There are also seven kings. 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.
Parallel translations
- WEB They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.
- NLT Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The seven heads are also seven kings, five fallen, one present, one yet to come. The succession shows the limited, passing nature of earthly rulers.
Overview
The shifting count of kings has prompted varied interpretations, often tied to a line of emperors or to successive world-powers. The point is that human dynasties rise and fall on God's timetable, and the one yet to come 'must continue a little while.' Earthly power is brief and bounded, while Christ's reign endures forever.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 17:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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