Revelation 17:11

11 "The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.

Revelation 17:11 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 17:11

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth,
&c.] That was in embryo in John's time, and yet was not come to its power and grandeur, is the eighth king; and this is the Papacy, which takes the name of the beast, because it is the head of the beast, and the only surviving head of the beast, or Roman empire, now become Papal:

and is of the seven;
one of the seven heads, and the last of them, and is an idolatrous one, as the rest were, requiring and encouraging the worship of angels, of the virgin Mary, and saints parted: the pope of Rome is the eighth king, and seventh head, the latter with respect to his temporal power, and the former with respect to his ecclesiastical authority; for his government is quite of a different sort from the rest, being of a mixed kind, partly civil, and partly ecclesiastical, and therefore is signified by two beasts in the thirteenth chapter:

and goes into perdition;
being the son of perdition, and is justly deserving of it; (See Gill on Revelation 17:8).

Revelation 17:11 In-Context

9 "Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on.

10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for a little while.

11 "The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.

12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast.

13 They have only one purpose. So they give their power and authority to the beast.