Several people recently have alleged that Francis is the 8th pope/king since the Vatican state was founded in 1929, trying to line this up with Rev 17.  I went into a long explanation of the Papal State(s) at http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2013/jovial319-3.htm and Francis is the 186th pope/king over the Papal State and the 12th to do so from the Vatican in its more singular form since it was defeated by Italy.

But even more important, we are told this....

"The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come." (Rev 17:8)

Keep in mind this was writetn in the 90-100AD time period.  So the beast existed and went away prior to 90-100 AD.The Catholic Church did not go away prior to 90 AD, and in my opinion, didn't exist yet.  Hard to make a case that it did unless you agree with the Vatican that Peter was the first pope.

But what we know about the beast is that it will go away and return, and people will be amazed when it happens.  The Catholic Church simply does not fit that description.  We are also told this....

"The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king." (Rev 17:9-11)

This tells us that the first 5 kings had fallen before 90-100AD.  Attempts to make popes Piux XI (1922) to John Paul I (1978)  ignore the fact that these first 5 kings died prior to 90AD, and these men weren't even born yet.  The 6th king was reigning at the time the book of Revelation was written.

Shalom,

Joe