One of the most mysterious passages in Revelation appears in chapter 17, where John describes seven kings connected to a beastly empire.
“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.”— Revelation 17:10 (KJV)
This verse has puzzled readers for centuries.
But when historians compare it to the early Roman emperors, something astonishing appears.
Step 1 — John is writing during the Roman Empire
The book of Revelation was written while Rome ruled the world.
John even describes the empire symbolically as a seven-headed beast.
“The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”— Revelation 17:9 (KJV)
Rome was famously called the City of Seven Hills.
Ancient writers constantly referred to it this way.
So, the vision is clearly connected to Rome.
Step 2 — The first Roman emperors
Let’s look at the line of Roman emperors leading up to the time Revelation was likely written.
Emperor | Reign
Augustus | 27 BC – AD 14 Tiberius | AD 14 – 37 Caligula | AD 37 – 41 Claudius | AD 41 – 54 Nero | AD 54 – 68
These are the first five emperors of imperial Rome.
Step 3 — “Five are fallen”
Revelation says:
“five are fallen…”
If John is writing later in the century, then these emperors would already be dead or gone.
That matches perfectly.
Step 4 — “One is”
The text continues:
“and one is…”
That means the current emperor during John's writing.
Many scholars think this could be Vespasian or Domitian, depending on the dating of Revelation.
But either way, the prophecy implies John is writing during the reign of one emperor after the first five.
Step 5 — “The other is not yet come”
The verse continues:
“and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”
Now something eerie appears.
Right after Nero died in AD 68, Rome entered a chaotic year called:
