Revelation 17:1-18
The Woman on the Beast
1 One
of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come,
I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on
many waters. 2 With her the kings of
the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were
intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." 3 Then
the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a
woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names
and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The
woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold,
precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled
with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 This
title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER
OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I
saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of
those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly
astonished. 7 Then the angel said to
me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the
woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten
horns. 8 The beast, which you saw,
once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his
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 he once was, now is not, and
yet will come. 9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. 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 a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 12 "The
ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom,
but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the
beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They
will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because
he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called,
chosen and faithful followers." 15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The
beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will
bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn
her with fire. 17 For God has put it
into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the
beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
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