kings” or successive forms of civil government.  At the time when John wrote, “five had fallen;” they had passed into actual history.  One was then existing, namely, the emperor, in the person of Domitian, as is supposed.  This is the imperial head, whose “deadly wound was healed,” (ch. xiii. 3.)—­The “seventh head was not come” in the apostles’ time, but on his appearance, he was to “continue a short space.”  The papacy is not the seventh head. He is a horn.  (Dan. vii. 8, 20.) But a horn of the beast cannot identify with the beast himself.  It is otherwise with a head, which is the form of government over the whole empire.  The patriciate succeeded the imperial, being the seventh head, and only of short duration, about fifty years.  Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Romans in the year eight hundred; and so the patriciate terminated.  This is the eighth, which “is of the seven;” and goeth into perdition.  This septimo-octave head is so variable, sometimes acknowledged as residing in Austria, then in France, etc., that for hundreds of years, the great republic of the nations,—­all bestial,—­are at a loss to identify the visible head in whom resides the precedency:  hence the “balance of power” is so perplexing and difficult to adjust.  Were there an acknowledged imperial and despotic head, this obvious difficulty could not exist.  But the beast is not.  Nevertheless the arbitrary power of the horns of the beast is sensibly felt in every part of the Roman empire.—­The beast is, and will continue till “the time of the end;” (Dan. xii. 9;) for the Roman empire must be equal in duration with the life and actings of the two witnesses, 1260 years.

12.  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.

13.  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

14.  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Vs. 12-14.—­“The ten horns” signify “ten kings” or regal or civil sovereignties, into which the empire was to be partitioned after John’s time, and which we have seen was effected by the first four trumpets, (ch. viii. 7-12.)—­These “received power one hour with the beast,”—­rather, at one time, or cotemporaneously with the beast; for they are his horns, and are of “one mind, giving their power and strength,” all their resources, to him.  These shall make war with the Lamb,” the Mediator, headed by the dragon, and instigated by the beast and his image, (ch. xii. 7; xiii. 7.)

15.  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

V. 15.—­“The waters,” controlled by “the whore,” are the multitudes whom the apostate church of Rome commands to volunteer in the wars of the kings against the Lamb.