“The Seven Heads, Part 1”
As mentioned in our study of Revelation Chapter 13, Part 3 many Bible Students vary in their opinion as to whom the seven heads are, the author of The Keys of Revelation notwithstanding, however since we ourselves differ it seems only fair to present the pros and cons of each. (Excerpts here are taken from the New Albany Notes on Revelation)
So that it does not appear that we are specifically criticizing the list given by Brother Shallieu, let us take a look at another well-known brother’s list.
Brother Eugene Burns offers what seems the best of approaches to the seven heads which he sees to be common to Chapters 12, 13, and 17. In his words, "We believe these three visions show the very same seven heads throughout." He suggests:
1) The Undivided Empire under Constantine
2) Western Roman Empire of Valentina.
3) Byzantine or Eastern Empire of Justinian.
4) Holy Roman Empire starting with Charlemagne.
5) Napoleonic Empire.
6) Empire of Victor Emmanuel I
7) Nazi-fascist Empire, which, of course was Socialism.
It is difficult to find much fault with this kind of interpretation. However, this list presents several difficulties.
1) According to Rev 17:9, the woman (The Roman Catholic Church) SITS ON the seven heads.
Since sitting upon something implies a position of control, can we justifiably suggest that the church sat on the first two heads here suggested?
Not until Justinian had given up the title of Pontifex Maximus to the Bishop of Rome could it be said that the “women” sat upon the seven heads.
2) Brother Burns lists the Western Roman Empire (Ravenna) as the second head. However, does not Daniel 7 testify that Western Rome was not a head, but rather one of the horns plucked up to make way for the Papal Horn. (See Vol. III, Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 76-77)
So, as excellent as is Brother Burns' approach, it does leave questions.
Brother Ludlow Loomis' (another brother who wrote on Revelation) list is similar. It has the same two problems.
Brother Frank Shallieu (The Keys of Revelation) diverges considerably from the above approach. He suggests:
1) Imperial Rome (314-395 A.D.)
2) Western Rome at Ravenna (403-476 A.D.)
3) Heruli (476-489/493 A.D.)
4) Ostrogoths (489/493 – 539 A.D.)
5) Papal Rome (539-1799 A.D.)
6) French Directory (1799 – 1870 A.D.)
7) Victor Emmanuel's Dynasty (1870 – 1929 A.D.).
8) Papal Rome
You will note that Brother Shallieu not only considers Papal Rome to be one of the “heads”, but likewise in its reappearance to be an “eighth head”.
The scriptures however imply that there were only seven "HEADS" (Rev 17:3), and that in fact Papacy was a “horn” (Dan 7:8), not a head. In fact, nowhere is it stated that Papacy is or ever was one of the heads.
Brother Shallieu’s lists create more problems yet.
1) The idea of the church SITTING ON Rome prior to 539 A.D. (prior to Justinian) is questionable.
2) Heads 2, 3, and 4 are all shown by Daniel and Brother Russell to have been “horns”, NOT heads.
3) Brother Shallieu's list creates an uncomfortable interpretation of the context of Rev 11:7.
4) If Papal Rome is one of the heads of Rev 17, we have the improbable picture of the church's sitting on the Papacy (i.e., the “women”, the great harlot, sitting or ruling over Papacy).
5) Papacy's part in the Nazi-Fascist Regime seems difficult to ignore.
6) According to Dan 7:20, Papacy IS NOT a head, but actually an eleventh horn!
As for myself I believe the list compiled in the New Albany Notes on Revelation fits the picture more accurately.
We will take a look at this in our next post.
