Revelation 16:13-17:14

New International Version

¹³ Then I saw three impure spirits^(A) that looked like frogs;^(B) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^(C) out of the mouth of the beast^(D) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^{(E) 14} They are demonic spirits^(F) that perform signs,^(G) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^(H) to gather them for the battle^(I) on the great day^(J) of God Almighty.

¹⁶ Then they gathered the kings together^(N) to the place that in Hebrew^(O) is called Armageddon.^(P)

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^(Q) and out of the temple^(R) came a loud voice^(S) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”^{(T) 18} Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^(U) and a severe earthquake.^(V) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,^(W) so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹ The great city^(X) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^(Y) Babylon the Great^(Z) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^{(AA) 20} Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^{(AB) 21} From the sky huge hailstones,^(AC) each weighing about a hundred pounds,^[a] fell on people. And they cursed God^(AD) on account of the plague of hail,^(AE) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(AF) who had the seven bowls^(AG) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(AH) of the great prostitute,^(AI) who sits by many waters.^{(AJ) 2} With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(AK)

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(AL) into a wilderness.^(AM) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(AN) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(AO) and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(AP) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(AQ) She held a golden cup^(AR) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^{(AS) 5} The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(AT)

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(AW) 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^(AX) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^{(AY) 8} The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(AZ) and go to its destruction.^(BA) The inhabitants of the earth^(BB) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(BC) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(BD) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ “This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(BE) The seven heads^(BF) 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 only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who once was, and now is not,^(BG) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² “The ten horns^(BH) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(BI) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^{(BJ) 14} They will wage war^(BK) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(BL) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(BM)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(BN) and faithful followers.”