Revelation 17:11

The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — John transcribes a vision concerning a hostile political entity defined by a sequence of rulers. The passage addresses readers analyzing a succession of kings and a final destructive figure.

The words — θηρίον (thērion) translates literally as "beast," while ἦν οὐκ ἔστιν (ēn ouk estin) renders "was, is not." These terms establish a grammatical pattern of prior existence followed by present absence.

The thread — The description links to Revelation 17:10, which enumerates five fallen kings, one current king, and one future king. It mirrors Revelation 17:8, which records the same beast as having been, now being absent, and proceeding to destruction, and Revelation 17:12, which identifies ten allied kings who will share authority with the beast.

Why it lands — The text explicitly identifies the beast as an eighth king originating from the preceding seven and marching toward ruin. It demands the reader track a recurring cycle of authority that concludes in inevitable judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.