They represent such things as art, education, commerce, industry and government in so far as they operate according to an ungodly agenda. They help the beast in the accomplishment of his grand design to bring down the kingdom of God. This vision again testifies to a period of intense battle against the forces of the Lamb prior to Christ' return. The Lamb is able. The beast and the ten horns combine to bring down, first, the harlot before they attempt to attack the Lamb.
Evil is implicitly self-destructive.
It is the lesson of the closing verses of Revelation 17. Three powerful images of nakedness, of being devoured and fire combine to spell her doom. Revelation 17 now picks up this metaphor, describing the apostate church of New Testament times as a harlot. She has been interpreted as the entire evil economic-religious system that operates in the world throughout the last days. She is the exact opposite of the pure bride that is the church.