The seven heads in Rev.17

Vladimir_Levi · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 1

The Doctrine about which there is a speech, exists in an Adventists Church many years, and there is a strange attitude to it. On the one hand, nobody can deny it (anyway, for many years I did not hear any serious argument), and on the other hand, a very few people agrees with it. The question is research of the Rev.17:9-14. This text that you can see here is not full and can cause questions. I am ready to answer them.

In Revelation 17 it is shown the woman sitting upon a beast, who have seven heads, and court above her. Explaining vision, the angel speaks to prophet (Rev.17:9-10): " And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth. And 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".
Key to a solution of 7th heads symbol contains in three visions from Revelation: 12, 13 and 17 chapters. In chapter 12 the beast symbolizes a devil, trying to destroy the Christ at His birth, his instrument at this attempt - pagan Rome; and in general a devil working through Rome. In chapter 13 the beast with Seven Heads is papacy, in charter 17 - papacy at the end of time. Thus, the context of the Rev.12 does not allow to interpret "Seven heads" as something existing up to pagan Rome, and chapters 13 and 17 consider them the time of existence of the papacy. Investigating Daniel's prophecies where we also meet symbols of "heads" and "horns", we see, that neither that nor another does not represent the powers existing up to that "animal". Without exception, any authority submitted in a prophecy by "heads" or "horns", reaches power during time or after board of the power submitted by «animal», but never before it. For example, Dan. 7: 6, 7-8 and 8: 20, 21-22. "Head" and "horns" in the Rev.13 could not exist up to "animal", i.e. papacy.
" And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth. And seven kings... " Rev. 17: 9-10. Thus, mountains is not a symbol, but meaning of a symbol. The text is told, that the women (Catholic church, papacy) sits on them. For many centuries Rome is known as the city situated on seven hills or mountains (see also Rev. 17:18 is Rome - and Rev. 18). Further we read: " ... And seven kings ". The SYMBOL of the HEAD HAS DOUBLE MEANING : IT is the SYMBOL of the PAPACYâ€™S THRONE AND SEVEN KINGS. In all other prophecies where in the vision one symbol represents two different concepts, there is very close connection between these concepts. In Rev. 12:4, for example, the dragon though represents first of all a Satan, also symbolizes pagan Rome, the instrument by means of which the devil tried to destroy the Christ. As seven kings are connected in our context with Rome, they represent the governors in this place.
Also in the Bible the term "head" is often used figuratively as a symbol of the head(leader), including spiritual. And also: the beast are full of names of blasphemy on his heads . And Catholics consider, that all names concerning in Holy Scripture to the Christ, also concern and to the Pope, and this blasphemy, and not simply made, but made in a name. All these determining attributes, given in a prophecy, find the full realization in Popies.
However Popies was more, than seven.

WHAT IS THE POPIES AND WHY the ACCENT is DONE ON THEM? " And 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" Rev. 17:10. It means, that in vision the apostle saw 6-th Pope ruling. And the God wishes His people to tell the Pope from other during his board. Present time in prophetical vision should be understood in that context in which it is used. It means, that present time is not concerns to the moment of a prophetâ€™s life, but to the that future which he saw in this vision. Confirming it we shall see to the examples. Jeremiah has told about ancient Babylon: " Babylon is taken " (Jer.50:2), " Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed " (Jer.51:8). These words have been written, when king of Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar practically operated the world. There are still more many other examples.
HOW TO LEARN, WHERE WE CAN TO BEGIN THE TIME-KEEPING of SEVEN POPIES? It is written in Rev.13:3: " And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed. ". According to a prophecy, only one "head" will test on itself consequences of a wound and healing, and the only Head of Catholic church meet these requirements, is Pope Pyi XI (rules from 1922 to 1939). Healing of a wound has taken place in 1929.

LET SEE IN MORE DETAIL AT the QUESTION OF HEALING of the WOUND. Adventistâ€™s doctrine considers, that "wound" for papacy was capture of the Pope in 1798 (the end of 1260-years domination) and the loss which has followed behind it of freedom. And in 1870 in general the army of king Victor Emmanuel II has rammed a wall of Rome, capital of the Papal state.
This prophecy was completely executed by signing of Latheran Agreements and the Concordat in 1929. Then the state Vatican and papacy has received the sovereignty much more surpassed received him in 538 and lost in 1798. Historians recognize it and we can see it today. Ruling now John Paul II is 6-th "Head" of papacy since time of healing of a wound. Among all Popies he visited the greatest quantity of countries. During the board he became the oustanding and esteemed person all over the world. The angel speaks about him, that he "is", that not only point to present time of his board, but also and emphasizes his importance.

ACCORDING TO the PROPHECY, there is ONLY ONE AFTER PRESENT 6-th POPE. And the seventh daddy will be the last (see a context of chapter 17 about court over). Because during his board Holy Scripture speaks about the "beast" who ascends out of the bottomless pit and will lead all world on war against the Christ. "Those have one mind, and shall give their power and strength into the beast. Those shall make war with the Lamb." (Revelation 17:13,14). "War" is a the Armageddon fight about which it is spoken in Revelation 16:12-16 and which will take place during time of "the sixth plague". Then "the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, those shall hate the whore (Catholic church), and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire" (Revelation 17:16). This destruction of Babylon will take place during the seventh and last from seven final "plague" (Revelation 16:17-19). Dear friends, do you understand, what does it mean? Hour is late already, and "plague" will soon be pour out on our earth. But we can avoid ourselves if we completely trust the lives in hands of the Christ. This message of the Divine mercy does not open to us neither day, nor hour, even year of coming of the Christ, but it clearly proclaims his affinity, that it "at doors". It is better today to transfer our lives completely in hands of the Christ and to use time for service and testify people about His Word? Are you ready right now to give the heart to the Christ completely? (Itâ€™s not particularly for you, supervising brothers, because you, I hope, serve the Lord. Simply it is the quotation from the book about this doctrine). We cannot lose time. Please, my friends, do it now.

Nevertheless the major importance of this prophecy consists how many that present time of prophecy of the Rev. 17:10 - time of the Sixth Pope "one is" is connected to announcement of a message of other angel from the Rev.18:1-5 which together with a message of third angel of the Rev.14: 9-12 makes a message of last caution to inhabitants of the Earth. The conclusion from here follows: there is a Godâ€™s will, that during the Sixth Poup message of the Rev.18:1-5 has begun to sound with special force, and we should check up, whether completely, whether all opportunities given to us we have joined in this work and if are not, Try to correct the ways before the God or will be late. This conclusion proves to be true also that fact what exactly now, during the Sixth Poup Adventistâ€™s message is announced especially actively: the large-scale sermon in former socialist countries was developed, in the countries of Africa, in China. So we should correct the lamps and to participate in this work.