RevelationChapter 17

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¹Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. He said, "Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits on many waters. ²The kings of the earth committed sexual sin with her. And the people who live on the earth got drunk on the wine of her sexual sin." ³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. The beast was covered with names that insulted God. It had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet. She was decorated with gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup. It was full of disgusting things and the filth of her sexual sin. ⁵A name with a hidden meaning was written on her forehead: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DISGUSTING THINGS OF THE EARTH. ⁶I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people. She was drunk with the blood of those who were witnesses for Jesus. I was completely amazed when I saw her. ⁷"Why are you so amazed?" the angel said. "I will tell you the mystery of the woman. I will also tell you the mystery of the beast that carries her. It is the beast with the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸The beast you saw once was, and now is not. But it is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. Some people who live on the earth have names that were not written in the Book of Life since the world was made. They will be amazed when they see the beast. It once was, and now is not, and yet will come. ⁹This takes a wise mind to understand. The seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sits. ¹⁰There are also seven kings. Five have fallen. One is ruling now. The other has not come yet. But when he comes, he must stay for only a little while. ¹¹The beast that once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven. And he is going to his destruction. ¹²The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not received a kingdom yet. But for one hour they will be given authority as kings, along with the beast. ¹³These kings all have one purpose. They will hand over their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will win over them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful ones." ¹⁵Then the angel said to me, "You saw the waters where the prostitute sits. They are peoples, crowds, nations, and languages. ¹⁶The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her ruined and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire. ¹⁷For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they will agree to give their kingdom to the beast. They will do this until the words of God come true. ¹⁸The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."