The first question we should ask ourselves before we can identify the seven heads is this. How do we know where in history to begin counting them? A clue from the scriptures is given in Daniel Chapter 7, where Daniel sees a vision of the 4 universal empires symbolically represented as 4 different "beasts." The fourth beast of Daniel's vision (representing the 4th universal empire), is a symbolic representation of the Roman Empire, which at first held to pagan religious beliefs, and later under Papacy, "converted" to Christianity. Notice that this beast had 7 heads and 10 horns, just as the beast shown in Revelation Chapter 17. That is because these beasts are one and the same – a Roman Beast. Therefore, we are looking for the 7 heads of the Roman Empire, after it rose to power and became the 4th universal empire, and we should not begin to count the 7 heads before this. (See HG20:4) Also keep in mind that the 7 heads represent 7 forms of rule over Rome, which may or may not be identified with a single individual.
FIRST HEAD: The first head is the "Consular" head. This began with the First Triumvirate (association of three) of Rome in 60 B.C., and continued with the 2nd Triumvirate. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), he identifies the first head as the "Counsular", because it was ruled by a 3 man counsel instead of by a single individual.
Historical Support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "The Roman Republic": "The Romans overthrew their foreign rulers c.500 B.C. and established the Roman republic, which lasted four centuries. The patrician class controlled the government, but the plebs (who comprised by far the major portion of the population) were allowed to elect the two patrician consuls, who held joint power. The vitality of the patricians was remarkable, and long after political power had been granted to the plebs, experienced patricians continued to govern Rome."
The Roman Empire thus began in 500 B.C., but notice that at this point in history, Rome was not yet a Universal Empire, and it did not yet have a "head", as it was a republican form of government. It would not become a Universal Empire until it conquered the 3rd empire. Therefore, we can not begin to count heads at this point because there are none to count.
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Conquests Overseas and to the East": "Greece did not become a Roman province, but the brief opposition of the Achaean League was disposed of, and the Greeks became subject to Rome. Egypt acknowledged vassalship to the republic in 168 B.C."
This reference shows that Greece & Egypt became subject to Rome in 168 B.C. It is at this point in time that Rome became the 4th Universal Empire.
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Julius Caesar": "With Marcus Licinius Crassus to furnish the funds, Pompey and Caesar formed the First Triumvirate (60 B.C.), and Caesar departed to make himself immortal in the Gallic Wars."
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Augustus and the Pax Romana": Caesar's assassination brought anarchy, out of which the Second Triumvirate emerged with the rule of Octavian (later Augustus), Antony, and Lepidus.
The above history references show the validity of Nelson Barbour's identification of the first head of Rome, and the first head of the "beast".
SECOND HEAD: The second head is the "Imperial" head. This is the period of the Roman Emperors, which began with Augustus Caesar, and continued until the defeat of the Romans by the Gauls. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), he identifies the second head as the "Imperial", because the government was ruled by a succession of emperors.
Historical support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Augustus and the Pax Romana": "Caesar's assassination brought anarchy, out of which the Second Triumvirate emerged with the rule of Octavian (later Augustus), Antony, and Lepidus. Octavian was Caesar's nephew, ward, and heir, and his true successor. At Actium (31 B.C.) he defeated Antony and Cleopatra and made the empire one. No change was made in the government, but Octavian received from the senate the title Augustus and from the people life tribuneship; this, with the governorship of all the provinces conferred by the senate, made him the real ruler. He was called imperator [commander] and princeps [leader] and is usually considered the first Roman emperor."
THIRD HEAD: The third head is the "Gothic" head. In 476 A.D., the Goths broke up the Roman Empire, and took possession of Rome, and thus became the third head or ruler over Rome. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), the third head is referred to as the "Gothic", because Rome was under the control of the Ostrogoths during this time.
Historical Support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "The Empire Declines": "In 476 the last emperor of the West, appropriately called Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Goths under Odoacer; this date is commonly accepted as the end of the West Roman Empire, or Western Empire."
FOURTH HEAD: The fourth head is the "Papal" head. The fourth head had its beginnings when Justinian I overthrew the Ostrogoths, and recognized the Pope as the chief authority in the City of Rome. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), the fourth head is appropriately referred to as the "Papal" head.
Historical Support:
For the history relative to the beginning of the 4th head, refer to C.68-82, where Bro. Russell shows from the writings of various historians that Papacy's power had it's beginnings in 539 A.D. The following excerpt is from C.77:1 –
"With the overthrow of the Ostrogoths, the Roman emperor was recognized for some time as the ruler of Italy, and was represented by the Exarchs; but since these had their capital at Ravenna, and not at Rome, and since they had come to recognize the Papacy in the manner shown, it follows that from A.D. 539 Papacy was recognized as the chief authority in the city of Rome; and that from that date (when it was "set up") it began to grow and thrive as a "horn" or power among the other "horns," or powers, representing the formerly united powers of Rome."
FIFTH HEAD: The fifth head is the "Napoleon' head. The fifth head appears when Napoleon Bonaparte captures Rome, confiscates the Papal States, and set up a republic. Although a republic is established, it is clear from Napoleon's treatment and control of the Pope, that Napoleon was in control. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), the fifth head is identified as the republic which Napoleon established.
Historical Support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Napoleon to the present": "When, in 1796, French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Papal States, a truce was bought by Pope Pius VI, and many art treasures passed into French possession. In 1798 the French occupied Rome, deported the pope, and proclaimed Rome a republic. Pius VII reentered Rome in 1800, but in 1808 Napoleon reoccupied the city and in 1809 annexed it to France. Papal rule was restored in 1814."
SIXTH HEAD: The sixth head is the "Papacy restored" head. Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in 1814 and the Papal States were returned to the Pope of Rome. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), the sixth head is referred to as the "The Image of the Beast" or "Image head", because although Papacy had regained power in some measure, it was a mere shell of its former self. However, most Bible Students agree that "The Image of the Beast" shown in Revelation Chapter 13 represents the Protestant Christian Churches, not restored Papacy. Therefore to avoid confusion, we would refer to the sixth head as "Papacy Restored".
Historical Support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading under "Napoleon to the present": "When, in 1796, French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Papal States, a truce was bought by Pope Pius VI, and many art treasures passed into French possession. In 1798 the French occupied Rome, deported the pope, and proclaimed Rome a republic. Pius VII reentered Rome in 1800, but in 1808 Napoleon reoccupied the city and in 1809 annexed it to France. Papal rule was restored in 1814."
SEVENTH HEAD: The seventh head is the "monarch" head. Victor Emmanuel II became King of Italy in 1861, at which time the Papal States were under the protection of Napoleon III. When Napoleon III was defeated in 1870 during the Austro-Prussian War, Victor Emmanuel II confiscated the Papal States, and proclaimed Rome as a part of Italy in 1871. In The Three Worlds by Nelson Barbour (found in Harvest Gleanings I), identifies the (then) present Italian Government under Victor Emmanuel as the seventh head.
Historical Support:
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article on "Rome, City of" under the heading "Napoleon to the present": "The Italian kingdom, proclaimed in 1862, included most of the former Papal States but not Rome, which remained under papal rule as a virtual protectorate of Napoleon III. Napoleon's fall in 1870 made possible the occupation of Rome by Italian troops, and, in 1871, Rome became the capital of Italy."
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article "Victor Emmanuel II": "Plebiscites in Naples and Sicily and in the Marches and Umbria (two provinces of the Papal States) favored union with Sardinia, and in 1861 the kingdom of Italy was proclaimed with Victor Emmanuel as king. The capital was transferred from Turin to Florence in 1865. Siding (1866) with Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War, Victor Emmanuel was awarded Venetia in the peace settlement. The remaining Papal States were protected by the troops of Napoleon III, but when he fell in 1870, Italian troops seized the Papal States, and Rome was made (1871) the capital of Italy. Pope Pius IX and his successors protested, and the so-called Roman Question remained a serious problem until the Lateran Treaty of 1929. The remainder of Victor Emmanuel's reign was spent in the consolidation of the new kingdom. His son Humbert I succeeded him."
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article "Humbert I": "1844–1900, king of Italy (1878–1900), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel II. Humbert became increasingly authoritarian, favoring the imperialistic and pro-German policies of premier Francesco Crispi and disregarding the recommendations of parliamentary leaders. His orientation helped lead to the conclusion of the Triple Alliance. Escaping two attempts on his life, he fell victim to an assassin at Monza. His son, Victor Emmanuel III, succeeded him."
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article "Victor Emmanuel III": "1869–1947, king of Italy (1900–1946), emperor of Ethiopia (1936–43), king of Albania (1939–43), son and successor of Humbert I. Though first advocating neutrality, he finally joined (1915) the Allies in World War I. He was unable to handle the confused internal situation of Italy after the war, refused to oppose the Fascist march on Rome, and asked (1922) Mussolini to form a government. Under the Fascist regime he was king in name only, but Mussolini's conquests added to his list of titles. During World War II, when the Fascist grand council voted (1943) against continued support of Mussolini, the king dismissed the dictator, placed him under arrest, and named Pietro Badoglio premier. German troops occupied Rome after Italy surrendered to the Allies, and Victor Emmanuel fled to S Italy. Unpopular because of his long association with Mussolini, he was obliged to transmit (1944) his royal prerogatives to his son, Humbert II, in whose favor he abdicated in 1946. He died in exile in Egypt."
From The Columbia Encyclopedia article "Humbert II": "1904–83, last king of Italy (1946), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel III. On the abdication (May, 1946) of his father, who was tainted by his long acquiescence (1922–43) to Fascist rule, Humbert succeeded to the throne, pending a referendum on the monarchy. The referendum (June, 1946) resulted in the establishment of a republic, and Humbert went into exile in Portugal."
The rule over Rome by the House of Savoy that began with Victor Emmanuel I, continued through his successors until a republic was established in 1946. Although Mussolini wielded power in Italy during WWII, and Victor Emmanuel III was reduced to merely a figure head whom later had to flee Italy for his life, Victor Emmanuel III did not abdicate his throne to Mussolini. In fact, Victor Emmanuel III later dismissed Mussolini and placed him under arrest, showing that the king held the real authority. Therefore we can see in history an unbroken continuance of the 7th head until June of 1946.
Remember what Bro. Russell said in R.2062? "According to this prophecy Rome will never have another head – the eighth condition will be the beast without a head – either a republic or anarchy."
And here we show historical proof that the 7th head continued uninterrupted from 1871 to 1946, when a republic was established in Italy, with Rome as it's capital, just as Bro. Russell predicted based upon this prophecy.