Last updated on August 3, 2025
Let’s revisit what we discussed in the previous study to build a clearer picture of the Beast. The Bible describes the Beast as having the appearance of a leopard, feet like those of a bear, and a mouth like that of a lion. Each of these features holds symbolic meaning, and they correspond directly to the first three great kingdoms identified in the Book of Daniel—namely Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. These three empires had distinct governing styles which now appear combined into one single terrifying entity known as the fourth kingdom, or the Beast.
With that foundation laid, we can now move forward and examine what the Bible says about this future world government. The Book of Revelation provides powerful symbolic language to help us understand it.
Revelation 13:2 states: “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
This single verse reveals much about the nature of the Beast. The body like a leopard signifies system of democracy or a system that gives off the appearance of liberty and representation. However, the bear-like feet show that the true nature of this system is forceful and oppressive. It will march forward with the weight of an authoritarian regime. Its mouth like a lion suggests that it will speak with spiritual or religious overtones, cloaking its agenda in language that appeals to faith, reverence, and divine right.
Now that we’ve clarified these foundational elements, let’s go deeper into the imagery of the “seven heads” of the Beast. This detail adds another layer to our understanding of how this end-times government will operate. Each head likely represents a government system. The symbolic heads are not merely ornamental; they carry weight and spiritual meaning.
In the next portion of this study, we’ll break down what these seven heads represent and how they contribute to the deceptive and destructive power of the Beast.
The Seven Heads
Revelation 17:9 gives us an essential clue: “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”
This verse challenges us to think spiritually and symbolically. It tells us that the seven heads of the Beast are not merely physical features—they represent deeper realities that require spiritual discernment to understand.
In biblical symbolism, a “mountain” often refers to a kingdom, empire, or governing system. A mountain in this sense is not just a geographical formation; it stands for power, influence, and rule over peoples and nations. A mountain could represent a political authority, a religious stronghold, or a combination of both. These systems dominate the world through governance, ideology, and cultural control.
To back this up, consider what God says in Jeremiah 51:25: “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth,” declares the Lord. “I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain.”
Here, God calls Babylon a “destroying mountain.” He doesn’t refer to its terrain or topography—He uses the term “mountain” to describe Babylon’s powerful and corrupt system that exerted devastating influence across the world. Babylon wasn’t just a city; it was a spiritual stronghold, a system of control, and a realm of indulgence, deception and oppression.
When we consider this passage in the light of Revelation 17:9, it becomes clear that the “seven mountains” refer to seven government systems or empires—each represented by a head of the Beast. Babylon, known for its pride, idolatry, and rebellion against God, is one of these heads. It is also symbolized by the “mouth of a lion” in Revelation 13:2, meaning that Babylon’s influence will speak through the Beast’s authority, likely through persuasive religious language, deceptive doctrines, or proud proclamations that elevate man above God.
Thus, each head of the Beast stands for a major kingdom or world system that has shaped or will shape human history in opposition to God’s kingdom. These are not just governments—they are spiritual powers with political and religious components. All seven heads, or “mountains,” work together under the authority of the Dragon (the great pride of Satan), who gives the Beast its power, throne, and dominion. These seven systems will form the backbone of the final world government that seeks to challenge God’s sovereignty and deceive the nations in the last days.
As Government Systems
Each head of the Beast symbolizes a different type of government system, and together they represent a fusion of the political and spiritual powers seen throughout human history. These heads don’t stand alone—they rise from the foundational realms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. Each of these ancient empires represents not just a nation, but an enduring spirit or system of governance that continues to influence the world today.
One head of the Beast comes from the realm of Babylon. This head represents theocratic rule—a government where religious authority and political power are merged. Babylon stands as the origin of religious control over people through the worship of false gods and spiritual deception. Its theocracy elevates spiritual leaders to divine status and uses religion as a tool of dominion.
Two other heads trace their origin to the realm of Medo-Persia. In Daniel’s vision, Medo-Persia appears as a bear raised up on one side and as a ram with two horns—symbols that reveal two distinct governing spirits. One head from this realm represents absolute monarchy, a system where one ruler holds unchecked power and governs as if divinely chosen. The other head represents communism, a system that claims to liberate the masses but ultimately suppresses them through totalitarian control. Together, these two heads express the spirit of authoritarianism that defines the Medo-Persian empire.
Finally, four of the Beast’s heads originate from the realm of Greece. In Daniel chapter seven, the leopard that symbolizes Greece has four heads, pointing to the fragmentation of its empire into four parts. But beyond the historical division, these four heads prophetically represent four variations of democratic governance. Greece, known for birthing democracy, laid the ideological groundwork for political systems where the people supposedly rule. However, these democratic forms can evolve into manipulative structures that hide control behind the illusion of freedom.
Altogether, these seven heads—one theocratic, two authoritarian, and four democratic—form the full expression of the Beast’s power. They reflect a global system that borrows from the strengths and deceits of past kingdoms to form a final, united force of opposition against God’s rule.
The Wounded Head of the Beast
The Holy Bible tells us that one of the heads of the Beast will receive a mortal wound.
Revelation 13:3 says, “One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.”
This verse reveals something important about how the Beast system will be perceived on the world stage.
You might not have heard this interpretation before, but I believe the head that receives the mortal wound is the Babylonian head of the Beast. I came to this understanding by recognizing that Babylon represents a theocratic form of government—a system where religion and state power are combined.
When this Babylonian head receives the mortal wound, it will seem as though the Beast system has collapsed or failed. The wound appears to bring the end of that part of the Beast’s influence.
The following verse gives us insight into how the Babylon head of the beast will receive a mortal wound or a head stoke.
Revelation 17:16 “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.”
However, the Beast system doesn’t remain wounded forever. It gets revived through the rise of the “little horn” or the “beast that came out of the earth.” When this second beast appears, it will restore the wounded system. The nations, seeing this surprising recovery, will be amazed. They will follow and worship the Beast, thinking it had been destroyed but is now alive again.
The Seven Kings
The Bible tells us plainly in Revelation 17:10 that “there are also seven kings,” and this statement directly connects to the seven heads of the Beast. From this, we can understand that these seven heads are not just symbolic figures or abstract representations—they point to real-world nations or powers that will rise and take part in the Beast system. Each of these seven kings represents a kingdom or nation that corresponds to one of the heads of the Beast. Therefore, we should think of these heads not only as systems of government but also as national powers through which those systems will operate.
As the verse continues, it gives us a timeline to consider: “Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.” This prophetic statement gives us a glimpse into the historical and future unfolding of these powers. Five of the kings had already fallen at the time of the vision, one was in power during that time, and one was still to come in the future. Although this language can seem mysterious, it reinforces the idea that these kings are not just symbolic—they are actual rulers or ruling systems that rise and fall in real history.
At this time, we do not yet have a complete explanation for who all seven kings are. We must humbly admit that full understanding has not yet been given. However, we do have some insight regarding one of the kings. We can identify one of them as the king that represents the “Babylon” head of the Beast. This head symbolizes a theocracy, a system where religious and political power are combined under one rule. The nation represented by this head will be governed by spiritual authority and wield its influence both religiously and politically. It will play a major role in the Beast’s operation and will stand as a significant figure in the end-time world order.
May God grant us more insight and wisdom to understand the identities of the other six kings. This topic is far from over, and we will return to it in future posts, God willing. But as we move forward, please keep one important point in mind: the head of the Beast that receives the mortal wound—the one that appears to die and then revives—is the Babylon head. That detail remains central to understanding the timeline of prophetic events. I will explain more about this wounded head later in this post.
The Eighth King
Now, even though we haven’t completely identified all seven kings who sit on the heads of the Beast, the Bible gives us a new layer of understanding through another verse—Revelation 17:11. It states, “The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.” This verse adds depth to our understanding of how the Beast system will evolve.
The verse makes it clear that the “eighth king” is not separate from the seven but is connected to them—he comes from the same group. This helps us understand something important about the nature of the Beast. Each head represents a specific type of government system, and each of these systems is embodied by a dominant nation. In other words, the heads symbolize different forms of government, while the kings represent the individual nations that lead or express those systems.
Therefore, the eighth king is not a new or additional head. He doesn’t create a new category. He rises to join the seven, but takes a unique role in leading the final rebellion and is destined for destruction. The fact that he is described as “the beast that was, and now is not” tells us that this eighth king will carry the legacy of the beast that was—he will revive the fallen system and present it again on the world stage.
This understanding reshapes how we interpret both the heads and the kings. Each head of the Beast represent government systems, while each king is a specific nation who exercises authority under that system.
The Mouth of a Lion
The “beast that was and now is not,” also called the “eighth king,” belongs to the lion head of the Beast—Babylon. This head represents a theocracy, and it is symbolized by the “mouth of a lion.” The eighth king rises from this theocratic system and becomes its voice, speaking with authority and power.
We can connect the eighth king—also described as the “beast that came out of the earth”—to the mouth that is given to the first Beast in Revelation. It is at the appearance of this second beast that the first Beast receives a “mouth” that speaks arrogant and blasphemous words, as described in the following passage:
Revelation 13:5–6
“The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for forty-two months. And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.”
When the second beast—the eighth king—emerges, it revives and strengthens the authority of the first Beast. This eighth king is a theocracy, and it consolidates all the powers of the Beast system under its own leadership. It is the one responsible for restoring the first Beast, whose system had received a mortal wound.
Revelation 13:12 confirms this:
“And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.”
The eighth king becomes the new mouth of the Beast. This fulfills the image of the “mouth of a lion.” However, unlike before, this time the mouth speaks with the full authority of the Beast system. The eighth king doesn’t just serve the Beast—it speaks for it, leads it, and embodies its blasphemous voice.
To emphasize this even further, we can link the “mouth” of the Beast with the “little horn” seen in the vision of the prophet Daniel.
Daniel 7:20 says:
“I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.”
This little horn matches the description of the eighth king. It rises after the others and stands out because of its bold and blasphemous speech. It carries the same voice—the same “mouth”—that the Beast was given in Revelation.
We will explore more about this “little horn,” the “eighth king,” the “beast that was and now is not,” and the “beast that came out of the earth” in a future post, God willing.
Conclusion
In this study, we explored the prophetic imagery of the Beast described in the Book of Revelation and connected it to the visions found in the Book of Daniel. We learned that the Beast is not simply a symbolic creature but a representation of a future world system composed of multiple governing spirits, national powers, and religious influences. Each of its seven heads corresponds to a distinct type of government—one theocratic, two authoritarian, and four democratic—all rooted in the legacy of ancient empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece.
We also examined how these heads are connected to seven kings, which represent dominant nations or ruling powers operating under these systems. Although we do not yet fully understand the identity of all seven kings, we do know that one of them—the head representing Babylon—is a theocracy and receives a mortal wound. This wounded head, once thought to be destroyed, is revived by the appearance of the “beast that came out of the earth,” also known as the “eighth king” or the “little horn.”
The eighth king does not represent a new head but comes from among the seven, reviving the Beast system and becoming its central voice—its “mouth.” This is the same mouth symbolized by “the mouth of a lion,” which speaks arrogant and blasphemous words against God. We also connected this prophetic voice to the “little horn” in Daniel’s vision, further linking together the end-time imagery presented in both the Old and New Testaments.
Ultimately, the Beast is more than a government or a political alliance—it is a spiritual system fueled by deception, rebellion, and a counterfeit authority that seeks to imitate and oppose the Kingdom of God. As we continue to study and wait on further revelation from the Lord, may we remain spiritually discerning, watchful, and faithful to the truth of God’s Word. In future posts, we will delve deeper into the identity and role of the eighth king and the little horn. Until then, may God grant us wisdom and understanding as we prepare for the days to come.
Be First to Comment