first of the ten that submitted to the pope’s yoke, so was it the first that shook it off again in Henry VIII’s time.
Rev 17:12-18 : the campaign of Nero and his vassal-kings against Rome, which is slain by an arrow feathered from her own wings.
Rev 17:12-13 . This political application of the ten horns probably means either the Parthian satraps of Rev 16:12 , reckoned in round numbers, who occupied a royal position in the estimation of the East (so, e.g. , Eichhorn, de Wette, Bleek, Bousset, Scott, J. Weiss, Baljon, Wellhausen), or (“chefs d’arme,” Havet) the governors of the (ten senatorial) provinces, holding office for ( ) one year (so Ewald, Hilg., Hausrath, Mommsen, B. Weiss, Hirscht, Briggs, Selwyn, B. W. Henderson [“the number may be derived from Daniel. In any case it is a round number, and the seer did not go round counting the number of the Roman provinces”]), unless it is to be left as a vague description of the allies (Weizs., Holtzm., Swete). Philo ( de leg. ad Caium xxxiv.) notes the facilities possessed by proconsuls for starting revolutions, especially if they commanded powerful armies such as those stationed on the Euphrates to protect Syria.
no . . . as yet. As “not yet” above.
power. App-172.
one hour, i.e. at one and the same hour. Confusion results from substituting “kingdoms” for “kings” in the connection. The Holy Spirit says kings; who and what they are will be known at the time of their association with the beast.
Rev 17:12. , the ten horns) The ten horns correspond with the ten toes of the kingly image: Dan 2:41-42; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:20; Dan 7:24; and since each of the feet has five toes, we must wait to see whether the ten kings are about to be divided by any means into two quinaries.- —[191]-, they have not received: they receive, have, give: they shall make war) The past, the present, the future. They have not received, because they gave [their kingdom] to the beast: Rev 17:17. Objection: The order of the text is thus changed. Answer: Let the Chiasmus lately noticed be weighed: in accordance with which, even in Rev 17:18, present things are put before the future things noticed in Rev 17:14; and, independently of that verse, even before the future things of Rev 17:16, the slaughter of the kings is also mentioned immediately before the destruction of the beast, Rev 17:8; Rev 17:14.- , as kings) Having not received the kingdom until now.- , one hour) comp. Rev 17:10, note. It is not said, in one hour, as ch. Rev 18:10; but for one hour. A similar use of the accusative occurs, ch. Rev 20:2.- , with the beast) The beast has his followers, ten kings: antithetical to (Rev 17:14.) with Him, the Lamb, who also has His followers.
[191] So AB Vulg. Iren.; but Rec. Text, , h Vulg. (Fuld. MS., not Amiat. the best MS.)-E.
the ten: Rev 12:3, Rev 13:1, Dan 2:40-43, Dan 7:7, Dan 7:8, Dan 7:20, Dan 7:24, Zec 1:18-21
Reciprocal: Jdg 5:19 – kings Psa 2:2 – kings Psa 48:4 – General Psa 110:5 – strike Ecc 3:17 – for Isa 8:9 – Associate Isa 13:3 – mighty ones Isa 19:2 – I will Isa 33:1 – when thou shalt cease Jer 28:14 – that they Jer 30:14 – lovers Eze 16:25 – and hast made Eze 23:9 – General Dan 2:41 – the feet Dan 8:24 – but Dan 11:31 – arms Oba 1:7 – the men of Zec 12:3 – though Zec 14:13 – a great Mar 14:22 – this Act 4:26 – kings Act 5:39 – if Rev 11:18 – the nations Rev 13:2 – gave Rev 17:16 – the ten Rev 18:9 – the kings Rev 19:19 – I saw Rev 19:20 – the beast
Rev 17:12. These ten kings (or small kingdoms) are named at chapter 13:1. It says they had received no kingdom as yet. The meaning is they were not in rightful control of their kingdoms although they were acting as kings. But the phrase also indicates that they will finally be kings in their own right after Papal Rome has been put down even as Pagan Rome was, then each nation will have its own chosen form of government. But for the time being they may only act as kings. One hour with the beast is a figure of speech meaning that the time for continued oppression of Rome was to be comparatively short. The reader should bear in mind that the vision goes from the days of Pagan Rome in verse 11 to those of Papal Rome in the present verse. On that basis the beast now is Papal Rome in conjunction with the state.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 12.
(4) The coordination of the ten kings–Rev 17:12-18 :
The ten kings of the beast in verse twelve had received no kingdom as yet; but receive power one hour with the beast. These mock rulers of the Roman tributaries had no independent rule; they were the contemporary subordinate rulers with the beast for one hour–that is, a temporary exercise of a delegated power in conjunction with Rome, but of short duration as persecutors; their power would continue no longer than the accomplishment of God’s will in the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of Judaism.
Rev 17:12. The heads have been explained: we come next to the horns. These horns are all connected with the seventh head; they are gathered together upon it, and are a substitute for it (see on chap. Rev 13:1). They are now explained to be ten kings, i.e not personal kings, but kingdoms, authorities, or powers of the world. They had not as yet received their kingdom, for the Seer has seen only the sixth head actually manifested. The historical applications of these ten kings may be passed over without remark. The number is as usual symbolical, denoting all the antichristian powers of earth which were to arise after the sixth head had fallen or the great Roman Empire been broken up.
They receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. The expression one hour can hardly occasion difficulty, corresponding, as it obviously does, to the short while of Rev 17:10. It is more difficult to see the meaning of the words with the beast. These words appear to imply that the ten kings shall have their authority at the same time as the beast, while it would seem from Rev 17:11 that the manifestation of the latter follows the appearance of the seventh head. The difficulty is to be resolved by remembering that each of the six powers that had been spoken of before the seventh arose has, no less than the seventh, really ruled with the beast. Each of them had been a special manifestation of the beast. The preposition with may imply more than contemporaneousness. On this point its use in chap. Rev 19:20, to say nothing of other passages, seems to be decisive. We there read not, and with him the false prophet but and the with-him-false-prophet or, more idiomatically, the false-prophet-with-him; while we learn from chap. Rev 13:12 that the relation of the false prophet to the beast is that of subordination. Here, therefore, as well as there, such subordination, such ministering to the purpose of another, is implied in the preposition with. But, although the first six heads ruled with the beast and the beast ruled in them, the beast survived them; and, when they have fallen, it makes yet another effort to accomplish its purpose previous to its own total overthrow. This it does by means of the ten horns (or the seventh head) which thus rule with it. These, however, are the last through which the beast shall exercise its power. They complete the cycle of seven; and, when the Lord has borne with them till the hour of judgment strikes, He will slay them with the breath of His mouth, and bring them to nought by the manifestation of His coming (2Th 2:8). The meaning of Rev 17:11-12 of this chapter, then, is simply this,that, after the fall of the Roman power, there shall arise a number of powers, symbolically ten, exhibiting the same ungodly spirit as that which had marked Rome and the powers of the world that had preceded Rome. In them the beast shall concentrate all its rage: they shall be the last and readiest instruments of its will. But it shall be in vain. The beast and they have their hour. They continue their short while, and then they perish.
Observe here, the angel farther explains to St. John this great mystery of the beast; declaring that the ten horns of the beast do signify ten kings, which should employ their power with the beast, and in conjunction with his established idolatry, to uphold his bloody religion; next their wicked unity is declared in giving their power and strength to the beast: They have one mind, Rev 17:13 that is, they unanimously concur in aiding, strengthening, and assisting the beast, in using their power, and employing their authority, to maintain him in his idolatrous and Pagan-like superstitions.
Lastly it is declared for what end they thus concur together, in giving their power and strength to the beast, namely, to make war with the Lamb; that is, to take part with antichrist, and oppose Christ in his truth and gospel, in his ministers and members, in his children and servants, But the Lamb shall overcome them.
Some shall be converted by the power of the gospel, others shall be confounded, one way or other brought into subjection: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, that is, clothed with divine power.
Christ though a meek Lamb, yet is a mighty Lord. The titles here given him show his godhead and omnipotency: and having such a power, he knows how to fit instruments for his purpose; and those whom he will make use of in this work, shall be chosen persons, and faithful in the discharge of the trust committed to them. All that are faithful to Christ, shall share with him in his victory.
There are always those who ride to power on the wave created by another. They are without real power of their own but do rule for a time with the one they ascended to power with.
Verse 12
One hour; for a brief season. The ten kings are regarded as denoting the various kingdoms into which Rome was divided after the dissolution of the empire, on the hypothesis that Papal Rome is included in the aim and design of this chapter. It is said below that these powers, though conspiring for a time to sustain the beast, (Revelation 17:13,) afterwards accomplished the destruction of the woman who sat upon it.
17:12 {26} And the ten horns which thou sawest are {27} ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings {28} one hour with the beast.
(26) The third place of this description, as I said in see Geneva “Rev 17:8” is a prophetical prediction of things to come, which the beast should do, as in the words following John does not obscurely signify, saying, “which have not yet received the kingdom, etc”. For there is an antithesis or opposition between these kings, and those that went before. First the persons are described in this verse, then their deeds, in the two verses following.
(27) That is, arising with their kingdoms out of that Roman beast: at such time as that political empire began to fall by the plotting of the popes.
(28) Namely, with that second beast, whom we called before a false prophet, who ascending out of the earth, got to himself all the authority and power of the first beast, and exercised the same before his face, as was said in Rev 14:11-12 . For when the political empire of the west began to bow downwards, there arose those ten kings, and the second beast took the opportunity offered to usurp for himself all the power of the former beast. These kings long ago, many have numbered and described to be ten, and a great part of the events plainly testifies the same in this our age.
The specific identity of the 10 horns (other kings but without kingdoms when John wrote) is not yet clear. Mounce took them as symbolic of complete power without reference to kings or kingdoms. [Note: Mounce, p. 317. Cf. Beale, p. 878.] They will be allies of the beast and serve under him in his worldwide government during the Great Tribulation (Dan 7:23-24). Each of them will rule a kingdom simultaneously with one another and with the beast (cf. Dan 7:7-8; Dan 7:24). [Note: Bullinger, pp. 545-48; Walvoord, The Revelation . . ., p. 255; Kelly, pp. 368-76.] They will have authority to rule "for one hour," very briefly during the Great Tribulation (cf. Rev 18:10; Rev 18:17; Rev 18:19). Evidently their short, independent rule will immediately precede the return of Jesus Christ to the earth (Rev 17:14). The beast will give them their authority, but God will permit him to do so.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)