And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Ver. 10. And there are seven kings] That is, kinds of government.
Five are fallen] Kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, tribunes.
One is] i.e. The heathen emperor.
And the other is not yet come] sc. The Christian emperors.
A short space] sc. At Rome; for Constantine soon translated the seat of the empire to Byzantium, calling it Constantinople, and left Rome to be the pope's nest. (Zonaras.) The Emperor Constans, nephew to Heraclius, and after him, Otho, had some thoughts to set up again at Rome, but could not; that so the kingdom of the Church foretold by Daniel might there be seated, saith Genebrard: if he had said the kingdom of Antichrist foretold by John the divine, he had hit it.