Revelation 17 Theories

There are many theories concerning Revelation and especially chapter 17-21. The teaching about the 8 kings is especially troublesome as different groups try to distinguish the 8 kings as Caesars, types of government, or kingdoms instead of kings. It is really very hard to pick through different theories.

In my view any theory denying the kingdom of Christ and his reign today is anti-Christ, and there are many that do deny his reign.

Chapter 20 speaks of the martyrs reigning with Christ for 1000 years but it no where says Christ reigned 1000 years. Christ could reign before and after those 1000 years. It only says the martyrs reigned with him and that seems to be in heaven. Thus the idea Christ sets up a 1000 year reign on earth isn't in view. This is a heavenly reign of the martyrs. Christ of course reigns in heaven and earth.

So, nothing in Revelation denies the reign of Christ. Yet, we still still struggle with some verses in Revelation. So what are the theories.

1. Some men see chapter 17 showing different governments Rome passed through starting from conception in 753 BC. About 800 years of changes that took place. At the time of writing Revelation they were governed by Caesars. This was taught by older Church of Christ such as Sir Isaac Newton and Walter scott. The five fallen governments would be kings, Consuls, Dictators, Decemvirs, Military Tribunes

2. Others saw the kings as successive kings from Caesar to Nero. This is common among preterists.

3. Some started the list of kings with Augustus Caesar because he consolidated the government away from the senate, beginning the first true king type government. They began with Augustus and skipped those with short reigns because their rule was not covering the whole empire, and arrived at Vespasian and Domitian.

4. Some see the kings as empire beginning with Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo Persia, Greece, Rome  and currently being Rome, then the last would be an anti-Christ kingdom.

All four can be interpreted where the Roman Church is anti-Christ or not interpreted that way. There are issues that have to be worked out with all four theories.