a) The Greek text of this verse reveals its connection without break to the former verse Rev 17: 9. It reads thus: “And kings seven are; the five fell…” Rev 17: 10
1. Connection of the two verses would read thus.
“… The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth and are seven kings; the five fell…” Thus the seven mountains are in fact seven kings or kingdoms. That kings and kingdoms are used interchangeably is clearly seen. Dan 7: 17, 23, 24.
b) Of the seven kingdoms or world empires, we are told that five are fallen. These five are: (1) Egypt (2) Assyria (3) Babylon (4) Medo-Persia (5) Greece.
I. These Kingdoms can be calculated by understanding that they are the gentile Kingdoms that have attacked God’s people. The first four of them are referred to starting from Medo-Persia, and checking backwards. They are Medo-Persia, Babylon, Assyria, Egypt. Zech 1:1, 18-21
II. The Kingdom that comes after Medo-Persia is Greece. Dan 10: 20
III. The one that “is” is the power that was currently ruling at the time of John. This is Rome or the Roman Empire. Luke 2: 1
IV. The other that was not yet come in the time of John was the seventh Kingdom, the United States of America. Rev 13: 11.
V. The United States of America continues for a “short space” in the process of persecuting God’s people. Rev 13: 11, 12, 15-17
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