Paragraph 17:12–14

17:12a–b

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom: This clause indicates that the ten horns represent ten future kings. For example:

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule (Good News Translation)

17:12b

received a kingdom: This phrase probably indicates that someone would make each of these ten people a ruler over a region or country. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

received royal power (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
come into power (Contemporary English Version)

17:12c

will receive one hour of authority: This phrase will receive…authority implies that someone will give these kings the authority to rule. Probably the dragon will give the authority and God will allow it as part of his plan. Your translation should not imply that the ten kings took the authority themselves. For example:

who for one hour will be given authority
-or-
to whom the ⌊dragon⌋ will give authority for one hour

one hour: Here the phrase one hour refers to a short time, not a literal hour. It might be the same length of time that the beast reigns (42 months) or it might be less than that time. You should:

• Use a word or phrase in your language that can refer figuratively to a short amount of time. For example:

an hour
-or-
a day

• Use a word or phrase that refers generally to a short time. For example:

a short time

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