Rachel, yes, the seven heads are the seven mountains on which Mystery Babylon sits. But mountains are just one of the specifications as to what the heads represent, we must consider all the specs/clues to identify what the heads represent.
This is why paying attention to rules are so important. Consider again rule two, the first sentence. A prophecy or prophetic element within a prophecy is not fulfilled until all of the specifications are met. This includes the order of the events given within the prophecy. (Fulfillment)
Again I will post from Larry Wilson’s commentary, (Rev. 17:9-11) of which you make reference, and note how he includes all the specifications to arrive at the correct meaning of the seven heads.
Rev. 17:9
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
{9} “When the time comes for fulfillment, Revelation’s story will not be hard to understand. However, understanding these matters beforehand requires considerable study and diligence. Therefore, John, consider the composite beast which the great harlot will control. The seven heads on the composite beast are seven mountains (the Greek word oros means hills or mountains).”
The seven heads can be described as seven mountains because a mountain is changeless, unmovable, and steadfast like God. A religious system can be compared to a mountain because people look up to their religious leaders much like ancient travelers looked up to the mountains for navigation.26 People want their religion to be changeless, unmovable and steadfast (that is, in- fallible, true and towering above all others) like a mountain.
From ancient times, mountains have been intimately involved with religious beliefs. Before Vespasian’s army destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the city was called ‘Mount Zion’27 for an important reason. It was God’s dwelling place. King Solomon’s temple was located on top of Mount Moriah, God’s holy hill.28 Pagan worshipers frequently ascended to mountain tops and high hills to meet with their gods because they believed their gods lived there.29 It is interesting that even today, the most important building in the United States is called “Capitol Hill” for in this building, the nation’s laws are created.
We already know two facts about the seven heads. First, in Revelation 13:1 we find they have blasphemous names written on them. This indicates they are religious in nature and they are anti-Christ. Second, we know that one head was wounded, but the deadly wound was healed when the composite beast comes up from the sea. The head (or hill) that was wounded is the papacy. There are seven heads, that is, there are seven of the same thing. Because the wounded/healed head represents a religious system (the papacy), the remaining six heads must also represent religious systems.
Rev. 17:10
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.
{10} “The seven heads are also seven kings. Each religious system is a kingdom having subjects (church members). Each religious system has its own order and authority. When a church member rebels against the system, he may be cast out of the system, ex- communicated or killed depending upon the religious system that he belongs to. The seven heads are described as seven mountains and seven kings because these definitions narrow the solution to one right answer. Each blasphemous head/mountain/king is a religious system having its own hierarchy and laws.” The angel continued, “Five religious systems have fallen (have been exposed as false) and one religious system exists which has not yet become false. Later on, it will also be exposed as false and another religious system will appear, but it will only exist for a short time.”
When Jesus came to Earth, five religious systems fell. In other words, Jesus declared five religious systems were false. These five systems are: Atheism, Heathenism, Judaism, Eastern Mysticism, and Islam.* Atheism says there is no God. Jesus says this is not true.30 Heathenism says there are many Gods, but Jesus says this is not true.31 Judaism and Islam teach that salvation comes through obedience to specific rules,32 but Jesus says that salvation comes through faith in Him.33 Eastern Mysticism teaches that the soul is immortal, it lives forever. After enough generations, man can become a divine being, but Jesus says none of this is true.34 Rather, a divine being became a man to save mankind from the penalty for sin.35
The sixth head (Christianity) was just beginning in John’s day. Eventually, this head was called the Roman Catholic Church. John was a charter member of this religious system, but it fol- lowed in Israel’s footsteps. It became a false religion and blas- phemous over time. The power of the Roman Catholic Church was severely wounded in 1798,36 but the deadly wound will be healed37 during the fourth trumpet. The seventh head appeared on Earth around 1500 A.D. and it is called Protestantism. When we consider that six of the seven religious systems have endured for 2,000 years or more, the life span of Protestantism is short.
*Note: The title, Islam, as used here, refers to the ancient religion of Ishmael. Even though Mohammed lived during the sixth century A.D., Moslems hold that Ishmael, the first offspring of Abraham, is the founder of Islam.
Rev. 17:11
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
{11} “Lucifer is the lamblike beast described in Revelation 13:11. He once was visible and now, he is not visible, but at the fifth trumpet he will become visible. At first, the devil will masquerade as Almighty God. He will be far superior to the seven religious systems of the world and his supernatural powers will eclipse the prowess of all mankind and naturally, he will become “an eighth king.”
The devil is described as an eighth king who belongs to the seven heads for an important reason. In Prophecy 2, a little horn appeared and it grew in power and as it did, it uprooted three of the original ten horns. This made the little horn an eighth king. The eighth horn dominated the seven horns for 1,260 years. Similarly, the devil will start small.38 He will physically appear and dominate the seven heads. During the sixth trumpet, the devil will establish an eighth religious system (the harlot, his great theocracy) and he will rule over the religious systems of the world. Of course, the devil will be destroyed at the end, but not by human power.39
Do you think this is a better interpretation, now that all the specification are considered?
What you believe is past history, the beast having seven heads and ten horns has not yet arrived on the world scene. But if you and I are here when it does, our faith in God will grow stronger when we see these events come to pass. This is the blessing of understanding apocalyptic prophecy correctly, and why God has given it to us.
Please forward the link on this issue, you mentioned in a earlier post.
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