Chapter 17

And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, and he spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show thee the condemnation of the great harlot who sits upon many waters,

with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."

And he took me away in spirit into a desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and covered with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the uncleanness of her immorality.

And upon her forehead a name written---a mystery---Babylon the great, mother of the harlotries and of the abominations of the earth.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder. The Angel's Explanation

And the angel said to me, "Wherefore dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss, and will go to destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth---whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world---will wonder when they see the beast which was, and is not.

And here is the meaning for him who has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits; and they are seven kings;

five of them have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a short time.

And the beast that was, and is not, is moreover himself eighth, and is of the seven, and is on his way to destruction.

"And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have not received a kingdom as yet, but they will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast.

These have one purpose, and their power and authority they give to the beast.

These will fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is the Lord of lords, and the King of kings, and they who are with him, called, and chosen, and faithful."

And he said to me, "The waters that thou sawest where the harlot sits, are peoples and nations and tongues.

And the ten horns that thou sawest, and the beast, these will hate the harlot, and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and will burn her up in fire.

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose, to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are accomplished.

And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city which has kingship over the kings of the earth."