Revelation 17:12 kjv
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Revelation 17:12 nkjv
"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.
Revelation 17:12 niv
"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
Revelation 17:12 esv
And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
Revelation 17:12 nlt
The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast.
Revelation 17 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 17:3 | So he carried me away... and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast... having ten horns. | Source of the vision; initial appearance. |
| Rev 13:1 | And I saw a beast rising out of the sea... having ten horns... | Describes the Beast's general form. |
| Dan 7:7 | ...and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible... it had ten horns. | Direct Old Testament prophetic precursor. |
| Dan 7:24 | As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise. | Prophetic interpretation of the horns. |
| Rev 17:13 | These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. | Directly follows, explaining their alliance. |
| Rev 17:16 | And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot... | Shows their evolving role and betrayal of Babylon. |
| Rev 19:19 | And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against him that sat on the horse... | Ultimate opposition against Christ's return. |
| Rev 16:14 | For they are spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. | Global rulers gathered for final battle. |
| Rev 18:10 | standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. | Example of "one hour" as swift judgment. |
| Rev 18:17 | For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. | Another instance of sudden destruction. |
| Rev 18:19 | For in one hour is made desolate. | Reiterates rapid devastation. |
| 1 Jn 2:18 | ...ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists... | Broader principle of opposition to Christ. |
| 2 Thes 2:9 | Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. | The Man of Lawlessness and his power. |
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed. | Prophetic theme of worldly rulers against God. |
| Zech 1:19-20 | These are the horns that have scattered Judah... and the smiths that are come to fray them. | Horns symbolizing destructive powers/nations. |
| Isa 14:12-14 | How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer... | Describes the ambition for dominion behind such powers. |
| Lk 21:24 | Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. | Context for Gentile powers dominating during end times. |
| Rom 13:1 | For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. | God's sovereignty even over temporary powers. |
| Jn 19:11 | Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. | Power ultimately permitted by God. |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority... | Implies proper and improper use of authority/power. |
| Rev 20:4 | I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was committed unto them... | Contrast with the wicked kings, indicating future righteous reign. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. | God's ultimate control over all events and authorities. |
Revelation 17 verses
Revelation 17 12 Meaning
Revelation 17:12 reveals that the ten horns seen on the beast represent ten future kings who have not yet established their independent kingdoms or fully manifested power. However, they are prophesied to receive authority to rule alongside the beast for a limited, symbolic period, demonstrating a unified, though temporary, exercise of power.
Revelation 17 12 Context
Revelation chapter 17 is often referred to as the chapter of "Babylon the Great," the "Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." It introduces the judgment of a corrupt religious and economic system (the harlot) riding on a scarlet beast. This beast is explicitly stated to have seven heads and ten horns (Rev 17:3). The angel in Revelation 17 then provides a specific interpretation of these symbols to John, clarifying the mystery. Verse 12 is a direct explanation of the "ten horns," immediately followed by their alliance with the beast in verse 13. Historically, the audience would have been aware of imperial power (Rome) and Daniel's prophecies, which form the direct Old Testament background for understanding "horns" as symbols of kings or kingdoms. The immediate context of Revelation 17 depicts the rise and fall of this formidable but ultimately doomed unholy alliance.
Revelation 17 12 Word analysis
- And (Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting the explanation of the horns to their previous appearance in John's vision.
- the ten (δέκα - deka): The specific number, frequently symbolic in biblical prophecy for completeness, totality, or a definitive group.
- horns (κέρατα - kerata): Plural of keras. In biblical prophecy (especially Daniel), "horns" consistently symbolize power, strength, dominion, or kings/kingdoms (e.g., Dan 7:7, 24; Zech 1:18-21).
- which thou sawest (ἃ εἶδες - ha eides): Emphasizes John's direct visual experience in the apocalyptic vision, connecting the symbol to its interpretation.
- are (εἰσιν - eisin): The verb "to be," indicating a direct, unambiguous interpretation or identity.
- ten kings (δέκα βασιλεῖς - deka basileis): Identifies the symbolic horns as literal or metaphorical "kings" (or ruling authorities/kingdoms). The Greek basileis can refer to both.
- which have received (οἵτινες ἔλαβον - hoitines elabon): "Have received" (aorist tense) points to a past action from the divine perspective or a state preceding the current stage. They possess a potential yet unmanifested sovereignty.
- no kingdom (βασιλείαν οὔπω - basileian oupō): The key phrase "no... as yet" (oupō). This means they do not presently have the full, established, independent sovereign authority of a traditional "kingdom" (a realm, dominion, or period of rule) at the time of the vision's immediate context (or prior to their emergence with the beast).
- as yet (οὔπω - oupō): Crucial adverb emphasizing the temporal aspect – their full sovereign rule is future from John's perspective. It highlights a period of preparation or dormancy before their ultimate rise.
- but (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, signaling a contrast or a shift in the state of these kings.
- receive power (ἐξουσίαν λαμβάνουσιν - exousian lambanousin): Present tense, suggesting a future action as a certainty or continuous process. Exousia refers to authority, permission, right, or delegated power, distinct from dynamis (inherent strength). They get authoritative permission to rule.
- as kings (ὡς βασιλεῖς - hōs basileis): The "as" (ὡς - hōs) indicates that they function in a kingly capacity, or in a manner typical of kings, but perhaps without full, inherent, or traditional kingly sovereignty yet; rather, their power is linked to or derived from the beast.
- one hour (μίαν ὥραν - mian horan): "One hour" is a common symbolic expression in Revelation (e.g., Rev 18:10, 17, 19). It denotes a very short, specific, or limited duration. This implies their shared rule with the beast will be brief but intensely impactful, possibly even decisive.
- with the beast (μετὰ τοῦ θηρίου - meta tou thēriou): Indicates a direct association, alliance, or co-occurrence. Their power and authority are exercised concurrently with and, significantly, in subservience to the overarching power of the Beast, who embodies the spirit of anti-Christ.
Revelation 17 12 Bonus section
The nature of the "ten kings" has been subject to various interpretations throughout Christian history. Some view them as literal historical kings from a revived Roman Empire, while others see them as symbolic of a total or complete number of global leaders or nations united under a future anti-God confederacy. Regardless of the exact identity, the theological significance lies in their collective opposition to divine rule, their temporary ascendancy, and their ultimate role as instruments in the beast's final phase of defiance against God. Their brief shared rule "one hour" also highlights God's sovereignty over the duration and scope of even evil powers, implying a set divine timeline for the consummation of all things.
Revelation 17 12 Commentary
Revelation 17:12 precisely clarifies the identity of the "ten horns" seen on the scarlet beast. These are revealed to be "ten kings" or kingdoms, powerful entities in their own right, whose full sovereignty has not yet manifested at the time of John's vision. The emphasis on "no kingdom as yet" underscores their latent potential and signals a future, specific unfolding of events. The turning point is when they "receive power as kings" concurrently "one hour with the beast." This signifies a momentous, though divinely limited, period when these rulers delegate or align their authority with the final oppressive world system symbolized by the Beast. Their "one hour" reign points to a brief but concentrated exercise of shared authority, likely culminating in their united opposition against God and His Christ. Their power, being "with the beast," highlights their ultimate subservience to this anti-Christian authority, serving its purposes.