¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. ¹⁶ And the ten horns which you saw, and the ^[a]beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire. ¹⁷ For God has put it in their hearts to carry out His purpose by ^[b]agreeing together to surrender their kingdom to the beast, until the [prophetic] words of God will be fulfilled. ¹⁸ The woman whom you saw is the ^[c]great city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth.”