Understanding the Seven Heads and Mountains of Revelation 17

Revelation 17:9-10

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10 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.

Thank you for bringing this excellent question forward regarding the deep truths found in the book of Revelation. To answer your question directly: the seven heads do not represent a physical, geographical location alongside seven political kings; instead, the seven heads symbolize seven mountains, and those seven mountains themselves symbolize the seven kings, which are consecutive forms of earthly governmentARSH August 5, 1851, page 3.25+2. In biblical prophecy, these symbols beautifully interlock to reveal the successive stages of a single, continuous political power over the course of historySHR 36.6.

Here is a comprehensive exploration of why this is the true meaning of the passage.

The Impossibility of Literal Geographical Mountains

It is a common misunderstanding to interpret the seven mountains as the literal seven hills upon which the physical city of Rome sitsDAR1909 649.3+1. However, applying a literal geographical interpretation to a highly symbolic beast creates an absolute absurdityARSH December 9, 1851, page 60.9.

The angel explicitly states that of these heads or mountains, five have fallen, one currently exists, and another is yet to come Revelation 17:10. Literal hills of earth do not "fall" in succession, nor can it be said of physical terrain that one mountain has not yet arrivedTMR 40.4+2. Furthermore, the prophetic record details that one of these heads received a deadly wound by a sword and was later healed Revelation 13:3. A literal mountain of dirt and rock cannot be wounded to death by a sword, nor can it be healedTAR 42.2+2. Therefore, dividing the symbol of the beast to make its heads represent literal earthly topography while making the rest of the beast represent political governments violates the cohesive nature of prophetic symbolismARSH December 23, 1851, page 67.16.

The Double Symbolism of Mountains and Kings

Understanding this passage requires the spiritual wisdom to see that the angel uses a double symbol to explain the mysteryHST October 15, 1840, page 108.4+1. The Scriptures declare that the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits Revelation 17:9. In the very next verse, the original language is most accurately translated to read, "And they are seven kings," giving a double explanation to the exact same symbolARSH February 14, 1856, page 153.22+2.

In this instance, the angel replaces one symbol—the heads—with another symbol—the mountains—and then explains that these mountains represent the seven kingsDAR1909 649.3. Both the mountains and the kings are of the exact same character, perfectly symbolizing the same historical reality: the different and successive forms of supreme government in the Roman kingdomARSH August 5, 1851, page 3.25+1.

The Seven Successive Forms of Government

The seven heads, mountains, and kings all denote seven distinct phases or forms of government that have successively ruled the Roman stateARSH February 14, 1856, page 153.22+1. These heads are distinctly successive in order of time, meaning the beast only possesses one ruling head at any given momentTMR 40.4+1.

When the Apostle John wrote the Revelation, five of these forms of universal supremacy had already passed away or "fallen," the sixth was then ruling, and the seventh was yet to come and would continue only a short space Revelation 17:10. These historical forms of government are definitively enumerated as the kingly, consular, decemvirate, dictatorial, triumvirate, imperial, and papal formsDAR1909 703.3+2. By the time of John's vision, the first five had fallen, and he was living under the sixth head, which was the imperial form of RomeDAR1909 703.3+1. By viewing the heads as successive political powers, the prophecy perfectly aligns with the historical changes of administration that the Roman empire actually underwentSSP 227.3+1.

Summary

In conclusion, the mountains do not serve as a geographical pin on a physical map, but rather as an enduring symbol of mighty political kingdoms. The seven heads are the seven mountains, and those mountains are the seven kings, representing the chronological, successive forms of political supremacy over which the fallen woman sitsARSH February 14, 1856, page 153.22+2. This divine truth guards us from confusion and unlocks the grand, historical sweep of the prophecy, showing God's perfect foreknowledge of the nations.