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17 Then there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials and talked with me, saying to me, “Come. I will show you the damnation of the great whore who sits upon many waters;

with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. And the inhabitants of the earth are drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

So he carried me away into the wilderness, in the Spirit. And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast - full of names of blasphemy - which had seven heads and ten horns.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls; and had a cup of gold in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.

And on her forehead was a name written: “A Mystery. The great Babylon. The mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth.”

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.

Then the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will show you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that bears her which has seven heads and ten horns.

The beast that you have seen was and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit; and shall go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth - whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world - shall wonder when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Here is the mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains whereon the woman sits. They are also seven kings.

10 Five are fallen, and one is. And another is not yet come. And when he comes, he must remain.

11 And the beast that was and is not, is also an eighth, as well as one of the seven. And all go into destruction.

12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom but shall receive power as kings for one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind and shall give their power and authority to the beast.

14 These shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them. For He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and those who are on His side, called and chosen and faithful.”

15 And he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are people and multitudes and nations and tongues.

16 “And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast are those who shall hate the whore; and shall make her desolate and naked; and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

17 “For God has put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to give their kingdom to the beast with one consent, until the words of God are fulfilled.

18 And that woman, which you saw, is that great city which reigned over the kings of the earth.”

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels(A) who had the seven bowls(B) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(C) of the great prostitute,(D) who sits by many waters.(E) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(F)

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(G) into a wilderness.(H) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(I) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(J) and had seven heads and ten horns.(K) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(L) She held a golden cup(M) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(N) The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(O)

babylon the great(P)

the mother of prostitutes(Q)

and of the abominations of the earth.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(R) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery(S) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(T) The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(U) and go to its destruction.(V) The inhabitants of the earth(W) whose names have not been written in the book of life(X) from the creation of the world will be astonished(Y) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

“This calls for a mind with wisdom.(Z) The seven heads(AA) 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,(AB) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

12 “The ten horns(AC) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour(AD) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.(AE) 14 They will wage war(AF) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over(AG) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings(AH)—and with him will be his called, chosen(AI) and faithful followers.”

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(AJ) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(AK) 16 The beast and the ten horns(AL) you saw will hate the prostitute.(AM) They will bring her to ruin(AN) and leave her naked;(AO) they will eat her flesh(AP) and burn her with fire.(AQ) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(AR) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(AS) until God’s words are fulfilled.(AT) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(AU) that rules over the kings of the earth.”