Revelation 17:11; The Beast is the Eighth

Revelation 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 

The text appears to present a cryptic and enigmatic message, but the similarity of wording in the preceding context greatly facilitates the interpretation of this verse. Note the words beast, is not, of the seven, the eighth, and destruction. John speaks of the beast that “was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition.” (v8). This beast is not one of the seven kings/kingdoms (v10) but personifies the totality of evil in them; therefore, he is far greater than any one individual. In short, he is absolutely depraved and works in and through each of the seven empires as an eighth.

The phrase was, and is not, and goes with variations occurs three times in this chapter (v8a, 8b, 11) and is a clear imitation of God, “who was, and is, and is to come” (1:4, 8; 4:8).

The beast, however, has a beginning and an end; and thus as a creature is limited by time and space. He is the personification of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4), who rises from the Abyss and is on his way to destruction.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Nevertheless, the beast is described as the one who is not now, so that the two terms was and is not are identical in meaning. And if he is no longer relevant, why then even mention him as an eighth king? What is the significance of this verse?

Satan, represented by the beast (Revelation 13:2), lost the battle against Christ at the cross and the empty tomb. When Christ ascended to heaven, he proclaimed victory over the evil angels (1 Peter 3:19, 22).

Revelation 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

1 Peter 3:19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 

1 Peter 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 

The wound on one of the beast’s heads was fatal (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14), but this is not to say that his existence has ended. Far from it, for although he has lost the battle against Christ, the war itself is not over yet.

George E. Ladd offers a unique insight by writing that “the eighth is like the seven in that it succeeds them in world domination; but it stands apart in that it ascends from the abyss as the full satanic embodiment of the beast.”

I conclude that this verse must be interpreted in the light of the preceding context where John mentions the beast that “was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition” (v8). The beast, then, is not one of the seven rulers but is the concentration of all that is evil. And he with the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, where they meet their own destruction (Revelation 19:20). He is the Antichrist who is destroyed by the victorious Christ.

Revelation 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 473–474). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.