The Woman on the Beast

1And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, "Come hither! I will show you the judgment of the great harlot, that sits on many waters; 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication." 3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and was gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup, full of abominations, even the impurities of her fornication, 5and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

The Mystery Explained

6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And, seeing her, I wondered with great wonder.

7And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

8The beast which you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the founding of the world, when they behold the beast, that he was, and is not, and shall come. 9Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10And there are seven kings; the five fell, and the one is, the other did not yet come. And, when he comes, he must remain a little time. 11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. 12And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who, indeed, received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, one hour with the beast. 13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

The Victory of the Lamb

14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them; because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful."

15And he says to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot, and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and burn her up with fire. 17For God gave it into their hearts to do His will, even to execute one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be accomplished. 18And the woman whom you saw is the great city which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.