The Woman and the Scarlet Beast

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls^(A) came and spoke with me: ‘Come, I will show you the judgement of the notorious prostitute^[a](B) who is seated on many^[b] waters.^{(C) 2} The kings of the earth^(D) committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.’^{(E) 3} Then he carried me away in the Spirit^[c](F) to a wilderness.

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered^[d] with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(G) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls.^(H) She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable^(I) and with the impurities of her^[e] prostitution. ⁵ On her forehead was written a name, a mystery:^(J) Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth. ⁶ Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.^(K) When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The Meaning of the Woman and of the Beast

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, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her. ⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss^(L) and go to destruction.^(M) Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world^(N) will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.^{(O) 9} This calls for a mind that has wisdom.^[f](P)

‘The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: ¹⁰ Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. ¹² The ten horns you saw are ten kings^(Q) who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.^{(R) 13} These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.^(S) Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.’^(T)

¹⁵ He also said to me, ‘The waters you saw,^(U) where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.^{(V) 16} The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute.^(W) They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.^{(X) 17} For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose^(Y) and to give their kingdom^[g] to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.^{(Z) 18} And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.’