Revelation 17:12

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 17:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
Revelation 17:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, etc.] Not ten Christian emperors, which are reckoned up by Brightman from Constantine to Theodosius; for these did not reign with the beast, or give their kingdoms to him, and much less did they make war with the Lamb; they are rather the angels of Michael, that fought for him, the Lamb, against the dragon, and his angels, (<661207>Revelation 12:7) nor ten kings that will rise up and divide the Roman empire between them, towards the end of the world, which is a sense devised by Papists to obscure and hide from men the true meaning of the passage; but the ten kingdoms which rose up, and into which the Roman empire was divided upon its being…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“ten kings . . . received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings . . . with the beast--Hence and from Rev 17:14, Rev 17:16, it seems that these ten kings or kingdoms, are to be contemporaries with the beast in its last or eighth form, namely, Antichrist. Compare Dan 2:34, Dan 2:44, "the stone smote the image upon his feet," that is, upon the ten toes, which are, in Dan 2:41-44, interpreted to be "kings." The ten kingdoms are not, therefore, ten which arose in the overthrow of Rome (heathen), but are to rise out of the last state of the fourth kingdom under the eighth head. I agree with ALFORD that the phrase "as kings," implies that they reserve their kingly rights in their alliance…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the ten horns which thou sawest - On the scarlet-colored beast, Revelation 17:3. Are ten kings - Represent or denote ten kings - that is, kingdoms or powers. See the notes on Daniel 7:24. Which have received no kingdom as yet - That is, they were not in existence when John wrote. It is implied, that during the period under review they would arise, and would become connected, in an important sense, with the power here represented by the “beast.” For a full illustration respecting the ten “kings,” or kingdoms here referred to, see the notes on Daniel 7:0, at the close of the chapter, II. (2). But receive power - It is not said from what source this power is received, but it is simply…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:12-13 The ten horns, symbolic of the world kingdoms that follow the beast, rule simultaneously under his direction. While these verses have caused speculation concerning a ten-nation confederacy (from the client kingdoms of Rome, to the states opposed to the Holy Roman Empire, to the European Union), these conjectures are beside the point, which is that all nations opposed to God will be defeated (17:14).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the ten: Rev 12:3, Rev 13:1; Dan 2:40-43, Dan 7:7, Dan 7:8, Dan 7:20, Dan 7:24; Zac 1:18-21 Revelation 17:13”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification