eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition. (17:9–11) The only politico-religious power of the day that could correspond to Babylon, the harlot, is Rome. The seer adds, And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. (17:18). This statement confirms the idea that Rome was the immediate parallel to the harlot, regardless of whether or not a more exact counterpart should appear in the future. If, then, the “kings” referred to the succession