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 judgment of the notorious prostitute^[a] who sits on many^[b] waters.^{(B) 2} The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.”^{(C) 3} So he carried me away in the Spirit^[c](D) to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered^[d] with blasphemous names and had seven heads and 10 horns.^{(E) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile^(F) and with the impurities of her^[e] prostitution. ⁵ On her forehead a cryptic name^(G) was written:

⁶ Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. 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 tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. ⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss^(H) and go to destruction.^(I) Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world^(J) will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again.^(K)

⁹ “Here is the mind with wisdom:^[f](L) The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings:^[g] Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while. ¹¹ The beast that was and is not, is himself an eighth king, yet he belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. ¹² The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 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.^(M) Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

¹⁵ He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.^{(N) 16} The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute.^(O) They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.^{(P) 17} For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose^(Q) and to give their kingdom^[h] to the beast until God’s words are accomplished. ¹⁸ And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empire^[i] over the kings of the earth.”