the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are 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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but received power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the

whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." Verse 7-18.

Here is a full explanation of the mystery. "The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." This no doubt refers to the city of Rome, built upon seven hills or mountains. Rome was the seat of both the pagan and the papal government. Hence, on her, sat this woman and ruled or reigned over the kings of the earth. Thus she sat on seven mountains. But the seven heads have another signification. "And there are seven kings." These refer to the seven supreme forms of government which the Roman empire had: (1) the regal, (2) the dictatorial, (3) the decemviral, (4) the consular, (5) the triumviral, (6) the imperial, (7) and the patrician.

These were the ruling powers of the empire. The angel thus informed John: "Five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space." That is, at the time John received this vision, the first five had already fallen. "One is." The form of government ruling the empire in John's time was the imperial. The rulers were the heathen Cæsars. It was the sixth head of Rome. The other "not yet come" was the patrician, which had not yet developed at John's time. It was to continue "but a short space. "Adam Clark says that the time during which the patriciate ruled the empire was limited to forty-five years. Some authorities say fifty-one years; others, twenty-six. This was a short period compared with the duration of several of the preceding forms of government. This makes the seven heads of the empire.

Next the angel interprets the beast upon which the woman sat: "And the beast that thou sawest was, and is not; . . . behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition." This beast upon which the woman sat is the eighth

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* the ran sitteth." This no doubt refers to the city of Rome, built upon seven hills or mountains. Rome was the seat of both the pagan and the papal government. Hence, on her, sat this woman and ruled or reigned over the kings of the earth. Thus she sat on seven mountains. But the seven heads have another signification. a there are seven kings