Revelation 17:9 (WEB)
Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Revelation 17:9–12 (KJV)
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 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.
Key words
- ἑπτὰ κεφαλαί… ἑπτὰ βασιλεῖςhepta kephalai… hepta basileis · Greek
- 'seven heads… seven kings' — the dragon's heads (12:3) stand for a group of rulers.
- δέκα κέρατα… δέκα βασιλεῖςdeka kerata… deka basileis · Greek
- 'ten horns… ten kings' (v. 12) — the dragon is an individual, Satan, and also a collective power.
Why it matters
The dragon's seven heads and ten horns are decoded as kings who persecute the Church. Pitre uses this to settle whether the Woman of Revelation 12 is an individual or the Church (pp 34–35): the dragon is Satan and also a group, and the male child is Christ and also his followers (12:17), so the Woman too is both — Mary, and the people of God. The most ancient readers of Revelation said the same.