17:11. And the beast that was.—That once exercised temporal dominion and, through influence of the European governments, once actually ruled the world.
And is not.—Does not now have any temporal dominion.
[Even] he is the eighth.—The eighth horn which took the place of the three plucked up (Rev. 12:3); also the final form of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.
And is of the seven.—“Cometh of the seven,” Greek.—Grew up by the plucking of the three. The Papacy is either the seventh or the eighth form, depending upon how the matter is viewed. If it be viewed as having reigned separately from the Dragon during the Dark Ages (as it did, when it exercised temporal power), in its new guise it will be the eighth form, its separate rulership during the Dark Ages being counted as the seventh. But if it be viewed as having been a co-partner of the Dragon during the Dark Ages, then its forthcoming manifestation will be the seventh form. In any event the eighth form is one of the seven forms; and the regaining of the temporal power this time will be the cause of the Papacy's destruction. [pg 269] See Z. '03-325 for a hint that Benedict XV will never have a successor. (He is personally the eighth pope reigning since 1799. Five of these popes had died prior to 1878. Here is a good secondary fulfilment.)
And goeth into perdition.—“Daniel, representing the saints, says (Dan. 7:11), ‘I watched it then [after its dominion was gone and it was powerless longer to crush the Truth, the power of the holy people], because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke, and I saw that [it obtained no power over the holy saints and the Truth, but it did have another effect] the beast was slain, the body thereof destroyed and given to the burning flame’—general anarchy. The destruction of the remnant of governments in the old Roman Empire, caused by the misleading influence of Papacy's continued bombastic utterances, even after its dominion is gone, is thus shown.”—C. 68; 2 Thes. 2:3.
17:12. And the ten horns which thou sawest.—Three of which were originally plucked up to make room for the growth of the Papacy. See Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3; Dan. 7:7, 8, 20; Rev. 5:6; 1 Sam. 2:10; Deut. 33:17; 1 Ki. 22:11.
Are ten kings.—The rulers, whether kings, kaisers, presidents or others who have dragged into the slaughter house the descendants of the ten powers originally composing the Roman Empire.
Which have received no kingdom [as yet].—No official sanction as rulers from the counterfeit “king of kings and lord of lords”—the Pope.
But receive power as kings.—“The absence of the diadem indicates that their kingdom is not full, regal power, but as being transient, is represented as if it were royal power.”—Cook.
One hour with the beast.—The “one hour” in this verse (17:12) may signify one year, or thereabouts. The word in the Greek is hora. This is the same word which our Lord used when, in speaking of John the Baptist He said, “He was a burning and a shining light; and you were willing, for a time (hora—one year—the length of John's ministry before his imprisonment) to rejoice in his light.” (John 5:35; Z. '04-60.) In matters that are still future we can only use our best judgment as to the significance to be attached to expressions like this. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”—Rom. 14:5.