What does the beast with seven heads and ten horns represent in Revelation 17:7?
The beast with seven heads and ten horns represents the Antichrist, Satan, and the revived Roman Empire—a worldwide political system headed by Antichrist that supports the world church. Its seven heads are also identified as seven mountains or kingdoms/nations and seven kings: five fallen, one present, one yet to come.
Les explains that the beast carrying the woman is a beast of burden supporting her, so the revived Roman Empire—the great political worldwide system headed by the man Antichrist—will subsidize and support this world church. The seven heads and ten horns refer to the Antichrist, to Satan, as well as to the Empire. In verse 8, Les holds that the beast is the Roman Empire, which was, faded off the scene, is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. Verse 9 identifies the seven heads as seven mountains, or kingdoms, or nations, on which the woman sits, meaning she has rule. Verse 10 then speaks of seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come, and when he comes he must continue a short space. Les ties the core to the nations of Western Europe.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.