:15-18.

That the woman and city symbolize the same, is shown by the declaration
that she is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth,
v. 18. She is also thus indicated by the name of "Babylon," on her
forehead, and the golden cup in her hand: "Babylon hath been a golden cup
in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have
drunken of her wine; therefore are the nations mad," Jer. 51:7. In like
manner has the church of Rome intoxicated the nations.

"The scarlet-colored beast" on which the woman is seated, is evidently the
same beast that John saw "rise out of the sea, having seven heads, and ten
horns," 13:1. The Roman empire had been symbolized by "a great red
dragon," which also had seven heads and ten horns. In that vision, crowns
were on the heads of the beast, (12:3); which indicated that Rome, during
the period thus represented, existed under the forms of government
symbolized by the heads. These heads, the angel affirms, are the seven
mountains on which the woman sitteth, (v. 9); and also that they are seven
kings (v. 10), or forms of government. Mountains also symbolize
governments, (16:20); and as the heads and mountains are the same, they
must alike symbolize the seven forms of government under which Rome
existed previous to its subversion by the northern barbarians,--viz.: 1,
the kingly; 2, consular; 3, dictatorial; 4, decemviral; 5, tribunitial; 6,
pagan-imperial; and 7, Christian-imperial. At the time of the explanation
of this vision to John, the "five" first-named forms had passed away; or,
as the angel says, had "fallen," v. 10. One then was:--Rome then existed
under its pagan-imperial, or sixth head. The other, the
Christian-imperial, had not then come; but after it came, and had
continued for a time, the Roman empire was subverted by the irruptions of
northern barbarians. Thus "the beast was;" and then, was not for a season.
But afterwards it emerged again from the sea (13:1), under an "eight"
form, which was of the previous seven, 17:11. When it reaeppears, its
crowns are not upon its heads, but encircle its horns, (13:1); indicating
that those governments have the ascendency, which are symbolized by the
"ten horns;" and which, according to the angel, are "ten kings," which had
not received their kingdom at the time of the vision, v. 12. These were to
be kings in "one," or the same hour with the beast, and must therefore be
contemporary kingdoms, while the for