The Woman On The Scarlet Beast

There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.

And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.17:10-11 

The Rise and Fall of nations

Many Bible commentators agree that these two verses are the two hardest in The Apocalypse to explain.  That becomes evident when one sees the many different explanations given.

Here are some of them:

1. The seven kings refer to the seven hills of Rome.
2. Seven is a non-specific number meaning only that Jehovah's perfect plan is in place.
3. The Five that have fallen were five predominant rulers of Rome.
4. The following theory is partly copied and partly my own (as far as I know); in this lineup of kings, there are eight kingdoms: 

1. Ninivah,
2. Babylon, 
3. Persia, 
4. Greece, 
5. Egypt - five have fallen
6. The kingdom of Rome followed by the Roman Catholic church - one is
7. The last world religion, based on selfishness - the other has not yet come. And when he (the kingdom) comes, he must continue a short time.  This world church is The Woman On The Scarlet Beast.  She takes her orders from the scarlet beast (the antiChrist).
8. The Antichrist - The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

The new world religion will be the seventh.  Selfishness will be its most appealing feature, however, its reign will be short, because, Jehovah, in His mercy, will also become involved in the Battle of Armageddon and because of His quick, decisive victory the war will be shortened.  Christ said unless those days (I believe to be The Battle of Armageddon) were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's (Christ's redeemed) sake, those days will be cut short.  Mat. 24:22

As we see from the following quote the Roman Catholic church is pushing for a one religion world.  This whole idea is totally against Christ's teachings and the New Testament writings.  Repeatedly Christians are told to remove themselves from "the world", not to become part of it.

In addressing a prayer gathering of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and others, Pope John Paul II told participants that their efforts were “unleashing profound spiritual energies in the world and bringing about a new climate of peace.”  The Pope pledged that “the Catholic Church intends to ‘share in and promote’ such ecumenical and inter-religious cooperation.”

The Catholic Review commented on this and said, “The unity of religion promoted by the Holy Father Pope John Paul II and approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not a goal to be achieved immediately, but a day may come when the love and compassion which both Buddha and Christ preached so eloquently will unite the world in a common effort to save humanity from senseless destruction, and leading to toward the light in which we all believe.” Guzik

The final end of the beast (Antichrist), will be the lake of fire; the eighth, ... is of (the same wicked spirit as) the seven, and (he) is going to perdition.  It is worth noting that the first seven come to an end and the eighth does not, he is going to perdition.

the beast that was, and is not.  Was the Antichrist active just before and while Christ was on the earth?  That a personal Antichrist will stand at the head of the Antichristian kingdom, is likely from the analogy of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Old Testament Antichrist. JFB

Ten European Kingdoms

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 

These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
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.
For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.17:12-13+16-17

The ten horns which you saw (in the video of future events) are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, (because, in John's day, their time in history had not yet arrived) but they receive authority for one hour (a little while) as kings with the beast, the last dictator.

These ten kings will arise while materialism is still ruling and they will receive their authority, for a little while, from the Antichrist.  In 17:16-17, the kings will decide that riches for the individual does not suit their plans (these will hate the harlot).  

Things will be different; all the wealth of the commoner will be directed to “the war machine (The Battle of Armageddon)”.  Selfish materialism will be finished, and that ruler, materialism, also will fall.  When those ten kings, (ten dictators around the Mediterranean Sea?), have ruled for one hour, (a little while), they also will fall and the Antichrist will be the sole dictator in Europe and the Near East, perhaps the whole world, except for Israel.

They will make her (the selfish society) desolate (she will have no reason left to live), and naked (the shamefulness of her selfishness will become evident), eat her flesh and burn her with fire (totally destroy her).  

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfil His purpose.  Evangelists have often warned unrepentant sinners against turning their backs on the grace of Jehovah.  Some people believe that they will repent on their deathbed; first, they want to live a selfish life of pleasure.  But they have no assurance that on their deathbed the spirit of Jehovah will call them to repent; then it will be forever too late.  If sinners do not repent of their sinfulness when they are called to, a time could come when, in the words of Saint Paul, God also gave them up. Rom. 1:24.

   

This is a situation, perhaps, not unlike that of Pharaoh in Egypt at the time of Moses.  He hardened his heart and God also gave him up.  I see a similar situation with these ten kings; at some point, they had a chance to repent and turn to Jehovah.  According to Paul, that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  If people do not "cash in" on the light that has been given them, their hearts will harden and when that has happened Jehovah will use them in negative ways to fulfil His plans; God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose.

So these ten kings (dictators) who are of one mind (in agreement), give their kingdom to the beast, (the Antichrist).  One person will be the Antichrist and he will become the ruler of the near East, of course, not including Israel; and that is exactly why, from the human point of view, the Battle of Armageddon will happen.