Rev 17:9-11. Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seventh, and is going to perdition.
What do mountains mean in Biblical prophecy?
A short word study to find out what “mountains” mean in Biblical prophecy.
Psalms 48:1-3. In the city of our God – In the holy mountain. The joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north. The city of the great king. God is in her palaces. He is known as her refuge. (Mount represents the city of God on Mount Zion in Jerusalem).
Psalm 125:1. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Isaiah 14:13. (The subject is Lucifer in verse 12). For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation – – -. (Mount refers to a congregation of being up in heaven).
Isaiah 40:4. And every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low. (This is the text that John the Baptist used for himself and his mission to prepare the way for the Messiah to come. His message was for sinners to repent and give their hearts to God. Sinners therefore will be exalted and the proud leaders, representing mountains of Israel will be made low).
Jeremiah 51:24.25. And I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion in your sight, says the Lord. Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, who destroys all the earth, says the Lord. And I will stretch out my hand against you, roll you down from the rocks and make you a burnt mountain. (Babylon is referred to as destroying burnt mountain which is a kingdom).
Ezekiel 6:1-4. Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: Indeed, I, even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. Then your altars shall be desolate, your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain men before your idols!” (These are the Israelites who worshipped in idols on mountains. Mountains are a symbol of false worship).
Ezekiel 33:28.29. For I will make the land (Judah) most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed. (Mountains are related to the abominations of false worship by the inhabitants of Israel).
Ezekiel 35:15. As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate O mount Seir, as well as all of Edom – all of it. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. (Mount Seir in this text is a symbol of Edom. Seir is from the root meaning to be hairy. This was the name of the head of the Horite family connected by marriage with Esau, from whom descended the Edomites. ((1))
Ezekiel 36:1. And you son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, “mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. ( Ezekiel is calling to the spiritual nation of Israel to repent of their sins Verse 26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you: I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Verse 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes).
Ezekiel 39:1-4. (A prophesy against Gog). I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to beasts of the field to be devoured. (The mountains of Israel is referring to the military part of Israel).
Amos 6:1. Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes! (Mountains refer to notable persons in Samaria of unbelievers).
Malakai 1:3. But Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountain and his heritage. (Mountain is related to Esau´s inheritance of unbelievers).
Dan 2:35. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Verse 44. And in those days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. (Mountain refers to Gods spiritual kingdom beginning on earth and continuing in heaven).
Luke 3:5. And every mountain and hill brought low. (John the Baptist message was one of repentance for the remission of sins to the people of Israel. Sinners therefore will be exalted and the proud leaders, representing mountains of Israel will be made low).
John 4:20-23. (The woman at the well). Our fathers worshiped on this mountain. Jesus said to her, “The hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. but the hour is coming, and is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” (Mountain is related to a place of worship).
Rev 16:20. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (This verse is in context with Rev 16:17-21. The seventh plague: An earthquake hits Babylon and divides the city into three parts Rev 17:1-6. It would be difficult to understand Rev 16:20 if every mountain disappeared literally all over the earth. Symbols are used in this text like Babylon. Therefore, mountains should be used symbolically and they mean in this text, religious and political kingdoms of the earth.
Conclusion
Mountains are related to the following: City of God. Trust in the Lord. Mount of congregation in heaven. Proud rich men and religious leaders. Babel is a destroying mountain. Mountains of Israel are high places of idolatrous worship. Mount Seir in Edom is related to Esau´s unbelieving descendants. Mountains of Israel are unbelievers in Israel. Mountains of Samaria are notable unbelieving persons. Mountain is related to Gods kingdom on earth and heaven. Place of worship. Religious and political kingdoms of the earth.
A word study to determine what heads mean in the prophetic writings of the Bible.
Rev 17:9. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
Rev 17:10. These (seven heads) are also seven kings.
Rev 17:11 The beast (Satan) is himself also the eighth and of the seven (heads).
Rev 13:1. The seven heads coming out of the sea beast are similar in power and authority to the seven heads on scarlet beast which is Satan in Rev 17:3.
Dan 7:6. And after this I looked, and there was another like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads and dominion was given to it. (The leopard beast is a symbol of the Grecian empire 331-168 B.C. and the four heads represent the four generals who took over from Alexander the Great. These kingdoms although they were military powers, also had a Hellenistic mythological influence on the world.).
Dan 2:37.38. You O King , are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all – you are the head of gold. (King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of the political and spiritual empire of Babylon).
Rev 4:4. Around the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (These are the spiritual advisers and representatives redeemed from the earth. Math 27:51-53).
Rev 9:7. The shape of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like faces of men. (This verse implies military and religious persecutions with crowns of “Stefenoi” as a symbol of victory).
Rev 9:17. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions.
Rev 9:19.20. For their tails are like serpents having heads; and with them they do harm. But the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands –.
Rev 12:1. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. (Twelve stars are twelve angels of the twelve churches, which are scattered abroad. Rev 1:20. James 1:1. ).
Rev 12:3. Behold a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.
The fiery red dragon represents Satan in Rev 12:9 and he has authority over the political powers in Europe and on the earth. Satan has also authority over the spiritual heads of the worldwide churches.
Who are the heads of these worldwide churches, which have fallen?
When looking on the internet under Google type, “List of Christian denominations by number of members,” and then look under Wikipedia; there is a list of the seven largest churches in the world: or www.kids.kiddle.co/list_of_christian_denominations_by_number_of _members
1. Church of the east: 0.6 million.
2. Restoration and Non-Trinitarianism: 42-48 million.
3. Anglicanism: 85 million.
4. Oriental Orthodoxy: 86 million.
5. Eastern Orthodoxy: 225-300 million.
6. Protestantism: 800 million.
7. Roman Catholicism: 1.2 Billion.
Heads of these fallen churches can mean one person like a pope, archbishop or patriarch or a group of spiritual leaders.
Rev 13:3. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (The beast here is the Roman Catholic Church, and one of its heads is the papacy signifying religious and political power).
Rev 14:14. I looked and behold a white cloud, and on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle. (This is Christ having authority to harvest the world of believers).
Rev 17:3. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (The woman is the harlot representing the fallen churches worldwide and the seven heads are the representative heads of these fallen churches worldwide).
Rev 17:9. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. (Mountains are a symbol of political or religious kingdoms, (Dan 2:44.45), which these seven heads of the worldwide churches are).
Psalm 18:43. You have made me the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me. (King David was the spiritual and political leader of the Israelite kingdom).
Psalm 27:6. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. (King David talking about his power over his enemies).
Psalm 60:7. Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the helmet for my head, Judah is my lawgiver. (King David is saying that Ephraim is a helmet, a protection for his power).
Psalm 68:21. But God will wound the head of his enemies. (Leaders and power of his enemies).
Isaiah 7:8. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. The head of Samaria and the head of Samaria is Remliah´s son. (Head refers to political and spiritual leaders).
Isaiah 59:17. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. (Head is related to salvation as a means of protection).
Micah 2:13. Their king will pass before them with the Lord at their head. (Spiritual leader).
Micah 3:1. Hear now O heads of Israel and you rulers of the house of Israel. (Spiritual and political rulers of Israel).
Mark 12:10. The stone which the builders rejected, has become the head cornerstone. (This is referring to Christ as the head of all spiritual believers).
Acts 18:6. Your blood be upon your own heads. (Paul speaking to the Jews who rejected his gospel message. They will receive their punishment from the decision they made from their heads).
1 Corinthians 11:3. The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (This text is referring to spiritual heads).
Ephesians 1:22. And gave him to be head over all things to the church. (Christ is the head of the Church on earth).
Ephesians 4:15. May grow up in all things into him who is the head – Christ. (Context is the body of Christ verse 12, which is the church and Christ is the head).
Ephesians 5:23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church – – -. (Christ is the spiritual head of the Church).
Colossians 1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church. (Spiritual head of the Church).
Colossians 2:10. And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Christ is the head of all powers in the heavens and on earth).
Conclusion
The word “head” is related to the following: Seven heads are seven mountains. Seven heads are seven kings/kingdoms. The scarlet beast in Rev 17: (Satan) is the eighth and of the seventh head. Seven heads on the sea beast in Rev 13:1-3. Are the same as the seven heads on the scarlet beast in Rev 17: The four heads from the leopard beast in Dan 7: representing the kingdom of Greece, has a combined political and a mythological influence. King Nebuchadnezzar was the political and spiritual head of the Babylonian empire. Dan 2:37.38.
The head is where the intelligence is situated, and is where moral and spiritual decisions are determined. Spiritual advisers. Crowns on heads symbolizes military victory. Serpent heads do harm. The woman in Rev 12: (The pure church) has a garland of twelve stars on her head symbolizing twelve angels of the twelve churches in the diaspora.
The mortally wounded head on the sea beast in Rev 13:1-3 represents the pope as a religious head of the Roman Catholic Church. A golden crown on the head of Christ represents the authority to harvest the world of believers. The seven heads on the scarlet beast in Rev 17: represent the seven heads of the fallen churches worldwide. The seven heads in Rev 17: are seven mountains representing religious kingdoms Fx Dan 2:44.45. King David was the political and spiritual head of the Israelite kingdom. Head signifies power and protection. Head is related to salvation. Spiritual and political rulers. Christ is the head of all spiritual believers. Spiritual decisions. Christ is the head of the pure church on earth. Christ is the head of the body of the church. Christ is the head of all powers in the heavens and on the earth.
The dragon in Rev 12: represents Satan who has authority over the seven heads representing the seven heads of the worldwide fallen church. The figure “seven” denotes completeness and seven entities in the book of Revelation.
It so happens that there is a list of the seven largest churches worldwide. When looking on the internet under Google type, “List of Christian denominations by number of members,” and then look under Wikipedia; there is a list of the seven largest churches in the world:
1. Church of the east: 0.6 million.
2. Restoration and Non-Trinitarianism: 42-48 million.
3. Anglicanism: 85 million.
4. Oriental Orthodoxy: 86 million.
5. Eastern Orthodoxy: 225-300 million.
6. Protestantism: 800 million.
7. Roman Catholicism: 1.2 Billion. (Satan is of the seventh).
8. Satan: rules over all the churches of the world.
Heads of these fallen churches can mean a pope, archbishop or patriarch.
Rev 17:10. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
- Church of the east, 0.6 million.
- Restoration and Non-Trinitarianism, 42-48 million.
- Anglicanism, 85 million.
- Oriental Orthodoxy, 86 million.
- Eastern Orthodoxy, 225-300 million.
- Protestantism, 800 million.
- Roman Catholicism, 1.2 Billion.
There will come a time in the future when all these churches will be united under Satan. It sounds incredible that it can be and even the apostle John marveled with amazement in verse 6. But let us look at this scenario in these verses. Five have fallen, refers to the first five churches on the list: Church of the east, Restoration and Non-Trinitarianism, Anglicanism, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy. The one is, refers to Protestantism.
How have these five churches fallen?
First of all, there is a difference between the five that have fallen and the one is. The one is, has not yet fallen and the others have. What is the major difference between the five, and the one is? The one is, which is the Protestant Church, has protested against the Roman Catholic Churches teachings on salvation and doctrines, and their method of teaching the Bible. The following is a list of teachings by the Roman Catholic Church, which the Protestant Church has protested against:
- The infallibility of the pope. One who is incapable of erring and one who is unfailing.
The pope is a human being. The Bible says in Rom 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In addition, the book Catholic Power Vs. American Freedom states “the papal doctrine of infallibility was promulgated in 1870 by the first Vatican Council at the insistence of Pope Pius IX. However, it was not suddenly discovered, for, as Pius IX elaborated, it was a “tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith.” This of course is not true, for there is nothing in the New Testament or the early churches to support it.”[2]
- Under the teachings of the apostolic succession, the pope has absolute authority and is the supreme ruler of the church. The apostolic succession cannot be proven. The papacy says they have a list of credentials handed down from the apostle Peter right down to the first pope, however these credentials are false. The supreme ruler of the church according to the Bible is Christ and Christ only. Ephesians 5:23.24.
- The Eucharist or communion is the time when the bread turns into the body of Christ and the wine turns into the literal blood of Christ by some miraculous event. This has never been proven.
When Christ gave the ordinance of the Communion to his disciples in Matthew 26:26-28, he is referring to the bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. When Jesus said “take eat this is my body,” the disciples did not literary eat his body, but they ate bread which was a symbol of his body.
- The sale of indulgences. (Lyon 269). Indulgences guaranteed the crusader´s entry into heaven and reduced or abolished his time in purgatory. (Lyon 333). Under Pope Sixtus, there was a need for greater amounts of money in the form of gifts and this led to the peddling of indulgences. There is no text in the Bible referring to indulgences. It is a teaching thought up by the papacy to enlarge the coffers of the Church.
- Purgatory is a place of spiritual purging of sins when one has died and on the road to heaven. There is no scriptural reference for this teaching.
- Salvation by works and belief in Christ. One is only saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. Ephesians 2:8.9.
- Forgiveness of sin can only be done by the pope, bishops and priests. This is not scriptural. Only God can forgive sins. Luke 5:21. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
- The papacy say that Gods word from the Bible is no rule of faith. The Bible says 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
- The papacy has changed the 10 commandments of God in their own Bible compared to the original Hebrew.
- They have ruled out the second commandment saying, “you shall not make for yourself a graven image – – – and you shall not bow down to them or serve them.”
- They do not specify what the Lord´s day is, like the Sabbath which is the seventh day of the week.
- They have divided the last commandment into two commandments, which is, thou shalt not covet. To compare see Exodus 20:2-17 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church at www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism
- The papacy has changed the Sabbath day from Saturday the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week.
Peter Geiermann, The Convert´s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine,. Copyright 1930 by B. Herder Book Co., St Louis. (Q=Question, A=Answer)[3]
- Which is the Sabbath day?
- Saturday is the Sabbath day.
- Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
- We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
The correct Sabbath is the seventh day of the week on a Saturday installed by God at creation, Genesis 2:1-3.
- Veneration of the saints. The Bible says in the ten commandments Exodus 20: 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them.” This includes the worshipping of saints and their images.
12 The immaculation of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Immaculation means that the virgin Mary was conceived free from the taint of original sin (in 1854 declared an article of faith of Roman Catholic Church). The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This includes the mother of Mary.
The five churches, which have fallen, have inherited many of these teachings from the Roman Catholic Church, and therefore have fallen in the eyes of God. However, the Protestant Church has rejected these teachings, and is therefore “one is” under God´s grace still. But there will come a time, when the Protestant Church will accept these teachings and unite with the Roman Catholic Church and all the other churches worldwide. But this is yet in the future.
“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abys to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”(4)
Rev 17:9-11. Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
“The other is not yet come,” is referring to the most powerful church on the earth, the head of the Roman Catholic Church system who is the pope. This again is referring to a future event. When the pope assumes power, like he did during the Middle Ages from AD 538-1798, with the backing of the Protestant church worldwide and all the other churches, then he will make laws preventing true believers in keeping the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.
This prophecy is referring to the future, which will be a short time of spiritual leadership over the whole world. The pope is the seventh on the list of the eight spiritual powers of the world. Satan is taking part of the leadership of this church behind the scenes, (1 Thessalonians 2:3-9. Efesians 6:12) and is preparing the world to accept himself as the new world spiritual leader in the New World Order.
Satan (The beast) will be the “eighth and is of the seven.” Satan will be the last most influential spiritual leader of this world, before Christs Second Coming. But remember, the text says he will only continue for a short time and then he will go to perdition.
“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The Church has long professed to look to the Savior’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in Revelation 1:13-15.”
The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth – – -. He heals the diseases of the people, and then in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong almost overwhelming delusion.” ((5))
- Francis D. Nicole, Ed., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary Vol. 4 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1977), 693.
- George La Piana and John Swomley, Catholic Power VS. American Freedom (New York: Prometheus Books, 2002), 211.
- Don F. Neufield and Julia Neuffer, Ed., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Students Source Book, Vol. 9 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., 1962), 886.
- Ellen G. White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 588.
- Ibid., 624.