Revelation 17:12

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Ten kings ... received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings ... with the beast. Hence, and from ; , it seems that these ten kings or kingdoms are to be contemporaries with the beast in its last or eighth form, namely, Antichrist. Compare ; , "the stone smote the image upon his feet" - i:e., upon the ten toes, which are, in Rev. 17:41-44 , interpreted "kings." The ten kingdoms are not, therefore, ten which arose in the overthrow of Rome (pagan), but are to rise out of the last state of the fourth kingdom under the eighth head. Three of the former ten, the fourth kingdom's little horn, the papacy, starting subsequently, absorbed . But the last ten of the fourth kingdom, the 'ten toes,' shall tread down the earth as ten simultaneous kingdoms, subordinate to the beast. Alford observes, "as kings" implies that they reserve their kingly rights and name in giving "their power and strength unto the beast" (; note, ).

One hour - a definite short time, during which 'the devil is come down to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time' (). Probably the three and a half years (Revelation 11:2; ). Antichrist exists long before Babylon's fall; but it is only then he obtains the vassalage of the ten kings. He first imposes on the Jews as Messiah, then persecutes these who refuse his blasphemous pretensions. Not until the sixth vial, in the latter part of his reign, does he associate the ten kings with him in war with the Lamb, having gained them over by the spirits of devils working miracles. His connection with Israel appears from his sitting "in the temple of God" (), the antitypical "abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place" (; ; ), "in the city where our Lord was crucified" (). Irenaeus ('Haer.,' 5:, 25) and Cyril of Jerusalem ('Ruffinus Hist.,' 10:, 37) prophesied that Antichrist should have his seat at Jerusalem, and restore the kingdom of the Jews. Julian the apostate took part with the Jews, and aided in building their temple, herein being Antichrist's forerunner.