724. Having seven heads and ten horns. This symbolizes their intelligence gained from the Word, at first reverent, later abandoned, and at last irrational, and their continued great power drawn from the Word.

The head symbolizes intelligence and wisdom when the subject is the Lord and the Word, and in an opposite sense irrationality and stupidity, as may be seen in nos. 538, 576 above. The number seven does not symbolically mean seven, but all of something, and is predicated of something holy (nos. 10, 390). A horn symbolizes power (no. 270) and ten horns symbolize much power (no. 539). That the seven heads symbolize intelligence at first reverent, later abandoned, and at last irrational, is apparent from verses 9 and 10 in this chapter, in which the angel says what the seven heads symbolize, which we will take up below.

It is apparent from this that the beast having seven heads and ten horns symbolizes intelligence from the Word, at first reverent, later abandoned, and at last irrational, and their continued great power drawn from the Word.

742. 17:13 "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast." This symbolically means that Roman Catholics in France unanimously acknowledge that the only means of government and dominion over the church is through the Word.

To be of one mind means, symbolically, to unanimously acknowledge. To give power and authority to the beast means, symbolically, to assign government and dominion over the church to the Word. Government and dominion over the church are meant since, as the Word is the subject, the reference is to the church.

It is apparent from this that the ten kings being of one mind and giving their power and authority to the beast means symbolically that Roman Catholics in France unanimously acknowledge that the only means of government and dominion over the church is through the Word.

Roman Catholics in France do indeed acknowledge the Pope as head of the church, but view his government and dominion over the church as being not like that of the head over the body, but like something supreme above the body, which does not govern and rule of itself, but from God by means of the Word, and which is then to be obeyed. Consequently, interpretation of the Word is not the Pope's alone as he may decide, which is the case, because the Word's Divine authority is thus perverted and perishes.