Scarlet Coloured Beast
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev 17:3 KJV)
The best is the political system of Babylon. The world religious system is supported by the political system. The seven heads are the seven kings seen in verse 10. They represent seven kingdoms. The ten horns are seen in verse 12. They are the ten kings that do not as yet have a kingdom. They will rule with the best for a short while.