An angel later indicates to John that the seven heads of a scarlet beast, which is an image of the beast of Revelation 13: 1, represent “seven kings, ” or governments.
وَشَاهَدَ يُوحَنَّا أَيْضًا وَحْشًا غَرِيبًا يَصْعَدُ مِنَ ٱلْبَحْرِ وَيَنَالُ سُلْطَةً عَظِيمَةً مِنْ إِبْلِيسَ .‏