Let me clarify something here. The kings are not men you like to base on qualification like how nice he is, how influence he is, or how handsome he is. And he must be from Europe to fit your doctrine. This is not how we understand the kings here.
Let me explain here...
Revelation 17:9
- "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."
Here is the interpretation
based on the mind of Christ, the
only wise mind. For example, interpretations allowing God's Word to interpret God's Word. That is wisdom. Not our private interpretation based on a flavor of the month gentleman qualified to be king or antichrist.
Listen, in Scripture, the mountains represent Kingdoms/Rules, and in
this context, of
this beast. Satan had already ruled for 5, then there was 1 where he was presently ruling (at the time of John's writing). For example, he "is not", and "yet is", because he was bound by Christ for His Church's sake!. Selah! And we read 1 was yet to come, which makes a total of 7 in all, signifying the
completeness of time that Satan will rule. It is clear that the 10 kings didn't exist at the time of the writing, they arise in the later days, which I believe is today, just before the end of time. That is what it means in saying that the 10 kings of the Beast have no kingdom yet. That means the power of this beast to give them rule hadn't occurred. Get it? Okay, these kings are "men" ruling through the power of Satan. Not "ten men", but many false prophets and christs. No man lives 2000 years, but this
spirit within them does. This spirit of Satan to rule in man in the
fullness of this power, which the
ten horns signify, cannot occur
until a short period just before the Lord's Second Coming.
Revelation 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."
The 10 kings arise as part of the final rule of Satan depicted in the image. They rule 1 hour (a short period) with this final manifestation of this Beast's power. [Staff edit].
Also seen in Revelation 20 of Satan being loosed a short period.
Then Satan will be allowed to move these kings (false prophets and christs) be seated IN THE CHURCH (temple of God on this side of the Cross) and rule one hour (not literally but symbolically), which is this little season before God's judgment. This is what little horn signify! A little time of power (horn) when Satan is loosed (by God), he musters this army of false prophets and christs all over the world and GIVES THEM THIS POWER of Antichrist, unto judgment. God uses them to judge his unfaithful congreation all over the world, Gog and Magog! For God has always brought judgment on His people first.
Jeremiah 25:29
- "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts."
Christians who think the Church can never be judged are not reading scriptures carefully! Or not seeing what they are reading. One or the other. They are blind, unable to see the judgment takes place. IN other words, they will not be able to "see" the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place (Church) for what it is! While the Elect, with a spirit of Christ, "can see" and flee accordingly to avoid being deceived by the false doctrines that comes out of them mouths of fasle prophets and christs.
[Staff edit].
As for the imagery symbols, the
number 10 in scripture signifies the
fullness of whatever is in view, the
horns in scripture
signify power, and that these horns are "kings" signify
they rule. And so the 10 Horns/kings will be given full Power/to Rule in the Church to fulfill God's will against rebellion. But their power or influence and authority is FROM the Beast, not the Cherubim. They rule in the Churches by the spirit of Antichrist, not Christ. But ultimately we read that it is God who has sent them as judgment. As He has done to His congregation many times before.
Ezekiel 9:6
- "Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house."
Deja Vu! So it will be when the New Testment Congregation, the Church, is judged. And I am not talking about TRUE Church (Elect), but the corporate or external church (professed Christians) who are being judged by God. The professed Christians are the one who buy and sell the false doctrines of the beast in order to receive the mark (ownership) of the Dragon! Only the Elect with the mark of God's name spiritually written on their foreheads will be spared, but the rest of congregation without it shall be as Babylon and made desolate.
Selah!