And the angel said to me, “Why [a]do you wonder? I will tell you the (A)mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the (B)seven heads and the ten horns.

(C)The beast that you saw (D)was, and is not, and is about to (E)come up out of the (F)abyss and [b](G)go to destruction. And (H)those who dwell on the earth, (I)whose name has not been written in the book of life (J)from the foundation of the world, will (K)wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (L)Here is the mind which has wisdom. The (M)seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven (N)kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which (O)was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he (P)goes to destruction. 12 The (Q)ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast (R)for one hour. 13 These have (S)one [c]purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

Victory for the Lamb

14 These will wage (T)war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will (U)overcome them, because He is (V)Lord of lords and (W)King of kings, and (X)those who are with Him are the (Y)called and chosen and faithful.”

15 And he *said to me, “The (Z)waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are (AA)peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 And the (AB)ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her (AC)desolate and (AD)naked, and will (AE)eat her flesh and will (AF)burn her up with fire. 17 For (AG)God has put it in their hearts to execute His [d]purpose [e]by (AH)having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the (AI)words of God will be fulfilled. 18 The woman whom you saw is (AJ)the great city, which [f]reigns over the kings of the earth.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 17:7 Lit have you wondered
  2. Revelation 17:8 One early ms reads is going
  3. Revelation 17:13 Or mind
  4. Revelation 17:17 Or mind
  5. Revelation 17:17 Lit even to do one mind and to give
  6. Revelation 17:18 Lit has a kingdom