Revelation
17
- One of the seven angels who had the seven
bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the
great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
- With her the kings of the earth committed
adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of
her adulteries."
- Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit
into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered
with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
- The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet,
and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden
cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
- This title was written on her forehead:
MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.
- I saw that the woman was drunk with the
blood of the saints, 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 of the woman and of the
beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
- The beast, which you saw, once was, now
is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants
of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the
creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because
he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
- "This calls for a mind with wisdom.
The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
- 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 a little while.
- The beast who once was, and now is not,
is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
- "The ten horns you saw are ten kings
who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority
as kings along with the beast.
- They have one purpose and will give their
power and authority to the beast.
- They will make war against the Lamb, but
the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and
with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
- Then the angel said to me, "The waters
you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
- The beast and the ten horns you saw will
hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they
will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
- For God has put it into their hearts to
accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule,
until God's words are fulfilled.
- The woman you saw is the great city that
rules over the kings of the earth."
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