Translation
They are
Go to footnote numberalso seven kings,
five have fallen,
one is, and the other has not yet come, but when he comes, it is necessary that he remain a little while.
Paraphrase
They are also a full array of leaders who can influence many people, five have come and gone, one is alive now and is ruling, and the other has not yet been born, but when he comes on the scene it is necessary that he have power for a limited time.
Footnotes
1
“There are,” or “they are,” either one is a possible translation. “There are” would imply they are not the same as the seven heads and seven mountains mentioned in the previous verse. However, I think the use of symbolism in the following verses seems to indicate that this whole passage is talking about the same general theme and thus it hints that these seven kings are the same as seven heads and the seven mountains of verse Revelation 17:9. Therefore, I prefer to translate it “they are.” Translators that agree with this conclusion may place this clause in verse 9 while translators that choose to render it as “there are also” will leave it here in Revelation 17:10 as the beginning of a new idea.