Revelation 17:11 kjv
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Revelation 17:11 nkjv
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
Revelation 17:11 niv
The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
Revelation 17:11 esv
As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
Revelation 17:11 nlt
"The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction.
Revelation 17 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 13:1-2 | And I saw a beast coming out of the sea... like a leopard... lion... bear... dragon gave him his power... | Description of the beast's composite nature and origin of power from Satan. |
| Rev 13:3 | One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. | Direct parallel to "was, and is not," indicating a resurrection or revival. |
| Rev 13:12 | He exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf... to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. | Reinforces the 'healed wound' and the worldwide worship given to the revived beast. |
| Rev 13:14 | ...deceived the inhabitants of the earth because of the miracles... tell them to make an image for the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. | Deception linked to the beast's apparent resurrection from death. |
| Rev 17:8 | The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the Abyss and go to its destruction. | Direct parallel to the phrasing in 17:11, confirming its origin and destiny. |
| Rev 17:9-10 | This calls for a mind with wisdom... The seven heads are seven hills... They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come... | Provides context for the "seven kings" from whom the eighth arises. |
| Rev 19:19-20 | Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered... But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet... these two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. | Fulfillment of the "goes to his destruction" prophecy. |
| Rev 20:10 | And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. | Confirming the ultimate and eternal destiny of the beast. |
| Dan 7:7-8 | After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and dreadful... it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one... | Proto-typological beast descriptions in Daniel, influencing Revelation's imagery. |
| Dan 7:11-12 | I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. The other beasts had had their dominion taken away, but their lives were prolonged... | Depicts the destruction of an ultimate anti-God kingdom/ruler. |
| Dan 7:26 | But the court will sit, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. | Prophecy of the ultimate destruction of the last oppressive power. |
| Dan 8:25 | He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many... he will be broken, but not by human power. | The demise of a formidable oppressive king by divine intervention. |
| 2 Thess 2:3-8 | ...the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself... The Lord Jesus will overthrow him... destroying him by the splendor of his coming. | Paul's prophecy of "the man of lawlessness" whose end is destruction by Christ. |
| Matt 24:23-24 | ...if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs... | Foretells deceptive figures preceding the end, connected to the beast's deceptions. |
| Jer 19:10-11 | ...then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, and say to them, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will smash this nation... as one smashes a potter's jar so that it can never be repaired. | Illustrates irreversible, decisive destruction (God's judgment). |
| Psa 2:4-5 | The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath... | God's sovereign mockery and judgment of rebellious rulers and nations. |
| Psa 2:9 | You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. | Christ's ultimate power to utterly destroy rebellious authority. |
| Jud 1:6 | And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. | Concept of those doomed to judgment being "kept" for their destruction. |
| Rom 9:22 | What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? | Divine patience with those appointed for ultimate destruction. |
| John 17:12 | While I was with them, I protected them... But none has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture might be fulfilled. | Example of an individual (Judas) "doomed to destruction" as part of prophecy. |
Revelation 17 verses
Revelation 17 11 Meaning
Revelation 17:11 identifies a specific, enigmatic beast that functions as an eighth king, yet paradoxically stems from the prior seven. This describes a final, climactic manifestation of anti-God power that seemingly suffered a demise ("was, and is not") but reappears with intensified malice ("is an eighth king," "one of the seven"). Despite its resurrection or revival, its ultimate end is certain destruction, sealed by divine decree.
Revelation 17 11 Context
Revelation 17 focuses on the mystery of "Babylon the Great," depicted as a harlot riding a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. The angel is explaining this symbolic vision to John. Verses 9 and 10 decode the seven heads as both seven mountains (likely pointing to Rome) and seven kings. Of these kings, five have fallen, one "is" (the emperor ruling during John's time), and one "is yet to come" and will reign briefly. Immediately after this enumeration, verse 11 describes a further, seemingly paradoxical development regarding the beast itself: "The beast that once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He is one of the seven, and he goes to his destruction." This statement deepens the identification of the beast's unique nature within this sequence of political powers. The historical context for John's original audience includes awareness of imperial Roman power, the succession of emperors, and contemporary myths, such as the "Nero Redivivus" (Nero resurrected) legend, which may have colored the understanding of a ruler who "was, and is not, and is about to come." The passage also subtly poles against the permanence and invincibility claimed by worldly empires, declaring their divinely appointed end.
Revelation 17 11 Word analysis
- The beast (τὸ θηρίον, to thērion): From thērion, meaning "wild beast," "savage animal." In Revelation, this consistently symbolizes a powerful, ungodly political or governmental system (and/or its leader) that opposes God and persecutes His people, deriving its power from Satan. It contrasts with Christ, the Lamb.
- that once was (ὅ ἦν, ho ēn): Emphasizes a past existence. This suggests a period of activity or power that has ceased.
- and now is not (καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, kai ouk estin): Indicates a state of non-existence, apparent demise, or inactivity in the present time. This correlates with the "deadly wound" motif for the beast in Rev 13, signifying a political or spiritual power that appears to be fatally wounded or fallen from prominence.
- is an eighth (καὶ αὐτὸς ὄγδοος, kai autos ogdoos): "And he himself, an eighth." This is key. Though sequentially identified as an eighth, distinct from the seven, it is not an entirely new entity. It signifies a unique position and an escalation or revival of the anti-God power. The number eight, following seven (perfection), often signifies something beyond completeness or a new beginning—in this case, a corrupt and climactic one.
- king (βασιλεύς, basileus): Refers to a sovereign ruler. In the context of the beast, it often points to the leading figure or specific manifestation of that oppressive power, possibly a distinct imperial ruler or even a personalized anti-Christ figure.
- He is one of the seven (ἐκ τῶν ἑπτά ἐστιν, ek tōn heptā estin): This creates a profound paradox with "an eighth king." It means that this eighth king/beast is not an entirely new phenomenon but originates from, embodies, or is a revived manifestation of one of the previous seven (heads/kings/empires). It highlights continuity in identity or essence despite a shift in manifestation or a period of dormancy.
- and he goes (καὶ ὑπάγει, kai hypagei): "And he departs" or "goes away." This indicates an inevitable and determined movement toward a fixed destination. It is an active going to one's appointed end.
- to his destruction (εἰς ἀπώλειαν, eis apōleian): "Into perdition," "utter ruin," "destruction," or "annihilation." This is a definitive term for ultimate judgment and eternal ruin, especially for those in opposition to God. It signals the complete and irreversible end of this ultimate oppressive power, confirming God's triumph.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The beast that once was, and now is not": This phrase defines the peculiar nature of this end-time entity. It has experienced a apparent defeat or period of non-dominance, perhaps corresponding to the deadly wound healed in Revelation 13:3. This implies a perceived resurrection or return to power, which fuels deception among humanity.
- "is an eighth king. He is one of the seven": This is the core paradox of the verse. It indicates that the beast's final, climactic manifestation (the eighth) is inextricably linked to, or a revived form of, one of the preceding oppressive world powers (one of the seven kings/heads). It signifies that the final iteration of the "beast" is not a novel threat, but rather a re-emergence, perhaps enhanced or mutated, of the spirit of anti-God opposition that has persisted throughout history. This re-emergence culminates in unprecedented intensity and deceit.
- "and he goes to his destruction": This immutable prophetic statement seals the beast's ultimate fate. Despite its deceptive resurrection and heightened power, its end is not one of triumph but of divinely ordained, absolute destruction. This assures God's people that even the most formidable forces of evil have a limited time and are utterly subject to God's sovereign plan.
Revelation 17 11 Bonus section
- The "Nero Redivivus" Legend: In John's era, there was a widespread belief among some that the Roman Emperor Nero (who persecuted Christians and then died, perhaps by suicide) would return to life or be reincarnated as a fierce enemy. This historical context provides a strong lens through which the original readers might have understood the "beast that was, and is not, and is about to come," and the idea of a king who "was" but "is not" yet returns.
- Interpretive Multi-dimensionality: While the verse points to a specific end-time figure, many scholars suggest that the 'beast' also embodies a principle—the principle of antichristian opposition (1 Jn 2:18, 2 Jn 1:7). Therefore, the "one of the seven" can signify a continuity of this anti-God spirit manifested in different forms throughout history, culminating in a final, powerful personification.
- Divine Foreknowledge and Purpose: The clarity and certainty with which the beast's destruction is proclaimed (he goes to his destruction) highlight God's complete foreknowledge and ultimate control over human history, even over the most powerful and malevolent adversaries. This is not a chance outcome but a predetermined divine judgment.
Revelation 17 11 Commentary
Revelation 17:11 profoundly characterizes the final form of anti-God authority in history, combining elements of historical continuity, a deceptive return to power, and an unalterable fate. The beast's description as having "was, and is not" implies a near-fatal setback, a period of obscurity, or a perceived defeat, which it somehow overcomes. This recovery or re-emergence is depicted as miraculous and forms a crucial basis for its influence and deception (Rev 13:3). The paradox of being "an eighth king" yet "one of the seven" is central: it means the ultimate form of this opposing power is not entirely new but represents a climactic reincarnation or intensification of one of the past historical anti-God empires or leaders represented by the seven heads/kings. This points to a persistent spirit of rebellion embodied in successive world powers. Finally, the resolute declaration "he goes to his destruction" underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the inevitable demise of all forces that oppose Him, regardless of their temporary ascendancy or perceived invincibility. It is a powerful affirmation that the ultimate victory belongs to Christ. This provides immense comfort and reassurance for believers facing oppressive powers, reminding them that the enemy's dominion is temporary and their end is certain.