Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 17:9

"Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:" — Revelation 17:9 (ASV)

This and the following verses form the key of the Roman emperor view of the Apocalypse. Most scholars consider the seven hills to refer to the seven hills of Rome and the seven kings to seven successive emperors of that nation. Yet there is good reason to doubt that this is the interpretation John intended. In the first place, the seven hills belong to the monster, not the woman. It is the woman (i.e., the city [v.18]) who sits upon (i.e., has mastery over) the seven heads (or seven hills) of the monster. If the woman is the city of Rome, it is obvious that she did not exercise mastery over seven successive Roman emperors that are also seven traditional hills of Rome. Also, how could the seven hills of Rome have any real importance to the diabolical nature of the beast or the woman? Finally, nowhere in the NT is Rome described as the enemy of the church. This interpretation also explains the meaning of John’s call “for a mind with wisdom.” The call for divine “wisdom” (GK 5053) requires theological and symbolical discernment, not mere geographical or numerical insight (cf. comment on 13:18). In the seven other instances in Revelation of the word translated “hills” here (GK 4001), it is always rendered “mountain.” Mountains allegorically refer to world powers in the Prophets (Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 51:25; Daniel 2:35; Zechariah 4:7). It seems better, then, to interpret the seven mountains as a reference to the seven heads or kings, which describe not the city but the beast. In addition, the expression “they are also seven kings” requires strict identification of the seven mountains with seven kings. John’s use of numbers elsewhere in the book likewise argues against the Roman Empire identification. He has already shown a disposition for their symbolic significance—e.g., seven churches, seals, trumpets, bowls, and thunders; twenty-four elders; 144,000 sealed, etc. By his use of seven, he indicates completeness or wholeness. The seven heads of the beast symbolize fullness of blasphemy and evil.