ACC ~ Revelation 17 v9

THE DEVIL’S REEMERGENCE WILL DEMAND WISDOM. OECUMENIUS: “This calls for a mind with wisdom,” it says. Here is a mind made crafty and cunning, it says. Let it understand the riddle how “he was and is not and will ascend from the bottomless pit.” For even though he is passing from being into nonbeing, his re-emergence from the bottomless pit seems to indicate the opposite, only it is not so if one understands according to the words here stated. … “The seven heads are seven mountains,” it says, “on which the woman is seated.” From this it is clearly evident that the passage refers to Rome, for it and no other city is reported to be on seven hills.COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 17.9-14.

THE SEVEN HEADS OR MOUNTAINS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Since what is to be interpreted is spiritual, there is need, it says, for a spiritual wisdom, not a worldly wisdom to understand what is being said. … We believe that the seven heads and the seven mountains are to be interpreted as seven places that excel the rest in excellence and worldly power. In these places we recognize that at various times the kingdom of the world is established, such as at first the rule of the Assyrians in Nineveh. Second, in Ecbatana there was the power of the Medians who from the time of Arbakes seized power from the Assyrians whose king, Sardanapal, Arbakes is said to have destroyed. After these there was the power of the Chaldeans in Babylon, whose king was Nebuchanezzar. Then after their fall the rule of the Persians in Susa was initiated by Cyrus. And after the destruction of this kingdom by Alexander, there was the rule of the Macedonians. After these there was in old Rome the power of the Romans that was sovereign under Augustus Caesar and its recent emperors and consuls and was possessed by wicked men until Constantine. After the fall of these, the royal powers of emperors favorable to Christ were transferred to new Rome. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 17.9.

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