“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth” (Revelation 17:8-9).

“The beast that thou sawest” (vs 8)

The angel is so accommodating. He makes sure John is reminded that the information he is now going to get refers to the beast he just saw (vss 1-6). It is possible that there was a time break between verses 7 and 8. John is apparently given time to write what he saw. A similar gesture will occur in verses 12, 15, 16 and 18. Why? Every tidbit of new material must be carefully joined with the other for a total picture of this beast kingdom. In turn, it becomes introductory to the imagery of the sea beast in Revelation 13 and, finally, to information in 11:7-8.

Revelation 17 and 18 review and fill in details of visionary messages previously given. Every particular enlightens those apocalyptic stories and prepares us for what’s ahead.

“was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:” (vs 8)

The beast was worshiped in a previous vision (13:4-6b, 8, 15). Now it parodies another picture mimicking God. Christ is the One who “was, and who is, and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:5). It refers to His resurrection. “I am he that liveth, and was dead” (Revelation 1:18). The beast as the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) is trying to be like God in just the same way. Intriguingly, he lived, then was wounded by a “sword” (13:14) and did live (“which deadly wound was healed” – 13:12). Satan was once an angel of light. Then he was cast to the earth (12:9). He will once again be seen as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14). Is he this beast? The color is different from that in 12:3. Also, the context in chapter 17 draws on an earthly beast/religious caricature that is worshiped, which is acting like Satan. God’s people are persecuted, and other kingdoms are supportive of this beast in this end-time story.

There are many allusions mimicking Christ’s coming at the end by Satan and his minions. It is his final hour, and he knows “that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12) to work. He deceives. He makes the world think that his nature, teachings and representatives stand for right, but like the harlot, he beguiles, then ensnares. But his great forte is through earthly mediums.

Here, an earthly kingdom – the papacy/the Vatican – is in view. It had been a world power with kings giving it obeisance. It had presided over the world’s most hideous carnage and evil – “It was” the one “who lived” [past tense].[1]

Then, on February 10, 1798, its ecclesiastical power was broken when Napoleon’s French General Berthier took Pope Pius VI prisoner. Its civil arm was later crushed on September 20, 1870 when the final papal land/states – Rome – fell to Italian troops and Pope Pius IX became a vassal to his own church without power and without a kingdom. Then, it was “not” “who [had] lived.”[2] The loss of kingdom (beast) power fulfilled John’s prophecy of the beast with precision in 1870.

This final event is reviewed in this brief but fascinating account:

“Rome was declared Capital of Italy in March 1861, when the first Italian Parliament met in the kingdom’s old capital Turin in Piemonte. However, the Italian Government could not take possession of its capital because Napoleon III kept a French garrison in Rome protecting Pope Pius IX. The opportunity to eliminate the last vestige of the Papal States came when the Franco-Pussian War began in July 1870. Emperor Napoleon III had to recall his garrison from Rome for France’s own defense and could no longer protect the pope. Following the collapse of the French Empire at the battle of Sedan, widespread public demonstrations demanded that the Italian Government take Rome. King Victor Emmanuel sent Count Ponza di San Martino to Pius IX with a personal letter offering a face-saving proposal that would have allowed the peaceful entry of the Italian Army into Rome, under the guise of offering protection to the pope.

“The Pope’s reception of San Martino [early September 1870] was unfriendly. Pius IX allowed violent outbursts to escape him. Throwing the King’s letter upon the table he exclaimed: ‘Fine loyalty! You are all a set of vipers, of whited sepulchers, and wanting in faith.’ He was perhaps alluding to other letters received from the King. After growing calmer, he exclaimed: ‘I am no prophet, nor son of a prophet, but I tell you, you will never enter Rome!’”

“On September 20, the Italian Army, commanded by General Raffaele Cadorna, entered Rome and annexed the remnants of the papal kingdom to Italy.

“This event, described in Italian history books as a liberation, was taken very bitterly by the Pope. The Italian government had offered to allow the Pope to retain control of the City on the west bank of the Tiber, but Pius rejected the overture. Early the following year, the capital of Italy was moved from Florence to the royal palace of the Kings of Italy. Pius IX withdrew into the Vatican in protest, where he lived as a self-proclaimed ‘prisoner.’”[3]

The United States had diplomatic ties  with the papacy between 1797 and 1870. These relations lapsed when the Papal States were lost.[4]

“After the overthrow of the Papal States, Italy’s Law of Guarantees accorded the Pope certain honors and privileges similar to those enjoyed by the King of Italy, including the right to send and receive ambassadors who would have full diplomatic immunity, just as if he still had temporal power as ruler of a state.

“Pope Pius IX and his successors refused to recognize the right of the Italian king to reign over what had formerly been the Papal States, or to be mollified by the Law of Guarantees.

“That ‘law’ offered an annual financial payment to the pope, but he perceived it as reducing the pope to a ‘chaplain of the King of Italy.’ 

“Pope Pius IX, asserted that the Holy See would maintain absolute independence from the Italian state, finally rejecting the Law of Papal Guarantees of 1871.

“The Pope maintained that since the beginning of the Italian kingdom in 1861, and especially since the confiscation of the Papal States in 1870, an international settlement issue remained open. This is referred to in history as the ‘Roman Question.’ Many nations recognized that this issue needed resolution. Italy did not [address it] until Victor Emmanuel III became its king (1900) and Benito Mussolini became its Prime Minister (1922).”[5]

In the meantime, the pope’s refusal to accept the Law of Guarantees was fulfilling prophecy. Though he could have been head of a state (woman/beast), he remained an ecclesiastical head only. There was no woman riding a beast.

 Then, Mussolini became a fascist dictator of Italy. His foremost priority was the subjugation of the minds of the Italian people and the use of propaganda to do so – whether at home or abroad. And here his training as a journalist was invaluable.

Press, radio, education, films – all were carefully supervised to create the illusion that fascism was the doctrine of the twentieth century, replacing Italy’s budding democracy.

In 1927, Mussolini was baptized by a Roman Catholic priest in order to take away certain Catholic opposition, which was still very critical of a regime that had taken the “papal property” and virtually blackmailed the Vatican. However, Mussolini was never known to be a practicing Catholic, and was privately very hostile to the Church. Mussolini and King Victor Emmanuel III, however, wanted to “settle” the “Roman Question.”

“out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:” (vs 8)

This imagery points to a final appearance of this apostate power at the end of history.[6] The beast ascending from the abyss was already described in:

1.      The destruction of the two witnesses (11:7) and

2.      From the sea to join the dragon in his war against God’s people (13:1, 7)

     In keeping with the angelic theme on how the harlot and beast come to their end, those two stories follow the prelude described here in verse 8. It is part of a counterfeit resurrection.[7] The abyss is the abode of demons (Luke 8:31, Revelation 9:1-2, 11). This beast not only supports a sinful “woman” but found its citadel where Satan has his stronghold.

Its rising and being destroyed has a similar ring to the little horn in Daniel (7:11, 17-18, 23, 26; 8:25). It goes into perdition – “the beast was taken” … “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

The beast (antichrist kingdom) was, is not and now ascends or rises again. This parallels the sword-wounded beast being healed (13:12, 14).[8] The date of 1929 fits exactly with this “resurrection.” The end of its rule – kingdom power – will once again be in view. One might now anticipate that the rest of the prophecy will reveal the steps the papacy will traverse from the ascension to world power, then to perdition. That is unfolded in the “rest of the story” in chapter 13!

The rise of the beast out of the bottomless pit is also a metaphor for its “eschatological coming.” It arrives and the world wonders in awe and worships it, revealing a distinct religious loyalty (Revelation 13:3-4, 8). One exception is noted: those written in the “book of life of the Lamb” (Revelation 13:8).[9] They stand in firm opposition.

Repeatedly, Jesus said of this time that the parousia was imminent: “I am coming” (3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20). Satan does all possible to make himself or the key “beast” appear as though it was the Messiah answer. The world is unaware that it will be shortly destined to hell.

The beast will in the end be shown to be false and destroyed. Christ will be seen as “alive forever” (1:18, 2:8). Since 17:8 notes that it goes to destruction as it does in verse 11, those verses become the “covers” of a descriptive prophecy “booklet.” Verses 8-11 can be seen as a unique unit of information about the harlot and the beast.

Here is how it came out of that abyss (only to return there later – forever):

On February 11, 1929 a concordat with the Vatican was signed, the Lateran Treaty, by which the Italian state was at last recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, and the independence of Vatican City was recognized by the Italian state. The 1929 treaty also included a legal provision whereby the Italian government would protect the honor and dignity of the Pope by prosecuting offenders. This is when prophecy once again was fulfilled.

Now the beast ascended out of the “bottomless pit.” This beast is further described at the end of the verse: “Behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (“will come” – or “will be present”). It suggests a time when the papacy will have its kingdom back. That is exactly what was accomplished by the Lateran Treaty.

The political power and diplomatic standing of the Catholic Church, that had been lost, was re-established.

The pope once again became an independent sovereign ruler, as he was throughout the Middle Ages – though his temporal realm, still established today, is the smallest independent state in the world and probably in all history. 

		Pope Pius XI

That agreement signed by Benito Mussolini and Cardinal Gasparri, on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III and Pope Pius XI, restored the full diplomatic and political power of the Holy See of Rome. Can you imagine this prophecy being fulfilled so recently?! We are truly right at the end. Today, all the world indeed "wonders" at the revived power of the Roman Catholic Church, the epitome of Church and State combined and a major player in global politics. The kingdom beast was restored and now is. Pope Pius XI himself commented on the concordat, and his restored power, in the first ten paragraphs of a new encyclical he wrote on December 23, 1929.

Quinquagesimo Ante (On His Sacerdotal Jubilee) Pope Pius XI. “[Part] 12. Arrived, then, at the end of the year and looking at the world around Us, We are greatly rejoiced to see that many nations have already, by public conventions, entered upon relations of friendship with the Holy See, or else are on the verge of making or renewing Concordats.”

The wound was healed. The Church/State, the harlot/beast, the Roman Catholic apostate church and the Vatican, had legally and prophetically been brought
together!

“and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder,” (vs 8)

Stunning! The wound was healed. That will be a specific reference point when Revelation 13 is studied!! It also tells us that the next few verses occur after that time! This helps to develop the link between the stories of Revelation 17 and 13! The beast (scarlet in color) mocking God will later be seen with key characteristics of the prophetic leopard kingdom in Daniel 7 and morphed again in mocking God (13:1). That is when it wields its final destructive authority against His people.

“Earth dwellers” have begun to wonder after this beast (17:8). This reaches its zenith at the very end when “all the world wondered after the beast” (13:3). Before that can be studied in full, God has more compelling issues to tell us about here in chapter 17.

See 13:8 for discussion on the Book of Life.

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom.” (vs 9)

The angel prepares to move deeper into the interpretation of the beast by this statement. A similar announcement will be made again regarding the number 666. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding …” (13:18). When these expressions are used:

1.      It requires special inspiration from the Holy Spirit to solve the apocalyptic riddle.[10]

2.      It relates to the time when Jesus’ second coming occurs.

3.      This wisdom is also needed to avoid deception regarding the beast.[11]

God used similar language with Daniel, which tied to apocalyptic prophecies (Daniel 1:4, 17; 9:22; 11:33; 12:10). Why is special skill needed here? John is going to be given special clues as to the meaning of the seven heads of this beast. God does not want errors in interpretation. But shy of the Holy Spirit, all views will fall short of its rich meaning.

“The seven heads are seven mountains,” (vs 9)

Anciently, the “seven mountains” often referred to Rome because it was built on seven hills.[12]

Amazing! Timewise, as the “Seven Hills” association became an actual historical Roman festival, John was given this vision on the Island of Patmos. This was during Domitian’s reign (81-96 A.D.).[13]

Those seven hills overlooked the
Vatican Hill across the Tiber River where the center of this prophecy would unfold. Thus, God enlarged key clues to make it unequivocal that those seven heads of that blasphemous beast is Rome.

Vatican Hill was outside the city limits during this first century. It was the location of Rome’s major cemetery, where the dead were buried. How intriguing that on that cemetery St. Peter’s Basilica was built, and bones were found in one grave that were “declared” as that of the Apostle Peter! Mysterious? No! Deceptive.

The Temple of Jupiter, on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, had a bronze statue to that god. Emperor Domitian gave him special obeisance. During Roman
Emperor Valentinian III’s reign, the Bishop of Rome, Leo I, felt the need of power and obtained it from the emperor in a special decree of June 6, 445, through a civil recognition of papal primacy based on the merits of Peter. This was the beginning of the Roman Church’s claim to apostolic succession from Peter and the first time the bishop of Rome was called Papas (pope).

Leo I took the bronze statue of Jupiter from its temple (now belonging to the Church of Rome) and apparently had its hands and right forearm recast with the cultic sign of peace and Peter’s key. Then he placed it on a marble throne and called it St. Peter.[14] Another mystery? No! Deception.

No wonder the angel declared that one must have wisdom regarding the kingdom associated with Rome. Deception is tied to that city and church. To protect the expanding base of the papacy, Pope Leo IV (848-852 A.D.) enlarged Rome’s walls to encompass Vatican Hill – then there were eight official hills in Rome!

Seven heads and an eighth recall the beast we are reviewing. Verse 11, in an “eighth” symbol, draws on a power that follows the seventh. Stay tuned (with wisdom).[15]

“on which the woman sitteth.” (vs 9)

The imagery of “sitting” suggests that she is enthroned.
One of the apocryphal books  states  that  when  the  Lord comes in glory at the eschaton, the woman will be ruling on seven hills (1 Enoch 24.1-25.3). In prophecy this always has judicial implications. The lordship is based on laws related to the “sitting” leader.

Statue – “St. Peter” (really the god Jupiter)

The apostolic Roman Catholic Church controls, in this end-time imagery, a kingdom known now as Vatican City. An evil king is prophesied by Daniel, who exalts his sovereignty over God and persecutes God’s people (Daniel 11:33, 12:10) for a period of time. That parallels the timing prophecies of Revelation 11:2 and 13:5. All are tied to people/powers that mock God in a fascinating bond between secular (Gentiles) and ecclesiastical (woman) power. The woman and the beast are symbols of church/state power in supreme apostasy at the end (blasphemy).

The woman sits or rules over water (people of the world – 17:1, 15). Now she is on a kingdom associated with Rome. Seven denotes “completeness.”[16] In this setting, there is a complete number of heads to the Vatican kingdom in its church/state bond. Though many scholars have attempted to put this as seven periods of history (based on heads being kingdoms – Daniel 7:23), we must relate to verse 1 and the original purpose of this vision. It is to show how the harlot (the apostate church) came to its end at the seventh plague. This implies the focus is just before the second coming of Jesus. The intent is to review events/powers/ peoples associated with the demise of that harlot called Babylon.

Since there is a double meaning to the heads, mountains (hills of Rome) and kings (noted in the next verse) – and the harlot is over or controls them – the identity of the woman is irrevocably made. There is no church in charge of a bonified kingdom other than the Roman Catholic Church with its papal heads. The unit of the church, kingdom and its head is called the Holy See.

If this “unit” is a prophetic power, a world influence, then there must be some fulfillment or evidence that the Holy See is a recognized “woman/beast” with unprecedented prestige. Let’s look again at the relationship between the Holy See and the United Nations.

Although the Holy See is not a member state of the United Nations, since 1964 it has had a Permanent Observer Mission to that agency in New York.

In 2004 the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution by acclamation strengthening the mission’s status. The Holy See now enjoys, among other things, the right to participate in the general debate of the General Assembly, the right of reply, the right to have its communications issued and circulated directly as official documents of the assembly, and the right to co-sponsor draft resolutions and decisions which make reference to the Holy See.

In December 2006, the U.S. Congress authorized the president to grant members of the observer mission the same diplomatic immunity and privileges that the United States, as host country, grants to U.N. ambassadors and their staffs.

Archbiship Celestino Migliore is apostolic nuncio and permanent observer (2009) of the Holy See to the United Nations. He is the fourth Permanent Observer.

In addition, the Holy See participates in many conferences sponsored by the United Nations and takes an active role in the work of U.N. agencies.[17]

The convergence of end-time apostate prophecy is in this dual imagery. World leaders, cultures and religious powers pay deference and reverence to the papacy. This homage is an unprecedented phenomenon, a prodigious cultural anomaly. Yet – it is an explicit fulfillment of prophecy presented in various ways in Daniel and Revelation. This chapter is unequivocally positioned to assure no equivocation as to who it is and when it is!

Daniel noted that a king of fierce countenance will arise, understanding “dark sentences” (specializing in deception) (8:23). This occurs when “transgressors are come in full” – when rebellion against God’s authority, law and covenant reaches its peak. “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power” (8:24) – though his “craft” will prosper and he shall magnify himself (8:25). Can you imagine a church wielding that much power, as at the U.N.? Can you imagine a church with such clout as to have ambassadors? It is an aberration unparalleled in world history.

“The federal government of the United States does not name ambassadors to represent us with any other faith tradition. Moreover, as long as the position has existed, it has gone to a Roman Catholic, which raises additional questions about a possible religious test for public office and church–state issues.”[18]

Yet, the United States understands and accepts the “mission of the Holy See.” “The term ‘Holy See’ refers to the supreme authority of the Church, that is, the Pope as Bishop of Rome and head of the college of Bishops. It is the central government of the Roman Catholic Church. As such, the Holy See is an institution which, under international law and in practice, has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a State and to send and receive diplomatic representatives.... At this time (2007), the Holy See maintains full diplomatic relations with one-hundred seventy-four (174) countries out of the one-hundred ninety-two (192) member countries of the U.N.”[19]

The next incredible message from the angel is about the “heads” (leaders) of the “beast” (papal Rome) following 1929. Stunning!  Let’s listen in.