The Meaning of Revelation 17:12 Explained

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.

YLT: 'And the ten horns that thou sawest, are ten kings, who a kingdom did not yet receive, but authority as kings the same hour do receive with the beast,

Darby: And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Revelation 17:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The specific identity of the10 horns (other kings but without kingdoms when John wrote) is not yet clear. Mounce took them as symbolic of complete power without reference to kings or kingdoms. [1] They will be allies of the beast and serve under him in his worldwide government during the Great Tribulation ( Daniel 7:23-24). Each of them will rule a kingdom simultaneously with one another and with the beast (cf. Daniel 7:7-8; Daniel 7:24). [2] They will have authority to rule "for one hour," very briefly during the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:17; Revelation 18:19). Evidently their short, independent rule will immediately precede the return of Jesus Christ to the earth ( Revelation 17:14). The beast will give them their authority, but God will permit him to do so.

Context Summary

Revelation 17:1-18 - The Great World City Overthrown
This scarlet-attired woman is that miserable attempt made in every age to counterfeit the true Church of the living God. Man does not like the religion of the cross, of faith, of self-denial, and each age has witnessed some false system from which all these objectionable elements are eliminated. Surely a meretricious system has revealed itself successively in Babylon, Jerusalem, Rome, London, New York, and other great centers. Fashion smiles on it, wealth bedizens it, human power unites with it, and in every age it has been drunken with the blood of martyrs.
Between this miserable travesty of the Church and the Church herself there has been perpetual conflict. But the ultimate victory has always remained with the Lamb, and if only we side with Him, as the called, chosen, and faithful of Revelation 17:14, we also shall be more than conquerors. Human prestige and power shall not ultimately avail in the conflict against the all-conquering Savior. And finally the very world-powers shall turn against the apostate and adulterous Church, Revelation 17:16. Come out from her and be separate! [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 17

1  A woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, with a golden cup in her hand sits upon the beast;
5  which is great Babylon, the mother of all abominations
9  The interpretation of the seven heads;
12  and the ten horns
14  The victory of the Lamb
16  The punishment of the harlot

Greek Commentary for Revelation 17:12

Which have received no kingdom as yet [οιτινες βασιλειαν ουπω ελαβον]
Second aorist (proleptic and prophetic) active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō The heads are emperors and the horns are kings (both called βασιλεις — basileis). [source]
As kings [ως βασιλεις]
Compared to kings (see ως — hōs in Revelation 1:10; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 9:7; Revelation 13:3; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 16:21) without identification with the emperors, though succeeding them with “quasi-imperial powers” with the beast.For one hour (μιαν ωραν — mian hōran). Accusative of extent of time, and that a brief time (Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19) in comparison with the beast (Revelation 13:2). [source]
For one hour [μιαν ωραν]
Accusative of extent of time, and that a brief time (Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19) in comparison with the beast (Revelation 13:2). [source]
Kings which [οἵτινες]
The compound relative classifying: “of the kind which.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 17:12

1 John 3:2 It is not yet made manifest [ουπω επανερωτη]
First aorist passive indicative of πανεροω — phaneroō For the aorist indicative with ουπω — oupō with a future outlook Brooke notes Mark 11:2; 1 Corinthians 8:2; Hebrews 12:4; Revelation 17:10, Revelation 17:12.What we shall be (τι εσομετα — ti esometha). Not τινες — tines (who), but τι — ti (what) neuter singular predicate nominative. “This what suggests something unspeakable, contained in the likeness of God” (Bengel).If he shall be manifested As in 1 John 2:28, which see. The subject may be Christ as in 1 John 3:9, or the future manifestation just mentioned. Either makes sense, probably “it” here better than “he.”Like him (ομοιοι αυτωι — homoioi autōi). Αυτωι — Autōi is associative instrumental case after ομοιοι — homoioi This is our destiny and glory (Romans 8:29), to be like Jesus who is like God (2 Corinthians 4:6).We shall see him even as he is Future middle indicative of οραω — horaō The transforming power of this vision of Christ (1 Corinthians 13:12) is the consummation of the glorious process begun at the new birth (2 Corinthians 3:18). [source]
Revelation 13:1 Upon the sand [επι την αμμον]
The accusative case as in Revelation 7:1; Revelation 8:3, etc. Αμμος — Ammos is an old word for sand, for innumerable multitude in Revelation 20:8.Out of the sea (εκ της ταλασσης — ek tēs thalassēs). See Revelation 11:7 for “the beast coming up out of the abyss.” The imagery comes from Daniel 7:3. See also Revelation 17:8. This “wild beast from the sea,” as in Daniel 7:17, Daniel 7:23, is a vast empire used in the interest of brute force. This beast, like the dragon (Revelation 12:3), has ten horns and seven heads, but the horns are crowned, not the heads. The Roman Empire seems to be meant here (Revelation 17:9, Revelation 17:12). On “diadems” (διαδηματα — diadēmata) see Revelation 12:3, only ten here, not seven as there.Names of blasphemy See Revelation 17:3 for this same phrase. The meaning is made plain by the blasphemous titles assumed by the Roman emperors in the first and second centuries, as shown by the inscriptions in Ephesus, which have τεος — theos constantly applied to them. [source]
Revelation 13:1 Out of the sea [εκ της ταλασσης]
See Revelation 11:7 for “the beast coming up out of the abyss.” The imagery comes from Daniel 7:3. See also Revelation 17:8. This “wild beast from the sea,” as in Daniel 7:17, Daniel 7:23, is a vast empire used in the interest of brute force. This beast, like the dragon (Revelation 12:3), has ten horns and seven heads, but the horns are crowned, not the heads. The Roman Empire seems to be meant here (Revelation 17:9, Revelation 17:12). On “diadems” (διαδηματα — diadēmata) see Revelation 12:3, only ten here, not seven as there. [source]
Revelation 17:14 Shall war against the Lamb [μετα του τηριου πολεμησουσιν]
Future active of πολεμεο — polemeo to war. As allies of the beast (the servant of the dragon, Revelation 12:7) they will wage war with the Lamb (the enemy of the dragon). These kings gather for battle as in Revelation 16:13.And the Lamb shall overcome them (και το αρνιον νικησει αυτους — kai to arnion nikēsei autous). Future active of νικαω — nikaō This is the glorious outcome, victory by the Lamb over the coalition of kings as against the beast before.For he is Lord of lords and King of kings The same words are again descriptive of Christ in Revelation 19:16, as of God in Deuteronomy 10:17 (God of gods and Lord of lords) and Daniel 10:17 (God of gods and Lord of kings). Cf. also 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5. Crowned heads are Christ‘s subjects.And they also shall overcome that are with him (και οι μετ αυτου — kai hoi met' autou). “And those with him shall also overcome” (supply νικησουσιν — nikēsousin not εισιν — eisin). They will share in the triumph of the Lamb, as they shared in the conflict. Cf. μετα του τηριου — meta tou thēriou in Revelation 17:12.Called and chosen and faithful These are the three notes of those who share in the victory. For κλητος — klētos and εκλεκτος — eklektos see Matthew 22:14 (contrasted); Romans 8:28.; 2 Peter 1:10; Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13. The elect are called and prove faithful. [source]
Revelation 17:14 For he is Lord of lords and King of kings [οτι Κυριος κυριων εστιν και ασιλευς βασιλεων]
The same words are again descriptive of Christ in Revelation 19:16, as of God in Deuteronomy 10:17 (God of gods and Lord of lords) and Daniel 10:17 (God of gods and Lord of kings). Cf. also 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5. Crowned heads are Christ‘s subjects.And they also shall overcome that are with him (και οι μετ αυτου — kai hoi met' autou). “And those with him shall also overcome” (supply νικησουσιν — nikēsousin not εισιν — eisin). They will share in the triumph of the Lamb, as they shared in the conflict. Cf. μετα του τηριου — meta tou thēriou in Revelation 17:12.Called and chosen and faithful These are the three notes of those who share in the victory. For κλητος — klētos and εκλεκτος — eklektos see Matthew 22:14 (contrasted); Romans 8:28.; 2 Peter 1:10; Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13. The elect are called and prove faithful. [source]
Revelation 17:14 And they also shall overcome that are with him [και οι μετ αυτου]
“And those with him shall also overcome” (supply νικησουσιν — nikēsousin not εισιν — eisin). They will share in the triumph of the Lamb, as they shared in the conflict. Cf. μετα του τηριου — meta tou thēriou in Revelation 17:12. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 17:12 mean?

And the ten horns which you saw ten kings are who a kingdom not yet have received but authority as one hour receive along with the beast
καὶ τὰ δέκα κέρατα εἶδες δέκα βασιλεῖς εἰσιν οἵτινες βασιλείαν οὔπω ἔλαβον ἀλλὰ ἐξουσίαν ὡς μίαν ὥραν λαμβάνουσιν μετὰ τοῦ θηρίου

δέκα  ten 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: δέκα 
Sense: ten.
κέρατα  horns 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: κέρας  
Sense: a horn.
εἶδες  you  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
δέκα  ten 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δέκα 
Sense: ten.
βασιλεῖς  kings 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
βασιλείαν  a  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
οὔπω  not  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὔπω  
Sense: not yet.
ἔλαβον  have  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἐξουσίαν  authority 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐξουσία  
Sense: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.
μίαν  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ὥραν  hour 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὥρα  
Sense: a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year.
λαμβάνουσιν  receive 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
μετὰ  along  with 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
θηρίου  beast 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: θηρίον  
Sense: an animal.