In reply to your 12/22 post THE MYSTERY OF THE EIGHTH ITERATION OF THE BEAST (fivedoves.com) as to why the beast is now a scarlet color with the woman sitting on it in Rev. 17:3, scarlet can represents "sins" and so can the color red for the great, red Dragon of Rev. 12:3. (Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.")

I am glad that you brought up the fact that the 8th beast with the 10 horns could have a Shia or Shiite head, but I personally don't believe that they 10 kings will destroy the city of Mecca because it is considered holy to both Shiite Muslims and Sunni Muslims, and even the Shiites have to make a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime.   

As for the beast's Shiite head, the Little Horn, of Daniel, I think that he is the son of a king or prince based on the fact that the 10 horns of this kingdom are 10 kings according to Daniel 7:24 so a little king would be the son of a king as a prince.  The last crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, is a Shiite Muslim and could be the Little Horn of Daniel if the present government was overthrown and he could return to Iran to become their king. I have also found his name in anagrams of scriptures in both Daniel and 2 Thess. 2:3 a number of years ago and posted them on 5doves.  The anagrams below are posted first followed by the exact words in the Bible verse with quote marks.  Only time will tell if these anagrams are true or if they are just coincidences.  It's also possible that some of the anagrams could prove to be true if the Little Horn turns out to be a Shia or Shiite head of the beast although Pahlavi may not turn out to be that Shia head so then the anagrams about him would be only coincidences.

R. Pahlavi, Iran kingdom, blood shedded fit ten ("And part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided." Daniel 2:41) (Ten is a reference to the ten toes of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream which are the ten horns of the beast in both the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation.)

Bold Iran head on the temple throne, Harlot caught me men ("And behold there came up among them another little horn." Dan. 7:8)

Bold Iran head on the temple throne, Harlot get much men ("And behold there came up among them another little horn." Dan. 7:8)

Key seal, he's man on white horse, Iran head king, bold, defiant enemy, he spout great things. ("And behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man and a mouth speaking great things." Dan. 7:8b) (This key seal would be the rider on the white horse when the first seal is opened in Rev. 6:2 whom I believe is the Antichrist or Little Horn of Daniel.)

Pahlavi, mandated set reign ("And prevailed against them." Dan. 7:21)

Be Shia, standeth firm for, served hell ("And he shall be diverse from the first." Dan. 7:24.)

And Shia despot Pahlavi lures Lenten saints ("And in his estate shall stand up a vile person." Dan.11:21)

Monster fiend obtain throne; SON defeat Pahlavi ("And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:3) (The SON would be the Son of God, Jesus Christ.)

Defiant Shia fiend on temple throne boast, raved on("And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:3)

Then note odd monster, beast, foe, fiend, Iran, Pahlavi ("And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:3)

Most beast, foe, fiend, noted end, Iran, Pahlavi throne ("And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:3)

Hell's blackhearted, deviant head went ("And then shall that Wicked be revealed, " 2 Thess. 2:8)

Devil's blackhearted heathen dent law ("And then shall that Wicked be revealed, " 2 Thess. 2:8)

Devil's blackhearted heathen lad went ("And then shall that Wicked be revealed, " 2 Thess. 2:8)

Blackhearted heathen devil dents law ("And then shall that Wicked be revealed, " 2 Thess. 2:8)

So the false one ("One of the seals" Rev. 6:1)

And he who was a bolder Shiite ("I saw and behold a white horse" Rev. 6:2)

That head Shia hand bow to man ("And he that sat on him had a bow" Rev. 6:2)

Now was a Mahdi converting ("And a crown was given to him." Rev. 6:2)

Ten hath crown, go in to conquer, defend Quran ("And he went forth conquering and to conquer." Rev. 6:2) (Ten hath crown would be a reference to Rev. 13:2 the beast having seven heads and that ten horns and upon his horns ten crowns.)